Recyclable medication dispensing device

A medication injection pen having a distal end and a proximal end, said pen comprising:

• a housing defining an interior space;
• a cartridge mounted within said housing interior near said distal end and including a piston, an exit, and an injectable medication between said piston and said exit;
• a threaded drive stem mounted within said housing interior in axial alignment with said cartridge, said drive stem axially moveable through said cartridge for driving said piston and ejecting said medication from said cartridge;
• a rotatable threaded nut threadingly disposed on said drive stem;
• a dosage setting dial mechanism rotatably and axially shiftably mounted to said housing proximally of said cartridge, said dial mechanism having a dose-setting axial position and an end-of-injection axial position, said dial mechanism having a surface rotatably engaged with said nut when said dial mechanism is in said dose-setting axial position whereby rotation of said dial mechanism relative to said housing causes said nut to rotate relative to said drive stem to thereby set a dose, said dial mechanism having a second surface axially engaged with said nut during injection to thereby drive said drive stem distally, a distal limit of travel of said axially engaged dial mechanism and said nut relative to said housing defining said end-of-injection position for said dial mechanism and said nut;
• said housing including at least one lock element engageable with a mating lock element on said nut when said nut is in said end-of-injection axial position, whereby rotation of said nut is inhibited in said end-of-injection position, rotation of said dial mechanism in said dose setting position transmitting sufficient torque to said nut to disengage said lock elements, wherein said housing further includes an end-of-injection bulkhead, said bulkhead disposed on said housing adjacent said end-of-injection position of said nut, said nut being provided with at least one engagement surface at a distal end thereof, said engagement surface axially engaging said bulkhead when an injection is complete to thereby prevent further telescopic insertion of said dial mechanism into said housing.

A medication injection pen having a distal end and a proximal end, said pen comprising:

• a housing defining an interior space;
• a cartridge mounted within said housing interior near said distal end and including a piston, an exit, and an injectable medication between said piston and said exit;
• a threaded drive stem mounted within said housing interior in axial alignment with said cartridge, said drive stem axially moveable through said cartridge for driving said piston and ejecting said medication from said cartridge;
• a rotatable threaded nut threadingly disposed on said drive stem;
• a dosage setting dial mechanism rotatably and axially shiftably mounted to said housing proximally of said cartridge, said dial mechanism having a dose-setting axial position and an end-of-injection axial position, said dial mechanism having a surface rotatably engaged with said nut when said dial mechanism is in said dose-setting axial position whereby rotation of said dial mechanism relative to said housing causes said nut to rotate relative to said drive stem to thereby set a dose, said dial mechanism having a second surface axially engaged with said nut during injection to thereby drive said drive stem distally, a distal limit of travel of said axially engaged dial mechanism and said nut relative to said housing defining said end-of-injection position for said dial mechanism and said nut;
• said housing including at least one lock element engageable with a mating lock element on said nut when said nut is in said end-of-injection axial position, whereby rotation of said nut is inhibited in said end-of-injection position, rotation of said dial mechanism in said dose setting position transmitting sufficient torque to said nut to disengage said lock elements, wherein said dial mechanism further includes a first outwardly projecting thread and a second outwardly projecting thread wherein said second thread includes two projections divided by a keyway, said housing further including a threaded surface defined by a helical land and a helical groove about an inner circumference thereof, a distal portion of said helical land including a first gap and a second gap, said second gap divided by a projecting key, axial proximal retraction of said dial mechanism relative to said housing being prevented in all rotational positions of said dial mechanism except where said first thread is aligned with said first gap and said second thread and keyway are aligned with said second gap and key.

A medication injection pen having a distal end and a proximal end, said pen comprising:

• a housing defining an interior space;
• a cartridge mounted within said housing interior space near said distal end and including a piston, an exit, and an injectable medication between said piston and said exit;
• a threaded drive stem mounted within said housing interior in axial alignment with said cartridge, said drive stem axially moveable through said cartridge for driving said piston and ejecting said medication from said cartridge;
• means for maintaining said drive stem in contact with said piston by preventing axial retraction of said drive stem away from said piston;
• a rotatable threaded nut threadingly disposed on said drive stem;
• a dosage setting dial mechanism rotatably mounted to said housing distally of said cartridge, said dial mechanism axially shiftable between a relatively proximal dose setting axial position and a relatively distal end-of-injection axial position, said dial mechanism having a first surface rotatably engaged with said nut by axially shifting said dial mechanism to said dose setting axial position whereby rotation of said dial mechanism relative to said housing causes said nut to rotate relative to said drive stem to thereby set a dose, said dial mechanism having a second surface axially engaged with said nut by axially shifting said dial mechanism from said dose setting position to said end-of-injection position to thereby drive said drive stem distally and discharge a selected dosage of said injectable medication, a distal limit of travel of said axially engaged dial mechanism and said nut relative to said housing defining said end-of-injection position, axially shifting said dial assembly to said end-of-injection position rotationally disengaging said dial mechanism first surface and said nut, wherein said nut includes at least one prong which rotationally engages at least one rib provided on an inner surface of said housing when said dial mechanism is in said end-of-injection position to thereby inhibit inadvertent rotation of said nut, rotation of said dial mechanism when said dial mechanism is in said dose-setting position providing sufficient torque to force said at least one prong out of engagement with said at least one rib to thereby allow said nut to rotate about and axially translate along said drive stem.

A medication injection pen having a distal end and a proximal end, said pen comprising:

• a housing defining an interior space;
• a cartridge mounted within said housing interior near said distal end and including a piston, an exit, and an injectable medication between said piston and said exit;
• a threaded drive stem mounted within said housing interior in axial alignment with said cartridge, said drive stem axially moveable through said cartridge for driving said piston and ejecting said medication from said cartridge;
• means for maintaining said drive stem in contact with said piston by preventing axial retraction of said drive stem away from said piston;
• a rotatable threaded nut threadingly disposed on said drive stem;
• a dosage setting dial mechanism rotatable mounted to said housing distally of said cartridge, said dial mechanism axially shiftable between a relatively proximal dose setting axial position and a relatively distal end-of-injection axial position, said dial mechanism having a first surface rotatably engaged with said nut by axially shifting said dial mechanism to said dose setting axial position whereby rotation of said dial mechanism relative to said housing causes said nut to rotate relative to said drive stem to thereby set a dose, said dial mechanism having a second surface axially engaged with said nut by axially shifting said dial mechanism from said dose setting position to said end-of-injection position to thereby drive said drive stem distally and discharge a selected dosage of said injectable medication, a distal limit of travel of said axially engaged dial mechanism and said nut relative to said housing defining said end-of-injection position, axially shifting said dial assembly to said end-of-injection position rotationally disengaging said dial mechanism first surface and said nut, wherein said housing further includes an end-of-injection bulkhead, said bulkhead disposed on said housing adjacent said end-of-injection position of said nut, said nut being provided with at least one engagement surface at a distal end thereof, said engagement surface axially engaging said bulkhead when an injection is complete to thereby prevent further telescopic insertion of said dial mechanism into said housing.

A medication injection pen having a distal end and a proximal end, said pen comprising:

• a housing defining an interior space;
• a cartridge mounted within said housing interior near said distal end and including a piston, an exit, and an injectable medication between said piston and said exit;
• a threaded drive stem mounted within said housing interior in axial alignment with said cartridge, said drive stem axially moveable through said cartridge for driving said piston and ejecting said medication from said cartridge;
• means for maintaining said drive stem in contact with said piston by preventing axial retraction of said drive stem away from said piston;
• a rotatable threaded nut threadingly disposed on said drive stem;
• a dosage setting dial mechanism rotatably mounted to said housing distally of said cartridge, said dial mechanism axially shiftable between a relatively proximal dose setting axial position and a relatively distal end-of-injection axial position, said dial mechanism having a first surface rotatably engaged with said nut by axially shifting said dial mechanism to said dose setting axial position whereby rotation of said dial mechanism relative to said housing causes said nut to rotate relative to said drive stem to thereby set a dose, said dial mechanism having a second surface axially engaged with said nut by axially shifting said dial mechanism from said dose setting position to said end-of-injection position to thereby drive said drive stem distally and discharge a selected dosage of said injectable medication, a distal limit of travel of said axially engaged dial mechanism and said nut relative to said housing defining said end-of-injection position, axially shifting said dial assembly to said end-of-injection position rotationally disengaging said dial mechanism first surface and said nut, wherein said dosage setting dial mechanism further includes a first outwardly projecting thread and a second outwardly projecting thread wherein said second thread includes two projections divided by a keyway, said housing further including a threaded surface defined by a helical land and a helical groove about an inner circumference thereof, a distal portion of said helical land including a first gap and a second gap, said second gap divided by a projecting key, axial proximal retraction of said dial mechanism relative to said housing being prevented in all rotational positions of said dial mechanism except where said first thread is aligned with said first gap and said second thread and keyway are aligned with said second gap and key.

A medication injection pen having a distal end and a proximal end, said pen comprising:

• a generally hollow housing including a groove disposed in a plane oriented perpendicular to an axis of said housing and disposed on an inner surface of said housing and a helically threaded surface disposed on an inner portion of said housing;
• a cartridge mounted within said housing near said distal end and including a piston, an exit, and an injectable medication between said piston and said exit;
• a threaded drive stem mounted within said housing interior in axial alignment with said cartridge, said drive stem axially moveable through said cartridge for driving said piston and ejecting said medication from said cartridge;
• a rotatable threaded nut threadingly disposed on said drive stem;
• a dosage setting dial mechanism rotatably and axially shiftably mounted to said housing proximally of said cartridge, said dial mechanism having a dose setting axial position and an end-of-injection axial position, said dial mechanism having a surface rotatably engaged with said nut and a thread surface engaged with said helically threaded surface of said housing when said dial assembly is in said dose setting axial position, whereby rotation of said dial mechanism relative to said housing in said dose setting position causes said nut to rotate relative to said drive stem and said dial assembly to move axially proximally to thereby set a dose, said dial mechanism having a second surface axially engaged with said nut during injection to thereby drive said drive stem distally, a distal limit of travel of said axially engaged dial mechanism and said nut relative to said housing defining said end-of-injection position;
• and
• an end-of-injection click finger disposed on said dial mechanism, said click finger elastically deformable relative to said dial mechanism, said click finger snapping into said housing groove when said dial mechanism is in said end-of-injection position, wherein said nut includes at least one prong which rotationally engages at least one rib provided on an inner surface of said housing when said dial mechanism is in said end-of-injection position to thereby inhibit inadvertent rotation of said nut, rotation of said dial mechanism in said dose-setting position providing sufficient torque to force said at least one prong out of engagement with said at least one rib to thereby allow said nut to rotate about and axially translate along said drive stem.

A medication injection pen having a distal end and a proximal end, said pen comprising:

• a generally hollow housing including a groove disposed in a plane oriented perpendicular to an axis of said housing and disposed on an inner surface of said housing and a helically threaded surface disposed on an inner portion of said housing;
• a cartridge mounted within said housing near said distal end and including a piston, an exit, and an injectable medication between said piston and said exit;
• a threaded drive stem mounted within said housing interior in axial alignment with said cartridge, said drive stem axially moveable through said cartridge for driving said piston and ejecting said medication from said cartridge;
• a rotatable threaded nut threadingly disposed on said drive stem;
• a dosage setting dial mechanism rotatably and axially shiftably mounted to said housing proximally of said cartridge, said dial mechanism having a dose setting axial position and an end-of-injection axial position, said dial mechanism having a surface rotatably engaged with said nut and a thread surface engaged with said helically threaded surface of said housing when said dial assembly is in said dose setting axial position, whereby rotation of said dial mechanism relative to said housing in said dose setting position causes said nut to rotate relative to said drive stem and said dial assembly to move axially proximally to thereby set a dose, said dial mechanism having a second surface axially engaged with said nut during injection to thereby drive said drive stem distally a distal limit of travel of said axially engaged dial mechanism and said nut relative to said housing defining said end-of-injection position;
• and
• an end-of-injection click finger disposed on said dial mechanism, said click finger elastically deformable relative to said dial mechanism, said click finger snapping into said housing groove when said dial mechanism is in said end-of-injection position, wherein said housing further includes an end-of-injection bulkhead, said bulkhead disposed on said housing adjacent said end-of-injection position of said nut, said nut being provided with at least one engagement surface at a distal end thereof, said engagement surface axially engaging said bulkhead when an injection is complete to thereby prevent further telescopic insertion of said dial mechanism into said housing.

A medication injection pen having a distal end and a proximal end, said pen comprising:

• a generally hollow housing including a groove disposed in a plane oriented perpendicular to an axis of said housing and disposed on an inner surface of said housing and a helically threaded surface disposed on an inner portion of said housing;
• a cartridge mounted within said housing near said distal end and including a piston, an exit, and an injectable medication between said piston and said exit;
• a threaded drive stem mounted within said housing interior in axial alignment with said cartridge, said drive stem axially moveable through said cartridge for driving said piston and ejecting said medication from said cartridge;
• a rotatable threaded nut threadingly disposed on said drive stem;
• a dosage setting dial mechanism rotatably and axially shiftably mounted to said housing proximally of said cartridge, said dial mechanism having a dose setting axial position and an end-of-injection axial position, said dial mechanism having a surface rotatably engaged with said nut and a thread surface engaged with said helically threaded surface of said housing when said dial assembly is in said dose setting axial position, whereby rotation of said dial mechanism relative to said housing in said dose setting position causes said nut to rotate relative to said drive stem and said dial assembly to move axially proximally to thereby set a dose, said dial mechanism having a second surface axially engaged with said nut during injection to thereby drive said drive stem distally, a distal limit of travel of said axially engaged dial mechanism and said nut relative to said housing defining said end-of-injection position;
• and
• an end-of-injection click finger disposed on said dial mechanism, said click finger elastically deformable relative to said dial mechanism, said click finger snapping into said housing groove when said dial mechanism is in said end-of-injection position, wherein said dosage setting dial mechanism further includes a first outwardly projecting thread and a second outwardly projecting thread wherein said second thread includes two projections divided by a keyway, said housing further including a threaded surface defined by a helical land and a helical groove about an inner circumference thereof, a distal portion of said helical land including a first gap and a second gap, said second gap divided by a projecting key, said axial proximal retraction of said dial mechanism relative to said housing being prevented in all rotational positions of said dial mechanism except where said first thread is aligned with said first gap and said second thread and keyway are aligned with said second gap and key.

A medication injection pen having a distal end and a proximal end, said pen comprising:

• a generally hollow housing including a helical groove disposed on an inner circumference thereof near said proximal end;
• a cartridge mounted within said housing near said distal end and including a piston, an exit, and an injectable medication between said piston and said exit;
• a threaded drive stem mounted within said housing in axial alignment with said cartridge, said drive stem axially moveable through said cartridge for driving said piston and ejecting said medication from said cartridge;
• a rotatable threaded nut threading disposed on said drive stem;
• a dosage setting dial mechanism rotatably, axially shiftably mounted to said housing proximally of said cartridge, said dial mechanism having a dose setting axial position and an end-of-injection axial position, said dial mechanism having a surface rotatably engaged with said nut when said dial mechanism is in said dose setting axial position whereby rotation of said dial mechanism relative to said housing causes said nut to rotate relative to said drive stem to thereby set a dose, said dial mechanism having a second surface axially engaged with said nut during injection to thereby drive said drive stem distally, a distal limit of travel of said axially engaged dial mechanism and said nut relative to said housing defining said end-of-injection position, said dial mechanism including first and second threads on an outer circumference thereof, said threads being threadingly engageable with said housing helical groove and resiliently deformable radially inwardly and outwardly relative to said dial mechanism;
• and
• a button telescopically received in a proximal end of said dial mechanism, said button having a distal end having a first circumferential step and a second circumferential step, said first step having a enlarged diameter, said second step having a larger diameter than said first step, said first step engaging and biasing said deformable threads outward into engagement with said helical groove and thereby preventing said dial mechanism from non-rotationally axially advancing relative to said housing with said first step engaged with said deformable threads, said second step engaging said dial mechanism to prevent said button from being fully retracted out of said pen, said button adapted to be telescopically axially advanced within said dial mechanism to thereby move said first step out of engagement with said deformable threads to thereby allow said threads to deform inward and out of engagement with said helical groove, said dial mechanism thereby being non-rotationally axially advanceable relative to said housing with said first step disengaged from said deformable threads.