Pharmaceutical component-mixing delivery assembly

Claim 2

A pharmaceutical component-mixing delivery assembly comprising: first and second cartridges including needle ends, plunger ends, interiors and pistons within the interiors, the first and second cartridges containing first and second pharmaceutical components within first and second variable volume regions defined between the needle ends and the pistons; means for housing the first and second cartridges, the first and second cartridges being movable relative to one another from a pre-mixed position to a post-mixed position; means for driving the first pharmaceutical component from the first variable volume region into the second variable volume region to create a mixed pharmaceutical when the cartridges are moved to the post-mixed position; means for accessing the mixed pharmaceutical; and reciprocating means for forcing first and second predetermined amounts of the mixed pharmaceutical through the accessing means by driving the piston of the second cartridge a distance during first and second strokes of the reciprocating means, the first and second predetermined amounts having approximately the same volume.

Claim 3

The delivery assembly of claim 1 wherein the first pharmaceutical is a diluent and the second pharmaceutical is a lyophilized pharmaceutical component.

Claim 4

A pharmaceutical component-mixing delivery assembly comprising: first and second cartridges including needle ends, plunger ends, interiors and pistons within the interiors, the first and second cartridges containing first and second pharmaceutical components within first and second variable volume regions defined between the needle ends and the pistons, the first and second cartridges being sized so that the needle end of the second cartridge can pass into the first cartridge through the plunger end of the first cartridge; housing means for housing the first and second cartridges, the first and second cartridges being movable relative to one another from a pre-mixed position to a post-mixed position; means for driving the first pharmaceutical component from the first variable volume region into the second variable volume region to create a mixed pharmaceutical when the cartridges are moved to the post-mixed position; means for accessing the mixed pharmaceutical; and reciprocating means for forcing first and second predetermined amounts of the mixed pharmaceutical through the accessing means by driving the piston of the second cartridge a distance during first and second strokes of the reciprocating means, the first and second predetermined amounts having approximately the same volume.

Claim 5

A pharmaceutical component-mixing delivery assembly comprising: first and second cartridges including needle ends, plunger ends, interiors and pistons within the interiors, the first and second cartridges containing first and second pharmaceutical components within first and second variable volume regions defined between the needle ends and the pistons, the first and second cartridges being sized so that the needle end of the second cartridge can pass into the first cartridge through the plunger end of the first cartridge; housing means for housing the first and second cartridges, the first and second cartridges being movable relative to one another from a pre-mixed position to a post-mixed position; means for driving the first pharmaceutical component from the first variable volume region into the second variable volume region to create a mixed pharmaceutical when the cartridges are moved to the post-mixed position; means for accessing the mixed pharmaceutical; and reciprocating means for forcing first and second predetermined amounts of the mixed pharmaceutical through the accessing means by driving the piston of the second cartridge a distance during first and second strokes of the reciprocating means, the first and second predetermined amounts having approximately the same volume.

Claim 6

The delivery assembly of claim 3 wherein the driving means includes: spike means for fluidly coupling the first and second variable volume regions; and means for forcing the piston of the first cartridge towards the needle end of the first cartridge by forcing the needle end of the second cartridge into the first cartridge and towards the needle end of the first cartridge.

Claim 7

A pharmaceutical component-mixing delivery assembly comprising: first and second cartridges including needle ends, plunger ends, interiors and pistons within the interiors, the first and second cartridges containing first and second pharmaceutical components within first and second variable volume regions defined between the needle ends and the pistons; housing means for housing the first and second cartridges, the first and second cartridges being movable relative to one another from a pre-mixed position to a post-mixed position; means for driving the first pharmaceutical component from the first variable volume region into the second variable volume region to create a mixed pharmaceutical when the cartridges are moved to the post-mixed position; means for accessing the mixed pharmaceutical; and reciprocating means for forcing first and second predetermined amounts of the mixed pharmaceutical through the accessing means by driving the piston of the second cartridge a distance during first and second strokes of the reciprocating means, the first and second predetermined amounts having approximately the same volume, the reciprocating forcing means also including a reciprocating ratchet plunger having a length, and a dosing key stop mounted to the plunger at a chosen position along the length, the chosen position corresponding to said distance the piston of the second cartridge moves during each stroke.

Claim 8

A pharmaceutical component-mixing delivery assembly comprising: first and second cartridges including needle ends, plunger ends, interiors and pistons within the interiors, the first and second cartridges containing first and second pharmaceutical components within first and second variable volume regions defined between the needle ends and the pistons; housing means for housing the first and second cartridges, the first and second cartridges being movable relative to one another from a pre-mixed position to a post-mixed position; means for driving the first pharmaceutical component from the first variable volume region into the second variable volume region to create a mixed pharmaceutical when the cartridges are moved to the post-mixed position; means for accessing the mixed pharmaceutical; and reciprocating means for forcing first and second predetermined amounts of the mixed pharmaceutical through the accessing means by driving the piston of the second cartridge a distance during first and second strokes of the reciprocating means, the first and second predetermined amounts having approximately the same volume, the reciprocating forcing means also including a reciprocating ratchet plunger having a length, and a dosing key stop mounted to the plunger at a chosen position along the length, the chosen position corresponding to said distance the piston of the second cartridge moves during each stroke.

Claim 9

The delivery assembly of claim 5 wherein the reciprocating forcing means includes means for preventing a user from changing said chosen position.

Claim 10

A pharmaceutical component-mixing syringe assembly, comprising with first and second cartridges of the type having a cartridge barrel with an interior, an open proximal end, a normally sealed distal end and a piston within the interior, the pistons defining variable volume regions within the first and second cartridges within which first and second pharmaceutical components are contained, and further comprising: a syringe barrel having an interior, open proximal and distal ends, the first and second cartridges at least partially housed within the interior thereof with the distal end of the second cartridge facing the proximal end of the first cartridge, the first and second cartridges being movable relative to one another from a first, pre-mixed position to a second, post-mixed position when the first and second cartridges are in the at least partially housed position within the interior; means for driving the first pharmaceutical component from the variable volume region of the first cartridge into the variable volume region of the second cartridge to mix with the second pharmaceutical component therein to create a mixed pharmaceutical when the cartridges are in the second, post-mix position; a dispensing element in fluid communication with the mixed pharmaceutical when the cartridges are in the second, post-mix position; a drive stem mounted within the syringe barrel for movement therein; first ratchet means for preventing the drive stem from moving in a proximal direction, that is in the direction from the distal end to the proximal end of the syringe barrel when the cartridges are in the second, post-mix position; a reciprocating ratchet plunger; second ratchet means, engaging the drive stem and connected to the ratchet plunger, for driving the drive stem in a distal direction, that is in the direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the syringe barrel, upon movement of the ratchet plunger in the distal direction and when the cartridges are in the second, post-mix position; and the ratchet plunger being movable a distance between a pre-injection position, away from the second cartridge, and a post-injection position, towards the second cartridge; whereby repeated reciprocal movements of the ratchet plunger between the pre-injection and post-injection positions causes the drive stem to drive the piston of the second cartridge the distance in the distal direction to drive amounts of the mixed pharmaceutical through the dispensing element.

Claim 11

A pharmaceutical component-mixing syringe assembly, comprising with first and second cartridges of the type having a cartridge barrel with an interior, an open proximal end, a normally sealed distal end and a piston within the interior, the pistons defining variable volume regions within the first and second cartridges within which first and second pharmaceutical components are contained, and further comprising: a syringe barrel having an interior, open proximal and distal ends, the first and second cartridges at least partially housed within the interior thereof with the distal end of the second cartridge facing the proximal end of the first cartridge, the first and second cartridges being movable relative to one another from a first, pre-mixed position to a second, post-mixed position when the first and second cartridges are in the at least partially housed position within the interior; means for driving the first pharmaceutical component from the variable volume region of the first cartridge into the variable volume region of the second cartridge to mix with the second pharmaceutical component therein to create a mixed pharmaceutical when the cartridges are in the second, post-mix position; a dispensing element in fluid communication with the mixed pharmaceutical when the cartridges are in the second, post-mix position; a drive stem mounted within the syringe barrel for movement therein; first ratchet means for preventing the drive stem from moving in a proximal direction, that is in the direction from the distal end to the proximal end of the syringe barrel when the cartridges are in the second, post-mix position; a reciprocating ratchet plunger; second ratchet means, engaging the drive stem and connected to the ratchet plunger, for driving the drive stem in a distal direction, that is in the direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the syringe barrel, upon movement of the ratchet plunger in the distal direction and when the cartridges are in the second, post-mix position; and the ratchet plunger being movable a distance between a pre-injection position, away from the second cartridge, and a post-injection position, towards the second cartridge; whereby repeated reciprocal movements of the ratchet plunger between the pre-injection and post-injection positions causes the drive stem to drive the piston of the second cartridge the distance in the distal direction to drive amounts of the mixed pharmaceutical through the dispensing element.

Claim 12

The syringe assembly of claim 7 wherein the distal end of the second cartridge passes into the first cartridge through the proximal end of the first cartridge when the cartridges are moved to the second, post-mixed position.

Claim 13

The syringe assembly of claim 7 wherein the driving means includes a spike assembly including a double-ended needle adapted to pierce the distal end of the second cartridge and the piston of the first cartridge so to fluidly couple the variable volume regions of the first and second cartridges.

Claim 14

The syringe assembly of claim 9 wherein the driving means includes an activation sleeve slidably mounted within the syringe barrel, the second cartridge housed within the activation sleeve for movement therewith.

Claim 15

The syringe assembly of claim 10 further comprising means, associated with the syringe barrel, for preventing the unintended movement of the cartridges from the first, pre-mixed position to the second, post-mixed position.

Claim 16

The syringe assembly of claim 11 wherein the movement preventing means includes a slot formed in the activation sleeve.

Claim 17

The syringe assembly of claim 10 wherein the ratchet plunger is reciprocally mounted within the activation sleeve.

Claim 18

The syringe assembly of claim 13 wherein the ratchet plunger includes a bayonet slot means for selectively coupling the ratchet plunger to the second ratchet means.

Claim 19

The syringe assembly of claim 13 wherein the ratchet plunger has a length, the ratchet plunger including a dosing key stop positioned at a chosen position along the length, the chosen position determining said distance.

Claim 20

The syringe assembly of claim 15 wherein the activation sleeve includes means for preventing access to the dosing key after the ratchet plunger has been mounted within the activation sleeve so to prevent changing the chosen position by the user.

Claim 21

The syringe assembly of claim 7 wherein the first cartridge is fixed to the distal end of the syringe barrel.

Claim 22

The syringe assembly of claim 7 wherein the first ratchet means is secured to a position adjacent the proximal end of the second cartridge.