# US 10,369,279 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 10,369,279 B2 - Document ID: US10369279B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/916,694 - 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/US10369279B2 ## 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) including:—a cross beam (16) linearly movable in a distal direction (D) and a proximal direction (P) for moving an injection needle (2),—an actuator (5),—a slider (12) coupled to the actuator (5) and linearly movable in a transversal direction (T) at right angles relative the distal direction D and the proximal direction D,—a cam (14) on one of the cross beam (16) and the slider (12),—a guide track (13) in the other one of the cross beam (16) and the slider (12) adapted to engage the cam (14), the guide track including a sloped section (13.3) such that the cross beam (16) is moved on movement of the slider (12). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drive mechanism for a needle insertion arrangement of an injection device, the drive mechanism comprising: a cross beam linearly movable in a distal direction and a proximal direction for moving an injection needle; an actuator; a slider coupled to the actuator and linearly movable in a transversal direction at right angles relative the distal direction and the proximal direction; a cam extending from the cross beam or the slider; and a guide track in the cross beam or the slider that the cam does not extend from, the guide track adapted to engage the cam, the guide track comprising a sloped section such that the cross beam is moved on movement of the slider, wherein the cam has a first position on the sloped section and a second position on the sloped section such that, as the cam moves from the first position to the second position, the needle moves from a retracted position to an extended position; and wherein the entire sloped section is arranged at a first angle with respect to the transversal direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drive mechanism according to claim 1, comprising a needle retainer adapted to retain an injection needle, the needle retainer arranged to be moved between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the needle retainer is adapted to be moved by the cross beam. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The drive mechanism according to claim 2, wherein at least one linear guide is arranged for guiding the needle retainer or the cross beam. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The drive mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the needle retainer is integrated with the cross beam. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the guide track further comprises: a proximal transversal section aligned in the transversal direction; a distal transversal section aligned in the transversal direction and offset relative the proximal transversal section in the distal direction and in the transversal direction, wherein the sloped section connects the proximal transversal section with the distal transversal section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the guide track comprises a sigmoid shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the guide track comprises a notch milled into the slider or into the cross beam. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator coupled to the slider. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises an electrical motor coupled to a pinion engaged to a rack arranged on or coupled to the slider. ### Claim 10 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 cross beam linearly movable in a distal direction and a proximal direction for moving an injection needle; an actuator; a slider coupled to the actuator and linearly movable in a transversal direction at right angles relative the distal direction and the proximal direction; a cam extending from the cross beam or the slider; and a guide track in the cross beam or the slider that the cam does not extend from, the guide track adapted to engage the cam, the guide track comprising a sloped section such that the cross beam is moved on movement of the slider, wherein the cam has a first position on the sloped section and a second position on the sloped section such that, as the cam moves from the first position to the second position, the needle moves from a retracted position to an extended position, and wherein the entire sloped section is arranged at a first angle with respect to the transversal direction, wherein a needle retainer is adapted to retain the needle base. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The insertion arrangement according to claim 10, comprising the needle retainer, the needle retainer arranged to be moved between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the needle retainer is adapted to be moved by the cross beam. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The insertion arrangement according to claim 11, wherein at least one linear guide is arranged for guiding the needle retainer or the cross beam. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The insertion arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the needle retainer is integrated with the cross beam. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The insertion arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the guide track further comprises: a proximal transversal section aligned in the transversal direction; a distal transversal section aligned in the transversal direction and offset relative the proximal transversal section in the distal direction and in the transversal direction, wherein the sloped section connects the proximal transversal section with the distal transversal section. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The insertion arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the guide track comprises a sigmoid shape. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The insertion arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the guide track comprises a notch milled into the slider or into the cross beam. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The insertion arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator coupled to the slider. ### 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; a drive mechanism comprising: a cross beam linearly movable in a distal direction and a proximal direction for moving an injection needle; an actuator; a slider coupled to the actuator and linearly movable in a transversal direction at right angles relative the distal direction and the proximal direction; a cam extending from the cross beam or the slider; and a guide track in the cross beam or the slider that the cam does not extend from, the guide track adapted to engage the cam, the guide track comprising a sloped section such that the cross beam is moved on movement of the slider, wherein the cam has a first position on the sloped section and a second position on the sloped section such that, as the cam moves from the first position to the second position, the needle moves from a retracted position to an extended position, and wherein the entire sloped section is arranged at a first angle with respect to the transversal direction, wherein a needle retainer is adapted to retain the needle base; and wherein the injection needle is configured to couple with a drug container, the drug container carrying a medicament consisting of at least one pharmaceutically active compound.