Implant device

Claim 3

A flanged, solid pellet-containing cartridge comprising a planar section with a substantially perpendicularly aligned tubular section extending outwardly therefrom, said tubular section having a sufficient cross-section to contain a solid pellet medicament, said planar section having an opening through which a pellet can be inserted into the tubular section and means for sealing said opening, the planar section constituting a flange for said tubular section and having a taper which terminates with a locking means, said taper facilitating insertion of the cartridge into an implant device of the type including (1) a molded plunger assembly housing of unitary construction, said housing including (a) a first tubular section with an enlarged bore having (i) a user-proximal rear end opening with substantially the same cross section as said enlarged bore and (ii) an ejector rod guide positioned near the user-distal front end, and (b) a second tubular section with a reduced bore coupled to the user-distal front end of said first tubular section; (2) a hollow needle embedded permanently in said second tubular section; (3) a plunger assembly axially slideable in said housing, said assembly including (a) a molded user-actuated plunger of unitary construction dimensioned for slideable movement in said enlarged bore, extending through the opening at the user-proximal rear end of said first tubular section, and (b) an ejector rod dimensioned for slideable movement in said hollow needle and embedded permannently in the user-distal front end of said plunger, said ejector rod having a length sufficient to extend into the ejector rod guide when the plunger assembly is in its rear-most position and to extend through the hollow needle when the plunger assembly is in its forward-most position, and (4) a socket-like cartridge receiving chamber positioned at the user-distal front end of said first tubular section and extending into said second tubular section having a flange receiving portion and a tubular receiving portion.

Claim 4

A flanged, solid pellet-containing cartridge comprising a planar section with a substantially perpendicularly aligned tubular section extending outwardly therefrom, said tubular section having a sufficient cross-section to contain a solid pellet medicament, said planar section having an opening through which a pellet can be inserted into the tubular section and means for sealing said opening, the planar section constituting a flange for said tubular section and having a taper which terminates with a locking means, said taper facilitating insertion of the cartridge into an implant device of the type including (1) a molded plunger assembly housing of unitary construction, said housing including (a) a first tubular section with an enlarged bore having (i) a user-proximal rear end opening with substantially the same cross section as said enlarged bore and (ii) an ejector rod guide positioned near the user-distal front end, and (b) a second tubular section with a reduced bore coupled to the user-distal front end of said first tubular section; (2) a hollow needle embedded permanently in said second tubular section; (3) a plunger assembly axially slideable in said housing, said assembly including (a) a molded user-actuated plunger of unitary construction dimensioned for slideable movement in said enlarged bore, extending through the opening at the user-proximal rear end of said first tubular section, and (b) an ejector rod dimensioned for slideable movement in said hollow needle and embedded permannently in the user-distal front end of said plunger, said ejector rod having a length sufficient to extend into the ejector rod guide when the plunger assembly is in its rear-most position and to extend through the hollow needle when the plunger assembly is in its forward-most position, and (4) a socket-like cartridge receiving chamber positioned at the user-distal front end of said first tubular section and extending into said second tubular section having a flange receiving portion and a tubular receiving portion.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 wherein said molded housing is fabricated from a plastic material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polycarbonate, polyethylene, and polypropylene.

Claim 6

The device of claim 1 wherein said molded plunger is fabricated from a plastic material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polycarbonate, polyethylene and polypropylene.