Medicatioin injector

• US 20060247579A1
• Filed: 04/13/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steven A. Friedman
• Original Assignee: Steven Friedman
• Inventors: Friedman, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,390,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/197
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2013 triggering of discharging means by contact of injector with patient body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2073 preventing premature release, e.g. by making use of a safety lock
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/314 Flat shaped barrel forms, e.g. credit card shaped
• 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 5/3202 Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/36 with means for eliminating or preventing injection or infusion of air into body dialysis systems, blood oxygenators A61M1/14; haemofiltration equipment A61M1/34; automatic tube cut-off A61M39/281
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5086 for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile

Abstract

A card-shaped disposable auto-injector includes a two-step safety mechanism to prevent inadvertent use or activation of the injection mechanism. In one aspect, the auto-injector is sized and shaped so as to be easy to carry in a wallet-shaped case. In one aspect, it is rectangular in shape so as to facilitate carrying and storage, and to provide a relatively large amount of surface space for instructional text, diagrams, identifying information, warnings, and the like.

Claims

1. An injector, comprising:

a casing having an opening;

a syringe, located within the casing, for holding medication;

a trigger, coupled to the syringe and having at least a safe position and an injection-ready position, for initiating transmission of the medication in response to a) the trigger being in injection-ready position and b) force being applied to a bottom surface of the trigger;

a lever, engaged with the casing, for causing the trigger to move from the safe position into the injection-ready position; and

a needle, coupled to the syringe, for, responsive to initiation by the trigger, transmitting medication from the syringe into an injection site on a patient.

2. The injector of claim 1, wherein the syringe is horizontally and vertically movable within the casing.

3. The injector of claim 1, wherein the syringe has at least a safe position and an injection-ready position.

4. The injector of claim 1, wherein the trigger is fixed in relation to the syringe.

5. The injector of claim 1, wherein the lever causes the trigger to move into the injection-ready position by moving the syringe in a first direction along a first axis.

6. The injector of claim 5, further comprising:

a first magnet coupled to at least one of the syringe and the trigger; and

a second magnet coupled to the casing;

the magnets being situated to engage with one another so as to assist movement of the trigger into the injection-ready position.

7. The injector of claim 6, wherein the magnets cause at least one of the trigger and syringe to move in a second direction along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

8. The injector of claim 5, further comprising:

a spring coupled to at least one of the syringe and the trigger, the spring biased to assist movement of the trigger into the injection-ready position.

9. The injector of claim 8, wherein the spring causes at least one of the trigger and syringe to move in a second direction along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

10. The injector of claim 8, further comprising:

a spring key for holding the spring; and

at least one seating arm for holding the spring key in place until trigger initiation.

11. The injector of claim 1, wherein:

in the safe position, the trigger is not in alignment with the opening in the casing; and

in the injection-ready position, the trigger is in alignment with the opening in the casing.

12. The injector of claim 11, wherein:

in safe position, the trigger does not protrude through the opening in the casing; and

in injection-ready position, the trigger protrudes through the opening in the casing.

13. The injector of claim 1, wherein the casing comprises two substantially rectangular surfaces and four edge surfaces.

14. The injector of claim 13, wherein the opening is located in a first edge surface of the casing.

15. The injector of claim 13, wherein each edge surface is no more than ½

″

in width.

16. The injector of claim 1, wherein the casing is substantially rectangular in shape.

17. The injector of claim 16, wherein the casing is no more than ½

″

in thickness.

18. The injector of claim 1, wherein the casing is substantially card-shaped.

19. The injector of claim 1, wherein the casing is substantially cylindrical.

20. The injector of claim 1, wherein the lever is plastic.

21. The injector of claim 1, further comprising a safety, for, when engaged with the lever, preventing the lever from being activated.

22. The injector of claim 21, wherein the safety is removable.

23. A carrying case for an injector, comprising:

a substantially flat surface; and

a depression within the surface, for holding an injector.

24. The carrying case of claim 23, wherein the depression is substantially rectangular.

25. The carrying case of claim 23, wherein the depression comprises at least one thumb grip cutout.

26. The carrying case of claim 23, further comprising a movable flap for covering the injector when held within the depression.

27. The carrying case of claim 23, further comprising a second substantially flat surface, and wherein the carrying case is foldable between an open position and a closed position in which the flat surfaces are pressed against one another.

28. The carrying case of claim 23, further comprising at least one additional compartment for carrying items.

29. The carrying case of claim 23, wherein the carrying case is constructed from at least one of leather, vinyl, leatherette, and imitation leather.

30. The carrying case of claim 23, wherein the carrying case forms at least part of a wallet.

31. An injector, comprising:

means for holding medication;

means for initiating transmission of the medication in response to force being applied to a bottom surface, the means for initiating transmission having an injection-ready position in which it can initiate transmission of medication and a safe position in which it does not initiate transmission;

means for causing the means for initiating transmission to move from the safe position into the injection-ready position; and

means for transmitting medication into an injection site.

32. The injector of claim 31, wherein the means for holding medication is horizontally and vertically movable.

33. The injector of claim 31, wherein the means for holding medication has at least a safe position and an injection-ready position.

34. The injector of claim 31, wherein the means for initiating transmission is fixed in relation to the means for holding medication.

35. The injector of claim 31, wherein the means for initiating transmission is moved into the injection-ready position by moving the means for holding medication in a first direction along a first axis.

36. The injector of claim 35, further comprising:

means for assisting movement of the means for initiating transmission into the injection-ready position.

37. The injector of claim 31, further comprising means for preventing the means for initiating transmission to move from the safe position into the injection-ready position.

38. The injector of claim 31, further comprising removable means for preventing the means for initiating transmission to move from the safe position into the injection-ready position.