US5312335A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Needleless hypodermic injection device
Assignee: Bioject Inc
•
Filing: 1991-06-13
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Granted: 1994-05-17
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Expires: 2011-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A needleless injection device has a housing containing a pilot valve connectable to a compressed gas source. A two stage power amplifying valve includes a main valve operatively connected to the pilot valve. The pilot valve and main valve form a two-stage valve with the pilot valve activatable to open the main valve utilizing gas pressure. Compressed gas in a reservoir flows through the open main valve to drive a plunger into an ampule to inject an injectant through a patient's skin. Interlocks are provided to resist inadvertent actuation of the device and a indicator indicates whether there is sufficient gas pressure in the device for another injection. An ampule for needleless injection has a nozzle length to nozzle diameter ratio of from 2.0 to 5.0 and a throat cone flair angle of from 10-14 degrees.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles M. McKinnon
- 👤 Takaaki Nakagawa
- 👤 Carl E. Wilcox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/178; A61M5/24; A61M5/30; A61M2005/2485; A61M2005/2488; A61M5/31; A61M2005/3117; A61M2005/3118; A61M2005/312; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/58; A61M2205/583; A61M5/20; A61M5/2053; A61M5/3007; A61M5/48; A61M5/486
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A needleless injection system comprising: a needleless injection device; an ampule having: an ampule body containing an injectant chamber; a tubular shroud attached to the ampule body; a nozzle section attached to the ampule body concentric with the shroud, the nozzle section having a nozzle opening leading into the injectant chamber; a Luer fitting on the nozzle section and substantially within the shroud, the Luer fitting having a minimum diameter of approximately 0.15 inch adjacent to the nozzle opening and tapering linearly outwardly to larger diameters towards the injectant chamber; a plunger slidably displaceable into the injectant chamber; and means for attaching the ampule to the injection device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A needleless injection system comprising: a needleless injection device; an ampule having: an ampule body containing an injectant chamber; a tubular shroud attached to the ampule body; a nozzle section attached to the ampule body concentric with the shroud, the nozzle section having a nozzle opening leading into the injectant chamber; a Luer fitting on the nozzle section and substantially within the shroud, the Luer fitting having a minimum diameter of approximately 0.15 inch adjacent to the nozzle opening and tapering linearly outwardly to larger diameters towards the injectant chamber; a plunger slidably displaceable into the injectant chamber; and means for attaching the ampule to the injection device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the injectant chamber is cylindrical and concentric with the nozzle opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching the ampule to the injection device includes a plurality of lug sections radially projecting from the ampule body and spaced apart from the nozzle section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The needleless injection system of claim 1 further comprising an O-ring and a back-up ring positioned in a groove on the plunger.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the shroud has a length of approximately 0.3 inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the shroud has a forward end rim with an outside diameter of approximately 0.4 inch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the nozzle section projects beyond the tubular shroud.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The needleless injection system of claim 1 further comprising: a nozzle bore of length L defining the opening in the nozzle section, a throat section between the ampule body and the nozzle section, a throat section between the ampule body and the nozzle section, the throat section having inner throat walls leading and tapering substantially conically outwardly from the nozzle bore towards the injectant chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the ampule further comprises a transition section between, and adjoining, the throat section and the ampule body, the transition section having forward inner transition walls curving on a radius convexly from the throat section into rear inner transition walls, the rear inner transition walls curving on a radius concavely from the forward inner transition walls to the ampule body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the ampule throat section has inner walls which flair conically outwardly from a center line of the ampule at an angle in the range of approximately 2-6.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The needleless injection system of claim 8, wherein throat section has a length a plurality of times greater than the length of the nozzle bore L.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-05-16 | 1997-11-15 | 1998-05-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-05-16 | 2001-11-15 | 2002-05-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-05-16 | 2005-11-15 | 2006-05-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |