Reconstitution auto-injector

Abstract

An auto-injector operable to deliver a drug to a patient. The auto-injector may include a storage assembly with a first compartment and second compartment arranged to transition from an initial state in which the first compartment and the second compartment are separated to a merged state. The auto-injector may include a merging trigger configured for actuation responsive to manipulation and a merging mechanism comprising a compression element. Actuation of the merging trigger may cause movement of the merging mechanism such that the compression element compresses the first compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drug delivery device comprising:
 a storage assembly comprising a first compartment and second compartment, wherein the storage assembly transitions from an initial state in which the first compartment and the second compartment are separated to a merged state in which the first compartment and the second compartment are in fluid communication;   a merging trigger configured for actuation responsive to manipulation;   a merging mechanism comprising a compression element; and   wherein the transition between the initial state and the merged state occurs upon the actuation of the merging trigger to cause movement of the merging mechanism such that the compression element compresses the first compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising an arming trigger configured to actuate responsive to manipulation, wherein the drug delivery device transitions to an armed state when the arming trigger is actuated. 
     
     
         3 . The drug delivery device of  claim 2 , wherein the merging trigger comprises the arming trigger. 
     
     
         4 . The drug delivery device of  claim 2 , wherein the arming trigger is configured to resist actuation when the storage assembly is in the initial state and to actuate freely when the storage assembly is in the merged state. 
     
     
         5 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the merging trigger comprises a first mechanical element and the merging mechanism comprises a second mechanical element, wherein actuation of the merging trigger actuates the first mechanical element against the second mechanical element to move the merging mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The drug delivery device of  claim 5 , wherein the first mechanical element comprises a first cam surface and the second mechanical element comprises a second cam surface. 
     
     
         7 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the compression element further comprises a compression panel. 
     
     
         8 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the storage assembly comprises a frangible seal disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment to separate the first compartment and the second compartment in the initial state. 
     
     
         9 . The drug delivery device of  claim 8 , wherein the frangible seal is configured to separate and provide fluid communication between the first compartment and the second compartment responsive to compressing the first compartment. 
     
     
         10 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising a first substance stored in the first compartment and a second substance stored in the second compartment when the drug delivery device is in the initial state, and wherein the first substance and the second substance mix to form a reconstituted substance when the storage assembly is in the merged state. 
     
     
         11 . The drug delivery device of  claim 10 , wherein the first substance comprises a diluent and the second substance comprises a medical agent. 
     
     
         12 . The drug delivery device of  claim 11 , wherein a physical characteristic of the medical agent is controlled to promote rapid reconstitution in the diluent. 
     
     
         13 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the merging trigger includes a mechanical actuator. 
     
     
         14 . The drug delivery device of  claim 13 , wherein the mechanical actuator includes any of a cap, knob, compression panel, lever, or button. 
     
     
         15 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the merging trigger includes at least a portion of a shell of the drug delivery device. 
     
     
         16 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising an indicator including an activation element, the indicator configured to activate responsive to manipulation of the activation element. 
     
     
         17 . The drug delivery device of  claim 15 , wherein the indicator includes an indication of the state of the storage assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The drug delivery device of  claim 15 , wherein the activation element is manipulable responsive to actuation of the merging trigger.