Injector Device

Abstract

An injector device comprising an elongate housing having a proximal end and a distal end, and configured to receive a container of medicament, a needle sleeve mounted within the housing and moveable between an extended position in which the needle sleeve at least partially extends from the distal end of the housing, and a retracted position in which the needle sleeve is received further within the housing than in the extended position, a piston rod moveable longitudinally within the housing, a piston spring configured to bias the piston rod towards a distal end of the housing to engage a container of medicament when received within the housing, and a release mechanism configured to control actuation of the piston rod. The release mechanism comprises a locking arm moveable between a locked position in which the locking arm is in cooperating engagement with the piston rod and prevents movement of the piston rod, and a release position in which the locking arm is out of engagement with the piston rod so that the piston rod is free to move longitudinally within the housing. The needle sleeve is configured such that movement of the needle sleeve from the extended position to the retracted position causes the locking arm to move from the locked position to the release position.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . An injector device comprising:
 an elongate housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the housing being configured to receive a container of medicament;   a piston rod movable longitudinally within the housing; and   a release mechanism configured to control actuation of the piston rod, the release mechanism comprising a locking arm movable between a locked position in which the locking arm is engaged with the piston rod and prevents movement of the piston rod, and a release position in which the locking arm is disengaged from the piston rod so that the piston rod is free to move longitudinally within the housing; and   wherein the locking arm is pivotable around a pivot point between the locked position and the release position.   
     
     
         15 . The injector device of  claim 14 , wherein the piston rod comprises a recess configured to receive an end of the locking arm when the locking arm is in the locked position. 
     
     
         16 . The injector device of  claim 14 , wherein the locking arm is configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the housing between the locked position and the release position. 
     
     
         17 . The injector device of  claim 14 , further comprising the container of the medicament, wherein the container of the medicament is received within the housing between the piston rod and the distal end of the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The injector device of  claim 14 , further comprises a needle sleeve mounted within the housing and movable between an extended position in which the needle sleeve at least partially extends from the distal end of the housing, and a retracted position in which the needle sleeve is received further within the housing than in the extended position. 
     
     
         19 . The injector device of  claim 18 , wherein the needle sleeve is movable from the extended position to the retracted position to move the locking arm from the locked position to the release position. 
     
     
         20 . The injector device of  claim 19 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a securing member engageable with the locking arm in the locked position to prevent movement of the locking arm into the release position, wherein the release mechanism comprises a contact portion to engage the securing member as the needle sleeve moves to the retracted position and to disengage the securing member from the locking arm to allow the locking arm to move into the release position. 
     
     
         21 . The injector device of  claim 19 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a deflectable post configured to be engaged with the locking arm in the locked position and configured to be deflected to disengage from the locking arm when the needle sleeve is moved from the extended position to the retracted position. 
     
     
         22 . The injector device of  claim 19 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a contact portion configured to engage the locking arm as the needle sleeve moves to the retracted position and moves the locking arm from the locked position to the release position. 
     
     
         23 . The injector device of  claim 19 , wherein the locking arm extends inwardly from a lateral side wall of the housing. 
     
     
         24 . The injector device of  claim 23 , wherein the locking arm comprises a slot configured to receive a portion of the needle sleeve in the extended position to prevent movement of the locking arm from the locked position, and wherein the needle sleeve is movable to the retracted position to disengage the needle sleeve from the slot to allow the locking arm to move to the release position. 
     
     
         25 . The injector device of  claim 14 , further comprising a rear cap mounted to the proximal end of the housing and movable between an extended position in which the rear cap at least partially extends from the proximal end of the housing, and a depressed position in which the rear cap is received further within the housing than in the extended position. 
     
     
         26 . The injector device of  claim 25 , wherein the locking arm is mounted on the rear cap, and the rear cap is movable from the extended position to the depressed position to move the locking arm from the locked position to the release position. 
     
     
         27 . The injector device of  claim 26 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a securing member engageable with the locking arm in the locked position to prevent movement of the locking arm into the release position, wherein the release mechanism comprises a contact portion to engage the securing member as the rear cap moves to the depressed position and to disengage the securing member from the locking arm to allow the locking arm to move into the release position. 
     
     
         28 . The injector device of  claim 26 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a deflectable post configured to be engaged with the locking arm in the locked position and configured to be deflected to disengage from the locking arm when the rear cap is moved from the extended position to the retracted position. 
     
     
         29 . The injector device of  claim 26 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a contact portion configured to engage the locking arm as the rear cap moves to the depressed position and moves the locking arm from the locked position to the release position. 
     
     
         30 . The injector device of  claim 26 , wherein the injector device comprises a support post extending into the housing from the rear cap and the locking arm is movably connected to the support post. 
     
     
         31 . A method of operating an injector device, the method comprising:
 rotating a locking arm of a release mechanism of a injector device around a pivot point from a locked position to a release position, wherein in the locked position the locking arm is engaged with a piston rod of the injector device and prevents movement of the piston rod, and wherein in the release position, the locking arm is disengaged from the piston rod so that the piston rod is free to move longitudinally within a housing of the injector device.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the method further comprises:
 before rotating the locking arm around the pivot point from the locked position to the release position, causing a needle sleeve of the injector device to be moved from an extended position in which the needle sleeve at least partially extends from a distal end of the housing to a retracted position in which the needle sleeve is received further within the housing than in the extended position.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the method further comprises:
 before rotating the locking arm around the pivot point from the locked position to the release position, causing a rear cap of the injector device to be moved from an extended position in which the rear cap at least partially extends from a proximal end of the housing, and a depressed position in which the rear cap is received further within the housing than in the extended position.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein rotating the locking arm around the pivot point comprises:
 rotating the locking arm about an axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the housing between the locked position and the release position.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein rotating the locking arm around the pivot point comprises:
 rotating the locking arm about an axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the housing between the locked position and the release position.