US-12616797-B2 - Injection unit for administering or delivering a fluid product

US12616797B2US 12616797 B2US12616797 B2US 12616797B2US-12616797-B2

Abstract

The invention relates to an injection unit, preferably a pen-shaped injection unit, for administering or delivering a fluid product. The injection unit comprises a housing, an axially movable piston rod mounted in the housing in a non-rotatable manner, a delivery apparatus having a threaded nut that is able to move the piston rod in order to deliver product, a dosing device having a dosing sleeve, a rotary knob, a discharge button arranged coaxially on the dosing sleeve, and a receptacle for the product. The dosing device is connected to the delivery apparatus via a coupling mechanism, wherein the coupling mechanism includes of at least two coupling surfaces that each carry a toothing comprising teeth, wherein the coupling surfaces are used to generate an acoustic and/or tactile signal corresponding to the set or corrected dose of the product to be administered during the dosing operation or during correction of the dose.

Inventors

Juerg Hirschel
Ulrich Moser
Stefan Burren

Assignees

YPSOMED AG

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230414
Priority Date: 20120209

Claims (20)

1 . An injection device for administering or conveying fluid product, comprising: a housing comprising a receptacle for the product, the housing extending along an axis of the injection device; a delivery apparatus comprising a piston rod and a guide element, wherein the piston rod is axially movable relative to the housing in a delivery direction for discharging a set product dose in a delivery stroke that corresponds to the set product dose, wherein the guide element guides an axial movement of the piston rod; a drive element engaged with the piston rod; a dosing device for setting and correcting a product dose to be administered, the dosing device comprising a dosing sleeve and a rotary knob; a discharge button arranged coaxially on the dosing sleeve; and a coupling mechanism, wherein the dosing device is coupled to the delivery apparatus by the coupling mechanism, the coupling mechanism comprising at least two coupling surfaces each comprising a tooth arrangement comprising teeth, wherein the at least two coupling surfaces are movable relative to each other during a dosing operation or during a dose correction such that an acoustic and/or tactile signal is produced corresponding to the set product dose or to a corrected dose of the product, and wherein a relative movement between the at least two coupling surfaces is prevented by triggering the discharge button, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a coupling member arranged non-rotatably and axially displaceably at the drive element, and wherein one of the at least two coupling surfaces is fixedly arranged on the coupling member, and another of the at least two coupling surfaces is fixedly arranged at the dosing sleeve such that the coupling surface of the coupling member and the coupling surface of the dosing sleeve can be directly or indirectly brought into a coupling engagement, wherein a reverse lock comprising a flexible arm is configured to form a radial engagement between the housing and the drive element such that the radial engagement permits the drive element to be rotatable relative to the housing only in a direction which results in a motion of the piston rod that causes a discharge of the fluid product.
2 . The injection device according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible arm comprises a tooth on a free end thereof.
3 . The injection device according to claim 1 , wherein the guide element is configured as a threaded nut for engaging with the piston rod, wherein the guide element is fixed on the housing and comprises an internal thread engaged with a corresponding external thread arranged on an outer surface of the piston rod such that the piston rod is rotationally displaceable relative to the housing.
4 . The injection device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive element is configured as a longitudinal guide for the piston rod, and wherein the drive element is rotatable and axially fixed relative to the housing, wherein the reverse lock is provided between the longitudinal guide for the piston rod and the housing such that the longitudinal guide is rotatable only in the direction which results in the motion of the piston rod that causes the discharge of the fluid product.
5 . The injection device according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling engagement is indirect, wherein a click disk comprises a first coupling surface and a second coupling surface and is arranged between the coupling surfaces of the coupling member and the dosing sleeve, wherein the first coupling surface of the click disk comprises a tooth arrangement complementary to the tooth arrangement of the coupling surface of the coupling member, and the second coupling surface of the click disk comprises a tooth arrangement complementary to the tooth arrangement of the coupling surface on the dosing sleeve.
6 . The injection device according to claim 5 , wherein one or more of the tooth arrangements extends axially or radially.
7 . The injection device according to claim 6 , wherein teeth of the one or more of the tooth arrangements extend axially and are of an asymmetric form such that when the discharge button is not triggered, a relative movement can take place in a first direction between the dosing sleeve and the click disk, and a relative movement can take place in a second, opposite direction between the coupling member and the click disk.
8 . The injection device according to claim 7 , wherein the teeth of the tooth arrangements of the first coupling surface and second coupling surfaces of the click disk are of a differing height.
9 . The injection device according to claim 7 , wherein, wherein the teeth of the tooth arrangements of the first coupling surface and second coupling surfaces of the click disk are of a differing width.
10 . The injection device according to claim 5 , wherein the click disk is coaxially arranged with respect to the dosing sleeve.
11 . The injection device according to claim 10 , wherein the dosing sleeve is movable relative to the click disk while the dose is increased during the dosing operation, and wherein a movement of the dosing sleeve relative to the click disk is blocked while the dose is decreased during the dose correction.
12 . The injection device according to claim 1 , wherein the guide element is configured as a longitudinal guide for guiding the piston rod and is fixed to the housing such that the piston rod can be axially and non-rotatably displaced relative to the housing, wherein the drive element is configured as a threaded nut comprising an internal thread engaged with a corresponding external thread on an outer surface of the piston rod, and wherein the threaded nut is rotatable and axially fixed relative to the housing.
13 . The injection device according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible arm is prestressed in a radial direction thereby providing a resistance to movement of the drive element.
14 . An injection device for administering or conveying fluid product, comprising: a housing comprising a receptacle for the product, the housing extending along an axis of the injection device; a delivery apparatus comprising a piston rod and a guide element, wherein the piston rod is axially movable relative to the housing in a delivery direction for discharging a set product dose in a delivery stroke that corresponds to the set product dose, wherein the guide element guides an axial movement of the piston rod; a drive element engaged with the piston rod; a dosing device for setting and correcting a product dose to be administered, the dosing device comprising a dosing sleeve and a rotary knob; a discharge button arranged coaxially on the dosing sleeve; and a coupling mechanism, wherein the dosing device is coupled to the delivery apparatus by the coupling mechanism, the coupling mechanism comprising at least two coupling surfaces each comprising a tooth arrangement comprising teeth, wherein the at least two coupling surfaces are movable relative to each other during a dosing operation or during a dose correction such that an acoustic and/or tactile signal is produced corresponding to the set product dose or to a corrected dose of the product, and wherein a relative movement between the at least two coupling surfaces is prevented by triggering the discharge button, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a coupling member arranged non-rotatably and axially displaceably at the drive element, and wherein one of the at least two coupling surfaces is fixedly arranged on the coupling member, and another of the at least two coupling surfaces is fixedly arranged at the dosing sleeve such that the coupling surface of the coupling member and the coupling surface of the dosing sleeve can be indirectly brought into a coupling engagement by a click disk, wherein a radially directed reverse lock is provided between the housing and the drive element such that the drive element is rotatable only in a direction which results in a motion of the piston rod that causes a discharge of the fluid product, the reverse lock comprising a flexible arm extending radially outward, wherein the click disk comprises a first coupling surface and a second coupling surface and is arranged between the coupling surfaces of the coupling member and the dosing sleeve, wherein the first coupling surface of the click disk comprises a tooth arrangement complementary to the tooth arrangement of the coupling surface of the coupling member, and the second coupling surface of the click disk comprises a tooth arrangement complementary to the tooth arrangement of the coupling surface on the dosing sleeve.
15 . The injection device according to claim 14 , wherein one or more of the tooth arrangements extends axially.
16 . The injection device according to claim 15 , wherein teeth of the one or more of the tooth arrangements are of an asymmetric form such that when the discharge button is not triggered, a relative movement can take place in a first direction between the dosing sleeve and the click disk, and a relative movement can take place in a second, opposite direction between the coupling member and the click disk.
17 . The injection device according to claim 16 , wherein the teeth of the tooth arrangements of the first coupling surface and second coupling surfaces of the click disk are of a differing height.
18 . The injection device according to claim 17 , wherein the teeth of the tooth arrangements of the first coupling surface and second coupling surfaces of the click disk are of a differing width.
19 . An injection device for administering or conveying fluid product, comprising: a housing comprising a receptacle for the product, the housing extending along an axis of the injection device; a delivery apparatus comprising a piston rod and a guide element, wherein the piston rod is axially movable relative to the housing in a delivery direction for discharging a set product dose in a delivery stroke that corresponds to the set product dose, wherein the guide element guides an axial movement of the piston rod; a drive element engaged with the piston rod, wherein the drive element is rotatable and axially fixed relative to the housing; a reverse lock configured to form a radial engagement with the drive element that permits a rotation of drive element relative to the housing only in a direction which results in a motion of the piston rod that causes a discharge of the fluid product; a dosing device for setting and correcting a product dose to be administered, the dosing device comprising a dosing sleeve rotatable in a first direction in a dosing operation to an adjusted dose and in an opposite direction during a dose correction for correcting an inadvertently adjusted excessive dose to a corrected dose; and a coupling mechanism, wherein the dosing device is coupled to the delivery apparatus by the coupling mechanism, the coupling mechanism comprising at least two coupling surfaces each comprising a tooth arrangement comprising teeth, wherein the at least two coupling surfaces are movable relative to each other during the dosing operation or during the dose correction such that an acoustic and/or tactile signal is produced corresponding to the set product dose or to a corrected dose of the product, and wherein a relative movement between the at least two coupling surfaces is prevented during a discharge stroke of the piston rod, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a coupling member arranged non-rotatably and axially displaceably at the drive element, and wherein one of the at least two coupling surfaces is fixedly arranged on the coupling member, and another of the at least two coupling surfaces is fixedly arranged at the dosing sleeve such that the coupling surface of the coupling member and the coupling surface of the dosing sleeve can be directly or indirectly brought into a coupling engagement.
20 . The injection device according to claim 19 , wherein the coupling engagement is indirect, wherein a click disk comprises a first coupling surface and a second coupling surface and is arranged between the coupling surfaces of the coupling member and the dosing sleeve, wherein the first coupling surface of the click disk comprises a tooth arrangement configured to engage with the tooth arrangement of the coupling surface of the coupling member, and wherein the second coupling surface of the click disk comprises a tooth arrangement configured to engage with the tooth arrangement of the coupling surface on the dosing sleeve.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/554,317 filed Dec. 17, 2021, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,654,244 on May 23, 2023, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/378,885 filed Apr. 9, 2019, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,224,697 on Jan. 18, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/809,633 filed Nov. 10, 2017, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,471,215 on Nov. 12, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/454,572, filed Aug. 7, 2014, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,821,121 on Nov. 21, 2017, which is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CH2013/000021 filed Feb. 5, 2013, which claims priority to Swiss Application No. 177/12 filed Feb. 9, 2012, the contents of all of which are herein incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND The present invention pertains to an injection unit, particularly to an injection unit with a dosing device, by means of which a dose or quantity of a substance to be discharged from or with the aid of the injection unit can be adjusted. Various injection units, particularly also pin-shaped or pen-shaped injection units, are known from the prior art. For example, WO 93/07922 A1 discloses such a pin-shaped or pen-shaped injection unit. The pen comprises a dosing device and a delivery apparatus that are coupled to one another by means of a two-part unidirectional coupling 20/21, wherein the coupling is realized by means of asymmetric toothings that engage into one another and the engagement is promoted by means of a spring. In this case, a coupling input element 20 features a toothing that is axially directed in the distal direction. A coupling output element 21 features a complementary toothing. The two coupling elements are arranged coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the pen and realized such that they are rotatable relative to the housing of the pen. The individual teeth of the toothings have two flanks, wherein the two flanks have different inclines. One flank points in the axial direction and the second flank has an incline relative to the longitudinal axis. When the coupling is engaged, the axially aligned flanks prevent a relative rotation between the coupling input element 20 and the coupling output element 21 in one direction, whereas the second, inclined flanks allow a relative rotation in the opposite direction. In order to adjust a dose to be administered, the dosing knob 14 of the dosing device is screwed out of the housing of the unit together with the dosing sleeve 15. In this case, the coupling input element 20 is arranged non-rotatably relative to the dosing knob 14, and the coupling output element 21 is arranged non-rotatably relative to the delivery apparatus. When the dose is increased, the pen is designed in such a way that a relative rotation can take place between the coupling input element 20 and the coupling output element 21. The inclined flanks of the coupling toothings slide over one another in this case, wherein the coupling input element 20 is axially moved against the spring force. When the tips of the teeth slide over one another, the coupling input element 20 springs back into its axial starting position along the axially aligned flanks and generates an audible click. When the dosing knob 14 is screwed back into the housing, the unidirectional coupling prevents a relative rotation between the dosing device and the delivery apparatus due to the axially aligned tooth flanks on the coupling elements 20, 21, wherein the rotation of the dosing knob is therefore transmitted to the delivery apparatus and the discharge of product from the pen can take place. In order to correct the dose, the engagement between the coupling elements 20, 21 has to be manually separated against the spring force. Once the engagement is separated, the dosing device can be moved back into its starting position independently of the delivery apparatus. In order to carry out this type of dose correction, the person using the injection unit must be skilled and powerful because both hands are required for separating and maintaining the engagement in the separated position, i.e. against the spring force. In the released state, the dosing sleeve also has to be screwed back. When the dosing sleeve is screwed back and the engagement is separated, no feedback for the user in the form of a clicking sound is therefore generated. FIGS. 15-17 of EP 1003581 B1 also show a pen-shaped injection unit. This injection unit features a bidirectional coupling between the dosing device and the delivery apparatus. The dosing device comprises a dosing sleeve 80 with a dosing knob 81 arranged on the sleeve. The dosing sleeve 80 can be coupled to the driver tube 85 of the delivery apparatus by means of a bushing 82. The coupling consists of a coupling input element (not shown) that is rigidly arranged on the dosing sleeve 80 and a coupling output element 93 that is also refer