Claims for Patent: 9,364,611

Summary for Patent: 9,364,611

Title:	Needle assisted jet injection device having reduced trigger force
Abstract:	An exemplary embodiment of an injector includes a trigger mechanism, an energy source, and a user-operable firing-initiation member. The trigger mechanism can include a floating trigger member having a retaining portion, a ram assembly having a ram configured to pressurize a medicament container for expelling a medicament therefrom, the ram assembly further having a floating trigger engagement member configured to engage the retaining portion of the floating trigger member when the floating trigger member is in a pre-firing condition. The energy source can be associated with the ram for powering the ram to expel the medicament, and the user-operable firing-initiation member can be operable for causing an axial rotation of the floating trigger member from the pre-firing condition to a firing condition in which the floating trigger engagement member is released from the retaining portion to allow the energy source to fire the ram.
Inventor(s):	KraMer Thomas, Rust Matthew H., Goudreau Paul M., Hoeft Peter A., Sund Julius C., Sadowski Peter L., Travanty Michael, Madsen Patrick
Assignee:	Antares Pharma, Inc.
Application Number:	US13889190
Patent Claims:	1. An injector , comprising: a floating trigger member having a retaining portion, and', 'a ram assembly having a ram defining an axis and configured to pressurize a medicament container for expelling a medicament therefrom, the ram assembly further having a floating trigger engagement member configured to engage the retaining portion of the floating trigger member when the floating trigger member is in a pre-firing condition;, 'a trigger mechanism includingan energy source associated with the ram for powering the ram to expel the medicament; anda user-operable firing-initiation member operable for causing a rotation of the floating trigger member about the axis from the pre-firing condition to a firing condition in which the floating trigger engagement member is released from the retaining portion to allow the energy source to fire the ram.2. The injector of claim 1 , further comprising an injector housing claim 1 , wherein the firing initiation member includes a skin-contacting member disposed at a distal end of the injector that is movable proximally with respect to the housing when a force is applied to the skin-contacting member at the distal end of the injector claim 1 , the firing initiation member being associated with the floating trigger member and configured to cause the axial rotation of the floating trigger member from the pre-firing condition to the firing condition upon a proximal movement of the skin-contacting member with respect to housing.3. The injector of claim 1 , wherein the ram assembly is of unitary construction.4. The injector of claim 1 , wherein the medicament comprises a midazolam.5. The injector of claim 1 , wherein the medicament comprises an androgen.6. The injector of claim 5 , wherein the androgen includes testosterone or a derivative or ester thereof.7. The injector of claim 6 , wherein the androgen includes testosterone cypionate.8. The injector of claim 6 , wherein the androgen includes testosterone enanthate.9. The injector of claim 1 , further comprising a container support that is configured for holding the medicament container during injection claim 1 , and wherein the ram assembly is configured to engage the container support to lock-out the injector after an injection.10. The injector of claim 9 , wherein proximal movement of the user-operable firing-initiation member is blocked by the ram assembly when the injector is locked-out.11. The injector of claim 1 , wherein a pre-firing color gamut is visible from the exterior of the injector in the pre-firing condition claim 1 , the injector further comprising:a housing including a window; andan indicator having an indicator color that is absent from the pre-firing color gamut, which color is hidden from view within the housing in the pre-fired condition,wherein in the fired condition, the indicator color is visible through the window from an exterior of the injector for indicating the fired condition.12. The injector of claim 11 , wherein the ram assembly includes the indicator.13. The injector of claim 12 , wherein the ram assembly entirely occludes the window in the fired condition.14. The injector of claim 1 , further comprising an end cap claim 1 , said end cap comprising a ram holding member that axially retains the ram assembly in a proximal position against action of the energy source in the pre-firing position claim 1 , the retaining portion retaining the floating trigger engagement member engaged and held against firing by the ram holding member.15. The injector of claim 14 , wherein in the firing condition claim 14 , the ram is disengaged from the retaining portion claim 14 , and the energy source overcomes an engagement between the floating trigger engagement member and the ram holding member.16. The injector of claim 14 , wherein the ram holding member includes a projection that includes a bulge and a groove engaged with the floating trigger engagement member claim 14 , and the retaining portion retains the engagement of the floating trigger engagement member with the bulge and groove in the pre-firing condition.17. The injector of claim 2 , wherein the skin-contacting member comprises a first cam claim 2 , and the floating trigger member comprises a second cam claim 2 , the first cam being operatively associated with the second cam so as to cause axial rotation of the floating trigger member from the pre-firing condition to the firing condition upon proximal movement of the skin-contacting member with respect to the housing.18. The injector of claim 2 , wherein the skin-contacting member includes a needle guard that is retractable and is configured to expose a needle connected to the medicament container upon the proximal movement of the skin-contacting member.19. The injector of claim 18 , wherein the needle is in fluid communication with the medicament container for injecting the medicament expelled therefrom during the firing.20. The injector of claim 18 , wherein the energy source and the needle are configured for jet injecting the medicament through the needle.21. The injector of claim 20 , wherein the energy source is configured to pressurize the medicament to between about 90 p.s.i. and about 500 p.s.i. to jet inject the medicament.22. The injector of claim 20 , wherein the energy source and needle are configured for injecting the medicament at an average velocity of at least about 1 claim 20 ,000 cm/sec within the needle.