CN-122003263-A - Drug delivery device and related methods

Abstract

A drug delivery device and related methods are disclosed. The drug delivery device may include a housing having an opening and a longitudinal axis, a drug storage container including a delivery member having an insertion end configured to extend at least partially through the opening during a delivery state, a plunger movable along the longitudinal axis in a distal direction to expel drug from the drug storage container through the delivery member during the delivery state, a plunger biasing member configured to bias the plunger in the distal direction, a guard positioned adjacent the opening and having a first axial position relative to the housing prior to the delivery state and a second axial position relative to the housing during the delivery state, and a proximal biasing member may be configured to selectively bias the guard in the distal direction.

Inventors

• D. L. Muller
• J.L. Jansen
• K.H NIELSEN
• A. Alma Johnson
• L. Ai Letesen

Assignees

• 美国安进公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20240926

Priority Date

20230927

Claims (20)

1. 1. A drug delivery device comprising: A housing having an opening and a longitudinal axis; a drug storage container comprising a delivery member having an insertion end configured to extend at least partially through the opening during a delivery state; A plunger movable in a distal direction along the longitudinal axis to expel drug from the drug storage container through the delivery member during the delivery state; A plunger biasing member configured to bias the plunger in the distal direction; A guard positioned adjacent the opening and having a first axial position relative to the housing prior to the delivery state and a second axial position relative to the housing during the delivery state, and A proximal biasing member configured to selectively bias the guard in the distal direction.
2. 2. The drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein the proximal biasing member is configured not to bias the guard in the distal direction during at least a portion of the delivery state.
3. 3. The drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein the proximal biasing member is configured to bias the guard in the distal direction to a lesser extent during at least a portion of the delivery state than before the delivery state.
4. 4. The drug delivery device of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the proximal biasing member is configured to selectively bias the guard in the distal direction when the guard is in the second axial position.
5. 5. The drug delivery device of any one of claims 1-4, comprising a rotatable member movable along the longitudinal axis and having a first rotational position that allows the proximal biasing member to bias the guard in the distal direction and a second rotational position that prevents the proximal biasing member from biasing the guard in the distal direction.
6. 6. The drug delivery device of claim 5, wherein the rotatable member has a third rotational position that allows the proximal biasing member to bias the guard in the distal direction.
7. 7. The drug delivery device of any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the rotatable member is positioned along the longitudinal axis between at least a portion of the guard and at least a portion of the proximal biasing member.
8. 8. The drug delivery device of any one of claims 5 to 7, comprising a plunger guide rotationally fixed relative to the housing, wherein prior to the delivery state the rotatable member is operably coupled with the plunger guide to prevent rotation of the rotatable member from the first rotational position to the second rotational position.
9. 9. The drug delivery device of claim 8, wherein during at least a portion of the delivery state, the rotatable member is operably coupled with the plunger guide to prevent the proximal biasing member from biasing the guard in the distal direction.
10. 10. The drug delivery device of claim 9, wherein, after the delivery state, the rotatable member is operably coupled with the guard to allow the proximal biasing member to bias the guard in the distal direction.
11. 11. The drug delivery device of any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the inner portion of the rotatable member comprises a plunger guide engagement member and the outer portion of the plunger guide comprises a first rotatable member engagement member, wherein prior to the delivery state, the plunger guide engagement member of the rotatable member engages the first rotatable member engagement member of the plunger guide to prevent rotation of the rotatable member from the first rotational position to the second rotational position.
12. 12. The drug delivery device of claim 11, wherein the outer portion of the plunger guide comprises a second rotatable member engagement member, wherein during at least a portion of the delivery state, the plunger guide engagement member of the rotatable member engages the second rotatable member engagement member of the plunger guide to prevent movement of the rotatable member in the distal direction and/or to prevent the proximal biasing member from biasing the guard in the distal direction.
13. 13. The drug delivery device of claim 12, wherein engagement between the plunger guide engagement member of the rotatable member and the second rotatable member engagement member of the plunger guide is configured to generate at least one of an audible signal or a tactile signal indicative of initiation of drug delivery.
14. 14. The drug delivery device of claim 12, wherein, after the delivery state, a plunger guide engagement member of the rotatable member disengages from a second rotatable member engagement member of the plunger guide to allow the rotatable member to move in the distal direction and/or to allow the proximal biasing member to bias the guard in the distal direction.
15. 15. The drug delivery device of any one of claims 8 to 14, wherein the guard is configured such that the guard moves the rotatable member in the proximal direction when moving from the first axial position to the second axial position to disengage a plunger guide engagement member of the rotatable member from a first rotatable member engagement member of the plunger guide, thereby allowing the rotatable member to rotate from the first rotational position to the second rotational position.
16. 16. The drug delivery device of claim 15, wherein the guard is spaced apart from the rotatable member by an axial gap prior to moving toward the second axial position.
17. 17. The drug delivery device of claim 5, wherein rotational movement of the rotatable member is configured to generate at least one of an audible signal or a tactile signal indicating initiation of drug delivery.
18. 18. The drug delivery device of any one of claims 5 to 17, wherein a camming surface on one or both of the plunger and the plunger guide converts or converts an axial force from the plunger biasing member into a lateral force that causes the plunger to rotate relative to the plunger guide during an initial portion of the delivery state.
19. 19. The drug delivery device of claim 18, comprising a release member, wherein during an initial portion of the delivery state, the release member operably couples the plunger and the rotatable member such that rotation of the plunger during the initial portion of the delivery state causes rotation of the rotatable member from the first rotational position to the second rotational position.
20. 20. The drug delivery device of claim 19, wherein the inner portion of the rotatable member comprises a release member engagement member and the outer portion of the release member comprises a third rotatable member engagement member, wherein during an initial portion of the delivery state the third rotatable member engagement member of the release member engages the release member engagement member of the rotatable member to rotate the rotatable member from the first rotational position to the second rotational position.

Description

Drug delivery device and related methods Cross Reference to Related Applications The present application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/585,949 filed on 9, 27, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field The present disclosure relates to drug delivery devices, and more particularly to devices for automatic injection of a drug into a patient. Background Some people may feel uncomfortable with the needle or with the needle when injecting. This general aversion to needles and other concerns related to health and safety have prompted the development of drug delivery devices that conceal needles or other insertion members prior to use and automate various aspects of the injection process. Such devices provide a number of benefits over traditional forms of drug delivery, including delivery via, for example, conventional syringes. Some drug delivery devices (including, for example, some automatic injection devices) may include a spring-biased guard to conceal the needle before and/or after injection. To expose the needle, the user may press the shield against the skin at the injection site to move the shield from the extended position to the retracted position such that the needle tip of the needle is or may be exposed for insertion. During injection, the user continues to press the guard against the skin to hold the guard in the retracted position. This requires the user to apply a force that counteracts the biasing force of the guard spring during injection. This can be challenging for at least some people, including those who, for example, perform self-injection and/or are of limited familiarity with injection. In some cases, the force of the guard spring may cause or encourage the user to lift the device off the skin before the end of drug delivery, potentially resulting in incomplete delivery of the drug dose. Furthermore, maintaining the counteracting force may result in the user inadvertently moving the needle laterally relative to the skin, which may cause discomfort to the patient. The present disclosure sets forth drug delivery devices and related methods for addressing one or more of the needs and challenges mentioned herein, as well as other related needs and challenges. Disclosure of Invention One aspect of the present disclosure provides a drug delivery device. The drug delivery device may include a housing, a drug storage container, a guard, a plunger biasing member, and a proximal biasing member. The housing may have an opening and a longitudinal axis. The drug storage container may include a delivery member having an insertion end configured to extend at least partially through the opening during a delivery state. The plunger may be movable in a distal direction along the longitudinal axis to expel drug from the drug storage container through the delivery member during the delivery state. The plunger biasing member may be configured to bias the plunger in a distal direction. The guard is positioned adjacent the opening and has a first axial position relative to the housing prior to the delivery state and a second axial position relative to the housing during the delivery state. The proximal biasing member may be configured to selectively bias the guard in a distal direction. Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method. The method may include providing a drug delivery device including a housing having an opening and a longitudinal axis, a drug storage container having an insertion end configured to extend at least partially through the opening during a delivery state, a plunger movable along the longitudinal axis in a distal direction to expel drug from the drug storage container through a delivery member during the delivery state, a plunger biasing member configured to bias the plunger in the distal direction, a guard positioned adjacent the opening and having a first axial position relative to the housing prior to the delivery state and a second axial position relative to the housing during the delivery state, and a proximal biasing member configured to selectively bias the guard in the distal direction. The method may additionally include moving the guard in the proximal direction from the first axial position to the second axial position when the proximal biasing member biases the guard in the distal direction. Further, the method may include retaining the guard in the second axial position when the proximal biasing member at least temporarily stops or biases the guard to a lesser extent in the distal direction. Drawings It is believed that the present disclosure will be more fully understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings. To more clearly illustrate other elements, some of the figures may be simplified by omitting selected elements. In some drawings, the omission of such elements does not necessarily indicate the presence or absence of particular elements in any o