Injection Device, In Particular Autoinjector, for the Simultaneous Administration of Several Medications

Abstract

The invention relates to an injection device ( 1 ) for the simultaneous administration of several medications. The injection device ( 1 ) comprises a carrying housing ( 5 ), an activation sleeve ( 8 ) surrounding the carrying housing ( 5 ), at least two carpules ( 9,11 ), a first drive module ( 13 ) for the administration of the medications, a securing device ( 14 ), a needle arrangement ( 17 ), a needle protection element ( 20 ), and a second triggerable drive module ( 21 ) for the needle arrangement ( 17 ). The carpules ( 9, 11 ) are arranged next to another. The first drive module ( 13 ) comprises a drive element ( 22 ) with a number of piston rods ( 23, 24 ) equal to the number of carpules ( 9, 11 ), which form a composite structural unit. At least one of the piston rods ( 23, 24 ) is configured in the form of a hollow cylinder and is formed as closed on the piston side, wherein arranged inside this is a first drive means ( 26 ) of the first drive module ( 13 ).

1 . An injection device ( 1 ), in particular an autoinjector, which is configured for the simultaneous administration of at least two medications, and can be automatically moved from a storage setting into an injection position, and wherein the injection device ( 1 ), which has a distal end section ( 3 ) that, in use, is directed towards a patient ( 2 ) and a proximal end section ( 4 ) that faces away therefrom, comprises:
 a carrying housing ( 5 ), said carrying housing ( 5 ) being configured in the form of a sleeve, and comprising a distal end ( 6 ) and a proximal end ( 7 );   an activation sleeve ( 8 ), said activation sleeve ( 8 ) surrounding a predominant part of a longitudinal extension of the carrying housing ( 5 ), starting from the proximal end ( 7 ) in the direction towards the distal end ( 6 ), and wherein the distal end ( 6 ) of the carrying housing ( 5 ) projects beyond the activation sleeve ( 8 ), and the activation sleeve ( 8 ) is moveable in relation to the carrying housing ( 5 ) in an axial direction;   at least one carpule ( 9 ,  11 ), with a piston ( 10 ,  12 ) arranged therein that is adjustable in the axial direction, and with a medication received in the at least one carpule ( 9 , 11 ) for administration during the injection procedure, and wherein the at least one carpule ( 9 , 11 ) is received in the carrying housing ( 5 );   a first drive module ( 13 ) with a first drive means ( 26 ), said first drive module ( 13 ) being in drive connection with the at least one carpule ( 9 ,  11 ), and wherein the first drive module ( 13 ) is activatable by means of the activation sleeve ( 8 );   a securing device ( 14 ), said securing device ( 14 ) securing the first drive module ( 13 ) in position relative to the carrying housing ( 5 ) until the activation of the first drive module for the injection procedure;   a needle arrangement ( 17 ) with at least one cannula ( 15 ,  16 ), wherein, when in the storage setting of the injection device ( 1 ), the needle arrangement ( 17 ) is arranged in front of the at least one carpule ( 9 ,  11 ) in the distal end section ( 7 ), and in each case both ends ( 18 ,  19 ) of the least one cannula ( 15 ,  16 ) are arranged inside the carrying housing ( 5 );   a needle protection element ( 20 ), wherein, when in the storage setting of the injection device, the needle protection element ( 20 ) is moveable from a release position into a cover position, in which an end ( 18 ) of the at least one cannula ( 15 ,  16 ) is covered, and wherein said cannula end projects beyond the distal end ( 7 ) of the carrying housing ( 5 ) after the injection procedure;   a second activatable drive module ( 21 ) with a second drive means ( 52 ), said second drive module ( 21 ) arranged to move the needle protection element ( 20 ) from a non-active position into the cover position; and   characterised in that at least two carpules ( 9 ,  11 ), when viewed in cross-section, the at least two carpules ( 9 ,  11 ) are arranged next to one another in the carrying housing ( 5 );   wherein first drive module ( 13 ) further comprises a drive element ( 22 ), said drive element ( 22 ) being arranged inside the carrying housing ( 5 );   wherein drive element ( 22 ) comprises in each case a number of piston rods ( 23 ,  24 ) that is equal to the number of the carpules ( 9 ,  11 ), and wherein the piston rods ( 23 ,  24 ) forming a composite structural unit;   wherein at least one of the piston rods ( 23 ,  24 ) is configured in the form of a hollow cylinder that is closed at a first end section ( 25 ) that faces towards the distal end section ( 3 );   wherein the first drive means ( 26 ) is arranged in the hollow cylinder of the at least one piston rod ( 23 ,  24 ); and/or   wherein the first drive means ( 26 ) is arranged in an accommodation part ( 27 ) of the drive element ( 22 ), such that, when viewed in cross-section, the drive element is arranged laterally next to the piston rods ( 23 ,  24 ), and wherein the accommodation part ( 27 ) forms a composite structural unit with the piston rods ( 23 ,  24 ).   
     
     
         2 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that each of the at least two carpules ( 9 ,  11 ) is arranged in each case in front of its own cannula ( 15 ,  16 ). 
     
     
         3 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterised in that the drive element ( 22 ) comprises a connection part ( 28 ), that connects the piston rods ( 23 ,  24 ) and the accommodation part ( 27 ) to one another at a second end region ( 29 ) thereof that faces towards the proximal end sections ( 4 ), and wherein the piston rods ( 23 ,  24 ) and the accommodation part ( 27 ) project from the connection part ( 28 ) in the distal direction. 
     
     
         4 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the piston rods ( 23 ,  24 ) and the accommodation part ( 27 ) are in each case configured in the form of hollow cylinders, and in each case configured as closed at the end region ( 25 ) thereof that faces towards the distal end section ( 3 ). 
     
     
         5 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that only one of the pistons ( 10 ) of a first carpule of the at least two carpules ( 9 ) is coupled to the piston rod ( 23 ) allocated to the piston ( 10 ), and wherein the other of the at least two carpules ( 11 ) is held by means of a holding device ( 30 ) to the first carpule ( 9 ). 
     
     
         6 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , characterised in that each of the pistons ( 10 ,  12 ) is coupled to the piston rod ( 23 ,  24 ) allocated to it in each case, and the at least two carpules ( 9 ,  11 ) are held independently from one another on the drive element ( 22 ). 
     
     
         7 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the carrying housing ( 5 ) comprises a front carrying housing part ( 31 ) with a front accommodation space ( 33 ) and a rear carrying housing part ( 32 ) with a rear accommodation space ( 34 ), and the two carrying housing parts ( 31 ,  32 ) can be connected to one another in a connection section ( 35 ) in the axial direction in two different longitudinal positions in a first connection setting and a second connection setting. 
     
     
         8 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , characterised in that the two carrying housing parts ( 31 ,  32 ) can be connected to one another in the connection section ( 35 ) by means of a coupling device ( 36 ). 
     
     
         9 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to  claim 7  or  8 , characterised in that the rear carrying housing part ( 32 ) comprises at least two guide extensions ( 37 ) that projects in the distal direction, said guide extensions ( 37 ) being supported by lying in contact on the front carrying housing part ( 31 ). 
     
     
         10 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of  claims 7  to  9 , characterised in that in the first connection setting the carrying housing parts ( 31 ,  32 ) exhibit a greater longitudinal extension in relation to the second connection setting. 
     
     
         11 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of  claims 7  to  10 , characterised in that the front carrying housing part ( 31 ) exhibits a longitudinal extension in the axial direction, which is selected in a value range with a lower limit of 60% and an upper limit of 95%, in particular with a lower limit of 70% and an upper limit of 85%, related to the total longitudinal extension of the two carrying housing parts ( 31 ) in the second connection setting. 
     
     
         12 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the distal end ( 7 ) of the carrying housing ( 5 ), in particular the distal end ( 7 ) of the front carrying housing part ( 31 ), comprises a number of openings ( 38 ) that is equal to the number of cannulas ( 15 ,  16 ), wherein said openings ( 38 ) allow for the through passage of the distal ends ( 18 ) of the cannulas ( 15 ,  16 ), and in each case a puncturable sealing plug ( 39 ) is arranged in the openings ( 38 ) in a sealing position. 
     
     
         13 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a sealing element ( 40 ) is provided, said sealing element ( 40 ) being arranged between the front carrying housing part ( 31 ) and the rear carrying housing part ( 32 ), and is formed running continuously over the circumference. 
     
     
         14 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to  claim 13 , characterised in that the sealing element ( 40 ) comprises at the distal end section that faces towards the front carrying housing part ( 31 ), a sealing attachment ( 41 ), wherein the first connection setting of the two carrying housing parts ( 31 ) said sealing attachment ( 41 ) is arranged at a distance from a face surface ( 42 ) of the front carrying housing part ( 31 ), and, in the second connection setting of the two carrying housing parts ( 31 ,  32 ), the sealing attachment ( 41 ) is in sealing contact at the face surface ( 42 ) of the front carrying housing part ( 31 ). 
     
     
         15 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to  claim 14 , characterised in that the sealing attachment ( 41 ) of the sealing element ( 40 ) is supported on a face surface ( 43 ) of the rear carrying housing part ( 32 ), facing towards the front carrying housing part ( 31 ), and that the sealing element ( 40 ) extends into contact with the rear carrying housing part ( 32 ). 
     
     
         16 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of  claims 13  to  15 , characterised in that the sealing element ( 40 ), in the storage setting of the device and with the carrying housing parts ( 31 ,  32 ) being in the second connection setting, is in sealing contact over the full circumference both on the rear carrying housing part ( 32 ) and the drive element ( 22 ) arranged inside the housing part, in particular with its connection part ( 28 ) of the first drive module ( 13 ). 
     
     
         17 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the carrying housing ( 5 ), in particular the rear carrying housing part ( 32 ), comprises at its distal end a transverse wall ( 46 ), with a latch engagement cut-out opening ( 47 ) arranged in it. 
     
     
         18 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the securing device ( 14 ) comprises at least one retention hook ( 44 ), said at least one retention hook ( 44 ) being arranged on the drive element ( 22 ), in particular the connection part ( 28 ) thereof and wherein, in the storage setting of the device, the at least one retention hook ( 44 ) is held in the latch engagement cut-out opening ( 47 ) of the transverse wall ( 46 ). 
     
     
         19 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the securing device ( 14 ) comprises a securing cap ( 48 ) with a securing pin ( 49 ), arranged in the distal end section ( 3 ), and wherein by means of the securing pin ( 49 ) the at least one retention hook ( 44 ) is held in a latch engaged setting when in the storage setting of the device. 
     
     
         20 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the proximal end region of the activation sleeve ( 8 ) comprises a closure wall ( 50 ), at which closure wall ( 50 ) a triggering means ( 51 ) is arranged, in particular a triggering opening, said triggering means ( 51 ) aligned in the axial direction flush in relation to the latch engagement cut-out opening ( 47 ) arranged in the transverse wall ( 46 ) of the carrying housing ( 5 ), in particular of the rear carrying housing part ( 32 ). 
     
     
         21 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second drive means ( 52 ) of the second drive module ( 21 ) is arranged outside the carrying housing ( 5 ), in particular outside the two carrying housing parts ( 31 ,  32 ) but inside the activation sleeve ( 8 ). 
     
     
         22 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second drive means ( 52 ) of the second drive module ( 21 ) extends in the axial direction between the needle protection element ( 20 ) and the proximal end of the carrying end of the carrying housing ( 5 ), in particular of the rear carrying housing part ( 32 ). 
     
     
         23 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first drive means ( 26 ) and/or the second drive means ( 52 ) are respectively formed by a pressure spring, configured as a helical spring. 
     
     
         24 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second drive means ( 52 ) is arranged on the side of the piston rods ( 23 ) which when viewed in cross-section, is opposite the accommodation part ( 27 ) of the drive element ( 22 ). 
     
     
         25 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the longitudinal extension of the second drive means ( 52 ) is guided at least in part by guide elements ( 53 ), wherein the guide elements ( 53 ) are arranged on an outer side of the carrying housing ( 5 ), in particular of the front carrying housing part ( 31 ). 
     
     
         26 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the needle protection element ( 20 ), in its cover setting in relation to the carrying housing ( 5 ), is held locked in the proximal direction as well as in the axial direction. 
     
     
         27 . Injection device ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, the simultaneous release takes place of both the first drive module ( 13 ) as well as of the second drive module ( 21 ) with the axial displacement of the activation sleeve ( 8 ) relative to the carrying housing ( 5 ).