Patent Description:
So called mini infusers are becoming more and more interesting with patients and users that are self-medicating as an alternative to more conventional pen injectors or auto-injectors. The mini infusers are generally rather compact and are designed to be attached to a body part of a user. When attached to a dose delivery area of the user, activation of the mini infuser will often perform an automatic penetration into the tissue by an injection needle and a subsequent automatic injection sequence. After performed dose delivery the mini infuser may then be removed.

One advantage with a mini infuser is that it often is compact and can be worn under clothes, and are then not visible to strangers when a user is in a public environment, which for some users is important. The mini infuser can then be activated without any other persons noticing it. This is a major difference to conventional elongated injectors that can hardly be hidden when used. The mini infuser may also be worn on the body for a long time until activation.

One challenge with the design of mini infusers is to have a high degree of automatic functionality while keeping the overall dimensions as small as possible and in particular the height or extension from the body. Users will generally not appreciate if the device protrudes too much or gives a bulky appearance so that the device could be noticeable even when worn under clothes. There is also a challenge to have such a high degree of functionality and at the same time keeping the number of components as low as possible.

Document <CIT> discloses a medicament delivery device that can be attached to the body of a patient or user. The medicament delivery device is arranged with an injection needle that can be extended from a housing to perform a penetration and can be retracted into the housing after performed injection. In order to perform the penetration, the needle is moved in a direction generally parallel to the injection site surface. The medicament delivery device is further arranged with a guide channel that has an inclination in relation to the injection site surface, wherein the front part of the needle is inserted into the guide and also has an inclination. When a penetration is to be performed the needle is moved along the inclined guide where the front end of the needle penetrates the skin of the patient. The movement will also cause the rear end of the needle to bend as it is introduced into the guide.

Bending of the needle is usually not positive since it is difficult to control the penetration direction. Further there is a risk that the needle is damaged due to the bending action. Therefore, this solution does not seem to be optimal. Further, the needle has a specially formed rear end that is bent <NUM> degrees. This is because the penetration movement of the needle also can cause a penetration of a septum of a medicament container placed on the side of the needle. In all, the needle solution of <CIT> does not seem to be optimal. <CIT> discloses a medicament delivery device according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

In the present disclosure, when the term "distal" is used, this refers to the direction pointing away from the dose delivery site. When the term "distal part/end" is used, this refers to the part/end of the delivery device, or the parts/ends of the members thereof, which under use of the medicament delivery device is/are located furthest away from the dose delivery site. Correspondingly, when the term "proximal" is used, this refers to the direction pointing to the dose delivery site. When the term "proximal part/end" is used, this refers to the part/end of the delivery device, or the parts/ends of the members thereof, which under use of the medicament delivery device is/are located closest to the dose delivery site.

The invention comprises a medicament delivery device according to claim <NUM>. Additional features of preferred embodiments thereof are defined in the dependent claims. According to a main aspect of the invention a medicament delivery device is provided, comprising a housing and a medicament container holder arranged to accommodate a medicament container inside the housing. A needle assembly may further be arranged, comprising an injection needle part and a penetration needle part, wherein the extension of the injection needle part and the extension of the penetration needle part are angled generally <NUM> degrees.

A penetration mechanism may further be arranged to move the needle assembly in a direction generally coinciding with the extension of the injection needle part between an initial position of the injection needle part inside said housing to a penetration position with the injection needle part extending outside said housing. Moreover, a medicament container connection mechanism may be arranged to move the medicament container holder and the medicament container in a direction generally coinciding with the penetration needle part for creating a flow passage from the interior of the medicament container to an outlet of the injection needle part.

Thus the needle assembly is arranged with two needle part that are angled in relation to each other which provides the advantage that the medicament container can be positioned generally parallel with the dose delivery surface while the injection needle part is perpendicular to the dose delivery surface. This solution will provide a low height of the medicament delivery device.

The medicament delivery device may further comprise a drive mechanism comprising a rotator, arranged to be rotated by a tensioned drive spring and drive elements arranged between the rotator and the needle assembly for causing a penetration of the injection needle part. The use of a rotator will also provide the advantage that is may provide a number of functions with few components.

According to one aspect of the invention, the drive elements may comprise the medicament container holder operatively connected between the rotator and the needle assembly. Thus, the medicament container holder is used as such for driving the needle assembly. In that respect, the medicament container holder may comprise a transfer element acting on the needle assembly such that movement of the medicament container holder by the rotator causes a penetrating movement of the needle assembly.

Further, the transfer element may comprise surfaces that are inclined in relation to the movement direction of the medicament container holder and the movement direction of the needle assembly, which inclined surfaces are acting on support surfaces of the needle assembly.

Moreover, the drive mechanism may comprise teeth on the rotator acting on a toothed rack on the medicament container holder. Further, the drive mechanism may comprise a number of discrete elements placed around the circumference of the rotator and operatively connected to the rotator, wherein rotation of the rotator causes the discrete elements to move and to act on a stopper of the medicament container for expelling a dose of medicament. Thus, as seen from the above, the rotator is capable of providing a number of functions with few components and elements. The discrete elements may comprise spherical bodies.

The drive mechanism may further comprise guide elements for guiding the discrete elements between the rotator and the medicament container holder for acting on the stopper. Regarding the function of the medicament delivery device, the rotator may be designed such that that interaction with the medicament container holder for performing a penetration is completed when the discrete elements begin acting on the stopper. This ensures that the penetration is completed before any injection is activated.

According to another aspect of the invention, it may further comprise an activation unit operatively connected to the rotator for releasably holding the drive spring in a tensioned state. In this regard, the activation unit may comprise a manually operable activator, which upon manual activation, releases the rotator. As a further safety aspect, the activation unit may further comprise a lock element for releasably locking the activator.

According to a further aspect, the activation unit may further comprise an activating element in the form of a pivoting arm, wherein one end of the arm is releasably engaging the rotator and the other end of the arm is releasably engaging the activator. Further, the pivoting arm, after release of the rotator, may be in contact with a profiled surface of the rotator for creating an indication of the operation of the medicament delivery device.

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.

In the following description, the word proximal and proximal direction is intended to define directions towards a user or patient when the medicament delivery device is in use, and distal and distal direction is intended to define directions away from a user. The medicament delivery device shown in the drawings comprises a lower base or first proximal housing part <NUM> and an upper cover or second distal housing part <NUM>. The proximal housing part <NUM> is intended to be in contact with a body part of a patient or user, where the second distal housing part <NUM> is attached to the first proximal housing part <NUM>, both forming an interior where a medicament delivery mechanism <NUM> is arranged. The proximal housing part <NUM> is provided with a suitable attachment arrangement that in the embodiment shown comprises a band <NUM>, preferably elastic and/or adjustable to fit around a body part such as an arm or leg, or maybe even the waist. Instead of a band, the outer surface of the first housing part may be arranged with an adhesive layer so that the medicament delivery device can be attached to a suitable part of the body of the patient.

The medicament delivery mechanism <NUM> comprises an activation unit <NUM>, <FIG>, which activation unit <NUM> comprises a lock element <NUM> and an activator <NUM>. The lock element <NUM> comprises a generally tubular body <NUM> that extends through a passage <NUM> in the distal housing part <NUM>. The body <NUM> is arranged with an annular grip ring <NUM>, <FIG>, that may be arranged with grip enhancing protrusions. The outwardly facing surface of the grip ring <NUM> is arranged with indicia <NUM> such as "<NUM>" and "<NUM>", the function of which will be explained. The grip ring <NUM> is accessible from the outside of the medicament delivery device where an inwardly directed surface of the grip ring <NUM> is in contact with a surface <NUM> of a slight recess, <FIG>, in the distal housing part <NUM>. The proximal part of the body <NUM> is arranged with a semi-circular cut-away <NUM>. The remaining part of proximal end of the body is provided with a radially inwardly directed protrusion <NUM>.

Inside the tubular body of the lock element <NUM> the activator <NUM> is placed. It comprises a generally disk-shaped contact element <NUM> that will act as contact surface for a user to activate the medicament delivery device as will be described. The activator <NUM> is further arranged with a body <NUM> extending in the proximal direction. The body <NUM> has a semi-circular part 40A and flat part 40B. Reinforcing ribs <NUM> are arranged between the contact element <NUM> and the flat part 40B. The body <NUM> is arranged with a first generally rectangular cut-out <NUM> extending from the semi-circular part 40A to the flat part 40B adjacent a reinforcing rib <NUM>. A rectangular second cut-out <NUM> is extending in the proximal direction from the first cut-out <NUM>. A third cut-out <NUM> is extending in the distal direction from the proximal end of the semi-circular part 40A. The activator <NUM> is urged in the distal direction by a resilient member <NUM>, <FIG>, that in the embodiment shown may be a section of the first housing part <NUM> being inclined distally and abutting a proximal end of the activator, causing a spring action. It is however to be understood that other types of resilient members such as compression springs may be utilized.

Further an activating element <NUM> is provided with a generally tubular hub <NUM> that is intended to fit onto and rotate around a post <NUM>, <FIG>, being a part of the inner surface of the proximal housing part <NUM>. The hub <NUM> is arranged with a first arm <NUM> extending radially from a lower part thereof. Furthermore, the hub <NUM> is arranged with a second arm <NUM>. The second arm <NUM> is arranged with a rectangular cut-out <NUM>. The radial extending part of the second arm <NUM> is in the initial state intended to fit into the second cut-out <NUM> of the activator <NUM>, <FIG> and <FIG>. The hub <NUM> is held in position on the post <NUM>, i.e. prevented from moving in the distal direction by a proximally directed support wall <NUM>, <FIG>, on the second housing part. The first arm <NUM> is intended to interact with a drive unit <NUM>.

The drive unit <NUM> comprises a disc-shaped rotator <NUM>, <FIG>, provided with a circumferential side surface <NUM>. The side surface <NUM> is arranged with an opening <NUM> in which the first arm <NUM> extends in an initial position, causing a rotational lock of the rotator <NUM>. The lower edge of the side surface <NUM> is arranged to be in contact with the inner surface of the proximal housing part <NUM>. Further the proximal housing part <NUM> is arranged with a circular first ledge <NUM>, <FIG>, that the side surface <NUM> is in contact with, providing a guide for the rotator <NUM> as it rotates as will be described. The first ledge <NUM> is arranged with a cut-out <NUM> through which the first arm <NUM> extends in the initial position. Inside the first ledge <NUM> and concentrically arranged is a second ledge <NUM> acting as a support in the proximal direction for the rotator <NUM>. Inside the second ledge <NUM> and coaxial therewith is a third ledge <NUM>, <FIG> and <FIG>. The third ledge <NUM> is arranged with a slit <NUM>. A clock spring <NUM>, <FIG>, is wound around the third ledge <NUM> having an inner end <NUM> provided with a <NUM>-degree bend and fitting into the slit <NUM> whereby the inner end of the clock spring <NUM> is locked to the third ledge <NUM>. The outer end <NUM> of the clock spring <NUM> is also arranged with a <NUM>-degree bend. Further the rotator <NUM> is arranged with a hub <NUM> in which the clock spring <NUM> is placed. The hub <NUM> is connected to a compartment <NUM> provided with an opening <NUM> through which the bend of the outer end <NUM> of the clock spring <NUM> fits. Thus when the clock spring <NUM> is tensioned, it is capable of turning the rotator <NUM> as will be described.

On the opposite side of the rotator <NUM> a number of discrete elements in the form of spherical balls <NUM> are placed around the hub <NUM>. The balls <NUM> are held in position around the hub <NUM> by a lid <NUM> that fits around the first ledge of the first housing part, preferably being in contact with an outwardly surface of the first ledge <NUM> creating a press fit to hold the lid <NUM> in place. The lid <NUM> and the hub <NUM> thus form a semi-circular channel <NUM>, <FIG>, that starts with a side wall <NUM>, <FIG>, of the compartment <NUM>. The lid <NUM> is further arranged with an opening <NUM>, <FIG>, that fits together with the cut-out <NUM> of the first ledge <NUM>. It should be noted that, alternatively, the spherical balls <NUM> can be replaced by a flexible wire with plunger head or segments connected plunger.

A radially extending stop ledge <NUM> is arranged from the hub <NUM> such that the balls <NUM> are positioned from the side wall <NUM> and to the stop ledge <NUM>, <FIG>. The stop ledge <NUM> is high enough to hold the balls <NUM> in this position. Guide walls <NUM>, <FIG>, are further provided on the first housing part <NUM> directed adjacent the rotator <NUM> and in a generally tangential direction. Also the lid <NUM> is arranged with a guide wall <NUM> as seen in <FIG> and <FIG>. The guide wall <NUM> is provided with a cut-out <NUM> through which the stope ledge <NUM> can pass when the rotator <NUM> is rotating.

The side surface <NUM> of the rotator <NUM> is further arranged with gear teeth <NUM> around a part of its circumference. These gear teeth <NUM> are arranged to interact with a gear rack <NUM> on an outer surface of an elongated medicament container holder <NUM>. The medicament container holder <NUM> has a compartment <NUM>, <FIG>, designed to accommodate a medicament container <NUM>. In this regard, the medicament container holder <NUM> is arranged with a transversal wall <NUM> having a passage <NUM> such that a neck portion of the medicament container <NUM> is held by the wall <NUM>. The distal housing part <NUM> is arranged with an elongated opening <NUM> providing access to the medicament container holder <NUM> for placing a medicament container <NUM> in the medicament container holder <NUM>. A protective lid <NUM>, <FIG>, is arranged to be placed in the opening, which protective lid <NUM> may be arranged with a proximally directed support element <NUM> designed to be in contact with and support the medicament container <NUM>. The protective lid may be made of a transparent material so that a medicament container <NUM> placed in the medicament container <NUM> holder can be viewed.

Further, the rear end of the medicament container holder <NUM>, <FIG> and <FIG>, is arranged with a channel <NUM> that is curved almost <NUM> degrees and having an opening at its rear end. A lid <NUM> is arranged to be placed in the channel <NUM> for limiting the channel area. A front end of the medicament container holder <NUM> is provided with side walls that form extensions <NUM> directed in a forward direction, <FIG>, which extensions <NUM> will function as transfer elements as will be described. The extensions <NUM> are provided with a first proximally directed edge <NUM> arranged generally parallel with the extension of the medicament container holder <NUM> at the outer ends of the extensions <NUM>. The first edge <NUM> transforms into a second edge <NUM> having an inclination in the rearward proximal direction as seen in <FIG>. The second edge <NUM> then transforms into a third edge <NUM> again being generally parallel with the extension of the medicament container holder <NUM>. The extensions <NUM> are further arranged with tongues <NUM> that extend in the rear direction of the medicament container holder <NUM>. The tongues <NUM> have a somewhat outwardly inclination of their free ends and have resilient properties.

The proximal housing part <NUM> is further arranged with two guide walls <NUM>, <FIG>, between which the medicament container holder <NUM> is placed. One of the guide walls <NUM> closest to the activating element <NUM> is arranged with a spring element <NUM> that in the embodiment shown is a resilient tongue, the function of which will be described below. At an end of the guide walls <NUM> vertical grooves <NUM> are arranged, positioned opposite each other. Between the grooves <NUM> a generally circular passage <NUM> is arranged in the proximal housing part <NUM>. A needle assembly <NUM>, <FIG> and <FIG>, is arranged to be positioned between the guide walls <NUM>. The needle assembly <NUM> is generally tubular and is arranged with two oppositely positioned, generally rectangular, guide elements <NUM>, <FIG>, which guide elements <NUM> are designed to fit into the grooves <NUM> of the guide walls <NUM>, enabling movement but preventing rotation of the needle assembly <NUM>. The needle assembly <NUM> is arranged with a downwardly directed injection needle part <NUM>, <FIG>. Further on a side surface of the needle assembly <NUM> a piercing needle part <NUM> is arranged and directed towards the medicament container holder <NUM>.

A passage <NUM> is arranged inside the needle assembly <NUM> between the injection needle part <NUM> and the piercing needle part <NUM>, creating a communication between them. In this regard, it is to be understood that the injection needle part <NUM> and the piercing needle part <NUM> could be formed by a single tubular element sharpened in both ends and arranged in the needle assembly <NUM>. Resilient bellows 148A, 148B, <FIG>, are arranged surrounding each of the needle ends that are outside the needle assembly <NUM>, in the initial position of the needle assembly <NUM>, keeping them sterile. Coaxial with and arranged surrounding the needle assembly <NUM> is a generally tubular needle guard <NUM>, <FIG>. Longitudinal cut-outs <NUM> are arranged in the tubular needle guard <NUM>, in which the guide elements <NUM> of the medicament member holder <NUM> fit. The needle guard <NUM> extends through the passage <NUM> in the proximal housing part <NUM>. In the initial position of the medicament delivery needle guard <NUM>, it is prevented from any movement due to inwardly directed ledges <NUM> of the extensions <NUM> of the medicament container holder <NUM> fitting into slits <NUM> on the distal part of the needle guard <NUM>.

A bottom part of the needle guard <NUM> is arranged with a generally circular support plate <NUM>, which support plate <NUM> is arranged with a central hole <NUM> somewhat larger than the diameter of the injection needle part <NUM>. The support plate <NUM> is in its initial position placed in a recess <NUM> on the outer surface of the first housing part <NUM>, surrounding the passage <NUM>, so that the outer surface of the support plate <NUM> is generally in the same plane as the outer surface of the proximal housing part <NUM>. A needle guard spring <NUM> is arranged between an inner surface of the support plate <NUM> and the guide elements <NUM> of the needle assembly <NUM>. The needle guard <NUM> is further arranged with wedge-shaped stop ledges <NUM> on its outer surface that have end surfaces <NUM> directed downwards. The needle guard <NUM> is further arranged with upwardly directed tongues <NUM> that are flexible in the generally radial direction. The tongues <NUM> are arranged with outwardly directed wedge-shaped protrusions <NUM>.

In general, it can be noted that the rotator <NUM>, the drive spring <NUM>, the gear teeth <NUM>, the gear rack <NUM> and the medicament container holder <NUM> form both a penetration mechanism as well as a medicament container connection mechanism. Further, it may be noted that the teeth100, the gear rack <NUM>, the medicament container holder <NUM> and the extension can be regarded as drive elements for causing a penetration movement of the needle assembly <NUM>.

The device is intended to function as follows. When the device is delivered to a user, the clock spring <NUM> is in a tensioned state. It is held in this tensioned state by the first arm <NUM> of the activating element <NUM> engaging with the cut-out <NUM> of the rotator <NUM> of the drive unit <NUM>, <FIG>. The first arm <NUM> is in turn held stationary in that the second arm <NUM> is in engagement with the second cut-out <NUM> of the activator <NUM>, <FIG>. The activator <NUM> is however prevented from being depressed due to that the lock element <NUM> is positioned with an arrow on the activator ring pointing at the "<NUM>" indicia, in which position the inwardly directed protrusion <NUM> of the lock element <NUM> is in contact with a proximally directed end surface of the activator <NUM>, <FIG>.

The needle guard <NUM> is locked in the retracted position, <FIG>, by the ledges <NUM> of the extensions <NUM> fitting into the slits <NUM> of the distal end of the needle guard, with the support plate <NUM> placed in the recess <NUM>. Further, the needle assembly <NUM> with the injection needle part <NUM> is held in the retracted position inside the housing by the needle guard spring <NUM>, <FIG>. As seen in <FIG>, the injection needle is protected by the bellows 148A.

The user opens the lid <NUM> and places a medicament container <NUM> in the medicament container holder <NUM> and replaces the lid <NUM>. The user then attaches the housing with the proximal housing part <NUM> against a body part. The device may be attached in different ways, such as with a strap, band <NUM> or the like as shown. It is however to be understood that other types of attachments may be feasible, such as an adhesive layer on the surface of the proximal housing part <NUM>, providing releasable attachment to a body part of a user.

When the device is to be used, the user turns the grip ring <NUM> of the lock element <NUM> from the "<NUM>" position to the "<NUM>", <FIG>, in which the device can be activated. The rotation of the lock element <NUM> will move the inwardly directed protrusion <NUM> of the lock element <NUM> to be in line with the third cut-out <NUM> of the body <NUM> of the activator <NUM>, i.e. the activator <NUM> may be depressed. When it is time to start an injection the user depresses the activator <NUM> into the housing against the spring force of the resilient member <NUM>. This movement of the activator <NUM> will cause the second arm <NUM> to move out of engagement with the second cut-out <NUM> of the activator <NUM>, <FIG>, whereby the activating element <NUM> is free to rotate around the post <NUM> due to the force from the rotator <NUM> acting on the first arm <NUM> by the clock spring <NUM>. This will then cause the first arm <NUM> to move out of contact with the rotator <NUM>.

The rotation of the rotator <NUM> will cause its gear teeth <NUM> on the outer surface to interact with the gear rack <NUM> on the side of the medicament container holder <NUM> as seen in <FIG>. This in turn will cause the medicament container holder <NUM> to move forward guided by the guide walls <NUM> of the proximal housing part <NUM>, <FIG>. The inclined second edges <NUM> of forwardly directed extensions <NUM> will act on the guide elements <NUM> of the needle assembly <NUM> as transfer elements, <FIG>, and since the guide elements <NUM> are placed in the grooves <NUM> of the guide walls <NUM>, the needle assembly <NUM> will be moved in the proximal direction, whereby the bellows 148A surrounding the injection needle part <NUM> will be depressed and penetrated by the injection needle part <NUM>, <FIG>. Further movement of the needle assembly <NUM> will cause a penetration of the patient by the injection needle part <NUM>. The penetration movement is stopped when the guide elements <NUM> reach the third edges <NUM> of the extensions <NUM> of the medicament container holder <NUM>, <FIG>.

At this position of the medicament container holder <NUM>, the tongues <NUM> on the extensions <NUM> have past the guide walls <NUM> and due to the slight inclination and the resilient properties of the tongues <NUM> they have flexed outwardly, preventing any movement towards the initial position of the medicament container holder <NUM>, <FIG>. During the penetration movement of the needle assembly <NUM> the needle guard spring <NUM> will be depressed by the guide elements <NUM> of the needle assembly <NUM>, <FIG>. The needle guard <NUM> has been released in that the ledges <NUM> of the extensions <NUM> of the medicament container holder <NUM> have been moved out of the slits <NUM> of the needle guard <NUM> as seen in <FIG>. However, the needle guard <NUM> is prevented from moving in that the support plate <NUM> of the needle guard <NUM> is in contact with the body of the user.

In addition, the movement of the medicament container holder <NUM> will cause the front end of the medicament container <NUM> to move towards and come in contact with the bellows 148B of the piercing needle part <NUM> wherein the bellows 148B will be depressed and pierced by the piercing needle part <NUM> and further movement will cause the piercing needle part <NUM> to penetrate a septum <NUM> of the medicament container, creating a passage between the interior of the medicament container <NUM> and the injection needle part <NUM>, <FIG>.

The rotator <NUM> will continue to rotate, but now the gear rack <NUM> has been moved out of contact with the gear teeth <NUM> of the rotator <NUM>, as seen in <FIG>. Due to the side wall <NUM> of the rotator <NUM>, when the rotator <NUM> is rotating, driven by the drive spring <NUM>, the rotator <NUM> will push the row of balls <NUM> in the channel <NUM> formed by the hub <NUM> of the rotator and the lid <NUM>. When the rotator <NUM> rotates, the stop ledge <NUM> will move out of blocking engagement with the foremost ball <NUM>, <FIG>. The balls <NUM> will now be pushed along the guide walls <NUM>, <NUM> and into the curved channel <NUM> until the foremost ball <NUM> comes in contact with a stopper <NUM> of the medicament container <NUM>.

Continuing movement of the row of balls <NUM> will move the stopper <NUM> in the forward direction inside the medicament container <NUM> thereby causing an injection of medicament through the injection needle part <NUM> into the injection site, <FIG>. During the rotation of the rotator <NUM> for performing the injection, the first arm <NUM> of the activating element <NUM> will be in contact with the gear teeth <NUM> of the rotator <NUM> and be pressed in contact by the spring element <NUM> acting on the second arm <NUM>. The contact of the first arm <NUM> will cause a clicking sound and maybe also a tactile feeling when the rotator <NUM> is rotating, which will indicate to a user that the injection is in progress.

When the injection sequence has come to an end due to that the stopper <NUM> is in the most forward position inside the medicament container <NUM>, the rotator <NUM> will stop rotating, whereby the indication will stop. The user can then remove the device from the injection site. This will now cause the needle guard <NUM> to extend from the proximal housing part <NUM> due to the force from the needle guard spring <NUM>, <FIG>. The extending movement will cause the wedge-shaped protrusions <NUM> of the flexible tongues <NUM> to pass the edge of the passage <NUM> of the proximal housing part <NUM> and flex out afterwards. The extending movement stops when the stop ledges <NUM> hit the inner surface of the proximal housing part <NUM>. The needle guard <NUM> is thus locked from movement dues to the stop ledges <NUM> and the protrusions <NUM> of the tongues <NUM>. The device may now be discarded in a safe way.

Claim 1:
Medicament delivery device comprising a housing (<NUM>, <NUM>),
- a medicament container holder (<NUM>) arranged to accommodate a medicament container (<NUM>),
- a needle assembly (<NUM>) comprising an injection needle part (<NUM>) and a penetration needle part (<NUM>), wherein the extension of the injection needle part (<NUM>) and the extension of the penetration needle part (<NUM>) are angled generally <NUM> degrees,
- a penetration mechanism (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) arranged to move the needle assembly (<NUM>) in a direction generally coinciding with the extension of the injection needle part (<NUM>) between an initial position of the injection needle part (<NUM>) inside said housing to a penetration position with the injection needle part (<NUM>) extending outside said housing;
- a medicament container connection mechanism (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) arranged to move the medicament container holder (<NUM>) and the medicament container (<NUM>) in a direction generally coinciding with the penetration needle part (<NUM>) for creating a flow passage from the interior of the medicament container (<NUM>) to an outlet of the injection needle part;
wherein characterized in that the medicament delivery device comprises a drive mechanism (<NUM>) comprising a rotator (<NUM>), arranged to be rotated by a tensioned drive spring (<NUM>), and drive elements (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) arranged between said rotator (<NUM>) and said needle assembly (<NUM>) for causing a penetration by said injection needle part (<NUM>); and
wherein said drive elements comprise said medicament container holder (<NUM>) operatively connected between said rotator (<NUM>) and said needle assembly (<NUM>) such that the medicament container holder (<NUM>) as such drives the needle assembly (<NUM>) from the initial position to the penetration position.