Automatic injector
First Claim
1. An injector for automatically injecting and delivering fluids into a living being, said injector comprising:
- a housing having a first proximal end and a first distal end that is open;
a cartridge having a barrel containing a fluid, said cartridge further comprising a displaceable stopper at a second proximal end and a needle at a second distal end, said cartridge being fixed within said housing;
a driver engaged within said housing for driving said stopper to dispense the fluid from said barrel and through said needle when disengaged from said housing;
a needle shield being in sliding engagement with said first distal end of said housing and comprising an opening for permitting said needle to pass therethrough; and
a single spring, engaged with said driver, that is released by a user force, said single spring displacing said driver for automatically injecting and delivering the fluid into the living being and for automatically acting against the needle shield to remove the needle from the living being while concealing the needle once the fluid delivery is complete.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An injector is automatic in that the needle is inserted into the injection site (e.g., a patient'"'"'s skin) with user or caregiver assistance, the delivery is automatically initiated upon needle insertion, and the needle is retracted automatically after the end of delivery. Preferably the needle is not seen by the user prior to, during or after injection. Prior to and after injection, the needle is hidden in the device so as to avoid any potential injury or health risk to the user or health care provider. The injector includes a housing and a shield arranged to slide relative to the housing and a driver moving during drug delivery. The housing and shield form a cartridge enclosure. The cartridge is shielded and locked after delivery is completed. A needle-locking mechanism can be used in any number of pen-like injectors or safety needles.
390 Citations
45 Claims
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1. An injector for automatically injecting and delivering fluids into a living being, said injector comprising:
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a housing having a first proximal end and a first distal end that is open;
a cartridge having a barrel containing a fluid, said cartridge further comprising a displaceable stopper at a second proximal end and a needle at a second distal end, said cartridge being fixed within said housing;
a driver engaged within said housing for driving said stopper to dispense the fluid from said barrel and through said needle when disengaged from said housing;
a needle shield being in sliding engagement with said first distal end of said housing and comprising an opening for permitting said needle to pass therethrough; and
a single spring, engaged with said driver, that is released by a user force, said single spring displacing said driver for automatically injecting and delivering the fluid into the living being and for automatically acting against the needle shield to remove the needle from the living being while concealing the needle once the fluid delivery is complete. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An injector for automatically injecting and delivering fluids into a living being, said injector comprising:
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a housing having a first proximal end and a first distal end that is open;
a cartridge having a barrel containing a fluid, said cartridge further comprising a displaceable stopper at a second proximal end and a needle at a second distal end having a reduced-diameter portion, said cartridge being fixed within said housing;
a driver engaged within said housing for driving said stopper to dispense the fluid from said barrel and through said needle when disengaged from said housing, said driver comprising members that slide along said barrel and detect said reduced-diameter portion;
a needle shield being in sliding engagement with said first distal end of said housing and comprising an opening for permitting said needle to pass therethrough; and
driving means, engaged with said driver, that is released by a user force, said driving means displacing said driver for automatically injecting and delivering the fluid into the living being, said driving means also automatically acting against said needle shield to remove the needle from the living being while concealing said needle when said reduced-diameter portion is detected. - View Dependent Claims (26, 40)
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- 22. The injector of claim 22 wherein said driving means is a single spring.
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41. A method for automatically injecting and delivering a fluid into a living being, said method comprising the steps of:
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disposing a cartridge inside an injector housing having a first proximal end and a first distal end, said cartridge having a barrel having a second proximal end and a second distal end, said second proximal end having a movable stopper thereat and said second distal end having a reduced-diameter portion having a needle thereat;
providing a needle shield to be in sliding engagement with said injector housing at said first distal end, said needle shield comprising an opening to permit said needle to pass therethrough;
latching a driver inside said injector housing against the bias of a single spring, said driver having a driver rod engaged with said stopper;
positioning said needle shield and opening against the living being;
applying a sufficient force to said injector housing to de-latch said driver while driving said needle shield towards said housing and inserting said needle into the living being;
displacing said stopper by said driver under the action of said single spring to dispense the fluid into the living being; and
detecting said reduced-diameter portion and permitting said single spring to act directly against said needle shield to withdraw said needle from the living being while concealing said needle. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification