Versatile syringe platform

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for medicament delivery. The apparatus may include, and the methods may involve, a delivery device for delivering a target amount of the medicament from a distal end of the device. The device may include a rod for moving a plunger that discharges the medicament from the distal end. The device may avoid or reduce deformation of the plunger during the discharge. The plunger motion may be stopped by detent that interacts with the rod. The apparatus and the methods may provide an operator indication of progress of stages of operation. The device may feature triggers corresponding to stages of medicament displacement from the device, such as pre-delivery stages, including priming.

1 - 189 . (canceled) 
     
     
         190 . A medicament delivery device defining a longitudinal axis and comprising:
 a plunger rod guide that defines a passageway and supports a boss, the passageway coaxial with the axis and configured to receive a plunger rod that defines a track that supports a trigger, the guide being configured to deflect, responsive to interaction between the boss and the trigger, radially relative to the axis; and   a finger flange that supports the guide and comprises a surface that defines, distal to the guide, a recess configured to receive a proximal portion of a medicament container, the recess extending transverse to the axis and the container being disposed coaxial with the axis.   
     
     
         191 . The device of  claim 190  wherein the track extends:
 radially inward from a cylindrical surface of the rod; and 
 along the cylindrical surface. 
 
     
     
         192 . The device of  claim 190  wherein:
 the trigger is a protrusion; 
 the interaction is an interference between the boss and the trigger; and 
 the guide is configured to deflect away from the axis. 
 
     
     
         193 . The device of  claim 190  wherein:
 the container defines a bore bound by an interior uniform diameter, 
 the rod is disposed in the passageway and is configured to be displaced distally, within the bore, to discharge medicament from the container until the boss abuts a terminal surface of the track, thereby limiting motion of the boss, relative to the rod, to motion that is directed away from the terminal surface and parallel to the axis; and 
 the segment includes a distal portion that, in operation, contacts a bulk liquid residuum of the medicament after the boss abuts the terminal surface. 
 
     
     
         194 . The device of  claim 193  wherein the distal portion of the segment directly contacts the residuum. 
     
     
         195 . The device of  claim 193  further comprising:
 at least one plunger slideably sealing against the interior wall, the at least one plunger disposed distal the rod and configured to slide distally responsive to distal displacement of the rod; and 
 a stopper sealing a distal end of the container, the medicament, prior to discharge of the medicament, sealed within the container between the stopper and the at least one plunger, the distal end of the container configured to be associated with a needle having a cannula that is configured to distally transfer a dose amount of the medicament discharged from the container. 
 
     
     
         196 . The device of  claim 195  wherein the boss abuts the terminal surface prior to interference of a distal face of the at least one plunger with an inner distal wall of the container, the inner distal wall having a component transverse to the axis. 
     
     
         197 . The device of  claim 190  wherein the finger flange is configured to maintain the container at least partly coaxial with the axis. 
     
     
         198 . The device of  claim 190  wherein the proximal portion of the medicament container includes a flanged lip. 
     
     
         199 . The device of  claim 198  wherein a contour of a section of the flanged lip is complementary to a region of the surface defining the recess. 
     
     
         200 . The device of  claim 190  wherein a cylindrical surface of a proximal section of the rod supports a knob that encompasses the section, the knob being coaxial with the axis. 
     
     
         201 . The device of  claim 200  wherein the knob is configured to be rotated about the axis and to be longitudinally translated along the axis, the rod being configured to move, relative to the medicament container, in response to motion of the knob. 
     
     
         202 . The device of  claim 201  wherein the knob comprises signage indicating a direction of rotation about the axis associated with distal displacement of the rod. 
     
     
         203 . The device of  claim 190  wherein the rod is disposed in the passageway after the proximal portion of the medicament container is received by the recess. 
     
     
         204 . The device of  claim 190  wherein the finger flange comprises two or more sections configured to snap together onto the proximal portion of the medicament container. 
     
     
         205 . The device of  claim 204  wherein the two or more sections are mechanically identical. 
     
     
         206 . The device of  claim 190  wherein:
 the finger flange defines an internal bay, wherein:
 the guide is suspended across the bay by a support extending in a first direction; and, 
 in a second direction, the guide deflects responsive to the interaction between the boss and the trigger. 
 
 
     
     
         207 . The device of  claim 206  wherein the first direction is transverse to a proximal face of the finger flange, the proximal face of the finger flange being transverse to the axis. 
     
     
         208 . The device of  claim 206  wherein, in the second direction, the bay accommodates deflection of the guide. 
     
     
         209 . The device of  claim 206  wherein the support is a first support and the guide is suspended by the first support and by a second support. 
     
     
         210 . The device of  claim 206  wherein the guide is suspended proximal to the bay. 
     
     
         211 . The device of  claim 206  wherein the guide is suspended at least partly within the bay. 
     
     
         212 . The device of  claim 206  wherein the first direction is transverse to the second direction. 
     
     
         213 . The device of  claim 208  wherein the support is configured to deform in response to the deflection. 
     
     
         214 . The device of  claim 213  wherein deformation of the support relieves stress in the finger flange. 
     
     
         215 . The device of  claim 206  wherein the guide includes an arm that defines the passageway and supports the boss apart from an end of the guide from which the guide is suspended. 
     
     
         216 . The device of  claim 190  wherein:
 the track is a first track and the trigger is a first trigger; 
 the rod further defines a second track that is disposed parallel to the first track and supports a second trigger; 
 the boss is a first boss engaging the rod at the first track; 
 the guide further supports a second boss, the second boss engaging the rod at the second track; 
 the interaction is a first interaction; 
 a first deflection of the guide relative to the axis is responsive to the first interaction between the first boss and the first trigger, and 
 a second deflection of the guide relative to the axis is responsive to a second interaction between the second boss and the second trigger. 
 
     
     
         217 . The device of  claim 216  wherein the tracks, triggers and bosses are configured to provide the first deflection and the second deflection at least approximately simultaneously. 
     
     
         218 . The device of  claim 193  wherein:
 the track is proximal, along a cylindrical surface of the rod, to a distal end of the rod, the track supporting the terminal surface proximal the trigger; 
 a length, along a tract of the track, that is disposed between the trigger and the terminal surface corresponds to a delivery stroke of the rod, the delivery stroke discharging from the container a dose amount of the medicament; and 
 the boss engages the rod at the track and provides a reactive surface that, with the boss abutting the terminal surface, delimits distal displacement of the rod within the container, terminating the delivery stroke. 
 
     
     
         219 . The device of  claim 218  wherein the boss engages the rod at the track by being positioned against a side of the track. 
     
     
         220 . The device of  claim 218  wherein the boss engages the rod at the track by extending into the track. 
     
     
         221 . The device of  claim 218  wherein:
 the tract is substantially parallel to the axis; and, 
 with the boss engaging the tract, the reactive surface limits rotational movement of the rod about the axis. 
 
     
     
         222 . The device of  claim 218  wherein:
 the tract is helicoidal about the axis; and, 
 with the boss engaging the tract, the reactive surface converts rotational movement of the rod about the axis into axial movement of the rod along the axis. 
 
     
     
         223 . The device of  claim 193  wherein:
 the trigger is a first trigger and the track further supports a second trigger, wherein:
 a first deflection of the guide, responsive to the boss interacting with the first trigger, corresponds to a first stage of distal displacement of the rod in the container; and 
 a second deflection of the guide, responsive to the boss interacting with the second trigger, corresponds to a second stage of distal displacement of the rod in the container. 
 
 
     
     
         224 . The device of  claim 223  wherein:
 the track is proximal, along a cylindrical surface of the rod, to a distal end of the rod; 
 the first trigger is supported by a proximal portion of a distal longitudinal tract of the track, the proximal portion being adjacent a distal portion of an intermediate tract of the track, the intermediate tract being disposed along the cylindrical surface between the distal tract and a proximal tract of the track; and 
 the first stage is an initial distal displacement of the rod, the initial displacement positioning the rod in the device prior to operation. 
 
     
     
         225 . The device of  claim 224  wherein:
 the second trigger is supported by a distal portion of the intermediate tract; and 
 the second stage is an initiation of operation of the device. 
 
     
     
         226 . The device of  claim 225  wherein:
 the intermediate tract is helicoidal about the axis 
 a helical pitch of a portion of the intermediate tract is sufficiently high to transduce, with the boss providing a reactive surface in engagement with the high pitched portion of the intermediate tract, a distally directed longitudinal force applied to a proximal end of the rod into a rotary force; and 
 in operation, the rotary force drives a rotation of the rod, the rotation included in the second stage. 
 
     
     
         227 . The device of  claim 225  wherein the initiation includes preparation, for discharge, of the medicament. 
     
     
         228 . The device of  claim 227  wherein the preparation includes conversion of the medicament from a storage form of the medicament to a dischargeable form of the medicament. 
     
     
         229 . The device of  claim 228  wherein the storage form of the medicament includes:
 a first component; and 
 a second component stored apart from the first component; 
 wherein a mixture of the first component and the second component includes the dischargeable form of the medicament. 
 
     
     
         230 . The device of  claim 227  wherein the preparation includes discharge of air from the container prior to delivery of the medicament. 
     
     
         231 . The device of  claim 224  wherein:
 the second trigger is supported by a proximal portion of the intermediate tract, the proximal portion of the intermediate tract being adjacent a distal portion of the proximal tract, the proximal tract supporting the terminal surface; and 
 the second stage is initiation of delivery of the medicament. 
 
     
     
         232 . The device of  claim 231  wherein a length along the proximal tract proximal to the second trigger and distal to the terminal surface corresponds to a delivery stroke of the rod, the delivery stroke discharging from the container a dose amount of the medicament. 
     
     
         233 . The device of  claim 232  wherein:
 the intermediate tract is at least partly parallel to the axis; 
 the proximal tract is at least partly parallel to the axis and is circumferentially displaced from the intermediate tract; 
 the proximal portion of the intermediate tract and the distal portion of the proximal tract are conjoined by an at least partly circumferential tract of the track; and, 
 in operation, the delivery stroke is enabled by a rotation of the rod shifting the boss, in engagement with the track, from the intermediate tract through the circumferential tract to the proximal tract. 
 
     
     
         234 . The device of  claim 233  wherein the proximal tract is displaced by about 90 degrees from the intermediate tract. 
     
     
         235 . The device of  claim 232  wherein tactile indication of completion of the delivery stroke is provided by abutment of the boss against the terminal surface. 
     
     
         236 . The device of  claim 190  wherein a deflection of the guide, responsive to the interaction occurring at a stage of a distal displacement of the rod within the bore, produces an indication of the interaction, signaling initiation of the stage. 
     
     
         237 . The device of  claim 236  wherein the indication is tactile. 
     
     
         238 . The device of  claim 237  wherein one or more properties of one or more of the boss, the guide, the trigger, the track, the rod, the finger flange and the container, determine one or more of an amplitude of the indication and a duration of the indication, the properties including geometry, lubricity and resilience. 
     
     
         239 . The device of  claim 236  wherein the indication is acoustic. 
     
     
         240 . The device of  claim 239  wherein one or more properties of one or more of the boss, the guide, the trigger, the track, the rod, the finger flange and the container, determine one or more of an amplitude of the indication, a pitch of the indication and a duration of the indication, the properties including geometry, lubricity and resilience. 
     
     
         241 - 282 . (canceled)