# US 12,758,469 B2 · Reusable actuator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,758,469 B2 - Document ID: US12758469B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/510,872 - Filed: 2023-11-16 - Published: 2024-05-16 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2022-11-16 - Assignees: MicroMED Co., Ltd. - Applicants: MicroMED Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Chia-Chi Feng; Po-Ying Li; Hong Jun Yeh; Kuang-Hsiang Cheng - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12758469B2 ## CPC - A61J 1/20: Arrangements for transferring {or mixing} fluids, e.g. from vial to syringe - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE ## Abstract Disclosed is a reusable actuator for use with a drug container including a stopper comprising a container having a closed end, an open end, and a sidewall extending therebetween in a longitudinal direction, an electrode disposed inside the container for use in generating a gas, an actuating element disposed at and closing the open end of the container, the actuating element and the container defining an actuator interior, wherein the actuating element is movable relative to the container in the longitudinal direction by a gas pressure of the gas in the actuator interior, such that the actuating element applies a force to the stopper to cause a drug delivery from the drug container, and a retracting mechanism for use in removing the gas to assist the actuating element's retraction for reuse. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reusable actuator for use with a drug container including a stopper, the reusable actuator comprising: a container having a closed end, an open end, and a sidewall extending therebetween in a longitudinal direction; an electrochemical gas-generating unit comprising an electrode, disposed at the closed end of the container and configured to generate a gas directly into an actuator interior defined in the container; an actuating element disposed at and closing the open end of the container, the actuating element being a telescopic or bellow-type structure, or being a balloon the actuating element being movable relative to the container in the longitudinal direction by a gas pressure generated by the electrochemical gas-generating unit, such that the actuating element applies a force to the stopper to cause a drug delivery from the drug container; and a retracting mechanism comprising (i) a valve configured to release at least a portion of the generated gas from the actuator interior, and (ii) a gas converting member disposed within the actuator interior and configured to chemically convert the released gas to facilitate pressure reduction, thereby actively assist a retraction of the actuating element for reuse. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The reusable actuator of claim 1, wherein at least part of the actuating element is sleeved inside the container. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The reusable actuator of claim 2, wherein the telescopic structure includes a plurality of segments configured to extend and retract telescopically with respect to one another. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The reusable actuator of claim 2, wherein the container is a cylindrical container and the actuating element is a rod or has a tubular structure, at least part of the rod or tubular structure being sleeved inside the container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The reusable actuator of claim 3, further comprising an O-ring sealably disposed between an outermost segment of the plurality of segments and the container. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The reusable actuator of claim 4, further comprising an O-ring sealably disposed between the rod or tubular structure and the container. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The reusable actuator of claim 1, wherein the gas converting member includes a gas converting catalyst. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The reusable actuator of claim 7, wherein the gas converting catalyst is coated on the container, the actuating element, or both. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The reusable actuator of claim 1, wherein the gas converting member is a platinum foam. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The reusable actuator of claim 5, wherein the retracting mechanism includes a resilient member for assisting the retraction of the plurality of segments for reuse. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The reusable actuator of claim 6, wherein the retracting mechanism includes a resilient member for assisting the retraction of the rod or tubular structure for reuse. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The reusable actuator of claim 10, wherein the resilient member is disposed in or outside the actuator interior. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The reusable actuator of claim 10, wherein the resilient member is a spring. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The reusable actuator of claim 11, wherein the resilient member is disposed in or outside the actuator interior. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The reusable actuator of claim 11, wherein the resilient member is a spring. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A drug delivery device comprising: the reusable actuator of claim 1; and the drug container, wherein the drug container further includes a housing, the stopper being disposed within the housing, wherein the container of the reusable actuator is connected to the housing, and wherein the actuating element of the reusable actuator is abuttedly connected to the stopper of the drug container. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The drug delivery device of claim 16, wherein the container of the reusable actuator is so connected to the housing that when the actuating element applies the force to the stopper to cause the drug delivery from the drug container, there is substantially no relative movement between the container of the reusable actuator and the housing.