Drug delivery device with retaining member

Abstract

A drug delivery device is provided for delivering a drug to a target tissue site. The drug delivery device comprises a body comprising a proximal end and a distal end and a chamber disposed therebetween. An upper portion is disposed about the proximal end of the body. A retaining member is disposed within a wall of the body and engageable with the chamber and a plunger is configured for disposal within the upper portion and the chamber. The upper portion is movable about the proximal end of the body to open the chamber such that the plunger is disposed within a passageway defined within the chamber, and movement of the plunger in a distal direction pushes the retaining member such that the drug moves out of the body. Methods are also disclosed.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A drug delivery device for delivering a drug to a target tissue site, the drug delivery device comprising:
 a body comprising a proximal end and a distal end and a chamber comprising a passageway disposed therebetween, and an external surface comprising a first guide and a second guide;   a retaining member disposed within a wall defined by the external surface of the body and engageable with the chamber; and   an internal plunger comprising a handle, and configured for disposal within the body, wherein the plunger handle is configured for slidable engagement with the first guide and the second guide and movement of the plunger handle moves the plunger through the passageway of the body and engages with the retaining member such that the drug is dispensed from the delivery device.   
     
     
         14 . A drug delivery device according to  claim 13 , wherein (i) the retaining member comprises a first channel and a second channel; (ii) a needle engages the distal end of the body; or (iii) a needle engages the distal end of the body and the drug is dispensed from the needle as the plunger moves through the body 
     
     
         15 . A drug delivery device according to  claim 14 , wherein the retaining member is rotatable relative to the body and is transparent and comprises a window configured for visual inspection of the drug, and the body comprises a wing transverse to the distal end of the body. 
     
     
         16 . A drug delivery device according to  claim 15 , wherein the retaining member is rotated in a direction such that the plunger is inserted into the first channel during movement of the handle in a distal direction. 
     
     
         17 . A drug delivery device according to  claim 15 , wherein the handle is disposed about the external surface of the body and engages the first guide and the second guide via a first inner protuberance and a second inner protuberance. 
     
     
         18 . A drug delivery device according to  claim 15 , wherein the handle comprises a first part and a second part and the first part is configured for disposal within the first guide and the second part is configured for disposal within the second guide. 
     
     
         19 . A drug delivery device according to  claim 14 , wherein the handle is disposed about the external surface of the body and engages the first guide and the second guide via a first inner protuberance and a second inner protuberance and the handle engages at least a first indent defined by the external surface of the body via a third inner protuberance, and the handle is moved about the body when squeezed, and the retaining member is transparent and comprises a window configured for visual inspection of the drug, and the retaining member is pushed in an inward direction such that the plunger is inserted into the first channel during movement of the handle in a distal direction to deliver the drug to the needle. 
     
     
         20 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A drug delivery device comprising:
 a sleeve extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to an opposite distal end, the sleeve comprising an inner surface defining a chamber, the proximal end comprising an opening in communication with the chamber;   a retaining member positioned in the chamber and comprising a passageway configured for disposal of a drug; and   a plunger comprising a cap and a rod connected to the cap, the rod extending through the opening,   wherein the retaining member is rotatable relative to the sleeve between a first orientation in which the passageway is offset relative to the rod and a second orientation in which the passageway is aligned with the rod, and   wherein the rod is translatable relative to the sleeve along the longitudinal axis to move the rod through the passageway when the retaining member is in the second orientation.   
     
     
         24 . A drug delivery device according to  claim 23 , wherein the distal end defines an aperture extending through the inner surface and an opposite outer surface of the sleeve, the retaining member comprising a body rotatably positioned in the chamber and a tab fixed to the body such that the tab extends through the aperture. 
     
     
         25 . A drug delivery device according to  claim 24 , wherein the tab rotates within the aperture as the retaining member rotates between the first orientation and the second orientation. 
     
     
         26 . A drug delivery device according to  claim 24 , wherein the sleeve comprises a flange extending outwardly from the outer surface such that the flange is fixed relative to the outer surface, the tab being configured for gripping by a first finger and the flange being configured for gripping by a second finger to rotate the retaining member between the first orientation and the second orientation. 
     
     
         27 . A drug delivery device according to  claim 23 , wherein the sleeve comprises a slot extending through the inner surface and an opposite outer surface of the sleeve, the plunger comprising a handle having a part, the part being slidably positioned in the slot to guide the plunger as the rod translates relative to the sleeve along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         28 . A drug delivery device according to  claim 23 , wherein the sleeve comprises spaced apart slots each extending through the inner surface and an opposite outer surface of the sleeve, the plunger comprising a handle having a first part and a second part, the first part being slidably positioned in the first slot and the second part being slidably positioned in the second slot to guide the plunger as the rod translates relative to the sleeve along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         29 . A drug delivery device according to  claim 23 , further comprising a needle coupled to the distal end such that a channel defined by the needle is in communication with the chamber, the passageway being aligned with the channel when the retaining member is in the second orientation. 
     
     
         30 . A drug delivery device according to  claim 23 , further comprising the drug, the drug being positioned in the passageway. 
     
     
         31 . A drug delivery device comprising:
 a sleeve extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to an opposite distal end, the sleeve comprising an inner surface defining a chamber, the proximal end comprising an opening in communication with the chamber;   a retaining member positioned in the chamber and comprising a passageway configured for disposal of a drug and a second passageway, the second passageway being spaced apart from the first passageway; and   a plunger comprising a cap and a rod connected to the cap, the rod extending through the opening,   wherein the retaining member is rotatable relative to the sleeve between a first orientation in which the rod is offset relative to the first passageway and a second orientation in which the rod is aligned with the first passageway, the rod being aligned with the second passageway when the retaining member is in the first orientation, the rod being offset relative to the second passageway when the retaining member is in the second orientation, and   wherein the rod is translatable relative to the sleeve along the longitudinal axis to move the rod through the first passageway when the retaining member is in the second orientation.   
     
     
         32 . A drug delivery device according to  claim 31 , wherein the distal end defines an aperture extending through the inner surface and an opposite outer surface of the sleeve, the retaining member comprising a body rotatably positioned in the chamber and a tab fixed to the body such that the tab extends through the aperture. 
     
     
         33 . A drug delivery device according to  claim 32 , wherein the tab rotates within the aperture as the retaining member rotates between the first orientation and the second orientation. 
     
     
         34 . A drug delivery device according to  claim 32 , wherein the sleeve comprises a flange extending outwardly from the outer surface such that the flange is fixed relative to the outer surface, the tab being configured for gripping by a first finger and the flange being configured for gripping by a second finger to rotate the retaining member between the first orientation and the second orientation. 
     
     
         35 . A drug delivery device according to  claim 31 , wherein the sleeve comprises spaced apart slots each extending through the inner surface and an opposite outer surface of the sleeve, the plunger comprising a handle having a first part and a second part, the first part being slidably positioned in the first slot and the second part being slidably positioned in the second slot to guide the plunger as the rod translates relative to the sleeve along the longitudinal axis.