Abstract:
A method of closing the distal end of an ampoule is shown. The ampoule has a variable diameter head portion having a locating surface and an opening. A septum is positioned on the opening and secured to the head portion with a ferrule using a plunger. The plunger exerts a force in a proximal direction to press the ferrule on the head portion until the press causes the ferrule to contact the locating surface. Further, the ampoule for use in a cartridge for a drug delivery device has non-standard dimensions to provide a coding system to reduce the risk of a user dispensing the wrong medicament from the drug delivery device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a U.S. National Phase Application pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2011/062277 filed Jul. 18, 2011, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/365,457 filed Jul. 19, 2010 and European Patent Application No. 10174997.6 filed Sep. 2, 2010. The entire disclosure contents of these applications are herewith incorporated by reference into the present application. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present disclosure is generally directed to drug delivery devices and reservoirs (i.e., ampoules and cartridges), particularly reservoirs containing a medicament. More particularly, the present application is generally directed to cartridges having non-standard dimensions that can provide a coding system for drug delivery device components to prevent unwanted cross use. As just one example, such medicament cartridges may comprise an ampoule having a distal head portion having multiple outside diameters, preferably having at least two different diameters. The disclosure also includes an improved method of manufacturing a finished cartridge using the improved ampoule. Exemplary medical delivery devices that accept the cartridges of this disclosure include, but are not limited to, syringes, pen type injection syringes, pumps, inhalers, or other similar injection or infusing devices that require at least one reservoir containing at least one medicament. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Medicament reservoirs such as ampoules, cartridges, or vials are generally known. Such reservoirs are especially used for medicaments that may be self administered by a patient. For example, with respect to insulin, a patient suffering from diabetes may require a certain amount of insulin to either be injected via a pen type injection syringe or infused via a pump. With respect to certain known reusable pen type drug delivery devices, a patient loads a cartridge containing the insulin into a proximal end of a cartridge holder. After the cartridge has been correctly loaded, the user may then be called upon to select a dose of medicament. Multiple doses may be dosed from the cartridge. Where the drug delivery device comprises a reusable device, once the cartridge is empty, the cartridge holder is disconnected from the drug delivery device and the empty cartridge is removed and replaced with a new cartridge. Most suppliers of such cartridges recommend that the user dispose of the empty cartridges properly. Where the drug delivery device comprises a disposable device, once the cartridge is empty, the user is recommended to dispose of the entire device. 
         [0004]    Such known self-administration systems requiring the removal and reloading of empty cartridges have certain limitations. For example, in certain generally known systems, a user simply loads a new cartridge into the delivery system without the drug delivery device or without the cartridge having a mechanism of preventing cross use of an incorrect cartridge. That is, the drug delivery device does not have a mechanism for determining if the medicament contained in the cartridge is indeed the correct type of medicament to be administered by the patient. Alternatively, certain known drug delivery devices do not present a mechanism for determining if the correct type of medicament within the cartridge should be used with that particular drug delivery system. This potential problem could be exacerbated given that certain elderly patients, such as those suffering from diabetes, may have limited manual dexterity. Identifying an incorrect medicament is quite important, since the administration of a potentially incorrect dose of a medicament such as a short acting insulin in lieu of a long insulin could result in injury or even death. 
         [0005]    Some drug delivery devices or systems may use a color coding scheme to assist a user or care giver in selecting the correct cartridge to be used with a drug delivery device. However, such color coding schemes pose challenges to certain users, especially those users suffering from poor eyesight or color blindness: a situation that can be quite prevalent in patients suffering from diabetes. 
         [0006]    Another concern that may arise with such disposable cartridges is that these cartridges are manufactured in essentially standard sizes and manufactured to comply with certain recognized local and international standards, for example ISO Standard 11608-3 2001. Consequently, such cartridges are typically supplied in standard sized cartridges (e.g., 3 ml cartridges). Therefore, there may be a variety of cartridges supplied by a number of different suppliers and containing a different medicament but they may fit a single drug delivery device. As just one example, a first cartridge containing a first medicament from a first supplier may fit a medical delivery device provided by a second supplier. As such, a user might be able to load and then dispense an incorrect medicament (such as a rapid or basal type of insulin) into a drug delivery device without being aware that the medical delivery device was perhaps neither designed nor intended to be used with such a cartridge. 
         [0007]    As such, there is a growing desire from users, health care providers, care givers, regulatory entities, and medical device suppliers to reduce the potential risk of a user loading an incorrect drug type into a drug delivery device. There is also, therefore, a desire to reduce the risk of dispensing an incorrect medicament (or the wrong concentration of the medicament) from such a drug delivery device. 
         [0008]    There is, therefore, a general need to physically dedicate or mechanically code a cartridge to its drug type and design an injection device that accepts or works with the dedication or coded features provided on or with the cartridge so as to prevent unwanted cartridge cross use. Similarly, there is also a general need for a dedicated cartridge that allows the medical delivery device to be used with an authorized cartridge containing a specific medicament while also preventing undesired cartridge cross use. 
         [0009]    There is also a general need to provide a dedicated cartridge that is difficult to tamper with so that the cartridge may not be compromised in that the cartridge can be used with an unauthorized drug or drug delivery device. Because such cartridges may be difficult to tamper with, they may also reduce the risk of counterfeiting: i.e., making it more difficult for counterfeiters to provide unregulated counterfeit medicament carrying products. 
         [0010]    It is an aim of the invention to reduce the risk of a user dispensing the wrong medicament from the drug delivery device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    The aim is achieved by an ampoule for use in a cartridge containing a medicament for use in a drug delivery device, the ampoule having non-standard dimensions to provide a coding system to reduce the risk of a user dispensing the wrong medicament from the drug delivery device. The cartridge contains an ampoule having a head portion with variable diameters. 
         [0012]    One embodiment of the ampoule for containing a medicament comprises a constant diameter body, a neck portion and a head portion located distally of the neck portion and having a non-constant, variable diameter. In other words, the head portion is not a tube having a constant diameter. Rather the head portion has a section having a diameter which differs from the diameter of another section of the head portion. The non-constant or variable diameter serves as coding feature. The ampoule may have a proximal and distal end, where the distal end of the ampoule has the head portion that defines an opening where a medicament, such as insulin, can be dispensed through a needle cannula, for example. The transition between the head portion and the neck portion may be an inwardly converging shoulder. The neck portion may enlarge into a constant diameter reservoir or body that comprises the major portion of the ampoule volume. The ampoule may be a part of a cartridge, which in addition to the ampoule, may also contains a septum mounted across the distal opening of the ampoule by a ferrule and a piston that is slidably positioned inside the proximal end of the ampoule and forms a seal to contain the medicament within the ampoule. 
         [0013]    One embodiment of the ampoule for containing a medicament comprises a constant diameter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a neck portion having a diameter DND at the distal end; and a head portion located distally of the neck portion and having a variable, non-constant diameter. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment the head portion has a first diameter and a second diameter, where the first diameter is less than the second diameter. The diameter DND of the neck portion may be less than the first and second diameters. 
         [0015]    According to exemplary arrangements, both a starting ampoule and a finished cartridge are provided having “non-standard” dimensions (i.e., non-ISO standard), where the finished cartridge is intended for use with a matched reservoir holder of a drug delivery device. A system comprised of such non-standard ampoules and finished cartridges allows for a coding system that distinguishes cartridges containing the same medicament at different concentration levels and/or cartridges containing different medicaments. A matching cartridge holder accepts only the non-standard finished cartridge. 
         [0016]    A standard cartridge is comprised of ampoule having a proximal and distal end, where the distal end of the ampoule has a head portion that defines an opening where a medicament, such as insulin, can be dispensed through a needle cannula. The head portion has a pierceable septum fixed to the ampoule by a ferrule that is typically crimp fitted to the head portion. Importantly, it is noted that the head portion of a standard ISO ampoule is “bottle shaped” and has a constant outside diameter that terminates in a neck portion before enlarging into a constant diameter reservoir that comprises the major portion of the ampoule volume. The finished cartridge, in addition to the ampoule, also contains a bung, stopper, or piston that is slidably position inside the proximal end of the ampoule and forms a seal to contain the medicament within the ampoule. Typically, the ampoule is formed from glass, but will work with any known materials of construction, such as, plastics or like materials. 
         [0017]    A “standard cartridge” is known to those skilled in the art of drug delivery devices to be one that comports with the dimensions set by International Standard ISO 11608-3:2000A. For a cartridge nominally holding 3 ml, the ISO standard specifies the following standard dimensions: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 L (total length) 
                 63.90 + 0.30 
               
               
                   
                 NL (length of distal neck) 
                 6.30 max. 
               
               
                   
                 D (distal diameter) 
                  8.0 max. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0018]    The 8 mm max. dimension shown above for the distal diameter of the cartridge is measured as a cross-section of the head portion of the distal end of ampoule and includes the thickness of the ferrule. Thus, this dimension D is a function of the wall thickness of the ampoule, the thickness of ferrule, and the size of the distal opening of the ampoule. As mentioned, this dimension D is a uniform diameter (non-variable) that begins at the very distal end of the ampoule and continues until termination at the neck portion.  FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view of a “standard” ampoule as part of a finished ISO standard cartridge. Although the ISO standards provide dimensions and shapes of the starting ampoules, manufacturing tolerances of +0.20 mm are industry normal. In order to use such a standard cartridge to administer medicament by injection, the drug delivery device typically has a cartridge holder with an internal diameter of 8.2 mm or greater to ensure the standard cartridge will fit into the cartridge holder portion of the injection device. Like the ampoule, the distal end of a standard cartridge holder has single, constant diameter cavity designed to accept the constant diameter distal head portion of the finished cartridge. 
         [0019]    In one aspect, a medicament ampoule is provided comprising a constant diameter body having a proximal end and a distal end. There is also a neck portion having a diameter DND at the distal end of the ampoule, which defines a transition point between the constant diameter body and the distal end of the ampoule. At the very distal end of the ampoule is a head portion located distally of the neck portion. This head portion is unique in that is has a variable, non-constant diameter. The ampoule also has a total length L and an outside diameter OD that defines the constant diameter body portion of the ampoule. Preferably, the head portion comprises at least two different diameters that are separate from the diameter of the neck portion DND. This variable diameter head portion is distinguishable from the single or uniform head diameter found on an ISO standard ampoule. Preferably, the head portion of my ampoule has a first and a second head diameter, where the first head diameter is smaller than the second head diameter, and both the first and second diameters are larger than the neck diameter DND. 
         [0020]    In another aspect, a finished medicament cartridge is provided comprising an ampoule having the characteristics described above with the addition of a ferrule that partially encloses a septum. The ferrule is fixed to the head portion at the distal end of the ampoule preferably by crimping the ferrule around both the first and second head portion diameters. A medicament is sealed inside the ampoule by a piston that is slideably positioned within the proximal portion of the ampoule. Most preferably, the ferrule conforms exactly to the dimensions of the head portion of the ampoule and includes both diameters, but not the neck portion. The at least two outside distal diameters, D 1  and D 2 , of the distal end of the finished cartridge are measured in same manner as defined by the ISO standards (i.e., the cross-section of the distal end of the ampoule including the ferrule). Preferably, D 1  is in the range from about 7.50 to about 8.00 mm, and D 2  is in the range from about 5.7 to about 6.5 mm. Although either D 1  or D 2  could equal that specified in the ISO Standards, the ampoule and/or cartridge would still be considered “non-standard” because the ampoule was manufactured with a variable diameter head portion having at least two distinct diameters in the head portion, exclusive of the neck diameter. Likewise, even though the total length L of such an ampoule and/or cartridge could be equal to the ISO standard set forth above, the cartridge would still be considered “non-standard” because the head portion would have at least two different diameters. The ISO standard, contrary to the disclosure, specifies only a single uniform diameter for the head portion of the finished cartridge. 
         [0021]    Manufacturing or simply providing a drug delivery device, either disposable or refillable, that has a cartridge holder with an internal distal cavity that matches the contour (i.e., the variable head portion diameters) of the finished cartridges of this disclosure (i.e., “non-standard”), but will not accept a “standard” 3 ml cartridge as defined by ISO, will provide a needed coding feature. This exclusion of standard cartridges provides a way to prevent or reduce the potential risk of a user loading an incorrect drug type into a drug delivery device. Likewise, this prevents undesired cartridge cross use. 
         [0022]    The disclosure also concerns a system of medicament cartridges. The system may comprise a first cartridge which comprises a first ampoule and contains a first medicament; and a second cartridge comprising a second ampoule and containing a second medicament. The second diameter of the first and second ampoules is the same dimension and the first diameter of the first and second ampoules is a different dimension. In one embodiment the first medicament has a first concentration and the second medicament has a second concentration, where the second concentration is not equal to the first concentration. In an alternative embodiment the first medicament in the first cartridge is different than the second medicament in the second cartridge 
         [0023]    One embodiment of a system of medicament cartridges comprises at least two cartridges. A first cartridge contains a first concentration of medicament. A second cartridge contains a second concentration of medicament. The first and second cartridges each comprise an ampoule having a constant diameter body having a proximal end and a distal end, a neck portion having a diameter DND at the distal end, and a head portion located distally of the neck portion and having at least two diameters, D 1  and D 2 ; where D 2  of each ampoule of each cartridge is the same dimension and D 1  of each ampoule of each cartridge is a different dimension. The second concentration may be not equal to the first concentration. The medicament in the first cartridge may be different than the medicament in the second cartridge. 
         [0024]    The first and second cartridges may further comprises a septum mounted across the distal opening of the ampoule by a ferrule which conforms to the dimensions of the head portion. The ferrule may include the first and second diameters of the respective ampoule. 
         [0025]    Accordingly, the disclosure includes a system of cartridges, defined as two or more cartridges, where a first cartridge can contain a first concentration of medicament and a second cartridge can contain a second concentration of medicament. The first and second cartridges in the system each comprise an ampoule having a proximal portion, a total length L, and a head portion having at least two measurable diameters, exclusive of the neck diameter. A ferrule partially enclosing a septum is fixed to the ampoule and preferably surrounds both head diameters. The distal head diameters can be varied to distinguish the different concentrations and/or different medicaments contained in the cartridges. Preferably, the second concentration of medicament is not equal to the first concentration. Alternatively, the medicament in the first cartridge could be different than the medicament in the second cartridge. Of course, the system could include a number of cartridges, where each cartridge has the same D 1 , but a different D 2 . In such a system, different medicament can be coded or matched to different D 2  diameters. Likewise, the system could include a number of cartridges, where each cartridge has the same D 2 , but a different D 1 . In such a system, different medicament can be coded or matched to different D 1  diameters. Improper cartridge use can be avoided by providing drug delivery devices with cartridge holders that only accept one or more cartridges with the matching head portion diameters. This is accomplished by varying the internal dimensions and/or design at the distal end of the cartridge holders. 
         [0026]    The disclosure also relates to an improved method of assembling the finished cartridge. A method of closing the distal end of an ampoule may comprise providing an ampoule having a variable diameter head portion having a locating surface and an opening; positioning a septum on the opening; and securing the septum to the head portion with a ferrule using a plunger, where the plunger exerts a force in a proximal direction to press the ferrule on the head portion until the press causes the ferrule to contact the locating surface. A rolling plate may exert a force in a distal direction to crimp the ferrule to the head portion. 
         [0027]    In the production process for closing the distal end of a conventional ampoule there is no locating surface because the head portion is cylindrical in shape and is uniform in cross-section dimension until it tapers into the neck portion. As such, the sealing of the ferrule to head portion and fixation of the septum is exclusively controlled by force, which must be large enough in order to sufficiently compress the septum in order to thus ensure leak-tightness, but it cannot be so large that the overhang of the ferrule material (typically aluminum foil) has a larger surface than the opposite surface that is available on the glass body. This would lead to an edge of the ferrule that is unclean, “frayed” or sticks out. In the situations where there are changes in the assembly process, for example, where the material of the septum or ferrule is changed because of alternative suppliers or where there is a wear of the assembly tools, the required force must be determined anew by an iterative trial and error process that leads to production waste. 
         [0028]    The method makes use of a locating surface formed by a horizontal or substantially horizontal surface associated with either the first or second diameters in the head portion of the cartridge. The machine used to seal the ferrule to the ampoule employs a plunger tool that is forced downwardly around the head portion of the ampoule until the surface of the aluminum cap reaches the locating surface of the diameter defined by either D 1  or D 2  on the head portion of the ampoule. In this manner the production or assembly process using a locating surface is dependent on the position of the locating surface and on the wear and tear of the tool, which simplifies the production process. 
         [0029]    The drug delivery device and the non-standard cartridges described herein can be considered a drug delivery system. Such a drug delivery system can be reusable, meaning the cartridge can be replaced when empty, or the system can be non-reusable (disposable), meaning the cartridge cannot be replaced and the entire system is thrown away when the cartridge is empty. 
         [0030]    In any of the arrangements described above, it is possible to add mechanical coding features to the non-standard cartridges, for example, coded labels or ring/bands/collars attached to the proximal end of the ampoule. These as well as other advantages of various aspects will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detailed description, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. The scope of the invention is defined by the content of the claims. The invention is not limited to specific embodiments but comprises any combination of elements of different embodiments. Moreover, the invention comprises any combination of claims and any combination of features disclosed by the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    Exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference to the drawings, in which: 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary pen type drug delivery device; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an ISO standard drug cartridge; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of exemplary drug cartridge in accordance with our proposed concept; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary drug cartridge in accordance with our proposed concept; 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the manufacturing process for an ISO standard cartridge; and 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the manufacturing process for exemplary drug cartridge in accordance with our proposed concept. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0038]      FIG. 1  illustrates a drug delivery device  100  in the form of a pen type syringe. This drug delivery device  100  comprises a dose setting mechanism  102 , a cartridge holder  104 , and a removable cap  106 . A proximal end  105  of the cartridge holder  104  and a distal end  103  of the dose setting mechanism  102  are removably secured together. The pen type syringe may comprise a re-usable or a disposable pen type syringe. Where the syringe comprises a reusable device, the cartridge holder  104  and the dose setting mechanism  102  are removably coupled together. In a disposable device, they may be permanently coupled together. In  FIG. 1 , the dose setting mechanism  102  comprises a spindle  109 , such as a threaded spindle that rotates when a dose is injected. 
         [0039]    To inject a previously set dose, a double ended needle assembly (not shown) is attached to a distal end  108  of the cartridge holder  104 . Preferably, the distal end  108  of the cartridge holder  104  comprises a thread  121  (or other suitable connecting mechanism such as a snap lock, snap fit, form fit, or bayonet lock mechanism) so that the needle assembly may be removably attached to the distal end  108  of the cartridge holder  104 . When the drug delivery device  100  is not in use, the removable cap  106  can be releasably retained over the cartridge holder  104 . 
         [0040]    An inner cartridge cavity  111  defined by the cartridge holder  104  is dimensioned and configured to securely receive and retain a non-standard cartridge  120 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the distal end of a standard ISO cartridge  120  having a uniform, non-variable, diameter D for the head portion  131  that may be used with the drug delivery device  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1  provided the inner cavity  111  is contoured and/or conformed to matched the uniform shape of the head portion  131  of the standard ISO cartridge  120 . The cartridge  120  includes an ampoule  122  extending from a distal end  130  to a proximal end  132 . 
         [0041]    The distal end  130  is defined by the combination of the head portion  131  and a neck portion  133 , where the transition is an inwardly converging shoulder  135 . 
         [0042]    At the distal end  130 , the ampoule  122  includes a constant and uniform diameter head portion  131  having diameter D located distally of the neck portion  133 . An annular bead  134  extends circumferentially thereabout at the extreme distal end of shoulder  135 . A pierceable seal or septum  127  is securely mounted across the open distal end of the ampoule  122 . The septum  127  may be held in place by a metallic sleeve or ferrule  124 . This ferrule  124  may be crimped around the circumferential bead  134  at the distal end of the neck portion  133 . The medicament  125  is pre-filled into the cartridge  120  and is retained within the cartridge  120 , in part, by the pierceable seal or septum  127 , the ferrule  124 , and a piston  128 . The piston  128  is in sliding fluid-tight engagement with the inner tubular wall of the ampoule  122 . Axially directed forces acting upon the piston  128  during dose injection or dose administration urges the medication  125  from the cartridge  120  though a double ended needle (not shown) mounted onto the distal end  108  of the cartridge holder  104  and into the injection site. Such axial forces may be provided by the spindle  109 . 
         [0043]    Turning to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , which show examples of the ampoule  322  and finished cartridges  320  of this disclosure, each is characterized in that the head portion  331  has a variable diameter separate and apart from the diameter DNP of neck portion  333 . At the distal end  330 , the ampoule  322  includes a non-uniform head portion  331  having, at a minimum at least two different diameters, shown as D 1  and D 2  located distally of the neck portion  333 . In each of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  an outside distal diameter D 1  is smaller than D 2 . As with the standard ISO cartridge, the cartridges of the disclosure, as depicted in these figures, has an annular bead  334  extending circumferentially at the extreme distal end of shoulder  335 , a pierceable seal or septum  327  securely mounted across the open distal end of the ampoule  322  by a metallic sleeve or ferrule  324 , which may be crimped around the circumferential bead  334  at the distal end of the neck portion  333 . The ampoule  322  contains a medicament  325  pre-filled into the cartridge  320  that is retained within the cartridge  320 , in part, by the pierceable seal or septum  327 , the ferrule  324 , and a slidable piston (not shown), but which can be the same as piston  128  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0044]    The disclosure also covers an improved manufacturing or filling process that is possible as a result of the variable diameter head portion  331  of ampoule  322 . The improved manufacturing process makes use of a locating surface  350  located on the head portion  331 , preferably on a horizontal or nearly horizontal surface, such as locating surface  350  shown in  FIG. 6 . In contrast,  FIG. 5  illustrates a manufacturing process for an ISO standard cartridge  120  where there is no locating surface because of the uniform constant diameter of the head portion  131  of the ampoule  122 . In the manufacturing process a press  400  exerts a force in direction  401  to secure the ferrule  124  to head portion  131 . The plunger is spring-loaded and is driven down until the counter pressure of septum  127  that is compressed by this process reaches a force  410 . Rolling plate  405  exerts an upward force  411  and moves in direction  406  to attach the overhang of ferrule  124  that is created by the compression of the septum  127  to the head portion  131  of ampoule  122 . In the improved process, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the press  400  is forced downward until the press  400  causes the ferrule  324  to encounter the locating surface  350  of ampoule  322 . The same rolling plate  405  is used to secure ferrule  324  to the shoulder  335 . This improved production process is only dependent on the position of the locating surface  350  and the wear and tear of the tool, but not the counter pressure exerted by the septum  327 , which simplifies the production process. 
         [0045]    A portion of the cartridge holder  104  defining the cartridge holder cavity  111  is of substantially uniform diameter. This inner diameter is preferably slightly greater than the outer diameter OD at the proximal end of the main body of cartridge  320 . The distal interior of the cartridge holder  104  is configured, molded, formed or otherwise designed to conform to the variable diameter head portion  331  of the cartridges of the disclosure. In this manner, when the cartridge  320  is loaded into the cavity  111  of the cartridge holder  104  and the cartridge holder  104  is then connected to the dose setting member  102 , the cartridge  320  will be securely held within the cartridge cavity  111 . More particularly, because the distal interior of the cartridge holder  104  is designed to match the variable diameter of the neck portion  331  of the cartridge  320 , only matching cartridges  320  and cartridge holders  104  will allow compatible fit and attachment to the dose setting mechanism  102  of the drug delivery device  100 . 
         [0046]    A number of doses of a medicament  325  may be dispensed from the cartridge  320 . It will be understood that the cartridge  320  may contain a type of medicament  325  that must be administered often, such as one or more times a day. One such medicament  325  is insulin. The dose setting mechanism  102  comprises a dose setter  117  at the proximal end  107  of the drug delivery device  100 . In one preferred arrangement, the dose setter  117  may extend along the entire length of the dose setting mechanism. The dose setter  117  may be rotated by a user to set a dose. 
         [0047]    To administer a dose that may be set by rotating the dose setter  117 , the user attaches the needle assembly comprising a double ended needle on the distal end  108  of the cartridge holder  104 . In this manner, the needle assembly pierces the seal  127  of the cartridge  120  and is therefore in liquid communication with the medicament  125 . The user pushes on the dose setter  117  to inject the set dose. The same dose setting and dose administration procedure is followed until the medicament  125  in the cartridge is expended and then a new cartridge  120  must be loaded in the device. To exchange an empty cartridge  120 , the user is called upon to remove the cartridge holder  104  from the dose setting mechanism  102 . 
         [0048]    A coding system comprising the non-standard cartridges  320  of the disclosure for use with a drug delivery system, such as drug delivery device  100 , is provided. In an example, a system of cartridges  320  are manufactured where the head portion  331  of the cartridges  320  are variable in diameter having at least two measurable diameters D 1  and D 2 , this being contrary to the constant and uniform distal diameter D of a “standard cartridge”  120  as required by the ISO standards. As such, each cartridge  320  could have the same D 1 , but a different D 2 , or vice versa, with either or both of D 1  or D 2  coded or matched to a different medicament  325  or concentration of medicament  325 . Because the cartridge holder  104  is manufactured to fit the non-standard distal diameters D 1 , D 2  for each cartridge system, an attempt to insert or use a standard cartridge  120  will fail and as such it will not be possible to accidentally use a standard cartridge  120  in place of the non-standard cartridge  320 . 
         [0049]    Although aimed primarily at the insulin market, the proposed non-standard cartridge schemes may apply to other drugs. Likewise, the coding system may apply to various drug delivery devices  100 . 
         [0050]    The proposed cartridge system results in a number of advantages. For example, the proposed system help to assist a user to ensure that a given drug delivery device component is only attached to a drug delivery device component for which it is intended. The system also results in a low cost coding mechanism since the manufacture of cartridges  320  with varying distal diameters D 1 , D 2  and matching holders  104  does not require a large number of parts and can be manufactured in a cost effective manner. Moreover, there are quite a large number of different possible dimensions for the variable diameter head portion  331  that can be used. Consequently, with the proposed non-standard cartridge schemes, a large number of medicaments  325  can be distinguished from one another. 
         [0051]    In given embodiments, the coding may be designed to block all incorrect reservoirs from being inserted into an incorrect cartridge holder  104 . In alternative embodiments, the coding may be designed to block reservoirs of a given type, but not all types of reservoirs. For example, in an embodiment, the coding may block only reservoirs not intended for the housing and that comprise dangerous drugs. For instance, a short-acting drug could be fitted into a device intended for long-acting drugs, but not vice versa. As another example, a low concentration drug could be fitted into a device intended for high concentration drugs, but not vice versa. 
         [0052]    Exemplary embodiments have been described. However, as those of skill in the art will recognize certain changes or modifications to such arrangements may be made. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that further changes, modifications, revisions and/or additions may be made to the presently disclosed arrangements without departing from the true scope and spirit of the present disclosure, which is defined by the claims. 
         [0053]    The term “drug” or “medicament”, as used herein, means a pharmaceutical formulation containing at least one pharmaceutically active compound, 
         [0054]    wherein in one embodiment the pharmaceutically active compound has a molecular weight up to 1500 Da and/or is a peptide, a proteine, a polysaccharide, a vaccine, a DNA, a RNA, a antibody, an enzyme, an antibody, a hormone or an oligonucleotide, or a mixture of the above-mentioned pharmaceutically active compound, 
         [0055]    wherein in a further embodiment the pharmaceutically active compound is useful for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diabetes mellitus or complications associated with diabetes mellitus such as diabetic retinopathy, thromboembolism disorders such as deep vein or pulmonary thromboembolism, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), angina, myocardial infarction, cancer, macular degeneration, inflammation, hay fever, atherosclerosis and/or rheumatoid arthritis, 
         [0056]    wherein in a further embodiment the pharmaceutically active compound comprises at least one peptide for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diabetes mellitus or complications associated with diabetes mellitus such as diabetic retinopathy, 
         [0057]    wherein in a further embodiment the pharmaceutically active compound comprises at least one human insulin or a human insulin analogue or derivative, glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) or an analogue or derivative thereof, or exedin-3 or exedin-4 or an analogue or derivative of exedin-3 or exedin-4. 
         [0058]    Insulin analogues are for example Gly(A21), Arg(B31), Arg(B32) human insulin; Lys(B3), Glu(B29) human insulin; Lys(B28), Pro(B29) human insulin; Asp(B28) human insulin; human insulin, wherein proline in position B28 is replaced by Asp, Lys, Leu, Val or Ala and wherein in position B29 Lys may be replaced by Pro; Ala(B26) human insulin; Des(B28-B30) human insulin; Des(B27) human insulin and Des(B30) human insulin. 
         [0059]    Insulin derivates are for example B29-N-myristoyl-des(B30) human insulin; B29-N-palmitoyl-des(B30) human insulin; B29-N-myristoyl human insulin; B29-N-palmitoyl human insulin; B28-N-myristoyl LysB28ProB29 human insulin; B28-N-palmitoyl-LysB28ProB29 human insulin; B30-N-myristoyl-ThrB29LysB30 human insulin; B30-N-palmitoyl-ThrB29LysB30 human insulin; B29-N-(N-palmitoyl-Y-glutamyl)-des(B30) human insulin; B29-N-(N-lithocholyl-Y-glutamyl)-des(B30) human insulin; B29-N-(ω-carboxyheptadecanoyl)-des(B30) human insulin and B29-N-(ω-carboxyhepta         decanoyl) human insulin. 
         [0060]    Exendin-4 for example means Exendin-4(1-39), a peptide of the sequence H His-Gly-Glu-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Leu-Ser-Lys-Gln-Met-Glu-Glu-Glu-Ala-Val-Arg-Leu-Phe-Ile-Glu-Trp-Leu-Lys-Asn-Gly-Gly-Pro-Ser-Ser-Gly-Ala-Pro-Pro-Pro-Ser-NH2. 
         [0061]    Exendin-4 derivatives are for example selected from the following list of compounds:
   H-(Lys)4-des Pro36, des Pro37 Exendin-4(1-39)-NH2,   H-(Lys)5-des Pro36, des Pro37 Exendin-4(1-39)-NH2,   des Pro36 [Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39),   des Pro36 [IsoAsp28] Exendin-4(1-39),   des Pro36 [Met(O)14, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39),   des Pro36 [Met(O)14, IsoAsp28] Exendin-4(1-39),   des Pro36 [Trp(O2)25, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39),   des Pro36 [Trp(O2)25, IsoAsp28] Exendin-4(1-39),   des Pro36 [Met(O)14 Trp(O2)25, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39),   des Pro36 [Met(O)14 Trp(O2)25, IsoAsp28] Exendin-4(1-39); or   des Pro36 [Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39),   des Pro36 [IsoAsp28] Exendin-4(1-39),   des Pro36 [Met(O)14, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39),   des Pro36 [Met(O)14, IsoAsp28] Exendin-4(1-39),   des Pro36 [Trp(O2)25, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39),   des Pro36 [Trp(O2)25, IsoAsp28] Exendin-4(1-39),   des Pro36 [Met(O)14 Trp(O2)25, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39),   des Pro36 [Met(O)14 Trp(O2)25, IsoAsp28] Exendin-4(1-39),   wherein the group -Lys6-NH2 may be bound to the C-terminus of the Exendin-4 derivative;   or an Exendin-4 derivative of the sequence   H-(Lys)6-des Pro36 [Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-Lys6-NH2,   des Asp28 Pro36, Pro37, Pro38Exendin-4(1-39)-NH2,   H-(Lys)6-des Pro36, Pro38 [Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-NH2,   H-Asn-(Glu)5des Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-NH2,   des Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-(Lys)6-NH2,   H-(Lys)6-des Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-(Lys)6-NH2,   H-Asn-(Glu)5-des Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-(Lys)6-NH2,   H-(Lys)6-des Pro36 [Trp(O2)25, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-Lys6-NH2,   H-des Asp28 Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Trp(O2)25] Exendin-4(1-39)-NH2,   H-(Lys)6-des Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Trp(O2)25, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-NH2,   H-Asn-(Glu)5-des Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Trp(O2)25, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-NH2,   des Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Trp(O2)25, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-(Lys)6-NH2,   H-(Lys)6-des Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Trp(O2)25, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-(Lys)6-NH2,   H-Asn-(Glu)5-des Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Trp(O2)25, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-(Lys)6-NH2,   H-(Lys)6-des Pro36 [Met(O)14, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-Lys6-NH2,   des Met(O)14 Asp28 Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 Exendin-4(1-39)-NH2,   H-(Lys)6-desPro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Met(O)14, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-NH2,   H-Asn-(Glu)5-des Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Met(O)14, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-NH2,   des Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Met(O)14, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-(Lys)6-NH2,   H-(Lys)6-des Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Met(O)14, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-(Lys)6-NH2,   H-Asn-(Glu)5 des Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Met(O)14, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-(Lys)6-NH2,   H-Lys6-des Pro36 [Met(O)14, Trp(O2)25, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-Lys6-NH2,   H-des Asp28 Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Met(O)14, Trp(O2)25] Exendin-4(1-39)-NH2,   H-(Lys)6-des Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Met(O)14, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-NH2,   H-Asn-(Glu)5-des Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Met(O)14, Trp(O2)25, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-NH2,   des Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Met(O)14, Trp(O2)25, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-(Lys)6-NH2,   H-(Lys)6-des Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Met(O)14, Trp(O2)25, Asp28] Exendin-4(S1-39)-(Lys)6-NH2,   H-Asn-(Glu)5-des Pro36, Pro37, Pro38 [Met(O)14, Trp(O2)25, Asp28] Exendin-4(1-39)-(Lys)6-NH2;   
 
         [0110]    or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate of any one of the afore-mentioned Exedin-4 derivative. 
         [0111]    Hormones are for example hypophysis hormones or hypothalamus hormones or regulatory active peptides and their antagonists as listed in Rote Liste, ed. 2008, Chapter 50, such as Gonadotropine (Follitropin, Lutropin, Choriongonadotropin, Menotropin), Somatropine (Somatropin), Desmopressin, Terlipressin, Gonadorelin, Triptorelin, Leuprorelin, Buserelin, Nafarelin, Goserelin. 
         [0112]    A polysaccharide is for example a glucosaminoglycane, a hyaluronic acid, a heparin, a low molecular weight heparin or an ultra low molecular weight heparin or a derivative thereof, or a sulphated, e.g. a poly-sulphated form of the above-mentioned polysaccharides, and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. An example of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of a poly-sulphated low molecular weight heparin is enoxaparin sodium. 
         [0113]    Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are for example acid addition salts and basic salts. Acid addition salts are e.g. HCl or HBr salts. Basic salts are e.g. salts having a cation selected from alkali or alkaline, e.g. Na+, or K+, or Ca2+, or an ammonium ion N+(R1)(R2)(R3)(R4), wherein R1 to R4 independently of each other mean: hydrogen, an optionally substituted C1 C6-alkyl group, an optionally substituted C2-C6-alkenyl group, an optionally substituted C6-C10-aryl group, or an optionally substituted C6-C10-heteroaryl group. Further examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts are described in “Remington&#39;s Pharmaceutical Sciences” 17. ed. Alfonso R. Gennaro (Ed.), Mark Publishing Company, Easton, Pa., U.S.A., 1985 and in Encyclopedia of Pharmaceutical Technology. 
         [0114]    Pharmaceutically acceptable solvates are for example hydrates.