Medicament Container Holder

Abstract

The present invention relates to a medicament container holder (10) comprising a body (12) adapted to receive a medicament container (14), the body (12) comprising proximally directed tongues (38) at its proximal end, engagement elements (42) arranged at the proximal end of the tongues (38), directed inwards, which engagement elements (42) are arranged to engage a neck portion (46) of the medicament container (14); wherein the tongues (38) deflect radially outwards when engaged by a needle shield (16) of said medicament container (14). The invention is characterized in that said tongues (38) with said engagement elements (42), engage with said neck portion (46) of said medicament container (14) for preventing the medicament container (14) from moving in a proximal direction relative the medicament container holder (10), when disengaged with said needle shield, wherein said tongues (38) are in a stressed state when in engagement with said neck portion (46).

Claims

1. A medicament container holder, comprising: a body adapted to receive a medicament container, the body comprising a plurality of tongues; and a plurality of engagement elements arranged at a proximal-most end of the plurality of tongues, wherein the plurality of engagement elements are arranged to engage the medicament container to thereby prevent the medicament container from moving in a proximal direction relative the medicament container holder.

2. The medicament container holder of claim 1 wherein the plurality of tongues are formed by a plurality of longitudinally extending slits in a proximal area of the medicament container holder.

3. The medicament container holder of claim 1 wherein an entire length of the plurality of tongues are designed with an inwardly tapering as seen in the proximal direction in a non-engaged state.

4. The medicament container holder of claim 1 wherein the body defines a first inner diameter, and the plurality of tongues define a second inner diameter, wherein the second inner diameter is smaller than the first inner diameter.

5. The medicament container holder of claim 1 wherein the plurality of engagement elements comprise a plurality of radial, inwardly directed protrusions.

6. The medicament container holder of claim 6 further comprising a central passage that is defined by the plurality of radial, inwardly directed protrusions.

7. The medicament container holder of claim 5 wherein a radial dimension of the plurality of radial, inwardly directed protrusions is chosen such that the plurality of tongues are prevented from fully flexing back to a non-stressed state when in contact with the medicament container.

8. The medicament container holder of claim 1 wherein the engagement elements are arranged with distally directed surfaces generally corresponding to a corresponding surface of the medicament container.

9. The medicament container holder of claim 1 wherein the plurality of engagement elements comprise a ledge.

10. The medicament container holder according to claim 1, further comprising a holding element at a distal end thereof, the holding element arranged to cooperate with a flange of the medicament container for holding a distal end of the medicament container.

11. The medicament container holder of claim 10 wherein the holding element further comprises at least one support element for supporting the distal end of the medicament container.

12. The medicament container holder according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one attachment element arranged to attach the medicament container holder to a medicament delivery device.

13. The medicament container holder of claim 1 further comprising an outwardly extending circumferential flange extending from a distal end of the medicament container holder.

14. The medicament container holder of claim 13 wherein the outwardly extending circumferential flange provides a rotational stop that prevents the medicament container holder from rotating.

15. The medicament container holder of claim 14 wherein the rotational stop is configured to be positioned within a holding element including at least one cut away portion provided in a radially extending flange of the medicament container.

16. The medicament container holder of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tongues are in a stressed state when in engagement with the neck portion.

17. A medicament delivery device comprising the medicament container holder according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the following detailed description of the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, of which

[0023] FIG. 1is a perspective view of a medicament container holder according to one feasible embodiment,

[0024] FIG. 2is a cross-sectional side view of the medicament container holder ofFIG. 1,

[0025] FIG. 3is a cross-sectional transversal view medicament container holder ofFIG. 1,

[0026] FIG. 4is a perspective view of a medicament container holder and a syringe in an unassembled state,

[0027] FIG. 5is a perspective view of a medicament container holder and a syringe in an assembled state,

[0028] FIG. 6is a cross-sectional side view of the assembly ofFIG. 5, and

[0029] FIG. 7is a perspective view of a distal part of the medicament container holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] The embodiment of a medicament container holder10shown in the drawings comprises a generally tubular body12having an inner diameter D1somewhat larger than an outer diameter of a medicament container14and/or a so called rigid needle shield or an RNS16attached to an injection needle18of the medicament container14,FIG. 6. The RNS16comprises an inner core of softer material such as rubber and a hard shell surrounding the inner core. In many cases the RNS16has a diameter that is generally the same as, or somewhat larger than, the diameter of the medicament container14.

[0031] The medicament container14is intended to be fitted inside and held by the medicament container holder10, wherein the medicament container14is arranged with a movable stopper20. The tubular body12is arranged with attachment elements22on its side surfaces that are designed to cooperate with suitable corresponding attachment elements on a medicament delivery device. Further the distal end of the container holder10is arranged with an outwardly extending circumferential flange24. Support elements26are arranged between the flange24and the outer side surface of the body. The peripheral edge of the flange24is arranged with a generally tubular holding element28. Cut-outs30are made in the holding element28, which cut-outs are arranged with guide elements32on side edges of the cut-outs30, the function of which will be described below.

[0032] The proximal area of the tubular body12is arranged with a number of longitudinally extending slits34, two in the embodiment shown, even though further slits may be arranged. The slits34terminate in circular cut-outs36for enhancing bending and reducing the risk of breaking as will be described. The slits34form proximally directed tongues38between them that are resilient in the generally radial direction. The proximal end of the container holder10is arranged with a central passage40, which passage40is arranged with radially inwardly directed engagement elements42arranged at inner surfaces of the tongues38. In the embodiment shown the engagement elements42comprise a number of inwardly directed protrusions. However, it is to be understood that the engagement elements42may have other shapes and configurations such as for example continuous ledges.

[0033] The engagement elements 42 are arranged with generally distally directed surfaces 44, FIG. 2, that have a slight inclination so as to generally correspond to the inclination of a neck portion 46, FIG. 4, of the medicament container 14 as will be explained. Further, as seen in FIG. 2, preferably the proximally directed tongues 38 taper somewhat inwards as seen in the proximal direction, providing a somewhat smaller inner diameter D2.

[0034] The medicament container holder is intended to function as follows. It is intended to be used mainly with a medicament container14comprising an RNS16. When a medicament container14with an RNS16is to be attached to the medicament container holder, the medicament container14and the RNS16are entered from the distal end of the medicament container holder10and slide along the interior of the medicament container holder10. When the proximal end of the RNS16comes in contact with the inwardly directed engagement elements42of the tongues38of the proximal end, the tongues38of the medicament container holder10will flex in the generally radially outward direction from a non-stressed state to a most stressed state due to the slits34allowing the RNS16to pass through the central passage40until the inwardly directed engagement elements42enter the space between the RNS16and the neck portion46.

[0035] The tongues38of the medicament container holder10will then flex somewhat back to a stressed state and come in contact with the neck portion46of the medicament container14as seen inFIG. 6. In this respect the extension in the radial direction of the inwardly directed engagement elements42is chosen such that the tongues38of the medicament container holder10are prevented from fully flexing back to the non-stressed state when in contact with the neck portion46of the medicament container14, but will rest with the distally directed inclined surfaces44of the engagement elements42on the neck portion46of the medicament container14and with a certain tension in the tongues38urging them radially inwards. The tongues are preferably prevented from flexing outwards in the generally radial direction when the medicament container holder is placed in a medicament delivery device so that the engagement elements42provide a firm support when the stopper20in the medicament container14is urged in a proximal direction during delivery of a dose of medicament.

[0036] The medicament container holder10is further designed such in relation to the medicament container14that a generally radially extending flange50at the distal end of the medicament container14fits into the space created by the holding element28where the guide elements32will be in contact with side surfaces52of cut-away portions of the flange50of the medicament container14, providing a rotational lock as seen inFIG. 7. A proximal surface of the flange50of the medicament container14may be in contact with a distally directed surface of the flange24of the medicament container holder10, but that is not a prerequisite since the main support in the proximal direction is obtained by the engagement elements42at the proximal end of the medicament container holder10. The flexed, stressed tongues38of the medicament container holder10will ensure that there is no gap or loose support of the medicament container14when placed in the medicament container holder10. The support is further enhanced by the fitting of the flange50of the medicament container14in the holding element28of the medicament container holder10.

[0037] It is to be understood that the embodiment disclosed in the detailed description and shown in the drawings is to be regarded only as a non-limiting example of the invention and that it may be modified in many ways within the scope of the patent claims.