Abstract: A drive mechanism for an injection device is disclosed in which piston means are selectively driven to expel medicament from within a medicament cartridge. The drive mechanism comprises a drive means (170) associated with a firs ratchet means (178), a second ratchet means (174) associated with the piston means (180), a housing (176), the first ratchet means (178) and the second ratchet means (174) being disposed within the housing (176). The second ratchet means (174) are biassed by biassing means (182) towards the first ratchet means (178). The drive means (170) is actuable reciprocally to drive the first ratchet means (178) in a first angular direction such that the first ratchet means (178) drives the second ratchet means (174) along its longitudinal axis against the biassing means (182) along at least a part of its movement and subsequently drives the first ratchet means (178) and the second ratchet means (174) together in a second angular direction thereby to drive the piston means (180).

Abstract: An injection device having a drive mechanism 42 to expel selectively a dose of medicament from a medicament cartridge 40 through a needle unit 22 is disclosed. The injection device further comprises an electronic control unit to control the drive mechanism 42, and a dispense button 18 to generate a dispense button signal to the electronic control unit indicative of the dose to be expelled in which an arm button 16 causes a first arm button signal to be sent to the electronic control unit to permit the dose to be expelled.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for an injection device is disclosed in which piston means are selectively driven to expel medicament from within a medicament cartridge. The drive mechanism comprises a drive means (270), first means (278) associated with the drive means, second gear means (274) being moveable between a first position in wich only movement along its longitudinal axis is permitted and a second position in which the second gear means (274) is free to rotate about the longitudinal axis, the piston means (280) being associated with the second gear means (274), a housing (276) within which the first gear means (278) and the second gear means (274) are constrained for movement, and biassing means (282) located between the housing (276) and a second gear means (274) to bias the second gear means (274) to the first position.

Abstract: An injection device for injection of a medicament from a medicament cartridge 40 having a neck portion is disclosed. The injection device further comprises a main housing 4 in which the medicament cartridge 40 is releasably retained by first and second retaining means 92,94. The retaining means 92,94 are each moveable between a first position in which the neck portion is engaged thereby to retain the medicament cartridge 40 in the main housing 4 and a second position which allows the medicament cartridge 40 to be removed from the main housing 4.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for an injection device is disclosed in wich piston means 306 are selectively driven to expel medicament from within a medicament cartridge 40. A drive mechanism for controlling the movement of the piston means is described comprising a housing 302, a shuttle 300 located for movement within the housing 302 along a longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position, and drive means to move the shuttle 300 within the housing 302. A gear component 304 is located within the housing 302 for rotation about the longitudinal axis and associated with the piston means 306, movement of the shuttle 300 between each of the first and the second positions causing movement of the piston means 306.

Abstract: An injection device for injection of a medicament from a first medicament cartridge (40) is disclosed. The injection device comprises a drive mechanism (42) for selectively dispensing the medicament from the first medicament cartridge (40), a dial dose mechanism (12, 14) by which a user may determine a required dose of medicament to be dispensed, an electronic control unit for controlling the operation of the drive mechanism (42) in response to the dial dose mechanism (12, 14) and a display panel (10).

Abstract: An injection device (2) having a drive mechanism (42) to expel selectively a dose of medicament from a medicament cartridge (40) through a needle arrangement is disclosed. The injection device (2) also comprises a processor to control the drive mechanism (42), a dispense button (18) to generate a signal to the processor to cause the medicament to be expelled and a priming detector to detect a predetermined orientation of the injection device. When the predetermined orientation is detected the processor will only actuate the drive mechanism (42) to expel a small amount of medicament.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medicament delivery device such as a pen type injector used to expel medicament from a medicament cartridge under the action of a lead screw. The medicament cartridge typically comprises a cylinder having a displaceable piston at one end displacement causing medicament contained within the cartridge to be expelled. It is of advantage to know when the plunger contacts the displaceable piston since no delivery of medicament can occur before this point.

Abstract: Many of those having diabetes take a combination of slow and fist acting types of insulins It is important that the different forms of medicament do not become confused. To this end, a medicament cartridge is provided comprising a sleeve having a bottleneck provide g a flange at a first end, a fluid moveable membrane secured across the first end by a metal cap beaded beneath the flange, and a displaceable piston located internally of the sleeve wards a second end of the slam a collar located against an external periphery of the cartridge housing beneath the flange and an adapter top press fit over the cap and the collar, the adapter top being provided with means to act upon the collar thereby to T the adapter top on the sleeve.

Abstract: A person having diabetes will often be required to take both slow acting and fast acting forms of insulin. It is important to be able to distinguish readily between medicament cartridges containing different medicaments. The present invention enables a user to distinguish readily between medicament cartridges containing different medicaments. A medicament cartridge and adaptor top assembly is provided, the medicament cartridge comprising a cylinder having a bottleneck provided with a flange at a first end, a fluid impermeable membrane covering the first end, a cap beaded under the flange to retain the fluid impermeable membrane in place, and a piston displaceably located within a second end of the cylinder, and the adaptor top comprising a sleeve having a body portion and a tapered portion, the tapered portion being provided with a smaller diameter end, the smaller diameter end being located beneath the cap.

Abstract: Many of those having diabetes take a combination of slow and fast acting types of insulin. It is important that different forms of medicament do not become confused and that the patient does not receive an incorrect medicament. In order to meet the appropriate standard, certain dimensional restrictions are placed upon the cartridge. A medicament cartridge that meets the requirements of this standard and permits more ready discrimination between medicament cartridges having different contents is provided. The medicament cartridge of the present invention is provided with an electrical element having specified electrical properties located on an external face of a displaceable plunger.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medicament injection apparatus that permits injection of a fluid medicament into a patient through a needle. If the needle is withdrawn before the injected medicament has properly dispersed locally from the injection site within a patient, the injected medicament may escape through the needle wound and not be dispersed into the patient. Unfortunately, it is common for a user to become impatient and withdraw the needle when the user feels a suitable dispersal period has elapsed. Often the waiting period determined by the user is less than the required period for dispersal of the medicament resulting in the problem identified. A medicament injection apparatus is disclosed comprising a timer and a display, the timer being actuated upon commencement of an injection operation, in which the timer runs to a predetermined time subsequent to completion of the injection operation and the display is operated while the timer runs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medicament injection apparatus, particularly suitable for use by those with diabetes in which, in use, once a desired dosage of medicament has been selected and expelled from the medicament cartridge into the body of the patient, the injected medicament is allowed to disperse locally from the injection site within the patient's body before the needle arrangement is removed from the patient's body. It is considered to be a problem that in known medicament injection devices the injection interval, that is the time elapsed since a previous injection, is measured following completion of a delivery stroke rather than from dispersion of the injected medicament. A medicament injection device is disclosed in which the time elapsed following an injection operation is calculated from the end of a predetermined period during which medicament is permitted to disperse subsequent to completion of an injection stroke.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medicament delivery device used for self-administration of a medicament regimen by a patient. In such medicament delivery devices the administration of the medicament is from a replaceable medicament cartridge located within a housing forming a part of the medicament delivery device. Removal of the cartridge for those with infirmities who are not able to grip the cadge sufficiently firmly to place or remove the cartridge is improved by the present invention.

Abstract: Many of those having diabetes take a combination of slow and fast acting types of insulin. It is important that the different forms of medicament do not become confused and that the patient does not receive the incorrect medicament. In combination a medicament delivery apparatus and a medicament cartridge are provided, the medicament delivery apparatus including at least one switch and the medicament cartridge comprising a cartridge housing within which a medicament is provided, a displaceable piston located internally at one end of the housing and a raised ring of material about an external periphery of the medicament cartridge, the ring of material being of sufficient dimensions, in use, to trip the at least one switch of the medicament delivery apparatus.

Abstract: Composition containing nervonic acid (cis-tetracos-15-enoic acid) in a physiologically acceptable form are useful in the treatment of demyelinating disease, such as multiple sclerosis. Additional long chain fatty acids of chain length C16 to C26, especially erucic acid, or their esters, may be included in such compositions.