# US 12,214,179 B2 · Injector device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,179 B2 - Document ID: US12214179B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/956,420 - Filed: 2022-09-29 - Published: 2023-02-09 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-30 - Assignees: Sanofi - Applicants: Sanofi - Inventors: Edward Liscio - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214179B2 ## CPC - A61M 5/3245: {Constructional features thereof, e.g. to improve manipulation or functioning} - 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 5/31513: {Piston constructions to improve sealing or sliding} - A61M 5/3257: {Semi-automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve extension requires a deliberate action by the user, e.g. manual release of spring-biased extension means} - A61M 5/206: {with automatic needle insertion} - A61M 5/2466: {by piercing without internal pressure increase (A61M5/2429 takes precedence)} - A61M 2005/208: {Release is possible only when device is pushed against the skin, e.g. using a trigger which is blocked or inactive when the device is not pushed against the skin} - A61M 2005/2474: {with movable piercing means, e.g. ampoule remains fixed or steady} - A61M 2005/3247: {Means to impede repositioning of protection sleeve from needle covering to needle uncovering position} - A61M 2005/3267: {Biased sleeves where the needle is uncovered by insertion of the needle into a patient's body} - 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 injector device includes a housing for receiving a medicament cartridge; a needle unit comprising a needle; and a first sleeve slideable along a longitudinal axis of the housing from a first position, in which the first sleeve conceals the needle, to a second position, in which the needle is exposed from an end of the first sleeve, the first sleeve configured to engage the needle unit so that, during use, movement of the first sleeve from the first position to the second position moves the needle unit from a primary position to a secondary position, in which secondary position the needle unit locates over an end of a medicament cartridge, wherein the device further comprises a second sleeve arranged to move telescopically with respect to the first sleeve, the first sleeve extending from the second sleeve when the first sleeve is in the first position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An injector device comprising: a housing for receiving a medicament cartridge; a needle unit comprising a needle; a first sleeve slidable along a longitudinal axis of the housing from a first position, in which the first sleeve conceals the needle, to a second position, in which the needle is exposed from an end of the first sleeve, wherein the first sleeve is configured to engage the needle unit so that, during use, movement of the first sleeve from the first position to the second position moves the needle unit from a primary position to a secondary position, and wherein, in the secondary position, the needle unit is located over an end of the medicament cartridge when the medicament cartridge is received in the injector device; and a second sleeve arranged to move telescopically with respect to the first sleeve, the first sleeve configured to extend from the second sleeve when the first sleeve is in the first position, wherein the first sleeve comprises a resiliently displaceable arm extending into the housing and into contact with the needle unit, wherein the resiliently displaceable arm is configured to disengage from the needle unit by moving away from the longitudinal axis as the first sleeve is moved from the first position to the second position, thereby allowing the first sleeve to move independently of the needle unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The injector device according to claim 1, wherein the first sleeve and the second sleeve are arranged such that, during use, when the first sleeve is displaced along the longitudinal axis and when the end of the first sleeve is flush with an end of the second sleeve, the needle unit engages the cartridge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The injector device according to claim 2, wherein throughout a range of movement of the first sleeve from the first position to a position in which the needle unit engages the cartridge, the needle is concealed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The injector device according to claim 3, wherein throughout the range of movement of the first sleeve from the position in which the needle unit engages the cartridge to the second position, the second sleeve moves simultaneously with the first sleeve to expose the needle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The injector device according to claim 1, wherein a spring is provided to resist movement of the second sleeve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The injector device according to claim 1, further comprising: a plunger displaceable to drive medicament from the cartridge; and a plunger mechanism triggerable to displace the plunger during operation of the injector device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The injector device according to claim 6, wherein either the first sleeve or the second sleeve are configured to trigger the plunger during displacement along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The injector device according to claim 1, wherein the needle unit comprises a protrusion, and the resiliently displaceable arm comprises a corresponding opening through which the protrusion is locatable to connect the resiliently displaceable arm to the needle unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The injector device according to claim 8, wherein the protrusion is shaped so that, during use, with the needle unit located against the cartridge, further axial movement of the first sleeve causes the protrusion to displace the resiliently displaceable arm away from the longitudinal axis, and out of engagement with the needle unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The injector device according to claim 9, wherein the resiliently displaceable arm comprises an elongate slot distal to the corresponding opening to provide a track for the protrusion during the further axial movement of the resiliently displaceable arm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The injector device according to claim 10, wherein an end of the resiliently displaceable arm is further provided with a clip, the clip being configured to lock over an edge of the cartridge when the first sleeve is in the second position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The injector device according to claim 11, wherein the resiliently displaceable arm is provided with a delimitation to allow a portion of the resiliently displaceable arm comprising the elongate slot and the corresponding opening to move independently of the clip. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The injector device of claim 1, comprising a plurality of resiliently displaceable arms extending into the housing and into contact with the needle unit, wherein each resiliently displaceable arm is configured to disengage the needle unit by moving away from the longitudinal axis as the first sleeve is moved from the first position to the second position, thereby allowing the first sleeve to move independently of the needle unit. ### Claim 14 An injector device comprising: a housing; a medicament cartridge received in the housing, wherein the medicament cartridge contains a medicament; a needle unit comprising a needle; a first sleeve slidable along a longitudinal axis of the housing from a first position, in which the first sleeve conceals the needle, to a second position, in which the needle is exposed from an end of the first sleeve, wherein the first sleeve is configured to engage the needle unit so that, during use, movement of the first sleeve from the first position to the second position moves the needle unit from a primary position to a secondary position, and wherein, in the secondary position, the needle unit is located over an end of the medicament cartridge when the medicament cartridge is received in the injector device; and a second sleeve arranged to move telescopically with respect to the first sleeve, the first sleeve configured to extend from the second sleeve when the first sleeve is in the first position, wherein the first sleeve comprises a resiliently displaceable arm extending into the housing and into contact with the needle unit, wherein the resiliently displaceable arm is configured to disengage from the needle unit by moving away from the longitudinal axis as the first sleeve is moved from the first position to the second position, thereby allowing the first sleeve to move independently of the needle unit. ### Claim 15 A method of operating an injector device, the method comprising: moving a first sleeve of the injector device relative to a second sleeve of the injector device from a first position to a needle unit engagement position, wherein moving the first sleeve relative to the second sleeve comprises causing a needle unit of the injector device to move from a primary position in which the needle unit is disengaged from a cartridge of the injector device to a secondary position in which the needle unit is engaged to the cartridge; and moving the first sleeve with the second sleeve from the needle unit engagement position to a second position to expose a needle of the needle unit from an end of the first sleeve, wherein moving the first sleeve with the second sleeve comprises causing a resiliently displaceable arm of the first sleeve to move away from a longitudinal axis of a housing of the injector device to disengage from the needle unit, thereby allowing the first sleeve to move independently of the needle unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the end of the first sleeve is flush with an end of the second sleeve when the first sleeve is in the needle unit engagement position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the needle of the needle unit is concealed while moving the first sleeve relative to the second sleeve from the first position to the needle unit engagement position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein moving the first sleeve with the second sleeve from the needle unit engagement position to the second position comprises initiating an injection of medicament from the injector device.