Motion activated septum puncturing drug delivery device

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for delivery of a drug to a recipient. In some embodiments, the delivery apparatus may unseal a drug containing reservoir. In some embodiments, the delivery rate may be controlled and/or adjustable. Optionally the apparatus may be disposable. Optionally, the apparatus may have a low profile and/or be wearable and/or attachable to the recipient. Optionally, discharge of the drug and/or unsealing of the reservoir may be driven by a plunger moving parallel to the base of the apparatus. Optionally, the apparatus may release a hypodermic needle into the recipient. Optionally, release of the hypodermic needle may be in a direction non-parallel and/or orthogonal to the direction of movement of the plunger. Optionally, prior to release, the hypodermic needle may be preserved in an aseptic state by a needle opening septum sealing a needle opening. Optionally, upon release, the hypodermic needle may pierce the needle opening septum.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A drug delivery device for delivering a drug to a recipient comprising:
 a housing including therein:   a mechanical drive train, a reservoir containing said drug, a seal sealing an opening in the reservoir, a hollow needle for puncturing through the seal and unsealing the reservoir, and a plunger movably positioned in the reservoir,   wherein, an initial movement of the drive train drives one of the hollow needle and the seal toward the other of the hollow needle and the seal, to, in turn, penetrate through the seal with the hollow needle and unseal the reservoir, and subsequent movement of the drive train advances the plunger through the reservoir, to, in turn, discharge the drug from the reservoir, and   the housing further includes a base for attachment to the recipient, an opening for accessing the reservoir, a door movable between a closed position, at least partially blocking said opening, and an open position, unblocking said opening, and a locking mechanism for locking the door in the closed position, wherein the locking mechanism is activated by the initial movement of the drive train.   
     
     
         2 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , further including a cartridge insertable into the housing, the reservoir being included in the cartridge. 
     
     
         3 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a catch attached to one of the housing and the door, and a complementary latch attached to the other of the housing and the door, wherein the latch is biased away, and disengaged, from the catch in an unlocked position of the locking mechanism, and, when the door is in the closed position, the initial movement of the drive train drives the latch into engagement with the catch, in a locked position of the locking mechanism, to, in turn, lock the door closed. 
     
     
         4 . The drug delivery device of  claim 3 , wherein the latch is spaced between about 0.1 mm and about 3 mm from the catch in the unlocked position of the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a temporary catch attached to the housing and a complementary temporary latch attached to the door, wherein, when the door is in the closed position, the temporary latch engages the temporary catch, thereby holding the door in the closed position, and the temporary latch is manually disengageable from the temporary catch to move the locking mechanism into an unlocked position, allowing movement of the door from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         6 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a permanent catch attached to the housing and a complementary permanent latch attached to the door, wherein, when the door is in the closed position, the initial movement of the drive train drives the permanent latch into irreversible engagement with the permanent catch, in a permanent locked position of the locking mechanism, to, in turn, permanently lock the door closed. 
     
     
         7 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a bolt extending along a pathway of the drive train, attached to one of the housing and the door, and a complementary slot extending along the pathway of the drive train, attached to the other of the housing and the door, wherein the bolt is disengaged, from the slot in an unlocked position of the locking mechanism, and when the door is in the closed position, the initial movement of the drive train drives the bolt into engagement with the slot, in a locked position of the locking mechanism, to, in turn, lock the door closed. 
     
     
         8 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a bolt pivotably attached to the housing, and a complementary slot situated in the door, wherein the bolt is rotatable between an unlocked position, wherein the bolt is situated along a pathway of the drive train and not engaging the slot, and a locked position, engaging the slot, and, wherein, when the door is in the closed position, the movement of the drive train contacts the bolt in the unlocked position and rotates the bolt into the locked position, into engagement with the slot, to, in turn, lock the door closed. 
     
     
         9 . A method for delivering a drug to a recipient via a drug delivery device, the drug delivery device including a housing including therein a mechanical drive train, a reservoir containing said drug, a seal for sealing the reservoir, a hollow needle, and a plunger, the housing further including a base, an opening for accessing the reservoir, a door, and a locking mechanism, the method comprising:
 attaching the base to the recipient;   moving the door into a closed position, at least partially blocking the opening;   initially driving the mechanical drive train, and, in turn, activating the locking mechanism to lock the door in the closed position and driving one of the hollow needle and the seal toward the other of the hollow needle and the seal, and, in turn, penetrating through the seal with the hollow needle to unseal the reservoir, and   further driving the mechanical drive train to advance the plunger through the reservoir, and, in turn, discharge the drug from the reservoir.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the reservoir is contained in a cartridge and the method further comprising inserting the cartridge through the opening into housing prior to the moving step. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising rotating a gear and, in turn, powering the driving of the mechanical drive train. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a catch attached to one of the housing and the door, and a complementary latch attached to the other of the housing and the door, wherein the latch is biased away, and disengaged, from the catch in an unlocked position of the locking mechanism, and wherein the step of activating the locking mechanism comprises driving the latch into engagement with the catch. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a temporary catch attached to the housing and a complementary temporary latch attached to the door, and, wherein the step of moving the door into the closed position comprises engaging the temporary latch with the temporary catch. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the temporary latch is manually disengageable from the temporary catch for moving the door from the closed position to an open position, prior to the initial driving of the mechanical drive train. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a permanent catch attached to the housing and a complementary permanent latch attached to the door, and wherein the step of activating the locking mechanism comprises driving the permanent latch into irreversible engagement with the permanent catch. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a bolt extending along a pathway of the drive train, attached to one of the housing and the door, and a complementary slot extending along the pathway of the drive train, attached to the other of the housing and the door, and wherein the step of activating the locking mechanism comprises driving the bolt into engagement with the slot. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a bolt pivotably attached to the housing, and a complementary slot situated in the door, and wherein the initial driving step comprises contacting and rotating the bolt and the step of activating the locking mechanism comprises rotating the bolt into engagement with the slot.