NEEDLELESS INJECTOR SYSTEMS, AND RELATED METHODS AND COMPONENTS

• US 20140336561A1
• Filed: 05/08/2013
• Published: 11/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Leuthardt, Eric C., Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Wood, Victoria Y.H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,808,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/00 Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor for contact lenses A61L12/00; atomisers for disinfecting agents A61M; sterilisation of packages or package contents in association with packaging B65B55/00; treatment of water, waste water, sewage or sludge C02F; disinfecting paper D21H21/36; disinfecting devices for water closets E03D; articles having provision for disinfection, see the relevant subclasses for these articles, e.g. H04R1/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/02 using physical phenomena
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/16 using chemical substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/167 with energizing means, e.g. light, vibration, electricity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/16 having provision for disinfection or sterilisation A61M39/143 takes precedence; methods or apparatus for disinfection or sterilisation A61L2/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/30 Syringes for injection by jet action, without needle, e.g. for use with replaceable ampoules or carpules

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems and methods for protecting needleless injector units from one or more contaminants. In an embodiment, a needleless injector system includes a needleless injector unit and an auxiliary unit. The needleless injector unit has a nozzle portion and a supply of one or more substances for injection. The needleless injector unit is configured to inject the one or more substances from the nozzle portion through a skin surface of a subject. The auxiliary unit is coupleable to the needleless injector unit. The auxiliary unit includes a source of one or more protectants and is configured to emit the one or more protectants in a region between the nozzle portion of the needleless injector unit and the skin surface of the subject.

Claims

1. A needleless injector system, comprising:

a needleless injector unit having a nozzle portion and a supply of one or more substances for injection, the needleless injector unit configured to inject the one or more substances from the nozzle portion through a skin surface of a subject; and

an auxiliary unit coupleable to the needleless injector unit and having a source of one or more protectants, the auxiliary unit configured to emit the one or more protectants in a region between the nozzle portion of the needleless injector unit and the skin surface of the subject.

2. The needleless injector system of claim 1, wherein the one or more protectants protect at least the nozzle portion of the needleless injector unit from one or more contaminants, and wherein the one or more contaminants include at least one of a biological material, a molecule, a hazardous material, blood, cellular debris, a cell, a biological fluid, bacteria, a virus, or a medication.

3. The needleless injector system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more protectants includes at least one of a gas, a liquid, or a solid phase material.

4. The needleless injector system of claim 1, wherein the source of the one or more protectants includes an electromagnetic radiation source configured to output electromagnetic radiation.

5. The needleless injector system of claim 4, wherein the electromagnetic radiation includes ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation or infrared electromagnetic radiation.

6. The needleless injector system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more protectants includes at least one of a disinfectant, an oxidizer, an acid, a base, an adhesive, or a neutralizer.

7. The needleless injector system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more protectants includes pressurized air.

8. The needleless injector system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more protectants includes water.

9. The needleless injector system of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary unit is configured to emit at least one of the one or more protectants to substantially disperse the one or more contaminants.

10. The needleless injector system of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary unit is configured to emit at least one of the one or more protectants to substantially deflect the one or more contaminants away from the nozzle portion.

11. The needleless injector system of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary unit is configured to emit at least one of the one or more protectants to substantially intercept the one or more contaminants.

12. The needleless injector system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the one or more protectants substantially sterilizes the one or more contaminants.

13. The needleless injector system of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary unit is configured to emit at least one of the one or more protectants as electromagnetic radiation that substantially irradiates the one or more contaminants.

14. The needleless injector system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the one or more protectants substantially neutralizes the one or more contaminants.

15. The needleless injector system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the one or more protectants substantially entraps or entrains the one or more contaminants.

16. The needleless injector system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more protectants substantially disinfects or cleans the nozzle portion of the needleless injector unit.

17. The needleless injector system of claim 16, wherein the at least one of the one or more protectants includes at least one of sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, or chlorhexidine.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary unit is configured to emit at least one of the one or more protectants in a first direction and the needleless injector unit is configured to emit at least one or more of the substances in a second direction.

19. The needleless injector system of claim 18, wherein the first direction is substantially oblique to the skin surface of the subject, and wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the skin surface of the subject.

20. The needleless injector system of claim 18, wherein the first direction is substantially parallel the skin surface of the subject.

21. The needleless injector system of claim 1, wherein the nozzle portion includes an articulating nozzle configured to articulate to control a direction that the one or more protectants are emitted therefrom.

22. The needleless injector system of claim 21, further comprising:

one or more sensors configured to,

detect one or more characteristics of one or more contaminants or the one or more substances; and

send one or more sensing signals encoding the detected one or more characteristics; and

a control unit operably coupled to the one or more sensors to receive the one or more sensing signals from the one or more sensors and the articulating nozzle, and direct articulation of the articulating nozzle responsive to the one or more sensing signals

23. The needleless injector system of claim 1, further comprising a control unit that directs the auxiliary unit to emit at least one of the one or more protectants before the needleless injector unit injects the one or more substances.

24. The needleless injector system of claim 1, further comprising a control unit that directs the auxiliary unit to emit at least one of the one or more protectants after the needleless injector unit injects the one or more substances.

25. The needleless injector system of claim 1, further comprising a control unit that directs the auxiliary unit to emit at least one of the one or more protectants responsive to the needleless injector unit injecting the one or more substances.

26. The needleless injector system of claim 2, further comprising:

one or more sensors configured to,

detect one or more characteristics of the one or more contaminants or the one or more substances, wherein the one or more characteristics include at least one of presence, position, or direction of the one or more contaminants or the one or more substances; and

send one or more sensing signals encoding the detected one or more characteristics; and

a control unit operably coupled to the one or more sensors to receive the one or more sensing signals from the one or more sensors, and configured to send an activation signal to the auxiliary unit that directs the auxiliary unit to emit the one or more protectants responsive to the one or more sensing signals.

27. The needleless injector system of claim 26, wherein the activation signal directs the auxiliary unit to emit at least one of the one or more protectants in one or more timed intervals.

28. The needleless injector system of claim 26, wherein the activation signal directs the auxiliary unit to emit at least one of the one or more protectants in one or more waves.

29. The needleless injector system of claim 26, wherein the one or more sensors include at least one of an ultrasound sensor, a pressure sensor, a light sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a motion sensor, a position sensor, a flows sensor, a viscosity sensor, an imaging detector, an acoustic sensor, a temperature sensor, a chemical detector, a transceiver, or an electromagnetic energy detector.

30. The needleless injector system of claim 26, wherein the one or more sensors mounted on the auxiliary unit.

31. The needleless injector system of claim 26, wherein the control unit includes processing circuitry and one or more application software programs configured correlate the one or more detected characteristics with one or more known characteristics of the one or more substances or the one or more contaminants.

32. The needleless injector system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary unit includes a fluid dispensing unit having a source of at least one the one or more protectants.

33. The needleless injector system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary unit includes an electromagnetic radiation source configured to output electromagnetic radiation that constitutes at least one of the one or more protectants.

34. The needleless injector system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary unit includes a fluid dispensing unit having a source of at least one of the one or more protectants and an electromagnetic radiation source configured to output electromagnetic radiation that constitutes at least one of the one or more protectants.

35. The needleless injector system of claim 1, further comprising a control unit in communication with the needleless injector unit and the auxiliary unit, wherein the control unit controls operation of at least one of the needleless injector unit or the auxiliary unit.

36. The needleless injector system of claim 35, further comprising one or more sensors in communication with the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to direct the auxiliary unit to emit at least one of the one or more protectants responsive to feedback from the one or more sensors.

37. The needleless injector system of claim 1, further comprising one or more interlocks that prevent injection of the one or more substances from the nozzle portion when the auxiliary unit is not coupled to the needleless injector unit.

38. The needleless injector system of claim 1, further comprising one or more interlocks that prevent injection of the one or more substances from the nozzle portion when the source of the one or more protectants is below a predetermined level.

39. The needleless injector system of claim 1, wherein the needleless injector unit is configured to inject the one or more substances intradermally through the skin surface of the subject.

40. The needleless injector system of claim 1, wherein the needleless injector units is configured to inject the one or more substances transdermally through the skin surface of the subject.

41. An auxiliary system for use in a needleless injector system, the auxiliary system comprising:

a coupling mechanism configured to securely couple to a needleless injector unit, wherein the needleless injector unit includes a nozzle portion and a supply of one or more substances, the needleless injector unit configured to inject the one or more substances from the nozzle portion through a skin surface of a subject;

a source of one or more protectants; and

a control unit configured to control injection of the one of more substances from the needleless injector unit and emission of the one or more protectants from the auxiliary system into a region between the nozzle portion of the needleless injector unit and the skin surface of the subject.

42. The auxiliary system of claim 41, wherein the coupling mechanism includes the control unit.

43. The auxiliary system of claim 41, wherein the coupling mechanism includes at least one of a magnet, a mechanical fastener, a strap, a clip, a clamp, or an adhesive.

44. A method of administering one or more substances through a skin surface of a subject, the method comprising:

injecting the one or more substances from a nozzle portion of a needleless injector unit and through the skin surface of the subject; and

emitting one or more protectants from an auxiliary unit associated with the needleless injector unit.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the one or more protectants protect at least the nozzle portion from one or more contaminants, and wherein the one or more contaminants include at least one of a biological material, a molecule, a hazardous material, blood, a chemical substance, cellular debris, a cell, a biological fluid, bacteria, a virus, or medication.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising at least substantially dispersing the one or more contaminants with the one or more protectants.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising at least substantially deflecting the one or more contaminants with the one or more protectants.

48. The method of claim 45, further comprising at least substantially intercepting the one or more contaminants with the one or more protectants.

49. The method of claim 45, further comprising at least substantially sterilizing the one or more contaminants with the one or more protectants.

50. The method of claim 45, further comprising at least substantially irradiating the one or more contaminants with the one or more protectants.