Automatic disposable hypodermic syringe

• US 4,258,713 A
• Filed: 07/23/1979
• Issued: 03/31/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard Enoch Kaufman, Robert Aaron Levine, Robert A. Levine, William Warren Jones
• Original Assignee: William Warren Jones
• Inventors: Wardlaw, Stephen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US06/059,903
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 128/218 F, 128/218 D, 128/218 DA, 128/215, 128/216
• US Class Current: 604/139
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/206 With automatic needle insertion
• 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

Abstract

An improved automatic disposable hypodermic syringe having a retracted needle which is driven by a spring to administer an injection. The needle is contained in a housing and is driven from the housing to administer the injection. An external release mechanism is provided so that the syringe can be operated by an untrained person, if necessary. The needle is held in place in the housing in its retracted position by being embedded in a mass of crushable material which is compressed when the device is actuated to allow the needle to be driven to the extended injecting position.

Claims

1. An automatic hypodermic syringe comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) means containing an injectable medication within said housing;

(c) a hypodermic needle disposed within said housing;

(d) means for driving said hypodermic needle from a retracted position within said housing to an injecting position wherein a portion of said needle protrudes from said housing; and

(e) foam means in said housing for engaging said needle to hold said needle properly in said retracted position, said foam means being readily crushable so as to allow said needle to be driven to said injecting position.

2. An automatic hypodermic syringe comprising;

(a) a housing;

(b) first means containing a dose of medication disposed within said housing;

(c) a hypodermic needle disposed in said housing in a retracted position, and movable to an injecting position wherein said needle projects from said housing;

(d) movable means in said housing for moving said medication toward said needle whereby said needle will puncture said first means to penetrate said medication, and whereby said needle will be moved to said injecting position;

(e) spring means in said housing for providing a driving force needed to move said movable means toward said needle;

(f) catch means for retaining said movable means in a retracted position wherein said medication is disposed away from said needle; and

(g) release means formed as an integral and unitary part of said housing, said release means being operable to release said catch means whereby said movable means is driven by said spring means from said retracted position.

3. The syringe of claim 2, further comprising safety means mounted on said housing for engaging said release means to prevent operation of said release means.

4. The syringe of claim 2, wherein said catch means comprises a resilient tang formed as an integral part of said movable means, and a shoulder in said housing which is engaged by said tang to prevent movement of said movable means.

5. An automatic hypodermic syringe comprising:

(a) a first cup-shaped member formed as a one-piece unit having an integral closed end and an opposite open end;

(b) means forming a medication holder in said first cup-shaped member and movable therein toward said open end of said first cup-shaped member;

(c) catch means in said first cup-shaped member for releasably retaining said holder in a retracted position;

(d) spring means sandwiched between said medication holder and said closed end of said first cup-shaped member for biasing said medication holder toward said open end of said first cup-shaped member;

(e) a second cup-shaped member formed as a one-piece unit having an integral closed end and an opposite open end;

(f) a hypodermic needle disposed in said second cup-shaped member;

(g) means positioning said hypodermic needle in said second cup-shaped member;

(h) the open ends of said first and second cup-shaped members being disposed in face-to-face contact and joined together to form a sealed closed housing for said syringe; and

(i) release means on said housing for selectively engaging said catch means to disable the latter from retaining said holder in said retracted position.

6. The syringe of claim 5, further comprising safety means on said housing for preventing unintentional actuation of said release means.

7. An automatic hypodermic syringe comprising:

(a) a housing having a hollow interior;

(b) a pedestal on one end wall of the interior of said housing, said pedestal extending axially into the interior of said housing, and said pedestal having an axial needle passage therein;

(c) means sealing said needle passage at said one end wall of said housing;

(d) a hypodermic needle disposed in the interior of said housing and extending into said needle passage;

(e) ampoule means containing an injectable medication in said housing, said ampoule means having a fixed end wall remote from said pedestal and a movable end wall proximate said pedestal;

(f) spring means for driving said ampoule means in said housing toward said pedestal and into telescoping relationship over the latter whereby said needle will puncture said movable end wall of said ampoule and said needle will be driven to an injecting position wherein said needle protrudes from said housing, said pedestal being operable to engage said movable end wall of said ampoule means and drive said movable end wall into said ampoule means as the latter telescopes over said ampoule means to cause the medication to be pumped through said needle; and

(g) stop means in said housing adjacent to said pedestal for engaging an end wall of said ampoule means to prevent said ampoule means from fully telescoping over said pedestal whereby only a fraction of a maximum dose of medication in said ampoule means will be pumped through said needle.

8. The syringe of claim 7, wherein said stop means is one or more rings disposed in said housing surrounding said pedestal adjacent to said one end wall of said housing.