Auto-injector assembly
AssigneeNew Injection Systems Ltd.
InventorStephen Dunne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An auto-injector assembly comprises a medicament container defining a substantially cylindrical chamber containing a liquid medicament. A proximal end of the chamber is closed by a piston and a distal end of the chamber is closed by a seal spanning an opening. A biasing means, such as a spring, is coupled to the piston and acts to bias the piston towards the seal, thereby pressurizing the liquid medicament. The assembly also comprises a hypodermic needle and a removable needle cap for maintaining the hypodermic needle in sterile conditions until use. A means for establishes fluid communication between the chamber and the hypodermic needle such that the pressurized liquid medicament is automatically delivered through the hypodermic needle when communication has been established.
Claims20
An auto-injector assembly comprising:
- a medicament container defining a substantially cylindrical chamber containing a liquid medicament, a proximal end of the chamber being closed by a piston slidably located within the cylindrical chamber, and a distal end of the chamber being closed by a container seal spanning an opening at a distal end of the medicament container, wherein the container seal is a pierceable septum;
- biasing means coupled to the piston and acting to bias the piston towards the container seal, thereby pressurizing the liquid medicament;
- a hypodermic needle for parenteral administration of the liquid medicament;
- a removable needle cap for maintaining the hypodermic needle in sterile conditions until use;
- and
- means for establishing fluid communication between the chamber and the hypodermic needle such that the pressurized liquid medicament is automatically delivered through the hypodermic needle when the fluid communication has been established;
- wherein the means for establishing fluid communication is a valve comprising a valve housing defining a bore, wherein the valve housing is coupled to the distal end of the container such that the pierceable septum is located at a proximal end of the bore, and a shuttle is slidably retained within the bore, the shuttle comprising a piercing element for piercing the pierceable septum when the shuttle is moved towards the proximal end of the bore to establish the fluid communication between the chamber and the hypodermic needle;
- and
- wherein the liquid medicament is stored under positive pressure relative to atmosphere at all times during its shelf life.
A method of producing an auto-injector assembly, comprising the steps of:
- filling a medicament container with a liquid medicament and sealing the liquid medicament within the container by applying a container seal to a distal opening of the container, wherein the container seal is a pierceable septum, the liquid medicament being retained within the medicament container under positive pressure relative to atmosphere at all times during its shelf life;
- coupling a hypodermic needle to the container via a means for establishing fluid communication between the liquid medicament and the hypodermic needle, the means being a valve comprising a valve housing defining a bore, wherein the valve housing is coupled to a distal end of the container such that the pierceable septum is located at a proximal end of the bore, and a shuttle is slidably retained within the bore, the shuttle comprising a piercing element for piercing the pierceable septum when the shuttle is moved towards the proximal end of the bore to establish fluid communication between the container and the hypodermic needle;
- protecting the hypodermic needle with a removable needle cap for maintaining the hypodermic needle in sterile conditions until use, the needle cap not being in contact with the needle;
- and
- sealing the valve housing to the container such that the piercing element is maintained in sterile conditions until use;
- wherein the filling, coupling, protecting, and sealing steps are carried out in a sterile environment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.