Devices systems and methods for medicament delivery

• US 20070088268A1
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kaleo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intelliject Incorporated
• Inventors: Edwards, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,416,540 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/136
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2013 triggering of discharging means by contact of injector with patient body
• 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 2005/31508 provided on the piston-rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/584 having a color code
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8218 Gas operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/19 having more than one chamber , e.g. including a manifold coupling two parallelly aligned syringes through separate channels to a common discharge assembly surgical glue applicators A61B17/00491
• 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 5/2046 Media being expelled from injector by gas generation, e.g. explosive charge
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2053 Media being expelled from injector by pressurised fluid or vacuum for infusion A61M5/145, A61M5/155
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31501 Means for blocking or restricting the movement of the rod or piston A61M5/5013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/326 Fully automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve does not require a deliberate action by the user

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments comprise an apparatus, comprising: a compressed gas container; a plurality of vials adapted to store a liquid medicament, each vial defining a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes of the plurality of vials parallel and non-co-axial, the plurality of vials fluidly coupleable to an actuating portion of a contents of the gas container; and a plurality of pistons, each piston adapted to move within a corresponding vial from the plurality of vials, the plurality of pistons adapted to, in response to discharge of the actuating portion of the contents of the compressed gas container, transfer at least a portion of the liquid medicament from the plurality of vials and through a needle that is extendable into a patient.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a compressed gas container;

an actuator adapted to discharge an actuating portion of a contents of the compressed gas container;

a plurality of vials adapted to store a liquid medicament, each vial defining a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes of the plurality of vials parallel and non-co-axial, the plurality of vials fluidly coupleable to the actuating portion of the contents of the gas container;

a plurality of pistons, each piston adapted to move within a corresponding vial from the plurality of vials, the plurality of pistons adapted to, in response to discharge of the actuating portion of the contents of the compressed gas container, transfer the liquid medicament from the plurality of vials and through a single needle; and

a housing adapted to contain the compressed gas container, the plurality of vials, and the plurality of pistons, the housing defining a length and width approximating a credit card and a thickness of less than one inch.

2. An apparatus, comprising:

a compressed gas container;

a plurality of vials adapted to store a liquid medicament, each vial defining a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes of the plurality of vials parallel and non-co-axial, the plurality of vials fluidly coupleable to an actuating portion of a contents of the gas container; and

a plurality of pistons, each piston adapted to move within a corresponding vial from the plurality of vials, the plurality of pistons adapted to, in response to discharge of the actuating portion of the contents of the compressed gas container, transfer at least a portion of the liquid medicament from the plurality of vials and through a needle that is extendable into a patient.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of channels adapted to convey the at least a portion of the medicament from the plurality of vials to the needle.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a housing adapted to contain the compressed gas container, the plurality of vials, and the plurality of pistons.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a housing adapted to contain the compressed gas container, the plurality of vials, and the plurality of pistons, the housing defining a length and width approximating a credit card and a thickness of less than one inch.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a housing adapted to contain the compressed gas container, the plurality of vials, and the plurality of pistons, the housing comprising a translucent portion adapted to allow viewing of at least one of a location of the needle, an activation status of the apparatus, and a status of the liquid medicament.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a housing adapted to contain the compressed gas container, the plurality of vials, and the plurality of pistons, the housing comprising a status indicator.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a housing adapted to contain the compressed gas container, the plurality of vials, and the plurality of pistons, the housing comprising a translucent portion adapted to allow viewing of a location of the needle.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a housing adapted to contain the compressed gas container, the plurality of vials, and the plurality of pistons, the housing comprising a gas escape port.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an actuator adapted to discharge an actuating portion of the contents of the compressed gas container.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a spring-assisted actuator adapted to force the compressed gas container into a puncturer.

12. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a valve adapted to discharge an actuating portion of the contents of the compressed gas container.

13. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a puncturer adapted to penetrate the compressed gas container.

14. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a puncturer comprising a point adapted to penetrate the compressed gas container.

15. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a channel adapted to direct discharged contents of the compressed gas container.

16. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a pusher adapted to simultaneously move each of the plurality of pistons.

17. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a pusher adapted to simultaneously move each of the plurality of pistons in response to a pressure provided by discharged contents of the compressed gas container.

18. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a spring adapted to retract the needle.

19. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a frangible adapted to burst when an expulsion pressure is applied to the liquid medicament in at least one vial from the plurality of vials.

20. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a releasable actuation lock adapted to prevent accidental discharge of the actuating portion of the contents of the compressed gas container.

21. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a gas exhaust mechanism adapted to exhaust discharged contents of the compressed gas container away from the plurality of pistons.

22. A method comprising a plurality of activities, comprising:

discharging an actuating portion of a contents of a compressed gas container, the compressed gas container contained within an apparatus;

in reaction to said discharging activity, moving a piston within a vial, the vial one of a plurality of vials contained within the apparatus, each vial adapted to store a liquid medicament, each vial defining a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes of the plurality of vials parallel and non-co-axial, the plurality of vials fluidly coupleable to a contents of the gas container; and

transferring a liquid medicament from the vial and through a needle that is extendable into a patient.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising releasing an actuation lock of the apparatus.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising actuating a puncturer comprised by the apparatus.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising puncturing the compressed gas container.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising bursting a frangible when an expulsion pressure is applied to the liquid medicament in the vial.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising extending a needle from the apparatus.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising ejecting the liquid medicament from the needle and into a patient.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising venting an excess portion of the contents of the compressed gas container.

30. The method of claim 22, further comprising retracting the needle within the apparatus.

31. The method of claim 22, further comprising indicating a status of the apparatus.

32. An apparatus, comprising:

a compressed gas container;

an actuator adapted to discharge an actuating portion of a contents of the compressed gas container;

a vial adapted to store a liquid medicament, said vial defining a longitudinal axis that is non-coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the actuator, said vial fluidly coupleable to the actuating portion of the contents of the gas container;

a piston adapted to move within the vial, the piston adapted to, in response to discharge of the actuating portion of the contents of the compressed gas container, transfer the liquid medicament from the vial and through a single needle; and

a housing adapted to contain the compressed gas container, the vial, and the piston, the housing defining a length and width approximating a credit card and a thickness of less than one inch.