Autoinjector

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A variety of autoinjectors in use with the US Armed Forces

An autoinjector (or auto-injector) is a medical device designed to deliver a single dose of a particular (typically life-saving) drug.

Most autoinjectors are spring-loaded syringes. By design, autoinjectors are easy to use and are intended for self-administration by patients, or administration by untrained personnel. The site of injection depends on the drug loaded, but it typically is administered into the thigh or the buttocks. The injectors were initially designed to overcome the hesitation associated with self-administration of the needle-based drug delivery device.

Design

The autoinjector keeps the needle tip shielded prior to injection and also has a passive safety mechanism to prevent accidental firing (injection). Injection depth can be adjustable or fixed and a function for needle shield removal may be incorporated. Just by pressing a button, the syringe needle is automatically inserted and the drug is delivered. Once the injection is completed some auto injectors have visual indication to confirm that the full dose has been delivered. Autoinjectors contain glass syringes, this can make them fragile and contamination can occur. More recently, companies[1] have been looking into making autoinjectors syringes out of plastic to prevent this issue.

Examples

• Anapen, EpiPens, or the recently introduced Twinject, which is often prescribed to people who are at risk for anaphylaxis.
• Rebiject and Rebiject II autoinjectors for Rebif, the drug for interferon beta-1a used to treat Multiple Sclerosis.
• SureClick autoinjector is a combination product for drugs Enbrel or Aranesp to treat arthritis or anemia, respectively.

Military use

• Autoinjectors are often used in the military to protect personnel from chemical warfare agents. In the U.S. military, atropine and 2-PAM-Cl (pralidoxime chloride) are used for first aid ("buddy aid" or "self aid") against nerve agents. An issue item, the Mark I NAAK, provides these drugs in the form of two separate autoinjectors. A newer model, the ATNAA (Antidote Treatment Nerve Agent Auto-Injector), has both drugs in one syringe, allowing for the simplification of administration procedures. In the Gulf War, accidental and unnecessary use of atropine autoinjectors supplied to Israeli civilians proved to be a major medical problem.
• In concert with the Mark I NAAK, diazepam (Valium) autoinjectors, known as CANA, are carried by US service members.

Variants

A newer variant of the autoinjector is the gas jet autoinjector, which contains a cylinder of pressurised gas and propels a fine jet of liquid through the skin without the use of a needle. This has the advantage that the autoinjector can be reloaded, and a variety of different doses or different drugs can be used, although the only widespread application to date has been for the administration of insulin in the treatment of diabetes.^[1][2]

See also

• Syrette

References

External links

• "SmartJect Autoinjector"

• "Auto-injectors:Technology Advances and market trends" 2007 4p
• "Auto-injectors
• "Bespak Injectables"
• "BD Physioject"
• "Disposable Auto Injector"

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