Drug delivery device for delivery of a medicament

Abstract

Various embodiments of drug delivery devices and methods of assembling such devices are provided. In one embodiment, a drug delivery device for dispensing medicament comprises a medicament cartridge, wherein the cartridge comprises (i) a distal end, (ii) a proximal end that is opposite the distal end along a body axis of the cartridge, and (iii) a movable piston arranged substantially at the proximate end of the cartridge. The drug delivery device further comprises a piston rod having a distal end for axially moving the piston in the distal direction during dispensing of a set dose of medicament, wherein a relative axial distance between the distal end of the piston rod and a proximal face of the piston is set during assembly of the drug delivery system. The relative axial position between may be set such that the piston rod and the proximal face of the piston abut each other.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of assembling a drug delivery device, the method comprising:
 securing a cartridge holder having a medicament cartridge disposed therein to a proximal housing component of the drug delivery device in a manner such that a piston rod secured to the proximal housing component is configured to operably engage a piston that is axially slidable within the medicament cartridge for dispensing a dose of medicament from the medicament cartridge; and   axially positioning an adjustment part relative to at least one of the piston and the piston rod such that the adjustment part abuts the piston and the piston rod.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein before axially positioning the adjustment part relative to at least one of the piston and the piston rod, the adjustment part is axially spaced from at least one of the piston and the piston rod. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein securing the cartridge holder and axially positioning the adjustment part are performed simultaneously. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein after axially positioning the adjustment part relative to at least one of the piston and the piston rod, the adjustment part contacts a proximal surface of the piston and a distal surface of the piston rod. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising axially securing the adjustment part relative to at least one of the piston and the piston rod after axially positioning the adjustment part relative to at least one of the piston and the piston rod. 
     
     
         7 . The method of clam  6 , wherein axially securing the adjustment part relative to at least one of the piston and the piston rod comprises using adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The method of clam  7 , wherein the adhesive is a curable adhesive, and axially securing the adjustment part relative to at least one of the piston and the piston rod comprises curing the curable adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The method of clam  8 , wherein curing the curable adhesive comprises applying energy to the curable adhesive using an energy source external to the drug delivery device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of clam  7 , wherein axially securing the adjustment part relative to at least one of the piston and the piston rod comprises adhering the adjustment part to the piston rod. 
     
     
         11 . The method of clam  2 , wherein axially securing the adjustment part relative to at least one of the piston and the piston rod comprises bonding or welding the adjustment part. 
     
     
         12 . The method of clam  11 , comprising bonding or welding the adjustment part to the piston rod. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising axially securing the adjustment part relative to the piston rod after axially positioning the adjustment part relative to at least one of the piston and the piston rod. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the adjustment part includes a proximal component and a distal component, and axially positioning the adjustment part relative to at least one of the piston and the piston rod comprises axially moving the proximal and distal components of the adjustment part relative to one another. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising axially securing the proximal and distal components of the adjustment part relative to one another after axially moving the proximal and distal components of the adjustment part relative to one another. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein axially securing the proximal and distal components of the adjustment part relative to one another comprises adhering the proximal and distal components of the adjustment part to one another. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein axially securing the proximal and distal components of the adjustment part relative to one another comprises bonding or welding the proximal and distal components of the adjustment part to one another. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the adjustment part defines a receptacle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising axially securing a distal end of the piston rod relative to the receptacle of the adjustment part after axially positioning the adjustment part relative to at least one of the piston and the piston rod. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising sliding a distal portion of the piston rod within the receptacle of the adjustment part. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising disposing the medicament cartridge in the cartridge holder of the drug delivery device. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the adjustment part comprises radially projecting teeth and a distal portion of the piston rod comprises radially projecting teeth, and the teeth of the adjustment part engage the teeth of the piston rod when the adjustment part is axially positioned relative to at least one of the piston and the piston rod. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the engagement between the teeth of the adjustment part and the teeth of the piston rod hold the adjustment part and the piston rod in a substantially fixed axial position relative to one another. 
     
     
         24 . A drug delivery device for dispensing a medicament, the drug delivery device comprising:
 a medicament cartridge comprising a distal end, a proximal end opposite the distal end along an axis of the medicament cartridge, and a piston that is axially movable within the medicament cartridge;   a piston rod configured to move towards the distal end of the medicament cartridge during a dose delivery to distally move the piston; and   an adjustment part positioned between the piston rod and the piston, the adjustment part being axially movable relative to at least one of the piston and the piston rod to a clearance eliminating position in which the adjustment part abuts the piston and the piston rod to eliminate clearance between the piston and the piston rod,   wherein the adjustment part is axially securable relative to the piston rod in the clearance eliminating position.   
     
     
         25 . The drug delivery device of  claim 24 , wherein the adjustment part is rigid in compression between the piston rod and the piston in the clearance eliminating position when the adjustment part is axially secured relative to the piston rod. 
     
     
         26 . The drug delivery device of  claim 24 , wherein the adjustment part defines a receptacle. 
     
     
         27 . The drug delivery device of  claim 26 , wherein the receptacle faces towards a distal direction or towards a proximal direction along the axis of the medicament cartridge. 
     
     
         28 . The drug delivery device of  claim 26 , wherein the receptacle is configured to slidably receive a distal portion of the piston rod. 
     
     
         29 . The drug delivery device of  claim 26 , wherein an adhesive is arranged in the receptacle. 
     
     
         30 . The drug delivery device of  claim 24 , wherein the adjustment part comprises radially projecting teeth and a distal portion of the piston rod comprises radially projecting teeth, the teeth of the adjustment part being configured to engage the teeth of the distal portion of the piston rod to hold the adjustment part and the piston rod in a substantially fixed axial position relative to one another.