# US 2019/0167905 A1 · Compact auto-injector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167905 A1 - Document ID: US20190167905A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/272,628 - Filed: 2019-02-11 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-30 - Assignees: Pirouette Medical LLC - Applicants: Pirouette Medical LLC - Inventors: Elijah Kapas; Matthew Kane; Conor Cullinane - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167905A1 ## 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 5/14244: {adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body} - A61M 5/14248: {of the skin patch type} - A61M 5/20: Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically (A61M5/142 takes precedence) - A61M 5/46: having means for controlling depth of insertion - A61M 5/206: {with automatic needle insertion} - A61M 5/24: Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or cartridges, e.g. automatic - A61M 5/2466: {by piercing without internal pressure increase (A61M5/2429 takes precedence)} - A61M 5/31565: {Administration mechanisms, i.e. constructional features, modes of administering a dose (dosing mechanisms for setting a dose A61M5/31533)} - A61M 5/31571: {Means preventing accidental administration (for automatic syringes A61M5/20)} - A61M 5/3158: {the component being manually operated or triggered by an axially moving actuator operated by user, e.g. an axially movable injection button} - A61M 5/3202: {Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps (A61M5/50 takes precedence; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001)} - A61M 5/3232: {Semi-automatic needle retraction, i.e. in which triggering of the needle retraction requires a deliberate action by the user, e.g. manual release of spring-biased retraction means} - A61M 2005/14284: {with needle insertion means} - A61M 2005/2073: {preventing premature release, e.g. by making use of a safety lock} - A61M 2005/2474: {with movable piercing means, e.g. ampoule remains fixed or steady} - 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 novel single use auto-injector for delivering a fixed amount of medicament is described. The auto-injector may include a sealed housing rotatably held in a cover. Once the auto-injector is positioned at the injection location, the user can transition the housing from a locked to an armed position. The user can then compress the sealed housing into the cover, triggering activation mechanisms that initiate the injection. A first activation mechanism engages an interlock to prevent reuse of the auto-injector. A second activation mechanism straightens and extends a curved needle to a set the exposed needle length. A third activation mechanism pierces a sealed reservoir allowing the medicament to be forced through the injection needle. Following the injection, the auto-injector expands and interlocks, retracting the needle into the auto-injector and preventing reuse. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A compact, high aspect ratio auto-injector for delivering a medicament dose subcutaneously or intramuscularly, the auto-injector comprising: a housing; a medicament dispensing system disposed within the housing and comprising a medicament reservoir adapted to contain the dose; and a needle extension mechanism coupled to the medicament reservoir, the needle extension mechanism comprising a curved injection needle and a needle guide adapted to Pa straighten the curved needle during deployment of the curved needle through the needle guide to facilitate dispensing of the dose by the auto-injector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The auto-injector according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a sealed housing rotatably retained in a cover. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The auto-injector according to claim 2, where the housing further comprises an interface to receive user input to facilitate a manual rotation of the housing relative to the cover from a first locked position to a second unlocked position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The auto-injector according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the housing, the cover, a label, and a component directly visible to the user comprises indicia indicating the locked position, the unlocked position, and an armed position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The auto-injector according to claim 3, wherein the auto-injector further comprises a biasing member, such that when the housing is rotated to the unlocked position, the sealed housing is automatically displaced axially relative to the cover, increasing a height of the auto-injector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The auto-injector according to claim 5, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring that is at least one of integrally formed with the housing integrally formed with the cover, and disposed between the housing and the cover. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The auto-injector according to claim 5, wherein the auto-injector further comprises an interlock, such that the housing cannot be rotated relative to the cover or displaced axially relative to the cover without removal of the interlock. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The auto-injector according to claim 5, wherein manual compression of the auto-injector in an armed position, reduces the height of the auto-injector, and activates a mechanism that straightens and extends a distal end of the injection needle through the housing, dispenses the dose through the injection needle, and activates an interlock. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The auto-injector according to claim 8, wherein upon release of manual compression, the biasing member automatically displaces the housing axially relatively to the cover, increasing a height of the auto-injector and retracting the distal end of the injection needle into the housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The auto-injector according to claim 9, wherein the auto-injector further comprises an interlock to prevent subsequent manual compression of the auto-injector, thereby rendering the auto-injector single-use. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The auto-injector according to claim 10, wherein the interlock comprises an abutting structure in the housing and the cover. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The auto-injector according to claim 1, wherein the medicament dispensing system further comprises a plunger within the medicament reservoir and forming a sealed cavity for retaining the dose. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The auto-injector according to claim 12, wherein the medicament dispensing system further comprises a dispensing needle in fluidic communication with the injection needle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The auto-injector according to claim 13, further comprising a flexible tube interconnecting the dispensing needle with the injection needle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The auto-injector according to claim 13, wherein the medicament dispensing system further comprises a spring, a retainer, and a locking mechanism such that when the locking mechanism is released, the spring displaces the retainer and forces the dispensing needle to pierce the plunger to provide fluidic communication with the dose. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The auto-injector according to claim 15, wherein the cover comprises a second trigger to release the retainer and the locking mechanism. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The auto-injector according to claim 15, wherein the spring further displaces the plunger to pump the dose out of the vial and through the dispensing needle to the injection needle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The auto-injector according to claim 15, wherein the spring comprises a compression spring. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The auto-injector according to claim 1, wherein the needle extension mechanism further comprises a needle barrel for supporting the curved injection needle, a spring coupled to the barrel for rotating the barrel to uncoil the curved injection needle, and a barrel locking mechanism to prevent inadvertent rotation of the barrel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The auto-injector according to claim 19, wherein the spring comprises a torsion spring. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The auto-injector according to claim 19, wherein the cover forms an aperture aligned with the needle guide through which a distal end of the injection needle passes during rotation of the barrel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The auto-injector according to claim 21, wherein release of the barrel locking mechanism permits the spring to rotate the barrel and deploy the injection needle. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The auto-injector according to claim 22, wherein the cover comprises a first trigger to release the needle barrel locking mechanism. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The auto-injector according to claim 19, wherein the needle extension mechanism further comprises a needle barrel cap to secure a proximal end of the injection needle to the needle barrel. ### Claim 25 A method of operating a compact, high aspect ratio auto-injector for delivering a medicament dose subcutaneously or intramuscularly, the auto-injector comprising a housing, a medicament dispensing system comprising a medicament reservoir adapted to contain the dose, and a needle extension mechanism coupled to the medicament reservoir, the needle extension mechanism comprising a curved injection needle and a needle guide, the method comprising the steps of: triggering deployment of a distal end of the curved injection needle through an aperture in a cover of the housing aligned with the needle guide to straighten the injection needle; triggering piercing of the medicament reservoir to provide fluidic communication between the reservoir and the injection needle; dispensing the dose through the injection needle at a desired injection location; and thereafter, retracting the distal end of the injection needle into the auto-injector. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, wherein the auto-injector further comprises an interlock, such that the housing cannot be rotated relative to the cover or displaced axially relative to the cover without removal of the interlock. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, wherein the housing comprises a sealed housing rotatably retained in the cover, the method further comprising the steps of: manually rotating the housing relative to the cover from a first locked position to a second unlocked position, in which the sealed housing is automatically displaced axially relative to the cover to an armed position, increasing a height of the auto-injector. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of determining the locked position, the unlocked position, and the armed position based on indicia on at least one of the housing, the cover, a label, and a component directly visible to the user. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of adhering the cover to the desired injection location prior to triggering of the auto-injector. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, wherein the step of triggering piercing of the medicament reservoir comprises manually compressing the auto-injector when the auto-injector is in the armed position, which comprises activating the medicament dispensing mechanism triggering piercing of a plunger within the medicament reservoir with a distal end of a dispensing needle. ### Claim at position 31 -38. (canceled)