CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLY AND FIXING MEMBER

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a cartridge assembly provided with a fixing member, wherein the fixing member is configured for fastening to a cartridge, wherein the cartridge is configured for insertion into a housing component of a drug delivery device, wherein the housing component comprises a sidewall confining a cartridge receiving space, the cartridge receiving space extending in a longitudinal direction (z), the fixing member comprising: a fastening portion for fastening to a neck portion of the cartridge, a fixing structure comprising a first fixing element configured to engage with a counter fixing structure of the housing component, and an alignment portion configured to align with a counter alignment structure provided on or in the sidewall of the cartridge holder.

Claims

1. A fixing member for fastening to a cartridge, wherein the cartridge is configured for insertion into a housing component of a drug delivery device, wherein the housing component comprises a sidewall confining a cartridge receiving space, the cartridge receiving space extending in a longitudinal direction, the fixing member comprising: a fastening portion for fastening to a neck portion of the cartridge, a fixing structure comprising a first fixing element configured to engage with a counter fixing structure of the housing component, and an alignment portion configured to align with a counter alignment structure provided on or in the sidewall of the housing component.

2. The fixing member according to claim 1, wherein the alignment portion is configured to orient the fixing member in at least one correct or dedicated orientation relative to the housing component and/or relative to the counter fixing structure.

3. The fixing member according to claim 1, wherein the counter alignment structure extends along the longitudinal direction and wherein the alignment portion is configured to engage and/or to slide along the counter alignment structure.

4. The fixing member according to claim 1, wherein when fastened to the neck portion of the cartridge inserting of the fixing member into the housing component is only possible with the alignment portion correctly align and correctly oriented with regard to the counter alignment structure.

5. The fixing member according to claim 1, wherein when the alignment portion is misaligned relative to the counter alignment structure the fixing structure will not be able to engage the counter fixing structure.

6. The fixing member according to claim 1, wherein the fixing structure is configured to engage with the counter fixing structure in longitudinal direction and to fix the cartridge relative to the housing component with regard to the longitudinal direction.

7. The fixing member according to claim 1, wherein the alignment portion comprises one of a radial protrusion and a radial alignment recess to engage with one of a complementary shaped radial alignment recess and a radial protrusion on an inside surface of the sidewall of the housing component.

8. The fixing member according to claim 1, wherein the fastening portion comprises a fastening ring comprising a first ring portion and a second ring portion separated from each other by a slit opening.

9. The fixing member according to claim 8, wherein the fastening ring comprises a middle portion interconnecting the first ring portion and the second ring portion.

10. The fixing member according to claim 9, wherein the alignment portion is provided on an outside surface of the middle portion.

11. The fixing member according to claim 8, wherein the fixing structure further comprises a second fixing element, wherein the first fixing element is provided on the first ring portion and wherein the second fixing element is provided on the second ring portion.

12. The fixing member according to claim 8, wherein the alignment portion comprises a longitudinal extension protruding in longitudinal direction from the fastening ring.

13. The fixing member according to claim 1, wherein the first fixing element comprises a snap element, the snap element comprises an abutment face facing towards a proximal longitudinal direction to abut with a complementary shaped abutment face of the housing component and further comprises a beveled edge facing towards a distal longitudinal direction.

14. A cartridge assembly for a drug delivery device, comprising: a cartridge comprising a tubular shaped barrel containing a medicament, wherein the cartridge comprises a neck portion, a housing component of a drug delivery device, the housing component comprising: a sidewall confining a cartridge receiving space extending in a longitudinal direction, a counter fixing structure, a counter alignment structure provided on or in the sidewall, a fixing member according to claim 1 fastenable to the neck portion, and, when fastened to the neck portion of the cartridge being configured to engage with the counter fixing structure and to align with the counter alignment structure upon insertion of the cartridge into the cartridge receiving space.

15. The cartridge assembly according to claim 14, wherein the housing component comprises a cartridge holder comprising a proximal end configured for attachment to a body of the drug delivery device, wherein the proximal end comprises an insert opening sized to receive the cartridge with the fixing member attached thereto in only one or several orientations of the cartridge and the fixing member relative to the cartridge holder with regard to the longitudinal direction as an axis of rotation.

16. The cartridge assembly according to claim 14, wherein the counter alignment structure comprises a longitudinally extending alignment recess on an inside of the sidewall, which longitudinally extending alignment recess is complementary shaped to the radially outwardly protruding alignment portion of the fixing member.

17. The cartridge assembly according to claim 14, wherein the counter fixing structure provided in or on the sidewall is configured to engage with the first fixing element of the fixing member when the cartridge provided with the fixing member reaches a final assembly position inside the cartridge receiving space.

18. The cartridge assembly according to claim 17, wherein the first fixing element is longitudinally aligned with a first counter fixing element through an alignment of the alignment portion of the fixing member with the counter alignment structure of the sidewall upon insertion of the cartridge and the fixing member into the cartridge receiving space.

19. A method of assembling a cartridge assembly of a drug delivery device, the method comprising the steps of: fastening of a fixing member according to claim 1 to a neck portion of a cartridge, aligning the alignment portion with a counter alignment structure provided on or in a sidewall of a cartridge holder of the drug delivery device, inserting the cartridge and the fixing member into a cartridge receiving space of the cartridge holder, and bringing the fixing structure of the fixing member in engagement with the counter fixing structure when the cartridge reaches a final assembly position in the cartridge receiving space.

20. A drug delivery device, comprising: a body, a drive mechanism arranged inside or attached to the body and comprising a piston rod configured to exert a dispensing force onto a piston located inside a barrel of a cartridge, a cartridge assembly according to claim 14 and connectable to the body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0099] In the following, numerous examples of a data logging device for monitoring use of an injection device as well as a respective injection device will be described in greater detail by making reference to the drawings, in which:

[0100] FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of a drug delivery device,

[0101] FIG. 2 shows a cartridge provided with a fixing member,

[0102] FIG. 3 illustrates a cartridge assembly comprising a cartridge holder and a cartridge provided with a fixing member prior to insertion into the cartridge receiving space,

[0103] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the isolated fixing member,

[0104] FIG. 5 is a side view of the fixing member of FIG. 4,

[0105] FIG. 6 is another side view of the fixing member,

[0106] FIG. 7 is a top view of the fixing member,

[0107] FIG. 8 is a perspective illustration of the housing component implemented as a cartridge holder,

[0108] FIG. 9 is a partially cut view through a distal portion of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 8,

[0109] FIG. 10 is a cross-section through the cartridge assembly of FIG. 9,

[0110] FIG. 11 is a longitudinal section through the cartridge assembly,

[0111] FIG. 12 is an enlarged illustration of the distal portion of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 11,

[0112] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a method of assembly,

[0113] FIG. 14 is another longitudinal cross-section through the cartridge assembly,

[0114] FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the distal portion of the illustration of FIG. 14, and

[0115] FIG. 16 is another illustration of the cross-section of FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0116] FIG. 1 shows an example of a drug delivery device 1 implemented as a pen-type injector. The drug delivery device 1 comprises numerous housing components. In detail the drug delivery device 1 comprises a tubular shaped housing component 30 implemented as a cartridge holder 31 sized to accommodate a medicament container 5, such as a cartridge 10, which is illustrated in FIG. 2. The drug delivery device 1 further comprises a body 6 forming or constituting a proximal housing component 6. The body 6 houses a drive mechanism 7. The drive mechanism 7 may comprise a dose member 8 and/or a trigger 9 for setting and/or dispensing a dose of a medicament 26 contained in a medicament container 5, which in the present case may be implemented as a cartridge 10. Typically, the drive mechanism 7 comprises a piston rod 80, e.g. provided with a pressure piece 81 at its distal end. The pressure piece 81 is configured to abut in longitudinal direction (z) with a proximal end face of a piston 25 slidably arranged inside the barrel 11 of the cartridge 10. The piston 25 is for instance illustrated in FIG. 11.

[0117] The barrel 11, which may be of a vitreous material, such as glass, comprises a sidewall 12 with a main portion 14 of substantially tubular shape. The piston 25 is slidably displaceable along the main portion 14. Towards the dispensing and 27 the main portion 14 merges into a narrow win shoulder portion 16, which in turn merges in to a radially stepped down neck portion 16. The neck portion 16 terminates with a head portion 18, which, at least on its outside surface may comprise a somewhat radially widened cross-section compared to the neck portion.

[0118] The drug delivery device 1 further comprises a protective cap 4 configured to cover the dispensing end 27 of the drug delivery device 1. Typically, the housing component 30 is implemented as a cartridge holder 31. The housing component 30 comprises a distal end 43 and a proximal end 44. The distal end 43 is configured to engage with a needle assembly, e.g. a double-tipped injection needle by way of which a dose of the liquid medicament 26 can be injected into biological tissue. For this, the distal end 43 of the cartridge holder 31 comprises a threaded section 49 which supports and allows for a threaded connection with a complementary shaped needle hub equipped with the injection needle.

[0119] The distal end 43 of the cartridge holder 31 further comprises an aperture 50 to receive a proximal portion or a proximally extending portion of the double-tipped injection needle. The injection needle is configured to pierce and/or to penetrate a seal 20 at the distal end of the cartridge 10. The seal 20 may comprise a pierceable septum 21, which is fixed to a distally located head portion 18 of the cartridge by way of a septum retainer 22. The septum retainer 22 may comprise a beaded cap 23, e.g. made of a pliable material, such as aluminum or plastic.

[0120] The septum retainer 22 comprises an aperture 24 that aligns with the aperture 50 when the cartridge 10 is received in the interior of the cartridge holder 31. Inside the cartridge holder 31 there is provided a cartridge receiving space 33, which is effectively occupied by the cartridge 10 when assembled inside the cartridge holder 31. The cartridge holder 31 comprises a proximal end 44, which may be provided with an insert 52 sized and configured for insertion into a receptacle 82 as provided at the distal end of the body 6. towards the distal direction 2, the insert 52 is delimited by a flange portion 55. When the cartridge holder 31 is attached to the body 6, the flange portion 55 may be in longitudinal abutment with a distal end face of the sidewall of the receptacle 82.

[0121] On the inside of the receptacle 82 there may be provided a counter fastening structure 83, e.g. in form of a radial protrusion or radial recess to engage with a complementary shaped fastening element 53 as provided on an outside surface of the insert 52. This way, the proximal end 44 of the cartridge holder 31 can be fixed and attached to the body 6.

[0122] Optionally, the proximal end 44 of the cartridge holder 31 comprises a coding element 54 by way of which the cartridge assembly 150 can be mechanically encoded to distinguish from another cartridge assembly 150, e.g. equipped with a different type of cartridge 10 or with a cartridge containing a different medicament 26. The coding element 54 or coding feature may be complementary shaped or complementary positioned to a counter coding element 84 as provided on or inside the body 6. A nonmatching pair of a coding element 54 and a counter coding element 84 may prevent a mutual fastening of the cartridge holder 31 to the body 6.

[0123] A mutual fastening and fixing of the cartridge holder 31 to the body 6 may be only provided and allowed when the coding element 54 of the cartridge holder 31 matches in size, shape and position with the corresponding counter coding element 84 as provided on or inside the body 6.

[0124] In one aspect the present disclosure relates to a cartridge assembly 150 comprising a cartridge holder 31, a cartridge 10 and a fixing member 100. The fixing member 100, which is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 4-7 comprises a body 101. The fixing member 100, in particular its body 101 may be a single pieced or unitary component. The fixing member 100 is provided separate from the cartridge 10. It can be fastened to the cartridge 10, in particular to a neck portion 16 of the barrel 11 of the cartridge 10. For fixing the fixing member 100 to the cartridge 10 the fixing member comprises a fastening portion 110. The fastening portion 110 is configured to fix the entire fixing member 100 to the neck portion 16 of the cartridge 10.

[0125] With the example as illustrated in FIGS. 4-7 the fastening portion 110 comprises a fastening ring 111. The fastening ring 111 is of substantially annular shape. It is interrupted by a slit opening 112, thereby dividing the fastening ring into a first ring portion 113 and a second ring portion 114. The first ring portion 113 and the second ring portion 114 are interconnected the a middle portion 115. The first ring portion 113, the middle portion 115 and the second ring portion 114 may comprise an incomplete annular shape extending in the tangential or circumferential direction from about 210 to 300. In the presently illustrated example the tangential extension of the fastening ring 111 is about 270. The size of the slit opening 112 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the neck portion 60 of the cartridge 10. The fastening ring 111 may be pliable or elastically deformable to a certain extent so as to enable a clip fastening onto the neck portion 16 of the cartridge 10.

[0126] The fixing member 100 further comprises a fixing structure 120. The fixing structure 120 is configured to fix the fixing member 100 inside the cartridge receiving space 33 as illustrated in FIG. 11. For this, the fixing structure 120 comprises at least a first fixing element 121, which is configured to engage with a counter fixing structure 60 of the housing component 30, hence of the cartridge holder 31. In addition, the fixing member 100 comprises an alignment portion 130. The alignment portion 130 is configured to align with a counter alignment structure 34, which is provided on or in the sidewall 32 of the cartridge holder 31.

[0127] As it becomes apparent from the illustration of the numerous FIGS. 1-16 the fixing member 100 is configured for fastening to a distal portion of the cartridge 10. It is then configured for insertion into and through an insert opening 48 of the cartridge holder 31, which insert opening 48 is provided at or near the proximal end 44 of the cartridge holder 31. Consequently, and when the cartridge 10 reaches a final assembly position, as e.g. illustrated in FIG. 11, the fixing member 100 is located at or near the distal end 43 of the cartridge holder 31. There, the cartridge holder 31 comprises a counter fixing structure 60, to engage with the fixing structure 120 as provided on the fixing member 100.

[0128] Since the fixing member 100 is configured for insertion into the cartridge receiving space 33 obtaining of a proper alignment of the fixing structure 120 with the counter fixing structure 60 may be difficult to achieve. For this, the alignment portion 130 is configured to engage with the counter alignment structure 34 as provided on the inside 41 of the sidewall 32 of the cartridge holder 31. The alignment portion 130, which is positionally fixed relative to the fixing structure 120 can be and remain in a keyed engagement with the sidewall 32 of the cartridge holder 31 during and for insertion of the cartridge 10 into the cartridge holder 31. The keyed engagement between the alignment portion 130 and the counter alignment structure 34 rotationally locks the fixing member 100 relative to the cartridge holder 31 and longitudinally guides the fixing structure 120 into engagement with the counter fixing structure 60 of the cartridge holder 31.

[0129] As illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 4-7 the alignment portion 130 comprises a radial protrusion 131 protruding radially outwardly from an outside surface 116 of the fastening portion 110. In this way the alignment portion 130 provides a symmetry breaking of the fastening portion 110 and hence of the fastening ring 111. As shown in FIG. 4 the alignment portion 130 protrudes in longitudinal direction from the plane of the fastening ring 111. As particularly illustrated in FIG. 2, the alignment portion 130 protrudes towards the proximal end of the cartridge 10 when the fixing member 100 is fastened and attached to the neck portion 16. This way, fixing elements 121, 122 as provided on an outside surface of the fastening portion 110, in particular as provided on an outside surface of the first and second ring portions 113, 114 are oriented in a correct way.

[0130] The alignment portion 130 further comprises a longitudinal extension 138 protruding in longitudinal direction from the fastening portion 110. The longitudinal extension 138 provides a symmetry breaking feature for the fastening ring 111. When attached to the cartridge the longitudinal extension 138 it should protrude in proximal direction 3 from the fastening portion. In this way, the fixing structure 120 will be correctly oriented with regard to the longitudinal direction (z). Moreover, the longitudinal extension 138 may also serve as a handle so as to facilitate gripping and/or fastening the fixing member 100 to the cartridge 10.

[0131] As particularly illustrated in FIG. 4-7 the fixing structure 120 comprises a first fixing element 121 provided on the first ring portion 113. The fixing structure 120 further comprises a second fixing element 122 provided on the second ring portion 114. The fixing elements 121, 122 are implemented as a snap element 123. They comprise a radially outwardly protruding nose 124 or nose portion with an abutment face 125 facing in proximal direction 3, hence facing towards the alignment portion 130. In the opposite axial direction, i.e. towards the distal direction 2, the fixing elements 121, 122, each comprise a beveled edge 126 or beveled flank. The beveled edge extends radially outwardly and merges into the radially stepped down abutment face 125.

[0132] On an outside facing portion of the fixing member 100 the alignment portion 130 merges into the fastening portion 110 via a shoulder portion 135. The shoulder portion 135 comprises a stepped profile and a distally facing abutment face 136 by way of which the fixing member 100 adapts the shape of the inside surface of the shoulder portion 45 of the sidewall 32 of the cartridge holder 31. As illustrated in FIG. 15 the cartridge holder 31 comprises a sidewall 32 comprising a tubular-shaped main portion 47, which converges into a radially stepped down neck portion 46, which is provided with the threaded section 49. The tubular or main portion 41 of the sidewall 32 radially narrows via the shoulder portion 45 into the neck portion 46.

[0133] As shown in greater detail in FIG. 15 an outside facing shape of the shoulder portion 135 of the fixing member 100 is complementary shaped to the inside shape of the shoulder portion 45 of the sidewall 32 of the cartridge holder 31.

[0134] As further illustrated in FIG. 15 an inside surface 139 of the extension 138 of the alignment portion 130 is shaped and configured to abut with the shoulder portion 15 of the barrel 11 of the cartridge 10. In this way and when reaching a final assembly position the fixing member 100 does not only provide a longitudinal fixing of the cartridge 10 inside the cartridge holder 31 but also provides a well-defined axial or longitudinal abutment between the outside facing shoulder portion 15 of the cartridge 10 and an inside facing shoulder portion 45 of the cartridge holder 31.

[0135] As it is particularly illustrated in FIG. 7 the alignment portion 130 protrudes radially outwardly from the annular shape of the fastening portion 110. The alignment portion 130, in particular the entirety of the longitudinal extension 138 comprises a beveled outside surface 132, another beveled outside surface 134 and a further outside surface 133 located between the two beveled outside surfaces 132, 134. In the cross-section of FIG. 7 the outside surfaces 132, 133, 134 are of trapezoidal shape or form a trapezoidal profile of the extension 138. Here, and generally, there may be available also some other geometric profiles enabling a mechanical coding of the fixing member 100 and the cartridge holder 31.

[0136] On the inside of the sidewall 32 of the cartridge holder 31 there is provided at least one alignment recess 42 that is complementary shaped to the cross-section of the alignment portion 130. The alignment portion 130 in alignment with the alignment recess 42 is particularly illustrated in FIG. 10. In FIG. 10 there is illustrated a specific example of a cartridge holder 31, wherein the sidewall 32 slightly deviates from a cylindrical cross sectional shape. Here, the sidewall 32 comprises a first sidewall section 35, a second sidewall section 37 and a third side wall section 39. Each side wall section 35 comprises a convex shaped panel or slat profile as seen from outside. Each side wall section 35, 37, 39 may comprise a continues profile extending in longitudinal direction. The first sidewall section 35 merges into the second sidewall section 37 along a ridge portion 36. The second sidewall section 37 merges into the third sidewall section 39 along a second ridge portion 38 and the third side wall section 39 merges into the first sidewall section 35 along a third ridge portion 40.

[0137] In the cross-section of FIG. 10 there are illustrated two further alignment recesses 42, 42 that are located radially inwardly from the second and third ridge portions 38, 40. The alignment recesses 42 may be likewise suitable to receive the alignment portion 130. Hence, the sidewall 32 of the cartridge holder 31 may provide and support three different alignment configurations of the fixing member 100 relative to the holder 31. The different alignment configurations may transform into each other by a rotation of about 120 with the central axis of the cartridge 10 as an imaginary axis of rotation.

[0138] As it is further apparent from FIGS. 8 and 9 the counter fixing structure 60 comprises at least two counter fixing elements 61, 62, which in the present embodiment are configured as recesses 63 in the sidewall 32 of the cartridge holder 31. The counter fixing elements 61, 62 are provided as recesses 63 on the inside surface 41 of the sidewall 32. They are implemented as a through openings 64 as illustrated in FIG. 8. The counter fixing elements 61, 62 may be located at geometrically oppositely located positions so as to engage with the radially outwardly protruding fixing elements 121, 122 of the fixing structure 120 of the fixing member 110. In accordance to the number of available alignment recesses 42, 42, 42 on or along the inside surface 41 of the sidewall 32 there may be provided a respective number of counter fixing element 61, 62.

[0139] With further examples, wherein there is provided only a first and a second counter fixing element 61, 62 there may be provided only one alignment recess 42 on the inside 41 of the sidewall 32 thus enforcing only one dedicated alignment or orientation of the fixing member 100 relative to the internal keying or coding structure of the sidewall 32 of the cartridge holder 31.

[0140] The alignment recess 42 may extend all along the main portion 47 of the sidewall 32 of the cartridge holder 31. It may adjoin the insert opening 48 through which the fixing member 100 attached to the cartridge 10 is to be inserted in a longitudinal distal direction 2 into the cartridge receiving space 33. While the alignment portion 130 is and remains in engagement with the counter alignment structure 34, e.g. with the alignment recess 42, there is provided a keyed and rotation inhibiting engagement between the fixing member 100 and the cartridge holder 31.

[0141] As the cartridge 10 and the fixing member 100 are urged in distal direction 2 towards the final assembly position as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 14 the distally facing beveled edges 126 of the fixing elements 121, 122 may start to slide along a complementary shaped beveled edge 56 protruding radially inwardly from the inside surface 41 of the sidewall 32 at a position longitudinally adjacent to the position of the counter fixing elements 61, 62. In this way, the sidewall 32 may experience a slightly outwardly directed deformation until the beveled edge 126 or beveled flank of the fixing elements 121, 122 have passed the inwardly protruding beveled edge 56 or beveled flank.

[0142] Once the beveled edges 126 have longitudinally passed the beveled edges 56 the proximally facing abutment face 125 of the fixing elements 121, 122 get in longitudinal abutment with the distally facing abutment faces 65 of the counter fixing element 61, 62, thereby inhibiting a proximally directed displacement and hence a removing of the fixing member 100 in proximal direction 3 out of the cartridge receiving space 33.

[0143] A user trying to pull the cartridge 10 in proximal direction 3 out of the cartridge holder 31 will induce a proximally directed force effect of the head portion 18 being in abutment with the distally facing side of the fastening ring 111. Accordingly, a respective proximal force effect will be transferred to the fastening portion 110, which force is counteracted by the distally facing abutment faces 65 of the counter fixing structure 60.

[0144] With some examples of the cartridge assembly 150, wherein the counter fixing structure 60 comprises one or numerous through openings 64 being accessible from outside, it is generally conceivable to induce a deformation of at least one of the fixing element 121, 122 and the counter fixing structure 60, e.g. by a dedicated tool, so as to abrogate the axial or longitudinal fixing abutment between the abutment face 65 and the abutment face 125.

[0145] Towards a distal end of the cartridge 10, e.g. a distal end face of the septum retainer 22 may be in abutment with an end wall 57 of the cartridge holder 31. Furthermore, and as described above in connection with FIG. 15 the fixing member 100 may provide a respective distally acting abutment between the distally facing shoulder portion 15 of the barrel 11 of the cartridge 10 and the proximally facing shoulder portion 135 of the cartridge holder 31.

[0146] In the flowchart of FIG. 13 a method of assembling a cartridge assembly 150 as described herein is further described. In a first step 200 the fixing member 100 is fastened to the neck portion of the cartridge 10. Here, the fastening ring 111 may be clipped onto the radially narrowed neck portion 16. Thereafter, in step 201 the assembly of the fixing member attached to the cartridge is aligned and oriented in such a way that the alignment portion 130 the fixing member 100 is in alignment with the counter alignment structure 34 as provided on or inside the sidewall 32 of the cartridge holder 31.

[0147] With a correct alignment, e.g. when the radial protrusion 131 of the alignment portion 130 is oriented and aligned with the longitudinally extending alignment recess 42 as provided on the inside surface 41 of the sidewall 32 the cartridge 10 provided with the fixing member 100 can be inserted into the cartridge receiving space 33 in longitudinal direction towards the distal end 43 of the cartridge holder 31 in step 202.

[0148] Thereafter and upon or before reaching the final assembly position the fixing structure 120 of the fixing member 100 is brought in engagement with the counter fixing structure 60 in step 203. Here and as illustrated in FIG. 12 the radially outwardly extending protruding snap element 123 of at least one of the first and the second fixing elements 121, 122 mechanically engages with the recess 63 of the counter fixing element 61, 62, thereby inhibiting and blocking a proximally directed removal of the cartridge 10 from the cartridge receiving space 33.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0149] 1 drug delivery device [0150] 2 distal direction [0151] 3 proximal direction [0152] 4 protective cap [0153] 5 medicament container [0154] 6 body [0155] 7 drive mechanism [0156] 8 dose member [0157] 9 trigger [0158] 10 cartridge [0159] 11 barrel [0160] 12 sidewall [0161] 14 main portion [0162] 15 shoulder portion [0163] 16 neck portion [0164] 18 head portion [0165] 20 seal [0166] 21 septum [0167] 22 septum retainer [0168] 23 beaded cap [0169] 24 aperture [0170] 25 piston [0171] 26 medicament [0172] 27 dispensing end [0173] 30 housing component [0174] 31 cartridge holder [0175] 32 sidewall [0176] 33 cartridge receiving space [0177] 34 counter alignment structure [0178] 35 sidewall section [0179] 36 ridge portion [0180] 37 sidewall section [0181] 38 ridge portion [0182] 39 sidewall section [0183] 40 ridge portion [0184] 41 inside surface [0185] 42 alignment recess [0186] 43 distal end [0187] 44 proximal end [0188] 45 shoulder portion [0189] 46 neck portion [0190] 47 main portion [0191] 48 insert opening [0192] 49 threaded section [0193] 50 aperture [0194] 52 insert [0195] 53 fastening element [0196] 54 coding element [0197] 55 flange portion [0198] 56 beveled edge [0199] 57 end wall [0200] 60 counter fixing structure [0201] 61 counter fixing element [0202] 62 counter fixing element [0203] 63 recess [0204] 64 through opening [0205] 65 abutment face [0206] 80 piston rod [0207] 81 pressure piece [0208] 82 receptacle [0209] 83 counter fastening structure [0210] 84 counter coding element [0211] 100 fixing member [0212] 101 body [0213] 110 fastening portion [0214] 111 fastening ring [0215] 112 slit opening [0216] 113 ring portion [0217] 114 ring portion [0218] 115 middle portion [0219] 116 outside surface [0220] 120 fixing structure [0221] 121 fixing element [0222] 122 fixing element [0223] 123 snap element [0224] 124 nose [0225] 125 abutment face [0226] 126 beveled edge [0227] 130 alignment portion [0228] 131 protrusion [0229] 132 outside surface [0230] 133 outside surface [0231] 134 outside surface [0232] 135 shoulder portion [0233] 136 abutment face [0234] 138 extension [0235] 139 inside surface [0236] 150 cartridge assembly