Abstract:
A medicament delivery device includes a housing having distal and proximal ends along a longitudinal axis. The housing is arranged to accommodate a medicament container and a delivery member connected to the container; a reloadable drive mechanism for acting on an accommodated container; a delivery member cover at the proximal end and slidable in relation to the housing along the axis; and a cover lock mechanism that includes a first lock member on an actuator movably arranged in relation to the housing and a second lock member on the cover. The first lock member engages the second lock member to block movement of the cover, and the actuator is movable in relation to the cover such that manually actuating the actuator generally transverse to the axis causes the first lock member to be moved out of engagement with the second lock member, thereby allowing the cover to be moved.

Description:
TECHNICAL AREA 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a medicament delivery device and in particular to a medicament delivery device arranged with a medicament delivery member cover capable of hiding a medicament delivery member, such as an injection needle, before, during and/or after use. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    Reusable auto injectors which can be loaded with a container subassembly, such as a syringe, are known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,309 discloses an auto injector for use with proprietary syringes. That prior art discloses a device comprising a drive member that receives the rear end of a plunger of a syringe and a trigger for releasing the drive member such that a medicament can be injected. Drawbacks are that the needle is exposed outside the device and visible to the user after the device has been removed from the injection site and that the re-loading is complicated and time consuming. 
         [0003]    Further, a number of devices are arranged with medicament delivery member covers that are capable of covering a medicament delivery member, such as an injection needle, before and after a dose delivery. 
         [0004]    Some of these devices are arranged with springs that urge the medicament delivery member cover in the proximal direction, and while most devices have a locking function on the medicament delivery member cover after dose delivery, quite a number of devices have their medicament delivery member covers movable before dose delivery after a protective cap or the like has been removed. This increases the risk of accidental injuries because the medicament delivery member cover may be unintentionally pushed in a distal direction, exposing the medicament delivery member. Also if the device is dropped on a hard surface, the medicament delivery member risks being damaged. 
         [0005]    The patent application WO 2010/023481 discloses a medicament delivery device provided with a medicament delivery member cover that is lockable before dose delivery. The medicament delivery member cover is held in a locked state by a torsion spring exerting a turning force on the shield in relation to the housing of the device. In order to activate the device a user has to turn the medicament delivery shield against the force of the torsion spring and at the same time press the proximal end of the medicament delivery member cover against a dose delivery site. This operation is not ideal in a user perspective, since it is not intuitive in what direction the shield should be turned and it may be quite awkward to turn the shield when performing e.g. a penetration sequence. 
         [0006]    Also, it is not the torsion spring that performs the locking action after the device has been withdrawn from the dose delivery site, but other springs. This is a disadvantage since a common aim when designing medicament delivery devices is to reduce the number of components, and in particular force elements acting inside the device. 
         [0007]    There is thus room for improvements for this kind of medicament delivery devices. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0008]    As used herein, the term “liquid” encompasses all fluids, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, oils, gels and so forth, which generally behave as liquids at operating temperatures. The term explicitly includes solid compositions dissolved or dispersed in a liquid carrier. Materials behaving as highly viscous liquids are also included. 
         [0009]    In the present application, when the term “distal part/end” is used, this refers to the part/end of the medical delivery device, or the parts/ends of the elements thereof, which under use of the device is located the furthest away from the delivery site of the patient. Correspondingly, when the term “proximal part/end” is used, this refers to the part/end of the device, or the parts/ends of the elements thereof, which under use of the device is located closest to the delivery site of the patient. 
         [0010]    The aim of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of the state of the art devices. 
         [0011]    This aim is solved by a medicament delivery device according to the features of the independent claim  1 . Preferable embodiments of the invention form the subject of the dependent patent claims. 
         [0012]    According to one favourable embodiment, it pertains to a medicament delivery device comprising a generally elongated housing having a distal end and a proximal end along a longitudinal axis (L). The housing may be arranged to accommodate a medicament container and a medicament delivery member connected to the medicament container, and a reloadable drive mechanism capable of, upon activation, acting on said medicament container. 
         [0013]    In order to increase safety regarding the medicament delivery member, the device may comprise a medicament delivery member cover operably arranged at the proximal end of the device and slidable in relation to the housing in a longitudinal direction. 
         [0014]    According to a favourable solution, the device comprises a medicament delivery member cover lock mechanism, which may comprise a first lock member provided on an actuator that is movably arranged in relation to the housing; and a second lock member provided on said medicament delivery member cover, wherein the first lock member is operably engageable with the second lock member for blocking movement of said medicament delivery member cover and wherein the actuator is movable in relation to the medicament delivery member cover, such that manual actuation of said actuator in a direction generally transversal to the longitudinal axis (L) causes the first lock member to be moved out of engagement with the second lock member of said medicament delivery member cover, thereby allowing said medicament delivery member cover to be moved. 
         [0015]    With this solution, the medicament delivery member cover is locked from movement by the medicament delivery member cover lock mechanism. Unintentional injuries due to contact with the medicament delivery member is thereby greatly reduced as well as the risk of the medicament delivery member being damaged if the device is accidentally dropped on a hard surface. 
         [0016]    Further, there is an advantage regarding the handling of the device to have the actuator movable in a direction generally transversal to the longitudinal direction, for example using the thumb for unlocking the medicament delivery member cover, instead of being forced to use a whole hand in order to turn a component, especially for patients suffering from reduced dexterity. 
         [0017]    According to one preferable embodiment, the first lock member is movable in relation to the actuator and the actuator preferably may comprise a ring-shaped element coaxially surrounding said medicament delivery member cover and arranged movable in a generally radial direction. Thereby a flexible design is obtained in that movement in the generally transversal direction does not interfere with other components and elements inside the housing. 
         [0018]    Preferably the actuator may comprise a button attached to said ring-shaped element and protruding through a passage on said housing for manual operation. The actuator is then easily accessible by a user. 
         [0019]    In order to keep the first lock member in a locking position until actuation, the medicament delivery member cover lock mechanism may further comprise a first resilient force member operably arranged to urge the actuator in a direction generally transversal to the longitudinal axis (L). The first resilient force element thus ensures that the first lock member is in a locking position with the second lock member until the button has been pressed. 
         [0020]    According to a further aspect of the embodiment, the medicament delivery member cover lock mechanism further comprises a second resilient force member operably arranged to urge said first lock member in a direction generally transversal to the longitudinal axis (L). 
         [0021]    The first lock member may according to one embodiment comprises a cap arranged to protrude through a first passage on said actuator, and the second lock member on said medicament delivery member cover comprises a second passage in which said cap fits. 
         [0022]    Further, the medicament delivery member cover lock mechanism further comprises a first actuation locking member provided on the actuator and; a second actuation locking member provided on the medicament delivery member cover wherein the first actuation locking member is operably engageable to the second actuation locking member for blocking movement of said actuator in a direction generally transversal to the longitudinal axis (L) after the actuator is manually activated whereby said medicament delivery member cover is allowed to be moved. The advantage is that a user can get a visual and tactile indication that the medicament delivery member cover can be actuated or moved/displaced. 
         [0023]    According to a further embodiment, the medicament delivery device may comprise a reloadable drive mechanism locking element capable of locking the reloadable drive mechanism in a cocked state, a manually operated release mechanism operably arranged to, upon operation, act on said reloadable drive mechanism locking element for releasing the reloadable drive mechanism, a blocking element operably engageable to the manually operated release mechanism and releasably connected to the medicament delivery member cover, wherein movement of said medicament delivery member cover in a distal direction causes said blocking element to move out of blocking engagement with the manually operated release mechanism, whereby said release mechanism is free to be manually operated for activating dose delivery. With this solution, safety is increased in that it further comprises a release mechanism for the reloadable drive mechanism. However, the release mechanism may not be operated until the medicament delivery shield lock mechanism has been activated. Thus, a two-step operation is necessary for providing a dose of medicament from the device. This ensures that the risk of activating the device unintentionally is greatly reduced. 
         [0024]    According to a further aspect of the embodiment, the release mechanism may comprise a trigger button operably arranged on said housing and configured to interact with the reloadable drive mechanism. Again, such a solution is easy to handle and intuitive for a user. 
         [0025]    According to another embodiment, the medicament delivery device may further comprise a reloadable drive mechanism capable of, upon activation, act on said medicament container for expelling a dose of medicament, a reloadable drive mechanism locking element capable of locking said reloadable drive mechanism in a cocked state, a release mechanism operably arranged to, upon operation, act on said reloadable drive mechanism locking element for releasing said reloadable drive mechanism, wherein movement of said medicament delivery member cover in a distal direction causes said release mechanism to act on said reloadable drive mechanism locking element for activating dose delivery. 
         [0026]    According to another aspect of the two embodiments, the reloadable drive mechanism comprises a plunger rod driver arranged axially moveable within the housing between a distal end position and a proximal end position, and a drive spring configured to bias the plunger rod driver towards its proximal end position and wherein the reloadable drive mechanism locking element is configured to interact with the plunger rod driver to hold the plunger rod driver with the drive spring in the distal position. 
         [0027]    According to another aspect of the two embodiments, the plunger rod driver and the drive spring are configured to act on a plunger rod which is connected to a stopper positioned inside the medicament container. 
         [0028]    With this solution there is one safety feature, which is the medicament delivery member lock mechanism and when the medicament delivery member cover is released, its movement in the distal direction, when pressing the device against a dose delivery site, will cause an activation of the device and thus a dose delivery. This solution may be adequate when a lower degree of safety is desired. 
         [0029]    These and other aspects of, and advantages with, the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and from the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0030]    In the following detailed description of the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, of which 
           [0031]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , 
           [0034]      FIGS. 4-8  are detailed view of different components of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , 
           [0035]      FIGS. 9-11  are cross-sectional views of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in different functional states, and 
           [0036]      FIGS. 12-13  shows a variant of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0037]    The embodiment shown in the drawings comprises a generally elongated main housing  10  having a distal end  12  and a proximal end  14  along a longitudinal axis (L),  FIG. 1 . In the present embodiment, the housing  10  is divided in two parts. At the proximal end  14  a proximal housing part  16  is arranged to be releasibly attached to a distal housing part  15 . The proximal housing part  16  comprises a first tubular part  16   a  having generally the same diameter as the distal housing part  15  and a second tubular part  16   b  having a lesser diameter than the first tubular part  16   a.  Attaching elements could comprise threads, bayonet connections, snap-in elements and the like. The proximal housing part  16  is designed to accommodate a medicament container  18  enclosing a medicament,  FIG. 2 . An appropriate medicament delivery member  20 ,  FIG. 2 , is attached to, or made integral with the medicament container. A movable stopper  22  is further arranged inside the medicament container,  FIG. 3 . The medicament container  18  is preferably a syringe having an elongated plunger rod  30  which is connected to the stopper  22 . The medicament container  18  is preferably arranged in a medicament container holder  24 ,  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The medicament container holder  24  is arranged to be slidable in the longitudinal direction as will be explained below. 
         [0038]    The device further comprises a reloadable drive mechanism  26  arranged in the distal housing part  15 . The reloadable drive mechanism  26  comprises a plunger rod driver  28  arranged axially moveable within the housing  10  between a distal end position as seen in  FIG. 3 , and a proximal end position. The proximal end of the plunger rod driver  28  is in contact with the distal end of the elongated plunger rod  30 . The proximal end position of the plunger rod driver  28  corresponds to a position where the plunger rod  30  and the stopper  22  have been pressed to the end of the stroke of the plunger rod  30 , i.e. the medicament container  18  has been emptied, and the distal end position of the plunger rod driver  28  corresponds to a position where the plunger rod  30  and the stopper  22  have not yet been moved, i.e. the medicament container  18  is full. 
         [0039]    The reloadable drive mechanism  26  further comprises a drive spring  32 , preferably a helical coil spring, which biases the plunger rod driver  28  towards its proximal end position. A manually operated release mechanism  34  for releasing the plunger rod driver  28  of the reloadable drive mechanism  26  from the distal, or cocked, position to the proximal, or extended, position is arranged at an outer surface of the housing  10 . The release mechanism  34  is pivotable around a pivoting axle  36 ,  FIG. 4 , between an undepressed position and a depressed position and comprises a trigger button  38 , which operably acts on a reloadable drive mechanism locking element  40  which locks and interacts with the plunger rod driver  28  to hold the plunger rod driver  28  and the drive spring  32  in the distal or cocked position. Thus, the reloadable drive mechanism locking element is configured to lock said reloadable drive mechanism  26  in a cocked state. 
         [0040]    Adjacent, or at least near, the release mechanism  34  a status window  42  is arranged through which symbols provided on the plunger rod driver  28  are visible to indicate the status of the medicament delivery device. The status window  42  is preferably made of a transparent, or at least translucent, plastic material. 
         [0041]    Further, a blocking element  46  is arranged to operatively act on the release mechanism  34  for preventing actuation of the release mechanism in a first position and to allow actuation of the release mechanism in a second position. The blocking element  46  is arranged surrounding the plunger rod driver  28  and is in an initial position positioned distally of the release mechanism  34  such that a part of the first blocking element  46  is under the distal end of the push button  38  as seen in a radial direction (i.e. radially inside the push button),  FIG. 4 . In this position, the push button  38  is prevented form pivoting around the pivoting axle  36 , thus preventing the activation of the device. 
         [0042]    The blocking element  46  is arranged with two elongated arms  48 , which arms are inter-connected by a proximal ring-shaped second element  50 . The arms  48  end in proximally directed end surfaces  52 ,  FIG. 4 . 
         [0043]    Surrounding the medicament container holder  24  and coaxial therewith is a medicament delivery member cover  54 ,  FIG. 5 . The medicament delivery member cover  54  is arranged with a distal tubular part  56 , which transforms into a proximal tubular part  58 ,  FIG. 5 . In this respect, the inner diameter of the proximal tubular part  58  is somewhat larger than the outer diameter of the medicament container holder  24 . Further, the outer diameter of the proximal tubular part  58  is somewhat smaller than the second tubular part  16   b  of the proximal housing part  16  such that the medicament delivery member cover  54  can move in the longitudinal direction in relation to the proximal housing part  16 . The medicament delivery member cover  54  is thus resiliently movable in relation to the proximal housing part  16  between an extended position where a proximal tubular portion of the medicament delivery member cover  54  protrudes from the transversal proximal end of the proximal housing part  16 , and a retracted position where the transversal proximal end of the proximal tubular portion of the medicament delivery member cover  54  is flush with the proximal transversal end of the proximal housing part  16 . 
         [0044]    An outer surface of the medicament delivery member cover  54  is arranged with threads  60 ,  FIGS. 5 and 6 , which threads  60  are arranged to cooperate with corresponding threads  62 ,  FIG. 5 , on an inner surface of a generally tubular element  64 , hereafter named depth adjuster. The outer surface of the depth adjuster  64  is arranged with indicia  66 , such as numbers. These indicia are to cooperate with a cut-out  68 ,  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in the proximal end of the second tubular part  16   b,    FIG. 1 . 
         [0045]    The medicament delivery member cover  54  is further arranged two flat areas  70 ,  FIGS. 5 and 6 , on its outer surface, where the areas are positioned opposite each other. The flat areas  70  create proximally directed transversal ledges  72 ,  FIG. 6 . The inner surface of the proximal housing part  16  is further arranged with two straight sections  74 ,  FIG. 7 , of a central passage  76 , and is arranged to cooperate with the flats areas  70  such that a rotational lock is obtained between the components while allowing longitudinal movement relative each other. The transversal ledges  72  also functions as movement limiters when they are brought in contact with the straight sections  74  of the proximal housing part  16 . 
         [0046]    The medicament container holder  24  is further arranged with a circumferential outwardly extending ledge  77  at its distal area,  FIG. 6 . A medicament delivery member return force element  78 , in the embodiment shown arranged as a compression spring, is arranged between a proximally directed surface of the ledge  77  and a distally directed circumferential ledge  80  of the medicament delivery member cover,  FIG. 5 , wherein the medicament delivery member return force element  78  urges the medicament container holder  24  and the medicament container  18  in the distal direction. The medicament holder  24  is also arranged with an outwardly directed ledge  82  on its outer surface,  FIG. 6 , which ledge  82  is intended to fit into a longitudinally extending groove  84  in the medicament delivery member cover  54  for guide purposes. Further the proximal end of the ledge  82  is arranged with an outwardly directed protrusion  85 . 
         [0047]    According to the embodiment shown, the device is arranged with a medicament delivery member cover locking mechanism  90 ,  FIG. 2 . It comprises in the embodiment shown a manually operated actuator  92  comprising a generally tubular or ring-shaped body,  FIGS. 6 and 8 , placed inside the proximal housing part  16 . The actuator  92  is provided with a radially outwardly extending protrusion or button  94  comprised in the actuator, which button  94  is fitted into a passage  96 ,  FIG. 7 , in the proximal housing part  16 , whereby the button  94  extends through the passage  96  such that it may function as a manually operated actuator, accessible to the user. On the opposite side of the actuator, as seen from the button  94 , a first resilient force element  98  is arranged, in the embodiment shown a compressions spring  98 ,  FIG. 8 . Preferably the first resilient force element  98  is held in position in that one end is placed in a seat  100  on the inner surface of the proximal housing part  16 ,  FIG. 7 , while the other end is placed in a seat  102  on the outer surface of the actuator  92 ,  FIG. 8 . Further, a hole or passage  105 ,  FIG. 8 , is arranged in the actuator  92  coaxial with the seat  102  of the first resilient force element  98 . A first lock member  106  in the form of a circular cap is fitted onto the passage  105  in the embodiment shown, and is held in place by a second resilient force element  108 , in the embodiment shown as a compression spring arranged in a seat  110  of the first lock member  106  and the inner surface of the proximal housing part. The first lock member  106  is further arranged with a circumferential ledge  112 , which ledge  112  is arranged to fit into a circumferential groove  114  of the passage  105  such that the movement inwards of the first lock member  106  in the radial direction is limited. Thus, the first lock member  106  and the actuator  92  are movable in relation to each other, more particularly in a radial direction. The first lock member  106  is configured such that it may extend through the passage  105  of the actuator  92  and through a second lock member  104  i.e. a passage on the medicament delivery member cover  54  when the medicament delivery member cover  54  is in the extended position. On an inner surface of the actuator  92 , first actuation locking members  116  are arranged, in the embodiment shown as two first ledges, extending in the longitudinal direction of the device. The first ledges have a wedge-shaped cross-section. These first actuation locking members  116  are intended to cooperate with second actuation locking members  118  comprised on the outer surface of the medicament delivery member cover  54 , at the distal part thereof, as seen in  FIG. 5 . The second actuation locking members  118  are arranged, in the embodiment shown, as two second ledges extending in the longitudinal direction. These second ledges also have a wedge-shaped cross-section arranged to operably connect with the first actuation locking members  116 . 
         [0048]    The device further comprises a delivery member shield remover (not shown) arranged to connect with a delivery member shield (not shown), wherein said needle shield remover is arranged to be removably inserted into a proximal end of the proximal housing part  16  through medicament delivery member cover  54  and wherein the delivery member shield remover, when inserted into the proximal end of the proximal housing part  16  is adapted to be used to interact with the reloadable drive mechanism  26  accommodated in said distal housing part  15  such that a user can relocate the reloadable drive mechanism  26  from said proximal or extended position to said distal or cocked position. In other words, when the proximal housing part  16  is disconnected from the distal housing part  15  and the delivery member shield remover is positioned into the proximal end of the proximal housing part  16 , the proximal end of the delivery member shield remover is inserted through the proximal end of the distal housing part  15  such that the proximal end of the the delivery member shield remover abuts with the reloadable drive mechanism  26  accommodated in said distal housing part  15  and by holding the distal housing part fixed and exerting a pressure on the proximal housing part  16  such that the proximal housing part  16  moves along the longitudinal axis (L) in relation to the fixed distal housing part, the reloadable drive mechanism  26  is relocated from said proximal or extended position to said distal or cocked position. 
         [0049]    The device according to the invention is arranged to function as follows. When the device is delivered to the user, the medicament delivery member cover  54  is in the extended position,  FIG. 9 a   . The reloadable drive mechanism is in the cocked state where the drive spring  32  is compressed as seen in  FIG. 3 . The medicament delivery member cover  54  is locked by the medicament delivery member cover locking mechanism  90  in that the actuator  92  is forced in a radial direction, i.e. in a direction generally transversal to the longitudinal axis (L), by the first resilient force element  98 ,  FIG. 9 b   . Also the first lock member  106  is forced in the same direction i.e. transversal to the longitudinal axis (L), by the second resilient force element  108 , whereby the first lock member  106  is positioned inside the second lock member  104  i.e. the passage,  FIG. 10 . The first lock member  106  thus blocks any movement in the longitudinal direction of the medicament delivery member cover  54 . 
         [0050]    In order to activate the device for delivery of the medicament, the user presses on the button  94  of the actuator  92  of the medicament delivery member locking mechanism  90  in the radial direction opposite the force direction of the first resilient force element  98  and the second resilient force element  108 . This movement of the button  94  and thus the actuator  92  of the medicament delivery member cover locking mechanism  90  will cause the first lock member  106  to be moved out of the second lock member  104  of the medicament delivery member cover  54 ,  FIG. 10 , wherein a transversal surface  107  of the first lock member  106  is flush with the inner surface of the actuator  92 . The first  116  and second  118  actuation locking members will now engage and hold the actuator  92  in the actual position. 
         [0051]    The device is now activated in that the medicament delivery member cover  54  can be moved i.e. pressed against a dose delivery site such that the medicament delivery member cover  54  is moved from the extended to the retracted position. The user then presses a proximal end of the medicament delivery member cover  54  against the dose delivery site, whereby the medicament delivery member cover  54  is moved in the distal direction inside the housing of the device,  FIG. 11 . Upon pressing the device against the dose delivery site, the distal part of the medicament delivery member cover  54  comes into contact with the proximally directed end surfaces  52  of the arms  48  of the blocking element  46 ,  FIG. 4 . Thus the blocking element  46  is moved out of blocking position, allowing the release mechanism  34  to be activated. As soon as the medicament delivery member cover  54  is moved from the extended position to the retracted position, the first  116  and second  118  actuation locking members are disengaged and the first resilient force element  98  forces the actuator  92  to move such that the button  94  protrudes through the passage  96  on said housing  10  while the first lock member  106 , more particularly, the transversal surface  107  of the first lock member  106  is abutting on the peripheral surface of the distal tubular part of medicament delivery member cover  54  as seen in  FIG. 11 . The next step is then for the user to activate the dose delivery sequence. 
         [0052]    According to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-11 , the user depresses the trigger button  38  of the release mechanism  34 , whereby the drive spring  32  is released in that the reloadable drive mechanism locking element  40  is moved out of contact with the plunger rod driver  28 . The plunger rod driver  28  and the drive spring  32  then act to force the plunger rod  30  in the proximal direction acting on the stopper  22  inside the medicament container  18 . Since the medicament is incompressible and the passage through the medicament delivery member is narrow, the medicament container holder  24  with the medicament container  18  will be moved towards the proximal direction in relation to the housing, against the rather weak force of the medicament delivery member return force member  78 . The movement of the medicament container  18  will now cause a penetration of the medicament delivery member  20  into the skin of the user. The force of the drive spring  32  is far more powerful than that of the medicament delivery member return force element  78 , which therefore is compressed when the reloadable drive mechanism  26  is released. The penetration movement is stopped when the circumferential ledge  77  of the distal end of the medicament container holder is adjacent the distally directed stop ledge  80  of the medicament delivery member cover with the fully compressed medicament delivery member return force element  78  between the ledges. 
         [0053]    The force of the drive spring  32  now forces the plunger rod  30  in the proximal direction in relation to the medicament container  18 , moving the stopper  22  in the proximal direction, whereby a dose of medicament is delivered into the body of the user. When the stopper has reached its proximal end position, the dose delivery sequence has ended and the user may remove the device from the dose delivery site. Since the force on the medicament delivery member cover  54  now is removed at its proximal end, the medicament delivery member return force member  78  will force the medicament delivery member cover  54  in the proximal direction form the retracted position to the extended position, whereby the medicament delivery member  20  is shielded by the medicament delivery member cover  54 . When the medicament delivery member cover  54  is returned to the extended position, the second resilient force member  108  forces the first lock member  106  to be moved into the second lock member  104  i.e. the passage on the medicament delivery member cover  54  such that the medicament delivery member cover  54  is locked again by the medicament delivery member cover locking mechanism  90 . 
         [0054]      FIGS. 12 and 13  show a modified embodiment of the medicament delivery device, where the same components have been given the same reference numerals. Here the manually operated release mechanism  34  has been removed in order to simplify the handling of the device. 
         [0055]    The activation of the device of  FIGS. 12 to 13  is performed in the same manner as described above by manually operating the medicament delivery member cover locking mechanism  90  such that the medicament delivery member cover is released. The medicament delivery member cover is now pressed against the dose delivery site, whereby the medicament delivery member cover is moved distally inside the housing of the device. The movement will cause the distally directed end surface of the medicament delivery member cover to come in contact with the proximally directed end surfaces of the  52  of the arms  48  of the blocking element  46 , whereby the arms  48  are also moved in the distal direction. This will also cause the second ring-shaped element  50  to move in the distal direction until it comes in contact with the reloadable drive mechanism locking element  40 . 
         [0056]    A release mechanism, in the embodiment shown arranged as a movement transfer element  120 ,  FIG. 13 , is arranged between a distally directed surface of the second ring-shaped element  50  and the reloadable drive mechanism locking element  40 , such that the transfer element  120  of the reloadable drive mechanism will also move in the distal direction and will in turn cause the reloadable drive mechanism locking element  40  to be moved out of contact with the plunger rod driver  28 , which causes a movement of the plunger rod driver  28  and the plunger rod  30  in the proximal direction for a penetration sequence and a subsequent injection sequence as described above. 
         [0057]    It is to be understood that the the reloadable drive mechanism can in a simple and reliable manner be reloaded 
         [0058]    It is to be understood that the elements and mechanisms described above and shown in the drawings are only examples of structures that may be replaced by other elements and/or mechanisms displaying the same or similar function for obtaining the desired end result. Further it is to be understood that the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings only is to be regarded as comprising a non-limiting example of the invention and that it may be modified in many ways within the scope of the patent claims.