Anti-C5 antibody dispensing injector and method of injection

A method of dispensing an antibody from an injector, the injector having an injector housing, an injection needle movable from a retracted position, at which at least a tip of the injection needle is contained within the injector housing, and an injection position, at which at least the tip of the injection needle protrudes from the injector housing, an activation button assembly movably mounted to the injector housing and operatively connected to the injection needle, a cartridge door movably mounted to the injector housing between an open position and a closed position, the cartridge door having an open end, an interior channel, and a cartridge piercing needle mounted within the interior channel and connected in fluid communication with the injection needle, and a driving assembly operatively engaged with the activation button assembly, the method comprising:

• inserting a cartridge into the interior channel of the cartridge door in the open position of the cartridge door, the cartridge containing the antibody in a sealed reservoir thereof and having an opening at a front end of the reservoir sealed by a pierceable septum and a flange at a rear end of the reservoir;
• engaging the rear end flange of the cartridge with a deflectable interference member of the injector in a resting position of the interference member, thereby limiting an insertion depth of the cartridge into the interior channel of the cartridge door to a sealed position, at which the cartridge piercing needle does not fully penetrate the pierceable septum;
• moving the cartridge door into the closed position;
• and
• moving the activation button assembly from an unactuated position to an actuated position thereby:
• deflecting the interference member out of engagement with the rear end flange of the cartridge,
• activating the driving assembly to advance the rear end flange of the cartridge past the interference member and drive the cartridge from the sealed position to an unsealed position, at which the cartridge piercing needle fully penetrates the pierceable septum of the cartridge and connects the antibody within the cartridge in fluid communication with the injection needle, and
• driving the injection needle from the retracted position to the injection position and dispensing the antibody therefrom.

An injector comprising:

• an injector housing;
• an injection needle translatable between a retracted position, at which at least a tip of the injection needle is contained within the injector housing, and an injection position, at which at least the tip of the injection needle protrudes from the injector housing;
• a cartridge door movably mounted to the injector housing between an open position and a closed position, the cartridge door comprising:
• an open end,
• an interior channel having a cartridge mounted therein, the cartridge containing an antibody to be dispensed and having an opening at a front end of the cartridge sealed by a pierceable septum and a flange at a rear end thereof, and
• a cartridge piercing needle mounted within the interior channel and connected in fluid communication with the injection needle, the cartridge piercing needle being configured to fully penetrate the pierceable septum of the cartridge to connect the antibody within the cartridge in fluid communication with the injection needle;
• and
• a deflectable interference member engaging the rear end flange of the cartridge in a resting position of the interference member, thereby limiting an insertion depth of the cartridge into the interior channel of the cartridge door to a sealed position, at which the cartridge piercing needle does not fully penetrate the pierceable septum.