Reusable Auto-Injector

• US 20110098657A1
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Jennings, Douglas Ivan
• Granted Patent: US 9,028,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/198
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2013 having two piercing ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/206 With automatic needle insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3114 Filling or refilling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1782 Devices aiding filling of syringes in situ combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents A61J1/2096, filling of medical containers in general B65B3/003
• 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 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

An injection device comprises a first sub-assembly. The first sub-assembly comprises a chamber for holding a fluid. The chamber comprises an inner surface and an exit aperture. The first sub-assembly comprises a stopper movably disposed within the chamber and having an outer surface substantially in contact with the inner surface about its perimeter. The first sub-assembly comprises an adapter adapted to transfer fluid into the chamber.

Claims

1. An injection device comprising:

a first sub-assembly comprising;

a chamber for holding a fluid, said chamber comprising an inner surface and an exit aperture;

a stopper movably disposed within the chamber and having an outer surface substantially in contact with the inner surface about its perimeter; and

an adapter adapted to transfer fluid into the chamber.

2. The injection device of claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises:

means for moving the stopper through the chamber; and

means for transferring fluid into the chamber when the stopper is moved away from the exit aperture.

3. The injection device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the adapter is adapted to receive a fluid container and transfer the fluid from the container to the chamber.

4. The injection device of claim 3, when dependent on claim 2, wherein the means for transferring fluid into the chamber comprises a hollow fluid transfer needle adapted to engage the fluid container to transfer fluid from the fluid container through the hollow needle, as the stopper is moved away from the exit aperture.

5. The injection device of claim 4, wherein the hollow needle is adapted to pierce the stopper to deliver fluid through the stopper into the chamber.

6. The injection device of any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the adapter comprises a fluid pathway to transfer fluid from the container to the chamber.

7. The injection device of any preceding claim, further comprising a second sub-assembly comprising:

a releasable drive mechanism, said drive mechanism comprising an elongate shaft which is driven against the stopper upon activation of the drive mechanism.

8. The injection device of claim 7, wherein the adapter is configured to be inserted within the shaft.

9. The injection device of any preceding claim, wherein the adapter is removably attachable to the stopper.

10. The injection device of claim 9, wherein the adapter and the stopper comprise inter-engagable threads to permit removable attachment.

11. The injection device of any preceding claim, wherein the stopper is further adapted to expel fluid held within the chamber when the stopper is moved toward the exit aperture.

12. The injection device of any preceding claim, further comprising an injection needle in fluid communication with the exit aperture.

13. The injection device of claim 12, when dependent on claim 7, wherein the releasable drive mechanism is, upon activation, adapted to:

(a) move the chamber and the injection needle from a retracted position in which the needle is wholly inside a housing of the injection device to an extended position in which the needle is at least partially outside the housing; and

(b) subsequently move the stopper within the chamber toward the exit aperture to expel fluid out of the injection needle.

14. The injection device of claim 13, further comprising a retraction mechanism adapted to retract the injection needle into the housing after the fluid has been expelled.

15. The injection device of claim 7, claim 13 or claim 14, wherein:

the first sub-assembly is detachable from the second sub-assembly; and

the second sub-assembly is reusable.

16. A method for introducing a fluid into an injection device, said device comprising a fluid container having an inner surface, a stopper movably disposed within the fluid container, and an adapter removably connectable to the stopper, said adapter comprising a hollow needle, said method comprising the steps of:

connecting said adapter to said stopper;

piercing said stopper with said needle; and

drawing said adapter and said stopper through said fluid container, thereby drawing a fluid through said needle into said syringe.

17. An injection kit comprising:

a first sub-assembly for an injection device comprising;

a chamber for holding a fluid, said chamber comprising an inner surface and an exit aperture;

a stopper movably disposed within the chamber and having an outer surface substantially in contact with the inner surface about its perimeter; and

an adapter adapted to transfer fluid into the chamber.

18. The injection kit of claim 17, further comprising a vial of fluid to be transferred for connection to the adapter.