Automatic disposable hypodermic syringe

• US 4,227,528 A
• Filed: 12/26/1978
• Issued: 10/14/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eichard Enoch Kaufman, Robert A. Levine, William Warren Jones
• Original Assignee: Eichard Enoch Kaufman
• Inventors: Wardlaw, Stephen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Application Number:
  US05/972,756
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 128/218 R, 128/218 F, 128/218 D, 128/215, 128/213, 128/216, 128/220
• US Class Current: 604/139
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2073 preventing premature release, e.g. by making use of a safety lock
• 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 5/2429 by telescoping of ampoules or carpules with the syringe body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/283 by telescoping of ampoules or carpules with the syringe body

Abstract

A hypodermic syringe for use in situations wherein an experienced medical person may not be available to administer an injection. The device is sterile and water-tight and may be carried about on one'"'"'s person without special precautions being taken. Upon use, substantially instantaneous but sequentially controlled skin penetration and injection are achieved. The syringe can be used only once, and has a shelf life of more than one year with most medicaments.

Claims

1. An automatic disposable hypodermic syringe capable of storing a medicament for an extended period of time, said syringe comprising:

(a) a compact housing comprising a tubular part, a cap closing one end of said tubular part, and a base closing the other end of said tubular part;

(b) means securing said tubular part to said cap and said base to prevent ready disassembly of said housing;

(c) an ampoule disposed in said tubular part for movement between a first position and a second position, said ampoule having a closed basal end and an opposite open end, said ampoule containing a dose of a medicament;

(d) an imperforate elastomeric piston disposed in and sealing said open end of said ampoule;

(e) spring means within said housing for biasing said ampoule from said first position to said second position;

(f) catch means within said housing for retaining said ampoule in said first position against the bias of said spring means, said catch means being formed as an integral part of said tubular member and being partially surrounded by a thin-walled web of material which can be ruptured by applying pressure to said catch means;

(g) actuating means formed as a manually graspable portion of said tubular member integral with said catch means, said actuating means being manually operable from the exterior of said housing for neutralizing said catch means whereby said ampoule can be released and driven by said spring means to said second position;

(h) a hypodermic needle within said housing, said needle being movable between a retracted position wherein said needle is completely contained within the confines of said housing, and an injecting position wherein said needle protrudes through an opening in said base;

(i) a ferrule secured to said needle and telescopingly connected to said piston, said ferrule being movable with respect to said piston between a first frictionally retained position wherein said needle is held out of contact with said piston and completely isolated from said medicament, and a second abutting position wherein said needle extends through said piston and into said medicament;

said ferrule being in said first position when said needle is in said retracted position;

(j) means on said base for engaging said ferrule after said needle has been driven to said injecting position, said means being operable to hold said needle in said injecting position and cause said ferrule to move to said second abutting position; and

(k) sealing means for closing all joints and openings in said housing to retain a sterile condition within said housing.

2. An automatic disposable hypodermic syringe capable of storing a medicament for an extended period of time, said syringe comprising:

(a) a compact tubular housing, both ends of which are sealed, one of said ends being a basal end;

(b) an ampoule disposed in said housing, said ampoule containing a medicament and having an open end facing said basal end of said housing, said open end being sealed by an imperforate elastomeric piston;

(c) a hypodermic needle contained completely within the confines of said housing, said needle being connected to said piston and said needle being isolated from contact with said medicament by said piston;

(d) said needle and said ampoule being in a cocked retracted position within said housing, but being movable to an injecting position wherein said needle protrudes from said housing through said needle port;

(e) spring means in said housing for biasing said ampoule and said needle toward said injecting position; and

(f) a catch projecting into said housing for holding said ampoule and said needle in said cocked position against the bias of said spring means, said catch being formed as an integral part of said housing, and said catch being partially surrounded by an impermeable thin walled portion of said housing, said portion of said housing being rupturable when a deflecting force is manually applied to said catch.

3. An automatic disposable hypodermic syringe capable of storing a medicament for an extended period of time, said syringe comprising:

(a) a compact substantially tubular housing, said housing including end closure means substantially irremovably connected to said housing to prevent dissassembly of said housing;

(b) one of said end closure means including a thin-walled impermeable membrane susceptable to being pierced by a needle;

(c) a needle in said housing, said needle having sharpened points at both ends thereof;

(d) a ferrule fixed to said needle;

(e) an ampoule disposed in said housing for movement between a first position and a second position therein, said ampoule containing an effective amount of a medicament, said ampoule having one fixed end closure and one movable end closure, at least one of said end closures being an impermeable elastomeric membrane;

(f) means for engaging said ferrule to prevent said needle from puncturing said elastomeric membrane until said needle has been driven through said thin-walled impermeable membrane to an injecting position;

(g) spring means within said housing for biasing said ampoule from said first position to a second position;

(h) catch means within said housing for retaining said ampoule in said first position against the bias of said spring means, said catch means being formed as an integral part of said housing and being partially surrounded by an impermeable thin-walled portion of said housing which thin-walled portion is rupturable when a deflecting force is applied to said catch means manually;

(i) actuating means integral with said catch means and manually operable from the exterior of said housing for neutralizing said catch means whereby said ampoule can be released and driven by said spring means to said second position; and

(j) sealing means for closing all joints and openings in said housing to retain a sterile condition within said housing.

4. An automatic disposable hypodermic syringe capable of storing a medicament for an extended period of time, said syringe comprising:

(a) a compact tubular housing, both ends of which are provided with transverse end walls, one of said end walls providing a basal end having a restricted needle port extending therethrough;

(b) an ampoule disposed in said housing, said ampoule containing a medicament and having an open end facing said basal end of said housing, said open end being sealed by an imperforate elastomeric piston;

(c) a hypodermic needle contained completely within the confines of said housing, said needle being connected to said piston and said needle being isolated from contact with said medicament by said piston;

(d) said needle and said ampoule being in a cocked retracted position within said housing, but being movable to an injecting position wherein said needle protrudes from said housing through said needle port;

(e) spring means in said housing for biasing said ampoule and said needle toward said injecting position; and

(f) a catch projecting into said housing for holding said ampoule and said needle in said cocked position against the bias of said spring means, said catch being radially outwardly movable to release said ampoule and needle for movement to said injecting position, and said catch being formed as an integral part of said housing and being partially surrounded by an impermeable thin-walled rupturable portion of said housing.