Prefilled disposable injection device
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to drug delivery systems that cannot be reloaded or reused and further include a passive safety shield system. The drug delivery devices described herein include a drug container comprising at least one bellow, a needle, wherein the needle is in liquid communication with the drug container; a plunger extending between a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the plunger is in communication with the drug container and where upon axial movement of the plunger, the drug container is compressed.
1. A drug delivery device comprising:
a drug container comprising at least one bellow, wherein each and every bellow of the at least one bellow comprises a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the first surface is comprised of a first Belleville spring and the opposing second surface is comprised of a second Belleville spring, wherein the second Belleville spring has a higher spring rate than the first Belleville spring, wherein the drug container has a first, expanded position and a second, stable position, wherein due to the relative spring rates of the first and second Belleville springs, when an axial load is applied to the drug container in the expanded position, the second Belleville spring remains static, as the first Belleville spring deflects, such that the first Belleville spring inverts and nests inside of the second Belleville spring and due to the first Belleville spring being inverted and nesting inside of the second Belleville spring, there is no restoring force which prevents the drug container from returning to the expanded position, wherein when the drug container is in the second, stable position the drug container cannot be refilled or reused;
a needle, wherein while the drug container is the first expanded position and in the second, stable position the needle is in continuous liquid communication with the drug container;
a plunger wherein the plunger extends between a proximal end and a distal end and wherein the plunger is in communication with the drug container where upon axial movement of the plunger, the drug container is compressed;
a main body extending between a proximal end and a distal end and comprising an inner body and an outer body, wherein the inner body houses the plunger and the drug container and the outer body is capable of sliding over the inner body and extending past the needle, wherein the outer body further comprises a set of release and lock beams, and wherein the inner body further comprises a set of locking windows, wherein the set of release and lock beams is engaged with the set of locking windows when the outer body is in a retracted position; and
a spring located between the inner body and the outer body for urging the outer body to slide over the inner body and extend past the needle.
2. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the plunger comprises at least one release cam where upon axial movement of the plunger, the at least one release cam can cause disengagement of the set of release and lock beams of the outer body from the set of locking windows the inner body causing the outer body to move slidingly along the inner body.
3. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the inner body further comprises a second set of locking windows, wherein when the set of release and lock beams is engaged with the second set of locking windows the outer body is in an extended position.
4. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the drug container further comprises a drug product.