Automatic injecting syringe

• US 4,378,015 A
• Filed: 12/21/1981
• Issued: 03/29/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert A. Levine
• Original Assignee: Stephen C. Wardlaw
• Inventors: Wardlaw, Stephen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US06/332,976
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 128/218 F, 128/218 A, 128/218 D, 128/218 DA, 128/215, 128/216, 128/220
• US Class Current: 604/137
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2013 triggering of discharging means by contact of injector with patient body
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/46 having means for controlling depth of insertion

Abstract

The hypodermic syringe of this invention is of simplified construction and employs a retracted needle contained within a housing, which needle is driven to inject a dose of medication by pressing the housing against the patient'"'"'s skin. The syringe has a minimum of parts and may be easily and inexpensively assembled. A safety feature is included which prevents accidental operation of the syringe.

Claims

1. An automatic hypodermic syringe comprising:

(a) a housing including a base member and a top member interconnected to form said housing;

(b) ampoule means containing a dose of a medicament, said ampoule means being mounted in said housing for movement therein between a cocked position and a driven position;

(c) spring means in said housing for driving said ampoule means from said cocked position to said driven position;

(d) a hypodermic needle mounted in said housing in a recessed position completely contained within said housing, said needle being movable to an injecting position protruding from said housing responsive to movement of said ampoule means to said driven position, and said needle being operable to pierce said ampoule means and deliver an injection of said medicament when in said injecting position;

(e) catch means on said base member for engagement with said ampoule means for releasably retaining said ampoule means in said cocked position;

(f) safety means outwardly overlying said base member and said catch means, said safety means being operable to retain said catch means in retaining engagement with said ampoule means; and

(g) actuating means outwardly overlying said top member and movably mounted thereon, said actuating means being operable, upon removal of said safety means from said base member, to move toward said base member, to engage said catch means and move the latter out of retaining engagement with said ampoule means whereby the latter is moved from said cocked position to said driven position.

2. The syringe of claim 1, wherein said safety means and said actuating means are releasably joined together to form a sealed, sterile container for said housing.

3. An automatic hypodermic syringe comprising:

(a) a housing including a base member and a top member interconnected to form said housing, said base member including integral catch means having a support portion and a cam portion, said catch means extending from said base member into said top member;

(b) ampoule means containing a dose of a medicament, said ampoule means being mounted in said top member for movement between a cocked position and a driven position, and said ampoule means being releasably retained in said cocked position by engagement with said support portion of said catch means;

(c) spring means disposed in said top member in engagement with said ampoule means to bias the latter against said catch means and toward said driven position;

(d) a hypodermic needle mounted in said housing in a recessed position completely contained within said housing, said needle being movable to an injecting position protruding from said housing responsive to movement of said ampoule means to said driven position, and said needle being operable to pierce said ampoule means and deliver an injection of said medicament when in said injecting position;

(e) safety means outwardly overlying said base member and said catch means, said safety means being operable to retain said catch means in supporting engagement with said ampoule means; and

(f) actuating means outwardly overlying said top member and movably mounted thereon, said actuating means being operable to engage said cam portion of said catch means and move the latter out of retaining engagement with said ampoule means whereby the latter is moved from said cocked position to said driven position, said safety means and said actuating means being juxtaposed and releasably sealed together to form a sealed sterile container for said housing.

4. An automatic hypodermic syringe comprising:

(a) a housing including a base member and a top member interconnected to form said housing, said top member including longitudinally extending slots formed in a side wall of said top member, said base member including a plurality of integral elongated catch means formed thereon, said catch means extending into said slots in said top member, each of said catch means including a support portion extending radially inwardly into the interior of said top member;

(b) ampoule means containing a dose of a medicament, said ampoule means being mounted in said top member for movement therein between a cocked position and a driven position, said ampoule means being releasably retained in said cocked position by engagement with said support portions of said catch means;

(c) spring means disposed in said top member in engagement with said ampoule means to bias the latter against said support portions of said catch means and toward said driven position;

(d) a hypodermic needle mounted in said housing in a recessed position completely contained within said housing, said needle beinng movable to an injecting position protruding from said housing responsive to movement of said ampoule means to said driven position, and said needle being operable to pierce said ampoule means and deliver an injection of said medicament when in said injecting position;

(e) safety means outwardly overlying said base member and said catch means to retain said catch means in supporting engagement with said ampoule means; and

(f) actuating means outwardly overlying said top member and movably mounted thereon, said actuating means being operable to engage said catch means, after removal of said safety means, and move said catch means out of supporting engagement with said ampoule means whereby the latter is moved to said driven position by said spring means, said safety means and said actuating means being juxtaposed and releasably sealed together to form a sealed sterile container for said housing.

5. The hypodermic syringe of claim 4, wherein said base member includes a circumferential groove, and said top member includes an inwardly extending circumferential rib snap fitted into said groove to secure said top member to said base member.