Auto-injectors for administration of a medicament within a prefilled syringe
Inventors
Edwards, Eric S. • Edwards, Evan T. • Meyers, Paul F.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12667669-B2
Publication Date
2026-06-30
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus includes a housing, a carrier, and an expandable assembly. The housing defines an opening configured to selectively place a gas chamber of the housing in fluid communication with an exterior volume. The carrier is movably disposed within the housing and is coupled to a medicament container. A proximal surface of the carrier defines a portion of a boundary of the gas chamber. The expandable assembly has a first member and a second member. The first member is coupled to an elastomeric member disposed within the medicament container, and the second member includes a valve portion. The expandable assembly transitions from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration when the elastomeric member moves within the medicament container. The valve portion moves relative to the opening when the expandable assembly transitions from the first to the second configuration, placing the gas chamber in fluid communication with the exterior volume.
Core Innovation
The disclosed apparatus is a compact, gas-powered auto-injector for prefilled syringes comprising a housing, an energy storage member, a carrier, and at least one medicament container assembly coupled to a needle. Force produced by the energy storage member moves the carrier and medicament container assembly to extend the needle from the housing, while an elastomeric member moves within the container body to convey medicament. Disclosed configurations also include paired container assemblies arranged around a central energy-storage mechanism to extend respective needles and convey two medicaments.
The apparatus establishes dimensional constraints for compactness, including a housing-length-to-container-length ratio below about 1.5 and a ratio of housing length to the combined container, carrier, and stroke distances below about 1. An expandable gas vent assembly opens a housing vent at a selected stroke, releasing pressurized gas to limit dose and permit needle retraction. Additional disclosed embodiments include needle shielding, actuator guards, and removable electronic modules.
Claims Coverage
The claims include independent claims 1, 13, and 15, directed to single-container and dual-container apparatus architectures and dimensional relationships, alongside dependent claims adding arrangement, carrier, venting, and positioning features across seven inventive features.
Carrier-driven needle extension and housing-to-container length ratio
Claim 1 covers an apparatus in which an energy storage member produces force that moves a carrier and medicament container to extend a needle from the housing, while an elastomeric member moves within the container to convey medicament, with a housing length divided by the container length of less than about 1.5.
Combined length ratio incorporating carrier travel and stroke distance
Claim 13 covers an apparatus in which an energy storage member moves a carrier by a carrier distance to extend the needle, and an elastomeric member moves through a stroke distance to convey medicament, wherein the housing length divided by the sum of the container length, carrier distance, and stroke distance is less than about 1.
Pressurized-gas drive for dual-container apparatus
Claim 15 recites a housing defining a gas chamber and an energy storage member configured to produce pressurized gas that moves first and second medicament container assemblies, moving their needles from within the housing to the exterior volume and moving elastomeric members to convey medicament, with a housing-to-container length ratio of less than about 1.5.
Non-coaxial container assemblies
Claim 16 specifies that the first and second medicament container assemblies are non-coaxial.
Carrier-driven conveyance and dimensional ratio
Claim 17 adds a carrier moving under force from the energy storage member to cause the first elastomeric member to convey medicament, specifying a housing-length ratio below about 1 relative to the combined container, carrier, and stroke distances.
Force release and gas chamber venting
Claims 18 and 19 recite release of force after both elastomeric members move a predetermined distance, utilizing a housing opening and a release mechanism that fluidically couples the gas chamber to the exterior volume.
Energy storage member positioned between the assemblies
Claim 20 specifies that the energy storage member is positioned between the first and second medicament container assemblies within the housing.
The claims cover single-container and dual-container gas-driven auto-injectors with defined housing-length ratios, carrier-driven needle extension, force release venting, and non-coaxial or positioned container arrangements.
Stated Advantages
The disclosed housing-to-container length relationships support a compact auto-injector configuration.
The expandable gas vent assembly releases gas to limit the dose and permit needle retraction.
Documented Applications
Gas-powered auto-injectors for prefilled syringes.
Administration of vaccines, biologics, and other injectable agents.
Conveying medicament from a medicament container, with a needle moving from within the housing to extend outside the housing.
Dual-medicament injection delivering medicaments from two container assemblies, with needles extending for delivery and retracting afterward.
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