The invention relates to an administering device, in particular an injection device for administering a preferably liquid product such as for example a drug. The drug can be insulin, a growth hormone or another drug. In particular, the invention relates to an administering device comprisig a means for reducing friction.

Injection devices are known from the prior art in which a dosage setting member can be screwed out of the rear end of a housing and, for administering, screwed back into the housing by means of an axial force which is applied to the dosage setting member by the user. The housing and dosage setting member are often equipped with mutually interlocking threaded elements which generate a screwing movement of the dosage setting member when a torque or axial force is applied to the dosage setting member. When the dosage setting member is activated by means of the axial force which acts in the distal direction, the mutually interlocking flights are pressed onto each other in accordance with the axial force. This increases the friction between the flights which are pressed onto each other and the flights which slide off on each other. An increased exertion of force therefore has to be applied by the user of the device in order to overcome the friction. Such a device is known for example from WO 99/38554.

The invention is based on the object of providing an administering device in which it is possible to reduce the exertion of force required for delivery.

The object is solved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments follow from the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

The invention proceeds from an administering device for administering a liquid product. The administering device can be an injection device, in particular a so-called injection pen. The administering device exhibits a preferably elongated and substantially cylindrical outer shape. The administering device can be designed as a so-called disposable item, in which a product container - in particular a carpoule or syringe - is fixedly built into the administering device. The product container cannot then be simply removed, i.e. only by destroying individual components involving in the fastening. When the product container is empty, the entire administering device is thrown away. Alternatively, the administering device can be provided for repeated use, i.e. an empty product container can be removed from the administering device and replaced with one which is filled.

The product container can be a syringe in which a needle is fixedly, i.e. non-detachably, arranged on the distal end, or a carpoule which comprises a septum at its distal end. The septum of the carpoule can be pierced by a needle which can be attached to the distal end of the administering device.

The administering device comprises a first part and a second part which can be rotationally and axially moved in combination, in particular screwed, relative to the first part about a longitudinal axis. The first and/or second parts are preferably sleeve-shaped and each exhibit a longitudinal axis. The first and second part can be arranged concentrically with respect to each other, such that their longitudinal axes form a common longitudinal axis which preferably corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the administering device which is for example approximately cylindrical.

The administering device also comprises at least one engaging body which engages with at least one of the first part and second part for the combined rotational and axial movement. The engaging body can be arranged kinematically and in particular also geometrically between the first part and the second part. The engaging body is a separate part from the first part and the second part. The at least one engaging body couples the first part and the second part, preferably such that it mediates the combined rotational and axial movement between the first part and the second part when either a torque or an axial force, preferably acting in the distal direction, or a combination of these is applied to the second part. Preferably, an axial force which is in particular a purely axial force is applied to the second part, whereby the first part or the second part performs the combined rotational and axial movement and the product is delivered. The axial force can be applied for example automatically, such as for example by a spring, or particularly preferably by the user of the device, for example by means of pressing a thumb onto the second part. When exerting pressure from the thumb, the user can grasp the administering device with the hand corresponding to said thumb. It is thus possible to deliver the product with one hand.

The administering device is in particular characterised by an enclosure, relative to which the at least one engaging body is fixed along and transverse to the longitudinal axis. The enclosure can be formed by the first part and/or the second part and/or a part separate from the first part and the second part, such as for example a cage. The at least one engaging body preferably exhibits a distance from the longitudinal axis, such that the at least one separate engaging body is arranged between the first part and the second part and can revolve or be rotated about the longitudinal axis at said distance. This distance preferably remains constant during at least one revolution, more preferably during all revolutions. The at least one engaging body being fixed along and transverse to the longitudinal axis means that the at least one engaging body is fixed or cannot perform any movement relative to the enclosure in a plane which runs tangentially with respect to the orbit of the engaging body about the longitudinal axis and through the engaging body, in particular parallel to the longitudinal axis.

In preferred embodiments, the engaging body is rotationally symmetrical. The engaging body can for example exhibit a cylindrical, spherical or conical shape. The rotationally symmetrical engaging body exhibits a rotational axis which corresponds to the axis of symmetry of the engaging body. The engaging body can preferably be rotated relative to the enclosure about the rotational axis which is preferably transverse, in particular perpendicular, to the longitudinal axis. Depite the rotation of the engaging body, it does not move relative to the enclosure along and transverse to the longitudinal axis or in the plane mentioned.

The enclosure can for example be a sleeve or a ring which is arranged between the first part and the second part, in particular between an inner circumference and an outer circumference of the first and second parts. The wall thickness of the ring or sleeve is thin, preferably thinner than the at least one engaging body as measured in the radial direction of the longitudinal axis, such that the at least one engaging body protrudes beyond the outer circumference and/or inner circumference of the ring or sleeve. The rotational axis of the at least one separate engaging body preferably extends radially with respect to the longitudinal axis about which the first and second parts can be rotationally moved. In particular, the rotational axis can intersect the longitudinal axis. It is in particular preferred if the at least one engaging body can be rotated about the rotational axis during the combined rotational and axial movement. In preferred embodiments, the enclosure can be rotationally and axially fixed relative to either the first part or the second part during the combined rotational and axial movement. The enclosure, in particular the ring or sleeve, can for example comprise a rotational block with the first or second part, such as for example a groove or a cam, and/or a shifting block. An abutment for the at least one engaging body can for example be provided, which slaves the at least one engaging body and/or the enclosure during the rotational and axial movement.

In preferred embodiments, the enclosure can in principle be rotatable and axially movable relative to both the first part and the second part during the combined rotational and axial movement. It is thus possible for the at least one engaging body to be rotatable and axially movable relative to the first part and the second part and to pass into abutment with the first part or the second part or a separate part which is fixedly connected to the first or second part during a portion of the rotational and axial movement, whereby the at least one engaging body is slaved and is thus rotationally and axially fixed relative to the first or second part.

In preferred embodiments, at least one - i.e. only one or each - of the first and second parts comprises a thread including a thread base and a thread flank. The thread or threads are attached to the outer circumference or inner circumference of the first or second part and respectively point towards the other part. The at least one engaging body can particularly preferably roll off on the thread flank. Since an increased normal force prevails between the engaging body and the thread flank when an axial force is applied to the second part, the sliding friction at mutually interlocking flights would be increased, which leads to a higher exertion of force for the user. By rolling the at least one engaging body off on the thread flank in accordance with the invention, the resultant rolling friction keeps the frictional resistance to a very low value as compared to sliding friction.

The thread can for example be a trapezoid thread, a V thread or a round thread. In general terms, a thread in which the flanks are adapted to the shape of the engaging body is preferred. The flight which forms the flank and the thread base can for example exhibit a trapezoid shape in the case of a conical engaging body, the shape of a segment of a circle, in particular a semi-circle, in the case of a spherical engaging body, and a rectangular shape in the case of a cylindrical engaging body, wherein "shape" is to be understood to mean the shape of the flight perpendicular to the flight. The thread preferably comprises at least one flight which revolves at least or more than one revolution about the longitudinal axis. The thread can in particular exhibit a constant thread pitch in these revolutions or as a whole. The thread pitch can be selected to be large enough that self-inhibiting does not occur when an axial force is applied to the second part, but rather a rotational movement is generated between the second part and the first part.

The first part and the second part can in particular each comprise a thread, wherein the at least one engaging body can be rolled off on both a thread flank of the first part and a thread flank of the second part and/or rolls off during the combined rotational and axial movement. The thread flanks on which the at least one engaging body rolls off preferably lie diagonally opposite or point in opposite directions along the longitudinal axis. The at least one engaging body for example rolls off on a proximal thread flank on the second part and on a distal thread flank on the first part. The thread can comprise one or only one flight, in particular including at least one or more than one revolution. The thread of the first part and/or second part is preferably a multiple- flight thread. A multiple- flight thread comprises more than one flight, in particular two, three or four flights, wherein three flights are particularly preferred. At least two engaging bodies can for example engage with a different flight of the multiple- flight thread each. Advantageously, for each flight of the multiple- flight thread, an engaging body is provided which engages with said flight. If there are three flights, for example, three engaging bodies can be provided, i.e. one engaging body for each flight, respectively.

The at least two engaging bodies can preferably be distributed uniformly over the circumference of the first and second parts or the circumference of the annular or sleeve- shaped enclosure. Three engaging bodies can be arranged in a uniform distribution over the circumference in order for the second part to be supported on the first part in a statically determined way.

At least two engaging bodies, in particular three engaging bodies, can be arranged in different or preferably identical axial positions in relation to the longitudinal axis. In the latter embodiment, jamming by the second part in relation to the first part is avoided. In preferred embodiments, the thread of one of the first part and second part is embodied such that the at least one engaging body protrudes beyond the circumferential area of the part which forms the thread, i.e. the first part and/or the second part, over at least one revolution about the first or second part, preferably over the entire length of the thread. This ensures that the at least one engaging body protrudes beyond the circumferential area of the first or second part in any positions. In particular, it is possible to ensure that the portion of the engaging body which protrudes beyond the circumference protrudes into the thread of the other of the first and second parts. In particular, it is possible to ensure that the threads of the first and second parts are coupled in any positions via the at least one engaging body or via each of said engaging bodies.

The administering device can comprise a stopping abutment for the at least one engaging body or can respectively comprise a stopping abutment for each of said engaging bodies. The stopping abutment or abutments can be formed on the part on which the thread is arranged, in particular integrally on it, such as for example by the end of a flight. The at least one stopping abutment can be formed by a separate part which is connected to the first or second part, in particular fixedly connected, i.e. axially and rotationally fixed. This part can for example be sleeve-shaped or annular and can be snapped onto the first or second part. The stopping abutment can comprise an abutment area which is approximately perpendicular to the direction of the flight or perpendicular to the rotational direction.

The at least one engaging body can be movable along a thread in the direction of the stopping abutment, in particular during the combined rotational and axial movement, such as for example when setting or increasing a dosage to be administered, wherein the at least one engaging body can pass into engagement with the at least one stopping abutment. When in abutment with the engaging body, the stopping abutment can block the movement of the engaging body in the direction of the stopping abutment and, more broadly, also the combined rotational and axial movement of the second part in one direction. The other of the first and second parts, which does not form said stopping abutment, can for example comprise another such stopping abutment, wherein the at least one engaging body - when in abutment with the stopping abutment - can be moved in the direction of the other stopping abutment, i.e. the engaging body is caught between the diagonally opposite stopping abutments. This blocks the screwing movement of the second part relative to the first part, at least in one direction. If the second part serves to set a dosage, this can for example be advantageous in a maximum dosage position. The stopping abutment can be formed on the first or second part or on another part which is in particular fixedly connected to the first or second part. The threads of the first and second parts can exhibit the same direction of rotation or opposite directions of rotation. Both threads can for example be left-hand threads, or one thread can be a left-hand thread and the other can be a right-hand thread. The first part and the second part can in particular comprise threads which exhibit identical or different pitches. The enclosure which encloses the at least one engaging body can in principle be formed at the point at which a flight of the first part and a flight of the second part intersect.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first part is a housing or a part which is connected, rotationally and axially fixed, to the housing. The second part can be formed by a dosing means. The dosing means can be screwed out of the proximal end of the housing for setting a dosage and screwed back into the housing by means of a force which can be manually applied to the proximal end of the dosing means for delivering a product. The first part can for example surround the second part or the second part surround the first part, wherein it is preferred if the circumferential areas of the first and second parts which point towards each other comprise the thread or threads. The dosing means can also be referred to as a dosing and activating means, since it can preferably be used both for dosing and for activating the administering device, in order to deliver the product. The dosing means can preferably be screwed back and forth relative to the housing. Preferably, the dosing means is screwed out of the housing in order to increase the dosage and screwed into or back into the housing in order to correct or reduce the dosage. In order to deliver the product, the axial force is applied to the proximal end of the dosing means, in particular by the user's thumb, thus activating a coupling which - as opposed to setting a dosage, in particular increasing or correcting a dosage - transfers at least a rotational movement of the screwing-in movement of the dosing means into the housing onto a delivery mechanism which in particular comprises a piston rod, wherein the piston rod is shifted in the distal direction and slaves a piston of the product container, thus displacing the product from the product container and dispensing it via a needle.

The outer circumference of the dosing means, in particular of the second part, particularly preferably comprises a scale which is in particular helical and exhibits a pitch which corresponds to the pitch of the screwing movement of the second part relative to the first part. The first part can for example comprise a window through which the dosage set can be read off. The proximal end of the dosing means can in particular comprise an activating button using which said coupling of the administering device, in particular of the dosing means, can be activated.

The invention has been described on the basis of a number of embodiments. The invention is described below on the basis of figures. The features thus disclosed advantageously develop the subject matter, in particular also together with the preceding embodiments.

There is shown:

Figure 1 a cross-sectional view of a dosing and delivery mechanism of an injection device in accordance with a first embodiment;

Figure 2 an exploded drawing of the dosing and delivery mechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 a cross-sectional view of a dosing and delivery mechanism of an injection device in accordance with a second embodiment;

Figure 4 an exploded drawing of the dosing and delivery mechanism shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 a cross-sectional view of the dosing and delivery mechanism shown in Figure

3, in a zero dosage position; Figure 6 a cross-sectional view of the dosing and delivery mechanism shown in Figure

5, during dosing-up; and Figure 7 a perspective view of a second part in accordance with the invention, which is suitable for the devices from Figures 1 to 6.

As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the administering device comprises: a dosing and delivery mechanism which is accommodated in a housing 6, in particular a proximal housing; a product container 4, in particular a carpoule or ampoule, comprising a drug; and a carpoule holder 3 which is detachably or non-detachably snapped onto the housing 6 and simultaneously forms a distal housing. A needle (not shown) can be fastened onto the distal end of the carpoule holder 3. A protective cap (not shown) can be arranged over the carpoule holder 3, wherein the carpoule holder 3 is preferably transparent or is at least provided with openings for verifying the fill level of the carpoule, and the protective cap is removed before the administering device is used.

The administering device comprises a dosing and activating means 11, 12, 13 which comprises a first part 11 which is embodied as a dosing sleeve 11, a coupling member 12 and an activating button 13. The dosing and activating means 11, 12, 13 can be screwed out of the distal end of the housing 6 and back into the housing 6, about the longitudinal axis L, by a combined rotational and axial movement in order to set or select a product dosage to be delivered. Screwing it out increases the desired dosage, and screwing it back reduces the dosage, wherein the activating button 13 is not activated.

The screwing movement of the dosing and activating means 11, 12, 13 is generated by the inner thread 6a of the sleeve-shaped housing 6, the outer thread l la of the dosing sleeve 11 and the engaging body 100 (Figures 1 and 2) and 102 (Figures 3 to 6).

The embodiment from Figures 1 and 2 differs from the embodiment from Figures 3 to 6 only in the design of the coupling between the threads 6a, l la. With regard to the general mode of operation of the administering device, that which is said with respect to the device from Figures 1 and 2 also applies to the device from Figures 3 to 6, and vice versa.

Once the desired product dosage has been set, an axial force is exerted on the proximal end of the dosing and activating means 11, 12, 13, i.e. on the button 13, thus holding the coupling 1 Id, 12a in an engagement which connects the coupling member 12 and the dosing sleeve 11, rotationally fixed, to each other. Further exerting the pressure force on the proximal end of the dosing and activating means 11, 12, 13 delivers the product on the one hand and retracts the dosing sleeve 11 into the housing 6 on the other, wherein the dosing sleeve 11 performs a screwing movement. The screwing movement is mediated by the engaging bodies 100, 102 which engage with the threads 6a, l la, wherein the proximal thread flank of the thread 1 Ia is pressed against the engaging body 100, 102 and the engaging body 100, 102 is pressed against the distal thread flank of the thread 6a, wherein the proximal thread flank of the thread l la rolls off on the engaging body 100, 102 and the engaging body 100, 102 rolls off on the distal thread flank of the thread 6a. The resultant rolling friction significantly reduces the force for activating the dosing and activating means 11, 12, 13.

The engaging bodies 100, 102 are rotationally symmetrical bodies, in particular cylinders (Figures 3 to 6) or spheres (Figures 1 and 2). During the rolling-off movement, the engaging bodies 100, 102 rotate about a rotational axis R which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the device and intersects the longitudinal axis L or is at least radial with respect to it. The engaging bodies 100, 102 are enclosed by means of an enclosure 101 which is formed by a ring. The enclosure 101 is conducive to the engaging bodies 100, 102 being able to rotate only about their axis of symmetry, in particular about the rotational axis R. The engaging bodies 100, 102 are otherwise fixed relative to the enclosure 101. The engaging bodies 100, 102 are distributed uniformly over the circumference of the enclosure 101 and arranged at the same axial position in relation to the longitudinal axis L.

The threads 6a, 11a are multiple- flight threads which comprise a number of flights, in particular two (Figure 4) or three (Figure 2) flights. An engaging body 100, 102 is provided for each flight. The rotational axes R of the engaging bodies 100, 102 are arranged such that they are fixed relative to each other.

In principle, the engaging bodies 100, 102 are not bound to any particular location in the thread, i.e. they can freely move together with the enclosure 101. The thread 11a does however comprise a distal thread end l ib which is provided by the end of the flight. When the dosing and activating means 11, 12, 13 is screwed out of the housing 6, the abutment 1 Ib comes into contact with one of the engaging bodies 100, such that the engaging bodies 100 are slaved, together with the enclosure 101, by the dosing and activating means 11, 12, 13 and in particular do not perform any movement relative to it. The thread 6a comprises abutments which are provided by the proximal thread ends. The dosing and activating means 11, 12, 13 can be screwed out of the housing 6 until the engaging bodies 100 slaved by the dosing and activating means 11, 12, 13 come into contact with the abutments of the thread 6a. The dosing and activating means 11, 12, 13 can then no longer be screwed further out of the housing 6, because the engaging bodies 100 are caught diagonally between the abutments l ib of the thread 11a and the proximal abutments of the thread 6a. When the dosing and activating means 11, 12, 13 is activated, it is screwed back into the housing 6, wherein enough space remains for the engaging bodies 100 in order to roll off on the thread flanks of the threads 6a, 11a.

The same principle also applies to the embodiment from Figures 3 to 6, wherein Figure 7 discloses a preferred abutment l ie which replaces the abutment l ib from Figure 2. The abutment l ie is provided by a ring which is snapped, axially and rotationally fixed, onto the dosing sleeve 11. The ring comprises an abutment area which is perpendicular to the direction of the flight. It is therefore possible to facilitate the assembly of the device and the manufacture of the dosing sleeve 11 in a simple way, since the thread 11a can be designed to be continuously, i.e. as far as the distal end of the dosing sleeve 11, open. By comparison, the thread 11a from Figure 2 only extends until just short of the distal end of the dosing sleeve 11. The embodiment comprising the ring from Figure 7 also manages without assembly aids 6e, l ie which are distally attached to the thread 6a and extend proximally from the thread 6a in the longitudinal direction, in particular parallel to the longitudinal axis L.

As can be seen from Figures 1 to 6, the cross-sections of the flights of the threads 6a and 11a are adapted to the cross-section of the at least one engaging body 100, 102. In the embodiment from Figures 1 and 2, the flights exhibit a cross-section which has the shape of a segment of a circle, the radius of which corresponds to the radius of the sphere 100. In the embodiment from Figures 3 to 6, the flights 6a and 11a exhibit a rectangular cross-sectional area, such that the flight can accommodate a portion of the cylindrical engaging body 102.

The flange 5 is distally fastened, such that it can freely rotate, to the threaded rod 9 which protrudes from the dosing and delivery mechanism in the distal direction. The carpoule 4 is fixedly held between the carpoule holder 3 and the housing 6 of the dosing and delivery mechanism, which are snapped into each other. The dosing and delivery mechanism consists of the force transmission, the stopping elements and the coupling elements.

The force transmission comprises the thread 6a, which is arranged on the inner circumference of the housing 6, and the dosing sleeve 11 which can be screwed out and which rotates the threaded rod 9 - which runs in the thread 6f of the housing 6 - via the coupling member 12.

The coupling elements consist of: the coupling member 12 which is linearly guided on the threaded rod 9 and comprises teeth 12a which can be in engagement with the teeth 1 Id of the dosing sleeve 11; and the activating button 13 which absorbs the input force by the user and relays it to the coupling member 12.

The stopping elements consist of: a stopping nut 8 which together with the thread end 9a of the threaded rod 9 forms a limit for the maximum amount of product which can be delivered from the product container 4; and a reverse rotational block 7 which prevents the threaded rod 9 from rotating in one direction with respect to the housing 6. It is axially snapped onto the stopping nut 8 by means of latching arms and forms a radial dosing click with it by means of other latching arms.

Figures 1 to 6 show a dosing mechanism of an injection device, in which the activation - i.e. the inserting movement - of the dosing sleeve 11 which is rotated out during dosing-up, is transferred directly onto the threaded rod 9 by a rotational movement of the coupling member 12 which is coupled after dosing-up.

It is a rotary pen, i.e. the axial movement is completely converted into a rotational movement and transformed back again. The dosing sleeve 11 does not press directly onto the threaded rod 9.

The threaded rod 9 is rotationally secured to the housing 6 via a unidirectional ratchet coupling 7. The ratchet coupling 7 is rotationally secured to the threaded rod 9 via a tongue and groove connection. Consequently, the threaded rod 9 can only be screwed forwards in the distal direction, guided by the thread 6f of the housing 6.

The dosing sleeve 11 is guided in an inner thread 6a of the housing 6 by means of its outer thread 11a and the engaging bodies 100, 102. During dosing-up, the dosing sleeve 11 is rotated out of the housing 6, wherein the dosing sleeve 11 moves axially and in a rotational direction relative to the threaded rod 9 which is held in the housing 6.

A stopping nut 8 is rotationally secured relative to the dosing sleeve 11 , but such that it can be axially shifted relative to it, by a groove which runs in the axial direction and with which an axially running stay of the dosing sleeve 11 engages.

During a rotational movement of the dosing sleeve 11, the stopping nut 8 which is rotationally secured to the dosing sleeve 11 is rotated along with it. During dosing-up or when the dosing sleeve 11 is rotated out, the threaded rod 9 is rotationally secured in the housing 6 by the ratchet coupling 7. The stopping nut 8 is thus screwed in the proximal direction on the threaded rod 9.

Before the beginning of the delivery movement, the threaded rod 9 is coupled, rotationally secure, to the dosing sleeve 11. The dosing sleeve 11 and the threaded rod 9 can however be moved axially relative to each other. An element which is guided outside the threaded rod 9 and is rotationally secured to the threaded rod 9 by a tongue and groove connection is provided as the coupling member 12. Crowns Hd which point in the proximal direction are circumferentially provided on the facing side of the dosing sleeve 11 and can engage with opposing claws 12a of the coupling member 12 which are provided on the facing side and point in the distal direction. When the dosing sleeve 11 is rotated out, it can be rotated relative to the coupling member 12, since there is no force acting on the coupling member 12 in the distal direction. The claws 12a and crowns Hd latch over and/or slip past each other during the rotational movement of the dosing sleeve 11. During dosing-up, the coupling member 12 is rotationally secured in the housing 6 due to the rotational block of the threaded rod 9 which is rotationally secured relative to the housing 6 by a unidirectional ratchet coupling 7, i.e. one which acts in one direction.

When triggering, pressure is applied to the coupling member 12 in the distal direction via the push button 13 which is snapped onto the coupling member 12, such that the coupling member 12 is rotationally secured to the dosing sleeve 11 due to the engagement between the mutually interlocking crowns Hd and claws 12a. The dosing sleeve 11 is rotated when inserted due to the threads 6a, 11a and the engaging bodies 100, 102. The rotational block between the dosing sleeve 11 and the coupling member 12 transfers the rotational movement of the dosing sleeve 11 onto the threaded rod 9 which is rotationally secured to the coupling member 12. The threaded rod 9 is thus rotated and screwed in in the distal direction, guided by the inner thread 6f of the housing 6.

The stopping nut 8 runs on the threaded rod 9 and has an inner thread with which the outer thread of the threaded rod 9 engages.

The stopping nut 8 is only screwed relative to the threaded rod 9 during dosing-up in the proximal direction. When delivering, the stopping nut 8 remains in the same position relative to the threaded rod 9, since the dosing sleeve 11 and the threaded rod 9 are rotationally secured by the coupling member 12, and is returned to its initial position together with the threaded rod 9. The stopping nut 8 is thus at the same position in the pen again after the drawing-up and delivery movement (a pendular movement). The position on the threaded rod 9 has however changed during drawing-up. The stopping nut 8 is moved in the proximal direction relative to the threaded rod 9 during drawing-up. The stopping function of the stopping nut 8 is achieved by an abutment 9a on the threaded rod 9 which prevents the dosing sleeve 11 from being able to be rotated out further during dosing-up, once the stopping nut 8 abuts the abutment.

Only the threaded rod 9 travels a predetermined maximum path defined by the initial axial position of the stopping nut 8 on the threaded rod 9, preferably by the axial distance between the initial axial position of the stopping nut 8 and a threaded rod abutment, said path corresponding to the total amount of drug in the ampoule to be dispensed, for example 300 units (IU), and not the stopping nut 8 which merely performs a pendular movement within the pen.

This arrangement of the stopping nut 8 can ensure the stopping function even during dosing- up, since in the case of the final dosage to be dispensed, the stopping nut 8 already abuts against the abutment 9a of the threaded rod 9 and blocks the dosing and activating means 11 , 12, 13 against being dosed-up or rotated out further.

The threaded rod 9 comprises a reverse rotational block relative to the housing 6 in the form of a unidirectional coupling 7. The reverse rotational block 7 is axially coupled to the stopping nut 8 via a snapping hook.

The stopping nut 8 and the reverse rotational block 7 can be rotated relative to each other via a dosing click generated by arms which pass over teeth of the stopping nut 8.

Since all the functions such as the dosage limiter and the reverse rotational block are integrated within the injection device, the activating button 13 which is held in the coupling member 12 can be kept relatively flat, i.e. the height of the dosing button can be flattened, thus enabling a reduction in the stroke movement for a patient's thumb in order to inject the dosage set.

When delivering, the stopping nut 8 and the reverse rotational block 7 are coupled, i.e. rotationally fixed, such that clicking sounds are not produced.

The reverse rotational block 7 has spring arms which are biased radially outwards and engage with latches 6g of the circumferential housing 6. When delivering, the reverse rotational block 7 is rotated relative to the housing 6 and can thus generate clicking sounds. When setting or correcting a dosage, the reverse rotational block 7 is fixed relative to the housing and thus does not generate any clicking sounds.

During clicking, a tactile feedback can be provided for a user in addition to generating a sound.

The abutments l ib, l ie and the engaging bodies 100, 102 form a limit for the maximum individual dosage which can be set (the so-called "stop at 60").

An administering device can thus exhibit the following features, individually or in combination, in particular independently of or together with the example embodiments described:

1. Gearing down the axial insertion (rotational) movement of the dosing sleeve 11 to the relatively smaller axial screwing-in movement of the threaded rod 9 when delivering (both coupled rotationally secured).

2. A common (identical) rotation of the dosing sleeve 11, the coupling member 12, the stopping nut 8, the reverse rotational block (ratchet coupling) 7 and the threaded rod 9 when delivering.

3. The option of correcting a dosage by simply rotating back (screwing in) the dosing sleeve 11.

4. A stop at 300 provided by the abutment of the stopping nut 8 on the threaded rod 9 (pendular movement of the stopping nut 8).

5. A reverse rotational block provided by the ratchet coupling 7 (reverse rotational block profile on the housing 6, at least over the axial length of a maximum dosage which can be set).

6. A stop at 0 and a stop at 60 provided by abutments of the dosing sleeve 11 or the engaging body 100, 102 which act in the circumferential direction onto the housing 6 or a threaded sleeve which is fixed relative to the housing. 7. An axially non-shiftable coupling between the reverse rotational block 7 and the stopping nut 8 which can rotate relative to each other (dosing click).

8. A "delivery click" not being generated by "dosing click elements" between the reverse rotational block 7 and the stopping nut 8 (only by the reverse rotational block 7 and the housing 6).

9. A rotationally secure coupling between the threaded rod 9 and the dosing sleeve 11 by means of the coupling member 12 (and the push button 13) when delivering.