Multiple puncture injector device

Claim 2

A transcutaneous injector comprising a base plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of tines carried by said bottom surface of said base plate extending outwardly therefrom and substantially normal thereto, and a one-piece handle integral with said top surface of said base plate and hingedly connected thereto, said one-piece handle having a reduced cross section adjacent to said top surface of said base plate, said one-piece handle being movable between a use position in which said one-piece handle is substantially normal to said base plate and extends outwardly therefrom and a storage position in which said one-piece handle is substantially parallel to said base plate to facilitate the storage of said injector.

Claim 3

The transcutaneous injector set forth in claim 1, wherein said base plate and said handle are formed of a synthetic plastic resin.

Claim 4

The transcutaneous injector set forth in claim 1, wherein said tines are formed from a metal plate carried by said base plate.

Claim 5

The transcutaneous injector set forth in claim 1, wherein said handle is integral with said base plate.

Claim 6

The transcutaneous injector set forth in claim 1, wherein said handle is rectangular in shape, and hinged to said base plate along the entire length of said handle.

Claim 7

The transcutaneous injector set forth in claim 1, wherein said handle is S-shaped, thereby to provide opposed gripping surfaces on the side walls thereof.

Claim 8

The transcutaneous injector set forth in claim 1, wherein said handle is positioned diagonally along said top surface of said base plate.

Claim 9

The transcutaneous injector set forth in claim 1, wherein said handle is positioned parallel to opposed side edges of said base plate.

Claim 10

A prepared package for a transcutaneous injector comprising a container, a transcutaneous injector entirely disposed within said container, said injector including a base plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of tines carried by said bottom surface of said base plate extending outwardly therefrom and substantially normal thereto, said tines carrying a biological substance on the distal ends thereof, and a one-piece handle integral with said top surface of said base plate and hingedly connected thereto, said handle having a reduced cross section adjacent to said top surface of said base plate, said one-piece handle being movable between a use position in which said one-piece handle is substantially normal to said base plate and extends outwardly therefrom and a storage position in which said one-piece handle is substantially parallel to said base plate, said one-piece handle being in said storage position when said injector is disposed within said container, and means for maintaining said tines out of contact with said container when said injector is disposed within said container.

Claim 11

A prepared package for a transcutaneous injector comprising a container, a transcutaneous injector entirely disposed within said container, said injector including a base plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of tines carried by said bottom surface of said base plate extending outwardly therefrom and substantially normal thereto, said tines carrying a biological substance on the distal ends thereof, and a one-piece handle integral with said top surface of said base plate and hingedly connected thereto, said handle having a reduced cross section adjacent to said top surface of said base plate, said one-piece handle being movable between a use position in which said one-piece handle is substantially normal to said base plate and extends outwardly therefrom and a storage position in which said one-piece handle is substantially parallel to said base plate, said one-piece handle being in said storage position when said injector is disposed within said container, and means for maintaining said tines out of contact with said container when said injector is disposed within said container.

Claim 12

The prepared package set forth in claim 9, wherein said container includes a substantially rigid bottom portion adapted to house said injector therein to maintain said tines out of contact with said substantially rigid bottom portion.

Claim 13

The prepared package set forth in claim 9, wherein said base plate includes a pair of abutment surfaces positioned along opposed side edges of said base plate, and said container includes a substantially rigid bottom portion having a pair of shoulders carried by opposed side walls thereof, each of said shoulders being adapted to receive a respective one of said abutment surfaces, said shoulders being spaced from the bottom wall of said rigid bottom portion a distance greater than the distance between the distal end of said tines and said abutment surfaces, whereby to maintain said tines out of contact with said container when said injector is disposed within said container.

Claim 14

The prepared package set forth in claim 9, wherein said means for maintaining said tines out of contact with said container include a substantially rigid U-shaped cover adapted to support said base plate, the bottom wall of said U-shaped cover being spaced apart in use from said base plate a distance greater than the length of said tines so as to maintain said tines out of contact with said container.

Claim 15

The prepared package set forth in claim 9, wherein said means for maintaining said tines out of contact with said container include an annular member disposed within said container and adapted to receive said injector with the tines thereof disposed within said annular member.

Claim 16

The prepared package set forth in claim 9, wherein said container is vacuum-packed and hermetically sealed.

Claim 17

The prepared package set forth in claim 9, wherein said container is a vacuum-packed hermetically sealed metal foil.

Claim 18

The prepared package set forth in claim 9, wherein said package is connected to another of said prepared package in end-to-end relationship, said connection being adapted easily to be broken to detach a selected one of said prepared packages.

Claim 19

The prepared package set forth in claim 9, wherein said package is vacuum-packed and hermetically sealed and connected to another of said vacuum-packed hermetically sealed prepared package in end-to-end relationship, said connection being adapted easily to be broken to detach a selected one of said prepared packages.

Claim 20

A transcutaneous injector comprising an arcuate base plate having a concave top surface and a convex bottom surface, a plurality of tines carried by said convex bottom surface of said base plate and extending outwardly therefrom, and a one-piece handle integral with and hingedly connected to said concave top surface of said base plate and extending outwardly therefrom, said one-piece handle having a reduced cross section adjacent to said base plate, said one-piece handle being movable between a use position and a storage position, said injector being adapted to be rolled against the skin to puncture the skin at a plurality of points and introduce a biological substance carried by said tines into the body.

Claim 21

A transcutaneous injector comprising an arcuate base plate having a concave top surface and a convex bottom surface, a plurality of tines carried by said convex bottom surface of said base plate and extending outwardly therefrom, and a one-piece handle integral with and hingedly connected to said concave top surface of said base plate and extending outwardly therefrom, said one-piece handle having a reduced cross section adjacent to said base plate, said one-piece handle being movable between a use position and a storage position, said injector being adapted to be rolled against the skin to puncture the skin at a plurality of points and introduce a biological substance carried by said tines into the body.

Claim 22

The transcutaneous injector set forth in claim 18, wherein said handle is fixedly connected to said concave top surface of said base plate and forms a plane substantially parallel to the direction said injector is rolled when introducing the biological substance into the body.

Claim 23

A prepared package for a transcutaneous injector comprising a container, a transcutaneous injector entirely disposed within said container, said injector including a base plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of tines carried by said bottom surface of said base plate extending outwardly therefrom and substantially normal thereto, said tines carrying a biological substance on the distal ends thereof, and a handle hingedly connected to said top surface of said base plate, said handle being movable between a use position in which said handle is substantially normal to said base plate and extends outwardly therefrom and a storage position in which said handle is substantially parallel to said base plate, said handle being in said storage position when said injector is disposed within said container, a substantially rigid U-shaped cover adapted to support said base plate, the bottom wall of said U-shaped cover being spaced apart in use from said base plate a distance greater than the length of said tines so as to maintain said tines out of contact with said container when said injector is disposed therewithin.

Claim 24

A prepared package for a transcutaneous injector comprising a container, a transcutaneous injector entirely disposed within said container, said injector including a base plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of tines carried by said bottom surface of said base plate extending outwardly therefrom and substantially normal thereto, said tines carrying a biological substance on the distal ends thereof, and a handle hingedly connected to said top surface of said base plate, said handle being movable between a use position in which said handle is substantially normal to said base plate and extends outwardly therefrom and a storage position in which said handle is substantially parallel to said base plate, said handle being in said storage position when said injector is disposed within said container, a substantially rigid U-shaped cover adapted to support said base plate, the bottom wall of said U-shaped cover being spaced apart in use from said base plate a distance greater than the length of said tines so as to maintain said tines out of contact with said container when said injector is disposed therewithin.