Abstract: An injection device for a syringe incorporates housing for a syringe. A needle shroud is captive to the leading end of the housing and is movable before use between extended and retracted positions. A drive member is releasable from a rearward position within the housing to urge the syringe forwards to project its needle beyond the retracted needle shroud and then to express a dose through the needle. Locating members on the housing capture the drive member at its forward position (attained after expressing the dose). The captured drive member is also arranged to block retraction of the needle shroud from its extended position.

Abstract: A needle shroud assembly for a syringe holder comprises a barrel (16), a needle shroud (24) captively telescoped relative to the forward end of the barrel (16) and retained by a top outer body (44). A locking ring (42) cooperates with the shroud, having diametrically opposed keyways which are brought into and out of axial alignment with keys (38) on the shroud (24) to free or lock the shroud from movement. The locking collar (42) is biased towards a ‘safe’ position. On cocking the locking ring (42) to a ‘live’ position the shroud (24) is freed for retraction movement but on return to its extended position, the locking ring is returned to its ‘safe’ position.

Abstract: A lancet body for a skin pricker has resiliently flexible fingers (9) with outwardly splayed tips (10). The device is fired by pressing a trigger (13) and a spring (5) urges the lancet forwards and the fingers (9) flex inwards as the tips (10) snap past barbs (11), so that the tips (10) of the arms (9) engage behind the barbs (11). If the user tries to push the lancet back into the cocked condition, the fingers (9) are trapped and will flex as the tips (10) press against the barbs (11) until the arms buckle and the tips (10) are pushed out through openings (14). Thus the lancet is arrested and immobilized before a re-cocked position is reached, and re-firing is prevented.

Abstract: A lancet device includes a main body in which is located a lancet drive shaft 20 having a lancet holder 22 at its front end. A front housing flap 12 is hinged to the front of the main body portion and opens to allow insertion/withdrawal of a lancet. A multi-function cocking/ejection element 16 is operable both to cock the drive shaft prior to firing and to eject a lancet from the lancet holder after firing. The cock/eject element also unlatches the front flap 12.

Abstract: An injector apparatus includes a housing (101, 102) for a cartridge or syringe, a plunger (40) for cooperating in use with the cartridge or syringe to express successive doses, a dose setting arrangement (16, 20) to select a dose volume, and a drive mechanism (22, 24) releasable to advance the plunger in respective predetermined increments of magnitude to express the successive doses. The drive mechanism includes a drive spring (22) for imparting movement directly or indirectly to the plunger (40), and the dose setting arrangement includes a dose setting element (16) moveable in a dose setting routine to define a magnitude of an increment of movement of the plunger for a given dose. The drive mechanism further includes a clutch arrangement (56) operable during the dose setting routine to inhibit forward movement of the plunger and/or to isolate the dose setting element from the force of the drive spring.

Abstract: An injection device includes a cap (38) which is withdrawn from the front of the device before use to remove a boot (52) from the needle (50). The cap (52) has fingers (46) which grip the boot and which pass down a passage through which the needle projects to inject a dose. The passage has projections disposed to reduce the effective bore of the passage, the projections having inwardly inclined resilient portions which allow the boot to be withdrawn forwardly through the passage but prevent a finger being poked into the passage.

Abstract: When a trigger of an injection device is released, a main spring (4) expands, driving a member (7) forwards. This compresses a weak spring (11), but a spring (5) is stiff enough to remain expanded. A syringe (2) is thus thrust forwards via a collar (9), so that a needle (3) projects from a barrel (1). The spring (4) continues to expand after the syringe has reached its forward position, with the spring (11) fully compressed, so that the stem (8) of the member (7) acts on a piston (14) within the syringe (2), to expel the dose while the spring (5) is caused to be compressed. The spring (5) ensures that the syringe is retained in its forward position during this phase.

Abstract: A sheath remover device is of elongate tubular form having a sheath capture region at one end and a passage along which a captured sheath may pass from the capture region. A plurality of latching fingers, each with an internally directed latch, are equi-spaced in the capture region. Two further inwardly directed latches are on the cut out regions. The sheath remover is designed so that, a sheath already disposed in the sheath capture region is pushed along the passage away from the sheath capture region when the remover is offered up to and engages the subsequent sheath. The spacing of the latches and is such that the earlier sheath is not released from latches until the latches have securely engaged in the subsequent sheath, thereby providing an indication of secure engagement of the subsequent sheath. The sheath remover may also be used as a cap and/or a cocking rod.

Abstract: An injection apparatus includes a counter wheel (54) that is incremented by the dose delivery mechanism each time the device is fired. The apparatus includes a final dose disabling mechanism that prevents further usage once the final dose has been delivered. An anti-tamper feature is provided to prevent inadvertent or premature initialisation of the apparatus.

Abstract: Skin stimulus arrangements are described for creating a stimulus in the skin in the vicinity of a treatment or wound site to alleviate the perception of pain. First and second textured surfaces are provided for making contact with the skin, with the surfaces being moved to create a stimulus which alleviates the perception of pain. The movement may be linear, rotary or a combination of both, and just a single textured surface may be provided.

Abstract: An autoinjector includes a housing (10) to receive a syringe (14), and a drive mechanism including first and second springs (30, 32) operating in tandem via an intermediate member (34), on a plunger (42). The plunger is retained in a locked position by a trigger. Release of the trigger causes the first spring to advance the syringe to an arrest point whereafter the second spring extends within the syringe to expel a dose.

Abstract: A pen injection device designed for use with dual or multi-chamber cartridges 14, is provided with an extended length plunger 24 having a non-drive portion 24? on its forward end and the usual screw-threaded drive portion 24? on its rearward end. This arrangement allows the plunger to be pushed forwardly whilst the dosing drive mechanism is disengaged to effect a reconstitution movement of the rearward bung 18? in the cartridge. Thereafter the threaded portion on the plunger 24? engages the drive mechanism to allow metered dosing.

Abstract: A lancet has a generally tubular body (1). A hollow insert (4) with a closed end plugs one end of the body (1), and it has a co-axial projection (5) forming a sharp tip proud of that end of the body. The body (1) and insert (4) are simultaneously formed by twin shot moulding, the body being of polyethylene and the insert being of a liquid crystal polymer which will create a sharp tip of adequate strength.

Abstract: A skin pricking device includes first (12) and second (14) housing parts telescopically coupled together. A lancet (26) and a firing mechanism (32,38) are disposed within the first housing part, whilst a membrane (25) is disposed over an open end of the first housing part to seal the first housing part containing the lancet and the firing mechanism. Movement of the second housing part towards the first housing part activates the firing mechanism thereby driving a tip (30) of the lancet through the membrane and through an opening (18) in the second housing part.

Abstract: A pen injection device designed for use with dual or multi-chamber cartridges (14), is provided with an extended length plunger (24) having a non-drive portion (24?) on its forward end and the usual screw-threaded drive portion (24?) on its rearward end. This arrangement allows the plunger to be pushed forwardly whilst the dosing drive mechanism is disengaged to effect a reconstitution movement of the rearward bung (18?) in the cartridge. Thereafter the threaded portion on the plunger (24?) engages the drive mechanism to allow metered dosing.

Abstract: An injection device includes a multi-use drive assembly 10 and a single use disposable syringe assembly 12 releasably connected thereto. The syringe assembly includes a syringe 18 and a shield 26 mounted for telescopic movement. The drive assembly 10 is operable to extend the syringe 18 relative to the shield 26 and then to express a dose. Continued forward drive movement extends the shield 26 to re-cover the syringe needle 22 and then ejects the spent syringe assembly 12 in a safe (shrouded) condition.

Abstract: A pen needle or pen needle cap assembly is designed to be manually attached e.g. by screwing onto an injection device, and is provided with a gripping region designed to allow the torque that can be applied in the tightening sense to be less than that which can be applied in the loosening sense.