HYPODERMIC INJECTION DEVICE

• US 3,688,765 A
• Filed: 10/03/1969
• Issued: 09/05/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Injet Medical Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Jack S. Gasaway, 2005 Barranca
• Inventors: Jack S. Gasaway, 2005 Barranca
• Primary Examiner(s): Joseph S. Reich
• Application Number:
  US04/863,583
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 128/173,173H,218R,218A,272 124/11
• US Class Current: 604/70
• 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 5/30 Syringes for injection by jet action, without needle, e.g. for use with replaceable ampoules or carpules

Abstract

A needleless hypodermic device including a body carrying a compressed-gas cartridge in one end and an ampul of fluid to be injected at the opposite end, the ampul having a nozzle portion projecting beyond the body and provided with an aperture of predetermined size, and having a plunger movable to force the fluid from the ampul through the aperture. A cylinder in the body carries a tubular member and is spring-biased toward the cartridge for penetrating the cartridge and releasing the gas to drive a piston which, in turn, moves the plunger to exhaust the fluid. A trigger retains the cylinder in a cocked position until time of use.

Claims

1. A pressure-operated injection device comprising a body, an ampul carried by said body, a fluid to be injected retained in said ampul, said ampul having a portion projecting outwardly of said body, said portion having an aperture therethrough of predetermined size, a plunger in said ampul remote from said aperture, means for moving said plunger in said ampul for forcing said fluid through said aperture for injecting said fluid into an adjacent object, said means for moving said plunger including a compressed-gas cartridge, a cylinder, and a piston in said cylinder movable by said gas, means for releasing gas from said compressed-gas cartridge and conducting gas into said cylinder, said piston including means for engaging said plunger and moving said plunger with said piston, said cylinder being movable relative to said body between a first position remote from said compressed-gas cartridge and a second position adjacent said compressed-gas cartridge, resilient means biasing said cylinder toward said second position, and releasable means for holding said cylinder in said first position, said cylinder including means for entering said compressed-gas cartridge when said cylinder is in said second position for thereby providing said means for releasing gas from said compressed-gas cartridge.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 in which said means for entering said compressed-gas cartridge includes a tubular member communicating with said cylinder, projecting outwardly therefrom, and movable with said cylinder, said compressed-gas cartridge having a frangible portion adjacent said tubular member, said frangible portion being engageable by said tubular member upon said movement of said cylinder from said first position to said second position for severing said frangible portion and causing said tubular member to enter said compressed-gas cartridge and conduct said gas from said compressed-gas cartridge to said cylinder.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 in which said body includes two relatively movable portions, one of said portions including means engageable with said cylinder when said cylinder is in said second position for moving said cylinder to said first position upon movement of said one portion relative to the other of said portions of said body.

4. A hypodermic device comprising a body, means on said body for retaining a quantity of compressed gas, said means including a frangible portion for permitting the escape of said gas, means on said body for retaining a quantity of fluid to be injected by said device, said means retaining said fluid having an outlet aperture for discharging said fluid, and a plunger movable for forcing said fluid through said aperture, a cylinder on said body, said cylinder being reciprocative relative to said compressed-gas retaining means between a first position remote from said compressed gas-retaining means and a second position adjacent said compressed gas-retaining means, a tubular means providing communication with the interior of said cylinder and relatively movable therewith, said tubular means being engageable with said frangible portion when said cylinder is moved from said first position to said second position, whereby said tubular means severs said frangible portion for conducting said compressed gas to the interior of said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, said piston having a portion adjacent said plunger, said piston being movable by said compressed gas when said compressed gas is so conducted into said cylinder for moving said plunger and discharging said fluid through said aperture, resilient means biasing said cylinder toward said second position, and releasable detent means for holding said Cylinder in said first position.

5. A device as recited in claim 4 in which said means for retaining said compressed gas includes a cartridge, said body having a chamber receiving said cartridge, said chamber having a wall having an opening adjacent said frangible portion, said tubular means extending into said opening.

6. A device as recited in claim 4 in which said means for retaining said fluid includes an ampul, said body including a chamber substantially complementarily receiving said ampul, whereby said chamber provides reinforcement for said ampul, said chamber having an opening therethrough, said ampul having an integral portion projecting beyond one end of said body through said opening, said portion of said ampul having said aperture for discharging said fluid.

7. A device as recited in claim 6 in which said ampul includes a wall opposite from said plunger, said aperture extending from said wall to said integral portion of said ampul, said wall being inwardly tapered toward said aperture for facilitating the flow of said fluid through said aperture, said plunger having a surface adjacent said wall which is substantially complementary to said wall.

8. A device as recited in claim 7 in which said surface and said wall are substantially semispherical.

9. A device as recited in claim 4 in which said resilient means for biasing said cylinder toward said second position includes a compression spring circumscribing said cylinder, said cylinder having an abutment extending radially outwardly from the periphery thereof engaged by said compression spring at one end of said spring, said body having a shoulder engaged by the opposite end of said compression spring.

10. A device as recited in claim 4 including in addition a compression spring in said cylinder circumscribing said piston, said piston having an abutment engaged by one end of said spring, said cylinder having an abutment engaged by the opposite end of said spring, whereby said spring urges said piston to a retracted position away from said plunger.

11. A device as recited in claim 4 in which said cylinder includes a vent opening through the wall thereof intermediate the ends of said cylinder, whereby when said piston has traveled a predetermined distance said vent opening is uncovered for permitting escape of excess compressed gas through said vent opening.

12. A device as recited in claim 4 in which said body is in at least two sections, said sections being movable between a first position of relative adjacency and a second position of relative separation, said detent means being carried by one of said sections, the other of said sections having means engageable with said cylinder for moving said cylinder therewith to said first position when said sections are moved to said position of relative separation for permitting said detent means to engage said cylinder and retain said cylinder in said first position.

13. A device as recited in claim 12 in which said sections include bayonet means interconnecting the same for permitting said movement between said position of relative adjacency and said position of relative separation, said bayonet means including portions for holding said sections in said position of relative adjacency.

14. A device as recited in claim 5 in which said body includes a cap defining at least a portion of said chamber for said cartridge, said cap being removable from said body.

15. A device as recited in claim 14 in which said body and said cap include bayonet connecting means for permitting rapid attachment and release of said cap for installation and removal of said cartridge.

16. A device as recited in claim 6 in which said body includes a cap defining at least a portion of said chamber for said ampul, said cap being removable from said body.

17. A device as recited in claim 16 in which said body and said cap include bayonet connecting means for permitting rapid attachment and release of said cap for installation and removal of said ampul.