Fluid-powered applicator for medicaments

Claim 2

In a medicament applicator operated by a source of fluid under pressure, the combination of a container having a medicament to be delivered, a pressure cylinder coupled to the medicament container including a pressure inlet end and an applicator end, with an inlet flow passage between said container and cylinder arranged to admit fluid under pressure from the cylinder into the medicament container and an outlet flow passage between the container and cylinder, means separating the medicament from the pressurized fluid and preventing the medicament from flowing through the outlet passage until the pressure is applied and a piston member movable through said pressure cylinder in response to fluid under pressure delivered into said pressure inlet, said piston member being movable from a retracted position closing said inlet flow passage to an extended position opening said inlet flow passage and said outlet passage into said cylinder via said piston member, the pressure in the cylinder positively forcing the medicament from the container via said inlet and outlet flow passages whereby to discharge the medicament from the container through the applicator end of said pressure cylinder.

Claim 3

In a medicament applicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said medicament container and pressure cylinder are a part of a single body and have a common wall portion.

Claim 4

In a medicament applicator as set forth in claim 2 wherein said inlet flow passage comprises an opening through said common wall portion disposed rearwardly of the piston member when moved to its extended position to pressurize the container.

Claim 5

In a medicament applicator as set forth in claim 3 further including an injection needle located at the leading end of said piston member movable through the applicator end of said cylinder, and said outlet flow passage comprises an opening through said common wall portion which aligns with a passage in the side of the piston member opening to the interior of said needle.

Claim 6

In a medicament applicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means separating the medicament from the pressurized fluid comprises a rupturable ampule made of a flexible material in said container enclosing said medicament.

Claim 7

In a medicament applicator as set forth in claim 5 including means in the container against which the ampule is forced to rupture said ampule.

Claim 8

In a medicament applicator as set forth in claim 5 wherein said container and cylinder are preloaded with said ampule and needle to provide a disposable injection unit.

Claim 9

In a medicament applicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said piston member has spaced sealing rings to seal against pressure loss in the cylinder.

Claim 10

In a medicament applicator as set forth in claim 8 including a passage in the cylinder between said sealing rings in their extended position to vent the pressure in the cylinder to the atmosphere if one of the rings should fail.

Claim 11

In a fluid powered applicator tool having a source of fluid under pressure, the combination of a cartridge including a medicament container having a rupturable ampule of medicament to be injected and a fluid pressure cylinder with a common wall joining said container and cylinder, said cylinder having a pressure inlet, an inlet flow passage in said common wall to admit fluid under pressure from the cylinder into the interior of the container and an outlet flow passage for the flow of medicament from the medicament container through the cylinder, the pressure in the cylinder positively forcing the medicament from the ampule and container via said inlet and outlet flow passages, a hollow injection needle having a piston portion in the pressure cylinder movable in response to fluid under pressure delivered into said pressure inlet, said piston portion being movable from a retracted to an extended position and after being extended to open said inlet flow passage and said outlet flow passage into said cylinder and position an inlet of the needle in communication with the container for said ampule, and a flow-control valve releasably coupled to the cartridge to selectively admit fluid under pressure from the source into the pressure cylinder into said pressure inlet whereby to successively drive the needle to penetrate the skin of a body and regulate the application of the medicament through the needle into the body.

Claim 12

In a fluid powered applicator tool having a source of fluid under pressure, the combination of a cartridge including a medicament container having a rupturable ampule of medicament to be injected and a fluid pressure cylinder with a common wall joining said container and cylinder, said cylinder having a pressure inlet, an inlet flow passage in said common wall to admit fluid under pressure from the cylinder into the interior of the container and an outlet flow passage for the flow of medicament from the medicament container through the cylinder, the pressure in the cylinder positively forcing the medicament from the ampule and container via said inlet and outlet flow passages, a hollow injection needle having a piston portion in the pressure cylinder movable in response to fluid under pressure delivered into said pressure inlet, said piston portion being movable from a retracted to an extended position and after being extended to open said inlet flow passage and said outlet flow passage into said cylinder and position an inlet of the needle in communication with the container for said ampule, and a flow-control valve releasably coupled to the cartridge to selectively admit fluid under pressure from the source into the pressure cylinder into said pressure inlet whereby to successively drive the needle to penetrate the skin of a body and regulate the application of the medicament through the needle into the body.

Claim 13

In a fluid-powered applicator tool as set forth in claim 10 including a housing extending beyond one end of the valve into which the cartridge is releasably inserted.

Claim 14

In a fluid-powered applicator tool as set forth in claim 11 wherein said medicament container has an end cap having a flexible nipple adapted to be forced through an aperture at the base of the housing to releasably secure the cartridge to the housing.

Claim 15

In a fluid-powered applicator tool as set forth in claim 11 wherein said housing has an enlarged bore sized to slidably receive an end of the cylinder.

Claim 16

A pneumatic-powered injection device having a source of fluid under pressure comprising a disposable injection cartridge unit including a medicament container with a rupturable ampule of medicament to be injected and a pressure cylinder having a pressure inlet with a hollow injection needle having a piston portion, said container and cylinder being a part of a single body joined by a common wall having an inlet pressure passage to pressurize the container from the cylinder and an outlet flow passage to pass medicament from the container into the pressure cylinder, said piston portion being movable from a retracted position to an extended position to open said inlet flow passage and said outlet flow passage, said piston portion having a passage to pass medicament from the outlet flow passage into the needle when advanced by fluid under pressure in the cylinder to said extended position, said unit including means to selectively rupture said ampule at said outlet passage, and a flow-control valve assembly coupled to the cartridge unit having a housing at one end for releasable insertion of the cartridge unit to selectively admit air under pressure into said cylinder via said pressure inlet whereby to successively drive the needle to the extended position and open the inlet and outlet flow passages to force medicament through the needle under the regulation of the control valve.

Claim 17

A pneumatic-powered injection device having a source of fluid under pressure comprising a disposable injection cartridge unit including a medicament container with a rupturable ampule of medicament to be injected and a pressure cylinder having a pressure inlet with a hollow injection needle having a piston portion, said container and cylinder being a part of a single body joined by a common wall having an inlet pressure passage to pressurize the container from the cylinder and an outlet flow passage to pass medicament from the container into the pressure cylinder, said piston portion being movable from a retracted position to an extended position to open said inlet flow passage and said outlet flow passage, said piston portion having a passage to pass medicament from the outlet flow passage into the needle when advanced by fluid under pressure in the cylinder to said extended position, said unit including means to selectively rupture said ampule at said outlet passage, and a flow-control valve assembly coupled to the cartridge unit having a housing at one end for releasable insertion of the cartridge unit to selectively admit air under pressure into said cylinder via said pressure inlet whereby to successively drive the needle to the extended position and open the inlet and outlet flow passages to force medicament through the needle under the regulation of the control valve.