Drug delivery cartridge with protective cover

Abstract

A cartridge 444, 644, 744 is adapted for mounting upon a receptacle 442, 642 in a parenterial fluid administration set 420 for delivering a drug or other beneficial agent to a patient. The cartridge 444, 644, 744 includes a beneficial agent-containing chamber 606 slidable from a first, pre-use position to a second, post-use position. The cartridge includes a hollow tube 496 in which the chamber 606 is at least partially mounted. At least one cannula 500 is mounted to the hollow tube and extends opposite the chamber. A protective cover or cap 530 maintains a chamber protective position that prevents inadvertent movement of the chamber that would accidentally engage the cartridge chamber with a flow path member, such as the cannula. The cover is removed in order to engage the chamber. After delivery of the agent to the patient, the cartridge is removed from the receptacle 442,642 and the cover 530 is selectively moved to a cannula protective position in which the cover 530 is securely mounted about the second, opposite end of the hollow tube, covering the cannula 500.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.