Abstract: A medication and needle module (20) for an injection device. The module (20) includes a housing (22) including a first portion (39) and a second portion (38) detachably connected together, the second housing portion having a periphery complementarily shaped with a cavity (154) in the injection device (150) to be loadable therein, a primary container (120) within the first housing portion and including a medication filled reservoir (124), a secondary container (70) within the second housing portion and including a medication tillable reservoir, a needle cassette (60) rotatably mounted within the second housing portion and including a plurality of delivery needles (64), and a transfer needle assembly (100) within the housing. The detachability of the second housing portion from the first housing portion permits the second housing portion with the secondary container and the needle cassette to be loaded as a unit independently of the first housing portion into the injection device cavity for use.

Abstract: A needle mounting assembly for mounting a pen needle in fluid communication with a medication cartridge. A collet defines an opening in which is slidably fittable the outlet end of the cartridge. The collet is shiftable relative to the cartridge outlet end. When the collet is disposed in a first axial position, a plurality of fingers of the collet extend forward of the cartridge outlet end and are disposed in a first radial arrangement in which a needle hub of the pen needle can be freely axially placed onto and freely axially removed from the plurality of fingers. When the collet is moved to a second position, the plurality of fingers are shifted by engagement with the cartridge outlet end to operationally secure the needle hub. When the collet is moved back to the first position, the plurality of fingers shift back for free axial removal of the needle hub from the mounting assembly.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical delivery device with triggered automatic needle insertion and manually controlled pharmaceutical injection.

Abstract: A medication dispensing apparatus having a gear set (62) to provide a mechanical advantage to the plunging of the apparatus plunger (64). The gear set has a first pinion (114) in meshed engagement with a rack (91) of the plunger, and a second pinion (126) in meshed engagement with a rack (80) of a drive member (68) of the apparatus. The gear set operatively interconnects the plunger and the drive member such that after the plunger is moved relative to the housing (30, 31) in proximal direction to prepare the apparatus for injection, the plunger, when distally moved, causes the drive member to advance in a distal direction to force medication through an outlet, typically provided with an injection needle (40), at the distal end (22) of the apparatus. An opening (130) through one of the pinions accommodates the drive member to allow for a compact apparatus.

Abstract: A medication injector apparatus such as an injection pen. The injection pen includes a resettable, cartridge plunger drive assembly including an axially floating nut, a cartridge plunger engaging screw, and a drive clutch movable with the nut and which when rotated causes the screw to screw through the nut. When a cartridge assembly is mounted to the pen base, the floating nut and drive clutch are shifted proximally such that the drive clutch is in torque transmitting engagement with a rotatable drive member of the pen, such that rotation of that drive member results in drive screw advancement through the nut in the distal direction. The injection pen also may include an injection clicker assembly having a collar arranged coaxially on a drive sleeve and which oscillates axially on the drive sleeve that rotates during medication dispensing to provide an audible clicking sound that indicates injecting use of the pen.

Abstract: A medication dispensing apparatus having a manually operable plunger axially shiftable relative to the apparatus housing. The plunger is pullable relative to the housing in a proximal direction to cock the apparatus, and when the plunger is then manually pushed back toward the housing, a piston within a medicine container of the apparatus is shifted to force medication from a needle assembly at the distal end of the apparatus. The medication dispensing apparatus also includes a priming mechanism which is operated by rotating an externally accessible driver portion to prime the apparatus for use, which priming can be performed whether or not the apparatus is in a cocked state.

Abstract: A guide and follower cooperate to promote a user moving the driver relative to the housing along a travel path that operates the apparatus. The cooperating elements of the nut and the driver are disengaged when the driver is disposed in a reset segment of the travel path, and the cooperating elements of the nut and the driver become engaged when the driver is shifted through a nut engaging segment of the travel path from the reset segment to a nut rotating segment of the travel path. The engagement of the cooperating elements of the nut and the driver cause the nut to screw proximally along the threaded shaft of the drive member when the driver is shifted through the nut rotating segment from the nut engaging segment to an injecting section of the travel path.

Abstract: A medication dispensing apparatus having a gear set (64) to provide a mechanical advantage to the plunging of the apparatus plunger (66). The gear set (64) has a first pinion (114) in meshed engagement with a rack of the plunger (102), and a second pinion (126) in meshed engagement with a rack of a drive member (80) of the apparatus. The gear set (64) operatively interconnects the plunger (66) and the drive member (62) such that after the plunger (66) is moved relative to the housing in a proximal direction to prepare the apparatus for injection, the plunger (66), when manually pushed back toward the housing, causes the drive member (62) to advance in a distal direction to force medication through an outlet, typically provided with an injection needle, at the distal end of the apparatus.

Abstract: A medication dispensing apparatus with a spring-driven locking feature includes a drive member movable in a distal direction within a housing, and a fluid container with a piston that is advanceable by the drive member (60) when such drive member is moved distally by a driving means. The apparatus includes a latching element (180) having a skid (190) that is slidable along a surface of the drive member as the drive member passes distally during advancement. The drive member is arranged with the skid so as to maintain a latching lip of the latching element against a spring force in a first position free of the driving means during dose preparing and injecting prior to a final dose administration.

Abstract: A medication dispensing apparatus that provides a mechanical advantage. During dose preparing, a nut rotating element (410) and a screw element (368) are in a first axial arrangement such that a screwing motion of the nut rotating element and screw element relative to the apparatus housing that moves the elements a first axial distance from a home position screws a nut (364) along a drive member threaded shaft (362) a second axial distance different than the first axial distance. During dose dispensing, the nut rotating element and the screw element are in a second axial arrangement, whereby a screwing motion of the screw element relative to the housing back toward the home position advances a plunger (366) in the distal direction to axially advance the nut and thereby the drive number and a fluid container piston to dispense medicine.

Abstract: A medication dispensing apparatus that provides a mechanical advantage. During dose preparing, a nut rotating element (410) and a screw element (368) are in a first axial arrangement such that a screwing motion of the nut rotating element and screw element relative to the apparatus housing that moves the elements a first axial distance from a home position screws a nut (364) along a drive member threaded shaft (362) a second axial distance different than the first axial distance. During dose dispensing, the nut rotating element and the screw element are in a second axial arrangement, whereby a screwing motion of the screw element relative to the housing back toward the home position advances a plunger (366) in the distal direction to axially advance the nut and thereby the drive member and a fluid container piston to dispense medicine.

Abstract: A medication injector apparatus such as an injection pen. The injection pen includes a resettable, cartridge plunger drive assembly including an axially floating nut, a cartridge plunger engaging screw, and a drive clutch movable with the nut and which when rotated causes the screw to screw through the nut. When a cartridge assembly is mounted to the pen base, the floating nut and drive clutch are shifted proximally such that the drive clutch is in torque transmitting engagement with a rotatable drive member of the pen, such that rotation of that drive member results in drive screw advancement through the nut in the distal direction. When the cartridge assembly is not mounted to the pen base, the floating nut and drive clutch are biased distally to disengage the drive clutch from torque transmitting engagement with the rotatable drive member and to thereby allow the drive screw to be reset proximally through the nut to a position more retracted within the pen base.

Abstract: A kit and needle assembly for reconstituting a quantity of a lyophilized pharmaceutical. The kit of the invention may include a reconstituting appliance having a non-transparent needle covering portion with a hollow adapted to receive the inserted stoppered end of the injection pen cartridge, which needle covering portion extends around a side-firing cannula to hide the cannula from side view. A shiftable alignment member retained within the needle covering portion at a first axial position, and shiftable to a second axial position when abutted by the injection pen cartridge during its insertion, may be included. The kit includes an injection pen cartridge including a barrel filled with a quantity of a lyophilized drug, a slidable plunger used during pen operation to eject the reconstituted drug, and a stopper penetrable by the cannula during drug reconstituting.

Abstract: A portable kit (20) in which is conveniently retained the materials required for a user to pulmonarily delivery inhaleable medication. The kit (20) includes a carrying case (22) in which a plurality of individual doses (5) of an inhaleable medication are removably mounted. An inhaler (40) is also mountable in the case (22), and when removed from the case (22) is operable to pulmonarily administer one of the medication doses (57) loaded by a user into the inhaler (40). A dosing guidance system (70) is also provided within the case (22) in registry with the plurality of individual doses (57) of medication, which dosing guidance system (70) provides a quick, visual reminder to assist the user in taking doses as prescribed by her physician.