Needle-free intradermal injection device

• US 10,322,238 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2017
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PharmaJet, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PharmaJet, Inc.
• Inventors: Cappello, Chris, Wixey, Matt, Bingham, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayman, Imani N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Legette, Tiffany
• Application Number:
  US15/644,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20170304543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2013 triggering of discharging means by contact of injector with patient body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/202 cocking means, e.g. to bias the main drive spring of an injector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2073 preventing premature release, e.g. by making use of a safety lock
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/208 Release is possible only when device is pushed against the skin, e.g. using a trigger which is blocked or inactive when the device is not pushed against the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2033 Spring-loaded one-shot injectors with or without automatic needle insertion multishot dosing syringes A61M5/31525, needle insertion only A61M5/3287
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/30 Syringes for injection by jet action, without needle, e.g. for use with replaceable ampoules or carpules

Abstract

A needle-free injection device suitable for delivering a therapeutic substance into the intradermal space of a patient. The needle-free injection device includes an injector body defining a syringe end. The device also includes a first handle attached with a hinge to the injector body such that the first handle pivots between an open and a closed position and remains attached to the injector body during an injection, a main spring positioned within the injector body, a return sleeve engaged with the main spring, and a first linkage between the first handle and the return sleeve. The first linkage causes the return sleeve to move away from the syringe end of the injector body when the first handle is moved from the open position to the closed position, thereby compressing the main spring. Needle-free injection systems and methods of operating a needle-free injection device are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A needle-free injection device comprising:

an injector body defining a syringe end of the injector body;

a first handle attached to the injector body such that the first handle pivots between an open and a closed position and remains attached to the injector body during an injection;

a main spring positioned within the injector body;

a return sleeve engaged with the main spring;

a first linkage between the first handle and the return sleeve, wherein the first linkage causes the return sleeve to move away from the syringe end of the injector body when the first handle is moved from the open position to the closed position, thereby compressing the main spring; and

a return spring biasing the return sleeve toward the syringe end of the injector body.

2. The needle-free injection device of claim 1 further comprising:

a second handle; and

a second linkage between the second handle and the return sleeve.

3. The needle-free injection device of claim 2 further comprising at least one pivot hinge between the injector body and the first and second handles, the pivot hinge comprising;

two pivot studs with a first pivot stud being engaged with the first handle and a second pivot stud being engaged with the second handle; and

two radius surfaces with a first radius surface mating with a corresponding surface on the first handle and a second radius surface mating with a corresponding surface on the second handle.

4. The needle-free injection device of claim 2 further comprising a latch and release sleeve to engage the first and second handles and hold each handle in the closed position.

5. The needle-free injection device of claim 4 further comprising a release button to release the handles from engagement with the latch and release sleeve and allow each handle to move to the open position.

6. The needle-free injection device of claim 1 further comprising:

a hammer engaged with the main spring; and

a hammer release in mechanical communication with an actuation button, wherein actuation of the actuation button when the main spring is compressed can permit the main spring to decompress, driving the hammer toward the syringe end of the injector body.

7. The needle-free injection device of claim 6 wherein the hammer release comprises one or more ball bearings housed within a ball lock.

8. The needle-free injection device of claim 6 further comprising:

a side post extending from the hammer; and

a clip extending from the return sleeve, wherein the clip binds the side post and the hammer to the return sleeve when the handle is not in a fully closed position.

9. The needle-free injection device of claim 8 wherein the clip is disengaged from the side post and the hammer when the handle is in a fully closed position.

10. A method of operating a needle-free injection system comprising:

providing a needle-free injection device comprising;

an injector body defining a syringe end of the injector body;

a first handle attached to the injector body such that the first handle pivots between an open and a closed position and remains attached to the injector body during an injection;

a main spring positioned within the injector body;

a return sleeve engaged with the main spring;

a first linkage between the first handle and the return sleeve;

moving the first handle from the open position to the closed position causing the first linkage to cause the return sleeve to move away from the syringe end of the injector body thereby compressing the main spring;

providing a return spring biasing the return sleeve toward the syringe end of the injector body; and

moving the handle from the closed position to the open position, permitting the return spring to move the return sleeve toward the syringe end of the injector body.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

providing a second handle attached to the injector body such that the second handle pivots between an open and a closed position;

providing a second linkage between the second handle and the return sleeve; and

moving the first handle and the second handle from the open position to the closed position causing the first linkage and the second linkage to cause the return sleeve to move away from the syringe end of the injector body thereby compressing the main spring.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing at least one pivot hinge between the first handle, the second handle and the pivot hinge, said pivot hinge comprising;

two pivot studs with a first pivot stud being engaged with the first handle and a second pivot stud being engaged with the second handle; and

two radius surfaces with a first radius surface mating with a corresponding surface on the first handle and a second radius surface mating with a corresponding surface on the second handle.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing a latch and release sleeve; and

engaging the first and second handles with the latch and release sleeve to hold each handle in the closed position.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

providing a release button in mechanical communication with the latch and release sleeve; and

actuating the release button to disengage the handles from the latch and release sleeve and allow each handle to move to the open position.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

providing a hammer engaged with the main spring;

providing a hammer release in mechanical communication with an actuation button; and

actuating the actuation button when the main spring is compressed to permit the main spring to decompress, driving the hammer toward the syringe end of the injector body.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the hammer release comprises one or more ball bearings housed within a ball lock.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

providing a side post extending from the hammer;

providing a clip extending from the return sleeve; and

binding the side post and the hammer to the return sleeve with the clip when the handle is not in a fully closed position.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising disengaging the clip from the side post and the hammer when the handle is in a fully closed position.