Drug delivery device
A drug delivery device may include a housing having an opening and a drug storage container having a body portion with a proximal end and a distal end and a delivery member extending from the distal end of the body portion. The device may also include a plunger moveable toward the distal end of the drug storage container to expel a drug from the drug storage container through the delivery member and a plunger biasing member configured to urge the plunger toward the distal end of the drug storage container. The device may further include a container holder configured to support the drug storage container with respect to the housing such that a resultant force acting on the drug storage container from the plunger biasing member is at least substantially completely borne by the distal end of the body portion of the drug storage container.
1. A drug delivery device comprising:
a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having an opening;
a drug storage container having a body portion with a proximal end and a distal end and a delivery member extending from the distal end of the body portion;
a plunger moveable toward the distal end of the drug storage container to expel a drug from the drug storage container through the delivery member;
a plunger biasing member configured to urge the plunger toward the distal end of the drug storage container; and
a container holder configured to support the drug storage container with respect to the housing,
wherein the container holder includes at least two inwardly protruding flanges at a distal end of the container holder, the at least two inwardly protruding flanges being configured to receive the distal end of the body portion of the drug storage container, wherein the two inwardly protruding flanges are separated from each other by at least two gaps, and
wherein the container holder includes at least one support flange protruding radially inwardly near a proximal end of the container holder, the at least one support flange being configured to apply a radially inward force on the body portion of the drug storage container when the drug storage container is supported by the container holder.
2. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the body portion of the drug storage container includes an end surface, the delivery member extends from the end surface, and the container holder is configured to support the drug storage container with respect to the housing adjacent to the end surface.
3. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the container holder is configured to support the drug storage container with respect to the housing such that a resultant force acting on the drug storage container from the plunger biasing member is at least borne by the distal end of the body portion of the drug storage container, and wherein the container holder includes a resilient portion configured to absorb at least a portion of the resultant force.
4. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the container holder is positioned within the housing and coupled with the housing such as to substantially prevent relative movement between the container holder and the housing.
5. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the container holder is defined by features of the housing and configured to substantially prevent relative movement between the drug storage container and the housing.
6. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the container holder includes a flexible arm configured to support the proximal end of the drug storage container body portion.
7. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the container holder includes at least two arms configured to be selectively secured with each other.
8. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the container holder includes at least one arm movable between an open position and a closed position.
9. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the container holder is configured to support the drug storage container with respect to the housing such that a resultant force acting on the drug storage container from the plunger biasing member is completely borne by the distal end of the body portion of the drug storage container.
10. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the drug storage container is filled or pre-filled with the drug, and wherein the drug comprises one of: a drug containing a human IgG1 kappa antibody, a drug containing a small interfering RNA (siRNA) that lowers lipoprotein(a), a drug containing erenumab, etanercept, Tezepelumab, efavaleukin alfa, evolocumab, and a drug containing a gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor (GIPR) antagonist and a GLP-1R agonist.
11. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the drug storage container includes at least one outwardly protruding flange at the proximal end of the body portion, and wherein the drug storage container is coupled with the container holder such that a resultant force acting on the drug storage container is not significantly borne by the at least one outwardly protruding flange of the drug storage container.
12. The drug delivery device of claim 11 , wherein the container holder defines at least one opening configured to receive the at least one outwardly protruding flange at the proximal end of the body portion of the drug storage container.
13. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising a plunger guide configured to receive at least a portion of the plunger biasing member, the plunger guide including a proximal end coupled with the housing and a distal end configured to abut the container holder.
14. The drug delivery device of claim 13 , wherein the plunger guide includes a flexible arm configured to support the proximal end of the drug storage container body portion.
15. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the container holder includes an open position for receiving the drug storage container and a closed position for securing the drug storage container.
16. The drug delivery device of claim 15 , wherein the container holder includes at least two proximal inwardly protruding flanges configured to define a proximal opening for receiving the drug storage container when the container holder is in the open position.
17. The drug delivery device of claim 15 , wherein the container holder includes at least one locking component configured to secure the container holder in the closed position.
18. The drug delivery device of claim 17 , wherein the container holder includes at least two locking components configured to secure the container holder in the closed position.
19. The drug delivery device of claim 15 , wherein the container holder includes at least two arms movable with respect to each other between the open position and the closed position.
20. The drug delivery device of claim 19 , wherein the at least two arms extend generally along the longitudinal axis.
21. The drug delivery device of claim 20 , wherein the container holder further includes an annular ring supporting the at least two arms.
22. The drug delivery device of claim 21 , wherein the annular ring is adjacent to a distal portion of the container holder and the at least two arms extend proximally along the longitudinal axis.
23. A drug delivery device comprising:
a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having an opening;
a drug storage container having a body portion with a proximal end and a distal end and a delivery member extending from the distal end of the body portion;
a plunger moveable toward the distal end of the drug storage container to expel a drug from the drug storage container through the delivery member;
a plunger biasing member configured to urge the plunger toward the distal end of the drug storage container; and
a container holder configured to support the drug storage container with respect to the housing by the distal end of the body portion of the drug storage container,
wherein the container holder includes at least two inwardly protruding flanges at a distal end of the container holder, the at least two inwardly protruding flanges being configured to receive the distal end of the body portion of the drug storage container, and
wherein the container holder includes at least one support flange protruding radially inwardly near a proximal end of the container holder, the at least one support flange being configured to apply a radially inward force on the body portion of the drug storage container when the drug storage container is supported by the container holder.
24. The drug delivery device of claim 23 , wherein the container holder is configured to completely support the drug storage container with respect to the housing by the distal end of the body portion of the drug storage container.
25. The drug delivery device of claim 23 , wherein the drug storage container is filled or pre-filled with the drug, and wherein the drug comprises one of: a drug containing a human IgG1 kappa antibody, a drug containing a small interfering RNA (siRNA) that lowers lipoprotein(a), a drug containing erenumab, etanercept, Tezepelumab, efavaleukin alfa, evolocumab, and a drug containing a gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor (GIPR) antagonist and a GLP-1R agonist.