Automatic injection device

Autoinjector devices are used for administration of products, in particular medical or cosmetically active liquids. In this case, an injection needle through which the Product is administered automatically by triggering a drive mechanism, a given stretch far puncture the tissue.

An autoinjector, as the invention is concerned, at least comprising a housing, a the housing slidably captured container from which a product to be administered Product by advancing a plunger through a container at an outlet of the arranged needle will be distributed, and a slidably captured by the housing Driven member of a drive device, the operating at a autoinjector for pricking Needle, the container relative to the housing in the direction of advance of the piston up to a predetermined forward position and for dispensing the product the piston in the container advances. Once the container has assumed its forward position at an autoinjector has the needle by a predetermined distance together with the container been advanced, with the specification of the path also substantially Penetration depth of the needle is given.

Thus formed autoinjector devices are known from US-PS 159.192, EP 0516473 B1 and U.S. Patent No. 5,643,214 is known.

In the known auto-injection devices of the feed of container with the done needle attached thereto by contact pressure of the output member to the piston.

The invention has set itself the task of creating an autoinjector in is the ensure that administrable product is only payable if Injection needle wordcn completely pushed forward with a piercing in a tissue.

According to the invention, the driven member is in an autoinjector of the above Art decoupled until reaching the front position of the container by the piston and is decoupled on reaching the front position of the container from the container and coupled for advancing the piston in the container with the plunger. advancing of the container for insertion of the needle is not effected by means of the piston, ie it is during this movement phase no drive connection between the output member and the piston. This reliably excluded that already during advancement of container product through a possible, albeit small, Advancing movement of the piston in the container, ie the container, distributed relatively becomes. By in the front position of the container, the driven member from the container is decoupled and only now coupled to the piston, the piston is at the earliest then pushed forward in the container, when the needle to the desired depth into the tissue has been inserted. The drive-side separation of the advancing movement of the container and the advancing movement of the piston in the container increases the accuracy of Dosage, since a contact pressure on the piston not already during advancement of Container which in turn causes the product to be distributed in advance.

The driven member can for advancing the container directly on the container Act.

Preferably, a transfer member is provided, the one of the driven member at entrained advancing, while on the container and / or a container holder acts and so advances the container. The transfer element may also be a container holder be, but is advantageously formed as a separate part thereof.

is the releasable coupling between the output member and the transfer member. After loosening the coupling in the front container position causes another Advancing the driven member, namely for advancing the plunger, no further Advancing the transfer member more. The driven member is now at least in terms free on his own advancing movement of the transmission member. It expresses only against the piston and pushes it in the container before characterized. Preferably, the transmission element from the housing displaceable in and against the feed direction of the piston added.

In a first embodiment, the driven member and the container are respectively the Transmitting member purely positively coupled to one another. In a second embodiment, includes coupling a frictional connection between the driven member and the container or the transfer member with at least one.

A positive connection of the stripping section and the transmitting member can thereby be formed by the output member having a first coupling means and the transmission member is connected to a second coupling agent, and these two coupling means together form a latch-lock connection that dissolved at the moment is in which the container reaches its forward position. The first coupling agent is preferably rigidly connected to the driven member cam by contact pressure against an abutment surface causes a feed of the transmitting member. In the course of Unlocking and the resulting decoupling of the stripping of the transfer member is the pressure acting in the manner of a latch cam with a stop face in the brought recess opening out in register, so that the cam no longer against the stop surface presses; it falls, so to speak in his castle. The output member is free from the transmission member, whereby the coupling is achieved with the container, and can move forward and relative to the transfer member further now. As part of this Movement relative to the transfer member reaches the driven member in contact pressure against the piston, whereby the coupling of the driven member and the piston is produced. The lock could also be with the transmission member and the lock could also be the be connected driven member.

The decoupling of the output member from the transfer member is preferably a Rotation of one of these two members causes relative to each other. The relative rotation preferably takes place about an axis parallel to the direction of rotation axis. The Relative rotation is forcibly generated by the advance, preferably through a formed between the member and the housing to be rotated guide mechanism. Although a case generated frictional force for the targeted control of the feed rate the stripping section and the transmitting member can be used, affects the Coupling per se, ie, blocking and solve the pure form-fitting.

In a second embodiment, a positive and non-positively acting coupling for coupling and decoupling the driven member with and from the container as well as with and used by the piston. Also in this embodiment, the coupling is preferably formed between the output member and a transfer member, although coupling with the container would be feasible immediately.

The coupling is preferably formed by a snap connection. When advancing the driven member pushes a gate against a pressure surface and pushes by the container before. If the container has reached its front position, in which it relative to the housing is located on the stop, the snap connection is through the also achieved on the output member acting driving force. The driven member is with coupled to the piston and free from container or free from the transfer member further advanced. A slight shock when reaching the front receptacle position can be quite be supportive desirable.

At least one of the coupling forming means is designed resiliently, preferably resiliently. One or more snaps can directly on the driven member be formed that the order against a contact surface of the container or Transmitting member presses, if such is used. Such snapper can also be provided on the transfer element.

Particular preference is for forming the coupling a third coupling means to involved, which is then only yielding, preferably resiliently formed. Advantageously, the third coupling means is a resilient ring, in particular a Spring ring between two opposing surfaces of the stripping and the Transmitting member is clamped, and one of these two pressure surfaces on slides, once the container has reached its forward position.

The invention can advantageously also at autoinjector devices use, in where the container is formed by a so-called multi-chamber ampoule. By Such a multi-chamber ampoule, the product to be administered only by mixing Contents of several mutually separated chambers in the assembly of the device receive. Each of the successively arranged chambers in the rear by means of a Container sliding piston completed. For mixing, a mixing member pressed against the rear piston and pushes with his advancement in the container each of the piston forward to the foremost piston. When advancing or is Connections to respectively adjacent front chamber are prepared so that a repressed contents of the rear chamber respectively in the adjacent preceding that chamber becomes.

According to the invention forms per se known mixing member which in particular a mixing tube is now at the same time the transfer member for feeding the container. the Mixing member is assigned according to the invention a double function. Constructively this preferably achieved in that the mixing element which projects a radially outwardly Web, preferably in the form of a circumferential shoulder, by means of which it against the rear end surface of the container or, if preferred, against a rear Contact surface of a container holder presses, forced in its means of mixing element Forward movement takes along the container. Also, the front position of the Container is preferably a stop such container holder against the Housing defined.

The housing can enclose both the container and the entire drive device, preferably have the form of a sleeve, however, is used in its most general form only as a base member, against which the sliding movement of container and is carried out the sliding movement of the driven member of the driving means and therefore not exclusively, although preferred to be understood as enveloping housing.

Embodiments of the invention are explained with reference to figures. It show:<dl tsize="9" compact="compact"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>an autoinjector with form and force-locking coupling,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>an autoinjector with positive feedback,</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>the transfer member of the device according to Fig. 2,</dd><dt>FIGS. 4, 5</dt><dd>the lock on the needle shield of the device according to FIG. 2 and</dd><dt>Fig. 6</dt><dd>a autoinjector with a two-chamber ampoule and a transfer member trained mixing tube.</dd></dl>

Fig. 1 shows an auto-injection device in the form of an injection pen in longitudinal section.

The pen has a hollow cylindrical, circular cylindrical in embodiment housing 1 with a needle protector at its front end, an adjoining front Housing sleeve 2 and an adjoining rear housing 3 with a sleeve this frontally final housing cap 4 surrounds the front housing sleeve 2 a cylindrical container B, which for its part in a receptacle holder 30 coaxially a The central longitudinal axis of the housing is kept centered. The container holder 30 is also sleeve-shaped and runs forward from in centering tongues that the against the peripheral edge Press container B and center it in the front housing sleeve. 2 The container holder 30 is along the center axis of the housing back and forth slidably. When feeding the container holder 30 which is held container B is moved with it. Here, a at a front end of the container B is at an outlet pushed arranged injection needle N to the front and in the course of an autoinjector in and engraved under the skin of a patient.

In container B a piston K along the central longitudinal axis of the container B is displaced. By advancing the piston K is a contained in the container B product, in Embodiment, a drug liquid, such as insulin, through the outlet into and through the injection needle N through displaces for dispensing of the product. From Piston K extends rearward from a piston rod via a rear container edge.

The container B is widened flange along its rear edge. Of the Container holder 30 is also correspondingly widened at its rear end and a sleeve-shaped piece with a widened cross-section beyond the container beyond continued. The container B is in the installed state with its rear widening at this widening facing shoulder surface of the container holder 30th An outer jacket surface of the container holder 30 is of a return element 33 as surrounded serving compression spring, which with a front end to a shoulder surface front shell 2 bears and extends from there not quite up to a counter surface 31, which is formed by the widening of the container holder 30 at the container holder 30 and facing the aforementioned shoulder face of the front housing sleeve second When advancing the container holder 30 and thus of the container B is the compression spring 33 between these two facing surfaces is compressed and springs thereby advancing movement from the insertion of the needle N. The surface 31 abuts the Advancing against a shoulder surface in the area of ​​a step-like widening the front housing sleeve 2 is formed. The stop shoulder surface 31 of the Container holder 30 defines a forward position of the container B and so that Length, with the needle N in the front position of the container B through the front Edge of the casing is also thereby simultaneously. Correct placement of the pen provided to the skin, the puncture depth of the needle N is predetermined.

A drive means for advancing the container B and for feeding the Piston K in the container B is designed as a compression spring drive element 5 and an output member 10 is formed. The drive could also be by means of a pressure medium done. The driven member 10 is substantially sleeve-shaped having a rearwardly open sleeve pot which is closed by a bottom. At its front end is a to the piston rod to the said bottom, the driven member 10 relatively short piece continues wide sleeve-shaped. The continuation forms Stamp 11 for pressing against the piston rod and pushing the plunger in K Container B.

In the illustrated initial condition of the injection pen is no immediate pressure of the Stamper 11 against the piston rod. It remains in the initial state, rather a small Free space between the punch 11 and the rear end surface of the piston rod. in the Initial state illustrated the pen where the container B is in its rear Shift position, the output member 10 is coupled with the container B. Immediately the output member 10 is coupled to a transmission member 20, which then acts directly on the container B. Likewise, the transmission member 20 could also immediately act on the container holder 30, in which case between the container holder 30 and would the container B provide driver. Basically could also driven member immediately press on a container or a container holder to the needle advance.

The transmission member 20 is formed by a sleeve body, in whose rear Region is formed by cross-sectional narrowing a circumferential shoulder 22, as front contact surface for a resilient ring 21 serves. The resilient ring 21 is in an exterior on the outer surface of the driven member 10 in the region of the stamp 11 circumferential groove kept the output member 10 against secured against displacement. Of the Ring 21 can be configured as closed soft-elastic ring, preferably However, it consists of a hard material such as plastic or metal, and is at a Point broken, so that there the mutually facing ends of the ring 21 a Piece far successive can be moved and so the diameter of the ring can be reduced. The resilient ring 21, the shoulder 22 and the shoulder 22 facing wall 12 of the groove form a based on form and force closure, detachable Coupling between the output member 10 and the transfer member 20. The ring 21 as Pressing and coupling means could also be as a bead on the driven member 10 or transmission member 20 be formed, which then forwards expire in deflectable tongues would.

The driven member 10 is against the pressure of the drive member 5 as shown in FIG. 1 illustrated starting position of a holding and release sleeve 6 by means of a on the holder and trigger sleeve 6 formed release tab 7 is held. The compound is prepared by Einwärtsdrücken the release latch 7 is released.

To inject the product of the pen is to pull a needle cap with the front edge of the needle guard 1 with light pressure placed on the skin. subsequently the release tab 7 is pushed and thereby the connection between the disengagement sleeve 6 and solved the housing. The driven member 10 is now by the pressure of drive member 5 advanced in the case. By coupling the advancing force of the The output member 10 from the groove wall 12 on the ring 21 and from there to the shoulder 22 and thus transferred onto the transfer member 20th The transmission member 20 presses with a front end face against the container B and the container holder 30, which under Except the pressure of the transmission member 20 from any wall friction forces, are first pushed without resistance in the housing. The needle N, exactly in Feed direction has, is pushed forward beyond the front edge of the needle guard 1 addition and penetrates into the fabric. The advancement of container B, and thus the Penetration depth of the needle N is by hitting the shoulder surface 32 of the container holder 30 limited to the housing-side mating surface. The container B now takes its forward position.

During the advancing movement of the container holder 30 and the container B is the Coupling between the wear member 10 and the transfer member 20. The coupling is designed so that it can be released when the front position of the container B is reached. This is done by the dimensioning of the resilient ring 21 and shaping of the as a support for the ring 21 serving shoulder 22. The shoulder 22 has in the feed direction slanted or curved from further back on the narrow front section of the Transmitting member 20th

The resilient ring 21 is round in cross-section. In principle, the cross-sectional shape are of the ring 21 and the shape of the shoulder 22, only tune to one another such that the resilient ring 21, the shoulder 22 is not already before reaching the front Container position on slides, to which the coupling of at least that of the advancing Container B occurring reaction force and the force required for inserting the needle must transmit power, and that the coupling after reaching the front container position not blocked, but certain triggers. Optimal tuning of the coupling is when also solving the extent done as possible smoothly.

Is the coupling formed by the coupling means 12, 21 and 22 is released, or already during the release, so that passes under pressure from the drive element 5 further advancing drive member 10 in pressure against the piston rod and is characterized by coupled to the piston, which now under the pressure of the drive member 10 in the container B is advanced, so that the product is displaced and dispensed through the needle N through becomes.

To associated with the advancement of the driven member 10 decrease in the force of the to compensate for the drive member 5, the transfer member 20 on its inner can Shell surface be conically divergently. The ring 12 would in such training decreasing in the course of moving the driven member 10 frictional force learn. This development of the invention by controlled damping of the driving force would benefit from the elasticity of the ring 21 or a similarly acting pressure means.

Alternatively to this based on control of Gleitreibungskräften compensation the decrease of the driving force can be compensated also pneumatically. For pneumatic Compensation would between the lateral surfaces of the driven member 10 and the Transmission member 20 enclosed space as much as possible was sealed. Of the used at the rear end of Ubertragungsglieds 20 guide ring 18 would be as Seal form the output member 10, which would form a piston itself. Further can between the inner surface of the transmission member 20 and the opposite Surface of the stamper 11 formed sliding surfaces may be formed as sealing surfaces. On This would during advancement of the driven member 10 is a magnifying cavity between the outer surface of the driven member 10 and the inner surface the transmission member 20 is formed.

In the then trained as a guide sealing ring 18 would be only a calibrated providing through hole, the through which a medium, preferably air, in otherwise can flow tight cavity. The by advancing the drive member Vacuum generated in this cavity would be compensated only with a delay, so that the Vorschiebegeschwindigkeit of the driven member 10 through the entire displacement the piston K remain constant.

The spring 33 causes a cushion and thereby delay the advance movement of Container holder 30 to the container B. However, the container holder 30 and the place Container B at the start of their feed motion a not handicapped by the spring 33 Stretch back as the shoulder 31 of the container holder 30 after traveling this predetermined path part comes into contact pressure spring for 33rd The feed motion over the remaining distance to the front receptacle position is then determined by the compared to the force of the drive member 5 lower restoring force of the spring 33 slows down. This is desired rapid penetration of the needle then slowed advance speed achieved in the deeper tissue layers. On the front housing sleeve 2 trained stop lugs 2a keep the container holder 30 in its rearward position. Under the pressure of the drive member 5 and consequently of the Behältnishälters 30 in However, the case of tripping enter the stop tabs according 2a. By means of the housing by projecting clamping handle 7 'are slidably received in the housing holding and trigger sleeve 6 and thus along the driven member 10 back to its rearward placed or clamped position. In the rear position, a new container B be used. The driven member 10 and the sleeve 6 are corresponding with each other connected.

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of an auto-injection device in turn in the form of a pen in a longitudinal section and in a cross section AA. This pen is the Driving connection between the driven member and the container, and the driven member and the piston purely form-fitting prepared and dissolved. He has, as further Difference needle guard device to one that the measures initiated after the needle covers pulled out of the tissue and thus the risk of injury during the further Handling reduced.

The case is also by a front casing shell 2 and a rear housing sleeve 3 formed. The needle guard 1 is in this embodiment integrally on the front housing sleeve 2 formed. In the hollow cylindrical housing is again a container holder 30 in which a filled container with the product to be administered centered B is held back along the housing longitudinal axis and forth mounted slidably. At the Advancing to the insertion of the needle N is the container holder 30 with a front Stop surface 31 crashed into a housing-side abutment, whereby the front Position the container B and the penetration depth of the needle N is defined. After Injection 2 and 3 are unscrewed, the two housing sleeves, whereby the Container B and the container holder set free 30 of the transmission member 20 and the Container holder 30 under the pressure of the return spring designed as a resetting element 33 with a rear stop surface 31 against a housing-side abutment surface is in its rear position, the original position, pushed back. In this rear Position, a new container B are used. After screwing the two housing sleeves 2 and 3, the pen of FIG. 2 ready for the next injection.

As in the embodiment of FIG. 1 operates, the driven member 10 of the pen of FIG. 2 via a transmission member 20 to the container; as could the transmission member 20 act on the container holder 30, then the container B mitnähme. The advance of the Piston K in the container B is made by direct pressure of the punch 11 of the The output member 10 to the container from the B projecting to the rear piston rod attached to the piston K from the rear as to project or integral with the piston K is formed.

In Fig. 3, the output member 10, the transmission member 20 and a guide means 40 are displayed according to their position in FIG. 2. With respect to the coupling and uncoupling the output member 10 with and from the transmission member 20 is always on display referenced in FIG. 3.

The driven member 10 is a solid cylindrical body having a punch 11 formed with a widened cross section. The drive element 5 is again a compression spring formed and surrounds a cylindrical shank portion of the output member 10. It is in the Position of pens between the thickened wedge 11 and fins clamped 9, the radially inwardly to project from the rear casing sleeve 3 onto the cylindrical shank portion. The driven member 10 is held by gate 15 in its initial position.

Several snapper 15 project in extension of the cylindrical shaft portion of the drive member 10 of the cylindrical shank part away and engage behind the radially inwardly projecting ribs. 9

From the outer circumferential surface of the stamper 11 protrudes from a rib or a cam. 13 With the cam 13 is the output member 10 to abut against a rear end face 23 the transmitting member 20. The transmission member 20 is a simple hollow cylindrical Sleeve, preferably a circular cylindrical sleeve, formed outside of their Lateral surface in a rear portion of a cam 25 projecting radially outward. At the inner surface of the transmission member 20 is a longitudinally of the transmitting member 20 extending, opening into the end face 23 of release groove 24 except. The groove 24 is at least so great that the cam 13 of the wear member 10 in their can be received.

The transmission member 20 is in a substantially hollow cylindrical also simple, preferably circular-cylindrical sleeve longitudinally slidably and rotatably around the longitudinal axis arranged. This sleeve forms a guide means 40 for the transmission member 20, such that a displacement movement of the transmitting member 20 relative to the guide means 40 forcibly into a rotational movement of the Ubertragungsglieds 20 about its longitudinal axis is converted relative to the guide means 40, that the displacement movement is a rotational movement is superimposed. The guide means 40 is in the embodiment as formed separate sleeve against rotation in the housing and received immovable is. It could in principle also to the housing, in the embodiment with the rear housing sleeve 3, be integral, but what the production more expensive would make.

The relative rotation of the transmitting member 20 relative to the guide means 40 and the in the housing against rotation geradgeführten driven member 10 is a means between the Transmission member 20 and the guide means 40 formed slide guide causes.

In forming the link slot to the inner surface of the guide means 40 the cam 25 of the transmission member 20 opposite a guide groove 41 for this cam 25 except. The guide groove 41 has a rear straight groove 42 and this arc further, optionally mono- obliquely expiring second groove 43, ie, the second groove portion 43 has a Transverse component to the direction of the transmitting member 20th In the initial position comes the cam 25 in groove 42 to lie.

A trigger mechanism has an outer sleeve 4, a release button 7 and a Return spring 8. The outer sleeve 4 surrounds the rear region of the rear casing sleeve 3 and is on the outer circumferential surface of the rear housing shell 3 along their Longitudinal axis reciprocating displaced. The release button 7 is in a central opening of the rear end surface of the outer sleeve 4 is inserted. He passes through this opening with a up close to the latches 15 of the output member 10 extending inner sleeve.

For injecting the pen is pressed against the skin so that the front of the front housing sleeve 2 back and forth longitudinally movable needle guard 50 against the pressure of a restoring spring formed as a reset element 51 in the front Housing sleeve 2 is pushed under the needle protection. 1 In this state, the Needle N still behind the front edge, formed by the front ends of the needle guard 1 and the needle guard 50, back.

The insertion of the needle N and the distribution of the product to the press Release button 7 in the longitudinal direction of the pen on the output member 10 or its snapper 15 to causes. The inner sleeve of the release button 7 via pushes the rear ends the latch 15, which will consequently be elastically bent towards each other radially inwardly, whereby the locking connection is attained with the housing-side ribs. 9

The pressure of the drive member 5 with by the shared output member 10, the its cam 13 against the rear end surface 23 of the transmission member 20 presses on the transmission member 20 transferred, the turn up with its front face pushes a rear flange of the container B. With the front end face of the same flange presses the container B to the container holder 30, which in turn means the reset element 33 against the housing opposite unmovable locking sleeve 60 presses. However, the pressing force of the Rückstellelemnts 33 is opposite to that of the drive member 5 is comparatively low, so that under the pressure of the drive member 5, the driven member 10, the transmission member 20 and the container holder 30 with the container B are advanced along the longitudinal axis of the housing in the housing.

Here, the cams 25 of the transmitting member 20 slides in its guide 41. Once the cam 25 retracts in its advancement into the second groove 43, is the Transmission member 20 forcibly because of the transverse component of the second groove portion 43 forced into rotation about its longitudinal axis. The course of the guide groove 41 is chosen so that by the forced relative rotation relative to the housing and opposite the output member 10 which gutted the transmission member 20 release groove 24, the opens into the end face 23, comes to lie in overlapping relationship to the cam thirteenth

Once the release groove 24 the cam 13 covers, is the output member 10 from the transfer member 20 decoupled. The course of the guide groove 41 is chosen such that the Coverage is made as soon as the container holder 30 with its front abutment surface 31 on the housing is on stop and thus the container B its forward position occupies. With the decoupling or release the output member 10 may be the transfer member 20 over 5 Continue to advance under the pressure of the drive element. It presses against the piston rod, so that the piston K in the container B under the immediate pressure of the output member 10 is advanced until the product distributed is.

The insertion of the needle N is desired by the course of the guide groove 41 set. By in a first part of the feed movement of the transfer element is straight in the direction and therefore the advancement of the transmission member 20 no resistance is opposed to the needle N stings initially a very rapidly. The Eindringsgeschwindigkeit slows the further penetration, since the guide groove 41 then also transversely to the feed direction, helically in the exemplary embodiment, extends and accordingly, the transmission member 20 in the guide section 43 while advancing a of the slope of the guide portion 43 undergoes dependent friction force. additionally is the speed at which pierces the needle, through the increasing restoring force the reset element 33 is reduced.

Figures 4 and 5 show, together with Fig. 2, the operation of the needle protection device, which prevents from the needle N free after withdrawal from the tissue the housing projects and be canceled and injuries if accidentally can cause handling. The essential feature of the needle guard is, that for the purpose of piercing the housing opposite movable needle guard 50 is blocked after the withdrawal of the needle in a needle protecting position, that they can not be pushed into the housing; an outside sliding over the Housing would also be conceivable.

Fig. 4 shows the front part of the pen of Fig. 2 in the front position of the container Isses B. The needle guard 50 is against the force of the return element 51 in its rearmost been forced displacement position of the housing sleeve 2 opposite. The needle N projects to the desired length of the housing and the needle protection sleeve 50 before.

The needle guard 50 has a rear abutment surface and a front abutment surface in which the displacement of the needle protection sleeve 50 opposite to the front housing sleeve limit 2 in the feed direction and counter to the advancing direction. When shuffling moves the needle protection sleeve 50 through the locking sleeve 60 which at its front end an inclined or arcuate outwardly projecting hook 62 has. The needle protection sleeve 50 has in an inner cladding region, with which it slides over the hook 62, the length of its maximum displacement path corresponding approximately to a slightly widened Internal diameter. A transition area 52 between this widened front Internal cross-section to the subsequent internal cross-section is tapered such that the needle protection sleeve under the pressure of the return element 51 50 to behind the transition area 52 can slide over the hook 62nd The needle guard 50 is behind the The transition region 52 is provided in a central region with longitudinal slots 53, whose front end surfaces 54, as best seen in Fig. 5, stop surfaces for each form a hook 62nd

The locking sleeve 60 runs in more evenly distributed over the sleeve circumference arranged resilient tongues 61 made at the free front ends of the Hooks 62 are formed. The container holder 30 runs towards its free front end also in tongues 34 from. By advancing the container holder 30 come whose Tongues 34 to be below the tabs 61 of the locking collar 60th Each of the tongues 61 is so supported radially inwards and can no longer radially in front of the container position are bent inward. The tongues 61 are supported by the tongues 34 is not only but also pressed radially outwards. The tongues 34 are compared with the Tongues 61 rigid or may face in a first approximation, these tongues 61 are assumed to be rigid.

After withdrawal of the needle, the needle protective sleeve 50 is the return element 51 again pushed forward. On pushing because of the oblique course of the Surface 52 and / or the corresponding oblique profile of the hook 62 that hooks 62, whose expiring tip is also resiliently. However, once the needle guard 50 has been pushed forward again, that its stop face 54 in the feed direction seen coming to rest in front of the hook 62, it is the opposite the stop surface 54 lying on stopper hook 62 locked against being pushed back. The hook 62 and the needle protective sleeve 50 are with pointing perpendicular to the direction Stop surfaces together. The needle N is in the safety position shown in Figure 5 protected after injection through the needle shield 50th

The container holder 30 is thus the same as sliding support for the resilient locking means 62 and used according to the invention fulfills the double function of Haltern of container and of locking the needle guard 50. The needle guard does not require the inventive construction of the autoinjector device although particularly preferred thereby is used in combination. It is as with advantage in generic autoinjector devices or even unchanged in Suitable injection devices, in which the insertion of the needle by advancing the Container relative to the housing is carried out manually.

Figure 6 shows in longitudinal section and in plan view about a Autoinjektionspen in the on the coupling of the output member 10 to the container B and the piston K Positive and positive conclusion is based. The coupling is in effect of the pen of Fig. 1 comparable. The following is always on the data entered in the top view cross-sections and the detail X reference.

In the container B of the pen of Fig. 6 is a so-called double-chamber ampoule, in the two product components in two successively arranged chambers, the each other in the delivery state of the container B by a front piston K1 are separated only by advancing a rear piston K2 to against the front piston K1 mixed. In the front at delivery Chamber is generally a powdery drug, while in between the two pistons K1 and K2 formed chamber kept a carrier liquid becomes.

In the state shown in Fig. 6, the two components are already by advancing the rear piston K2 to against the front piston K1 fully in the lying between the piston K1 and the container outlet anterior chamber mixed. The housing again has a front and a rear casing sleeve 2 and 3, which are fixed to each other, for example by screwing or clipping. A cover cap 4 is inserted into the rear casing sleeve 3rd The front casing sleeve 1 is extended forward by a Nadelschuz 1 and a needle shield 50 ' against a restoring force is displaced back to the insertion of the needle N and after injection occupies the advanced position.

The container B is inserted into a receptacle holder 30 up to the stop and centered kept. The container holder 30 against the force of the return element 33 in the housing advanceable.

Advancing the rear piston K2 is in the assembly of the front Housing sleeve 2 and the rear casing sleeve 3 causes. To this end a as -rotating sleeve body formed mixing member 20 in the rear casing sleeve 3 added. The mixing member 20 has a front sleeve portion with an outer diameter, is smaller than the inner diameter of the container B, and a against this front sleeve area widened on the rear sleeve section. On Transition between these two areas is as sleeve radially from the front sleeve portion projecting shoulder 28 is formed. The shoulder 28 is formed circumferentially; they but can also be formed by at least one radially projecting web. With its rear end surface abuts against the mixing member 20 radially away from the rear casing sleeve 3 inwardly projecting webs 9, which also be formed as circumferential wall may, at. During assembly of the device, ie when screwing the two housing sleeves 2 and 3, which is so secured against displacement in the rear casing sleeve 3 recorded mixing member 20 is inserted into the rear open container B and the fact pushed forward. It pushes the rear piston K2 forward to the front Piston to the rear piston to K2 K1 reaches the position shown in FIG. 1. In This position of the pistons K1 and K2 is also bolting the housing sleeve 2 and 3 completed.

In the rear Gehäuseh ülse 3, the drive device is arranged the drive element which 5 comprises in the form of a compression spring and the rod-shaped driven member 10, which is guided straight in the housing. The drive element 5 is between the webs 9 and a the webs 9 facing opposite each other in the feed direction, circumferential shoulder surface of the driven member 20 is clamped.

The driven member 10 is about a central longitudinal axis of the housing which with its own Central longitudinal axis coincides, switch between two rotational positions and forth twistable added. To rotate the output member 20 a, the housing is prolonging Dosing D provided. In its rear region, which in the dosing D protrudes, has driven member 10 extending in the direction of guide grooves on, opposite to a projecting into the cover cap 4, the cap 4 rotatable, move secure guide sleeve 6a and rotatable in the housing and secured against captured indicator sleeve 8 engage. The guide sleeve 6a is the dosing D-rotating connected, as best seen in section HH is. The guide sleeve 6a is used to transmit the rotation of the dosing D on the output member 10. The indicator sleeve 8 which, secured against rotating with the output member 10 is connected, used to indicate the rotational position of the output member 10 and thus the Display of the set dosage amount. It is for this purpose at the outer periphery provided with markings in the embodiment with two marks for each one of two Drehendstellungen of the output member 10. The markings may by Housing opening be read through. The indicator sleeve 8 and the guide sleeve 6a, together with the mixing member 20 as a linear guide for the driven member 10th

The driven member 10 is in the illustrated rear starting position by a Sperrund Release mechanism kept. The outsize Auslösmechanik has 7a trigger means in the form of a release button on transversely to the displacement direction of the driven member 10 acting on a blocking means 7b. The structure and operation of the locking and trigger mechanism is best in the synopsis of the longitudinal section and the cross-section FF to recognize.

7b the locking means is formed by a sleeve body with a through-opening, which is penetrated by the driven member 10th The blocking means 7b for the purpose of his Linear guide transversely to the feed and the longitudinal direction of the output member 10 between two straight ridges of the housing out. These two housing webs each face , the sleeve body of the blocking means 7b accordingly on just outside surfaces. The Through-opening 7b of the locking means is greater than the outer diameter of the projecting through the locking means is driven member 7a 10. By pressing on the release means 7b against the force of a pressure spring designed as a resetting element 7c transversely to the feed direction of the driven member 10 is displaced. In the blocking position the driven member abuts 10 with a formed by a thickened shoulder 29 against a rear end face the locking means 7b. 7b through a transverse displacement of the locking means is this Stop dissolved. The driven member 10 comes from the blocking means 7b available and may under 5 advance the pressure of the drive member in the longitudinal direction.

A safety device ensures that the release means is actuated and then only 7a thereby the output member 10 can be released when a container B in the Housing has been lodged. The safety device includes a trigger lock body 70 and a compression spring 19. The trigger lock body 70 has a central sleeve portion on, from the forward longitudinally two webs 70a projecting (section EE). The two webs 70a extend through two correspondingly shaped slots in the shoulder 28 of the Mixing element 10 and abut the rear edge of the container B. From middle Sleeve portion of the trigger lock body 70 projects a third web 70b longitudinally rear. This third ridge 70b projects through the release means 7, as best shown in the Synopsis of the longitudinal section can be seen with the two sections FF and GG. At the height of the release means 7, ie in the 7a projecting through the release means Area, the third ridge 70b of the trigger lock body 70 a longitudinal slot. In this longitudinal slot drives 7a a radially projecting inward rib 7d of the release means upon actuation of the release means 7 a when the slot of the trigger locking body 70 on same height as the inner rib 7d of the release means 7a. Viewed in the longitudinal direction behind the slotted portion of the third web 70b is again a closed web eye forms. Between the housing-side rib 9 and an inner surface of the jacket the central sleeve portion of the trigger lock body 70 inwardly projecting shoulder tensioned compression spring 19th If a container B is used, presses the trigger lock body 70 with its front ridges 70a against the rear edge of the container B and is held in the position shown in the longitudinal section of Figure 1, in which the Inner fin retract 7d of the release means 7a in the slot of the trigger lock body 70 and the locking means can move transversely 7b. If a container has not been used is, the trigger lock body 70 by the compression spring 19 in the then free, therefore, is advanced annular gap until the middle sleeve section of the trigger locking body 70 against the shoulder 28 of the mixing element 10 encounters. In this blocking position of the trigger locking body the rear, closed area of ​​the third land 70b 70 comes before the inner fin of 7d to be release means 7a. A transverse displacement of the release means is this case 7a not possible. The drive means is then locked.

Interposed between the mixer 20 and the mixing member 20 projects through output member 10 there is a drive coupling, which causes the mixing member 20 at a feeding the output member 10 taken from the output member 10, that is, even relative to the housing is advanced. The coupling is based on by a form and force closure Compound in the front region of the mixing member 20 produced, the coupling of the Embodiment of Figure 1 is similar. The mixing member 20 assumes a dual function the function of a transmission element and is accordingly referred to as mixing and transmission member 20, respectively.

In contrast to the coupling in the embodiment of FIG. 6 is one in which the Fig. The resilient ring 21 in the inner casing of the mixing and transfer member 20 recorded groove formed, and the output member 10 accordingly has only a the entrainment of the mixing and transfer member 20 causing pressing face 17 for the ring 21. The pressure surface 17 forms a first coupling agent, a by Groove of the mixing and transfer member 20 formed pressure surface 27 is a second and the ring 21, a third coupling means.

The mixing and transfer member 20 and the output member 10 form in a within the container B region arranged a metering device. The mixing and transfer member 20 is located in a first behind the coupling means 17 of this Inner cladding region provided with a recess. The recess has two in Feed direction extending grooves 25 and 26 which are angularly offset in parallel alongside one another are arranged. The grooves 25 and 26 are of different lengths in the feed direction. The shorter groove 25 is formed as a blind groove in the outer surface, and the longer groove 26 is in the feed direction by the rear web of the recording for the third coupling means 21 limited. On your rear ends open the grooves 25 and 26 at the same Height with respect to the advancing direction in a widening of the recess from as best in synopsis of the longitudinal section with the sections CC, DD and EE is seen. The widening of the recess extends up to the rear end face of the front sleeve portion of the mixing and transfer member 20. The expiring there, oppositely facing side walls of the widening will ever by one of the two grooves 25 and 26 extend in the feed direction.

The driven member 10 is provided with a radially projecting cams 16th In the initial state the injection device engages the cam 16 in the widening of the recess Mixing and transfer member, a 20th The recess with the two grooves 25 and 26 forming a first metering means and the cam 16 is a second dosing means of the metering device.

In a first dosing position of the cam 16 is aligned with the groove 25 on the in feed direction extending to the first side wall of the widening, and in the second metering position is the cam 16 in alignment with the groove 26 on the in feed direction extending second side wall of the widening of the recess at Between these two Dosierstellungen the output member 10 is in the initial state of the Injection device back and forth around its longitudinal axis rotated. The two side walls of the wide groove define the two rotational and Dosierstellungen of the driven member 10 and the Lengths of the two narrow grooves 25 and 26 define the amount of injection at a distributable drug solution.

The widening of the recess in the mixing and transfer member 20 could also be to 25 are extended in the direction of the end of the short groove, so that the recess would have in the direction of a simple step-like course.

For performing an auto-injection, the autoinjector with the front, which is Housing or the front needle protection 1 against retractable needle guard 50 'on a fabric surface, especially human skin, is placed. By Pressure against the tissue surface, the needle shield 50 'into a rearmost Position relative to the housing pushed back. The injection needle N, which at the outlet the container B is pointing firmly attached in the feed direction, is initially of the needle protection 1 and pushed over the needle protecting sleeve 50 'to about their front Lace also surrounded and thus does not affect nor the tissue surface.

For actuation, ie the insertion of the needle and to distribute the drug solution, pushes the user after the output member 10 by means of the dosing sleeve D in the has brought desired rotation or dispensing position, the release means 7a in the radial Direction inwardly. By Einwärtsdrücken is the blocking means 7b of the stop shoulder 29 pushed away, and the output member 10 is released. Under the pressure of the Driving element 5, the driven member 10 and the coupling means and the mixing and transmission member 20 relatively advanced to the housing. The form and force closure between the output member 10 and the mixing and transfer member 20 is sufficient strong to cause the entrainment of the mixing and transfer member 10, which in turn by means of its shoulder 28 against the container holder 30 and the container B pushing this relative to the housing and against the restoring force of the body flats 33 to in advances a forward position, which is defined by a housing-side stop 31a becomes.

In the forward position of the container holder 30 and the container B the coupling solves the driving connection between the driven member 10 and the mixing and transfer member 20. Under the continuing pressure of the drive element 5 is due compressed to fix the mixing and transfer member 20 of the resilient ring 21 and pushed over the sloping shoulder 17th The driven member 10 pushes now also relative to the mixing and transfer member 20 further in front and it presses the two Pistons K1 and K2 in the container in the direction towards the container outlet to also available. Drug solution is in the forward position of the container B in the tissue lanced needle N distributed therethrough.

The feed movement of the output member 20 is in the first dispensing position by the front end of the groove 25 limited. In the first dosing position the payout terminated when the cam 16 at this extending circumferentially groove wall abuts.

After withdrawal of the needle N, the injection device is used for a second injection readied. For this, only the output member 10 is initially the mixing and transfer member withdraw 20 over against the feed direction. At the front End, the output member 10 a plunger 11 in the form of a flange-like widening on. When pouring the drug solution, the driven member 10 presses with the Stamp 11 on the rear piston K2, and upon retraction pushes the rear, peripheral shoulder surface of the stamper 11 against the inner casing surface of the Mixing and transfer member 20 projecting rib, the front wall Receiving groove for the third coupling means 21 is formed. Upon further retraction of the Driven member 10, the mixing and transfer member 20 is hereby taken, ie also as far as its shown in Fig. 1 rear position shifted back. The container holder 30 and accommodated therein container B follow it under the pressure of the Resetting element 33 of the movement of the mixing and Ubertragungsglieds 20. The restoring force the reset element 33 is opposite the driving force of the drive element 5 comparatively low, so that during the advancing of the container B for the purpose of Piercing needle N does not interfere.

For the next injection, the driven member 10 is rotated to its second dispensing position, in which the cam 16 is in alignment with the groove 26th In this position, the driven member 10 pushed forward relative to the mixing and transfer member 20 that the remaining still in the container remaining amount of the drug solution in an operation of the Driving means, that is an actuation of the release means 7 distributed. The Advancing movement is limited by a peripheral web, of the rear wall the receiving groove for the third coupling means 21 is formed.