Injection System with Hidden Needles
First Claim
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1. A method for operating an auto-injector which comprises the steps of:
- mounting a fluid reservoir on a housing formed with an interior;
loading a plurality of sterile needles onto the housing;
moving a sterile needle to a location in the housing to present the sterile needle for fluid communication engagement through a connector with the fluid reservoir;
positioning the housing against an injection site on the patient;
accelerating a driver rod into contact with the connector to engage the connector with the needle to establish a connector/needle combination for fluid communication between the needle and said fluid reservoir;
transferring momentum from the drive rod to the connector/needle combination, in response to the accelerating step, to move the connector/needle combination from the location and insert the needle into the patient;
ejecting fluid from said fluid reservoir and through said needle for injecting the fluid into the patient; and
disconnecting the used needle from said connector for storage of the needle in the interior of said housing.
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Abstract
An auto-injector confines all functional components inside an enclosed housing, to keep its needle out-of-sight, at all times. Within the housing, a needle holder positions a needle at a location. A drive mechanism then simultaneously engages the needle with a fluid source and accelerates it with a predetermined momentum for insertion into a patient. After fluid delivery, the withdrawn needle is moved to storage within the housing for subsequent disposal.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. A method for operating an auto-injector which comprises the steps of:
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mounting a fluid reservoir on a housing formed with an interior; loading a plurality of sterile needles onto the housing; moving a sterile needle to a location in the housing to present the sterile needle for fluid communication engagement through a connector with the fluid reservoir; positioning the housing against an injection site on the patient; accelerating a driver rod into contact with the connector to engage the connector with the needle to establish a connector/needle combination for fluid communication between the needle and said fluid reservoir; transferring momentum from the drive rod to the connector/needle combination, in response to the accelerating step, to move the connector/needle combination from the location and insert the needle into the patient; ejecting fluid from said fluid reservoir and through said needle for injecting the fluid into the patient; and disconnecting the used needle from said connector for storage of the needle in the interior of said housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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Specification