# US 10,478,603 B2 · Drug delivery device and methods having a retaining member > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,603 B2 - Document ID: US10478603B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/703,512 - Filed: 2017-09-13 - Published: 2018-01-04 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-25 - Assignees: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc. - Applicants: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc. - Inventors: Danielle L. Clay; Lloyd Snyder; Jeffrey A. Soucia; Michael Merves; Antonio Belton; Sean Corrigan; Keith Grider; Michael Honsing Lau; Derek Leatzow - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478603B2 ## CPC - A61M 37/0069: {Devices for implanting pellets, e.g. markers or solid medicaments (for introducing of radioactive sources for interstitial radiation therapy, i.e. brachytherapy A61N5/1027)} - A61M 5/31511: {Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod (A61M5/5066 takes precedence)} - A61M 5/31576: {Constructional features; Drive mechanisms or modes for piston rods} - A61M 2205/32: with radio-opaque indicia - A61M 2205/584: having a color code - A61M 2205/60: with identification means - 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 Various embodiments of a device, a kit and method for delivering a drug depot are disclosed. The device comprises a housing including a lower body, an upper body, a ring member; and a drug cartridge. The lower body defines a lower body channel. The upper body defines an upper body channel. The drug cartridge defines a depot channel. The ring member is disposed extending upward from an annular step surface of the lower body toward a housing upper end. The ring member includes indicia indicating a characteristic of one or more drug depots in the drug cartridge. A plunger has a push rod for expelling the drug depot through the cannula to a site in the patient. A kit comprises the above components. A method includes assembling the components including selecting a ring member having indicia corresponding to one or more drug depots in the drug cartridge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drug delivery device comprising: a housing comprising a cavity; and a drug cartridge removably positioned in the cavity, the drug cartridge comprising a first plate having a channel with a drug pellet positioned therein, the drug cartridge comprising a second plate that is coupled to the first plate, the second plate comprising a first end including a first cantilever arm and an opposite second end including a cantilever arm, the cantilever arms being configured to effect an elastic occlusion of the channel, wherein the second plate comprises an interior portion, a first gap between the interior portion and the first cantilever arm and a second gap between the interior portion and the second cantilever arm, wherein the interior portion comprises spaced apart bosses that are positioned within apertures of the first plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 1, wherein a force is required to deflect the cantilever arms so as to permit passage of the drug pellet through the channel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 1, wherein the cantilever arms are each configured to occlude the channel at an occluding position such that the drug pellet cannot pass through the channel at the occluding positions without force, greater than that of gravity, applied to the drug pellet sufficient to deflect one of the cantilever arms an amount permitting passage of the drug pellet past one of the cantilever arms. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 1, wherein the gaps are spaced apart from one another. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first cantilever arm comprises a first planar surface and a first protrusion that extends outwardly from the first planar surface and the second cantilever arm comprises a second planar surface and a second protrusion that extends outwardly from the second planar surface, the protrusions being configured to at least partially occlude the channel at proximal and distal positions of the channel to prevent passage of the drug pellet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 5, further comprising a push rod configured to apply a force to at least one of the cantilever arms to allow passage of the drug pellet through the channel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first plate comprises a pair of notches and the second plate comprises hook engaging protrusions that are positioned within the notches to couple the second plate to the first plate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 1, wherein the channel has a depth at least equal to a diameter of the drug pellet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first plate comprises ridges that mate with grooves of the housing to align the drug cartridge with the housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 1, wherein the drug cartridge comprises a clear material and the housing comprising a viewing aperture such that the drug pellet is viewable through the viewing aperture. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an opening that extends through a distal end of the housing, the opening being in communication with the channel. ### Claim 12 A drug delivery device comprising: a housing comprising a cavity; and a drug cartridge removably positioned in the cavity, the drug cartridge comprising a first plate having a channel with a drug pellet positioned therein, the drug cartridge comprising a second plate that is coupled to the first plate, the second plate comprising a first end including a first cantilever arm and an opposite second end including a cantilever arm, the cantilever arms being configured to effect an elastic occlusion of the channel, wherein the first plate comprises a pair of notches and the second plate comprises hook engaging protrusions that are positioned within the notches to couple the second plate to the first plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 12, wherein a force is required to deflect the cantilever arms so as to permit passage of the drug pellet through the channel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 12, wherein the cantilever arms are each configured to occlude the channel at an occluding position such that the drug pellet cannot pass through the channel at the occluding positions without force, greater than that of gravity, applied to the drug pellet sufficient to deflect one of the cantilever arms an amount permitting passage of the drug pellet past one of the cantilever arms. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 12, wherein the second plate comprises an interior portion, a first gap between the interior portion and the first cantilever arm and a second gap between the interior portion and the second cantilever arm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 15, wherein the gaps are spaced apart from one another. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 12, wherein the first cantilever arm comprises a first planar surface and a first protrusion that extends outwardly from the first planar surface and the second cantilever arm comprises a second planar surface and a second protrusion that extends outwardly from the second planar surface, the protrusions being configured to at least partially occlude the channel at proximal and distal positions of the channel to prevent passage of the drug pellet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 17, further comprising a push rod configured to apply a force to at least one of the cantilever arms to allow passage of the drug pellet through the channel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 12, wherein the channel has a depth at least equal to a diameter of the drug pellet. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 12, wherein the first plate comprises ridges that mate with grooves of the housing to align the drug cartridge with the housing. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 12, wherein the drug cartridge comprises a clear material and the housing comprising a viewing aperture such that the drug pellet is viewable through the viewing aperture. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 12, wherein the housing comprises an opening that extends through a distal end of the housing, the opening being in communication with the channel. ### Claim 23 A drug delivery device comprising: a housing comprising a cavity; and a drug cartridge removably positioned in the cavity, the drug cartridge comprising a first plate having a channel with a drug pellet positioned therein, the drug cartridge comprising a second plate that is coupled to the first plate, the second plate comprising a first end including a first cantilever arm and an opposite second end including a cantilever arm, the cantilever arms being configured to effect an elastic occlusion of the channel, wherein the first plate comprises ridges that mate with grooves of the housing to align the drug cartridge with the housing. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 23, wherein a force is required to deflect the cantilever arms so as to permit passage of the drug pellet through the channel. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 23, wherein the cantilever arms are each configured to occlude the channel at an occluding position such that the drug pellet cannot pass through the channel at the occluding positions without force, greater than that of gravity, applied to the drug pellet sufficient to deflect one of the cantilever arms an amount permitting passage of the drug pellet past one of the cantilever arms. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 23, wherein the second plate comprises an interior portion, a first gap between the interior portion and the first cantilever arm and a second gap between the interior portion and the second cantilever arm. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 26, wherein the gaps are spaced apart from one another. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 23, wherein the first cantilever arm comprises a first planar surface and a first protrusion that extends outwardly from the first planar surface and the second cantilever arm comprises a second planar surface and a second protrusion that extends outwardly from the second planar surface, the protrusions being configured to at least partially occlude the channel at proximal and distal positions of the channel to prevent passage of the drug pellet. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 28, further comprising a push rod configured to apply a force to at least one of the cantilever arms to allow passage of the drug pellet through the channel. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 23, wherein the channel has a depth at least equal to a diameter of the drug pellet. ### Claim 31 (depends on 23) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 23, wherein the drug cartridge comprises a clear material and the housing comprising a viewing aperture such that the drug pellet is viewable through the viewing aperture. ### Claim 32 (depends on 23) A drug delivery device as recited in claim 23, wherein the housing comprises an opening that extends through a distal end of the housing, the opening being in communication with the channel.