US 12,420,026 B2
Drug delivery device with feedback mechanism
Thomas Mark Kemp, Ashwell (GB); and Hugo Revellat, Melbourn (GB)
Assigned to Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GMBH, Frankfurt am Main (DE)
Filed by SANOFI-AVENTIS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, Frankfurt am Main (DE)
Filed on Jan. 17, 2025, as Appl. No. 19/029,194.
Application 19/029,194 is a continuation of application No. 18/968,712, filed on Dec. 4, 2024.
Application 18/968,712 is a continuation of application No. 17/172,602, filed on Feb. 10, 2021, granted, now 12,186,540, issued on Jan. 7, 2025.
Application 17/172,602 is a continuation of application No. 15/578,668, granted, now 10,940,270, issued on Mar. 9, 2021, previously published as PCT/EP2016/062455, filed on Jun. 2, 2016.
Claims priority of application No. 15170590 (EP), filed on Jun. 3, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2025/0161583 A1, May 22, 2025
Int. Cl. A61M 5/315 (2006.01); A61M 5/20 (2006.01); A61M 5/32 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 5/3157 (2013.01) [A61M 5/2033 (2013.01); A61M 5/3245 (2013.01); A61M 2005/208 (2013.01); A61M 2005/3247 (2013.01); A61M 2005/3267 (2013.01); A61M 2205/581 (2013.01); A61M 2205/582 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of using an autoinjector, the method comprising:
moving a plunger in a distal direction along a longitudinal axis of the autoinjector between an initial position and a drug delivery position for delivering a medicament from a syringe;
extending a distal end of a needle from a distal end of the autoinjector, wherein the needle is coupled to a distal end of the syringe;
after moving the plunger into the drug delivery position, moving, by a control spring, an inner sleeve axially relative to an outer sleeve and within the outer sleeve, wherein the outer sleeve comprises an outer sleeve body and an opening extending radially through a distal portion of the outer sleeve body;
as the inner sleeve moves within the outer sleeve, engaging a portion of a flexible arm of the inner sleeve with the outer sleeve to (i) inwardly deflect the flexible arm relative to an inner sleeve body of the inner sleeve from a relaxed position to an inwardly deflected position, and (ii) remain in the inwardly deflected position until the portion of the flexible arm disengages from the outer sleeve and the flexible arm moves into the relaxed position;
after moving the flexible arm into the relaxed position, holding the needle in a retracted position in which the distal end of the needle is proximal to the distal end of the autoinjector; and
generating an audible signal or a tactile signal to indicate completion of dispensing of the medicament as the flexible arm impacts the outer sleeve.