# US 10,441,714 B2 · Protective case for an auto-injector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,714 B2 - Document ID: US10441714B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/152,934 - Filed: 2018-10-05 - Published: 2019-04-11 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-05 - Assignees: Pirouette Medical LLC - Applicants: Pirouette Medical LLC - Inventors: Elijah Kapas; Matthew Kane; Conor Cullinane - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441714B2 ## CPC - A61M 5/14248: {of the skin patch type} - A47J 41/02: Vacuum-jacket vessels, e.g. vacuum bottles - A61M 5/002: {Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. packages for syringes or needles or kits for diabetics} - A61M 5/20: Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically (A61M5/142 takes precedence) - A61M 5/3287: {Accessories for bringing the needle into the body; Automatic needle insertion (A61M5/20, A61M5/31525 take precedence)} - A61M 2005/14252: {with needle insertion means} - A61M 2005/1426: {with means for preventing access to the needle after use} - A61M 2005/2006: {Having specific accessories} - A61M 2209/06: Packaging for specific medical equipment - 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)} - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES ## Abstract The application describes a protective case for an auto-injector. The medicament contained within these auto-injectors can be susceptible to degradation due to exposure to extreme temperatures and light. Thus, one embodiment of the protective case reduces the rate of heat transfer between the internal storage compartment of the case and the external atmosphere by including particularly configured vacuum chambers. Additionally, as auto-injectors become smaller, portability can be desirable. Thus, another embodiment of the protective case includes low-profile cases that allow the user to keep the auto-injector with them, e.g., by attaching the case to a common everyday item. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A protective case for enclosing a compact auto-injector used for delivering a medicament dose, the protective case comprising: a lower portion comprising: a double wall forming a void therebetween that forms a sealed lower vacuum chamber; and a lower sidewall flange, wherein the lower vacuum chamber extends within at least a portion of the lower sidewall flange; and a mating upper portion comprising: a double wall forming a void therebetween that forms a sealed upper vacuum chamber; and an upper sidewall flange, wherein the upper vacuum chamber extends within at least a portion of the upper sidewall flange; such that when the lower portion and the upper portion are mated, the lower and upper sidewall flanges overlap to form a substantially sealed thermally isolated interior cavity for receiving the auto-injector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, wherein the case is substantially symmetrical about a horizontal plane. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, wherein the case is substantially uniform about a central vertical axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, wherein a pressure in each of the lower vacuum chamber and the upper vacuum chamber is less than about 0.1 torr. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, wherein the lower portion and the upper portion are disk-shaped. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, wherein the lower sidewall flange and the upper sidewall flange overlap at least one of axially, radially, and circumferentially. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, wherein the lower sidewall flange and the upper sidewall flange overlap axially, radially, and circumferentially. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, wherein mating surfaces of the lower sidewall flange and the upper sidewall flange at least one of (i) form a threaded interface or (ii) are sized to maintain a sliding interference fit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a lower insulating ring disposed about an interior perimeter of the lower sidewall flange and an upper insulating ring disposed about an interior perimeter of the upper sidewall flange. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The protective case of claim 9, wherein the insulating ring comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a closed cell polymer foam, an open cell polymer foam, rubber, TP, TPE, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a lower stabilizing element disposed within the lower portion and an upper stabilizing element disposed within the upper portion to support the auto-injector when disposed in the interior cavity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The protective case of claim 11, wherein the stabilizing element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a closed cell polymer foam, an open cell polymer foam, rubber, TP, TPE, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, wherein the protective case comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metal, polymer, a composite material, a ceramic, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, further comprising an attachment device to facilitate a user carrying the case. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The protective case of claim 14, wherein the attachment device comprises an element selected from the group consisting of an adjustable elastic strap, a non-elastic strap, a wrist strap, a wrist band, a clip, a tether, a necklace, a pin, a clamp, a mount, a tab forming an eyelet, an adhesive layer, a hand grip surface, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, further characterized by an absence of active thermal control of the interior cavity. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, wherein, when the lower portion and the upper portion are mated, the substantially sealed thermally isolated interior cavity is at least one of substantially watertight and substantially water resistant. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, further comprising an external surface selected from the group consisting of a coating, an embossed surface, a ribbed surface, a grip, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, further comprising a reflective coating disposed on an interior surface of the lower vacuum chamber and the upper vacuum chamber. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, wherein the interior cavity is adapted to receive multiple autoinjectors. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective case forms a second cavity for receiving a second device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the second device is selected from the group consisting of a cell phone and a second auto-injector device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interior cavity circumscribes at least a portion of the auto-injector device. ### Claim 24 A method of thermally isolating a compact auto-injector containing a medicament dose from ambient environmental temperatures, the method comprising the steps of: providing a protective case comprising: a lower portion comprising: a double wall forming a void therebetween that forms a sealed lower vacuum chamber; and a lower sidewall flange, wherein the lower vacuum chamber extends within at least a portion of the lower sidewall flange; and a mating upper portion comprising: a double wall forming a void therebetween that forms a sealed upper vacuum chamber; and an upper sidewall flange, wherein the upper vacuum chamber extends within at least a portion of the upper sidewall flange; placing the auto-injector into an interior cavity portion formed by at least one of the lower portion and the upper portion; and mating the lower and upper sidewall flanges in overlapping relation to form a substantially sealed thermally isolated interior cavity for the auto-injector. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of providing an attachment device to associate the protective case with a user. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the attachment device comprises an element selected from the group consisting of an adjustable elastic strap, a non-elastic strap, a wrist strap, a wrist band, a clip, a tether, a necklace, a pin, a clamp, a mount, a tab forming an eyelet, an adhesive layer, a hand grip surface, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, further characterized by an absence of actively thermally controlling the interior cavity. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the protective case forms a second cavity for receiving a second device. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the second device is selected from the group consisting of a cell phone and a second auto-injector device. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the interior cavity circumscribes at least a portion of the auto-injector device.