Patent ID: 11883622
Assignee: SORRENTO THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 8:
9. A drug delivery device comprising:
an upper housing portion attached to a lower housing portion;
a microneedle assembly;
the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion cooperatively defining a cavity and surrounding the microneedle assembly, the drug delivery device being configured such that the lower housing portion is dissociated from the microneedle assembly;
a reservoir disposed within the cavity and being in fluid communication with the microneedle assembly;
a plunger disposed within a central region of the drug delivery device; and
a pushing element configured to move the drug delivery device from an un-actuated position to an actuated position,
wherein in the un-actuated position
1) the plunger is vertically aligned with and positioned above the reservoir and the microneedle assembly, and
2) the microneedle assembly is recessed relative to a bottom surface of the lower housing portion and spaced from a user's skin, and
wherein in the actuated position
1) the plunger is moved relative to the upper housing portion by the pushing element to apply a force against the reservoir to thereby move both the reservoir and the microneedle assembly downward such that the microneedle assembly is moved into direct contact with the user's skin, and
2) the plunger acts on the reservoir, after the microneedle assembly is moved into direct contact with the user's skin, to push a drug formulation from the reservoir to the microneedle assembly.