Details for Patent: 8,603,044

Title:	Pen-type injector
Abstract:	A housing for a dispensing apparatus. The housing comprising a main housing and a dose dial sleeve. The dose dial sleeve comprising a helical groove configured to engage a threading provided by the housing. A dose knob is disposed near a proximal end of the dose dial sleeve and a piston rod is provided within the housing. The piston rod is non-rotatable during a dose setting step. A driver comprises an internal threading near a distal portion of the driver and is adapted to engage an external thread of the piston rod. A tubular clutch is located adjacent a distal end of the dose knob and operatively coupled to the dose knob. The dose dial sleeve may extend circumferentially around at least a portion of the tubular clutch.
Inventor(s):	Veasey; Robert Frederick (Warwickshire, GB), Perkins; Robert (Oxfordshire, GB), Plumptre; David Aubrey (Worcestershire, GB)
Assignee:	Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Frankfurt am Main, DE)
Filing Date:	Jun 04, 2013
Application Number:	13/909,649
Claims:	1. A housing part for a medication dispensing apparatus, said housing part comprising: a main housing, said main housing extending from a distal end to a proximal end; a dose dial sleeve positioned within said housing, said dose dial sleeve comprising a helical groove configured to engage a threading provided by said main housing, said helical groove provided along an outer surface of said dose dial sleeve; a dose dial grip disposed near a proximal end of said dose dial sleeve; a piston rod provided within said housing, said piston rod is non-rotatable during a dose setting step relative to said main housing; a drive sleeve extending along a portion of said piston rod, said drive sleeve comprising an internal threading near a distal portion of said drive sleeve, said internal threading adapted to engage an external thread of said piston rod; a tubular clutch located adjacent a distal end of said dose dial grip, said tubular clutch operatively coupled to said dose dial grip, wherein said dose dial sleeve extends circumferentially around at least a portion of said tubular clutch; and a cartridge retaining part operatively coupled to said main housing, said cartridge retaining part comprising a fluid container, wherein said fluid container defines a medicament filled reservoir with a movable cartridge piston at a proximal end and an outlet at a distal end, said cartridge piston movable by said piston rod to be advanced toward an outlet of said fluid container when said piston rod is moved distally. 2. The housing part of claim 1, wherein during a dose dispensing step, said dose dial grip is activated in a distal direction and said tubular clutch disengages such that said dose dial sleeve rotates back towards said proximal end of said main housing. 3. The housing part of claim 1, wherein during a dose dispensing step, said drive sleeve advances axially in a distal direction relative to said main housing, and said drive sleeve advances said piston rod in said distal direction so as to dispense said medicament from said outlet at said distal end of said fluid container. 4. The housing part of claim 1, further comprising a clicker, said clicker providing at least an audible feedback to a user when said dose dial grip is rotated. 5. The housing part of claim 4, wherein said clicker comprises, at least one flexible arm, said flexible arm comprising at least one tooth member, and at least one spline, wherein when said dose dial grip is rotated, said at least one flexible arm deforms and drags said tooth member over said at least one spline so as to provide said audible feedback. 6. The housing part of claim 1, wherein said tubular clutch comprises a plurality of teeth formed near an end of said tubular clutch, said plurality of teeth remaining meshed during a dose setting step, and said plurality of teeth becoming unmeshed during a dose dispensing step. 7. The housing part of claim 1, wherein said piston rod comprises a first thread and a second thread, and wherein at least one of said first or said second thread comprises at least one part threads rather than a complete thread. 8. The housing part of claim 1, wherein said dose dial sleeve is provided outside said tubular clutch and radially inward of said main housing. 9. The housing part of claim 1, wherein said main housing further comprises a helical rib, said helical rib adapted to be seated in said helical groove provided along said outer surface of said dose dial sleeve. 10. The housing part of claim 1, wherein said dose dial sleeve comprises at least one radial stop, said radial stop positioned near an end of said helical groove, wherein when said dose dial sleeve is rotated to set a maximum dose of said medication dispensing apparatus, said radial stop near said end of said helical groove abuts an end of said threading provided on said inner surface of said main housing and thereby prevents rotation of said dose dial sleeve. 11. A housing part for a medication dispensing apparatus, said housing part comprising: a main housing, said main housing extending from a distal end to a proximal end; a dose dial sleeve positioned within said housing, said dose dial sleeve comprising a helical groove configured to engage a threading provided by said main housing, said helical groove provided along an outer surface of said dose dial sleeve; a dose dial grip disposed near a proximal end of said dose dial sleeve; a piston rod provided within said housing, said piston rod is non-rotatable during a dose setting step relative to said main housing; a drive sleeve extending along a portion of said piston rod, said drive sleeve comprising an internal threading near a distal portion of said drive sleeve, said internal threading adapted to engage an external thread of said piston rod; and, a tubular clutch located adjacent a distal end of said dose dial grip, said tubular clutch operatively coupled to said dose dial grip, wherein said dose dial sleeve extends circumferentially around at least a portion of said tubular clutch, and wherein said helical groove of the dose dial sleeve has a first lead and said internal threading of said drive sleeve has a second lead, and wherein said first lead and said second lead are different. 12. The housing part of claim 11, wherein during a dose dispensing step, said dose dial grip is activated in a distal direction and said tubular clutch disengages such that said dose dial sleeve rotates back towards said proximal end of said main housing. 13. The housing part of claim 11, wherein during a dose dispensing step, said drive sleeve advances axially in a distal direction relative to said main housing, and said drive sleeve advances said piston rod in said distal direction so as to dispense a medicament from said outlet at said distal end of a fluid container. 14. The housing part of claim 11, further comprising a clicker, said clicker providing at least an audible feedback to a user when said dose dial grip is rotated. 15. The housing part of claim 14, wherein said clicker comprises, at least one flexible arm, said flexible arm comprising at least one tooth member, and at least one spline, wherein when said dose dial grip is rotated, said at least one flexible arm deforms and drags said tooth member over said at least one spline so as to provide said audible feedback. 16. The housing part of claim 11, wherein said tubular clutch comprises a plurality of teeth formed near an end of said tubular clutch, said plurality of teeth remaining meshed during a dose setting step, and said plurality of teeth becoming unmeshed during a dose dispensing step. 17. The housing part of claim 11, wherein said piston rod comprises a first thread and a second thread, and wherein at least one of said first or said second thread comprises at least one part threads rather than a complete thread. 18. The housing part of claim 11, wherein said dose dial sleeve is provided outside said tubular clutch and radially inward of said main housing. 19. The housing part of claim 11, wherein said main housing further comprises a helical rib, said helical rib adapted to be seated in said helical groove provided along said outer surface of said dose dial sleeve. 20. The housing part of claim 11, wherein said dose dial sleeve comprises at least one radial stop, said radial stop positioned near an end of said helical groove, wherein when said dose dial sleeve is rotated to set a maximum dose of said medication dispensing apparatus, said radial stop near said end of said helical groove abuts an end of said threading provided on said inner surface of said main housing and thereby prevents rotation of said dose dial sleeve.