Patent Description:
For the health and convenience of patients that require regular medicament dosages, medicament is often prepared in drug delivery devices for at-home usage. Medicament prepared for at-home usage is often prepared as prefilled hypodermic syringes or autoinjectors. These medicament dosages, designed for personal use, are typically not administered by medical professionals, but personally administered. As a result, these medicament products are designed for ease of personal use by persons with limited medical training.

The drug delivery products for at-home use typically include a proximal end having a needle or cannula and a distal end having apparatus to actuate the drug delivery device. As a result, the drug delivery products are uncomplicated designs. For example, an autoinjector may have a simple cylindrical design similar in size and shape to a pen. The autoinjector may have a needle guard on a proximal end and a button at a distal end of the autoinjector that administers the drug to the patient. As the drug delivery devices are used at home and designed for personal use, the drug delivery devices are designed with security features to protect the patients during at home use.

<CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> disclose prior art drug delivery devices.

The present disclosure relates to a drug delivery device. The drug delivery device includes a housing including a proximal end and a distal end. A needle guard is disposed at the proximal end of the housing and movable in an axial direction relative the housing between a first, extended, position and a second, retracted, position. The drug delivery device also includes a storage container disposed within the housing for storing a drug and including a needle for administering the drug. Additionally, the drug delivery device also includes an injection activation button disposed on the distal end of the housing and including a fingerprint detector for preventing the user from accidentally attempting to use the drug delivery device (<NUM>) upside down. A lock disposed in the housing is configured to switch between a locked configuration inhibiting actuation of the drug delivery device and an unlocked configuration enabling actuation of the delivery device. The lock is transitioned to the unlocked configuration when the needle guard is in the second position and the fingerprint detector detects a fingerprint.

The present disclosure also includes a method of operating a drug delivery device. The method includes providing a drug delivery device including a housing, a syringe, a needle guard, an injection activation button having a fingerprint detector, and a lock. The method also includes depressing a needle guard and causing the needle guard to move axially into the housing. The method further includes unlocking the lock of the drug delivery device via placing a thumb or a finger on the fingerprint detector on the injection activation button; and actuating the injection activation button with the thumb or finger.

The present disclosure also includes a method of preparing a drug delivery device. The method of preparing the drug delivery device includes providing a drug delivery device including a housing, a syringe, a needle guard, an injection activation button having a fingerprint detector, and a lock. The method includes positioning the needle guard of the drug delivery device against a surface and depressing the needle guard into the housing by pushing the needle guard against the surface. The method additionally includes placing a finger or thumb on the fingerprint detector and transitioning the lock from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration in response to detecting the finger or thumb placed on the fingerprint detector.

It is believed that the disclosure will be more fully understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Some of the drawings may have been simplified by the omission of selected elements for the purpose of more clearly showing other elements. Such omissions of elements in some drawings are not necessarily indicative of the presence or absence of particular elements in any of the exemplary embodiments, except as may be explicitly delineated in the corresponding written description. Also, none of the drawings are necessarily to scale.

For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

Drug delivery devices designed for at-home use can include autoinjector products. Typically such autoinjector products are similar in size and shape to a pen and include a needle guard on a proximal end and an injection activation button on a distal end. However, some users can confuse the proximal end and the distal end of the autoinjector product. As a result, the user can attempt to use an autoinjector upside down. Thus, instead of injecting an injection site, the user accidentally depresses the needle guard with their finger or thumb and inject a finger or thumb.

In accordance with the present disclosure, the drug delivery device includes a fingerprint detector disposed on the injection activation button. Because fingerprints are unique to pads of fingers and thumbs, the fingerprint detector is useable to determine if a finger or thumb is being used to actuate an injection activation button. Accordingly, if a user accidentally attempts to use the autoinjector upside down, the fingerprint detector would not detect a fingerprint or a thumb print, because the injection site does not include a fingerprint or a thumbprint.

The autoinjector of the present disclosure includes a lock that inhibits activation of the drug delivery device. The lock in the locked configuration prevents administration of medicament to the patient. In contrast, when the lock is transitioned to an unlocked configuration, a biasing member can push a plunger in a medicament storage container to dispel a drug and administer a drug to a patient. In accordance with the present disclosure, a controller, connected to the fingerprint detector, is programmed to transition the lock from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration when a fingerprint or thumbprint is detected. As a result, when the injection activation button is actuated, the biasing member pushes the plunger to administer the medicament to the patient.

In contrast, if the autoinjector user attempts to use the autoinjector upside down, the fingerprint detector would fail to detect a fingerprint or thumbprint and the lock would not be transitioned from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration. Accordingly, when the user presses the autoinjector against the injection site and actuates the injection activation button, the lock prevents the biasing member from pushing a plunger to administer the medicament to the patient. Additionally, the drug delivery device includes a user feedback mechanism, such as an audible alert or a status light, to alert the user that they attempted to use the drug delivery device upside down. Thus, the drug delivery device is prevented from injecting medicament into a user's finger or thumb.

<FIG> is a side view of a drug delivery device <NUM> of the present disclosure being held by a user <NUM>. The drug delivery device <NUM> is an autoinjector pen including a housing <NUM> having a storage container <NUM> for storing a medicament or drug. In some examples, the storage container <NUM> is part of a syringe disposed in the housing <NUM>. Additionally, the housing <NUM> includes a proximal end having a needle guard <NUM> and a distal end having an injection activation button <NUM>. In some examples, the housing <NUM> can include an image, text, or other indicia to indicate the proper orientation of the drug delivery device <NUM>. For example, the housing <NUM> can include an arrow pointing in the direction of the injection; text near the proximal end stating "needle end," or "down;" text near the distal end stating "thumb end" or "up;" or any combination of the same or similar images, text, or other indicia.

The needle guard <NUM>, disposed at the proximal end of the housing <NUM>, is movable in an axial direction relative the housing <NUM> between a first position (e.g., an extended position) and a second position (e.g., a retracted position). The needle guard <NUM>, in the first position, is at least partially disposed outside the housing <NUM> such that a needle or cannula (not shown) disposed within the housing <NUM> is not damaged and does not accidentally hurt a patient. In contrast, the needle guard <NUM> in the second position is retracted into the housing <NUM> such that it is substantially or entirely disposed within the housing <NUM>. In some configurations, the needle guard <NUM> is disposed within the housing a greater extent in the second position than in the first position. The drug delivery device <NUM> can only inject medicament into the patient when the needle or cannula occupies an injection position and the needle guard <NUM> is in the retracted second position.

In other examples, the needle guard <NUM> may collapse or compress from the first position to the second position. For example, the needle guard <NUM> could comprise a series of telescoping rings that collapse to expose the needle or cannula when in the injection position. Alternatively, the needle guard <NUM> could be made of a flexible material, such as rubber or silicon, that compresses to expose the needle or cannula when in the injection position.

The drug delivery device <NUM> includes a needle or cannula in fluid communication with the storage container <NUM>. In some configurations, the needle or cannula is partially disposed outside the housing <NUM>, beyond its proximal end, yet still disposed within the needle guard <NUM> when the needle guard <NUM> is in the first position. Thus, the needle is always in an injection position and does not need to move to administer medicament to the patient. However, the needle or cannula can only administer the medicament or drug to a patient when the needle is exposed. The needle becomes exposed when the needle guard <NUM> is moved to the second position. Other configurations are possible including, for example, those where the needle or cannula is attached to a storage container that must be moved axially toward the proximal end of the housing <NUM> in order to expose the needle or cannula for administration. Other configurations are possible.

The drug delivery device <NUM> may additionally include a removable needle cap <NUM> also configured to protect the needle or cannula disposed within the housing <NUM> and the needle guard <NUM>. The needle cap <NUM> acts as a seal to prevent the drug or medicament from drying out and clogging the needle and can include, for example, a rigid needle shield (RNS). The needle cap <NUM> also maintains sterility of the needle or cannula. When using the drug delivery device <NUM>, the needle cap <NUM> needs to be removed from the drug delivery device <NUM> before depressing the needle guard <NUM> from the first position to the second position.

Though not depicted in the figures, the drug delivery device <NUM> of the present disclosure also includes a stopper disposed in the drug storage container <NUM>, which can be moved via a plunger which is actuated by an actuator that can include a biasing member (e.g., a spring) for dispelling the drug or medicament from the container <NUM>, through the needle, and into the patient during use.

As mentioned above, the drug delivery device <NUM> includes the injection activation button <NUM> disposed on the distal end of the housing <NUM>. The injection activation button <NUM> is connected to the actuator of the drug delivery device <NUM> for initiating administration. For example, in some configurations, depression of the injection activation button <NUM> is designed to release the biasing member. The biasing member is configured to translate linearly within the housing when the lock <NUM> is in the unlocked configuration. The biasing member is also configured to push the plunger, which urges the stopper disposed in the storage container <NUM>, toward the proximal end of the housing <NUM> such that the drug or medicament is dispelled from the drug storage container <NUM> and through the needle or cannula and into the patient. The biasing member can include a spring, pressurized gas cartridge, motor, or similar apparatus to push the plunger and stopper within the storage container. As a result, actuation of the injection activation button <NUM> causes the drug delivery device <NUM> to administer the dosage of medicament to a patient.

The injection activation button <NUM> is movable in the axial direction relative the housing <NUM>. However, the injection activation button <NUM> can be movable in another direction, actuated via pressure sensor, or utilize other actuation mechanisms known in the art. Additionally, in accordance with the present disclosure, the injection activation button <NUM> includes a fingerprint detector <NUM>. The fingerprint detector <NUM> disposed on the injection activation button <NUM> is configured to detect if a finger or thumb is disposed on the injection activation button <NUM>. Fingerprints and thumbprints are unique to the pads of fingers and thumbs, and such patterns typically do not occur on any other portion of the body. Accordingly, if the fingerprint detector <NUM> identifies a pattern of a fingerprint or thumbprint, the drug delivery device <NUM> is configured to determine that a pad of a finger or thumb is disposed on the injection activation button <NUM>.

The drug delivery device <NUM> additionally includes a lock <NUM> configured to switch between a locked configuration inhibiting actuation of the drug delivery device <NUM> and an unlocked configuration. The lock <NUM>, in the locked configuration, inhibits movement of the biasing member. However, the lock <NUM> can be configured to restrict movement of the injection activation button <NUM>, the plunger, or any other movable component of the drug delivery device <NUM>. In some examples, the lock <NUM> is a solenoid latch member that is retracted when in the unlocked position. The lock <NUM> is transitioned from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration when the fingerprint detector <NUM> detects a fingerprint. Additionally, in some examples, the lock <NUM> is transitioned to the unlocked configuration when both the fingerprint detector <NUM> detects a fingerprint and the needle guard <NUM> is disposed in the second position. Details of how the disclosed drug delivery device can achieve this are discussed further below.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the drug delivery device <NUM> of <FIG> pressed against the skin of a user <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the user <NUM> is stretching the patient skin <NUM>, however in other examples, the user <NUM> can pinch the patient skin <NUM> prior to administering the medicament or drug. Pressing the proximal end of the drug delivery device <NUM> and, more particularly, the needle guard <NUM> against the skin of the patient or user <NUM> is typically the first step in using the drug delivery device after the needle cap <NUM> is removed from the drug delivery device <NUM>. The drug delivery device <NUM> can be pressed against any suitable injection site, for example, the thigh, abdomen, or upper arm.

Pressing the drug delivery device <NUM> against the patient skin <NUM> causes the needle guard <NUM> to move from the first position (e.g., extended position) to the second position (e.g., retracted position). As a result, the needle guard <NUM> is substantially or entirely disposed within the proximal end of the housing <NUM>. In accordance with the present disclosure, the needle guard <NUM>, in the second position, exposes the needle in the injection position. As a result, the needle, in the injection position and uncovered by the needle guard, punctures the patient's skin for administering the drug or medicament. Thus, in the disclosed configuration, the patient skin <NUM> is punctured by the needle at the same time the needle guard <NUM> moves from the first position to the second position. In other configurations, needle puncture may occur after the needle guard <NUM> is retracted to the second position.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the drug delivery device <NUM> of <FIG> including actuating the injection activation button <NUM>. Accordingly, the user <NUM> administers the medicament stored in the syringe within the housing <NUM> at an injection site <NUM>. As a result, so long as the user <NUM> keeps the drug delivery device <NUM> pressed against the injection site <NUM>, the drug delivery device <NUM> administers the medicament. In some examples, the user may need to keep the drug delivery device <NUM> pressed against the injection site <NUM> for two to fifteen seconds.

Actuating the injection activation button <NUM> includes depressing the injection activation button <NUM> with the thumb or finger. Additionally, after insertion of the needle, the drug delivery device <NUM> also dispenses a drug through the needle upon actuating the injection activation button <NUM>.

However, in accordance with the present invention, the housing additionally includes the lock <NUM>. The lock <NUM> inhibits administration of the drug when the fingerprint detector <NUM> fails to detect a fingerprint disposed against the injection actuation button. However, the lock <NUM> can be transitioned to an unlocked configuration when the fingerprint detector <NUM> detects a fingerprint or thumbprint. The fingerprint detector <NUM> detects a fingerprint or thumbprint when the user <NUM> placing a thumb <NUM> or a finger on the fingerprint detector <NUM> disposed on the injection activation button <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram <NUM> of the fingerprint detector <NUM> and a controller <NUM> of the drug delivery device <NUM> including the lock <NUM>. In accordance with the present disclosure, the fingerprint detector <NUM> is disposed on the injection activation button <NUM>. Additionally, the controller <NUM> and the lock <NUM> can be disposed near the distal end of the drug delivery device <NUM>, however, the controller <NUM> and the lock <NUM> can be disposed anywhere within the housing <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is coupled to both the fingerprint detector <NUM> and the lock <NUM>. In accordance with the present disclosure, the controller <NUM> is programmed to determine if a fingerprint or thumb print is detected via the fingerprint detector <NUM> and, if a fingerprint or thumb print is detected, place the lock <NUM> in the unlocked configuration. In some examples, the controller <NUM> is additionally programmed to transition the lock <NUM> from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration if a fingerprint or thumbprint is not detected for a preset period of time (e.g., <NUM> seconds, <NUM>, second, <NUM> seconds, etc.).

The controller <NUM> directly receives information of a fingerprint or thumbprint detected by the fingerprint detector <NUM>. After detecting a fingerprint or thumbprint, the fingerprint detector <NUM> sends an electrical signal to the controller <NUM>. The fingerprint detector <NUM> is mounted on a distal end of the injection activation button <NUM>. As a result, a pad of a finger or thumb placed on the injection activation button <NUM> will be detected by the fingerprint detector <NUM>. The fingerprint detector <NUM> is one of an optical scanner, a capacitive or complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) scanner, an ultrasound scanner, a thermal scanner, or other system for detecting the presence of a fingerprint or thumbprint. As shown in <FIG>, the fingerprint detector <NUM> includes a graphic representation of a fingerprint or thumbprint. In other examples, the fingerprint detector <NUM> can include an alternative image of a fingerprint or thumbprint, an image of a thumb or finger, text including the word "Thumb" or "place thumb here," or no graphic at all.

In accordance with the present disclosure, the fingerprint detector <NUM> only needs to identify a pattern corresponding to a fingerprint or a thumbprint. The fingerprint detector <NUM> does not detect fingerprint or thumbprints to determine the identity of user <NUM>. The pads of fingers and thumbs are the only skin to include patterns like fingerprints and thumbprints. As a result, by detecting fingerprints and thumbprints, the lock <NUM> is only unlocked when a finger or thumb is used to actuate the drug delivery device <NUM>. Accordingly, the fingerprint detector <NUM> prevents a user <NUM> from accidentally attempting to actuate the injection activation button <NUM> with the injection site <NUM> instead of the thumb <NUM>. If a user <NUM> attempts to use the drug delivery device <NUM> upside down, the controller <NUM> will not transition the lock <NUM> to the unlocked configuration, because the injection site <NUM> does not have a pattern like a fingerprint or thumbprint.

The lock <NUM>, shown in <FIG>, is a solenoid latch. The controller <NUM> transitions the lock <NUM> to an unlocked configuration by retracting the latch of the solenoid latch. Alternatively, the lock <NUM> could be a magnetic lock or motor actuated lock. The lock <NUM>, when in the locked configuration, inhibits movement of the stopper through the storage container <NUM>, for example, by inhibiting movement of the biasing member by, for example, physically interfering with the biasing member's ability to naturally expand. However, in the unlocked configuration, the lock <NUM> does not inhibit movement of the syringe components.

The fingerprint detector <NUM>, the controller <NUM> and the lock <NUM> are powered by a battery <NUM> or other, preferably portable, electrical power source (e.g., a photovoltaic cell). The battery <NUM> could include a paper battery, a button or coin cell battery, or other compact battery designs. Additionally, the battery <NUM> could rely on alkaline, lithium, zinc-air, nickel metal hydride, or other battery technologies for storing electrical energy. Because the battery <NUM> is small, the battery <NUM> can be disposed anywhere within the housing <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the drug delivery device <NUM> of <FIG> in an incorrect orientation. For example, the proximal and distal end of the drug delivery device <NUM> are similar and incorrectly placed. As a result, the user <NUM> presses the injection activation button <NUM> of the drug delivery device <NUM> against the injection site <NUM>. As a result, the proximal end of the drug delivery device <NUM>, including the needle guard <NUM> and the needle are away from the injection site <NUM> and near the finger or thumb <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the drug delivery device <NUM> of <FIG> in the incorrect orientation of <FIG>, including attempting to use the drug delivery device <NUM>. However, in accordance with the present disclosure the drug delivery device <NUM> does not inject a drug or medicament into the thumb or finger of the user <NUM>, but rather provides a user feedback, such as a vibration <NUM>. In other configurations, the error feedback can include any one or more of haptic feedback, audible feedback, visual feedback, etc..

The drug delivery device provides the user feedback <NUM>, because the injection activation button <NUM> is actuated while the lock <NUM> is in the locked configuration. The user feedback <NUM> can inform the user <NUM> that the injection of a drug or medicament was not administered. As a result, the user <NUM> can rotate the drug delivery device <NUM> around and properly administer the drug or medicament. The user feedback <NUM> can additionally or alternatively include a noise alert or status light.

The above description describes various devices, assemblies, components, subsystems and methods for use related to a drug delivery device. The devices, assemblies, components, subsystems, methods or drug delivery devices can further comprise or be used with a drug including but not limited to those drugs identified below as well as their generic and biosimilar counterparts. The term drug, as used herein, can be used interchangeably with other similar terms and can be used to refer to any type of medicament or therapeutic material including traditional and non-traditional pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, supplements, biologics, biologically active agents and compositions, large molecules, biosimilars, bioequivalents, therapeutic antibodies, polypeptides, proteins, small molecules and generics. Non-therapeutic injectable materials are also encompassed. The drug may be in liquid form, a lyophilized form, or in a reconstituted from lyophilized form. The following example list of drugs should not be considered as all-inclusive or limiting.

The drug will be contained in a reservoir. In some instances, the reservoir is a primary container that is either filled or pre-filled for treatment with the drug. The primary container can be a vial, a cartridge or a pre-filled syringe.

In some embodiments, the reservoir of the drug delivery device may be filled with or the device can be used with colony stimulating factors, such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Such G-CSF agents include but are not limited to Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim, pegylated filgastrim, pegylated G-CSF, pegylated hu-Met-G-CSF) and Neupogen® (filgrastim, G-CSF, hu-MetG-CSF), UDENYCA® (pegfilgrastim-cbqv), Ziextenzo® (LA-EP2006; pegfilgrastim-bmez), or FULPHILA (pegfilgrastim-bmez).

In other embodiments, the drug delivery device may contain or be used with an erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA), which may be in liquid or lyophilized form. An ESA is any molecule that stimulates erythropoiesis. In some embodiments, an ESA is an erythropoiesis stimulating protein. As used herein, "erythropoiesis stimulating protein" means any protein that directly or indirectly causes activation of the erythropoietin receptor, for example, by binding to and causing dimerization of the receptor. Erythropoiesis stimulating proteins include erythropoietin and variants, analogs, or derivatives thereof that bind to and activate erythropoietin receptor; antibodies that bind to erythropoietin receptor and activate the receptor; or peptides that bind to and activate erythropoietin receptor. Erythropoiesis stimulating proteins include, but are not limited to, Epogen® (epoetin alfa), Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa), Dynepo® (epoetin delta), Mircera® (methyoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta), Hematide®, MRK-<NUM>, INS-<NUM>, Retacrit® (epoetin zeta), Neorecormon® (epoetin beta), Silapo® (epoetin zeta), Binocrit® (epoetin alfa), epoetin alfa Hexal, Abseamed® (epoetin alfa), Ratioepo® (epoetin theta), Eporatio® (epoetin theta), Biopoin® (epoetin theta), epoetin alfa, epoetin beta, epoetin iota, epoetin omega, epoetin delta, epoetin zeta, epoetin theta, and epoetin delta, pegylated erythropoietin, carbamylated erythropoietin, as well as the molecules or variants or analogs thereof.

Among particular illustrative proteins are the specific proteins set forth below, including fusions, fragments, analogs, variants or derivatives thereof: OPGL specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like (also referred to as RANKL specific antibodies, peptibodies and the like), including fully humanized and human OPGL specific antibodies, particularly fully humanized monoclonal antibodies; Myostatin binding proteins, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like, including myostatin specific peptibodies; IL-<NUM> receptor specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like, particularly those that inhibit activities mediated by binding of IL-<NUM> and/or IL-<NUM> to the receptor; Interleukin <NUM>-receptor <NUM> ("IL1-R1") specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like; Ang2 specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like; NGF specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like; CD22 specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like, particularly human CD22 specific antibodies, such as but not limited to humanized and fully human antibodies, including but not limited to humanized and fully human monoclonal antibodies, particularly including but not limited to human CD22 specific IgG antibodies, such as, a dimer of a human-mouse monoclonal hLL2 gamma-chain disulfide linked to a human-mouse monoclonal hLL2 kappa-chain, for example, the human CD22 specific fully humanized antibody in Epratuzumab, CAS registry number <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>; IGF-<NUM> receptor specific antibodies, peptibodies, and related proteins, and the like including but not limited to anti-IGF-1R antibodies; B-<NUM> related protein <NUM> specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins and the like ("B7RP-<NUM>" and also referring to B7H2, ICOSL, B7h, and CD275), including but not limited to B7RP-specific fully human monoclonal IgG2 antibodies, including but not limited to fully human IgG2 monoclonal antibody that binds an epitope in the first immunoglobulin-like domain of B7RP-<NUM>, including but not limited to those that inhibit the interaction of B7RP-<NUM> with its natural receptor, ICOS, on activated T cells; IL-<NUM> specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like, such as, in particular, humanized monoclonal antibodies, including but not limited to HuMax IL-<NUM> antibodies and related proteins, such as, for instance, 145c7; IFN gamma specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins and the like, including but not limited to human IFN gamma specific antibodies, and including but not limited to fully human anti-IFN gamma antibodies; TALL-<NUM> specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like, and other TALL specific binding proteins; Parathyroid hormone ("PTH") specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like; Thrombopoietin receptor ("TPO-R") specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like;Hepatocyte growth factor ("HGF") specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like, including those that target the HGF/SF:cMet axis (HGF/SF:c-Met), such as fully human monoclonal antibodies that neutralize hepatocyte growth factor/scatter (HGF/SF); TRAIL-R2 specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins and the like; Activin A specific antibodies, peptibodies, proteins, and the like; TGF-beta specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like; Amyloid-beta protein specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like; c-Kit specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like, including but not limited to proteins that bind c-Kit and/or other stem cell factor receptors; OX40L specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like, including but not limited to proteins that bind OX40L and/or other ligands of the OX40 receptor; Activase® (alteplase, tPA); Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa) Erythropoietin [<NUM>-asparagine, <NUM>-threonine, <NUM>-valine, <NUM>-asparagine, <NUM>-threonine], Darbepoetin alfa, novel erythropoiesis stimulating protein (NESP); Epogen® (epoetin alfa, or erythropoietin); GLP-<NUM>, Avonex® (interferon beta-1a); Bexxar® (tositumomab, anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody); Betaseron® (interferon-beta); Campath® (alemtuzumab, anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody); Dynepo® (epoetin delta); Velcade® (bortezomib); MLN0002 (anti-α4β7 mAb); MLN1202 (anti-CCR2 chemokine receptor mAb); Enbrel® (etanercept, TNF-receptor /Fc fusion protein, TNF blocker); Eprex® (epoetin alfa); Erbitux® (cetuximab, anti-EGFR / HER1 / c-ErbB-<NUM>); Genotropin® (somatropin, Human Growth Hormone); Herceptin® (trastuzumab, anti-HER2/neu (erbB2) receptor mAb); Kanjinti™ (trastuzumab-anns) anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody, biosimilar to Herceptin®, or another product containing trastuzumab for the treatment of breast or gastric cancers; Humatrope® (somatropin, Human Growth Hormone); Humira® (adalimumab); Vectibix® (panitumumab), Xgeva® (denosumab), Prolia® (denosumab), Immunoglobulin G2 Human Monoclonal Antibody to RANK Ligand, Enbrel® (etanercept, TNF-receptor /Fc fusion protein, TNF blocker), Nplate® (romiplostim), rilotumumab, ganitumab, conatumumab, brodalumab, insulin in solution; Infergen® (interferon alfacon-<NUM>); Natrecor® (nesiritide; recombinant human B-type natriuretic peptide (hBNP); Kineret® (anakinra); Leukine® (sargamostim, rhuGM-CSF); LymphoCide® (epratuzumab, anti-CD22 mAb); Benlysta™ (lymphostat B, belimumab, anti-BlyS mAb); Metalyse® (tenecteplase, t-PA analog); Mircera® (methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta); Mylotarg® (gemtuzumab ozogamicin); Raptiva® (efalizumab); Cimzia® (certolizumab pegol, CDP <NUM>); Soliris™ (eculizumab); pexelizumab (anti-C5 complement); Numax® (MEDI-<NUM>); Lucentis® (ranibizumab); Panorex® (<NUM>-1A, edrecolomab); Trabio® (lerdelimumab); TheraCim hR3 (nimotuzumab); Omnitarg (pertuzumab, 2C4); Osidem® (IDM-<NUM>); OvaRex® (B43. <NUM>); Nuvion® (visilizumab); cantuzumab mertansine (huC242-DM1); NeoRecormon® (epoetin beta); Neumega® (oprelvekin, human interleukin-<NUM>); Orthoclone OKT3® (muromonab-CD3, anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody); Procrit® (epoetin alfa); Remicade® (infliximab, anti-TNFα monoclonal antibody); Reopro® (abciximab, anti-GP Ilb/llia receptor monoclonal antibody); Actemra® (anti-IL6 Receptor mAb); Avastin® (bevacizumab), HuMax-CD4 (zanolimumab); MvasiTM (bevacizumab-awwb); Rituxan® (rituximab, anti-CD20 mAb); Tarceva® (erlotinib); Roferon-A®-(interferon alfa-2a); Simulect® (basiliximab); Prexige® (lumiracoxib); Synagis® (palivizumab); 145c7-CHO (anti-IL15 antibody, see <CIT>); Tysabri® (natalizumab, anti-α4integrin mAb); Valortim® (MDX-<NUM>, anti-B. anthracis protective antigen mAb); ABthrax™; Xolair® (omalizumab); ETI211 (anti-MRSA mAb); IL-<NUM> trap (the Fc portion of human IgG1 and the extracellular domains of both IL-<NUM> receptor components (the Type I receptor and receptor accessory protein)); VEGF trap (Ig domains of VEGFR1 fused to IgG1 Fc); Zenapax® (daclizumab); Zenapax® (daclizumab, anti-IL-2Rα mAb); Zevalin® (ibritumomab tiuxetan); Zetia® (ezetimibe); Orencia® (atacicept, TACI-Ig); anti-CD80 monoclonal antibody (galiximab); anti-CD23 mAb (lumiliximab); BR2-Fc (huBR3 / huFc fusion protein, soluble BAFF antagonist); CNTO <NUM> (golimumab, anti-TNFα mAb); HGS-ETR1 (mapatumumab; human anti-TRAIL Receptor-<NUM> mAb); HuMax-CD20 (ocrelizumab, anti-CD20 human mAb); HuMax-EGFR (zalutumumab); M200 (volociximab, anti-α5β1 integrin mAb); MDX-<NUM> (ipilimumab, anti-CTLA-<NUM> mAb and VEGFR-<NUM> (IMC-18F1); anti-BR3 mAb; anti-C. difficile Toxin A and Toxin B C mAbs MDX-<NUM> (CDA-<NUM>) and MDX-<NUM>); anti-CD22 dsFv-PE38 conjugates (CAT-<NUM> and CAT-<NUM>); anti-CD25 mAb (HuMax-TAC); anti-CD3 mAb (NI-<NUM>); adecatumumab; anti-CD30 mAb (MDX-<NUM>); MDX-<NUM> (anti-IFNAR); anti-CD38 mAb (HuMax CD38); anti-CD40L mAb; anti-Cripto mAb; anti-CTGF Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Phase I Fibrogen (FG-<NUM>); anti-CTLA4 mAb; anti-eotaxin1 mAb (CAT-<NUM>); anti-FGF8 mAb; anti-ganglioside GD2 mAb; anti-ganglioside GM2 mAb; anti-GDF-<NUM> human mAb (MYO-<NUM>); anti-GM-CSF Receptor mAb (CAM-<NUM>); anti-HepC mAb (HuMax HepC); anti-IFNα mAb (MEDI-<NUM>, MDX-<NUM>); anti-IGF1R mAb; anti-IGF-1R mAb (HuMax-Inflam); anti-IL12 mAb (ABT-<NUM>); anti-IL12/IL23 mAb (CNTO <NUM>); anti-IL13 mAb (CAT-<NUM>); anti-IL2Ra mAb (HuMax-TAC); anti-IL5 Receptor mAb; anti-integrin receptors mAb (MDX-<NUM>, CNTO <NUM>); anti-IP10 Ulcerative Colitis mAb (MDX-<NUM>); BMS-<NUM>; anti-Mannose Receptor/hCGβ mAb (MDX-<NUM>); anti-mesothelin dsFv-PE38 conjugate (CAT-<NUM>); anti-PD1mAb (MDX-<NUM> (ONO-<NUM>)); anti-PDGFRα antibody (IMC-3G3); anti-TGFβ mAb (GC-<NUM>); anti-TRAIL Receptor-<NUM> human mAb (HGS-ETR2); anti-TWEAK mAb; anti-VEGFR/Flt-<NUM> mAb; and anti-ZP3 mAb (HuMax-ZP3).

Although the drug delivery devices, assemblies, components, subsystems and methods have been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, they are not limited thereto. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the present disclosure. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent that would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention(s) disclosed herein.

Claim 1:
A drug delivery device (<NUM>) comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) including a proximal end and a distal end;
a needle guard (<NUM>) disposed at the proximal end of the housing (<NUM>)and movable in an axial direction relative the housing (<NUM>) between a first, extended position and a second, retracted position;
a storage container (<NUM>) disposed within the housing (<NUM>) for storing a drug and including a needle for administering the drug;
an injection activation button (<NUM>) disposed on the distal end of the housing (<NUM>) and including a fingerprint detector (<NUM>) for preventing the user from accidentally attempting to use the drug delivery device (<NUM>) upside down; and
a lock (<NUM>) configured to switch between a locked configuration inhibiting actuation of the drug delivery device (<NUM>) and an unlocked configuration enabling actuation of the delivery device (<NUM>), the lock (<NUM>) being in the unlocked configuration when the needle guard (<NUM>) is in the second position and the fingerprint detector (<NUM>) detects a fingerprint.