The application describes a protective case for an auto-injector. The medicament contained within these auto-injectors can be susceptible to degradation due to exposure to extreme temperatures and light. Thus, one embodiment of the protective case reduces the rate of heat transfer between the internal storage compartment of the case and the external atmosphere by including particularly configured vacuum chambers. Additionally, as auto-injectors become smaller, portability can be desirable. Thus, another embodiment of the protective case includes low-profile cases that allow the user to keep the auto-injector with them, e.g., by attaching the case to a common everyday item.

A medication delivery patch that is applied to the skin and activated to deliver a medication or other fluid into or through the skin. The patch may be completely mechanically driven, with no electronic components, for low cost, safety, and reliability. Pressing an activation button may set in motion a sequence of mechanical events that result in a needle exiting the patch into the skin of the user, and flow of fluid from an internal pouch in the patch into the user. When delivery is complete, another sequence of mechanical events may occur to retract the needle from the skin and stop the flow of fluid, and to show a visible indicator that delivery is complete. The patch may contain a fluid channel, such as a microfluidic channel, that controls the rate and time of delivery; this channel can be configured or selected for different medications or use cases.

Disclosed herein are devices and methods for causing the linear translation of a plunger through a reservoir containing a fluid. A flexible member, for example, a wire or a ribbon, is coupled to the plunger and extends through a wall of the reservoir toward which the plunger is being linearly translated. A pulling force on the flexible member caused by a drive mechanism causes the plunger to linearly translate toward the end wall of the reservoir, thereby forcing any fluid contained in the reservoir out of the reservoir through a fluid port.

A novel embodiment of a pump system, for example, of the type that would be used in a wearable drug delivery system, comprises, in a preferred embodiment, a reservoir, a plunger, disposed within the reservoir and driven by a scissor mechanism connected to a drive mechanism through a linkage, such that a force imparted by the drive mechanism in causes the scissor mechanism to expand thereby causing the plunger move within the reservoir to force a liquid drug contained within the reservoir through a fluid port to a patient.

A system for delivering fluid to a user transcutaneously includes a subcutaneous infusion cannula base assembly, a cannula inserter assembly and a fluid connection assembly. The subcutaneous infusion cannula base assembly is configured to be located on the user's skin. The cannula inserter assembly is coupled to the cannula base assembly and is configured to drive an infusion cannula through the user's skin in a nominally helical trajectory. The fluid connection assembly is configured to fluidically connect the cannula base assembly to a source of delivery fluid. Cannula and stylet assemblies configured for helical or non-helical insertion are also disclosed.

Methods and apparatuses for performing an insertion process for a plurality of penetrating elements are described. For example, a wearable fluid infusion device may include a cannula and/or needle for infusing a fluid into a patient and a sensor for sensing a physical characteristic of the patient. A non-limiting example of a fluid may be or may include insulin. An illustrative and non-restrictive example of a physical characteristic may include a blood glucose level. The wearable infusion device may be configured to facilitate insertion of the multiple penetrating elements, such as a cannula and a sensor, in a single simultaneous insertion step instead of requiring individual insertion steps for each of multiple penetrating elements. Other embodiments are described.

A coupling mechanism for a medication delivery device includes a first part axially fixed relative to a housing and rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the first part, the first part having a gearing engagement to a second part arranged along the longitudinal axis, the gearing engagement having a first frictional resistance. The second part axially moveable along the longitudinal axis, and directly or indirectly in a friction fit engagement with the housing, which has a second frictional resistance. The first frictional resistance being below the second frictional resistance such that a rotation of the first part in a first direction axially longitudinally moves the second part away from the first part and a rotation in a second direction, opposite to the first rotation direction, reduces the axial distance between the first and second part and/or axially moves the second part into coupling abutment with the first part.

In some embodiments a system and method are described for safeguarding a hazard, the hazard, for example a needle point, may be moved between a protected retracted position, an active extended position and/or an intermediate position. Optionally in the retracted position, the hazard may be protected inside a housing. Optionally in the extended position, the hazard may be exposed. Optionally, in the intermediate position the hazard may be partially protected and/or concealed, for example by a shield and/or in an indentation. In some embodiments, compromising a shield causes the hazard to be retracted to the retracted position.

A needle insertor for a medicament delivery device is presented having, a driver having a first part movably arranged within the case and a second part connected to the base, a needle assembly movably held by the first part of the driver in the case, a rotator arranged in the case and configured to engage the first part of the driver for moving the driver, an energy accumulation member configured to interact with the rotator for applying a rotational force on the rotator, a movable stop arranged on the base and configured to interact with the rotator for preventing the rotator from rotating. The first part has a first position where the needle assembly is held inside the case, a second position where the needle portion is positioned outside the case after being moved to pass through the injection site end and pierce an injection site, and a third position where the needle portion is positioned inside the case.

The subject invention provides a drug delivery device for injecting medicament which includes a tubular reservoir; a stopper slidably disposed in the reservoir; a spring for moving the stopper in the reservoir; at least one needle, the needle having a distal end for insertion into a patient, and a lumen extending proximally from the distal end, the lumen being in direct or indirect communication with the reservoir; a needle driver for displacing the needle; and an actuator. Activation of the actuator causes the spring to move the stopper and the needle driver to displace the needle. The needle moves relative to, and separately from, the reservoir with the needle being displaced. Advantageously, with the subject invention, a drug delivery device is provided wherein a needle is moved, relative to the reservoir, in being displaced for injection. This permits control of the needle displacement separate from the reservoir.