BACKGROUND

Injection devices have recently become increasingly popular for single dose or multi-dose, at home self-administration. These devices include both auto-injection devices and pre-filled syringe devices, and are often designed to accomplish two basic objectives: convenience of drug delivery in an outpatient or at home setting, and/or automation of drug delivery in an outpatient or at-home setting.

Injectable medications are required for a number of varying illnesses and diseases. A number of injectable medications require self-injection by a patient. Self-injection of a medicament using a device having a needle carries with it a certain stigma. Oftentimes patients are weary of injecting themselves for fear or anxiety related to failing to receive a complete dose of the medication, pain associated with injecting oneself with the needle, accidentally sticking oneself with the needle, and difficulties in adequately grasping the dosing mechanism to inject oneself, among other concerns. These fears and anxieties associated with the currently available self-injection devices may result in the administration of an incomplete dose of a medicament, failure to administer any portion of the dose of a medicament, or accidentally sticking oneself with the needle of the device, which in some instances could lead to unwanted transmission of diseases if the needle is contaminated.

An additional concern exists with regard to injection devices is that users with little or no medical knowledge or experience are injecting themselves or injecting others using these devices. Performing a medical treatment or test on oneself or others carries with it certain risks and often creates a level of anxiety for the user performing the treatment or test. It has proven beneficial in the medical field to practice various medical techniques including drug delivery, specifically where it relates to injections and other invasive drug delivery means prior to delivering the medications to a patient in need, and particularly in the case of self-administration of medicaments. Training devices are helpful in reducing anxiety associated with self administering medical treatment, as well as increasing efficiency and accuracy in providing the treatment to patients. Medical devices can be intimidating to use; the fear associated with giving oneself an injection, for example, can be traumatic. This fear is increased in persons with little or no experience in self-administration of medications. Consequently, devices to assist in training individuals to inject themselves or otherwise self-administer medication are beneficial in decreasing or preventing the anxiety associated with medicament delivery. Safe use and re-use of these training devices requires a resettable device. Therefore, a device which allows repeated practice and ease of use to enhance familiarity with the injection device and the self-injection process, along with the ability to safely and efficiently reset the device is paramount to an effective device for injection training.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, a resettable shield-activated injection training device is provided, including an outer housing comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a plunger slidable relative to the outer housing between a retracted position and an extended position, and a safety shield comprising an extended locked position, an extended unlocked position, and a retracted position, the safety shield being slidable relative to the outer housing between an extended position and a retracted position. The device further includes a rotatable reset component, the reset component configured to mechanically interact with the safety shield, such that when the reset component rotates, the safety shield is unlocked.

In another embodiment, a resettable shield-activated injection training device includes an outer housing having a proximal end and a distal end, a plunger slidable relative to the outer housing between a retracted position and an extended position, and a safety shield comprising an extended locked position, an extended unlocked position, and a retracted position, the safety shield being slidable relative to the outer housing between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein when the safety shield is in the extended locked position, an application of an axial force on the plunger toward the proximal end of the outer housing unlocks the safety shield and resets the device.

In yet another embodiment, a resettable shield-activated injection training device is provided. The training device includes an outer housing comprising a proximal end and a distal end, an inner housing comprising a proximal end and a distal end, plunger retention protrusions near the proximal end, and an asymmetrical projection at the distal end. The training device may further include a safety shield slidable relative to the outer housing between an extended position and a retracted position, a plunger slidable relative to the outer housing, the plunger comprising one or more plunger rail portions, and a rotatable reset component having axial and radial movement, the reset component comprising a proximal end, a distal end, an outer circumference, and an inner circumference, a notched portion, a plunger rail interface, and an asymmetrical ramped portion in the inner circumference, and a safety shield locking tab near the proximal end of the reset component configured to interact with the safety shield to lock the safety shield in an extended position. The training device may further include a reset spring associated with the rotatable reset component, wherein an interaction between the asymmetrical projection and the asymmetrical ramped portion of the reset component causes rotational and axial movement of the reset component toward the proximal end of the outer housing, loads the reset spring, and releases the contact between the safety shield locking tab and the safety shield to unlock the safety shield and reset the device.

