SEQUENTIAL DELIVERY SYSTEMS AND METHODS
An automated, and/or semi-automated, sequential drug delivery injector system, where the energy provided to dispense medicament from a plurality of containers or cartridges can be iterated to deliver the medicament(s) in discrete steps, without mixing of the medicament components within the device. A pressurized gas source can drive the flow through a plurality of valves to sequentially dispense a dose, or discrete drugs, from each of the plurality of containers housed within the device. The delivery needle is in fluid communication with a flow path linking the adjacent drug containers when in the nominal state.
1 . A drug delivery system comprising:
a housing configured to hold a first container and a second container, wherein the first container contains a first medicament component and the second container contains a second medicament component;
a first seal associated with the first container;
a second seal associated with the second container;
a fluid communication assembly having a fluidic channel between the first container and the second container, the fluid communication assembly configured to be displaced from a first position to a second position within the housing thereby opening, removing or otherwise piercing the first seal and second seal to provide a fluidic pathway between the first container and the second container;
at least one stored energy source configured to dispense the first and second medicament components; and
a needle delivery assembly including a delivery needle having a first end and a second end, the first end of the delivery needle in fluid communication with the fluidic channel in the first position.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one stored energy source includes a spring engaged with a first plunger of the first container and a second spring engaged with a second plunger of the second container.
3 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising a plate coupled to the first and second plungers, the plate restricting displacement of at least one of the first and second plungers.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first plunger and second plunger includes a structural feature configured to displace the plate, thereby permitting displacement of the other plunger.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one stored energy source includes at least one pressurized gas chamber, the at least one pressurized gas chamber in communication with the first container via a first pathway and the second container via a second pathway.
6 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising a valve disposed between the at least one gas chamber and at least one of the first and/or second containers, the valve selectively opening flow of pressurized gas to one of the first and/or second containers.
7 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising a third pathway in communication with the at least one pressurized gas chamber and at least one of the first pathway and second pathway.
8 . The system of claim 5 , the at least one pressurized gas displaces a plunger in the first container a predetermined distance to open the second pathway to the second container.
9 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one gas chamber includes a first gas chamber in fluid communication with the first container and a second gas chamber in fluid communication with the second container.
10 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the first gas chamber displaces a first plunger in the first container a predetermined distance to open the second gas chamber, thereby displacing a second plunger in the second container.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined distance is detected by a sensor.
12 . A drug delivery system comprising:
a housing configured to hold a first container and a second container, wherein the first container contains a first medicament component and the second container contains a second medicament component;
a first seal associated with the first container;
a second seal associated with the second container;
a fluid communication assembly having a fluidic channel between the first container and the second container, the fluid communication assembly configured to be displaced from a first position to a second position within the housing thereby opening, removing or otherwise piercing the first seal and second seal to provide a fluidic pathway between the first container and the second container;
a pressurized gas chamber at least partially disposed in the housing and in fluid communication with the first container and the second container;
an activation mechanism configured to open or otherwise pierce the pressurized gas chamber;
at least one valve configured to release a portion of pressurized gas that facilitates the dispensing of the first and second medicaments components; and
a needle delivery assembly configured to be in fluid communication with the first and second containers during a delivery phase.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the pressurized gas flows through a first pressurized gas pathway to displace a plunger in the first container a predetermined distance, thereby opening a second pressurized gas pathway to the second container.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein pressurized gas remains within the first pressurized gas pathway while the pressurized gas flows to the second pressurized pathway.
15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the first medicament and second medicament are dispensed sequentially and automatically.
16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the pressurized gas chamber is disposed above the first container and a second container.
17 . A drug delivery system comprising:
a housing configured to hold a first container and a second container, wherein the first container contains a first medicament component and the second container contains a second medicament component;
a first seal associated with the first container;
a second seal associated with the second container;
a fluid communication assembly having a fluidic channel between the first container and the second container, the fluid communication assembly configured to be displaced from a first position to a second position within the housing thereby opening, removing or otherwise piercing the first seal and second seal to provide a fluidic pathway between the first container and the second container;
a pressurized gas chamber at least partially disposed in the housing and in fluid communication with the first container and the second container;
an activation mechanism configured to open or otherwise pierce the pressurized gas chamber;
at least one valve configured to release a portion of pressurized gas that facilitates the dispensing of the first and second medicaments components; and
a needle delivery assembly configured to be in fluid communication with the first and second containers during a delivery phase; and
a valve disposed within the fluidic channel between the first container and the second container.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the valve closes the fluidic channel to the second container while the medicament from the first container is dispensed.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the valve is a ball valve, with the first medicament component displacing the ball valve a first direction to close the fluid channel of the second container.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the second medicament component displaces the ball valve a second direction to close the fluid channel of the first container.