Auto-injection device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an autoinjector device ( 10 ) for use in combination with a syringe ( 30 ), said syringe comprising a movable plunger; a needle; and a tubular needle shield ( 34 ). The claimed autoinjector device ( 10 ) comprises: an elongated housing having a proximal ( 11 ) and a distal end ( 12 ); a drive mechanism; a syringe holder ( 40 ) in order to support the fragile syringe and to prevent damage to the syringe. The invention furthermore relates to a method for assembly of the autoinjector device according to the invention.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A syringe carrier comprising:
 an elongate body arranged to receive a barrel of a syringe, the syringe comprising a neck having a smaller diameter than the barrel, a needle that extends from the neck, and a rigid needle shield configured to be removably arranged on the needle, wherein, when the rigid needle shield is removably arranged on the needle, a portion of the rigid needle shield covers a portion of the neck, leaving a circumferential gap between the barrel and the rigid needle shield, wherein the elongate body has a partially cylindrical shape with an internal diameter substantially corresponding to an outer diameter of the barrel of the syringe, wherein the elongate body includes a collar at a distal end of the elongate body and a longitudinal slot formed in the elongate body proximally of the collar, wherein a portion of the elongate body defining the longitudinal slot is adapted to flex radially inward over the barrel of the syringe when the syringe is axially inserted through the collar and the portion of the elongate body defining the longitudinal slot, wherein the portion of the elongate body defining the longitudinal slot extends to a proximal end of the elongate body, wherein the proximal end of the elongate body includes shoulder sections shaped as a portion of a circle arranged in a transverse plane with respect to a longitudinal axis of the syringe carrier, wherein the shoulder sections are adapted to engage in the circumferential gap between a proximal end of the barrel and the rigid needle shield.   
     
     
         12 . The syringe carrier of  claim 11 , wherein the shoulder sections include distally-facing contoured surfaces to accommodate a distal portion of the neck of the syringe and proximally-facing planar surfaces to abut the rigid needle shield. 
     
     
         13 . The syringe carrier of  claim 11 , wherein a viewing window is arranged in the elongate body for allowing visual access to the barrel of the syringe when the syringe is in the syringe carrier. 
     
     
         14 . The syringe carrier of  claim 11 , comprising the syringe, wherein the rigid needle shield is removably arranged on the needle. 
     
     
         15 . The syringe carrier of  claim 11 , wherein the proximal end of the elongate body defining the longitudinal slot is adapted to flex radially inward over a proximal end of the barrel of the syringe. 
     
     
         16 . The syringe carrier of  claim 11 , wherein the syringe carrier is configured to allow loading the syringe with the rigid needle shield removably arranged on the needle by sliding the syringe through the collar in a proximal direction. 
     
     
         17 . The syringe carrier of  claim 16 , wherein the proximal end of the elongate body is configured to radially deflect when the rigid needle shield abuts the shoulder sections as the syringe is slid through the collar in the proximal direction. 
     
     
         18 . The syringe carrier of  claim 17 , wherein the proximal end of the elongate body is configured to return to a non-deflected position and retain the syringe in the syringe carrier when the rigid needle shield bypasses the shoulder sections as the syringe is slid through the collar in the proximal direction. 
     
     
         19 . The syringe carrier of  claim 11 , wherein the syringe is prevented from moving axially relative to the syringe carrier when the syringe is disposed in the syringe carrier due to the shoulder sections engaging the circumferential gap between the barrel and the rigid needle shield. 
     
     
         20 . The syringe carrier of claim  1 , wherein a proximal surface of the proximal end of the elongate body is configured to abut the rigid needle shield when the syringe is inserted into the syringe carrier. 
     
     
         21 . The syringe carrier of  claim 11 , wherein a proximal surface of the syringe carrier is c-shaped. 
     
     
         22 . The syringe carrier of  claim 11 , wherein first and second radial protrusions extend radially outward from the collar, and each of the first and second radial protrusions comprises two ribs that extend parallel to one another. 
     
     
         23 . The syringe carrier of  claim 11 , wherein first and second radial protrusions extend radially outward from the collar, and each of the first and second radial protrusions comprises a rib extending in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the syringe carrier. 
     
     
         24 . The syringe carrier of  claim 11 , wherein the elongate body defines an aperture opposite the longitudinal slot and proximal to the collar, and the elongate body comprises a first projection that extends along an edge of the longitudinal slot and a second projection that extends along an edge of the aperture. 
     
     
         25 . The syringe carrier of  claim 11 , wherein the syringe carrier is configured so that a finger flange of the syringe is spaced distally from the collar of the syringe carrier when the shoulder sections are engaged in the circumferential gap between the barrel and the rigid needle shield. 
     
     
         26 . A syringe carrier comprising:
 an elongate body arranged to receive a barrel of a syringe, the syringe comprising a neck having a smaller diameter than the barrel, a needle that extends from the neck, and a rigid needle shield configured to be removably arranged on the needle, wherein, when the rigid needle shield is removably arranged on the needle, a portion of the rigid needle shield covers a portion of the neck, leaving a circumferential gap between the barrel and the rigid needle shield, wherein the elongate body has a partially cylindrical shape with an internal diameter substantially corresponding to an outer diameter of the barrel of the syringe, wherein the elongate body includes a collar at a distal end of the elongate body and a longitudinal slot formed in the elongate body proximally of the collar, wherein a portion of the elongate body defining the longitudinal slot is adapted to flex radially inward over the barrel of the syringe when the syringe is axially inserted through the collar and the portion of the elongate body defining the longitudinal slot wherein a proximal end of the elongate body includes shoulder sections shaped as a portion of a circle arranged in a transverse plane with respect to a longitudinal axis of the syringe carrier, wherein the shoulder sections are adapted to engage in the circumferential gap between the barrel and the rigid needle shield at the neck of the syringe, wherein a proximal surface of the syringe carrier is c-shaped,   wherein the syringe carrier is configured to allow loading the syringe with the rigid needle shield removably arranged on the needle by sliding the syringe through the collar in a proximal direction, the proximal end of the elongate body is configured to radially deflect when the rigid needle shield abuts the shoulder sections as the syringe is slid through the collar in the proximal direction, the proximal end of the elongate body is configured to return to a non-deflected position and retain the syringe in the syringe carrier when the rigid needle shield bypasses the shoulder sections as the syringe is slid through the collar in the proximal direction, and the syringe is prevented from moving axially relative to the syringe carrier when the syringe is disposed in the syringe carrier due to the shoulder sections engaging the circumferential gap between the barrel and the rigid needle shield, and   wherein the syringe carrier is configured so that a finger flange of the syringe is spaced distally from the collar of the syringe carrier when the shoulder sections are engaged in the circumferential gap between the barrel and the rigid needle shield.   
     
     
         27 . The syringe carrier of  claim 26 , wherein the shoulder sections include distally-facing contoured surfaces to accommodate a distal portion of the neck of the syringe and proximally-facing planar surfaces to abut the rigid needle shield. 
     
     
         28 . The syringe carrier of  claim 26 , wherein a viewing window is arranged in the elongate body for allowing visual access to the barrel of the syringe when the syringe is in the syringe carrier. 
     
     
         29 . The syringe carrier of  claim 26 , wherein a proximal surface of the proximal end of the elongate body is configured to abut the rigid needle shield when the syringe is inserted into the syringe carrier. 
     
     
         30 . The syringe carrier of  claim 26 , wherein first and second radial protrusions extend radially outward from the collar, and each of the first and second radial protrusions comprises two ribs that extend parallel to one another. 
     
     
         31 . The syringe carrier of  claim 26 , wherein first and second radial protrusions extend radially outward from the collar, and each of the first and second radial protrusions comprises a rib extending in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the syringe carrier. 
     
     
         32 . The syringe carrier of  claim 26 , wherein the elongate body defines an aperture opposite the longitudinal slot and proximal to the collar, and the elongate body comprises a first projection that extends along an edge of the longitudinal slot and a second projection that extends along an edge of the aperture. 
     
     
         33 . The syringe carrier of  claim 26 , wherein the elongate body defines a recess adjacent the longitudinal slot. 
     
     
         34 . An autoinjector comprising:
 a housing; and   a syringe carrier configured to be disposed in the housing, the syringe carrier comprising an elongate body arranged to receive a barrel of a syringe, the syringe comprising a neck having a smaller diameter than the barrel, a needle that extends from the neck, and a rigid needle shield configured to be removably arranged on the needle, wherein, when the rigid needle shield is removably arranged on the needle, a portion of the rigid needle shield covers a portion of the neck, leaving a circumferential gap between the barrel and the rigid needle shield, wherein the elongate body has a partially cylindrical shape with an internal diameter substantially corresponding to an outer diameter of the barrel of the syringe, wherein the elongate body includes a collar at a distal end of the elongate body and a longitudinal slot formed in the elongate body proximally of the collar, wherein a portion of the elongate body defining the longitudinal slot is adapted to flex radially inward over the barrel of the syringe when the syringe is axially inserted through the collar and the portion of the elongate body defining the longitudinal slot, wherein the portion of the elongate body defining the longitudinal slot extends to a proximal end of the elongate body, wherein the proximal end of the elongate body includes shoulder sections shaped as a portion of a circle arranged in a transverse plane with respect to a longitudinal axis of the syringe carrier, wherein the shoulder sections are adapted to engage in the circumferential gap between the barrel and the rigid needle shield.   
     
     
         35 . A method of loading a syringe into a syringe carrier, the syringe having a barrel, a neck having a smaller diameter than the barrel, a needle extending from the neck, and a rigid needle shield configured to be removably arranged on the needle, and the syringe carrier comprising an elongate body having a partially cylindrical shape with an internal diameter substantially corresponding to an outer diameter of the barrel, the elongate body comprising a collar at a distal end of the elongate body and a longitudinal slot formed in a portion of the elongate body that is proximal of the collar and extends to a proximal end of the elongate body, the proximal end of the elongate body comprising shoulder sections shaped as a portion of a circle arranged in a transverse plane with respect to a longitudinal axis of the syringe carrier, the method comprising:
 sliding the syringe with the rigid needle shield removably arranged on the needle through the collar in a proximal direction such that (i) the proximal end of the elongate body radially deflects when the rigid needle shield abuts the shoulder sections and then (ii) a portion of the elongate body defining the longitudinal slot flexes radially inward over the barrel of the syringe as the elongate body returns to a non-deflected position as the rigid needle shield passes the shoulder sections, wherein the shoulder sections engage a circumferential gap between a proximal end of the barrel and the rigid needle shield to prevent the syringe from moving axially relative to the syringe carrier while the elongate body is in the non-deflected position, and a finger flange of the syringe is spaced distally from the collar of the syringe carrier when the shoulder sections are engaged in the circumferential gap between the barrel and the rigid needle shield.   
     
     
         36 . A syringe carrier comprising:
 an elongate body arranged to receive a barrel of a syringe, the syringe comprising a neck having a smaller diameter than the barrel, a needle that extends from the neck, and a rigid needle shield configured to be removably arranged on the needle, wherein, when the rigid needle shield is removably arranged on the needle, a portion of the rigid needle shield covers a portion of the neck, leaving a circumferential gap between the barrel and the rigid needle shield, wherein the elongate body has a partially cylindrical shape with an internal diameter substantially corresponding to an outer diameter of the barrel of the syringe, wherein the elongate body includes a collar at a distal end of the elongate body and a longitudinal slot formed in the elongate body proximally of the collar, wherein a portion of the elongate body defining the longitudinal slot is adapted to snap over the barrel of the syringe when the syringe is axially inserted through the collar and the portion of the elongate body defining the longitudinal slot, wherein the portion of the elongate body defining the longitudinal slot extends to a proximal end of the elongate body, wherein the proximal end of the elongate body includes shoulder sections shaped as a portion of a circle arranged in a transverse plane with respect to a longitudinal axis of the syringe carrier, wherein the shoulder sections are adapted to engage in the circumferential gap between a proximal end of the barrel and the rigid needle shield.