A Miniature Autoinjector for Multicomponent Drugs and Vaccines

Chemical, biological, or toxin attacks in military and civilian settings are a serious and growing concern. Standard first aid for exposure to many chemical warfare agents and toxins includes the immediate administration of relevant antidotes using an autoinjector. When an attack occurs, prefilled autoinjectors must be immediately available and thus highly portable, and they must be suitable for use by nonmedical personnel. Similarly, rapid distribution and administration of targeted vaccines is critical during a biological outbreak. Storage of drug formulations as separate components within the injector (e.g., a dry medication and a diluent) can significantly extend the shelf life of many medications. Creare proposes to develop a novel miniaturized autoinjector that automatically mixes two or more pre-filled components immediately prior to injection. The drug storage and reconstitution method is based on Creare"s recently patented technology for disposable, pre-filled drug cartridges and is applicable to single-component, dry/wet, liquid/liquid, and multicomponent combinations. In Phase I, we will develop preliminary autoinjector designs and perform laboratory tests of key actuator functions to illustrate the device form and feasibility. In the Option phase, we will develop detailed designs of the actuator mechanisms, and in Phase II we will design, produce, and test prototype autoinjector devices.