# US 10,369,278 B2 · Drive mechanism for a needle insertion arrangement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,278 B2 - Document ID: US10369278B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/916,667 - Filed: 2014-09-02 - Published: 2016-07-28 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-05 - Assignees: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH - Applicants: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GMBH - Inventors: Michael Schabbach; Meinolf Werner; Olaf Zeckai; Philippe Nzike - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369278B2 ## CPC - A61M 5/158: Needles {for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body} - A61M 5/3287: {Accessories for bringing the needle into the body; Automatic needle insertion (A61M5/20, A61M5/31525 take precedence)} - A61M 5/46: having means for controlling depth of insertion - A61M 2005/1583: {Needle extractors} - A61M 2005/1585: {Needle inserters} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract The invention relates to a drive mechanism (9) for a needle insertion arrangement (1), the drive mechanism (9) comprising a rotatable wheel (10) with a notch (12) having a closed curve geometry comprising a curved section (12.1) and a linear section (12.2), wherein at least one cross beam (15, 16) is movably arranged and engageable to an injection needle (2) to move it between a retracted position (RP) and an extended position (EP), wherein the cross beam (15, 6) comprises a cam (15.1, 16.1) adapted to engage the notch (12). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drive mechanism for a needle insertion arrangement of an injection device, the drive mechanism comprising: a rotatable wheel with a notch formed as a slot within the rotatable wheel and having a closed curve geometry comprising: a curved section, and a linear section; and at least one cross beam movably arranged and engageable to an injection needle to move the injection needle between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the at least one the cross beam comprises a cam adapted to engage the notch, and wherein the notch runs from a center of the rotatable wheel towards a perimeter of the rotatable wheel and back to the center. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the curved section comprises a semi-circular section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cross beam comprises a proximal cross beam and a distal cross beam arranged in parallel, wherein the cam is a proximal cross beam cam, the proximal cross beam having the proximal cross beam cam, the distal cross beam having a distal cross beam cam, the proximal cross beam cam and the distal cross beam cam independently movable along at least one linear guide. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A drive mechanism according to claim 3, wherein at an intersection of the curved section with the linear section near the center of the rotatable wheel, the notch comprises a bulge adapted to receive the proximal cross beam cam and the distal cross beam cam. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A drive mechanism according to claim 3, wherein a spring is arranged between the proximal cross beam and the distal cross beam biasing the proximal cross beam and the distal cross beam apart. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A drive mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a needle retainer adapted to retain the injection needle, movable in parallel with the at least one cross beam and adapted to be engaged by the at least one cross beam. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A drive mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the at least one cross beam comprises a proximal cross beam and a distal cross beam, wherein the needle retainer comprises a distal prong adapted to be engaged by the distal cross beam and a proximal prong adapted to be engaged by the proximal cross beam, the distal prong and the proximal prong spaced from each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A drive mechanism according to claim 7, wherein a distance between the distal prong and the proximal prong corresponds to a length of the linear section of the notch. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A drive mechanism according to claim 7, wherein a first linear guide is arranged for guiding movements of the needle retainer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) A drive mechanism according to claim 3, wherein a second linear guide and a third linear guide for guiding movements of the proximal cross beam and the distal cross beam are arranged in parallel with the first linear guide. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A drive mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the rotatable wheel is arranged between the second linear guide and the third linear guide. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable wheel comprises a knurl. ### Claim 13 An insertion arrangement for moving an injection needle between a retracted position and an extended position, the insertion arrangement comprising: a disposable unit comprising a needle base to which the injection needle is fixed; and a drive mechanism comprising: a rotatable wheel with a notch having a closed loop-shaped, closed curve geometry comprising: a curved section, and a linear section; and at least one cross beam movably arranged and engageable to the injection needle to move the injection needle between the retracted position and the extended position, wherein at least one the cross beam comprises a cam adapted to engage the notch, wherein a needle retainer is adapted to retain the needle base, wherein the at least one cross beam comprises a proximal cross beam and a distal cross beam arranged in parallel, and wherein the cam is a proximal cross beam cam, the proximal cross beam having the proximal cross beam cam, the distal cross beam having a distal cross beam cam, the proximal cross beam cam and the distal cross beam cam independently movable along at least one linear guide. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The insertion arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the notch runs from a center of the wheel towards a perimeter of the wheel and back to the center. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The insertion arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the curved section comprises a semi-circular section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The insertion arrangement according to claim 13, wherein at an intersection of the curved section with the linear section near the center of the wheel, the notch comprises a bulge adapted to receive the proximal cross beam cam and the distal cross beam cam. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The insertion arrangement according to claim 13, wherein a spring is arranged between the proximal cross beam and the distal cross beam biasing the proximal cross beam and the distal cross beam apart. ### Claim 18 An auto-injector comprising: an insertion arrangement for moving an injection needle between a retracted position and an extended position, the insertion arrangement comprising: a disposable unit comprising a needle base to which the needle is fixed; and a drive mechanism comprising: a rotatable wheel with a notch formed as a slot within the rotatable wheel and having a closed curve geometry comprising: a curved section, and a linear section; at least one cross beam movably arranged and engageable to the injection needle to move the injection needle between the retracted position and the extended position, wherein at least one the cross beam comprises a cam adapted to engage the notch, wherein the notch runs from a center of the rotatable wheel towards a perimeter of the rotatable wheel and back to the center, wherein a needle retainer is adapted to retain the needle base; and a drug container coupled to the injection needle, the drug container carrying a medicament consisting of at least one pharmaceutically active compound. ### Claim 19 Drive mechanism for a needle insertion arrangement of an injection device, the drive mechanism comprising: a rotatable wheel with a notch having a closed curve geometry comprising: a curved section, and a linear section; at least one cross beam movably arranged and engageable to an injection needle to move the injection needle between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein at least one the cross beam comprises a cam adapted to engage the notch; a needle retainer adapted to retain the injection needle, movable in parallel with the at least one cross beam and adapted to be engaged by the at least one cross beam, wherein the at least one cross beam comprises a proximal cross beam and a distal cross beam, wherein the needle retainer comprises a distal prong adapted to be engaged by the distal cross beam and a proximal prong adapted to be engaged by the proximal cross beam, the distal prong and the proximal prong spaced from each other, wherein a distance between the distal prong and the proximal prong corresponds to a length of the linear section of the notch.