Drug delivery device and methods having a retaining member

Abstract

Various embodiments of a device, a kit and method for delivering a drug depot are disclosed. The device comprises a housing including a lower body, an upper body, a ring member; and a drug cartridge. The lower body defines a lower body channel. The upper body defines an upper body channel. The drug cartridge defines a depot channel. The ring member is disposed extending upward from an annular step surface of the lower body toward a housing upper end. The ring member includes indicia indicating a characteristic of one or more drug depots in the drug cartridge. A plunger has a push rod for expelling the drug depot through the cannula to a site in the patient. A kit comprises the above components. A method includes assembling the components including, selecting a ring member having indicia corresponding to one or more drug depots in the drug cartridge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for delivering a drug depot to a site beneath the skin of patient via a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the cannula having an opening to receive the drug depot, the distal end of the cannula being configured for insertion to the site beneath the skin of the patient and having an opening for passage of the drug depot, the device comprising:
 a housing having a top housing end, and a bottom housing end, said housing further defining a housing channel having a housing channel first open end open to said top housing end and a second housing channel open end open to said bottom housing end;   a drug cartridge defining a depot channel aligned with said housing channel and configured to slidably accept the drug depot, said drug cartridge having at least a first occluding device configured to at least partially occlude said depot channel at a first occluding position such that the drug depot cannot pass through said depot channel at said first occluding position without force, greater than that of gravity, applied to the drug depot sufficient to deflect said first occluding device an amount permitting passage of the drug depot past said first occluding device;   said bottom housing end of said housing has a coupling, configuration for engaging the proximal end of the cannula; and   a plunger having a push rod slidably receivable in said housing channel and the cannula and having a push rod end to contact the drug depot when disposed in said drug cartridge and, upon application of force, expel the drug depot through said first occluding device and the cannula to the site beneath the skin of the patient.