IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,661,015

Granted Patent B2

US 10,661,015 · App. 15/790,263 · Granted May 26, 2020

Wearable drug delivery device

Inventors: Robert F. Rioux (Ashland, MA); Matthew Laplaca (Franklin, MA); Brian Grasso (Wallingford, CT); Matt Bomes (Wellesley, MA)

Assignee: Summit Street Medical LLC

A61M5/2033 A61M5/1782 A61M5/204 A61M5/24 A61M5/2466 A61M5/3135 A61M2005/206 A61M2005/2013 A61M2005/247 A61M2005/3022

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 10,661,015
App. No.: 15/790,263
Granted: May 26, 2020
Kind: B2

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USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A wearable drug delivery device has a needle assembly and a drug vial arranged side-by-side. This arrangement makes the device compact so that it can be easily worn around a user's wrist, for example. When the user triggers the device to inject a dose of medication like epinephrine, in an orchestrated sequence, a first spring drives the needle assembly downward and inserts a needle into the user while connecting the needle assembly to the drug vial. A second spring then delivers the dose from the drug vial through the needle and into the user. Advantageously, the small form factor encourages the user to wear the device and have lifesaving medication at the ready.

Claims (103)

1. A wearable drug delivery device comprising:

a handheld portion, including a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends;

a trigger portion in slidable engagement with the distal end of the handheld portion;

a needle assembly disposed within the handheld portion and aligned with the longitudinal axis, the needle assembly being movable towards the distal end of the handheld portion to an extended position by a penetration spring when the penetration spring is activated by the trigger portion sliding towards the proximal end of the handheld portion;

a drug vial disposed within the handheld portion alongside the needle assembly, the drug vial being moveable towards the distal end of the handheld portion to a seated position by a vial spring when the vial spring is activated by the trigger portion sliding towards the proximal end of the handheld portion;

an integral drug delivery port formed at the distal end of the handheld portion and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the handheld portion, wherein the needle assembly in the extended position and the drug vial in the seated position are in fluid communication with each other by way of the integral drug delivery port;

a rotator coupled to the drug vial, the rotator and the drug vial being urged towards the distal end of the handheld portion by the vial spring;

a yoke extending from the distal end of the handheld portion towards the proximal end, the rotator rests on the yoke thereby resisting movement toward the distal end of the handheld portion and moving the drug vial to the seated position; and

wherein the trigger portion includes a trigger blade extending from the trigger portion and through the distal end of the handheld portion, the trigger blade in slidable engagement with the rotator and configured to lift the rotator off the yolk and allow the rotator to move towards the distal end of the handheld portion and move the drug vial to the seated position when the trigger portion slides toward the proximal end of the handheld portion.

2. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein the handheld portion includes a concave surface, the concavity of which is defined by a point offset from the longitudinal axis.

3. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 2 wherein the concave surface is configured to conform to a human wrist.

4. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein the handheld portion includes a slot; and

the device further comprising a band received in the slot for wearing the wearable drug delivery device around a part of a user's body.

5. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein the handheld portion and trigger portion are made from a metal, a plastic or a combination of metal and plastic.

6. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein the trigger portion slides over the distal end of the handheld portion.

7. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein the trigger portion includes a trigger arm extending from the trigger portion and through the distal end of the handheld portion, the trigger arm configured to release energy stored in the penetration spring when the trigger portion slides toward the proximal end of the handheld portion.

8. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 6 wherein the trigger portion includes two trigger arms.

9. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein the trigger blade includes an angled surface to lift and turn the rotator off the yoke.

10. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein the trigger portion includes three trigger blades.

11. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein the needle assembly further includes a J-shaped needle.

12. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein the integral drug delivery port includes a vial needle, an exit, and a channel connecting the vial needle to the exit, the vial needle punctures a vial membrane of the drug vial when the drug vial is in the seated position thereby allowing a drug dose to flow through the channel and out the exit.

13. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 12 wherein the exit is a septum seal that is pierced by the needle assembly when the needle assembly is in the extended position.

14. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 1 further comprising:

a return spring interposed between an exterior surface at the distal end of the handheld portion and an opposing surface on the trigger portion, the return spring providing a force separating the handheld portion from the trigger portion; and

a latch extending from the opposing surface of the trigger portion and releasable engaged with the handheld portion, the latch when engaged resists the force separating the handheld portion from the trigger portion.

15. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 14 wherein the latch is a leaf spring.

16. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 14 wherein the return spring is a torsion spring.

17. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 1 further comprising a safety guard covering the trigger portion and releaseably attached to the handheld portion by any one of an interference fit and a frangible weld joint.

18. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 1 further comprising:

a safety guard covering the trigger portion and releaseably attached to the handheld portion; and

a strip disposed circumferential between the handheld portion and the safety guard, the strip configured to be torn away from the handheld portion and the safety guard thereby allowing the safety guard to be removed from the handheld portion and expose the trigger portion.

19. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein the handheld portion further includes an exterior surface parallel to the longitudinal axis, the device further comprising:

a one-way barb projecting from the exterior surface of the handheld portion; and

a snap feature joined to the trigger portion by a virtual hinge, the snap feature slides over the exterior surface of the handheld portion and flexes about the virtual hinge, away from the exterior surface, when the trigger portion slides toward the proximal end of the handheld portion and the snap feature slides over the one-way barb.

20. A wearable drug delivery device comprising:

a handheld portion, including a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends;

a trigger portion in slidable engagement with the distal end of the handheld portion;

21. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 20 wherein the handheld portion includes a concave surface, the concavity of which is defined by a point offset from the longitudinal axis.

22. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 21 wherein the concave surface is configured to conform to a human wrist.

23. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 20 wherein the handheld portion includes a slot; and

the device further comprising a band received in the slot for wearing the wearable drug delivery device around a part of a user's body.

24. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 20 wherein the handheld portion and trigger portion are made from a metal, a plastic or a combination of metal and plastic.

25. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 20 wherein the trigger portion slides over the distal end of the handheld portion.

26. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 20 wherein the trigger portion includes a trigger arm extending from the trigger portion and through the distal end of the handheld portion, the trigger arm configured to release energy stored in the penetration spring when the trigger portion slides toward the proximal end of the handheld portion.

27. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 25 wherein the trigger portion includes two trigger arms.

28. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 20 further comprising:

a rotator coupled to the drug vial, the rotator and the drug vial being urged towards the distal end of the handheld portion by the vial spring;

29. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 28 wherein the trigger blade includes an angled surface to lift and turn the rotator off the yoke.

30. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 28 wherein the trigger portion includes three trigger blades.

31. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 20 wherein the needle assembly further includes a J-shaped needle.

32. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 20 wherein the integral drug delivery port includes a vial needle, an exit, and a channel connecting the vial needle to the exit, the vial needle punctures a vial membrane of the drug vial when the drug vial is in the seated position thereby allowing a drug dose to flow through the channel and out the exit.

33. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 32 wherein the exit is a septum seal that is pierced by the needle assembly when the needle assembly is in the extended position.

34. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 20 wherein the latch is a leaf spring.

35. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 20 wherein the return spring is a torsion spring.

36. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 20 further comprising a safety guard covering the trigger portion and releaseably attached to the handheld portion by any one of an interference fit and a frangible weld joint.

37. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 20 further comprising:

a safety guard covering the trigger portion and releaseably attached to the handheld portion; and

38. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 20 wherein the handheld portion further includes an exterior surface parallel to the longitudinal axis, the claim further comprising:

a one-way barb projecting from the exterior surface of the handheld portion; and

39. A wearable drug delivery device comprising:

a handheld portion, including a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends;

a trigger portion in slidable engagement with the distal end of the handheld portion;

wherein the handheld portion further includes an exterior surface parallel to the longitudinal axis, the device further comprising;

a one-way barb projecting from the exterior surface of the handheld portion; and

40. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 39 wherein the handheld portion includes a concave surface, the concavity of which is defined by a point offset from the longitudinal axis.

41. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 40 wherein the concave surface is configured to conform to a human wrist.

42. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 39 wherein the handheld portion includes a slot; and

the device further comprising a band received in the slot for wearing the wearable drug delivery device around a part of a user's body.

43. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 39 wherein the handheld portion and trigger portion are made from a metal, a plastic or a combination of metal and plastic.

44. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 39 wherein the trigger portion slides over the distal end of the handheld portion.

45. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 39 wherein the trigger portion includes a trigger arm extending from the trigger portion and through the distal end of the handheld portion, the trigger arm configured to release energy stored in the penetration spring when the trigger portion slides toward the proximal end of the handheld portion.

46. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 44 wherein the trigger portion includes two trigger arms.

47. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 39 further comprising:

a rotator coupled to the drug vial, the rotator and the drug vial being urged towards the distal end of the handheld portion by the vial spring;

48. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 47 wherein the trigger blade includes an angled surface to lift and turn the rotator off the yoke.

49. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 47 wherein the trigger portion includes three trigger blades.

50. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 39 wherein the needle assembly further includes a J-shaped needle.

51. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 39 wherein the integral drug delivery port includes a vial needle, an exit, and a channel connecting the vial needle to the exit, the vial needle punctures a vial membrane of the drug vial when the drug vial is in the seated position thereby allowing a drug dose to flow through the channel and out the exit.

52. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 51 wherein the exit is a septum seal that is pierced by the needle assembly when the needle assembly is in the extended position.

53. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 39 further comprising:

54. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 53 wherein the latch is a leaf spring.

55. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 53 wherein the return spring is a torsion spring.

56. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 39 further comprising a safety guard covering the trigger portion and releaseably attached to the handheld portion by any one of an interference fit and a frangible weld joint.

57. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 39 further comprising:

a safety guard covering the trigger portion and releaseably attached to the handheld portion; and

Assignments (3)

CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION Recorded Jun 9, 2021

From: SUMMIT STREET MEDICAL LLC

To: SUMMIT STREET MEDICAL, INC.

Reel/Frame 056675/0737 →

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2021

From: SUMMIT STREET MEDICAL, INC.

To: FALCO MEDICAL, LLC

Reel/Frame 056381/0460 →

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2018

From: RIOUX, ROBERT F.; LAPLACA, MATTHEW; GRASSO, BRIAN; BOMES, MATT

To: SUMMIT STREET MEDICAL LLC

Reel/Frame 045089/0867 →

Continuity (3)

Provisional Application 62455241 · Feb 6, 2017

Provisional Application 62414871 · Oct 31, 2016

Related Publication 20180117251A1 · May 3, 2018

Cited By (4)

US 1,122,440 US 12,226,613 US 12,533,298 US 12,691,213