Patent ID: 7708732
Filing Date: 2010-05-04
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A method of administering an injection, the method comprising: providing an injection device having a housing comprising a first end and a second end, the injection device further including a needle disposed proximate the second end, a dispensing mechanism having a cap that drives the dispensing mechanism when displaced from a first position to a second position along a longitudinal axis defined between the first end of the housing and the second end of the housing, the cap circumferentially positioned around the longitudinal axis and an actuator disposed between the first and second end, wherein the actuator comprises a first end rotatably coupled to the housing at a pivot and a second end disposed in closer proximity to the first end of the housing than the first end of the actuator, the second end of the actuator having a protrusion extending into the housing at the first end of the injection device, the protrusion having an interfacing surface at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis, the interfacing surface configured to interact with the cap to cause the displacement thereof from the first position to the second position along the longitudinal axis upon rotation of the actuator about the pivot, wherein the dispensing mechanism further has a biasing member configured to displace the cap back along the longitudinal axis from the second position to the first position preparatory to a subsequent displacement from the first position to the second position by the interfacing surface of the actuator; grasping the injection device and establishing a hand position, wherein establishing a hand position includes placing a thumb at the first end of the housing substantially in opposition of the second end of the housing and placing at least one finger on the actuator; applying a force to the injection device with at least the thumb while inserting the needle into a portion of skin; and substantially maintaining the established hand position while displacing the actuator with the at least one finger in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis, wherein displacing the actuator changes a contact point of the cap along the interfacing surface of the protrusion of the actuator and thereby converts transverse displacement of the actuator into longitudinal displacement of the cap of the dispensing mechanism to effect delivery of a fluid product through the needle, wherein the pivot about which the actuator rotates is located between the second end of the housing and the at least one finger.