US 12,220,564 B2
Auto-injector
Simon Francis Brereton, Cambridge (GB); Thomas Kemp, Ashwell (GB); Rosie Burnell, Cambridge (GB); and Matthew Ekman, Cheshire (GB)
Assigned to Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GMBH, Frankfurt am Main (DE)
Filed by Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GMBH, Frankfurt am Main (DE)
Filed on Jun. 26, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/755,161.
Application 18/755,161 is a continuation of application No. 18/487,215, filed on Oct. 16, 2023.
Application 18/487,215 is a continuation of application No. 17/126,962, filed on Dec. 18, 2020, granted, now 11,819,670, issued on Nov. 21, 2023.
Application 17/126,962 is a continuation of application No. 15/897,872, filed on Feb. 15, 2018, granted, now 10,894,132, issued on Jan. 19, 2021.
Application 15/897,872 is a continuation of application No. 13/983,809, granted, now 9,925,344, issued on Mar. 27, 2018, previously published as PCT/EP2012/052647, filed on Feb. 16, 2012.
Claims priority of application No. 11155040 (EP), filed on Feb. 18, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2024/0342387 A1, Oct. 17, 2024
Int. Cl. A61M 5/315 (2006.01); A61M 5/20 (2006.01); A61M 5/32 (2006.01); A61M 5/46 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 5/31501 (2013.01) [A61M 5/20 (2013.01); A61M 5/2033 (2013.01); A61M 5/3157 (2013.01); A61M 5/3158 (2013.01); A61M 5/326 (2013.01); A61M 5/46 (2013.01); A61M 2005/206 (2013.01); A61M 2005/208 (2013.01); A61M 2205/581 (2013.01); A61M 2205/582 (2013.01); A61M 2205/583 (2013.01)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An auto-injector comprising:
a housing defining a longitudinal axis of the auto-injector;
a sleeve configured to axially slide along the longitudinal axis within the housing in at least one state of the auto-injector;
a plunger rod comprising
a flange portion;
a proximally-extending portion extending proximally from a proximal side of the flange portion to a proximal end of the plunger rod, the proximally-extending portion being substantially centered about the longitudinal axis of the auto-injector, and the proximal end being configured to contact a stopper of a syringe of the auto-injector when the syringe is disposed in the auto-injector; and
two distally-extending portions extending distally from a distal side of the flange portion to a distal end of the plunger rod, the two distally-extending portions being spaced apart from one another along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the auto-injector, and each of the two distally-extending portions of the plunger rod being configured to releasably engage a distal end of the sleeve to releasably hold the plunger rod in a first position within the auto-injector prior to the two distally-extending portions of the plunger rod disengaging from the distal end of the sleeve by an inward deflection, wherein an axial length of the proximally-extending portion is greater than an axial length of the two distally-extending portions, and an inner surface of each of the two distally-extending portions face one another and define a recess extending in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the auto-injector;
a drive spring having a distal end in contact with the distal end of the sleeve and a proximal end in contact with the distal side of the flange portion of the plunger rod for proximally biasing the plunger rod relative to the sleeve, at least a portion of the drive spring surrounding the two distally-extending portions of the plunger rod; and
a trigger button disposed at a distal end of the housing, the trigger button configured to be pressed in a proximal direction by a user to allow the two distally-extending portions of the plunger rod to disengage from the distal end of the sleeve by the inward deflection such that the plunger rod is released from being held in the first position and advances in the proximal direction to dispense a medicament from the syringe when the syringe is disposed in the housing.
 
12. An auto-injector comprising:
a housing defining a longitudinal axis of the auto-injector;
a sleeve configured to axially slide within the housing in at least one state of the auto- injector;
a plunger rod comprising
a flange portion;
a proximal portion extending proximally from a proximal side of the flange portion, the proximal portion being substantially centered about the longitudinal axis of the auto- injector, and a proximal end of the proximal portion being configured to contact a stopper of a syringe of the auto-injector when the syringe is disposed in the auto-injector; and
a distal portion extending distally from a distal side of the flange portion, the distal portion configured to releasably engage a distal end of the sleeve to releasably hold the plunger rod in a first position within the auto-injector prior to the distal portion disengaging from the distal end of the sleeve by an inward deflection, wherein an axial length of the proximal portion is greater than an axial length of the distal portion, an inner surface of the distal portion defines a recess extending at least partially into the distal portion and in a direction perpendicular to and away from the longitudinal axis of the auto-injector, and the recess has a triangular profile, is disposed on a distal half of the distal portion, and extends only partially through the distal portion in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the auto-injector;
a drive spring having a distal end in contact with the distal end of the sleeve and a proximal end in contact with the distal side of the flange portion of the plunger rod for proximally biasing the plunger rod relative to the sleeve, at least a portion of the drive spring surrounding the distal portion of the plunger rod; and
a trigger button disposed at a distal end of the housing, the trigger button configured to be pressed in a proximal direction by a user to allow the distal portion of the plunger rod to disengage from the distal end of the sleeve by the inward deflection such that the plunger rod is released from being held in the first position and advances in the proximal direction to dispense a medicament from the syringe when the syringe is disposed in the housing.
 
20. An auto-injector comprising:
a housing defining a longitudinal axis of the auto-injector;
a sleeve disposed within the housing;
a plunger rod disposed within the housing, the plunger rod comprising
a flange portion;
a proximal portion extending proximally from a proximal side of the flange portion, the proximal portion being substantially centered about the longitudinal axis of the auto- injector, and a proximal end of the proximal portion being configured to contact a stopper of a syringe of the auto-injector when the syringe is disposed in the auto-injector; and
a distal portion extending distally from a distal side of the flange portion, the distal portion configured to releasably engage the sleeve to releasably hold the plunger rod in a first position relative to the sleeve, wherein an inner surface of the distal portion defines a recess extending at least partially into the distal portion and in a direction perpendicular to and away from the longitudinal axis of the auto-injector, and the recess has a triangular profile, is disposed on a distal half of the distal portion, and extends only partially through the distal portion in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the auto-injector;
a drive spring having a distal end in contact with the sleeve and a proximal end in contact with the flange portion of the plunger rod for proximally biasing the plunger rod relative to the sleeve, at least a portion of the drive spring surrounding the distal portion of the plunger rod; and
a trigger button disposed at a distal end of the housing, the trigger button configured to be pressed in a proximal direction by a user to allow the distal portion of the plunger rod to disengage from the sleeve by an inward deflection such that the plunger rod is released from being held in the first position and advances in the proximal direction to dispense a medicament from the syringe when the syringe is disposed in the housing.
 
24. An auto-injector comprising:
a housing defining a longitudinal axis of the auto-injector;
a sleeve disposed within the housing;
a plunger rod disposed within the housing, the plunger rod comprising
a flange portion;
a proximal portion extending proximally from a proximal side of the flange portion, the proximal portion being substantially centered about the longitudinal axis of the auto- injector, and a proximal end of the proximal portion being configured to contact a stopper of a medicament container when the medicament container is disposed in the auto-injector; and
a distal portion extending distally from a distal side of the flange portion, the distal portion configured to releasably engage the sleeve to releasably hold the plunger rod in a first position relative to the sleeve prior to an inward deflection which releases the plunger rod from the sleeve, wherein an inner surface of the distal portion defines a recess extending at least partially into the distal portion and in a direction perpendicular to and away from the longitudinal axis of the auto-injector, and the recess has a triangular profile, is disposed on a distal half of the distal portion, and extends only partially through the distal portion in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the auto-injector; and
a drive spring having a distal end in contact with the sleeve and a proximal end in contact with the flange portion of the plunger rod for proximally biasing the plunger rod relative to the sleeve to dispense a medicament from the auto-injector when the plunger rod is released from being held in the first position.