Cartridge and medical delivery system accommodating such cartridge

Abstract

A cartridge having a distal end provided with a mechanical coding. The coding has the form of a circular protrusion where the circular outer diameter is dedicated a specific concentration of insulin contained in the cartridge. The distal end of the cartridge is fitted in to a circular contour in the housing. The outer diameter of the protrusion on the distal end of the cartridge is chosen as a larger diameter for a higher concentration of insulin. In this way only a cartridge containing the correct concentration or a lower concentration fits into a delivery system designed for a specific concentration of insulin.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A cartridge containing a fluid medicament, which cartridge comprises a distal end, a proximal end and an outer cartridge surface there between, 
 characterized in that 
 the cartridge carries a mechanical coding at the distal end.  
   
     
     
         2 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , characterized in that, the outer cartridge surface is cylindrical and that the mechanical coding is one or more protrusions extending radial outwards from the distal end of the outer cartridge surface.  
     
     
         3 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said distal end is provided with a an adapter comprising a distal end surface, a proximal end surface and an outer adapter surface there between, and which outer adapter surface carries the mechanical coding.  
     
     
         4 . A cartridge according to  claim 3 , characterized in that, the outer adapter surface is substantial cylindrical and that the mechanical coding is one or more protrusions extending radial outwards from the outer adapter surface.  
     
     
         5 . A cartridge according to  claim 4 , characterized in that, the protrusion or protrusions together form at least one substantially circular protrusion.  
     
     
         6 . A cartridge according to  claim 5 , characterized in that, the outer diameter of the circular protrusion indicates a parameter of the medicament contained in the cartridge.  
     
     
         7 . A cartridge according to  claim 6 , characterized in that, the medicament is insulin and that a specific diameter of the circular protrusion is dedicated a specific concentration of the insulin.  
     
     
         8 . A cartridge according to  claim 7 , characterized in that, the larger concentration has the larger diameter.  
     
     
         9 . A medical delivery system comprising a housing for accommodating a cartridge containing a fluid medicament according to anyone of the  claim 8 , 
 characterized in that 
 the mechanical coding on the outer cartridge surface or the outer adapter surface is received in a contour in the housing or in a part of the housing, which contour has an inside shape conforming to the outside shape of the mechanical coding.  
   
     
     
         10 . A medical delivery system comprising a housing for accommodating a cartridge containing a fluid medicament according to anyone of the  claim 8 , 
 characterized in that, 
 the fluid medicament contained in the cartridge is delivered into a human body through a conduit having a first end mounted onto the cartridge or the adapter and a second end inserted into the human body, the first end of the conduit having a contour, conforming to the outside shape of the mechanical coding carried on the outer cartridge surface or the outer adapter surface.  
   
     
     
         11 . A medical delivery system according to  claim 10 , characterized in that, the medicament contained in the cartridge is insulin, the mechanical coding is a substantially circular protrusion and that a specific outside diameter of the circular protrusion is dedicated a specific concentration of insulin and which outside diameter is chosen as a larger diameter for a higher concentration.