EP0197625A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Hypodermic injection apparatus
Assignee: Bioject Inc
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Filing: 1986-01-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-01-23
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a pressure-operated hypodermic injection apparatus (10) which is particularly suitable for needleless operation. The apparatus includes an elongate shell (20) having an inwardly facing wall with a uniform configuration along a defined length thereof, with the shell (20) further defining a discharge aperture (26) adjacent one end thereof. It further includes a plunger (24) which is slidably disposed within the defined length of the shell (20) and which is shiftable between a ready position and a spent position, with the spent position being closer to the aperture (26) than the ready position. With the plunger (24) in its ready position, the shell (20) and plunger (24) collectively define an ampule chamber which is capable of containing a dischargeable medication. A pressurized-gas cartridge (22) is mounted to the plunger (24) to shift therewith and has gas-releasing means which faces away from the discharge aperture. A body (50) is further included which is sealingly and releasably joined to the other end of the shell (20). An actuator (18) is mounted to the body (50) and is manually operable for selectively operating the gas-releasing means to drive the plunger (24) from its ready toward its spent position to discharge medication from the apparatus and into the patient.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas J. Morrow
- 👤 Eugene C. Covey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/178; A61M5/30; A61M5/20; A61M5/2053
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A pressure-operated hypodermic injection apparatus comprising a body (12) and an actuator (18) mounted thereon, a replaceable, medication-discharging ampule unit (14) comprising an elongate shell (20) with inwardly facing walls having substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration along a defined length portion thereof, characterized in that the shell (20) defines a discharge aperture (26) adjacent a forward end thereof, a plunger (24) slideably and sealingly disposed within the defined length portion in the shell (20), displaceable between a rearward, ready position, spaced one distance from the aperture (26) and a forward, spent position closer to the aperture (26) than the ready position, the shell (20) and plunger (24), with the latter in the ready position defining an ampule chamber capable of containing dischargeable medication and a compressed-gas containing cartridge (22) operable under the influence of the actuator (18) to drive the plunger (24) from the ready position toward the spent position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A pressure-operated hypodermic injection apparatus comprising a body (12) and an actuator (18) mounted thereon, a replaceable, medication-discharging ampule unit (14) comprising an elongate shell (20) with inwardly facing walls having substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration along a defined length portion thereof, characterized in that the shell (20) defines a discharge aperture (26) adjacent a forward end thereof, a plunger (24) slideably and sealingly disposed within the defined length portion in the shell (20), displaceable between a rearward, ready position, spaced one distance from the aperture (26) and a forward, spent position closer to the aperture (26) than the ready position, the shell (20) and plunger (24), with the latter in the ready position defining an ampule chamber capable of containing dischargeable medication and a compressed-gas containing cartridge (22) operable under the influence of the actuator (18) to drive the plunger (24) from the ready position toward the spent position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the cartridge (22) includes means for releasing its gas charge, upon actuation by the actuator (18), in a rearward direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cartridge (22) includes a frangible member (28) which is broken upon actuation by the actuator (18).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the cartridge (22) is mounted to the plunger (24) within the shell (20) and slides therewith between the ready and spent positions.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the ampule unit (14) is rotatably mounted in the apparatus (10) operation of the actuator (18) and displacement of the plunger (24) being prevented unless ampule unit (14) is all of the way turned into the apparatus (10), operation of the actuator (18) being prevented by a device comprising longitudinally extending recesses (23a) defined in the shell (20) for receiving, upon actuation, a complementing extension member of the actuator (30), the recesses (23a) being rotationally aligned with the extension member (30) only when the ampule unit (14) is turned all of the way into the apparatus (10).
Claim 7
Independent Claim
84 words
An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the cartridge (22) is so mounted to the plunger (24) to shift therewith and having gas-releasing means facing away from the discharge aperture (26) a body (50) being sealingly and releasably joined to another end of the shell (20), the actuator (18) being mounted on the body (50) and manually operable for selectively operating the gas-releasing means to drive the plunger (24) from the ready position toward the spent position.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the actuator (18) includes a reciprocable portion (50) which is displaceable between retracted and extended positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the reciprocable portion (50) includes a reciprocable firing pin (34) having one end (36) which faces the gas-releasing means (22) and which comes into contact with the gas-releasing means upon being displaced to the extended position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the gas-releasing means (22) includes a frangible portion (28) and the one end (36) of the reciprocable firing pin (34) includes means for breaking the frangible portion (28) upon contact therewith.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the firing pin (34) includes an annular groove (38) therein, the actuator (18) including a plurality of retaining rollers (62) which selectively enter into engagement with the firing pin annular groove (38), an inwardly facing portion with a narrow race (54) and a broadened race __ (56) for selectively holding rollers (62) in engagement with the groove (38) and permitting the rollers (62) to move out of the groove (38) respectively, to hold and then release the firing pin (34).
Claim 12
Independent Claim
74 words
An apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterized in that firing pin biasing means (44) are mounted in the body (12) and joined to the pin (34) for urging it from the cocked position toward the fired position, arming means (82) for positioning the pin (34) in the cocked position and a trigger (42) for retaining the pin in the cocked position and for selectively releasing the pin for travelling toward the fired position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that an annular groove (38) is defined in the pin (34), a plurality of pin retaining members (48) positioned and sized to selectively enter into engagement with the pin annular groove (38), the members (48) being in contact with the inwardly facing portion of the body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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