Needle-free injection system

• US 20040159364A1
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bioject Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bioject Incorporated
• Inventors: Landau, Sergio, Marshall, John R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,935,384 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1782 Devices aiding filling of syringes in situ combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents A61J1/2096, filling of medical containers in general B65B3/003
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/003 Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/12 mechanically, e.g. by pistons or pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 67/02 Packaging of articles or materials in containers

Abstract

The present invention provides method and apparatus for providing high throughput injections. In one embodiment the invention provides a filling device adapted to deliver injectate from a common reservoir to a plurality of disposable fluid injection assemblies and a reusable propulsion assembly adapted to receive a filled disposable fluid injection assembly and deliver an injection to a patient.

Claims

1. A needle free injection system comprising:

an injection assembly comprising;

a single-use removable fluid ejection assembly comprising;

a body terminating in a nozzle;

a fluid reservoir housed within the body, the fluid reservoir being adapted to receive a fluid injectate; and

a plunger disposed within the fluid reservoir;

a propulsion assembly comprising;

a housing adapted to receive at least a portion of the removable fluid ejection assembly; and

a propulsion system adapted to apply sufficient force to the fluid ejection assembly to cause ejection of the fluid injectate through the nozzle; and

a filling device adapted to sterilely deliver a predetermined amount of injectate from a common reservoir to a plurality of fluid ejection assemblies.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the filling device can be hand operated.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the filling device is adapted to receive a rack of fluid ejection assemblies.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the filling device further comprises a removable insert that defines the fluid path between the common reservoir and each fluid ejection assembly.

5. A device for transferring a volume of liquid injectate into a plurality of single-use cartridges, the device comprising:

a disposable fluid reservoir;

a disposable fluid path adapted to contact the fluid reservoir and deliver fluid to the plurality of single-use cartridges;

a housing adapted to temporarily receive and retain the disposable fluid reservoir and the disposable fluid path, the housing comprising;

a mechanism adapted to retain and position the plurality of single-use cartridges such that each single-use cartridge is temporarily in fluid contact with the disposable fluid path; and

a power generator adapted to provide power to the mechanism.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the disposable fluid reservoir is a syringe.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein the disposable fluid path is a filler valve.

8. The device of claim 5 wherein the power generator includes a handcrank.

9. The device of claim 5 wherein the housing is further adapted to adopt a compact storage configuration.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein in the storage configuration the disposable fluid reservoir is removed from the device.

11. A portable filling device comprising:

a body adapted to receive a carrier holding a plurality of single-use fluid ejection assemblies,

a pressurized reservoir adapted to hold a volume of injectate;

a fluid transfer path adapted to provide a fluid connection from the reservoir to the plurality of disposable fluid ejection assemblies;

a valve disposed along the fluid delivery path;

a first mechanism disposed within the body for moving the carrier;

a second mechanism disposed within the body for properly positioning each fluid ejection assembly for filling;

a third mechanism disposed within the body for opening and closing the valve.

12. The portable filling device of claim 11 wherein the first, second, and third mechanisms are hand-powered.

13. The filling device of claim 11 wherein the reservoir is removable.

14. The filling device of claim 13 wherein the reservoir is a syringe.

15. The filling device of claim 14 wherein the syringe is disposable.

16. The filling device of claim 11 further comprising a pressure assembly adapted to maintain constant pressure on the common reservoir.

17. The filling device of claim 11 further comprising a removable insert that defines the fluid transfer path from the reservoir to each fluid ejection assembly.

18. The filling device of claim 17 wherein the removable insert includes a filler valve.

19. The filling device of claim 18 wherein the removable insert is designed to be disposed of after use.

20. The filling device of claim 19 wherein the removable insert is made of molded plastic resins.

21. A method for sterilely delivering needle free injections to multiple recipients comprising:

sterilely filling a plurality of single-use ejection assemblies with injectate by transferring fluid from a common reservoir to the single-use ejection assemblies via a fluid path;

engaging a first single-use expulsion assembly including a first nozzle with a reusable power assembly, wherein the reusable power assembly comprises;

a housing adapted to engage a portion of the single-use fluid ejection assembly while leaving the first nozzle exposed;

a propulsion system adapted to apply sufficient force to the single-use fluid ejection assembly to cause ejection of the fluid injectate through the nozzle;

contacting a first recipient with the first nozzle;

injecting the first recipient;

disengaging the first single-use ejection assembly from the power assembly;

engaging a second single-use ejection assembly including a second nozzle with the reusable power assembly;

contacting a second recipient with the second nozzle; and

injecting the second recipient.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the common reservoir is disposable.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the fluid path is disposable.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the plurality of single-use ejection assemblies are connected to each other with a carrier.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of removing the first and second single-use ejection assemblies from the carrier before engaging them with the reusable power assembly.

26. A method of delivering a predetermined amount of liquid injectate to a plurality of fluid ejection assemblies comprising:

providing a fluid reservoir;

providing a filling nozzle;

providing a fluid path from the fluid reservoir to the filling nozzle;

providing first and second single-use fluid ejection assemblies joined together by a rack, wherein each fluid ejection assembly is adapted to be used in a needle-free injector;

engaging the rack with a filling device such that movement of the rack will position each fluid ejection assembly so that it can be engaged by the filling nozzle;

engaging the first fluid ejection assembly with the filling nozzle;

releasing a predetermined amount of liquid into the fluid path such that the liquid flows through the filling nozzle into the first fluid ejection assembly;

disengaging the first fluid ejection assembly from the filling nozzle;

moving the rack;

engaging the second fluid ejection assembly with the filling nozzle;

releasing a predetermined amount of liquid into the fluid path such that the liquid flows through the filling nozzle into the second fluid ejection assembly;

disengaging the second fluid ejection assembly from the filling nozzle;

moving the rack.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the fluid reservoir is disposable.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the fluid reservoir is a syringe.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the filling nozzle is part of a filler valve.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the filler valve is disposable.

31. A needle free injector comprising:

a single-use fluid ejection assembly comprising;

a body terminating in a nozzle;

a cavity defined by the body, the cavity being adapted to receive a fluid injectate; and

a plunger housed within the cavity;

a propulsion assembly comprising;

a housing adapted to receive a portion of the removable fluid ejection assembly and position the single-use fluid ejection assembly such that the nozzle is exposed;

a first control mechanism for engaging and disengaging the single-use fluid ejection assembly;

a propulsion system adapted to apply sufficient force to the plunger to cause ejection of the fluid injectate through the nozzle; and

a second control mechanism for initiating the propulsion system;

wherein only the exposed nozzle of the single-use ejection assembly makes contact with a patient during an injection.

32. The needle-free injector of claim 31 wherein the propulsion assembly is isolated from the fluid injectate within the single-use fluid ejection assembly.

33. The needle-free injector of claim 31 wherein the first control mechanism is a lever.

34. The needle-free injector of claim 31 wherein the second control mechanism is a trigger.