# US 10,478,559 B2 · Prefilled syringe with breakaway force feature > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,559 B2 - Document ID: US10478559B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/702,275 - Filed: 2015-05-01 - Published: 2015-08-20 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-06 - Assignees: Antares Pharma, Inc. - Applicants: Antares Pharma, Inc. - Inventors: James W. Lannan; Julius C. Sund - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478559B2 ## CPC - 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 5/50: having means for preventing re-use, or for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile {(retractable needles or needle protectors with means for preventing re-use A61M5/321)} - A61M 2005/2013: {triggering of discharging means by contact of injector with patient body} - A61M 2005/2073: {preventing premature release, e.g. by making use of a safety lock} - A61M 2005/3267: {Biased sleeves where the needle is uncovered by insertion of the needle into a patient's body} - 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 A jet injector that includes a prefilled syringe. The syringe includes a fluid chamber that contains a medicament. The syringe also has an injection-assisting needle, and a plunger is movable within the fluid chamber. A housing is configured for allowing insertion of the needle to a penetration depth. The housing includes a retractable guard and an interference component, e.g., a lock ring, adjacent to the retractable guard that interferes with the movement of the retractable guard. An energy source is configured for biasing the plunger to produce an injecting pressure to jet inject the medicament from the fluid chamber through the needle to an injection site. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An injection device, comprising: a prefilled syringe comprising: a container portion defining a fluid chamber containing a medicament; a needle configured to deliver the medicament from the fluid chamber into an injection site; a plunger movable within the fluid chamber; a housing that houses the prefilled syringe and is configured to allow insertion of the needle at an injection location, the housing comprising: a retractable guard that is movable between a protecting position in which the needle is disposed within the retractable guard and an injecting position in which a tip of the needle is exposed for insertion into the injection site; a biasing element configured to bias the retractable guard toward the protecting position, and a locking element having at least one abutment arm, the abutment arm having at least one tapered portion and an engagement portion axially adjacent to the at least one tapered portion, the engagement portion configured to resist the movement of the retractable guard when the retractable guard is moved from the protecting position toward the injecting position; and an energy source configured to bias the plunger with a force selected to produce an injecting pressure on the medicament in the fluid chamber to inject the medicament from the fluid chamber through the needle to the injection site, wherein a breakaway force is configured to be applied to the retractable guard to overcome the resistance to movement of the retractable guard caused by the engagement portion of the abutment arm, wherein the breakaway force is equal to or greater than a trigger force, wherein the trigger force causes injection of the medicament. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The injection device of claim 1, wherein the trigger force is applied to the injection device to cause injection of the fluid from the fluid chamber into the injection site. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The injection device of claim 1, wherein the breakaway force is greater than a frictional force from friction between the retractable guard and the injection device as the retractable guard moves from the protecting position toward the injecting position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The injection device of claim 1, wherein the breakaway force is applied during an initial movement of the retractable guard toward the injecting position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The injection device of claim 1, wherein the abutment arm is directly coupled to the housing of the injection device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The injection device of claim 1, wherein the abutment arm is in a sleeve separate from the housing of the injection device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The injection device of claim 1, wherein the abutment arm is part of a lock ring. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The injection device of claim 1, wherein the injection device is a jet injection device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The injection device of claim 1, wherein the engagement portion extends radially outwardly relative to a longitudinal axis of the injection device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The injection device of claim 1, further comprising: a second abutment arm including a second abutment arm tapered portion and a second abutment arm face. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The injection device of claim 10, wherein the at least one abutment arm includes a first abutment arm face and the first abutment arm face is longer axially than the second abutment arm face. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The injection device of claim 10, wherein the at least one abutment arm includes a face adjacent to the engagement portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The injection device of claim 10, wherein the second abutment arm face is adjacent to the second abutment arm tapered portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The injection device of claim 10, wherein the second abutment arm tapered portion is longer axially than the at least one tapered portion. ### Claim 15 An injection device comprising: a locking element configured to engage a needle guard, the locking element having a body with at least one abutment arm extending axially in a distal direction from the body, the at least one abutment arm having a tapered portion and an engagement portion axially adjacent to the tapered portion, the engagement portion extending radially outwardly relative to a longitudinal axis of the body, the engagement portion configured to resist the movement of the needle guard when the needle guard is moved at least partially from a protecting position toward an injecting position, wherein the locking element includes a flap extending axially further in the distal direction than the at least one abutment arm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The injection device of claim 15, wherein the abutment arm is dimensioned to fit within a housing of the injection device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The injection device of claim 15, wherein the abutment arm is coupled to a housing of the injection device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The injection device of claim 15, wherein the abutment arm is coupled to a sleeve separate from a housing of the injection device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The injection device of claim 15, wherein the abutment arm is part of a lock ring. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The injection device of claim 15, wherein the injection device is a jet injection device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The injection device of claim 15, wherein the flap is circumferentially adjacent to the at least one abutment arm. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The injection device of claim 15, wherein the flap is circumferentially spaced from the at least one abutment arm.