Claims for Patent: 9,561,331

Summary for Patent: 9,561,331

Title:	Drive mechanisms suitable for use in drug delivery devices
Abstract:	A drive mechanism suitable for use in drug delivery devices is disclosed. The drive mechanism may be used with injector-type drug delivery devices, such as those permitting a user to set the delivery dose. The drive mechanism may include a housing, a dose dial sleeve, and a drive sleeve. A clutch is configured to permit rotation of the drive sleeve and the dose dial sleeve with respect to the housing when the dose dial sleeve and drive sleeve are coupled through the clutch. Conversely, when the dose dial sleeve and drive sleeve are in a de-coupled state, rotation of the dose dial sleeve with respect to the housing is permitted and rotation of the drive sleeve with respect to the housing is prevented. In the de-coupled state, axial movement of the drive sleeve transfers force in a longitudinal direction for actuation of a drug delivery device.
Inventor(s):	Veasey; Robert Frederick (Warwickshire, GB), Perkins; Robert (Warwickshire, GB), Plumptre; David Aubrey (Worcestershire, GB)
Assignee:	Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Frankfurt am Main, DE)
Application Number:	14/319,384
Patent Litigation and PTAB cases:	See patent lawsuits and PTAB cases for patent 9,561,331
Patent Claims:	1. A drug delivery device that allows reducing an inadvertently set dose comprising: a housing; a drive mechanism; and a cartridge containing a medicinal product, wherein the drive mechanism comprises, a dose dial sleeve threadedly engaged with the housing; a dose dial grip rotationally fixed to the dose dial sleeve and configured to rotate in a first direction to increase a set dose and in a second direction to reduce a set dose without dispense of the medicinal product from the cartridge and a drive sleeve rotationally fixed to a clutch and releasably connected to the dose dial sleeve, wherein the clutch and the dose dial sleeve rotate with the dose dial grip when a dose is being increased and when a dose is being decreased. 2. The drug delivery device of claim 1 where the dose dial grip, dose dial sleeve, clutch and drive sleeve rotate in the same direction as the dose dial grip when an inadvertently set dose is reduced. 3. The drive mechanism of claim 1 further comprising an end of life nut that is threadedly engaged with the drive sleeve, the end of life nut configured to advance in the distal direction during dose setting a distance proportional to the set dose when the dose dial grip is rotated in the first direction. 4. The drive mechanism of claim 3 further characterized in that the end of life nut advances in the proximal direction when the dose dial grip is rotated in the second direction during dose reduction a distance proportional to an amount that the set dose is reduced. 5. The drug delivery device of claim 1 further comprising a clicker configured to provide audible and tactile feedback during dose setting. 6. The drug delivery device of claim 5 where the clutch has a plurality of projecting saw teeth that engage the clicker. 7. The drug delivery device of claim 6 where the audible feedback is a result of the saw teeth riding over the clicker during dose setting and dose reduction. 8. The drug delivery device of claim 6 where the saw teeth are disposed circumferentially on the clutch such that each saw tooth corresponds to a unit dose of the medicinal product. 9. The drug delivery device of claim 5, wherein the clicker provides the audible and tactile feedback during dose setting when the dose dial grip is rotated in both the first and the second direction. 10. The drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the drive sleeve is threadedly engaged with a piston rod. 11. The drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein the drive sleeve is configured to rotate in a first direction to increase a set dose and in a second direction to reduce a set dose without dispense of the medicinal product from the cartridge. 12. The drug delivery device of claim 11, wherein the clutch is configured to rotate in the first and second direction together with the drive sleeve.