Portable Drug Mixing and Delivery Device and Associated Methods
A portable auto-injector configured to store a dry medication separately from a liquid component, wherein removal of a cap operates a first actuation mechanism which opens a valve between a first and second chamber that are slidably movable relative to each other and thus allows for the initiation of a mixing step prior to injection. An extendable needle guard is provided over the delivery assembly which prevents premature injection as well as inadvertent sticks or other cross contamination of a needle. The needle guard can also form part of a secondary trigger mechanism which injects the mixed components after the mixing stage is complete.
1 . A drug mixing system comprising:
a housing;
a first and second chamber disposed at least partially within the housing,
wherein at least one of the chambers is slidably movable relative to the other chamber;
a movable body disposed at least partially within one of the chambers; and
a valve configured to allow fluid communication between the first and second chambers.
2 . The drug mixing system of claim 1 , wherein the movable body is configured to be a displacement mechanism and reduce the effective volume of the second chamber.
3 . The drug mixing system of claim 1 , wherein the movable body is configured to be a displacement mechanism and reduce the effective volume of the first chamber and increase the volume of the second chamber.
4 . The drug mixing system of claim 2 , wherein the movable body can be driven bi-directionally.
5 . The drug mixing system of claim 1 , further comprising a delivery assembly configured to be in selective fluid communication with the second chamber.
6 . The drug mixing system of claim 5 , further including an actuation assembly that upon actuation causes one of the chambers to slidably move relative to the other, and also causes the valve to open between the first and second chambers.
7 . The drug mixing system of claim 6 , further including a pre-stored energy source that is coupled to the actuation assembly.
8 . The drug mixing system of claim 1 , further comprising a fluidic channel disposed between an outlet of the first chamber and an inlet of the second chamber.
9 . The drug mixing system of claim 5 , further including a fluid blocking mechanism disposed between the second chamber and the delivery mechanism.
10 . The drug mixing system of claim 9 , wherein the delivery mechanism is movable relative to the second chamber.
11 . The drug mixing system of claim 9 , wherein the blocking mechanism is a septum that is pierceable by a needle that forms part of the delivery mechanism.
12 . A drug mixing system comprising:
a housing having a first and second chamber disposed at least partially therein, wherein at least one of the chambers is slidably movable relative to the other chamber;
a valve disposed between the first and second chambers, wherein the valve is configured to allow fluid communication between the chambers when opened;
an intermediate support disposed at least partially about one of the chambers and in mechanical communication with the valve, whereby rotating the intermediate support about one of the chambers causes the valve to open.
13 . The drug mixing system of claim 12 , further comprising a delivery assembly configured to be in selective fluid communication with the second chamber.
14 . The drug mixing system of claim 12 , further including an actuation assembly coupled to a pre-loaded energy source, whereupon activating the actuation assembly during a first actuation causes the valve to open, and causes one of the chambers to slidably move relative to the other.
15 . The drug mixing system of claim 14 , further including a plunger disposed partially within the first chamber and upon activating the actuation assembly during a first actuation, the plunger displaces a first medicament component from the first chamber into the second chamber thereby causing the first medicament component of the first chamber to mix with a second medicament stored outside the first chamber.
16 . The drug mixing system of claim 12 , further comprising a fluidic channel disposed between an outlet of the first chamber and an inlet of the second chamber.
17 . The drug mixing system of claim 15 , further including a mechanically releasable stop engaging a portion of the intermediate support at the end of the first actuation, and is configured to release the intermediate support at the beginning of a second actuation, wherein the mixed medicament is retained in the second chamber during an intermediate stage.
18 . The drug mixing system of claim 17 , further including a trigger, when activated, to disengage the mechanically releasable stop from the intermediate support at the beginning of a second actuation, wherein the second actuation displaces the mixed medicament components from the second chamber through a delivery assembly.
19 . A drug mixing system comprising:
a housing having a first and second chamber disposed at least partially therein;
a valve disposed between the two chambers and configured to allow fluid communication between the chambers when in an open state;
a displacement mechanism that displaces a fluid from the first chamber into the second chamber upon an opening of the valve, wherein the valve further comprises a portion of the valve that is engaged with one of the chambers and in mechanical communication with the first displacement mechanism, whereby rotating the portion of the valve allows the first displacement device to translate axially and move a portion of the fluid from the first chamber into the second chamber.
20 . The drug mixing system of claim 19 , further comprising an actuation device that is mechanically coupled to the valve, whereby actuating the actuation device moves the valve from a closed to an open state.