Patent Application
20210213205
The present invention relates to an injection device for delivering liquid compositions.
Injection devices are commonly used for injection of all kinds of liquid substances. However, in some areas of application, such as for example fillers of different kinds, the viscosity of the substances has gradually increased over the years and, also, the gauge size of needles has become thinner. This has a major impact on the force required for extruding the substances. High viscosity of a substance and thin gauge sizes of a needle generally requires application of a high force to the injection device in order to inject the substance. This can be tiresome for a person operating the injection device, and particularly so when the operation time is lengthy. A need for an injection device requiring a reduced force for injection of high viscosity substances therefore exists.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,446,200 discloses a drug delivery system that facilitates high pressure medication injections. The drug delivery system comprises a system of levers and gears to produce a sufficient force for an intradermal injection without increasing the input force required from the user. This drug delivery system is rather complex comprising multiple components which interact to inject a certain dose of a substance. The drug delivery system is also rather bulky.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved injection device which reduces or eliminates at least the above mentioned drawbacks. This object is achieved by an injection device according to the present invention as defined in claim 1 of the appended claims. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are defined in the dependent claims.
To better address this concern, in a first aspect of the invention there is presented an injection device comprising a drive mechanism, the drive mechanism comprising a drive rod being axially moveable, a plunger rod being axially moveable, and a gear assembly. The gear assembly is arranged such that an axial movement of the drive rod generates an axial movement of the plunger rod. The gear assembly allows for a force transmission between the drive rod and the plunger rod, such that a force applied to the drive rod is transmitted and reinforced by the gear assembly to the plunger rod. This facilitates expelling viscous substances from an injection device without having to apply an excessive input force to the drive rod.
In accordance with an embodiment of the injection device, the axial movement of the drive rod generates an axial movement of the plunger rod in the same direction. This allows for the injection device to be operable as a traditional handheld syringe, expelling a substance contained therein by moving the drive rod in an axial direction of the injection device towards the patient receiving the expelled substance.
In accordance with an embodiment of the injection device, the drive rod comprises a grooved surface and the plunger rod comprises a grooved surface. The grooved surfaces of the drive rod and the plunger rod allows entering in a simple engagement with the gear assembly. The grooves are preferably arranged along the entire longitudinal extension of the drive rod and the plunger rod, respectively. In some embodiments, any one of the drive rod and the plunger rod may be provided with grooved surface portions while other surface portions may not be grooved. As an example, the drive rod may have a rectangular cross-section, thus having four outer longitudinal surfaces out of which at least one is grooved. Other shapes of the drive and plunger rod cross-sections are however conceivable, such as round or square, and may under some circumstances be preferable, within the concept of the present invention.
In accordance with an embodiment of the injection device, the gear assembly comprises a drive cogwheel engaged with the drive rod, and a plunger cogwheel engaged with the plunger rod, the drive cogwheel and the plunger cogwheel being connected to each other. The drive cogwheel will thus enter in rotation when the drive rod is moved in an axial direction. The connection between the drive cogwheel and the plunger cogwheel is such that a rotation of the drive cogwheel generates a rotation of the plunger cogwheel. The rotation of the plunger cogwheel will, in turn, generate an axial movement of the plunger rod. The drive cogwheel may be connected to the plunger cogwheel by means of a cogwheel engagement, in which the cogged outer circumferences of the drive cogwheel and the plunger cogwheel respectively are engaged, whereby a rotation of the drive cogwheel in the clockwise direction generates a rotation of the plunger cogwheel in the counter-clockwise direction. In another embodiment, the drive cogwheel is connected to the plunger cogwheel by engaging side surfaces. In this embodiment, the drive cogwheel and the plunger cogwheel are arranged on the same axis around which they can rotate. The engagement of the respective side surfaces of the drive cogwheel and the plunger cogwheel is such that rotation of the drive cogwheel in the clockwise direction generates a rotation of the plunger cogwheel in the same direction.
In accordance with an embodiment of the injection device, a circumference of the drive cogwheel is smaller than a circumference of the plunger cogwheel, the circumference of the plunger cogwheel being in engagement with the circumference of the drive cogwheel. A small circumference of the drive cogwheel allows for a compact injection device. The engagement of the circumference of the drive cogwheel with the circumference of the plunger cogwheel, allows arranging the drive rod and the plunger rod at different sides of the axis around which the plunger cogwheel rotates. This provides for an advantageous centralised distribution of the drive rod and the plunger rod, without the two parts interfering with each other. In this embodiment, the axial movement of the plunger rod, in engagement with the plunger cogwheel, generated by the axial movement of the drive rod, in engagement with the drive cogwheel, will be in the same direction as the axial movement of the drive rod.
In accordance with an embodiment of the injection device, the plunger cogwheel comprises a first wheel element engaged with the drive cogwheel, and a second wheel element engaged with the plunger rod. The first and second elements of the plunger cogwheel can be adapted to the force transmission needed in the injection device by adapting their respective diameters. By providing a first wheel element which has a larger diameter than the second wheel element, provided it rotates at the same angular rate as the second wheel element, a transmission ratio between the drive rod and the plunger rod of 1:X is achieved, where X is greater than 1. The diameters of the first and second wheel elements of the plunger cogwheel may generally be adapted to achieve a force transmission ratio between the drive rod and the plunger rod within the range from 1:2 to 1:4, such as for example 1:3.
In accordance with an embodiment of the injection device, the first wheel element is rotatable with respect to the second wheel element in one direction only. Due to the force transmission from the drive rod to the plunger rod through the gear assembly, as the drive rod is moved a certain axial distance, a movement of the plunger rod of a shorter axial distance is generated. The first wheel element being rotatable with respect to the second wheel element in one direction only allows returning the drive rod to its initial position by moving it in an axial direction opposite to a substance expelling direction, in which the movement causes substance to be expelled from the injection device, without also moving the plunger rod. Thereby the length of the drive rod does not need to be longer than that of the plunger rod.
In accordance with an embodiment of the injection device, the plunger cogwheel comprises a first peripheral cog portion arranged at the first wheel element, and a second peripheral cog portion arranged at the second wheel element. The first and second peripheral cog portions allow the first and second wheel elements to engage with the cogged or grooved surfaces of the drive cogwheel and the plunger rod, respectively.
In accordance with an embodiment of the injection device, the first peripheral cog portion has a circumference that is larger than a circumference of the second peripheral cog portion.
In accordance with an embodiment of the injection device, the drive cogwheel and the plunger cogwheel are arranged on the same axis. In this embodiment, the arrangement of the drive cogwheel and the plunger cogwheel is such that a movement of the drive rod in an axial direction generates a rotation of both cogwheels in the same direction and at the same angular rate, whereby a movement of the plunger rod in an axial direction is generated. This allows arranging the drive rod and the plunger rod at the same side of the axis on which the drive cogwheel and the plunger cogwheel are arranged and around which they rotate, thereby providing a compact injection device.
In accordance with an embodiment of the injection device, a circumference of the drive cogwheel is larger than a circumference of the plunger cogwheel. This enables a transmission between the drive rod and the plunger rod as the drive rod is moved axially, such that the plunger rod is axially moved7 with a force that is higher than that induced in the drive rod for causing its axial movement.
In accordance with an embodiment of the injection device, the drive cogwheel is rotatable with respect to the plunger cogwheel in one direction only. This allows moving the drive rod axially in one, non-substance expelling, direction without generating a movement of the plunger cogwheel and, consequently, of the plunger rod.
In accordance with an embodiment of the injection device, the drive rod has an idle position and the injection device further comprises a return spring arranged to force the drive rod towards the idle position. When no pressure is exerted on the drive rod it is in the idle position and the return spring is in an extended state. When pressure is applied to the drive rod to move it axially in the substance expelling direction, the return spring is compressed. Therefore, when the pressure exerted on the drive rod is removed therefrom, the return spring will spring back to its extended state, whereby the drive rod will be forced to move axially in a direction opposite to the direction in which the pressure was applied. To apply an injection with the injection device, the drive rod can therefore be operated in a manner similar to that of a click-pen, being pressed in an axial direction several times in order to inject a substance into a patient.
In accordance with an embodiment of the injection device, the drive mechanism is arranged at a finger grip of the injection device. Arranging the drive mechanism at a finger grip of the injection device allows for an injection device which is easy and ergonomic for the user to operate.
In accordance with an embodiment of the injection device, the finger grip is releasably arranged. This allows the finger grip comprising the drive mechanism to be reused for several injection devices. This also allows adapting the finger grip to the desired force transmission, as finger grips comprising drive mechanisms providing different transmission ratios between the drive rod and the plunger rod may be provided, between which the operator of the injection device may choose as a function of the viscosity of the substance to inject or of the gauge size of the needle.
The invention will now be described in more detail and with reference to the appended drawings in which:
Referring to
Generally, any longitudinal part of the injection device 1 which extends in a direction parallel to the cartridge 3 will be considered to comprise a distal end, being that arranged closest to the distal end 5 of the cartridge 3, and a proximal end, being that arranged furthest away from the distal end 5 of the cartridge 3. Similarly, a longitudinal or axial movement in a distal direction shall be considered to represent a movement towards the distal end 5 of the cartridge 3, and thus, as a substance expelling direction.
The proximal end 4 of the cartridge 3 is arranged in engagement with the finger grip 2. In the exemplifying embodiment of
The finger grip 2 comprises two oppositely extending flanges 7, which extend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 3, and which are arranged for providing a finger grip for a person operating the injection device 1. The finger grip 2 further comprises a housing 8 which houses a drive mechanism 10.
The drive mechanism 10 comprises a drive rod 11, a plunger rod 12 and a gear assembly 20. The drive rod 11 is elongated and has a rectangular cross-section. Other cross-sections, such as square or circular, are also possible within the concept of the present invention. The drive rod 11 has at least one grooved elongated surface 13. The grooved surface 13 is arranged to engage with the gear assembly 20, as will be described in more detail further on. At a proximal end of the drive rod 11, a pressure application portion 14 is arranged. The pressure application portion 14 comprises an upper end surface 15, onto which pressure from an operator can be applied, for example by using the thumb, in order to push the drive rod 11 in a direction towards a distal end thereof.
The plunger rod 12 is elongated and has a circular cross-section. However, other cross-sections, such as for example rectangular or square, are also conceivable within the concept of the present invention. The plunger rod 12 has a grooved elongated surface 16, in this embodiment extending around the complete extension of the plunger rod 12. In an alternative embodiment in which the plunger rod 12 has a rectangular or square cross-section, at least one elongated surface of the plunger rod 12 is grooved. The plunger rod 12 is arranged such that the grooved surface 16 engages the gear assembly 20 as will be described in more detail further on.
At a distal end of the plunger rod 12, a plunger engagement portion 17 is provided, see
The gear assembly 20 is arranged in engagement with the drive rod 11 and the plunger rod 12. As shown in
The first and second wheel elements 23, 25 each have engaging side surfaces 27, 28, see
Referring back to
The housing 8 further comprises upper and lower apertures 34 through which the plunger rod 12 is arranged and can travel in an axial direction. A guiding track 36 is further provided for the drive rod 11 for guiding the drive rod 11 in a longitudinal axial direction. At the distal end 37 of the guiding track 36, a return spring 35 is provided extending in a proximal direction. A proximal end of the spring 35 is arranged to support the distal end of the drive rod 11 when arranged in the guiding track 36.
Finally, the housing 8 comprises a closing wall portion 39 which secures the drive mechanism 10 at the finger grip 2.
When the injection device comprising the drive mechanism 10 is mounted and no pressure is applied to the drive rod 11, the drive rod 11 is in an idle position, in which it protrudes to a maximum from the guiding track 36 in the proximal direction. In the idle position, the gear assembly 20 does not rotate and the plunger rod 12 does not move. To operate the injection device, the drive rod 11, arranged in the guiding track 36, is pressed in a distal direction, whereby the drive cogwheel 21 enters in rotation in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen from the side shown in
Due to the arrangement of the gear assembly 20, having differently sized circumferences which engage the drive rod 11 and the plunger rod 12, respectively, there will be a force transmission between the drive rod 11 and the plunger rod 12. Typically, the force transmission from the drive rod 11 to the plunger rod 12 can be of a factor of 2 to 4, such as for example 3. As a result, a viscous substance contained in the cartridge 3 can be expelled therefrom by means of the injection device 1 without having to apply a considerable force to the drive rod 11. Also, since the drive rod 11 will travel a larger distance with respect to the plunger rod when pressure is applied thereto, the injection device 1 is provided with the return spring 35 at the bottom of the guiding track 36 of the finger grip 2. When the drive rod 11 has been pressed down and is released, the return spring 35 will spring back to its extended state, forcing the drive rod 11 towards the idle position. From the idle position, the drive rod 11 can be pressed anew towards the distal end thereof to continue generating an axial movement of the plunger rod 12 towards the distal end of the cartridge 3.
When the drive rod 11 is forced by the return spring 35 to travel in a proximal direction, the drive cogwheel 21 enter in rotation in a clockwise direction, as seen from the side view of
The drive rod 11 and plunger rod 12 are in the above described embodiment arranged at different sides of the drive and plunger axes 32, 33 requiring the drive cogwheel 21 to act on the plunger cogwheel 22 in order to generate an axial movement of the plunger rod 12 in the same direction as the axial movement of the drive rod 11 when the latter is pressed towards its distal end.
According to another embodiment of the injection device 100, and with reference to
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.
For instance, the housing 8 of the embodiment shown in
Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18196934.6 | Sep 2018 | EP | regional |
The present application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority to International Application No. PCT/IB2019/058149 filed Sep. 25, 2019, which claims the benefit of priority to European Patent Application No. 18196934.6 filed Sep. 26, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/IB2019/058149 | Sep 2019 | US |
| Child | 17213052 | US |
