Auto-injection device
The present invention relates to an autoinjector device ( 10 ) for use in combination with a syringe ( 30 ), said syringe comprising a movable plunger; a needle; and a tubular needle shield ( 34 ). The claimed autoinjector device ( 10 ) comprises: an elongated housing having a proximal ( 11 ) and a distal end ( 12 ); a drive mechanism; a syringe holder ( 40 ) in order to support the fragile syringe and to prevent damage to the syringe. The invention furthermore relates to a method for assembly of the autoinjector device according to the invention.
1 . A syringe carrier comprising:
an elongate body comprising a collar at a distal end of the elongate body, the collar configured to allow a syringe to be inserted through the collar, the elongate body configured to receive a barrel of the syringe, the elongate body defining a slot extending distally from a proximal end of the elongate body such that the elongate body has a c-shaped proximal end region, and the elongate body defining a recess adjacent the slot,
wherein the c-shaped proximal end region of the elongate body comprises at least one inwardly extending projection configured to be disposed in a gap formed between a rigid needle shield and the barrel of the syringe and to contact a proximal end of the barrel of the syringe to restrict proximal axial movement of the syringe relative to the syringe carrier when the syringe is disposed in the syringe carrier.
2 . The syringe carrier of claim 1 , wherein the recess is defined by a distal end region of the elongate body adjacent the slot.
3 . The syringe carrier of claim 1 , wherein the recess is configured to permit a portion of the elongate body proximal to the recess to deflect radially outwardly relative to a portion of the elongate body distal to the recess.
4 . The syringe carrier of claim 1 , wherein the recess is defined by a portion of the elongate body that is proximal to the collar.
5 . The syringe carrier of claim 4 , wherein the portion of the elongate body that defines the recess is distal to the c-shaped proximal end region.
6 . The syringe carrier of claim 1 , wherein the slot extends from the proximal end of the elongate body approximately to the collar.
7 . The syringe carrier of claim 1 , wherein the rigid needle shield of the syringe has an outer diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the barrel of the syringe.
8 . The syringe carrier of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body of the syringe carrier defines a window for allowing visual access to the barrel of the syringe when the syringe is in the syringe carrier.
9 . The syringe carrier of claim 1 , wherein a proximal surface of the proximal end of the elongate body abuts the rigid needle shield.
10 . The syringe carrier of claim 1 , wherein a proximal surface of the proximal end region of the elongate body is c-shaped.
11 . The syringe carrier of claim 1 , wherein the c-shaped proximal end region of the elongate body is configured to deflect radially outwardly as the syringe is inserted proximally through the collar and the rigid needle shield contacts the at least one inwardly extending projection, and the c-shaped proximal end region of the elongate body is configured to rebound radially inwardly when the rigid needle shield moves proximally beyond the at least one inwardly extending projection, wherein the at least one inwardly extending projection is configured to contact a proximal end of the barrel of the syringe when the c-shaped proximal end region of the elongate body has rebounded radially inwardly to restrict proximal axial movement of the syringe relative to the syringe carrier.
12 . The syringe carrier of claim 11 , wherein the slot is formed in a portion of the elongate body proximal to the collar, and the portion of the elongate body forming the slot is adapted to flex radially inward over the barrel of the syringe when the c-shaped proximal end region of the elongate body rebounds radially inward.
13 . The syringe carrier of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body defines an aperture opposite the slot and proximal to the collar, and the elongate body comprises a first projection that extends along an edge of the slot and a second projection that extends along an edge of the aperture.
14 . The syringe carrier of claim 1 , wherein the syringe carrier is configured so that a finger flange of the syringe is spaced distally from the collar of the syringe carrier when the syringe is inserted in the syringe carrier and the at least one inwardly extending projection is disposed in the gap formed between the rigid needle shield and the barrel of the syringe.
15 . An assembly comprising:
a syringe comprising a barrel, a neck extending proximally from the barrel, a finger flange extending from a distal end portion of the barrel, a needle extending proximally from the neck, and a rigid needle shield covering the needle; and
a syringe carrier comprising an elongate body comprising a collar at a distal end of the elongate body, the collar configured to allow the syringe to be inserted through the collar, the elongate body defining a recess configured to receive the barrel of the syringe, the elongate body defining a slot extending distally from a proximal end of the elongate body such that the elongate body has a c-shaped proximal end region, and the elongate body defining a recess adjacent the slot,
wherein the c-shaped proximal end region of the elongate body comprises at least one inwardly extending projection configured to be disposed in a gap formed between the rigid needle shield and the barrel of the syringe and to contact a proximal end of the barrel of the syringe to restrict proximal axial movement of the syringe relative to the syringe carrier when the syringe is disposed in the recess of the syringe carrier.
16 . The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the syringe contains medicament.
17 . An autoinjector comprising:
a housing; and
a syringe carrier configured to be disposed in the housing, the syringe carrier comprising an elongate body comprising a collar at a distal end of the elongate body, the collar configured to allow a syringe to be inserted through the collar, the elongate body configured to receive a barrel of the syringe, the elongate body defining a slot extending distally from a proximal end of the elongate body such that the elongate body has a c-shaped proximal end region, and the elongate body defining a recess adjacent the slot,
wherein the c-shaped proximal end region of the elongate body comprises at least one inwardly extending projection configured to be disposed in a gap formed between a rigid needle shield and the barrel of the syringe and to contact a proximal end of the barrel of the syringe to restrict proximal axial movement of the syringe relative to the syringe carrier when the syringe is disposed in the syringe carrier.
18 . A syringe carrier comprising:
an elongate body comprising a collar at a distal end of the elongate body, the collar configured to allow a syringe to be inserted through the collar, the elongate body configured to receive a barrel of the syringe, the elongate body defining a slot extending distally from a proximal end of the elongate body such that the elongate body has a c-shaped proximal end region, and a distal end region of the elongate body proximal to the collar defining a recess adjacent the slot,
wherein the c-shaped proximal end region of the elongate body comprises at least one inwardly extending projection configured to be disposed in a gap formed between a rigid needle shield and the barrel of the syringe and to contact the syringe to restrict proximal axial movement of the syringe relative to the syringe carrier when the syringe is disposed in the syringe carrier,
wherein the c-shaped proximal end region of the elongate body is configured to deflect radially outwardly as the syringe is inserted proximally through the collar and the rigid needle shield contacts the at least one inwardly extending projection, and the c-shaped proximal end region of the elongate body is configured to rebound radially inwardly when the rigid needle shield moves proximally beyond the at least one inwardly extending projection, wherein the at least one inwardly extending projection is configured to contact a proximal end of the barrel of the syringe when the c-shaped proximal end region of the elongate body has rebounded radially inwardly to restrict proximal axial movement of the syringe relative to the syringe carrier, and
wherein the syringe carrier is configured so that a finger flange of the syringe is spaced distally from the collar of the syringe carrier when the syringe is inserted in the syringe carrier and the at least one inwardly extending projection is disposed in the gap formed between the rigid needle shield and the barrel of the syringe.
19 . The syringe carrier of claim 18 , wherein the portion of the elongate body that defines the recess is distal to the c-shaped proximal end region.
20 . The syringe carrier of claim 18 , wherein the slot extends from the proximal end of the elongate body approximately to the collar.
21 . The syringe carrier of claim 18 , wherein the rigid needle shield of the syringe has an outer diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the barrel of the syringe.
22 . The syringe carrier of claim 18 , wherein the elongate body of the syringe carrier defines a window for allowing visual access to the barrel of the syringe when the syringe is in the syringe carrier.
23 . The syringe carrier of claim 18 , wherein a proximal surface of the proximal end of the elongate body abuts the rigid needle shield.
24 . The syringe carrier of claim 18 , wherein a proximal surface of the proximal end region of the elongate body is c-shaped.
25 . The syringe carrier of claim 18 , wherein the slot is formed in a portion of the elongate body proximal to the collar, and the portion of the elongate body forming the slot is adapted to flex radially inward over the barrel of the syringe when the c-shaped proximal end region of the elongate body rebounds radially inward.