# US 10,500,341 B2 · Assembly for an autoinjector device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,500,341 B2 - Document ID: US10500341B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/909,689 - Filed: 2014-08-04 - Published: 2016-06-23 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-08-02 - Assignees: Bespak Europe Limited; Ucb Biopharma Sprl - Applicants: Bespak Europe Limited; UCB Biopharma SPRL - Inventors: Martin John McLoughlin; Ian Darnell; Matt Ekman; Ian Anderson; Neil Bentley Cammish - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500341B2 ## CPC - A61M 5/3134: {characterised by constructional features of the distal end, i.e. end closest to the tip of the needle cannula} - A61M 5/20: Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically (A61M5/142 takes precedence) - 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 5/24: Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or cartridges, e.g. automatic - A61M 2005/3142: {Modular constructions, e.g. supplied in separate pieces to be assembled by end-user} - A61M 2205/19: Constructional features of carpules, syringes or blisters - 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 assembly for an auto injector device, the assembly including a syringe support for supporting a syringe by limiting forward axial movement of the syringe relative to the syringe support, and a guard element attachable to the syringe support by an attachment so that the guard element is axially restrained both axially forwardly and axially rearwardly relative to the syringe support by the attachment. Forwardly directed axial loads received by the guard element are transmitted to the syringe support via the attachment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An assembly for an autoinjector device, the assembly including: a syringe support for carrying a syringe installed therein, wherein the syringe support supports the syringe at a forward end of the syringe such as to limit forward axial movement of the syringe relative to the syringe support; and a guard element attachable to the syringe support; wherein the guard element is attachable to the syringe support so that the guard element is axially restrained both axially forwardly and axially rearwardly relative to the syringe support, wherein attachment of the guard element to the syringe support includes abutment of first abutment features on the syringe support and second abutment features on the guard element; wherein abutment of the first and second abutment features prevents forward axial movement of the guard element relative to the syringe support; and wherein forwardly directed axial loads received by an axially rearward surface of the guard element are transmitted to the syringe support via the abutment of the first and second abutment features without applying axial loading to a syringe carried by the syringe support. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the guard element is attachable to a rear end of the syringe support. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second abutment features of the guard element include a plurality of axially forwardly extending legs, and the first abutment features of said syringe support include an external flange, and forward axial movement of the guard element relative to the syringe support is limited by abutment of said plurality of axially forwardly extending legs against said external flange. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An assembly according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of axially forwardly extending legs form part of at least a pair of clasps, where each clasp includes a pair of the axially forwardly extending legs and a front cross beam extending circumferentially to connect the two legs of each pair of axially forwardly extending legs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An assembly according to claim 4, wherein each of said front cross beams forms the axially forwardmost portion of each respective clasp. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An assembly according to claim 5, wherein an axially forwardly facing surface of each front cross beam is tapered, the axially forwardly facing surface extending axially rearwardly in a radially outward direction, and an axially rearwardly facing surface of said external flange is also tapered in at least parts of said external flange, the axially rearwardly facing surface of said external flange at said parts of said external flange extending axially rearwardly in a radially outward direction so as to be complementary to the axially forwardly facing surface of each front cross beam. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the syringe support includes third abutment features and the guard element includes fourth abutment features and rearward axial movement of the guard element relative to the syringe support is limited by the abutment of the third and fourth abutment features. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An assembly according to claim 7, wherein the third abutment features of the syringe support include outwardly radially extending elbows and the fourth abutment features of said guard element include said front cross beams and rearward axial movement of the guard element relative to the syringe support is limited by the abutment of the elbows against said front cross beams. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An assembly according to claim 8, wherein axially rearwardly extending legs extend from said elbows. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An assembly according to claim 9, wherein said front cross beams have a recessed portion for facilitating assembly of the front cross beams over the axially rearwardly extending legs of said syringe support. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) An assembly according to claim 8, wherein said clasps each include a second cross beam that extends circumferentially to connect the two legs of each pair of axially forwardly extending legs, each second cross beam being axially rearward and axially spaced from the respective front cross beam. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the syringe support includes hooks that are configured to latch onto the guard element and limit rearward axial movement of the guard element relative to the syringe support. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An assembly according to claim 12, wherein each of said hooks is disposed on an axially rearwardly extending leg of the syringe support. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the axially rearward surface is an axially rearward surface of a flange. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) An assembly according to claim 14, wherein said guard element defines a central bore extending in an axial direction and the flange extends radially outwardly from the bore. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An assembly according to claim 15, wherein the axially rearward facing surface of the flange slopes axially forwardly along radial directions away from said bore. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) An assembly according to claim 15, wherein said guard element further comprises locating features for co-axially aligning the guard element with the rear end of a syringe. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An assembly according to claim 17, wherein said locating features comprise an axially forwardly extending spigot extending from an axially forwardly facing surface of the flange, the spigot defining part of said bore. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) An assembly according to claim 18, wherein the guard element is assembled on the syringe support. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) An assembly according to claim 19, further comprising a syringe supported by said syringe support, wherein at least part of said guard element is axially rearward of at least part of said syringe. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) An assembly according to claim 20, wherein said syringe comprises a barrel having an outlet at a forward end, a needle fluidly connected to said outlet, an open rear end, a plunger element moveable within said barrel, a plunger rod connected to said plunger element for moving said plunger element within said barrel, and a rear syringe flange extending radially outwardly from a rear end of the barrel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) An assembly according to claim 21, wherein an axially forwardly facing side of the guard element is shaped so as to be complementary to the profile of the rear syringe flange. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) An assembly according to claim 21, wherein the spigot is shaped so as to be complementary to the profile of the open rear end of the barrel. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) An assembly according to any of claim 20, wherein the syringe contains a liquid drug formulation. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) An assembly according to claim 24, wherein the barrel of said syringe has a volume corresponding to a single dose of said liquid drug formulation. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) An assembly according to claim 24, wherein the liquid drug formulation comprises an aqueous formulation of a therapeutic biologic type drug. ### Claim 27 (depends on 14) An assembly according to claim 14, wherein said axially rearward facing surface of said flange corresponds to part of the surface of a conic frustum. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein abutment of the first and second abutment features acts as an end-stop to prevent forward axial movement of the guard element relative to the syringe support. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the syringe support has a generally tubular body arranged for insertion therein of a syringe barrel of the syringe. ### Claim 30 An assembly for an autoinjector device, the assembly including: a syringe support for supporting a syringe by limiting forward axial movement of the syringe relative to the syringe support; and a guard element attachable to the syringe support; wherein the guard element is attachable to the syringe support so that the guard element is axially restrained both axially forwardly and axially rearwardly relative to the syringe support, wherein attachment of the guard element to the syringe support includes abutment of first abutment features on the syringe support and second abutment features on the guard element; wherein forward axial movement of the guard element relative to the syringe support is limited by the abutment of the first and second abutment features; wherein forwardly directed axial loads received by an axially rearward surface of the guard element are transmitted to the syringe support via the abutment of the first and second abutment features; wherein the second abutment features of the guard element include a plurality of axially forwardly extending legs, and the first abutment features of said syringe support include an external flange, and forward axial movement of the guard element relative to the syringe support is limited by abutment of said plurality of axially forwardly extending legs against said external flange; wherein said plurality of axially forwardly extending legs form part of at least a pair of clasps, where each clasp includes a pair of the axially forwardly extending legs and a front cross beam extending circumferentially to connect the two legs of each pair of axially forwardly extending legs; wherein the syringe support includes hooks that are configured to latch onto the guard element and limit rearward axial movement of the guard element relative to the syringe support; wherein each of said hooks is disposed on an axially rearwardly extending leg of the syringe support; and wherein the legs of each of said pair of axially forwardly extending legs of each clasp are circumferentially spaced to receive one of said axially rearwardly extending legs of said syringe support. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) An assembly according to claim 30, wherein said front cross beams have a recessed portion for facilitating assembly of the front cross beams over the axially rearwardly extending legs of said syringe support. ### Claim 32 (depends on 19) An autoinjector device including the assembly of claim 19. ### Claim 33 An assembly for an autoinjector device, the assembly including: a syringe support for carrying a syringe installed therein, by limiting forward axial movement of the syringe relative to the syringe support; and a guard element attachable to the syringe support; wherein the guard element is attachable to the syringe support so that the guard element is axially restrained both axially forwardly and axially rearwardly relative to the syringe support, wherein attachment of the guard element to the syringe support includes abutment of first abutment features on the syringe support and second abutment features on the guard element; wherein abutment of the first and second abutment features prevents forward axial movement of the guard element relative to the syringe support; wherein forwardly directed axial loads received by an axially rearward surface of the guard element are transmitted to the syringe support via the abutment of the first and second abutment features without applying axial loading to a syringe carried by the syringe support; wherein the axially rearward surface is an axially rearward surface of a flange; wherein said guard element defines a central bore extending in an axial direction and the flange extends radially outwardly from the bore; wherein said guard element further comprises locating features for co-axially aligning the guard element with the rear end of a syringe; and wherein said locating features comprise an axially forwardly extending spigot extending from an axially forwardly facing surface of the flange, the spigot defining part of said bore.