Packaging systems for drug delivery devices and packaging kits

Abstract

Various packaging systems and packaging kits are described. In one exemplary embodiment, a packaging system is provided and includes a base configured to receive a drug delivery device having a device body having an upper segment and a lower segment, and an actuator. The base is configured to house the received drug delivery device therein at a non-zero angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the base. The base includes a retaining cavity and a gripping cavity adjacent the retaining cavity. The retaining cavity is configured to create an interference fit with at least a portion of an upper segment of a drug delivery device received within the base, and the gripping cavity is configured to receive a lower segment of a device body and a portion of an actuator of a drug delivery device received within the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaging system for a drug delivery device, the system comprising:
 a base extending from a first end to a second end and configured to receive a drug delivery device having a device body having an upper segment and a lower segment, and an actuator operatively coupled to the lower segment, the base being configured to house the received drug delivery device therein at a non-zero angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the base that extends between the first and second ends to thereby substantially prevent movement of the received drug delivery device while within the base, the base including:
 a retaining cavity configured to create an interference fit with at least a portion of an upper segment of a drug delivery device received within the base to thereby releasably retain the received drug delivery device within the base, and 
 a gripping cavity adjacent to the retaining cavity, the gripping cavity being configured to receive a lower segment of a device body and a portion of an actuator of a drug delivery device received within the base. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises an end cavity positioned between the first end of the base and the retaining cavity, the end cavity being configured to receive at least a portion of an upper segment and an outer sleeve of a drug delivery device received within the base. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises an end cavity positioned between the gripping cavity and the second end of the base, the end cavity being configured to receive a portion of an actuator of a drug delivery device received within the base. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid that is releasably sealed to the base. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the non-zero angle is from about 1 degree to 5 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the non-zero angle is about 4 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining cavity has a substantially c-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drug delivery device includes an outer sleeve positioned about a portion of the upper segment of the device body, and wherein the outer sleeve has a first set of opposing flanges extending from a first end thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the gripping cavity includes a support element that is configured to support a lower segment of a drug delivery device received within the base such that the first set of opposing flanges of the received drug delivery device is positioned between the retaining cavity and the support element to thereby substantially prevent actuation of an actuator of the received drug delivery while within the base. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the support element has a substantially c-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the base is substantially transparent such that a drug delivery device received within the base is viewable through the base. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping cavity can be configured to allow a device body of a drug delivery device received within the base to be gripped to remove the received drug delivery device from the base. 
     
     
         13 . A packaging kit comprising:
 a drug delivery device having a device body having an upper segment and a lower segment, and an actuator operatively coupled to the lower segment; and   a packaging system having the drug delivery device disposed therein, the packaging system including:
 a base extending from a first end to a second end and houses the drug delivery device therein at a non-zero angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the base that extends between the first and second ends to thereby substantially prevent movement of the drug delivery device within the base, the base including: 
 a retaining cavity that creates an interference fit with at least a portion of the upper segment of the drug delivery device to thereby releasably retain the drug delivery device within the base, and 
 a gripping cavity adjacent to the retaining cavity and houses the lower segment of the device body and a portion of the actuator of the drug delivery device. 
   
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the base further comprises an end cavity positioned between the first end of the base and the retaining cavity and receives at least a portion of the upper segment and the outer sleeve of the drug delivery device. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the base further comprises an end cavity positioned between the gripping cavity and the second end of the base and receives a portion of the actuator of the drug delivery device. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the packaging system includes a lid that is releasably sealed to the base. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the non-zero angle is from about 1 degree to 5 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the non-zero angle is about 4 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the retaining cavity has a substantially c-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the drug delivery device includes an outer sleeve positioned about a portion of the upper segment of the device body, and wherein the outer sleeve has a first set of opposing flanges extending from a first end thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 20 , wherein the gripping cavity includes a support element that supports the lower segment of the drug delivery device such that the first set of opposing flanges of the drug delivery device is positioned between the retaining cavity and the support element to thereby substantially prevent actuation of the actuator while the drug delivery device is within the base. 
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein the support element has a substantially c-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         23 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the base is substantially transparent such that the drug delivery device is viewable through the base. 
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the gripping cavity allows the device body of the drug delivery device to be gripped to remove the drug delivery device from the base.