Separation assembly for drug delivery device

• US 20040097874A1
• Filed: 09/03/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meridian Medical Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Meridian Medical Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Griffiths, Steven, Hill, Robert L., Wilmot, John G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,556,614 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/85
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/206 With automatic needle insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2073 preventing premature release, e.g. by making use of a safety lock
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/287 by displacing occluding plugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3132 having flow passages for injection agents at the distal end of the barrel to bypass a sealing stopper after its displacement to this end due to internal pressure increase
• 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 5/2066 comprising means for injection of two or more media, e.g. by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/286 upon internal pressure increase, e.g. pierced or burst A61M5/283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3145 Filters incorporated in syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/34 Constructions for connecting the needle , e.g. to syringe nozzle or needle hub connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/343 Connection of needle cannula to needle hub, or directly to syringe nozzle without a needle hub A61M5/322 takes precedence

Abstract

A separation assembly for a container for separating a first component from a second component is disclosed. The separation assembly includes a generally cylindrical body that is constructed and arranged to be slidably supported within a container between a liquid component and a dry component. The body includes a seal structure constructed and arranged within the container between the first component and the second component. The seal structure has an inner seal member wherein the inner seal member is initially in a sealing condition that maintains the first component sealed from the second component. The inner seal member being converted to a mixing condition in response to the predetermined operating condition such that the first component flows through at least one flow path in the seal structure to mix with the second component. The body further includes a flow distributing member disposed adjacent the seal structure to evenly distribute the first component into the second component upon occurrence of the predetermined operating condition. The seal structure and the flow distributing member form a single unit.

Claims

1. A separation assembly for a container for separating a first component from a second component, wherein the first component is to be mixed with the second component in the container upon occurrence of a predetermined operating condition, the separation assembly comprising:

a generally cylindrical body that is constructed and arranged to be slidably supported within the container between the liquid component and the dry component,

wherein the body includes a seal structure constructed and arranged within the container between the first component and the second component, the seal structure having an inner seal member wherein the inner seal member being initially in a sealing condition that maintains the first component sealed from the second component, the inner seal member being converted to a mixing condition in response to the predetermined operating condition such that the first component flows through at least one flow path in the seal structure to mix with the second component,

wherein the body further includes a flow distributing member disposed adjacent the seal structure to evenly distribute the first component into the second component upon occurrence of the predetermined operating condition,

whereby the seal structure and the flow distributing member form a single unit.

2. The separation assembly according to claim 1, wherein the flow distributing member comprises a filter.

3. The separation assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seal structure comprises a sealing assembly having a movable plug.

4. The separation assembly according to claim 3, wherein the sealing assembly has an outer periphery that is constructed and arranged to form a peripheral seal with an interior wall of the container.

5. The separation assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seal structure incorporates a burstable membrane.