Pen-Type injector having an electronic control unit

Abstract

A hand-held injection device ( 2 ) for injection of a medicament from a first medicament cartridge ( 40 ), injection device comprising: a housing ( 4 ) being designed to be held in one hand of a user, the longitudinal direction of the housing ( 4 ) running between the thumb and the other fingers of the hand of the user, a drive mechanism ( 42 ) for selectively dispensing the medicament from the first medicament cartridge ( 40 ), a dial dose mechanism ( 12, 14 ), a control panel region ( 8 ) with at least two operation buttons ( 12, 14, 16 ) disposed therein for activating operation functions of the injection device ( 2 ), an electronic control unit for controlling the operation of the drive mechanism 42 in response to the dial dose mechanism ( 12,14 ) and a display panel ( 10 ), in which the required dosage to be dispensed is presented to the user on the display panel ( 10 ), wherein between two of the operation buttons ( 12, 14, 16 ) a recess is provided in the control panel region ( 8 ) and in that in the recess (R) a discrete button (D) for accessing configuration menus of the injection device is discretely located, wherein the recess and the disposition of the two of the operation buttons ( 12, 14, 16 ) are designed such that the location of the discrete button in the recess hinders pressing of the discrete button by a finger.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 : An injection device comprising:
 a housing configured to be held in one hand of a user,   a drive mechanism for selectively dispensing the medicament from a medicament cartridge, and   a dial dose mechanism comprising a control panel region with at least two operation buttons disposed therein for activating operation functions of the injection device, wherein the injection device is configured to control the operation of the drive mechanism in response to the dial dose mechanism,   wherein a recess is provided between two of the operation buttons, and within the recess is located a discrete button for accessing configuration menus of the injection device,   wherein when the discrete button is in a non-operated state, an upper side of the discrete button is sunk-in with respect to the region of the surface of the housing surrounding the recess.   
     
     
         19 : The injection device of  claim 18 , wherein the discrete button is configured to move downward in response to an applied pressure from a tapered object into an activation state for activating the configuration menu. 
     
     
         20 : The injection device of  claim 19 , wherein upon activation a configuration menu is displayed on a display panel and provides one or more of the following menu options:
 a specified time interval following arming of the injection device within which a clock of the injection device will detect whether an operation button has been pressed,   reset of a controller of a control unit of the injection device,   adjustments of a date, the clock and/or an alarm.   
     
     
         21 : The injection device of  claim 18 , wherein a reset of the injection device is performed in response to the discrete button moving in a downward direction. 
     
     
         22 : The injection device of  claim 18 , wherein the operation buttons comprise a first dose button to increment the dosage level and a second dose button to decrement the dosage level, and wherein the recess with the discrete button is located between the first and the second dose buttons. 
     
     
         23 : The injection device of  claim 18 , further comprising a number of grooves on the housing to aid in gripping the injection device during operation. 
     
     
         24 : The injection device of  claim 18 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the housing is positioned so as to run between a thumb and other fingers of the user when the injection device is held by the user during operation. 
     
     
         25 : The injection device of  claim 18 , wherein the injection device is configured to detect resistance to a dispensing action. 
     
     
         26 : The injection device of  claim 25 , wherein in response to detection of resistance to a dispensing action, the drive mechanism slows to deliver increased output force. 
     
     
         27 : The injection device of  claim 26 , wherein in response to a determination that the increased output force has no effect upon a dispense action, the drive mechanism stops. 
     
     
         28 : The injection device of  claim 22 , further comprising an arm button to activate the first and the second dose buttons. 
     
     
         29 : The injection device of  claim 28 , wherein the arm button is located above or below the connection line of the first dose button and the second dose button. 
     
     
         30 : The injection device of  claim 29 , wherein the injection device is armed in response to an indication that the arm button is held down for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         31 : The injection device of  claim 18 , further comprising a dispense button at a first end of the housing. 
     
     
         32 : The injection device of  claim 31 , wherein the dispense button is substantially flush with the housing when not in a depressed state. 
     
     
         33 : The injection device of  claim 31 , further comprising a primer button at a second end of the housing.