# US 10,765,809 B2 · Auto-injector for epinephrine injection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,809 B2 - Document ID: US10765809B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/622,812 - Filed: 2017-06-14 - Published: 2017-12-07 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-09 - Assignees: Merck Patent GmbH - Applicants: Merck Patent GmbH - Inventors: Soeren Bechmann; Flemming Madsen; Esben Johansen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765809B2 ## 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 5/3204: {Needle cap removers, i.e. devices to dislodge protection cover from needle or needle hub, e.g. deshielding devices} - 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 5/002: {Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. packages for syringes or needles or kits for diabetics} - A61M 5/206: {with automatic needle insertion} - A61M 5/3157: {Means providing feedback signals when administration is completed (A61M5/20 takes precedence)} - A61M 2005/2013: {triggering of discharging means by contact of injector with patient body} - A61M 2005/202: {cocking means, e.g. to bias the main drive spring of an injector} - A61M 2005/3267: {Biased sleeves where the needle is uncovered by insertion of the needle into a patient's body} - A61M 2205/581: by audible feedback - A61M 2205/583: by visual 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 A reloadable auto injector has a needle insertion driver to be re-activated upon reloading. A syringe is movably positioned in a housing between a first position and a second position. A plunger rod is locked to a plunger rod tube by a deflectable locking member. A syringe driver applies a force to the syringe to move the syringe together with plunger rod tube, plunger rod and plunger rod driver from the first position to the second position. In the second position, the locking member is unlocked and releases the plunger rod to thereby activate the plunger rod driver to advance the plunger rod in the syringe for delivering of medicament. A reload handle is connected to the syringe assembly so that user operation of the reload handle retracts the syringe to the first position and simultaneously reloads the syringe driver for delivering a further dose of medicament. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reloadable auto injector comprising: a needle insertion driver having a first spring and an injection driver having a second spring within a housing, wherein the reloadable auto injector is configured to perform a first injection sequence when pressed against a skin of a patient, the first injection sequence comprising the needle insertion driver being configured to drive a syringe having a needle in a distal direction and the injection driver being configured to drive a syringe stopper in the distal direction to a first stopper position to eject a first fluid portion through the needle, wherein the reloadable auto injector is configured to perform a second injection sequence when pressed against the skin of the patient, wherein the needle insertion driver is configured to be re-activated upon reloading of the auto injector within the housing, and wherein the reloadable auto injector is configured to perform the second injection sequence after reloading, the second injection sequence comprising the needle insertion driver being configured to drive the syringe having the needle in the distal direction and the injection driver being configured to drive the syringe stopper in the distal direction from the first stopper position to a second stopper position to eject a second fluid portion through the needle, wherein the reloadable auto injector is configured to retract the syringe and the injection driver within the housing during reloading. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A reloadable auto injector according to claim 1, further comprising: a plunger rod tube coupled to the needle insertion driver and arranged to drive the syringe in the distal direction, the plunger rod tube comprising a first locking member and a second locking member; and a plunger rod coupled to the injection driver and movable relative to the plunger rod tube, the plunger rod being configured to advance the syringe stopper, the plunger rod comprising a plunger rod stop to engage with the first locking member and the second locking member; wherein, when the plunger rod tube is in a first position, the first locking member is in engagement with the plunger rod stop to prevent the plunger rod from advancing, and wherein, during the first injection sequence, when the plunger rod tube is in a second position, the first locking member is disengaged with the plunger rod stop allowing the plunger rod to be advanced to the first stopper position and wherein the second locking member is in engagement with the plunger rod stop after the first injection sequence to prevent the plunger rod from being further advanced. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A reloadable auto injector according to claim 2, wherein, during the second injection sequence, when the plunger rod tube is returned to the second position, the second locking member is disengaged with the plunger rod stop to allow the plunger rod to be advanced to the second stopper position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A reloadable auto injector according to claim 2, further comprising: a syringe lock comprising a syringe lock guide slot, the syringe lock guide slot having a syringe lock resting ledge; wherein the plunger rod tube comprises a plunger rod tab being configured to move in the syringe lock guide slot, and wherein the syringe lock is rotatable relative to the plunger rod tube, wherein, in a first angular position, the plunger rod tab rests on the syringe lock resting ledge to prevent the plunger rod tube from advancing from the first position, and wherein, in a second angular position, the plunger rod tab is free of the syringe lock resting ledge to allow the plunger rod tube to advance to the second position, the second position being axially displaced relative to the first position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A reloadable auto injector according to claim 4, further comprising: the syringe lock being at least partly arranged inside the housing, the plunger rod tube being at least partly arranged inside the syringe lock, and the plunger rod being at least partly arranged inside the plunger rod tube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A reloadable auto injector according to claim 4, wherein the auto injector is configured to rotate the syringe lock to the first angular position between the first and the second injection sequences during reloading of the auto injector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) A reloadable auto injector according to claim 4, further comprising a skin sensor configured to interact with the syringe lock to rotate the syringe lock from the first angular position to the second angular position when the skin sensor is activated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A reloadable auto injector according to claim 7, wherein the skin sensor comprises an angled surface configured to engage with a surface of the syringe lock to thereby force the syringe lock to rotate when the skin sensor is activated. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A reloadable auto injector according to claim 7, wherein the syringe lock comprises an angled surface configured to engage with a surface of the skin sensor to thereby force the syringe lock to rotate when the skin sensor is activated. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) A reloadable auto injector according to claim 2, wherein the auto injector is configured to retract the plunger rod tube from the second position to the first position between the first and the second injection sequences during reloading of the auto injector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) A reloadable auto injector according to claim 2, wherein, when the plunger rod tube is in the first position after the auto injector is reloaded for the second injection sequence, the second locking member is in engagement with the plunger rod stop to prevent the plunger rod from being further advanced, and wherein, when the plunger rod tube is in the second position after the auto injector is reloaded, the second locking member is disengaged with the plunger rod stop to allow the plunger rod to advance. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A reloadable auto injector according to claim 1 further comprising a reload mechanism configured to manually reload the auto injector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) A reloadable auto injector according to claim 2, further comprising a reload handle configured to unlock the first locking member and to release the plunger rod from the plunger rod tube. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A reloadable auto injector according to claim 13, further comprising a torsion ring to connect the reload handle with the plunger rod tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A reloadable auto injector according to claim 14, further comprising a torsion ring tab on the torsion ring to connect the reload handle and the plunger rod tube. ### Claim 16 A reloadable auto injector comprising: a needle insertion driver having a first spring within a housing; an injection driver having a second spring within the housing; a syringe having a needle within the housing; and a syringe stopper, the reloadable auto injector configured to perform a first injection sequence when pressed against a skin of a patient, wherein the needle insertion driver is configured to drive the syringe having the needle in a distal direction and the injection driver is configured to drive the syringe stopper in the distal direction to a first stopper position to eject a first fluid portion through the needle, and the reloadable auto injector configured to perform a second injection sequence when pressed against the skin of the patient, wherein the needle insertion driver is configured to be re-activated upon a reloading operation of the auto injector using a reload handle to retract the syringe and the injection driver within the housing, wherein the reloadable auto injector is configured to perform the second injection sequence after the reloading operation, wherein the second injection sequence includes the needle insertion driver being configured to drive the syringe having the needle in the distal direction and the injection driver being configured to drive the syringe stopper in the distal direction to a second stopper position to eject a second fluid portion through the needle.