DELAY MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC INJECTION DEVICE
First Claim
1. In an automatic injection apparatus having a housing, a needled syringe with a plunger, and a plurality of biasing elements for moving the needled syringe in a first direction within the housing to extend the needle of the syringe beyond the housing, to advance the plunger to force syringe contents through the needle for an injection, and to retract the needle within the housing after injection, a delay mechanism comprising:
- a shuttle for the syringe, said shuttle including a first latching element;
a follower including a second latching element and a cammable surface, said second latching element for cooperating with said first latching element to limit motion of said shuttle relative to said follower in a second direction opposite the first direction;
a locking member movable within said housing from a locking position to a release position by engagement with the syringe plunger during an injection, said locking member, when in said locking position, preventing rotation of said follower relative to said shuttle, said locking member, when in said release position, allowing rotation of said follower relative to said shuttle;
a damping compound between said follower and a supporting surface to dampen rotation of said follower relative to said shuttle;
a driver rotatably fixed relative to said shuttle and including a camming surface; and
a driver biasing element for forcing said driver from a first position to a second position when said locking member moves to said release position, whereby during movement of said driver to said second position, said driver camming surface engages said follower cammable surface to force said follower to rotate relative to said shuttle from a latching position, at which said first and second latching elements cooperate, to an unlatching position, at which said second latching element is disengaged from said first latching element to allow movement of said shuttle for retracting the syringe needle into the housing after injection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A delay mechanism for staging the operation of an automatic injection apparatus (20) to ensure medication contents are properly delivered prior to the needled syringe (32) of the apparatus being retracted. In one form, the delay mechanism includes a shuttle (50), a follower (110), a locking member, a damping compound, and a driver and a driver biasing element (44). The shuttle is for a needled syringe of the apparatus and includes a first latching element. The follower includes a second latching element and a cammable surface, which second latching element is for cooperating with the first latching element to limit motion of the shuttle relative to the follower in a second direction opposite the first direction. The locking member is movable from a locking position to a release position by engagement with the syringe plunger during an injection, the locking member, when in the locking position, preventing rotation of the follower relative to the shuttle, the locking member, when in the release position, allowing rotation of the follower relative to the shuttle. The damping compound is between the follower and a supporting surface to dampen rotation of the follower relative to the shuttle. The driver is rotatably fixed relative to the shuttle and includes a camming surface. The shuttle allowing retracting of the syringe needle into the housing of the automatic injection apparatus after injection.
211 Citations
18 Claims
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1. In an automatic injection apparatus having a housing, a needled syringe with a plunger, and a plurality of biasing elements for moving the needled syringe in a first direction within the housing to extend the needle of the syringe beyond the housing, to advance the plunger to force syringe contents through the needle for an injection, and to retract the needle within the housing after injection, a delay mechanism comprising:
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a shuttle for the syringe, said shuttle including a first latching element; a follower including a second latching element and a cammable surface, said second latching element for cooperating with said first latching element to limit motion of said shuttle relative to said follower in a second direction opposite the first direction; a locking member movable within said housing from a locking position to a release position by engagement with the syringe plunger during an injection, said locking member, when in said locking position, preventing rotation of said follower relative to said shuttle, said locking member, when in said release position, allowing rotation of said follower relative to said shuttle; a damping compound between said follower and a supporting surface to dampen rotation of said follower relative to said shuttle; a driver rotatably fixed relative to said shuttle and including a camming surface; and a driver biasing element for forcing said driver from a first position to a second position when said locking member moves to said release position, whereby during movement of said driver to said second position, said driver camming surface engages said follower cammable surface to force said follower to rotate relative to said shuttle from a latching position, at which said first and second latching elements cooperate, to an unlatching position, at which said second latching element is disengaged from said first latching element to allow movement of said shuttle for retracting the syringe needle into the housing after injection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. In an automatic injection apparatus, a delay mechanism comprising:
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a shuttle for a needled syringe of the apparatus; a movable member; means for limiting motion of said shuttle in a needle retraction direction; means for damping motion of said movable member relative to said shuttle; and means for moving said movable member relative to said shuttle from a first position to a second position to allow movement of said shuttle for retracting the needle of the syringe within the apparatus after injection. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification