Drug delivery device, assembly for a drug delivery device, method for assembling the drug delivery device and use of the drug delivery device
Inventors
Kemp, Thomas Mark • WU, HAIMING
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12329940-B1
Publication Date
2025-06-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
A drug delivery device, comprising, an assembly comprising a circlip and a holding element, a device body; a medicament container comprising or adapted to comprise a medicament; wherein the circlip is configured in a deformed state to engage a surface of the medicament container in order to prevent relative movement in at least one direction of the medicament container with respect to the circlip; and wherein the holding element is configured to hold the circlip in the deformed state.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a drug delivery device and an assembly that includes a circlip, a stabilizing element, and a housing element. The stabilizing element is configured to radially stabilize a medicament container while the housing element receives at least a portion of the medicament container, and the stabilizing element comprises a circlip receptacle that receives the circlip in the first state when the stabilizing element is in a first position relative to the housing element.
When the stabilizing element moves from the first position to a second position relative to the housing element, the circlip is caused to assume a deformed state, or second state. In the deformed state, the circlip engages a surface of the medicament container, including a distal portion surface, in order to prevent relative movement of the medicament container in at least one direction with respect to the circlip.
The housing element is configured to hold the circlip in the deformed state and radially restrain the circlip when the circlip is in the second state. The second state may have a smaller diameter than the first state, and the stabilizing element and the housing element cooperate so that axial movement of the stabilizing element relative to the housing element causes the transition between circlip states.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims: one for a drug delivery device and one for an assembly for a drug delivery device. Across these independent claims, the coverage centers on a circlip that transitions from a first state to a deformed or second state due to axial movement of a stabilizing element, while the circlip engages a medicament container surface to prevent relative movement and is held in the deformed state by the housing element. The claims include at least six inventive features spanning state transition, radial stabilization, axial movement restraint, engagement-based retention, and housing cooperation.
Circlip with first state and deformed state
The circlip is configured to assume a first state and a deformed state.
Stabilizing element radially stabilizes medicament container and housing receives medicament container portion
The stabilizing element is configured to radially stabilize the medicament container and the housing element is adapted to receive at least a portion of the medicament container.
Circlip receptacle receives circlip in first state and restrains axial relative movement
The stabilizing element comprises a circlip receptacle configured to receive the circlip in the first state when the stabilizing element is in a first position relative to the housing element, wherein axial relative movement between the circlip in the first state and the stabilizing element is restrained.
Axial movement of stabilizing element causes circlip deformed state
The stabilizing element and the housing element are configured such that axial relative movement of the stabilizing element from the first position relative to the housing element into a second position relative to the housing element causes the circlip to assume the deformed state or second state.
Circlip engages medicament container surface in deformed state to prevent relative movement
In the deformed state, the circlip is adapted to engage a surface of the medicament container, including a distal portion surface, in order to prevent a relative movement of the medicament container in at least one direction with respect to the circlip.
Housing element holds and radially restrains circlip in deformed state
The housing element is configured to hold the circlip in the deformed state and radially restrain the circlip when the circlip is in the second state.
Second state diameter smaller than first state
In the second state, a diameter of the circlip is smaller than in the first state.
Across the independent claims, the central inventive concept is a circlip that changes from a first state to a deformed or second state, including a smaller diameter in the second state, through axial relative movement of a stabilizing element. The stabilizing element radially stabilizes the medicament container and provides a circlip receptacle that restrains axial relative movement in the first state, while the housing element holds and radially restrains the circlip in the deformed or second state so the circlip engages a surface of the medicament container to prevent relative movement.
Stated Advantages
Prevents relative movement of the medicament container in at least one direction with respect to the circlip.
Provides axial relative movement restraint between the circlip in the first state and the stabilizing element.
Holds the circlip in the deformed state to maintain engagement of the medicament container surface.
Documented Applications
Drug delivery device including a medicament container, described in an example context as an autoinjector using a circlip and stabilizing element to retain the medicament container.
Assembly for a drug delivery device comprising a circlip, a stabilizing element, and a housing element for transitioning the circlip between states to engage a medicament container surface.
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