ISO/TC 84/WG 3 - Needle-based injection systems - Injector, container and pen needle

This document applies to safety and performance and testing requirements for single-use and multiple-use Needle-Free Injection Systems (NFISs) intended for human use in clinics and other medical settings and for personal use by patients. The dose chamber of the NFIS is often disposable and intended to be replaced after either a single use or a limited number of uses. It is sometimes separable from the injection mechanism and often termed a “cartridge”, “ampoule”, “syringe”, “capsule” or “disc”. In contrast, the dose chamber can also incorporate a permanent internal chamber designed to last through the claimed life of the device, and an additional member or members which eliminate the risk of cross-contamination. Excluded from this document are drug delivery methods which: — involve penetration of a part of the device itself into or through skin or mucous membranes (such as needles, tines, micro-needles, implantable slow-release drug devices); — generate aerosols, droplets, powders or other formulations for inhalation, insufflation, intranasal or oral deposition (such as sprays, inhalers, misters); — deposit liquids, powders, or other substances on the surface of skin or mucosal surfaces for passive diffusion or ingestion into the body (such as transdermal patches, liquid drops); — apply sonic or electromagnetic energy (such as ultrasonic or iontophoretic devices); — infusion systems for adding or metering medication into or through systems of artificial tubes, catheters, and/or needles which themselves enter the body.

This document specifies requirements and test methods for Needle-Based Injection Systems (NISs) for single-patient use intended to deliver discrete volumes (bolus) of medicinal product, which can be delivered through needles or soft cannulas for intradermal, subcutaneous and/or intramuscular delivery, incorporating pre-filled or user-filled, replaceable or non-replaceable containers. This document applies in cases where the NIS incorporates a prefilled syringe. However, stand-alone prefilled syringes defined by ISO 11040-8 are not covered by this document (see exclusions below). It is important to note that other functions and characteristics of the prefilled syringe, such as dose accuracy, are subject to the requirements (delivered volume) in ISO 11040-8 and not this document, unless the addition impacts the delivery function (e.g. a mechanism that intends to restrict or stop the plunger movement, which would limit the dose delivered). In that case, the system is completely covered by this document and applicable requirements of the ISO 11608 series. Excluded from the scope are: — stand-alone prefilled syringes defined by ISO 11040-8 (with noted exceptions above); — NISs that provide continuous delivery and require a delivery rate clinically specified in the medicinal product labelling or determined by a physician based on clinical relevance (i.e. medication efficacy) as would be the case with insulin patch pumps or traditional infusion pumps (e.g. IEC 60601-2-24, ISO 28620) associated with continuous delivery of medicinal products (e.g. insulin); — NISs with containers that can be refilled multiple times; — requirements relating to methods or equipment associated with user filling of containers unless they are dedicated accessories (a component necessary for primary function, whether included in the original kitted product or not); — NISs intended for dental use; — NISs intended for different routes of administration (e.g. intravenous, intrathecal, intraocular). NOTE These products that are excluded might benefit from elements in this document but might not completely fulfil the basic safety and effectiveness of such products.

This document specifies requirements and test methods for design verification of containers and integrated fluid paths used with Needle-Based Injection Systems (NISs) according to ISO 11608-1. It is applicable to single and multi-dose containers either filled by the manufacturer (primary container closure) or by the end-user (reservoir) (e.g. cartridges, syringes) and fluid paths that are integrated with the NIS at the point of manufacture. This document is also applicable to prefilled syringes (see ISO 11040-8) when used with a NIS (see also scope of ISO 11608-1:2022). This document is not applicable to the following products: — sterile hypodermic needles; — sterile hypodermic syringes; — sterile single-use syringes, with or without needle, for insulin; — containers that can be refilled multiple times; — containers intended for dental use; — catheters or infusion sets that are attached or assembled separately by the user.

This document specifies requirements and test methods for automated functions in needle-based injection systems with automated functions (NIS-AUTO). General requirements are provided for all automated functions. In addition, specific requirements are provided for the following automated functions: a) medicinal product preparation (e.g. reconstitution); b) needle preparation; c) needle hiding; d) priming; e) dose setting; f) needle insertion; g) injection depth control; h) injection of the medicinal product; i) recording of device functions; NOTE This document does not cover remote communication from the NIS-AUTO (pertains to wired and wireless communication transfer from the NIS auto). j) disabling the NIS-AUTO; k) needle retraction; l) needle shielding; m) needle removal. All references to "function" in this document are by definition construed as automated functions (see 3.2). This document does not apply to functions that are performed manually by the user.

This document specifies requirements and test methods for single-use, double-ended, sterile needles intended to be used with some needle-based injection systems (NISs) that use a non-integrated double-ended needle according to ISO 11608-1. This document is not applicable to the following: — needles for dental use; — pre-attached syringe needles; — hypodermic needles; — needles intended for different routes of administration (e.g. intravenous, intrathecal, intraocular); — materials that form the medicinal product contact surfaces of the primary container closure. However, while this document is not intended to directly apply to these needle products, it does contain requirements and tests methods that can be used to help design and evaluate them. NOTE Needles provided by the manufacturer integrated into the fluid path or container are covered in ISO 11608‑3, and hypodermic needles provided separately are covered in ISO 7864.

ISO 11608-1:2014 specifies requirements and test methods for needle-based injection systems (NISs) intended to be used with needles and with replaceable or non-replaceable containers. Containers covered in ISO 11608-1:2014 include single- and multi-dose syringe-based and cartridge-based systems, filled either by the manufacturer or by the end-user.

This part of ISO 11608 specifies the functional and design considerations for containers to be used with needle-based injection systems (NIS) that fulfil the specifications of ISO 11608-1. It is applicable to single and multi-dose containers (either filled by the manufacturer or by the end-user) which can be provided to the enduser integrated in the NIS or assembled with the NIS at the time of use. This part of ISO 11608 includes specifications and test methods to describe and evaluate cartridges for use in NIS with pen needles (as defined in ISO 11608-2) and outlines design considerations for other potential containers, including syringes to be used with a NIS. This part of ISO 11608 is not applicable to cartridges intended for dental use. Syringes and needles that are sold separately and not intended for use in a NIS are outside the scope of this part of ISO 11608. NOTE See ISO 7864 (needles), ISO 8537 (insulin syringes) and ISO 7886-1 (manual syringes).

ISO 11608-2:2012 specifies requirements and test methods for single-use, double-ended, sterile needles for needle-based injection systems (NISs) that fulfil the specifications of ISO 11608-1.

ISO 8537:2007 specifies requirements and test methods for sterile syringes, with or without needles, solely for the injection of insulin. The syringes are single-use only, primarily for use in humans. It covers syringes for use with 40 units of insulin/ml (U-40) and 100 units of insulin/ml (U-100). Sterile syringes specified in ISO 8537:2007 are intended for use soon after filling as they are not suitable for containing insulin over extended periods of time.

ISO 11608-4:2006 specifies requirements and test methods for electromechanically driven injectors intended to be used with needles and with replaceable or non-replaceable cartridges. The injector may be for single-use or multiple-use. The injector system is intended to deliver medication to an end-user by self-administration or with assistance.

Specifies requirements and test methods for syringes. Applies to syringes for use with 40 units of insulin/ml (U-40) and 100 units of insulin/ml (U-100). Annexes A, B, C, D, E, F and G forms an integral part of this standard. Annexes H and J are for information only.