Beneficial agent dispenser

Abstract

A dispensing device for use with a beneficial agent has a dispensing package, a dispenser disposed on an end portion of the dispensing package, and an actuator movably disposed along at least a portion of the package between a pre-dispensing state and a dispensing state. One arrangement also provides a beneficial agent dispenser having a dispensing port, an elongate portion and a plunger that is movably disposed relative to a tubular wall of the elongate portion during a dispensing stroke to partially penetrate a separable barrier and expel the beneficial agent through the dispensing port.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispensing device for administering a beneficial agent to a subject comprising
 a barrel assembly comprising
 a proximal end and a distal end; 
 tubular wall made of flexible film; 
 an administration port disposed at the distal end; 
 a plunger moveably disposed inside the barrel assembly at the proximal end; and 
 a beneficial agent accommodated in the barrel between the administration port and the plunger, such that the beneficial agent is expelled through the administration port when the plunger is moved towards the distal end of the barrel. 
   
     
     
         2 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein the tubular wall comprises a distal crimp sealing the administration port from the beneficial agent and wherein the distal crimp can be peeled by pressurizing the beneficial agent. 
     
     
         3 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein the tubular wall comprises a proximal crimp sealing the plunger from the beneficial agent, wherein the proximal crimp can be peeled by advancing the plunger towards the distal end. 
     
     
         4 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein the administration port comprises a needle hub, a hypodermic needle coaxially attached to the hub, and a cap enclosing the hypodermic needle. 
     
     
         5 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein the administration port comprises one of a needle, a micro-needle, a catheter, a tube, an adapter, a Luer connector, or a connector to any of the foregoing. 
     
     
         6 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein the tubular wall is extruded as a continuous cylinder. 
     
     
         7 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein only a portion of the tubular wall is made from extruded film. 
     
     
         8 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein the tubular wall is formed from a sheet of film by joining two opposing edges of the film. 
     
     
         9 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein the tubular wall further comprises a foil overwrap. 
     
     
         10 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein the plunger comprises a plunger stem configured to advance the plunger towards the distal end. 
     
     
         11 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein the tubular wall comprises an intermediate crimp between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the tubular wall is separated into a proximal compartment and a distal compartment containing constitutents of the beneficial agent and wherein pressurizing the beneficial agent in the proximal compartment peels the intermediate crimp to merge the proximal compartment with the distal compartment. 
     
     
         12 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein the tubular wall is expanded at the proximal end to form a flare and wherein the dispensing device further comprises a finger flange attached to the flare. 
     
     
         13 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  further comprising a rigid housing, the barrel assembly being disposed therein. 
     
     
         14 . A dispensing device according to  claim 12  wherein the finger flange extends coaxially with the barrel assembly in form of a sheath from the proximal end to the distal end. 
     
     
         15 . A dispensing device according to  claim 4  wherein the needle hub is moveably disposed inside the barrel assembly and comprises a circular protrusion and the plunger comprises a detent feature configured to engage with the circular protrusion when the plunger is fully advanced to the distal end after expelling the beneficial agent, such that retracting the plunger also retracts the needle hub into the barrel assembly. 
     
     
         16 . A dispensing device according to  claim 15  further comprising a spring disposed in the barrel assembly between the needle hub and the distal end, configured to bias needle hub towards the proximal end when the detent feature of the plunger is engaged with the circular protrusion of the needle hub. 
     
     
         17 . A dispensing device according to  claim 4 , wherein the needle hub is engageable by a piston for comovement therewith to retract the needle relative to the barrel assembly. 
     
     
         18 . A dispensing device according to  claim 17  wherein the piston comprises a gripper engaged with a stem disposed inside the barrel assembly, the gripper engaged with the stem by a recess on an interior of the stem, the stem comprising a spring disposed inside the stem biasing the gripper into the stem, wherein the barrel assembly further comprises a coupling unit wherein the needle hub is reversibly coupled to the coupling unit, when the plunger is fully advanced in the barrel assembly to the distal end and the beneficial agent is expelled, the gripper irreversibly couples to the needle hub and disengages from the recess of the stem permitting the spring to move the gripper into the stem and disengage the needle hub from the coupling unit, retracting the needle into the barrel assembly.