Medicament Delivery Device

Abstract

A protective cap is presented that is releasably connected to a medicament delivery device, which medicament delivery device is provided with an activator element at a proximal end thereof, the protective cap has first positive holding elements arranged on an inner surface of the protective cap, which first holding elements are designed to interact with second holding elements, arranged on an outer surface of the activator element of the medicament delivery device.

Claims

1. A medicament delivery device comprising: a generally tubular housing having a proximal end and a distal end; a generally transversal wall positioned inside the generally tubular housing and defining a first central passage; two or more ribs extending proximally from the generally transversal wall and connecting an inner wall of the generally tubular housing to an outer wall of the generally tubular housing; a medicament delivery member guard including a proximal generally tubular body provided with a second central passage in a transversal end wall, wherein the medicament delivery member guard includes two oppositely positioned arms arranged extending in a distal direction from the proximal generally tubular body; and a medicament delivery member guard spring positioned between a distally directed surface of the transversal end wall of the medicament delivery member guard and the two or more ribs.

2. The medicament delivery device of claim 1, wherein the two or more ribs are configured to support the medicament delivery member guard spring and prevent the medicament delivery member guard spring from accidentally interacting with the arms of the medicament delivery member guard.

3. The medicament delivery device of claim 1, wherein the medicament delivery member guard spring has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the medicament delivery member guard spring is configured to contact the distally directed surface of the transversal end wall of the medicament delivery member guard, and wherein the distal end of the medicament delivery member guard spring is configured to contact the two or more ribs.

4. The medicament delivery device of claim 1, further comprising: an activator element at a proximal end of the medicament delivery device; and a protective cap to be releasably connected to the medicament delivery device.

5. The medicament delivery device of claim 4, wherein the protective cap comprises: a generally tubular body arranged with a proximal end wall; a first holding element arranged on an inner surface of the generally tubular body, wherein the first holding element designed to interact with a second holding element arranged on an outer surface of the activator element of the medicament delivery device, wherein the second holding element is a protrusion or a recess that operatively releasably engages the first holding element; an abutment surface on a distal end of the generally tubular body configured to interact with a fixed abutment surface of the medicament delivery device in order to define a position of the protective cap in relation to the medicament delivery device when attached; and a lid attached to the proximal end wall of the generally tubular body, wherein air passages of a sufficient size are formed through the protective cap to mitigate a risk of suffocation if the protective cap is positioned in a mouth.

6. The protective cap according to claim 5, wherein the first holding element comprises a protruding element and the second holding element comprises a protruding element.

7. The protective cap according to claim 5, wherein one of the first and the second holding elements comprises a protruding element and the respective the other one of the first and the second holding element comprise a recess element.

8. The protective cap according to claim 7, wherein the first or the second protruding elements comprise discrete elements.

9. The protective cap according to claim 7, wherein the first or the second protruding elements comprise continuous elements.

10. The protective cap of claim 5, wherein the lid includes a plurality of distally directed arms provided with radially outwardly directed ledges to thereby attach the lid to the proximal end wall of the generally tubular body.

11. The protective cap of claim 10, wherein a diameter of the lid is chosen in relation to a proximal edge of the generally tubular body such that a gap is created around a circumference of the lid.

12. The protective cap of claim 11, wherein the lid includes protrusions at an edge of the lid that are in contact with the proximal end wall of the generally tubular body that form the air passages through the protective cap when the lid is attached to the proximal end wall of the generally tubular body.

13. The protective cap according to claim 5, further comprising a medicament delivery member guard remover, attached to the generally tubular body and held in position by the lid.

14. The protective cap according to claim 13, wherein the medicament delivery member guard remover comprises an outwardly extending ledge that is received in a recess in the proximal end wall of the generally tubular body, and wherein medicament delivery member guard remover is held in position by the lid via the outwardly extending ledge.

15. The protective cap according to claim 14, wherein the lid includes a plurality of distally directed arms, and wherein the plurality of distally directed arms contact the outwardly extending ledge of the medicament delivery member guard remover such that the medicament delivery member guard remover is held in the recess of the proximal end wall of the generally tubular body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] In the following detailed description of the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, of which

[0018] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a medicament delivery device comprising a protective cap according to the application,

[0019] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1,

[0020] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1,

[0021] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of components comprised in the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1,

[0022] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of components comprised in the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1,

[0023] FIG. 6 is a detailed view of components comprised in the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1,

[0024] FIG. 7 is a detailed view of components comprised in the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1,

[0025] FIG. 8 is a detailed view of components comprised in the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1,

[0026] FIG. 9 is a detailed view of components comprised in the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1,

[0027] FIG. 10 is a detailed view of components comprised in the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1,

[0028] FIG. 11 is a detailed view of components comprised in the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1,

[0029] FIG. 12 is a detailed view of components comprised in the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1,

[0030] FIG. 13 is a detailed view of components comprised in the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1,

[0031] FIG. 14 is a detailed view of components comprised in the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1,

[0032] FIG. 15 is a detailed view of components comprised in the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1,

[0033] FIG. 16 is a detailed view of components comprised in the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1,

[0034] FIG. 17 is a detailed view of components comprised in the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1,

[0035] FIG. 18 is a detailed view of components comprised in the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1,

[0036] FIG. 19 is a detailed view of components comprised in the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1,

[0037] FIG. 20 is a detailed view of components comprised in the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1, and

[0038] FIG. 21 is a detailed view of components comprised in the medicament delivery device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The medicament delivery device 10 shown in the drawings comprises a generally tubular housing 12 having a proximal end 14 and a distal end 15. Inside the housing a generally transversal wall 16 is arranged, FIG. 3, which wall 16 is provided with a central passage 18. Cut-outs 20 are further arranged on opposite sides of the passage 18. A seat 22 is surrounding the passage 18. Further generally rectangular windows 24 are arranged in the housing, which windows 24 are arranged with inwardly directed wall sections 26. The proximal parts of the wall sections 26 are attached to or form part of the transversal wall 16. Further, a number of longitudinally extending ribs 30 are arranged on the inner surface of the housing, having inwardly directed protrusions 32 at the proximal end thereof, the function of which will be described below. Moreover, at the distal area of the housing generally radially flexing tongues 34 are arranged, which tongues 34 are arranged with inwardly extending ledges 36 at their free ends.

[0040] Inside the housing a medicament container holder 38 is arranged coaxial. The medicament container holder 38 comprises a generally elongated tubular body 40 having a distal passage 42 and a proximal passage 44. The proximal passage 44 is arranged with an inwardly directed ledge 46 stretching around the circumference. The body 40 is arranged with two elongated slits 48 on opposite sides of the body. One of the slits 48 extends all the way to the proximal end, connecting the slit with the proximal passage, creating a C-shaped appearance when viewing in the distal direction. The circumferential ledge is further arranged with a number of cut-outs 50, three in the embodiment shown, for providing flexibility of the proximal part of the medicament container holder as will be described. The longitudinal sides of the slits 48 are arranged with outwardly directed ledges 52, which ledges 52 are designed to be in contact with inwardly surfaces 54 surrounding the windows 24 of the housing, for providing orientation and rotational fixation in relation to the housing. The medicament container holder 38 is arranged to accommodate a medicament container 56 that in the embodiment shown is a syringe, having an injection needle 58 attached to a proximal end thereof and a stopper 60 of resilient material that is movable inside the tubular body of the medicament container 56.

[0041] The medicament delivery device further comprises a medicament delivery member guard 62, FIGS. 1 and 5. The medicament delivery member guard 62 comprises a proximal generally tubular body 64 provided with a central passage 66 in a transversal end wall 68. Two oppositely positioned arms 70 are arranged to the distal area of the body 64 and extending in the distal direction. The arms 70 are arranged with longitudinal slits 72 which are to cooperate with the longitudinal ribs 30 of the interior of the housing. At the distal end of the arms 70, outwardly directed ledges 74 are provided. Further on the inner surface of the arms 70, inwardly directed protrusions 76 are arranged, the function of which will be described. A medicament delivery member guard spring 78 is further arranged between a distally directed surface of the transversal end wall 68 of the medicament delivery member guard 62 and a proximally directed surface of the wall 16. In this regard, proximally directed support protrusions 80, FIGS. 3b and 12, are provided on the wall 16 for supporting the medicament delivery member guard spring 78 and preventing it from accidentally interacting with the arms 70 of the medicament delivery member guard 62.

[0042] The medicament delivery device also comprises a power pack or drive unit 82. The power pack 82 comprises an actuator 84 provided with a distal portion forming an end cap 86 of the medicament delivery device when the actuator is connected to the housing. The proximal part of the actuator 84 comprising a generally elongated tubular body 88. A transversal support surface 90 is arranged in the area between the end cap 86 and the body 88, which support surface 90 is designed to cooperate with the ledges 36 of the tongues 34 on the housing 12 for locking the actuator 84 to the housing 12 as seen in FIG. 2b. The body 88 is further arranged with proximally directed arms 92 that are flexible in a generally radial direction. The free ends of the arms 92 are provided with inwardly directed protrusions 94. These inwardly directed protrusions 94 are arranged to fit into and cooperate with recesses 95 in an elongated plunger rod 96, which plunger rod 96 is intended to fit into and be coaxial with the body 88 of the actuator 84.

[0043] Further, a drive spring 98 is arranged inside the plunger rod 96 as well as a bracket 100 having a transversal distal part 102 and two proximally extending arms 104 on either side of, and outside, the drive spring 98. The ends of the arms 104 are arranged with outwardly extending ledges 106, which ledges 106 are to be in contact with proximally directed edge surfaces 108 of the body 88 of the actuator 84. Inside the drive spring 98 a guide rod 110 is arranged, provided with a disk 112 at its distal end. The drive spring 98 is thus arranged between a proximal end wall 114 of the plunger rod 96 and the transversal distal part 102 of the bracket 100 via the disk 112 of the guide rod 110, FIG. 2. Further, at the proximal end of the body 88, arc-shaped support elements 116 are arranged, which are flexible in the generally longitudinal direction and are intended to be in contact and support the medicament container 56 in the distal direction.

[0044] Moreover, the free ends of the arms 92 of the body 88 are arranged with outwardly directed protrusions 118 that are intended to cooperate with inner surfaces 120 of a generally tubular rotator 122 that is arranged outside and coaxial with the body 88 of the actuator 84. The inner surface 120 of the rotator 122 is arranged with longitudinally extending grooves 124, FIG. 8, the function of which will be described below. The outer surface of the rotator 122 is arranged with guide ledges or ribs 126, where some are extending in the longitudinal direction 126l and some are inclined 126i in relation to the longitudinal direction as will be explained. Adjacent one longitudinal guide rib 126l, a proximally directed tongue 128 is arranged, which tongue 128 is flexible in the generally radial direction, and where the free end of the tongue 128 is arranged with an outwardly directed, wedge-shaped, protrusion 130.

[0045] The medicament delivery device is further arranged with a protective safety cap 132, FIGS. 1 and 8, comprising a generally tubular body 134 having a distal passage 136. In order to provide a good fit between the safety cap 132 and the medicament delivery device 10, the inner surface of the body 134 of the safety cap 132 may be arranged with a circumferential ledge 138 function as a first holding element, which ledge 138 is arranged to interact with protrusions 140 function as a second holding element, FIG. 7, on the outer surface of the body 64 of the medicament delivery member guard 62 as seen in FIG. 12. The body 134 of the safety cap 132 is further arranged with a distally directed end surface 135, FIGS. 9 and 12, that acts as an abutment surface against a proximally directed end surface 137, FIGS. 3b and 12, of the housing 12, which end surface 137 also acts as an abutment surface such that the surfaces 135, 137 provide a specific position of the safety cap 132 when mounted onto the medicament delivery device.

[0046] Moreover, the body 134 of the safety cap 132 is arranged with a proximal end wall 142, which end wall 142 is arranged with a central circular passage 144. Radially outside the central passage 144 are two oppositely positioned arc-shaped openings 146. A generally tubular medicament delivery member guard remover 148 is to be positioned in the central passage 144 of the end wall 142, wherein the medicament delivery member guard remover 148 will extend into the body 134 of the safety cap 132. The proximal end of the medicament delivery member guard remover 148 is arranged with an outwardly extending ledge 150, which ledge 150 is arranged to be seated in a recess 152 in the end wall 142 of the body 134. The medicament delivery member guard remover 148 is held in place in this position by an end lid 154. The end lid 154 is arranged with distally directed arc-shaped arms 156, provided with radially outwardly directed ledges 158, wherein the arms 156 are designed to fit into the arc-shaped openings 146 of the body 134 and the ledges 158 will snap around edges of the arc-shaped openings 146, locking the end lid 154 to the body 134 of the safety cap 132. The end lid 154 is further arranged with a number of distally directed protrusions or ledges 160 which are to be in contact with the ledge 150 of the medicament delivery member guard remover 148, holding it in place in the recess 152, see FIG. 12.

[0047] The end lid 154 is arranged with further protrusions 162 as spacers at the edge of the end lid 154 that are in contact with the end wall 142 of the body 134, creating a space 164 between the body 134 and the end lid 154, FIG. 13. The diameter of the end lid 154 is chosen such in relation to the proximal edge of the body 134 such that gaps 166 are created around the circumference. The design provides an air passage through the safety cap 132, as seen by the arrow in FIG. 15, preventing possible suffocation should a child for example put the safety cap 132 in the mouth. Moreover, the distal end of the medicament delivery member guard remover 148 is arranged with generally proximally and inwardly inclined tongues 168 that are designed to be in contact with and engage a medicament delivery member shield 170 such as a rigid needle shield or a flexible needle shield, covering the injection needle 58.

[0048] The medicament delivery device 10 according to the drawings is intended to function as follows. The medicament delivery device is delivered to a user with the safety cap 132 attached to the proximal end of the medicament delivery device. The medicament delivery member guard 62 is in an extended position in relation to the housing 12 such that when the abutment surface 135 of the safety cap 132 is in contact with the abutment surface 137 of the housing, the circumferential ledge 138 is distally of, and in contact with, the protrusions 140 of the medicament delivery member guard 62 as seen in FIG. 14. This provides a very secure fit, reducing the risk for premature release of the protective safety cap 132 from the medicament delivery member guard 62 and the medicament delivery device 10.

[0049] The medicament delivery device 10 is generally activated by the medicament delivery member guard 62 being pushed into the housing 12 when the proximal end of the medicament delivery device is pressed against a dose delivery site, as will be described. This may happen accidentally if the medicament delivery device is dropped against a hard surface such as a floor. Now there is a risk that the medicament delivery device 10 is activated in that the medicament delivery member guard 62 may be moved in relation to the housing 12 due to the impact forces, which might trigger the medicament delivery device. This risk is reduced and minimized due to the medicament delivery member guard 62 is held by the engagement with the safety cap 132 by the protrusions 140 on the outer surface of the body 64 of the medicament delivery member guard 62 interacting with the ledge 138.

[0050] When the safety protecting cap 132 is removed, the medicament delivery member guard remover 148 grips the medicament delivery member shield 170 with its tongues 168, whereby also the medicament delivery member shield 170 is removed. The user may now press the proximal end of the medicament delivery device 10 against the dose delivery site, whereby the medicament delivery member guard 62 is pushed into the housing 12, causing a penetration by the injection needle 58. The movement of the medicament delivery member guard 62 will cause its protrusions 76 at the distal end to slide in relation to the rotator 122. When the protrusions 76 reach the inclined guide ribs 126i of the rotator 122, the rotator 122 will rotate in relation to the actuator 84, which in turn causes the outwardly protrusions 118 of the arms 92 of the actuator 84 to be moved in position with the longitudinal grooves 124 on the inner surface 120 of the rotator 122. The arms 92 are thereby free to move radially outwards, whereby the engagement between the inwardly directed protrusions 94 and the recesses 95 of the plunger rod 96 is removed, releasing the plunger rod 96. The plunger rod 96 is then urged in the proximal direction by the force of the drive spring 98. The plunger rod 96 will now act on and move the stopper 60 of the medicament container 56 in the proximal direction, expelling a dose of medicament through the injection needle 58. At the end of the injection sequence, the distal end of the plunger rod 96 will pass the bracket 100 whereby the arms 104 of the bracket 100 are free to move radially inwards, wherein the ledges 106 are moved out of contact with the surfaces 108 of the actuator 84. Because the distal end of the drive spring 98 is in contact with the transversal distal part 102 of the bracket 100 via the disk 112 of the guide rod 110 and since the drive spring 98 has a residual force, the bracket 100 will be forced suddenly in the distal direction until the distal end of the bracket 100 hits an end wall of the actuator 84, causing a tactile and audible signal to the user that the injection sequence is completed and that it is safe to remove the medicament delivery device from the dose delivery site.

[0051] The user can now remove the medicament delivery device 10 whereby the medicament delivery member guard 62 is pushed in the proximal direction by the medicament delivery guard spring 78. This will cause the protrusions 76 of the medicament delivery member guard 62 to move such that they come in contact with and pass the wedge-shaped protrusions 130 of the tongues 128 of the rotator 122. The passing of the protrusions 130 will cause a locking of the medicament delivery member guard 62 in the extended position, covering the medicament delivery member 58, in turn preventing accidental injuries on the medicament delivery member 58. The medicament delivery device can now be discarded.

[0052] Regarding the securing of the medicament delivery member guard 132 it is to be understood that several other alternatives are feasible. Instead of discrete protrusions on the outer surface of the medicament delivery member guard, there could for example be a continuous protrusion 180 running along the circumference as seen in FIG. 16. As an alternative, there could be a recess in the medicament delivery member guard and protrusions on the inner surface of the body of the safety cap. It is to be understood that the recesses in the medicament delivery member guard could either be continuous 182 as seen in FIG. 17 or discrete 184 as seen in FIG. 16. As a further alternative, the protrusion on the inner surface of the safety may be discrete 186 instead of continuous, FIG. 19. As yet an alternative there may be recesses on the inner surface of the safety cap, either continuous 188, FIG. 20 or discrete 190, FIG. 21. As understood there are many variants that may be combined in order to obtain the desired function of enhanced safety against accidental activation.

[0053] 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 that may be modified in many ways within the scope of the patent claims.