Injection device with torsion spring and rotatable display

Abstract

The present invention relates to an injection device comprising a torsion spring operatively connected to a dose setting member being adapted to set a dose to be ejected from the injection device. A rotatably mounted display member adapted to display the dose to be ejected in accordance with a setting of the dose setting member is also provided. The rotatably mounted display member is adapted to be rotated over an angle corresponding to at least one revolution of the display member. The display member may be implemented as a dose indicator barrel having numerals arranged along a helical path on an outer surface thereof, or alternatively, as a counting device having two or more display wheels having numerals arranged on an outer surface thereof.

1 . An injection pen comprising:
 a housing;   a dose setting member for setting a dose, the dose setting member mounted to the housing so that it may rotate relative to the housing, the dose setting member being capable of rotating in two directions, one direction to increase the size of a dose and another direction to decrease the size of the dose;   a dose indicator barrel, wherein the dose indicator barrel comprises a counting device having at least one display wheel having numerals arranged on an outer surface thereof, wherein the at least one display wheel rotates when the dose setting member is rotated;   a piston rod having a threaded outer surface with a track arranged in a longitudinal direction of its outer surface,   a rotatable drive member that engages with the track or with the threaded outer surface of the piston rod to drive the piston rod,   a torsion spring that stores energy when a user rotates the dose setting member to set a dose, the torsion spring supplying the energy to drive a dose of medication from the injection pen; and   a release button;
 wherein when the release button is activated by the user, the release button causes the torsion spring to drive the set dose from the injection pen and the dose indicator barrel rotates during injection back to a zero position. 
   
     
     
         2 . An injection device comprising:
 a housing ( 5 ) with an inner surface provided with threads ( 10 ),   a dose setting member ( 1 ) adapted to set a dose to be ejected from the injection device,   a torsion spring ( 12 ) operatively connected to the dose setting member ( 1 ), such that energy is accumulated in the torsion spring ( 12 ) upon rotation of the dose setting member ( 1 ) and released to eject automatically,   wherein,   a rotatably mounted display member threadedly engaged with threads ( 10 ) of the housing ( 5 ) and operatively connected with the dose setting member ( 1 ) and adapted to display the dose to be ejected from the injection device in accordance with a setting of the dose setting member ( 1 ), and   the rotatably mounted display member is rotatable over an angle corresponding to at least one revolution of the display member.   
     
     
         3 . The injection device according to  claim 2 , wherein the display member is adapted to be moved between two end positions, said two end positions defining an operation range of the display member, said operation range being associated with a substantially linear working range of the torsion spring. 
     
     
         4 . The injection device according to  claim 2 , wherein the display member comprises a dose indicator barrel ( 9 ) having numerals arranged along a helical path on an outer surface thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The injection device according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a piston rod ( 2 ) having a threaded outer surface with a drive track ( 7 ) arranged in a longitudinal direction of said outer surface,   wherein the dose setting member ( 1 ) is rotatably mounted and defines a passage for the piston rod ( 2 ), the dose setting member ( 1 ) further having a guiding track ( 11 ) arranged on an inner surface thereof,   a rotatable drive member ( 6 ) being adapted to at least partly engage with at least part of the drive track ( 7 ) of the piston rod ( 2 ) so as to drive the piston rod,   wherein the dose indicator barrel ( 9 ) has a part engaging at least part of the guiding track ( 11 ) of the dose setting member ( 1 ), the dose setting member ( 1 ) and the dose indicator barrel ( 9 ) being movable in relation to each other, the dose indicator barrel ( 9 ) further having a threaded outer surface ( 8 ) cooperating with a threaded inner portion ( 10 ) of the housing ( 5 ) whereby the dose indicator barrel ( 9 ) undergoes a combined translational and rotational movement in relation to the housing ( 5 ) upon rotation of the dose setting member ( 1 ), and   wherein the injection device has a threaded portion ( 3 ) cooperating with the threaded outer surface of the piston rod ( 2 ) so that rotation of the piston rod ( 2 ) relative to the housing ( 5 ) results in a longitudinal movement of the piston rod ( 2 ).   
     
     
         6 . The injection device according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a piston rod ( 2 ) having a threaded outer surface with a track ( 7 ) arranged in a longitudinal direction of said outer surface,   wherein the dose setting member ( 1 ) is rotatably mounted and defines a passage for the piston rod ( 2 ), the dose setting member ( 1 ) further having a guiding track ( 11 ) arranged on an inner surface thereof,   a rotatable drive member ( 6 ) having a threaded portion cooperating with at least part of the threaded outer surface of the piston rod ( 2 ),   wherein the dose indicator barrel ( 9 ) has a part engaging at least part of the guiding track ( 11 ) of the dose setting member ( 1 ), the dose setting member ( 1 ) and the dose indicator barrel ( 9 ) being movable in relation to each other, the dose indicator barrel ( 9 ) further having a threaded outer surface ( 8 ) cooperating with a threaded inner portion ( 10 ) of the housing ( 5 ) whereby the dose indicator barrel ( 9 ) undergoes a combined translational and rotational movement in relation to the housing ( 5 ) upon rotation of the dose setting member ( 1 ), and   wherein the injection device has a portion at least partly engaging the track ( 7 ) of piston rod ( 2 ) so that rotation of the drive member ( 6 ) relative to the housing ( 5 ) results in a longitudinal movement of the piston rod ( 2 ).   
     
     
         7 . The injection device according to  claim 5 , wherein the drive member ( 6 ) is adapted to be connected to the dose setting member ( 1 ) via a ratchet ( 13 ). 
     
     
         8 . The injection device according to  claim 6 , wherein the drive member ( 6 ) is adapted to be connected to the dose setting member ( 1 ) via a ratchet ( 13 ). 
     
     
         9 . The injection device according to  claim 5 , wherein the torsion spring ( 12 ) is arranged between the housing ( 5 ) and the dose setting member ( 1 ) in such a way that when the dose setting member ( 1 ) is rotated around the piston rod ( 2 ), the torsion spring ( 12 ) is strained. 
     
     
         10 . The injection device according to  claim 6 , wherein the torsion spring ( 12 ) is arranged between the housing ( 5 ) and the dose setting member ( 1 ) in such a way that when the dose setting member ( 1 ) is rotated around the piston rod ( 2 ), the torsion spring ( 12 ) is strained. 
     
     
         11 . The injection device according to  claim 9 , wherein the torsion spring ( 12 ) is a helical spring which extends coaxially with the piston rod ( 2 ). 
     
     
         12 . The injection device according to  claim 10 , wherein the torsion spring ( 12 ) is a helical spring which extends coaxially with the piston rod ( 2 ). 
     
     
         13 . The injection device according to  claim 5 , further comprising a locking member ( 4 ) adapted to fixate the piston rod ( 2 ) in such a way that no relative rotation between of the piston rod ( 2 ) and the housing ( 5 ) is possible when the locking member ( 4 ) is in its locking position. 
     
     
         14 . The injection device according to  claim 6 , further comprising a locking member ( 4 ) adapted to fixate the piston rod ( 2 ) in such a way that no relative rotation between of the piston rod ( 2 ) and the housing ( 5 ) is possible when the locking member ( 4 ) is in its locking position. 
     
     
         15 . The injection device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a release button adapted to release the locking member ( 4 ) from its locking position. 
     
     
         16 . The injection device according to  claim 14 , further comprising a release button adapted to release the locking member ( 4 ) from its locking position. 
     
     
         17 . The injection device according to  claim 15 , wherein the release button is positioned in the distal half of the length of the injection device. 
     
     
         18 . The injection device according to  claim 16 , wherein the release button is positioned in the distal half of the length of the injection device. 
     
     
         19 . The injection device according to  claim 5 , further comprising a stopping member for defining an outer position of the dose indicator barrel ( 9 ), the outer position of the dose indicator barrel ( 9 ) corresponding to a maximum obtainable dose. 
     
     
         20 . The injection device according to  claim 6 , further comprising a stopping member for defining an outer position of the dose indicator barrel ( 9 ), the outer position of the dose indicator barrel ( 9 ) corresponding to a maximum obtainable dose.