# US 10,441,729 B2 · Autoinjector with selectable release mode

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- Number: US 10,441,729 B2
- Document ID: US10441729B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/255,635
- Filed: 2016-09-02
- Published: 2016-12-22
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2014-03-06
- Assignees: TecPharma Licensing AG
- Applicants: TecPharma Licensing AG
- Inventors: Markus Tschirren; Jürg Hirschel; Marc Fiechter
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441729B2

## CPC

- A61M 5/3257: {Semi-automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve extension requires a deliberate action by the user, e.g. manual release of spring-biased extension means}
- A61M 5/2033: {Spring-loaded one-shot injectors with or without automatic needle insertion (multishot dosing syringes A61M5/31525, needle insertion only A61M5/3287)}
- A61M 5/31505: {Integral with the syringe barrel, i.e. connected to the barrel so as to make up a single complete piece or unit}
- A61M 5/3157: {Means providing feedback signals when administration is completed (A61M5/20 takes precedence)}
- A61M 5/3158: {the component being manually operated or triggered by an axially moving actuator operated by user, e.g. an axially movable injection button}
- A61M 5/206: {with automatic needle insertion}
- A61M 5/326: {Fully automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve does not require a deliberate action by the user}
- A61M 2005/2013: {triggering of discharging means by contact of injector with patient body}
- A61M 2005/2026: {Semi-automatic, e.g. user activated piston is assisted by additional source of energy}
- A61M 2005/2073: {preventing premature release, e.g. by making use of a safety lock}
- A61M 2005/208: {Release is possible only when device is pushed against the skin, e.g. using a trigger which is blocked or inactive when the device is not pushed against the skin}
- A61M 2205/581: by audible feedback
- A61M 2205/582: by tactile feedback
- 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

An injection device for administering a liquid medicament includes a generally elongate housing, a syringe holder in which a syringe can be placed, said syringe containing a medication, a stop and a needle on the distal area thereof, a needle protection housing which is arranged so it can be moved axially on the housing and which protrudes at a certain distance from the distal end of the housing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An injection device for injecting medicaments, comprising:
a housing;
a needle protection sleeve, a portion of which is configured to protrude from a distal end of the housing;
a needle protection spring configured to move the needle protection sleeve from a proximal position into a distal position;
a syringe device comprising a syringe holder, which is axially moveable in the needle protection sleeve, a syringe comprising a piston, a medicament and a needle on a distal end of the syringe device, wherein the syringe is placed in the syringe holder of the syringe device;
a holding device;
a releasing element surrounding the holding device and in contact with the needle protection spring;
a drive device configured to be axially moveable in the housing and to be uncoupled from the holding device, wherein the drive device stores energy for moving the syringe holder in a distal direction and for discharging the medicament by advancing the piston in the distal direction in the syringe; and
a release button assembly comprising a release button for enabling the drive device to be uncoupled from the holding device,
wherein the release button is operatively connected to the drive device and to the holding device, such that a distal movement of the release button causes the drive device to move distally whereby the holding device is shifted by the drive device in the distal direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The injection device of claim 1, wherein the drive device comprises a piston rod and a drive spring, wherein the drive spring is configured to move the piston rod such that the drive spring first moves the syringe holder via the piston rod in the distal direction, and then moves the piston via the piston rod for discharging the medicament.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The injection device of claim 2, wherein before releasing the injection device, the release button is operatively connected to the piston rod by a connecting element such that a distal movement of the release button moves the piston rod in the distal direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The injection device of claim 2, wherein the drive spring is arranged between a distal wall of the piston rod and a proximal end of the holding device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The injection device of claim 2, wherein the holding device comprises spring arms, and the piston rod comprises a groove on its outer surface into which the spring arms are configured to detachably engage.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The injection device of claim 5, wherein the release button assembly comprises a supporting surface operatively coupled to the piston rod such that in response to a shifting of the release button from a proximal position into a distal position, the piston rod shifts from a first position into a second position, and the holding device is shifted in the distal direction by the spring arms of the holding device, which engage in the groove of the piston rod.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The injection device of claim 5, wherein the piston rod is held against a force of the drive spring by the spring arms of the holding device being in a detachable engagement with the groove of the piston rod, and wherein the releasing element surrounds the spring arms and prevents the spring arms from opening.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The injection device of claim 7, wherein the needle protection spring is arranged between the releasing element and the holding device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The injection device of claim 7, wherein the needle protection sleeve and the releasing element can be shifted together in the proximal direction with respect to the holding device when the needle protection sleeve is pushed against an injection site, and wherein, for releasing the drive device, the holding device and the releasing element move towards one another in order to release the spring arms of the holding device from the groove of the piston rod such that the piston rod can be moved via the force of the drive spring in the distal direction to first advance the syringe holder and then the piston in the distal direction.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The injection device of claim 7, wherein once the distal area of the needle protection sleeve is removed from the injection site, the needle protection sleeve and the releasing element can be moved by the force of the needle protection spring in relation to the housing and to the holding device in the distal direction.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The injection device of claim 7, wherein the releasing element comprises blocking means, such that, after the needle protection sleeve and the releasing element have moved in the distal direction, another proximal movement of the needle protection sleeve can be prevented.

### Claim 12 (depends on 5)

The injection device according to claim 5, wherein the holding device is configured such that it can be moved by the needle protection spring and/or the drive spring in the proximal direction once a proximal end of the piston rod has moved in a distal direction past the spring arms of the holding device such that the spring arms are moved radially inward.

### Claim 13 (depends on 5)

The injection device according to claim 5, wherein the holding device is configured to be movable by the needle protection spring and/or the drive spring in the proximal direction once a proximal end of the piston rod has moved in a distal direction past the spring arms of the holding device such that a proximal area of the holding device abuts against a proximal housing portion of the housing and causes an acoustic and/or tactile signal to be generated.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The injection device of claim 1, wherein the holding device and the release button are movable relative to one another by a free movement distance such that when the holding device is released, the holding device can be moved in the proximal direction over the movement distance.

### Claim 15

An injection device for injecting a medicament, comprising:
a housing;
a needle protection sleeve axially movable relative to the housing and configured to extend past a distal end of the housing when moved into a distal position by a needle protection spring;
a syringe holder axially moveable in the needle protection sleeve, the syringe holder configured to hold a syringe comprising a piston;
a drive device comprising a piston rod and a drive spring, the drive device configured to be axially moveable in the housing, wherein the drive spring stores energy for moving the syringe holder in the distal direction and for discharging the medicament to be injected;
a holding device configured to be releasably coupled with the drive device;
and
a release button for enabling the drive device to be uncoupled from the holding device,
wherein a distal movement of the release button causes the piston rod to move distally and to drive the holding device in the distal direction.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The injection device of claim 15, wherein the holding device comprises spring arms, and the piston rod comprises a groove on its outer surface into which the spring arms are configured to detachably engage.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The injection device of claim 16, wherein in response to a shifting of the release button from a proximal position into a distal position, the piston rod shifts from a first position into a second position, and the holding device is shifted in the distal direction by the spring arms of the holding device being detachably engaged in the groove of the piston rod.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The injection device according to claim 16, wherein the holding device is configured to be movable by the needle protection spring and/or the drive spring in the proximal direction once a proximal end of the piston rod has moved in a distal direction past the spring arms of the holding device such that a proximal area of the holding device abuts against a proximal housing portion of the housing and causes an acoustic and/or tactile signal to be generated.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The injection device of claim 16, wherein the piston rod is held against a force of the drive spring by the spring arms of the holding device being in a detachable engagement with the groove of the piston rod, and wherein a releasing element surrounds the spring arms and prevents the spring arms from opening, the releasing element being in contact with the needle protection spring.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The injection device of claim 19, wherein for releasing the drive device, the holding device and the releasing element move in opposite directions to thereby release the detachable engagement between the spring arms of the holding device and the groove of the piston rod such that the piston rod can be moved via the force of the drive spring in the distal direction to first move the syringe holder and then discharge the medicament to be injected.

### Claim 21 (depends on 15)

The injection device of claim 15, wherein the release button comprises extension arms with supporting surfaces that reach, when the release button is pushed from a proximal position into a distal position, a proximal area of the piston rod to shift the piston rod.