US 10,894,128 B2 · Drive control mechanisms and automatic injectors for injectable cartridges

Abstract

An automatic injector includes a housing having a guide, a drive control mechanism, a transmission assembly, a motor, and an energy source. The housing may further include a cartridge cover. A drive control mechanism includes a drive screw, a cartridge carrier, a plunger carrier, and one or more control transfer instruments, such as a puck or cylinder. The drive screw interfaces and connects with the plunger carrier. The automatic injector is configured to accept a variety of syringes as cartridges for drug delivery. The cartridges may be ejected from the injector and safely disposed after use, making the injector a reusable automatic injector. The reusable automatic injector may further include one or more sensors, such as a cartridge sensor and a patient sensor. The novel incorporation of the drive control mechanisms into the automatic injectors of the present invention enables a single motor and transmission assembly to drive the function of multiple components, which may include the steps of: preparation and alignment of a cartridge for injection, removal of a safety cap or needle shield, needle injection, drug dose delivery, and syringe and/or needle retraction. Methods of manufacture and methods of use are also disclosed.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method of operating an automatic injector to inject a fluid from a cartridge, the method comprising:

disposing the cartridge in the automatic injector with at least a portion of a barrel disposed within a cartridge carrier, and a plunger assembly disposed for confrontation with a plunger carrier, a needle end of the cartridge defining a distal end of the automatic injector and an opposite end of the cartridge defining a proximal end of the automatic injector;
coupling the cartridge carrier to the plunger carrier, the coupling including moving at least one transfer instrument from a first position, in which the transfer instrument engages only one of the either the cartridge carrier or the plunger carrier, to a second position, in which the transfer instrument engages both the cartridge carrier and the plunger carrier to couple the cartridge carrier and the plunger carrier together for contemporaneous movement;
utilizing a single drive mechanism to move the plunger carrier and the cartridge carrier to advance the cartridge in an axial direction toward the distal end;
decoupling the cartridge carrier from the plunger carrier;
utilizing the drive mechanism to move the plunger carrier in the axial direction toward the distal end to dispense the fluid;
and
retracting the plunger carrier in an axial direction toward the proximal end.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Drive control mechanisms and automatic injectors for injectable cartridges

Life of this patent

Drive control mechanisms and automatic injectors for injectable cartridges

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17