Patents by Inventor Stefan Blancke

Stefan Blancke has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240131271
    Abstract: A drive train for a wind-up injection device is described. The drive train includes a torsional energy storage adapted to be loaded or unloaded by a rotatable element, a rotatable user handle, a rotationally driveable expelling mechanism adapted to expel the liquid drug, and a clutch element coupled with the torsional energy storage via the rotatable element and including a ratchet for maintaining the rotatable element at one of a number of discrete angular positions against the torque of the torsional energy storage. The clutch element is adapted to transmit the torque from the user handle to the torsional energy storage, or alternatively from the torsional energy storage to the expelling mechanism. The ratchet is switchable from one position to an adjacent position by a torque transmitted from the user handle to the torsional energy storage. The drive train is adapted to dampen torque peaks visco-elastically and/or visco-frictionally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Jugl, Stefan Blancke, Axel Teucher, Ralph Donald Quentin Collings, James Robert Coop, James Anthony West, Stephen Francis Gilmore, Daniel David Higgins, Mark Digby Teucher, Anthony Paul Morris, Matthew Meredith Jones, William Geoffrey Arthur Marsh, Samuel Keir Steel
  • Patent number: 11918794
    Abstract: A button for a drug delivery device with a reduced operating loudness includes a plate-like button body forming a touch surface, wherein the plate-like button body is coupled by an axial supporting member to a noise-generating interface of the drug delivery device and movable into a longitudinal direction of the drug delivery device, wherein the plate-like button body includes a material composite with at least one first component consisting of a first material and at least one second component consisting of a second material different from the first material, wherein the at least one first component and the at least one second component are coupled via at least one coupling plane that is at least sectionwise slanted or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Further, the disclosure describes a button assembly for a drug delivery device which is shock resistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Sanofi
    Inventors: Ralph Donald Quentin Collings, James Robert Coop, James Anthony West, Stephen Francis Gilmore, Daniel David Higgins, Mark Digby Teucher, Matthew Meredith Jones, Anthony Paul Morris, Sophie Sladen, William Geoffrey Arthur Marsh, Denny Lustosa Horn, Stefan Blancke, Michael Jugl
  • Patent number: 11872381
    Abstract: A drive train for a wind-up injection device is described. The drive train includes a torsional energy storage adapted to be loaded or unloaded by a rotatable element, a rotatable user handle, a rotationally driveable expelling mechanism adapted to expel the liquid drug, and a clutch element coupled with the torsional energy storage via the rotatable element and including a ratchet for maintaining the rotatable element at one of a number of discrete angular positions against the torque of the torsional energy storage. The clutch element is adapted to transmit the torque from the user handle to the torsional energy storage, or alternatively from the torsional energy storage to the expelling mechanism. The ratchet is switchable from one position to an adjacent position by a torque transmitted from the user handle to the torsional energy storage. The drive train is adapted to dampen torque peaks visco-elastically and/or visco-frictionally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Sanofi
    Inventors: Michael Jugl, Stefan Blancke, Axel Teucher, Ralph Donald Quentin Collings, James Robert Coop, James Anthony West, Stephen Francis Gilmore, Daniel David Higgins, Mark Digby Teucher, Anthony Paul Morris, Matthew Meredith Jones, William Geoffrey Arthur Marsh, Samuel Keir Steel
  • Patent number: 11865318
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an injection device configured to expel a dose of a medicament, the injection device comprising: an elongated housing extending in a longitudinal direction, a piston rod movable relative to the housing in a longitudinal distal direction to exert a dispensing pressure onto a bung of a cartridge at least partially filled with an injectable medicament, a rod extension movably arranged on or in a distal end of the piston rod, a driver operably engaged with the piston rod and movable relative to the housing in a longitudinal proximal direction for setting of the dose and movable relative to the housing in the longitudinal distal direction for dispensing of the dose, and an adjuster arranged on or in the driver and operably engaged with the rod extension to move the rod extension in longitudinal direction relative to the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Sanofi
    Inventors: Michael Jugl, Stefan Blancke
  • Publication number: 20230338666
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device includes a housing, a processor arranged inside the housing, and at least a first sensor that is connected to the processor and configured to detect at least one of a mechanical vibration or an acoustic noise caused or generated by a click noise generator of a handheld injection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Jugl, Stefan Blancke
  • Publication number: 20230302227
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dose limiting mechanism for an injection device. The dose limiting mechanism includes a first elongated component comprising a first profiled structure, a second elongated component parallel to the first elongated component and comprising a second profiled structure facing the first profiled structure. A dose limiter is arranged between the first and second elongated components and includes first and second profile sections. The first profile section is engagable with the first profiled structure to transfer a longitudinal movement of the first elongated component to the dose limiter when the first elongated component is subject to a longitudinal movement in a distal direction during dose dispensing. The second profile section is engagable with the second profiled structure to retain a longitudinal position of the dose limiter relative to the second component when the first component is subject to a longitudinal movement in a proximal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Jugl, Stefan Blancke
  • Publication number: 20230293822
    Abstract: The present disclosure refers to a drug delivery device including, a dose setting and/or drive mechanism including a stationary housing having at least one internal groove on an inner surface; a driver positioned within the housing which is moveable relative to the housing during dose dialing and which is moveable relative to the housing during dose dispensing; and at least one flexible tab that is biased to engage the at least one internal groove such that the at least one flexible tab repeatedly engages and disengages the at least one internal groove during dose dialing or during dose dispensing, thereby performing an oscillating movement between two positions including a first position in which the at least one flexible tab engages the at least one internal groove and a second position in which the at least one flexible tab is disengaged from the at least one internal groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Jugl, Stefan Blancke
  • Patent number: 11724039
    Abstract: An injection device comprises a housing with a receptacle for a product, a dosing mechanism for setting a product dosage to be administered and for displaying the product dosage that has been set, and a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the product. The dosing mechanism comprises a dosing sleeve which is rotatable relative to the housing in a first direction for setting a product dosage and which is rotatable relative to the housing in a second, opposite direction for correcting or dispensing a product dosage. The dispensing mechanism comprises a piston rod, at least one sleeve, and a clutch. The device further comprises a first detector for detecting movement of the clutch relative to the dosing sleeve and/or the housing and/or the at least one sleeve and a data processing unit connected to the first detector for reading, storing, processing, transmitting, and/or displaying signals received from the first detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Sanofi
    Inventor: Stefan Blancke
  • Publication number: 20230173188
    Abstract: A mechanism unit for a drug delivery device, comprising a housing (10), a piston rod (30), and a dose setting and drive mechanism, which is configured to perform a dose setting operation and a dose delivery operation by transferring a delivery force to the piston rod (30) in order to drive the piston rod (30) in a distal direction in a dose delivery operation, wherein the dose setting and drive mechanism comprises a first drive member (40a), a second drive member (40b), and a clutch mechanism, which has at least two different states, a setting state and a delivery state, wherein, in the setting state, the second drive member (40b) is rotationally secured with respect to the housing (10) at least against rotation in a delivery direction, and wherein, in the delivery state, the second drive member (40b) is rotatable relative to the housing (10) in the delivery direction, wherein, in the setting state, the first drive member (40a) is rotatable relative to the second drive member (40b) at least in the delivery di
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Stefan Blancke, Michael Jugl
  • Patent number: 11666709
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for a drug delivery device with a reduced operating loudness includes a dose selector, a housing, and a ratchet with a gear element comprising a plurality of gear teeth connected with the dose selector and a pawl element rotationally constrained to the housing comprising at least one pawl tooth. The at least one pawl tooth engages with the gear teeth and is located opposite to the gear teeth. One of the gear element and the pawl element moves forth and back relative to the other element of the gear and pawl elements along a first direction for de-engagement and re-engagement of the opposite gear teeth and at least one pawl tooth when the gear element rotates relative to the housing during dose setting using the dose selector. The pawl element and/or gear element comprises a noise reduction characteristic at a surface which dampens the noise produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Sanofi
    Inventors: Ralph Donald Quentin Collings, James Robert Coop, James Anthony West, Stephen Francis Gilmore, Daniel David Higgins, Mark Digby Teucher, Jack Carroll, Timothy Robin Quigg, Laura Stein, Stefan Blancke, Sophie Sladen
  • Publication number: 20230067401
    Abstract: An injection device for setting and injecting of a dose of a medicament includes: an acoustic feedback arrangement comprising: a first feedback element having a first engaging section and having a free end section located at a predetermined distance from the first engaging section, a second feedback element having a second engaging section configured to engage with the first engaging section, wherein the first feedback element is movable, pivotable or resiliently deformable along a first direction (d1) relative to the second feedback element from an initial state (i) towards a biased state (b), and a sound generator formed by the first engaging section or audibly engageable with the free end section of the first feedback element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Axel Teucher, Michael Jugl, Stefan Blancke
  • Publication number: 20230033733
    Abstract: A medicament delivery device comprising: a main body arranged to receive a medicament cartridge sealed with a penetrable barrier; a needle carrier carrying a needle; a cap removably coupled to the needle carrier, a pre-stressed spring connected to the needle carrier and to the main body, wherein the pre-stressed spring is held by an activation element coupled to the cap, wherein the activation element is arranged to release the spring when the cap is pulled in a distal direction from the device, thereby causing the needle carrier to move axially in a proximal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Jugl, Axel Teucher, Stefan Blancke, Michael Helmer, Marc Schader, Sebastian Braun
  • Publication number: 20230030744
    Abstract: Disclosed is a modular system for a drug delivery device with electronic, comprising a mechanical module that comprises a distal end and a proximal end, and a mechanism that is configured to set and/or to deliver a dose of the drug out of the distal end (D) of the mechanical module, an electronic module that comprises a detector unit, and an electronic unit that is operatively coupled to the detector unit, wherein the electronic module is removably mechanically coupled or coupleable to the mechanical module in a proximal end region of the mechanical module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: David Aubrey Plumptre, Oliver Charles Gazeley, Robert Veasey, Michael Jugl, Stefan Blancke
  • Patent number: 11565052
    Abstract: A system comprises a first member, a second member, and a third member, wherein the first and second members are rotatable relative to the third member, wherein the first and second members are coupled to one another by a dead-angle follower coupling, wherein the dead-angle follower coupling is configured such that the first and second members are rotatable relative to one another, wherein the second and third members are rotationally coupled to one another by a switchable coupling mechanism, wherein the switchable coupling mechanism is switchable between two different states, a locked state and a non-locked state, wherein the maximum torque transferable between the second and third members via the switchable coupling mechanism in the locked state is greater than in the non-locked state, wherein the switchable coupling mechanism is in the locked state when the first member is in a locking position relative to the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Sanofi
    Inventors: Ralph Donald Quentin Collings, James Robert Coop, James Anthony West, Stephen Francis Gilmore, Daniel David Higgins, Mark Digby Teucher, Stefan Blancke
  • Publication number: 20230014860
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dosing mechanism for a drug delivery device for selecting and dispensing a number of user-variable doses of a medicament. The dosing mechanism comprises a housing, a piston rod, and a driving mechanism for rotating the piston rod and/or a movement application component, which is directly engaged with the piston rod, in a dispense rotational direction with respect to the housing for dose dispense. The dosing mechanism further comprises a rotational end stop mechanism for terminating dose dispense with a first engagement means, which is rotationally fixed with respect to the piston rod and/or the movement application component, and a second engagement means, which is prevented from rotation with respect to the housing in the dispense rotational direction at an end of dose dispense. In order to improve the dose delivery accuracy, the second engagement means directly engages the first engagement means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Jugl, Stefan Blancke
  • Publication number: 20230013739
    Abstract: A drug delivery device is provided, the drug delivery device comprising a thermal coupling surface which is arranged and configured to transfer thermal energy, and a thermally controlled member, which is thermally conductively connected to the thermal coupling surface, wherein the thermally controlled member is configured to operate in response to thermal energy transferred through the thermal coupling surface, and wherein the drug delivery device is configured to perform a drug delivery operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Stefan Blancke, Michael Jugl
  • Patent number: 11517680
    Abstract: An injection device for setting and injecting of a dose of a medicament includes: an acoustic feedback arrangement comprising: a first feedback element having a first engaging section and having a free end section located at a predetermined distance from the first engaging section, a second feedback element having a second engaging section configured to engage with the first engaging section, wherein the first feedback element is movable, pivotable or resiliently deformable along a first direction (d1) relative to the second feedback element from an initial state (i) towards a biased state (b), and a sound generator formed by the first engaging section or audibly engageable with the free end section of the first feedback element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Sanofi
    Inventors: Axel Teucher, Michael Jugl, Stefan Blancke
  • Patent number: 11497854
    Abstract: A system comprises a first member, a second member, and a third member, wherein the first and second members are rotatable relative to the third member, wherein the first and second members are coupled to one another by a dead-angle follower coupling, wherein the dead-angle follower coupling is configured such that the first and second members are rotatable relative to one another, wherein the second and third members are rotationally coupled to one another by a switchable coupling mechanism, wherein the switchable coupling mechanism is switchable between two different states, a locked state and a non-locked state, wherein the maximum torque transferable between the second and third members via the switchable coupling mechanism in the locked state is greater than in the non-locked state, wherein the switchable coupling mechanism is in the locked state when the first member is in a locking position relative to the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Sanofi
    Inventors: Ralph Donald Quentin Collings, James Robert Coop, James Anthony West, Stephen Francis Gilmore, Daniel David Higgins, Mark Digby Teucher, Stefan Blancke
  • Patent number: 11484662
    Abstract: A medicament delivery device comprising: a main body arranged to receive a medicament cartridge sealed with a penetrable barrier; a needle carrier carrying a needle; a cap removably coupled to the needle carrier, a pre-stressed spring connected to the needle carrier and to the main body, wherein the pre-stressed spring is held by an activation element coupled to the cap, wherein the activation element is arranged to release the spring when the cap is pulled in a distal direction from the device, thereby causing the needle carrier to move axially in a proximal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Jugl, Axel Teucher, Stefan Blancke, Michael Helmer, Marc Schader, Sebastian Braun
  • Publication number: 20220319686
    Abstract: An electronically-controlled capturing system for capturing data representing an amount of a drug expelled or discharged from a drug reservoir includes an electronic circuit including an electric energy unit, a processing unit operable by electric power obtained from the electric energy unit and operable to acquire data, and an electronic storage unit connected to the processing unit and configured to store the acquired data. The processing unit is operable to write the acquired data in the storage unit and is operable to read and provide the stored data from the electronic storage unit. The capturing system also includes a data reading disabling unit operably connected to the processing unit , the electronic storage unit and/or the electric energy unit. The data reading disabling unit is switchable into an activated state, in which the data reading disabling unit persistently prevents readout or providing of stored data from the electronic storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Blancke, Jörg Bigalke, Philipp Troebner, Maurice Toporek, Stefan Alt