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

Claim 0:
1. A drug delivery device comprising:
an outer housing including an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion, the lower housing portion extending from the upper housing portion and having a bottom surface for contacting a user's skin when the drug delivery device is in use;
the drug delivery device including a central region, an outer region defined by an outer periphery of the lower housing portion at a location at which the drug delivery device contacts the user's skin during use; and an intermediate region extending between and separating the central region and the outer region;
a microneedle assembly disposed within the central region;
a reservoir disposed within the central region and above the microneedle assembly, the reservoir containing a drug formulation and being in fluid communication with the microneedle assembly when the drug delivery device is in use;
a plunger disposed within the central region; 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 the bottom surface of the lower housing portion and spaced from the user's skin, and
wherein in the actuated position
1) the plunger is moved relative to the outer housing 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 the drug formulation from the reservoir to the microneedle assembly.