Clock mechanism flow regulator

Abstract

An automatic injection device with flow regulation is disclosed. The automatic injection device has an insertion needle configured to be inserted into a patient and a drug container which contains a pharmaceutical product and includes a plunger. The automatic injection needle also has a fluid path which fluidly connects the drug container to the patient via an insertion device, a potential energy source, and a regulator configured to restrict release of potential energy and restrict linear movement of the plunger and the pharmaceutical product into the fluid path at a proscribed pace. The regulator includes a clock escapement mechanism. The potential energy source may be a spring that surrounds the drug container and may be magnetically coupled to the plunger. The clock escapement mechanism is configured to control the spring at a regulated rate over a time interval using a gearbox and rotational-to-linear translator comprising a rack and a pinion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flow regulator for an injection device, comprising:
 a clock escapement mechanism comprising a pallet and an escape wheel gear, and further including a balance wheel,   a gearbox comprising at least one set of gears coupled to the clock escapement mechanism, and   a rotational-to-linear translator comprising a rack and pinion coupled to the gearbox and to the potential energy source of an automatic injection device;   wherein the clock escapement mechanism is configured to restrict release of potential energy from a potential energy source over a fixed period of time.   
     
     
         2 . The flow regulator of  claim 1 , wherein the potential energy source comprises a spring configured to move a plunger in the injection device. 
     
     
         3 . The flow regulator of  claim 1 , wherein the rotational-to-linear translator is configured to resist movement of the potential energy source and convert rotational movement of the gearbox into a linear motion. 
     
     
         4 . The flow regulator of  claim 1 , wherein the escape wheel gear is configured to restrict the release of potential energy from the potential energy source over a time interval. 
     
     
         5 . The flow regulator of  claim 2 , wherein the rotational-to-linear translator is directly coupled to the spring at a first longitudinal end of the injection device. 
     
     
         6 . The flow regulator of  claim 5 , wherein the spring pushes the plunger toward a second longitudinal end of the injection device. 
     
     
         7 . The flow regulator of  claim 6 , wherein the spring is directly connected to the plunger. 
     
     
         8 . The flow regulator of  claim 6 , wherein the clock escapement mechanism applies a counterforce to the spring to restrict release of the potential energy from the spring over the fixed period of time. 
     
     
         9 . The flow regulator of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one set of gears is configured to move upon movement of the spring. 
     
     
         10 . The flow regulator of  claim 1 , wherein the rotational-to-linear translator is configured to resist movement generated by the potential energy source and convert rotational movement of the at least one set of gears into a linear motion. 
     
     
         11 . The flow regulator of  claim 1 , further comprising an electric circuit that measures time and controls release of the potential energy from the potential energy source over the fixed period of time. 
     
     
         12 . An automatic injection device, comprising:
 a drug container which contains a pharmaceutical product, the drug container including a plunger;   a fluid path which connects the drug container to a patient via an insertion device;   a movable element configured to move the plunger and force the pharmaceutical product into the fluid path;   a regulator comprising:   a mechanical restrictor comprising at least one set of gears;   a linear translator comprising a rack and a pinion;   an electrical unit; and   a potential energy source configured to release potential energy for movement of the movable element;   wherein the linear translator is configured to convert a rotational movement of the at least one set of gears and the pinion into a linear motion of the rack,   wherein the mechanical restrictor is configured to restrict release of the potential energy from the potential energy source over a fixed period of time, and   the at least one set of gears is configured to move upon the release of the potential energy from the potential energy source.   
     
     
         13 . The automatic injection device of  claim 12 , wherein the mechanical restrictor comprises a ratchet. 
     
     
         14 . The automatic injection device of  claim 13 , wherein the ratchet is stopped and released by the electrical unit. 
     
     
         15 . The automatic injection device of  claim 12 , wherein the electrical unit is an actuator. 
     
     
         16 . The automatic injection device of  claim 15 , wherein the electrical unit is a solenoid. 
     
     
         17 . The automatic injection device of  claim 12 , wherein the potential energy source is a spring configured to move the plunger. 
     
     
         18 . The automatic injection device of  claim 12 , wherein the potential energy source is mechanically coupled to the at least one set of gears via the rack and pinion.