DESC:Field of the Invention

The patent application relates to an autoinjector for administering a fluid medicament to a subject.

Background of the Invention

Autoinjector is used to inject a dose of medicament which may be contained in a container and deliver the medicament through a needle. The container may be a cartridge or a pre filled syringe and the like.

Many people have ‘needle phobia’ and are apprehensive of seeing a needle during medicament administration. As a result, people with ‘needle phobia’ may not regularly administer medicament as prescribed or may improperly administer an injection due to their apprehension.

The following patents disclose autoinjector with needle protection system:
U.S. 6,767,336 discloses autoinjector with a sharp protector that is manually or automatically deployable.
U.S. 7,449,012 discloses autoinjector with a needle cover at least partially received within the housing.
U.S. 6,805,686 discloses autoinjector with extendible needle protector shroud.
U.S. 8,617,119 discloses a safety device having a tubular support for a needle mount end and a protective shield slidably mounted on the support.

Summary of the Invention

Some embodiments disclose an autoinjector for a medicament administration comprising: a housing having two sets of locking slots; a cartridge holder received within the housing; a slider received within the housing; a driver assembly; a needle cover having a pair of integral snap lock members and having a first locking position and a second locking position, wherein the movement of needle cover from the first locking position to the second locking position is controlled by the slider.

Some embodiments disclose the needle cover of the autoinjector, wherein the needle cover is in the first locking position when the snap lock members of the are needle cover received in the first set of locking slots of the housing and in the second locking position when the snap lock members are received in the second set of locking slots of the housing.

Some embodiments disclose a driver assembly of the autoinjector, wherein the driver assembly comprises: a collet, a collapsible lock, a first biasing member and a plunger having oppositely located wings to receive in the cartridge holder.

Some embodiments disclose the slider of the autoinjector, wherein the slider comprises: a sleeve section at the proximal portion and a pair of diametrically opposed arms at the distal portion.

Some embodiments disclose the slider of the autoinjector, wherein the slider is operatively coupled to the plunger of the driver assembly during actuation of autoinjector.

Some embodiments disclose the slider of the autoinjector, wherein the wings of the plunger have abutment relation with the slider.

Some embodiments disclose the slider of the autoinjector, wherein the slider is traversing in the first set of locking slots in the housing by the operational coupling with the driver assembly and release the snap lock members of the needle cover.

Some embodiments disclose the needle cover of the autoinjector, wherein the snap lock members of the needle cover get unlocked from the first locking position and move to the second locking position when the driver assembly gets actuated.

Some embodiments disclose an autoinjector for a medicament administration comprising: a housing; a cartridge holder received within the housing; a driver assembly having a collet, a collapsible lock, a first biasing member and a plunger; a needle cover; a safety cap and a needle cover locking mechanism, wherein the housing is at least partially received within the needle cover.

Some embodiments disclose a needle cover locking mechanism for use with an autoinjector, the autoinjector comprising: a housing and a needle cover, wherein the needle cover locking mechanism comprises: two sets of locking slots received in the housing; a pair of integral snap lock members formed in the needle cover; and a slider received within the housing.

Brief description of the Drawings

FIGURE 1 is a cross sectional view of the autoinjector in the first locking position in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view of the autoinjector during removal of safety cap in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention;
FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view of the autoinjector when the driver assembly is activated in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention;
FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of the autoinjector wherein plunger rests on the stopping surface of cartridge holder in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention;
FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view of the autoinjector in the second locking position in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention relates to an autoinjector 1 for administering a fluid medicament to a subject.

As used herein, the term “distal end or distal portion” in the appended figures and description is meant to refer to the end of the injection device carrying the injection needle whereas the term “proximal end or proximal portion” is meant to refer to the opposite end pointing away from the injection needle.

Referring to FIGURES 1-5 , one embodiment discloses an autoinjector 1 for a medicament administration comprising: a housing 2 having two sets of locking slots 19a, 19b ; a cartridge holder 3 received within the housing 2 ; a slider 5 received within the housing 2; a plunger 9; a needle cover 10 having a pair of integral snap lock members 20a,20b; a needle cover locking mechanism 11 having a first locking position 12 and a second locking position 13, wherein the needle cover locking mechanism 11 is in the first locking position 12 when the snap lock members 20a,20b of needle cover 10 received in the first set of locking slots 19a and in the second locking position 13 when the snap lock members 20a,20b of needle cover 10 received in the second set of locking slots 19b, wherein the movement of needle cover 10 from the first locking position 12 to second locking position 13 is controlled by slider 5.

In the first locking position 12, the needle cover 10 is in the retracted position and in the second locking position 13, the needle cover 10 is in the extended position.

Some embodiment discloses the driver assembly 6 of an autoinjector 1 comprise a collet 7, a collapsible lock 8, and a plunger 9. The plunger 9 may be coupled with the collapsible lock 8.

A housing 2 of autoinjector 1 may be of cylindrical, oval or elliptical shape and having proximal and distal portions. The housing 2 comprising a first sleeve section 21 at the proximal portion and a second sleeve section 22 at the distal portion. A shoulder 23 formed at the distal end of the first sleeve section 21 due to reduced diameter and having recess 24. The second sleeve section 22 may extend from the shoulder 23 and running towards distal end.

The second sleeve section 22 of the housing 2 having two sets of locking slots 19a, 19b which are diametrically opposed. The first set of locking slots 19a extending from the shoulder 23 towards distal end and the second set of locking slots 19b spaced from the first set of locking slots 19a. Further, the second sleeve section 22 of the housing 2 comprises a circumferential inwardly projecting ridge 25 on the inner surface having front and rear surfaces 25a, 25b.

A slider 5 may be of cylindrical, oval or elliptical shape. A slider 5 is having a proximal portion and a distal portion. A slider 5 received within the housing 2 comprising a sleeve section 26 at the proximal portion and a pair of diametrically opposed arms 27a, 27b at the distal portion. The arms 27a, 27b of the slider 5 extend through the recess 24 of shoulder 23 and received in the first set of locking slots 19a in the second sleeve section 22 of the housing 2.

A cartridge holder 3 received within the housing 2. The cartridge holder 3 comprising cylindrical sleeve section 28 at the proximal portion and a reduced conical section 29 at the distal portion. The cartridge holder 3 comprises a pair of diametrically opposed flanges 30a, 30b extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of cartridge holder 3 and having front and rear surfaces 31a, 31b. The cartridge holder 3 further comprises an annular side wall 32 extending from the rear surface 31b of flanges 30a, 30b and running concentrically to the conical section 29. The annular side wall 32 may have cross sectional recesses 33a, 33b. The flanges 30a, 30b of the cartridge holder 3 engage with rear surface 25b of circumferential ridge 25 of the housing 2 which prevents any undesired proximal movement of the cartridge holder 3.

When the needle cover 10 is pressed against the injection site, the cartridge 4 is moving towards the housing 2 in the proximal direction by the butting engagement of needle cover 10 with the cartridge holder 3, the flanges 30a, 30b of the cartridge holder 3 easily passes the circumferential ridge 25 and rests on the front surface 25a of circumferential ridge 25 of the housing 2. The proximal portion of the cartridge holder 3 having a pair of diametrically opposed retention recesses 34a, 34b extending longitudinally towards distal end and having stopping surfaces 35.

The plunger 9 is having proximal portion and distal portion, the distal portion of the plunger 9 comprising two oppositely located wings 36, 37 extending radially outwardly having front and rear surfaces 38a, 38b. The wings 36, 37 of plunger 9 received in the retention recesses 34a, 34b of the cartridge holder 3. During the actuation of an autoinjector 1, the plunger 9 moves towards distal end with the wings 36, 37 of the plunger 9 traversing in the retention recesses 34a,35b and rests on the stopping surfaces 35 to deliver the medicament.

Some embodiments discloses, the plunger 9 is preferably formed as single piece, wherein the collapsible lock 8 is integral part of plunger 9 and having collapsible lock portions. The collapsible lock portions of plunger 9 may get locked with collet 7. The plunger 9 further includes a projection, which receives a stopper 44.

A needle cover 10 comprising a sleeve section 39 at the proximal portion and a frusto conical base 40 at the distal portion. The sleeve section 39 may have an internal circumference that may correspond to the external circumference of the second sleeve section 22 of the housing 2. The sleeve section 39 of the needle cover 10 comprising a pair of snap lock members 20a, 20b formed on the surface. The snap lock members 20a, 20b having beveled end surface 41 extending radially inward to lock with the locking slots 19a, 19b of second sleeve section 22 of the housing 2. The beveled end surface 41 of the snap lock members 20a, 20b engaged with the arms 27a, 27b of slider 5.

The needle cover 10 further comprises an outer tubular sleeve 42 extending circumferentially from the proximal portion of needle cover 10 towards the second sleeve section 22 of the housing 2. The annular side wall 32 of the cartridge holder 3 is abutting with the inner surface of the needle cover 10 at the distal end.

Generally, the autoinjectors having needle cover locking mechanism which controls the movement of needle cover to the extended position or after use position to cover the needle. The needle cover locking mechanism known in the arts involving the multiple components and there may be a failure to unlock the needle cover from the retracted position to the extended position.

The needle cover locking mechanism 11 comprises minimal components for example integral snap lock members 20a, 20b of the needle cover 10 and the locking slots 19a, 19b received outside the surface of the housing 2. The unlocking of snap lock members 20a, 20b of the needle cover 10 from the first locking position 12 are controlled by slider 5 which is operatively coupled or engaged to the driver assembly 6 of an autoinjector 1 for example a plunger 9 during actuation of autoinjector 1. As unlocking of needle cover 10 is operatively controlled by driver assembly 6, the snap lock members 20a, 20b gets unlocked once the driver assembly 6 gets actuated and caused the movement of needle cover 10 to the extended position.

The rear surfaces 38b of wings 36, 37 having abutment relation with the proximal portion of the slider 5 and causes the movement of the slider 5. When the plunger 9 moves towards distal end, the slider 5 also moves towards distal end by traversing in first set of locking slots 19a of the housing 2 and passed the beveled end surface 41 of snap lock members 20a, 20b which causes the unlocking of snap lock members 20a, 20b of needle cover 10 from the first set of locking slots 19a in the housing 2.

After the medicament delivered, the bias force of second biasing member 18 causes the needle cover 10 to be moved in a direction such that the needle cover 10 extends outward from the housing 2 and locked in second set of locking slots 19b in the second sleeve section 22 of housing 2.

Another embodiment discloses an autoinjector 1 comprising: a housing 2 having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a cartridge holder 3 received within the housing 2; a cartridge 4 received within the cartridge holder 3; a needle 43 fixed to the distal end of the cartridge 4; a driver assembly 6 comprises a collet 7, a collapsible lock 8 and a plunger 9, the plunger 9 is having two oppositely located wings 36,37 to receive in the cartridge holder 3; a needle cover 10, wherein the housing 2 is at least partially received within the needle cover 10; a safety cap 15, said safety cap 15 controls the actuation of the driver assembly 6; a first biasing member 17, said biasing member 17 configured to bias the driver assembly 6; a second biasing member 18, said second biasing member 18 configured to bias the needle cover 10; a top cover 14; a driver assembly 6 configured to move from a proximal portion of the housing 2 to urge the first biasing member 17 upon the removal of safety cap 15 and thereby move the cartridge 4 towards the distal end in the cartridge holder 3 to project the needle 43 beyond the needle cover 10; a needle cover locking mechanism 11 for locking the needle cover 10 to the housing 2 in first locking position 12 and in second locking position 13.

The collet 7 may be cylindrical in shape having a central aperture 46 at its proximal end to form a hole and out turned flanges 47 at the distal end. The collet 7 has a cylindrical section 45 extending from proximal portion to distal portion. The flanges 47 of the collet 7 may establish contact with proximal end surface of the cartridge holder 3 when the driver assembly 6 may be inserted in the housing 2.

The collapsible lock 8 received within the central aperture 46 of collet 7; the collapsible lock 8 having distal portion and a proximal portion. The proximal portion of collapsible lock 8 comprises frusto-conical detetents 48 extending radially outwardly from a common longitudinal axis. The distal portion of the frusto-conical detetents 48 has shoulder 49 extending outwardly.

The safety cap 15 may comprise top cylindrical, elliptical or oval shaped wall sized to fit over the end portion of the proximal end of housing 2. A safety pin 16 extends from the lower surface of top wall and received in the opening of top cover 14. The safety pin 16 engages the collapsible lock 8, prevents the frusto-conical detents 48 from compressing, which prevents the actuation of autoinjector 1.

The first biasing member 17 received between collet 7 and collapsible lock 8 to bias the driver assembly 6. The second biasing member 18 may be positioned between the annular side wall 32 of the cartridge holder 3 and the needle cover 10. The second biasing member 18 configured to bias the needle cover 10.

A top cover 14 may be received in the proximal end of the housing 2. The top cover 14 comprising an outer sleeve portion 50 and an inner sleeve portion 51. The top cover 14 molded as a single piece and may be in cylindrical, elliptical or oval shape. The plurality of outward projections provided on the outer surface may engaged with the corresponding grooves on the inner surface of the housing 2. The top cover comprising an opening 52 to receive the safety cap 15.

The inner sleeve portion 51 extends distally from the outer sleeve portion 50 and may be of such length to accommodate the collet 7. The collet 7 received within the inner sleeve portion 51. The top cover 14 having frusto-conical cam surface 53 which is sized and shaped to cooperate with frusto-conical detents 48 of collapsible lock 8 or plunger 9 during actuation of the autoinjector 1.

To inject the medicament, as shown in, the safety cap 15 of the autoinjector 1 has to be removed. Upon the removal of safety cap 15, the driver assembly 6 of the autoinjector 1 may be ready for use. The needle cover 10 may have butt joint with the cartridge holder 3. When the needle cover 10 pressed against injection site, the needle cover 10 moves towards the housing 2 and then pushes the cartridge holder 3 in the proximal direction. Since the proximal end surface of cartridge holder 3 may have a simple butt joint with the distal flanges 47 of the collet 7, the collet 7 may move in proximal direction. Since the frusto-conical detents 48 of collapsible lock 8 engaged the collet 7 at proximal end, the collet 7 may move proximally. Movement of collet 7 in proximal direction may move frusto-conical detents 48 of collapsible lock 8 towards frusto-conical cam surface 53 of the top cover 14. This movement may unlock the collet 7 and collapsible lock 8.

The unlocking of collet 7 and collapsible metal lock 8 urges the first biasing member 17 to expand and thereby move the cartridge 4 towards the distal end in the cartridge holder 3 to project the needle 43 beyond the needle cover 10 in the first locking position 12, and then to a forward position to deliver a dose through the needle 43 at the injection site.

Once the medicament is injected, the needle cover 10 moves from the first locking position 12 to the second locking position 13 and covers the extended needle 43.

A needle sheath 54 may be positioned over the needle 43 such that the open end of the sheath may fit around needle 43 and may abut the shoulder formed by hub portions.

When the needle 43 fully extended as shown in FIGURE 5, the needle sheath 54 may be compressed the greatest amount hence the largest reactionary force may exist in the compressed needle sheath in such position. The needle sheath 54 is positioned over the needle 43 such that the open end of the sheath fits over and around the needle. The length of the sheath 54 is such that its closed end is slightly beyond or spaced from the end of needle 43. The cartridge 4 moves forward whereby the needle sheath is compressed the most between the cartridge holder 3 and the needle cover 10. When the cartridge 4 completed its travel under the force of first biasing member 17, the forward movement of stopper 44 towards the distal end may commence under the action of driver assembly 6 to dispense the medicament.

Various modifications and variations to the above-described autoinjector can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
,CLAIMS:We claim:

1) An autoinjector 1 for a medicament administration comprising: a housing 2 having two sets of locking slots 19a,19b ; a cartridge holder 3 received within the housing 2; a slider 5 received within the housing 2; a driver assembly 6; a needle cover 10 having a pair of integral snap lock members 20a,20b and having a first locking position 12 and a second locking position 13, wherein the movement of needle cover 10 from the first locking position 12 to the second locking position 13 is controlled by the slider 5.

2) The autoinjector of claim 1, wherein the needle cover 10 is in the first locking position 12 when the snap lock members 20a, 20b are received in the first set of locking slots 19a of the housing 2 and in the second locking position 13 when the snap lock members 20a, 20b are received in the second set of locking slots 19b of the housing 2.

3) The autoinjector of claim 1, wherein the driver assembly 6 comprises: a collet 7, a collapsible lock 8, a first biasing member 17 and a plunger 9 having oppositely located wings 36, 37 to receive in the cartridge holder 4.

4) The autoinjector of claim 1, wherein the slider 5 comprises: a sleeve section 26 at the proximal portion and a pair of diametrically opposed arms 27a, 27b at the distal portion.

5) The autoinjector of claim 1, wherein the slider 5 is operatively coupled to the plunger 9 of the driver assembly 6 during actuation of autoinjector 1.

6) The autoinjector of claim 1, wherein the wings 36, 37 of the plunger 9 have abutment relation with the slider 5.

7) The autoinjector of claim 1, wherein the slider 5 is traversing in the first set of locking slots 19a in the housing 2 by the operational coupling with the driver assembly 6 and release the snap lock member 20a,20b of the needle cover 10.

8) The autoinjector of claim1, wherein the snap lock members 20a, 20b of the needle cover 10 get unlocked from the first locking position 12 and move to the second locking position 13 when the driver assembly 6 gets actuated.

9) An autoinjector 1 for a medicament administration comprising: a housing 2; a cartridge holder 3 received within the housing 2; a driver assembly 6 having a collet 7, a collapsible lock 8, a first biasing member 17 and a plunger 9; a needle cover 10; a safety cap 15 and a needle cover locking mechanism 11; wherein the housing 2 is at least partially received within the needle cover 10.

10) A needle cover locking mechanism 11 for use with an autoinjector 1, the autoinjector 1 comprising: a housing 2 and a needle cover 10, wherein the needle cover locking mechanism 11 comprises: two sets of locking slots 19a,19b received in the housing 2; a pair of integral snap lock members 20a, 20b formed in the needle cover 10; and a slider 5 received within the housing 2.