hypodermic jet injector

Claim 2

A spring actuated needleless hypodermic jet injection system comprising: an ampule assembly comprising: a shell having a chamber for holding liquid medication between first and second ends of the shell; an orifice in the first end of the shell and communicating with the chamber through which liquid medication is drawn into and ejected out from the chamber; and a plunger assembly movable within the chamber for converting an applied force to a corresponding pressure applied to the liquid, the plunger assembly for drawing liquid medication into the chamber and for ejecting liquid medication out from the chamber; an injector for receiving and mounting the ampule assembly and for providing said applied force to move the plunger assembly, the injector comprising: a cylindrical housing having a front end, a back end, and defining a longitudinal channel therebetween, wherein the front end of the housing is open and configured to receive the second end of the ampule assembly; a piston mounted for sliding movement in the longitudinal channel, the piston for applying said force to the plunger assembly; a spring disposed within the channel and communicating with the piston, the spring for accumulating and storing a sufficient amount of energy when compressed to produce sufficient pressure to cause the liquid to leave the chamber via the orifice at such a velocity that it can be hypodermically injected at an injection site, wherein the energy is converted to said force by the piston when the spring is released; a trigger assembly coupled to the spring for manually releasing the stored energy; coupling means disposed in the open end of the injector housing for coupling the ampule assembly to the housing; a safety interlock assembly, coupled between the trigger assembly and the coupling means, the safety interlock operatively responsive to the ampule assembly as being coupled to the injector housing, the safety interlock assembly preventing release of the stored energy by the trigger assembly unless an ampule assembly is coupled to the injector; and a cocking/carrying case comprising a cavity, wherein the injector is disposed within the cavity, the cocking/carrying case comprising: a rectangular base and cover hingedly connected together at a short side such that the cover describes an arc when closed upon the base; and cocking means operatively responsive to the closing of the cover, for engaging the injector to compress the spring to accumulate said suitable amount of energy.

Claim 3

The injector system according to claim 1, wherein the cocking/carrying case further comprises a shuttle slidably mounted on the base, the shuttle including a centrally mounted and longitudinally extending ramrod configured to extend into the open front end of the injector housing when the injector is disposed in the cavity, the ramrod bearing against the injector piston such that when the lid is closed, the ramrod exerts a force on the piston to thereby compress the spring to accumulate said suitable amount of energy.

Claim 4

The injection system according to claim 2, wherein the cocking/carrying case further comprises thrust means connected between the cover and the shuttle, the thrust means translating the arcuate motion of the cover into a lateral motion of the shuttle.

Claim 5

A spring actuated needleless hypodermic jet injection system comprising: an ampule assembly comprising: a shell having a chamber for holding liquid medication between first and second ends of the shell; an orifice in the first end of the shell and communicating with the chamber through which liquid medication is drawn into and ejected out from the chamber; and a plunger assembly movable within the chamber for converting an applied force to a corresponding pressure applied to the liquid, the plunger assembly for drawing liquid medication into the chamber and for ejecting liquid medication out from the chamber; an injector for receiving and mounting the ampule assembly and for providing said applied force to move the plunger assembly, the injector comprising: a cylindrical housing having a front end, a back end, and defining a longitudinal channel therebetween, wherein the front end of the housing is open and configured to receive the second end of the ampule assembly; a piston mounted for sliding movement in the longitudinal channel, the piston for applying said force to the plunger assembly; a spring disposed within the channel and communicating with the piston, the spring for accumulating and storing a sufficient amount of energy when compressed to produce sufficient pressure to cause the liquid to leave the chamber via the orifice at such a velocity that it can be hypodermically injected at an injection site, wherein the energy is converted to said force by the piston when the spring is released; a trigger assembly coupled to the spring for manually releasing the stored energy; coupling means disposed in the open end of the injector housing for coupling the ampule assembly to the housing; a safety interlock assembly, coupled between the trigger assembly and the coupling means, the safety interlock operatively responsive to the ampule assembly as being coupled to the injector housing, the safety interlock assembly preventing release of the stored energy by the trigger assembly unless an ampule assembly is coupled to the injector; and a cocking/carrying case having a base, a closable cover and a cavity, wherein the injector is disposed within the cavity, the cocking/carrying case including cocking means operatively responsive to the closing of the cover for engaging the injector to compress the spring to accumulate said suitable amount of energy, the cocking/carrying case further comprising a shuttle slidably mounted on the base, the shuttle including a centrally mounted and longitudinally extending ramrod configured to extend into the open front end of the injector housing when the injector is disposed in the cavity, the ramrod bearing against the injector piston such that when the lid is closed, the ramrod exerts a force on the piston to thereby compress the spring to accumulate said suitable amount of energy.

Claim 6

A spring actuated needleless hypodermic jet injection system comprising: an ampule assembly comprising: a shell having a chamber for holding liquid medication between first and second ends of the shell; an orifice in the first end of the shell and communicating with the chamber through which liquid medication is drawn into and ejected out from the chamber; and a plunger assembly movable within the chamber for converting an applied force to a corresponding pressure applied to the liquid, the plunger assembly for drawing liquid medication into the chamber and for ejecting liquid medication out from the chamber; an injector for receiving and mounting the ampule assembly and for providing said applied force to move the plunger assembly, the injector comprising: a cylindrical housing having a front end, a back end, and defining a longitudinal channel therebetween, wherein the front end of the housing is open and configured to receive the second end of the ampule assembly; a piston mounted for sliding movement in the longitudinal channel, the piston for applying said force to the plunger assembly; a spring disposed within the channel and communicating with the piston, the spring for accumulating and storing a sufficient amount of energy when compressed to produce sufficient pressure to cause the liquid to leave the chamber via the orifice at such a velocity that it can be hypodermically injected at an injection site, wherein the energy is converted to said force by the piston when the spring is released; a trigger assembly coupled to the spring for manually releasing the stored energy; coupling means disposed in the open end of the injector housing for coupling the ampule assembly to the housing; a safety interlock assembly, coupled between the trigger assembly and the coupling means, the safety interlock operatively responsive to the ampule assembly as being coupled to the injector housing, the safety interlock assembly preventing release of the stored energy by the trigger assembly unless an ampule assembly is coupled to the injector; and a cocking/carrying case having a base, a closable cover and a cavity, wherein the injector is disposed within the cavity, the cocking/carrying case including cocking means operatively responsive to the closing of the cover for engaging the injector to compress the spring to accumulate said suitable amount of energy, the cocking/carrying case further comprising a shuttle slidably mounted on the base, the shuttle including a centrally mounted and longitudinally extending ramrod configured to extend into the open front end of the injector housing when the injector is disposed in the cavity, the ramrod bearing against the injector piston such that when the lid is closed, the ramrod exerts a force on the piston to thereby compress the spring to accumulate said suitable amount of energy.

Claim 7

The injection system according to claim 4, wherein the cocking/carrying case further comprises thrust means connected between the cover and the shuttle, the thrust means translating an arcuate closing motion of the cover into a lateral motion of the shuttle.

Claim 8

A spring actuated needleless hypodermic jet injection system comprising: an ampule assembly comprising: a shell having a chamber for holding liquid medication between first and second ends of the shell; an orifice in the first end of the shell and communicating with the chamber through which liquid medication is drawn into and ejected out from the chamber; and a plunger assembly movable within the chamber for converting an applied force to a corresponding pressure applied to the liquid, the plunger assembly for drawing liquid medication into the chamber and for ejecting liquid medication out from the chamber; an injector for receiving and mounting the ampule assembly and for providing said applied force to move the plunger assembly, the injector comprising: a cylindrical housing having a front end, a back end, and defining a longitudinal channel therebetween, wherein the front end of the housing is open and configured to receive the second end of the ampule assembly; a piston mounted for sliding movement in the longitudinal channel, the piston for applying said force to the plunger assembly; a spring disposed within the channel and communicating with the piston, the spring for accumulating and storing a sufficient amount of energy when compressed to produce sufficient pressure to cause the liquid to leave the chamber via the orifice at such a velocity that it can be hypodermically injected at an injection site, wherein the energy is converted to said force by the piston when the spring is released; a trigger assembly coupled to the spring for manually releasing the stored energy; coupling means disposed in the open end of the injector housing for coupling the ampule assembly to the housing; a safety interlock assembly, coupled between the trigger assembly and the coupling means, the safety interlock operatively responsive to the ampule assembly as being coupled to the injector housing, the safety interlock assembly preventing release of the stored energy by the trigger assembly unless an ampule assembly is coupled to the injector; a cocking/carrying case having a base, a closable cover and a cavity, wherein the injector is disposed within the cavity, the cocking/carrying case including cocking means operatively responsive to the closing of the cover for engaging the injector to compress the spring to accumulate said suitable amount of energy, wherein the cocking/carrying case further comprises a shuttle slidably mounted on the base, the shuttle including a centrally mounted and longitudinally extending ramrod configured to extend into the open front end of the injector housing when the injector is disposed in the cavity, the ramrod bearing against the injector piston such that when the lid is closed, the ramrod exerts a force on the piston to thereby compress the spring to accumulate said suitable amount of energy; and liquid transfer means for drawing liquid medication from a medication container into the ampule assembly through the orifice.

Claim 9

A spring actuated needleless hypodermic jet injection system comprising: an ampule assembly comprising: a shell having a chamber for holding liquid medication between first and second ends of the shell; an orifice in the first end of the shell and communicating with the chamber through which liquid medication is drawn into and ejected out from the chamber; and a plunger assembly movable within the chamber for converting an applied force to a corresponding pressure applied to the liquid, the plunger assembly for drawing liquid medication into the chamber and for ejecting liquid medication out from the chamber; an injector for receiving and mounting the ampule assembly and for providing said applied force to move the plunger assembly, the injector comprising: a cylindrical housing having a front end, a back end, and defining a longitudinal channel therebetween, wherein the front end of the housing is open and configured to receive the second end of the ampule assembly; a piston mounted for sliding movement in the longitudinal channel, the piston for applying said force to the plunger assembly; a spring disposed within the channel and communicating with the piston, the spring for accumulating and storing a sufficient amount of energy when compressed to produce sufficient pressure to cause the liquid to leave the chamber via the orifice at such a velocity that it can be hypodermically injected at an injection site, wherein the energy is converted to said force by the piston when the spring is released; a trigger assembly coupled to the spring for manually releasing the stored energy; coupling means disposed in the open end of the injector housing for coupling the ampule assembly to the housing; a safety interlock assembly, coupled between the trigger assembly and the coupling means, the safety interlock operatively responsive to the ampule assembly as being coupled to the injector housing, the safety interlock assembly preventing release of the stored energy by the trigger assembly unless an ampule assembly is coupled to the injector; a cocking/carrying case having a base, a closable cover and a cavity, wherein the injector is disposed within the cavity, the cocking/carrying case including cocking means operatively responsive to the closing of the cover for engaging the injector to compress the spring to accumulate said suitable amount of energy, wherein the cocking/carrying case further comprises a shuttle slidably mounted on the base, the shuttle including a centrally mounted and longitudinally extending ramrod configured to extend into the open front end of the injector housing when the injector is disposed in the cavity, the ramrod bearing against the injector piston such that when the lid is closed, the ramrod exerts a force on the piston to thereby compress the spring to accumulate said suitable amount of energy; and liquid transfer means for drawing liquid medication from a medication container into the ampule assembly through the orifice.

Claim 10

The injection system according to claim 6, wherein the cocking/carrying case further comprises thrust means connected between the cover and the shuttle, the thrust means translating an arcuate closing motion of the cover into a lateral motion of the shuttle.