Syringe support and autoinjector

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a syringe support for supporting an axial position of a syringe relative to a housing of an autoinjector. The syringe support comprises a projecting portion, which projects from the syringe support in a distal direction and a flexible portion which axially adjoins the projecting portion. The flexible portion is adapted to axially bias the syringe in the distal direction within the housing. The disclosure further relates to an autoinjector.

1 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . An auto-injector comprising:
 a housing;   a syringe configured to be disposed in the housing, the syringe containing a liquid medicament, the syringe having a distal end configured to hold a needle, and the syringe having a proximal end comprising a flange; and   a syringe support configured to be disposed in the housing proximal to the syringe and configured to be coupled to the housing, the syringe support having a distal end comprising a flexible portion configured to engage a proximal surface of the flange of the syringe to bias the syringe in a distal direction relative to the syringe support and a projecting portion that extends in an axial direction and comprises an outward protrusion configured to axially couple the syringe support to the housing to limit axial movement of the syringe support relative to the housing.   
     
     
         19 . The auto-injector of  claim 18 , wherein the projecting portion is a first projecting portion, the outward protrusion is a first outward protrusion, and the syringe support comprises a second projecting portion that extends in the axial direction and comprises a second outward protrusion configured to axially couple the syringe support to the housing to limit axial movement of the syringe support relative to the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The auto-injector of  claim 19 , wherein the syringe support has an opening defined by a first surface of the first projecting portion and a second surface of the second projecting portion. 
     
     
         21 . The auto-injector of  claim 18 , wherein the flexible portion comprises at least two angled surfaces. 
     
     
         22 . The auto-injector of  claim 21 , wherein the two angled surfaces have equal and opposite angles with respect to each other and are angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the housing. 
     
     
         23 . The auto-injector of  claim 21 , wherein the two angled surfaces define a V-shaped portion. 
     
     
         24 . The auto-injector of  claim 18 , wherein the flexible portion comprises a web portion. 
     
     
         25 . The auto-injector of  claim 18 , wherein the syringe support is a unitary structure. 
     
     
         26 . The auto-injector of  claim 18 , wherein the flexible portion has a flat, distal end. 
     
     
         27 . The auto-injector of  claim 18 , wherein the flexible portion is configured to flex in an axial direction. 
     
     
         28 . The auto-injector of  claim 18 , wherein the outward protrusion is located on a proximal portion of the syringe support. 
     
     
         29 . The auto-injector of  claim 18 , wherein the syringe support is formed from a plastic material and the flexible portion is configured as a spring such that the flexible portion is configured as a resilient plastic spring. 
     
     
         30 . The auto-injector of  claim 18 , wherein the syringe support is axially separated from a syringe carrier of the auto-injector that is configured to retain the syringe when (i) the syringe is disposed within the syringe carrier, (ii) the syringe carrier is disposed within the housing, and (iii) the syringe support is coupled to the housing and disposed within the housing. 
     
     
         31 . The auto-injector of  claim 18 , wherein the syringe support is configured to be coupled to a proximal portion of the housing. 
     
     
         32 . The auto-injector of  claim 18 , wherein the syringe support is configured to be coupled to the housing via a direct coupling between the outward protrusion and the housing. 
     
     
         33 . A method comprising:
 disposing a syringe within a housing of an auto-injector, the syringe containing a liquid medicament, the syringe having a distal end configured to hold a needle, and the syringe having a proximal end comprising a flange; and   disposing a syringe support within the housing and proximal to the syringe such that (i) a flexible portion located on a distal end of the syringe support engages a proximal surface of the flange of the syringe to bias the syringe in a distal direction relative to the syringe support and (ii) an outward protrusion located on an axially projecting portion axially couples the syringe support to the housing to limit axial movement of the syringe support relative to the housing.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the flexible portion comprises a web portion, and at least two angled surfaces that have equal and opposite angles with respect to each other and define a V-shaped portion. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein disposing the syringe support within the housing comprises engaging a flat, distal end of the flexible portion to the proximal surface of the flange of the syringe. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein disposing the syringe support within the housing comprises flexing the flexible portion in an axial direction. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein disposing the syringe support within the housing comprises directly coupling the outward protrusion to the housing to axially couple the syringe support to the housing to limit axial movement of the syringe support relative to the housing.