MEDICAMENT DELIVERY DEVICE

Abstract

A medicament delivery device is disclosed having a housing, an actuation mechanism capable of delivering doses of medicament from a medicament container and arranged with a delivery member, a shield, a guard movable within the housing, wherein the guard is operably connected to the actuation mechanism. A protective cap is releasably arranged on the housing and having a shield remover. A blocking element on the guard is movable between a blocking position and a release position and has an engagement surface to engage a proximal area of the housing. The blocking element engages with a surface of the shield remover to retain the blocking element in the blocking position. The engagement surface causes a blocking of the guard from movement and removal of the protective cap enables a movement of the blocking element to a release position when the engagement surface engages the proximal area allowing the member guard to move.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A medicament delivery device comprising: a generally elongated housing, having a proximal and a distal end, a medicament delivery actuation mechanism, capable upon activation, of delivering doses of medicament from a medicament container, arranged with a medicament delivery member and placed in said housing, a medicament delivery member shield arranged to said medicament delivery member, a medicament delivery member guard arranged movable in the proximal end of said housing, wherein said medicament delivery member guard is operably connected to said medicament delivery actuation mechanism, a protective cap releasably arranged to said proximal end of said housing, said protective cap being provided with a medicament delivery member shield remover, characterised by a blocking element arranged to said medicament delivery member guard; that said blocking element is arranged movable between a blocking position and a release position, that said blocking element is arranged with an engagement surface arranged to engage with a proximal area of said housing; that said blocking element is arranged to engage with a surface of said medicament delivery member shield remover, retaining said blocking element in said blocking position, wherein engagement of said engagement surface with said proximal area causes a blocking of said medicament delivery member guard from movement, and wherein removal of said protective cap and said medicament delivery member shield remover enables a movement of said blocking element to a release position when said engagement surface engages said proximal area, allowing said medicament delivery member guard to move.

12. The medicament delivery device according to claim 11, wherein said blocking element comprises a member flexible in a generally radial direction.

13. The medicament delivery device according to claim 12, wherein said blocking element comprises a flexible tongue arranged with said engagement surface interacting with a stop surface on the proximal area of said device.

14. The medicament delivery device according to claim 13, wherein said stop surface comprises a proximal end surface of a housing part of said device.

15. The medicament delivery device according to claim 14, wherein said blocking element is arranged with an inwardly directed contact surface and wherein said protective cover is arranged with a generally tubular medicament delivery member shield remover to which said contact surface engages, which medicament delivery member shield remover surrounds and engages a medicament delivery member shield.

16. The medicament delivery device according to claim 15, wherein said medicament delivery member shield remover comprises inclined tongues arranged to grip into an outer surface of said medicament delivery member shield.

17. The medicament delivery device according to claim 11, wherein said medicament delivery member shield remover is made of metal.

18. The medicament delivery device according to claim 11, wherein it further comprises a protective cap holding mechanism, operably arranged to releasibly hold said protective cap.

19. The medicament delivery device according to claim 18, wherein said protective cap holding mechanism comprises a first holding member in the form of at least one protrusion on a housing part of said device, forming contact surfaces, which contact surfaces are arranged to cooperate with contact surfaces of a second holding member on said protective cap.

20. The medicament delivery device according to claim 19, wherein said protective cap is designed of a material with resilient properties and said contact surfaces are arranged such that a release force on said protective cap will cause the protective cap to flex and said contact surfaces to be moved out of contact with each other, thereby releasing said protective cap.

21. A medicament delivery device comprising: a housing having a first diameter and comprising an end cover having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter; a needle shield position within a cap that is connected to the end cover; and a guard slidably positioned within the housing having a locked state and an unlocked state, where the guard comprises an outer surface having a blocking element comprising a flexible tongue that engages the needle shield to prevent inward radial movement of the flexible tongue when the guard is in the locked state; wherein the blocking element further comprises an engagement surface that engages with a proximal area of the end to prevent distal axial movement of the guard relative to the housing when the guard is in the locked state, and wherein removal of the cap disengages the needle shield from the flexible tongue and places the guard in the unlocked state.

22. The delivery device of claim 21 wherein the flexible tongue comprises a protrusion having a distally directed surface that engages the end cover.

23. The delivery device of claim 22 where the protrusion comprises an inclined surface that engages a proximal end of the end cover.

24. The delivery device of claim 23 where the flexible tongue comprises a free end having an inwardly directed protrusion that engages an outer surface of the needle shield.

25. The delivery device of claim 21 where the flexible tongue flexes radially inward during distal movement of the guard moving from the unlocked state to an activation state.

26. An activation mechanism for a medicament delivery device comprising: a. a housing having a proximal end; and b. a guard axially moveable relative to the housing and comprising a blocking element, where the guard has a locked axial position and an unlocked axially position, wherein the blocking element comprises a flexible tongue that is fixed radially when the guard is in the locked axial position.

27. The activation mechanism of claim 26 where the blocking element is located on an outside surface of the guard and the flexible tongue comprises an inwardly directed contact surface that is engaged with a needle shield remover when the flexible tongue is fixed radially.

28. The activation mechanism of claim 26 where the flexible tongue comprises an engagement surface projecting radially outward that prevents distal axial movement of the guard when guard is in the locked axial position.

29. The activation mechanism of claim 26 where the flexible tongue is flexed radially inward when the guard moves from the unlocked axially position axially in a proximal direction relative to the housing.

30. The activation mechanism of claim 26 where the flexible tongue further comprises an outwardly directed protrusion having an inclined surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] In the following detailed description of the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, of which

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a medicament delivery device comprising the present disclosure,

[0026] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the device of FIG. 1,

[0027] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a proximal part of the device of FIG. 1, and

[0028] FIGS. 4-6 each show detailed views of components comprised in the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The embodiment shown in the drawings comprises a generally elongated, tubular housing 10 with a somewhat triangular shape in cross-section, and having a distal end 12 and a proximal end 14, FIG. 1. The housing is arranged to accommodate a medicament delivery actuation mechanism 16, FIG. 2, capable of, upon activation, effecting a delivery of a dose of medicament from a medicament container 18 arranged inside the housing via a medicament delivery member, such as e.g. an injection needle 20, FIG. 3. The injection needle may be protected before use by an appropriate medicament delivery member shield 22, FIG. 2, and in the embodiment shown a so called RNS (rigid needle shield) is utilized. The medicament delivery actuation mechanism may have a number of designs and functions that are not essential to the disclosure and will therefore not be described in detail.

[0030] The proximal end of the housing is arranged with an end cover 24, FIGS. 2 and 4, of a generally tubular shape. A distal part 26 of the end cover 24 is arranged with dimensions and a shape generally corresponding to the proximally directed opening 28 of the housing 10. The distal part 26 is arranged with attachment members 30 in the embodiment shown as transversal ledges, which are to engage with transversal ledges 32 on the inner surface of the housing, FIG. 2.

[0031] The end cover 24 further comprises a proximal part 34 with a somewhat lesser diameter than the distal part 28. The distal part 26 and the proximal part 34 of the end cover 24 are separated by a generally proximally directed transition surface 36. Further, the end cover 24 is arranged with a first holding member 38 comprised in a protective cap holding mechanism, FIG. 4, on the outer surface of the proximal part 34, that in the embodiment shown is arranged as a ledge or protrusion positioned generally in line with the longitudinal direction 40 of the device. The protrusion 38 may have somewhat inclined side surfaces as seen in FIG. 4.

[0032] A protective cap 42, FIGS. 2, and 5, is further arranged to the device. The protective cap 42, is generally tubular in shape and with a similar form as the housing 10. It has a distally directed opening 44, which has a diameter somewhat larger than the outer diameter of the proximal part 34 of the end cover 24, such that the protective cap 42 will fit around the proximal part 34. On the inner surface of the protective cap 42 a second holding member 46 is arranged, designed to interact with the first holding member 38, comprised in the protective cap holding mechanism. In the embodiment shown it is arranged as a number of ledges 46 I-IV, forming a space 48 where the first holding member 38 is positioned when the protective cap is attached to the housing and the end cover. Two of the ledges 46 I and II have a lesser height, the function of which will be explained below.

[0033] The protective cap 42 is further arranged with a medicament delivery member shield remover, in the embodiment shown in the form of a tubular needle shield remover 50 attached to a distally directed wall surface. The needle shield remover 50 is arranged with inwardly extending inclined tongues 52, which are capable of gripping into the outer surface of the RNS 22, FIG. 3.

[0034] The device further comprises a medicament delivery member guard 54, FIGS. 2 and 4, in the form of a generally elongated tubular member where the proximal part has a diameter only somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of an opening 56 at the proximal end of the end cover 24. The medicament delivery member guard 54 is arranged slidable in the longitudinal direction of the device from positions where the medicament delivery member 20 is covered to positions where the medicament delivery member is exposed during delivery of medicament. An actuator (not shown) may be arranged to force the medicament delivery member guard 54 in the proximal direction.

[0035] The outer surface of the medicament delivery member guard 54 is arranged with a blocking element 58, FIG. 4. In the embodiment shown it is arranged as a tongue 60 by a U-shaped cut-out in the medicament delivery member guard 54, having a free end of the tongue 60 facing the proximal direction. An outwardly facing surface of the tongue 60 is arranged with a protrusion 62. The protrusion 62 is arranged with a distally directed surface 64 having a certain inclination in relation to the longitudinal direction 40 of the device. The free end of the tongue is further arranged with an inwardly directed protrusion 66, FIGS. 3 and 6, the function of which will be explained below.

[0036] When the device is in an initial state with the medicament delivery member guard 54 in an initial position in relation to the housing 10 and the protective cap 42 is attached to the device, the first and second holding members 38, 46 interact to releasibly hold the protective cap 42 to the housing 10 such that the protrusion 38 of the first holding member is within the area 48 of the ledges 46 of the second holding member. Further, the needle shield remover 50 is surrounding the needle shield 22 and the inwardly directed protrusion 66 of the tongue 60 is in contact with the outer surface of the needle shield remover 50, FIG. 3. Thus the tongue 60 of the blocking element 58 is prevented from moving inwardly radially. Further, the outwardly directed protrusion 62 of the tongue 60 is arranged to block any movement in the distal direction of the medicament delivery member guard 54 in that the protrusion 62 will engage a contact surface in the form of a proximally directed surface 68 of the end cover 24. Thus, the medicament delivery device guard 54 is prevented from moving if the device should accidentally be dropped on a hard surface such as a floor, thereby preventing unintended activation of the device.

[0037] When the device is to be used, the protective cap 42 may be turned whereby the protrusion 38 of the first holding member will pass over the lower ledge 46.sub.I, after which the protective cap is free to be removed. As an alternative, the protective cap 42 may be pulled in the proximal direction whereby the protrusion 38 will pass over the lower ledge 46.sub.II. Due to the connection of the needle shield remover 50 with the RNS 22, the RNS 22 will be removed when the protective cap 42 is removed, thus rendering the medicament delivery member 20 ready for use, FIG. 6. When the protective cap 42 is removed, the proximal end of the device, which preferably is the proximal end of the medicament delivery member guard 54, can be pressed against a dose delivery site.

[0038] The pressing of the medicament delivery guard 54 will cause it to move in the distal direction in relation to the housing and the end cover 24. Due to that the tongue now is free to move in the radial direction because the inwardly directed protrusion 66 is no longer in contact with the needle shield remover 50, FIG. 6, the outwardly directed protrusion 62 of the tongue 60 can pass the proximally directed surface 68 of the end cover. The passing is facilitated by the inclined surface 64 of the outwardly directed protrusion. Thus, the distal movement of the medicament delivery member guard 54 in the distal direction will cause an activation of the device for delivering a dose of medicament.

[0039] It is to be understood that the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings is to be regarded only as a non-limiting example of the disclosure and that it may be modified in many ways within the scope of the patent claims.