Devices and methods for delivery of substances within a medicament container
Inventors
Meyers, Paul F. • Roe, Michael J.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12268847-B1
Publication Date
2025-04-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus includes a housing, an energy storage member, a carrier, a medicament container, and a delivery control mechanism. The housing defines a gas chamber configured to receive pressurized gas from the energy storage member to pressurize the gas chamber. The carrier has a proximal surface that defines a portion of the gas chamber. The medicament container is coupled to the carrier and has a distal end portion coupled to a delivery member. The medicament container contains at least 5 mL of medicament and includes an elastomeric member that seals the medicament within the medicament container. The delivery control mechanism is coupled to a proximal end portion of the medicament container and includes a flow restriction member for regulating a pressure supplied by the gas chamber and entering into the medicament container that acts on the elastomeric member.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a gas-powered medical injector for delivering a dose of a composition. Actuating the medical injector causes an energy storage member to produce a force via compressed gas within an internal volume of a housing, so that a container holding the dose moves within the housing to cause a needle to extend from the housing and compress a retraction spring.
A control assembly positioned within the housing regulates a portion of the force acting on an elastomeric member within the container to deliver an initial portion of the dose. In embodiments, the medical injector includes an absence of a piston coupled to the elastomeric member, and the housing defines first and second gas chambers so that the control assembly regulates a flow of a second portion of gas from the first gas chamber into the second gas chamber to act directly on the elastomeric member.
Venting of the internal volume is initiated via a vent opening defined by the housing. The vent opening is sized so that the force produced by the compressed gas acting on the container remains greater than the force applied by the retraction spring during a time to deliver a final portion of the dose, then decreases to a magnitude less than the retraction-spring force concurrent with delivery of the final portion, after which the needle is retracted via movement of the container within the housing in response to the retraction spring.
Claims Coverage
The consolidated claims coverage identifies three independent inventive features centered on compressed-gas needle extension, control of elastomeric-member force for an initial dose portion, and venting sized to switch the gas force relative to a retraction spring during delivery of a final dose portion. The coverage further distinguishes embodiments by the absence of a piston coupled to the elastomeric member and by first and second gas chambers with regulated gas flow acting directly on the elastomeric member.
Compressed gas drives container to extend needle with retraction spring compression
Actuating a medical injector such that an energy storage member produces a force via compressed gas within an internal volume of a housing on a container containing a dose, causing the container to move within the housing to cause a needle to extend from the housing, and the movement of the container compressing a retraction spring.
Control assembly regulates elastomeric-member force for initial dose portion
Regulating, via a control assembly positioned within the housing, a portion of the force applied on an elastomeric member to cause movement of the elastomeric member within the container to deliver an initial portion of the dose.
Vent opening sized to transition gas force below retraction-spring force for final dose portion
Initiating a venting of the internal volume via a vent opening defined by the housing, the vent opening being sized to maintain the force produced by the compressed gas acting on the container at a magnitude greater than a force applied to the container by the retraction spring during a time to deliver a final portion of the dose, the force decreasing to a magnitude less than the force applied by the retraction spring concurrent with the delivery of the final portion, and retracting the needle via movement of the container within the housing in response to the force applied by the retraction spring.
Absence of piston coupled to elastomeric member for elastomeric movement
The medical injector having an absence of a piston coupled to the elastomeric member to cause a movement thereof, while the control assembly regulates a portion of the force applied directly on the elastomeric member to cause movement of the elastomeric member within the container to deliver an initial portion of the dose.
First and second gas chambers with controlled gas flow acting directly on elastomeric member
Regulating, via a control assembly positioned within the housing, a flow of a second portion of gas from a first gas chamber into a second gas chamber to act directly on an elastomeric member positioned within the container, where the second gas chamber is defined at least in part by the control assembly, the container, and the elastomeric member such that at least a portion of the second gas chamber is within the container, and the second portion of gas applies a force directly on the elastomeric member to cause movement of the elastomeric member within the container to deliver an initial portion of the dose.
Venting first gas chamber to enable needle retraction after final dose portion
Initiating a venting of the first gas chamber via a vent opening defined by the housing, the vent opening being sized to maintain the force produced by the first portion of the compressed gas acting on the container at a magnitude greater than a force applied by the retraction spring during a time to deliver a final portion of the dose, the force decreasing to a magnitude less than the force applied by the retraction spring concurrent with the delivery of the final portion of the dose, and retracting the needle via movement of the container within the housing in response to the force applied by the retraction spring.
Across the independent claims, the inventive core is the coordinated use of compressed gas to extend a needle, regulation of a controlled force on an elastomeric member to deliver an initial portion, and venting through a sized vent opening to reduce compressed-gas force below retraction-spring force during delivery of a final portion, followed by needle retraction. The coverage further differentiates embodiments by specifying an absence of a piston coupled to the elastomeric member and by defining first and second gas chambers with regulated second-gas flow acting directly on the elastomeric member.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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