This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/FR2018/051010 filed Apr. 23, 2018, claiming priority based on French Patent Application No. 1753611 filed Apr. 26, 2017.
The present invention relates to an automatic fluid injection device.
Automatic fluid injection devices are well known. In particular, they include autoinjectors in which the contents of a reservoir, generally a syringe, are automatically injected by means of an actuator system that generally includes a loaded spring, and that, on being triggering, moves a piston in the reservoir so as to inject the fluid.
Such prior-art devices can present problems, in particular when the volumes to be dispensed are large, when the fluid is relatively viscous, or when a plurality of fluids need to be combined in a single treatment.
Document WO 02/40083 describes a dispenser in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.
An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic injection device that does not have the above-mentioned drawbacks.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic injection device that makes it possible to dispense fluid automatically, even at large volumes and/or high viscosities.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic fluid injection device that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and to assemble.
The present invention thus provides an automatic fluid injection device comprising:
wherein said injection system comprises:
Advantageously, in its unwound state, said strip is curved along its longitudinal axis.
Advantageously, each strip is delivered via a guide so that the free end of said strip is in its correct position for engaging with said piston of the respective reservoir.
Advantageously, said drive mechanism comprises an electric motor and a worm gear drive.
Advantageously, said insertion mechanism comprises an insertion actuator and needle movement means, such as a plunger.
Advantageously, said base body includes a dispenser pipe, including a respective priming needle for each reservoir.
Advantageously, the device includes means for priming said device while assembling said upper body on said base body.
Advantageously, the device includes means for guaranteeing that said insertion mechanism can be actuated in order to insert the injection needle into the injection zone after priming.
Advantageously, the device includes means for guaranteeing that said injection system can be actuated only after the injection needle has penetrated into the injection zone.
Advantageously, the device includes means for guaranteeing that said insertion mechanism can be actuated in order to retract the injection needle out from the injection zone only after the end of injection.
Advantageously, including mechanical and/or software verification means for determining the end of injection, in particular verification means for verifying the turning of a reel.
Advantageously, said base body includes a sticker for fastening onto the injection zone.
Advantageously, said base body includes at least two reservoirs, in particular three reservoirs.
Advantageously, each reservoir has a fluid content in the range 1 milliliters (mL) to 10 mL, advantageously about 3 mL.
Advantageously, said power supply means comprise an optionally rechargeable battery.
These characteristics and advantages and others appear more clearly from the following detailed description, given by way of non-limiting example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The invention relates to an automatic injection device that is particularly adapted to dispense relatively large volumes of fluid, typically of the order of a few milliliters, typically in the range 1 mL to 10 mL, e.g. 3 mL. The device of the invention is also adapted to dispense fluids that are relatively viscous.
The device comprises two distinct portions.
The base body 2 contains: the medication reservoir(s) 6, each provided with an injection piston 65 and with a closure membrane or septum 61; the needle assembly 10, including an injection needle 110; and a dispenser pipe 11, including a respective priming needle 111 for each reservoir 6, said dispenser pipe 11 connecting each reservoir 6 to said needle assembly 10. Said base body 2 is preferably disposable.
The upper body 1 contains: the injection system 3, 4, 5; the power supply 7; the insertion mechanism 8, 9 for inserting the injection needle 110; and the user interface 100, in particular an actuator button. The upper body 1 may be disposable, but preferably it is reusable. In particular, it is possible to envisage that various upper bodies 1, e.g. adapted for different users, are capable of co-operating with a single base body 2.
Advantageously, the device is presented to the user with the medication reservoir(s) 6 pre-assembled in the base body 2.
In use it is possible to perform the following steps:
1) The user removes the packaging and assembles together the two portions of the apparatus, namely the upper body 1 and the base body 2;
2) The user removes the sticker support from the base body and fastens the device on the injection site;
3) The user actuates the device, in particular via the actuator button 100, so as to cause the needle 110 to be inserted, the injection to be performed, and the needle 110 to be retracted;
4) When the injection process has ended, the user removes the device from the injection site.
5) The user separates the two portions of the apparatus and preferably disposes of the base body only.
In the embodiment shown, the power supply 7 is an optionally rechargeable battery.
Before using the apparatus, the patient must assemble together the upper body 1 and the base body 2 of the apparatus.
This causes the reservoirs 6 to be moved in said base body 2 relative to the priming needles 111, which needles remain stationary in the base body 2 during assembly. In this way, each priming needle 111 pierces the septum 61 of a respective reservoir 6. Thus, when the two portions of the apparatus are assembled together, said apparatus is primed and ready to use.
More precisely, the reservoir(s) 6 and the needle assembly 10 are housed in the base body 2 of the device. In the state prior to assembly, the reservoirs 6 are in a retracted position relative to the priming needles 111 and the septums 61 are intact. When the upper body 1 and the base body 2 are assembled together, a strip drive-mechanism 3, forming part of the injector system, is engaged with the rear of each reservoir 6. During assembly, the upper body 6 slides laterally (towards the right in the example in
When a plurality of reservoirs 6 are used, as shown in the example in the figures, the priming needles 111 of all of the reservoirs 6 are coupled to a single injection needle 110.
The embodiment described presents the particular advantage that it enables disposable components and reusable components to be combined. The components that come into contact with the medication are housed in the base body 2 and are disposable. The components of the injection system, the insertion system for inserting the injection needle, and the user interface are housed in the upper body 1, and can thus be reusable.
The injection needle 110 is inserted into the injection site by means of an insertion actuator 8, in particular a mechanical actuator, acting on a needle plunger 9, and is retracted by means of a return spring 12. In a variant, the insertion actuator 8 could be an electromechanical actuator, e.g. comprising a motor associated with a worm screw. Other variants may also be envisaged.
Preferably, means are provided for guaranteeing that the injection needle 110 can be deployed only after the device has been primed. This can be identified by mechanical and/or software verification, e.g. by verifying the relative position of the upper body 1 and of the base body 2. For example, when both bodies 1, 2 are assembled together in order to prime the apparatus, the plunger 9 of the injection needle 110 comes into alignment with the needle assembly 10; consequently, the needle 110 cannot be deployed before priming.
When the device is actuated, e.g. via the actuator button 100, the insertion actuator 8 presses down the plunger 9 which, in turn, drives the injection needle 110 into the injection site, as can be seen in
When injection has terminated, the insertion actuator 8 retracts the plunger 9, and the return spring 12 removes the needle from the injection site, as can be seen in
The embodiment described presents, in particular, the advantage that the mechanical components of the insertion mechanism are separate from the components of the needle assembly 10 that enter into contact with the patient and/or the medication. This enables the insertion mechanism to be reusable.
The injection system includes at least one elongate strip of spring metal, typically made out of spring steel. In its free form, i.e. when it is not wound on a reel, the strip 3 is curved along its longitudinal axis so as to create a certain degree of stiffness. When it is flat, the strip 3 can be wound on a reel 30 so as to occupy a small volume during storage.
The device may include one or more strips 3 for dispensing the contents of one or more reservoirs.
Each strip 3 is delivered via a guide 4 so that the free end of the strip 3 is in its correct position for engaging with the piston 65 of the respective reservoir 6.
During the injection process, the strip reels 30 are turned by means of a drive mechanism 5. In the embodiment shown, said drive mechanism comprises an electric motor and a worm gear drive. Other appropriate variants may also be envisaged.
When the strip reel 30 turns, as shown by arrow F2 in
When the injection of the medication(s) has terminated, the drive mechanism 5 is reversed and the strip 3 is retracted, thus being rewound on its reel 30.
The embodiment described presents the particular advantage that the injection system is reversible and thus reusable. Furthermore, it presents a shape that is compact as a result of the strip(s) 3 being wound flat on the reel(s) 30.
Advantageously, the drive mechanism 5 of the injection system can be actuated only after the injection needle 110 has penetrated into the injection site. This may be achieved by means of mechanical and/or software verification, e.g. by analyzing the position of the plunger 9 of the insertion mechanism for inserting the needle.
The device shown in the figures includes three injection systems that act on three reservoirs 6. The three injection systems may be actuated simultaneously by means of a single actuator button 100 so as to dispense the contents of all three reservoirs simultaneously, which contents are thus mixed together upstream of the injection needle 110. In a variant, the three injection systems may be actuated in succession so as to dispense the contents of the three reservoirs successively. The successive actuations may be triggered by means of separate actuator buttons, but provision could also be made for a single actuator button that automatically triggers the dispensing sequence. A combination of these two variants is also possible, e.g. dispensing in two stages, i.e. firstly dispensing the contents of one reservoir, and secondly dispensing a mixture from the other two reservoirs simultaneously.
The above-described embodiment provides the following advantages in particular:
The use of a device having one or more reservoirs makes it possible in particular to provide the following advantages:
The present invention is described above with reference to an advantageous embodiment, but naturally any modification could be applied thereto by the person skilled in the art, without going beyond the ambit of the present invention, as defined by the accompanying claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1753611 | Apr 2017 | FR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/FR2018/051010 | 4/23/2018 | WO |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2018/197792 | 11/1/2018 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
20020040208 | Flaherty | Apr 2002 | A1 |
20040092877 | Langley | May 2004 | A1 |
20050277912 | John | Dec 2005 | A1 |
20120172804 | Plumptre | Jul 2012 | A1 |
20150209505 | Hanson | Jul 2015 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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2 434 548 | Aug 2007 | GB |
0240083 | May 2002 | WO |
03090509 | Nov 2003 | WO |
2013016376 | Jan 2013 | WO |
Entry |
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International Search Report for PCT/FR2018/051010 dated Aug. 21, 2018 (PCT/ISA/210). |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20200061285 A1 | Feb 2020 | US |