Devices, systems and methods for medicament delivery
Inventors
Edwards, Evan Thomas • Edwards, Eric Shawn • Licata, Mark J.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10918791-B2
Publication Date
2021-02-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus includes a movable member and a valve coupled to the movable member. The movable member is configured to be disposed within a housing of a medical device and has a first end portion and second end portion. A portion of the first end portion is configured to define a portion of a boundary of a gas chamber. The first end portion defines an opening configured to be in fluid communication between the gas chamber and an area outside the gas chamber. The second end portion is configured to be coupled to a needle configured to deliver a medicament into a body. The valve is configured to selectively allow fluid communication between the gas chamber and the area outside the gas chamber through the opening defined by the first end portion of the movable member.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a gas-powered medical injector and a method of delivering a medicament. A distal end surface of a base of the medical injector is placed into contact with a body, where the medical injector includes a housing, a medicament container within the housing, a plunger within the medicament container, and a needle fluidically coupled to the medicament container. The medical injector further includes an energy storage member, a valve, and a flexible member coupled between the plunger and the valve.
Pressurized gas is generated within a gas chamber defined by the housing, and the pressurized gas exerts a force to move the needle and to convey the medicament via the needle. The flexible member transitions from a first configuration to a second configuration when the plunger moves within the medicament container, and the flexible member actuates the valve to release the pressurized gas from the gas chamber when the flexible member transitions to the second configuration.
In another aspect, a movable member and an expandable assembly are coupled between the movable member and the valve. The expandable assembly transitions from a first configuration to a second configuration when the movable member moves within the medicament container, and the expandable assembly actuates the valve to release the pressurized gas from the gas chamber when transitioned to the second configuration. The valve fluidically isolates the gas chamber from an external volume in a first valve position and places the gas chamber into fluid communication with the external volume in a second valve position.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes two independent method claims. Across these independent claims, the main inventive features are centered on generating pressurized gas in a housing gas chamber, using gas to move the needle and drive medicament conveyance, and coordinating gas release via a flexible-member or expandable-assembly transition that actuates a valve.
Flexible member transitions to actuate valve gas release
A method in which actuating the medical injector produces a pressurized gas within a gas chamber, the pressurized gas moves the needle from a first needle position to a second needle position and moves the plunger to convey the medicament via the needle, and a flexible member coupled between the plunger and the valve transitions from a first configuration to a second configuration when the plunger moves, the flexible member actuating the valve to release the pressurized gas from the gas chamber when transitioned to the second configuration.
Expandable assembly transitions to actuate valve gas release
A method in which actuating the medical injector produces a pressurized gas within a gas chamber, the pressurized gas moves the needle from a first needle position to a second needle position and moves the movable member within the medicament container to convey the medicament via the needle, and an expandable assembly coupled between the movable member and the valve transitions from a first configuration to a second configuration when the movable member moves, the expandable assembly actuating the valve to release the pressurized gas from the gas chamber when transitioned to the second configuration.
Both independent claims share the same overall structure: pressurized gas in a housing gas chamber is used to move the needle and convey medicament, and the gas chamber is vented or released through valve actuation that is driven by a transition of a coupled element as the plunger or movable member moves within the medicament container.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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