Gas-pressure-regulated needleless injection system

• US 5,024,656 A
• Filed: 08/30/1988
• Issued: 06/18/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Injet Medical Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Injet Medical Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Parsons, J. Stuart, Harshman, Robert L., Gasaway, Jack S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/238,360
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 604/68-72, 604/140, 604/141, 604/143, 604/147, 222/389
• US Class Current: 604/70
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3123 having air entrapping or venting means, e.g. purging channels in pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1782 Devices aiding filling of syringes in situ combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents A61J1/2096, filling of medical containers in general B65B3/003
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/482 Varying injection pressure, e.g. by varying speed of injection

Abstract

A system is provided that is useful for hypodermic injection of medication without piercing the skin with a needle. The system includes a gas pressure actuated needleless hypodermic injection device for injecting medication through the skin. The injection device includes an injector assembly having an injector body with a chamber for a compressed gas container and an ampule assembly mounted on the injector body for containing the liquid medication. The system also includes an adaptor assembly for use on a medication vial for transferring medication to the ampule assembly.

Claims

1. A gas-pressure-actuated needleless hypodermic device for injecting liquid medication through the skin of persons or animals, the device comprising:

(a) an ampule assembly comprising;

(i) a body having a cavity for holding liquid medication between first and second ends of the body;

(ii) an orifice in the first end of the body through which such liquid medication can flow into and out from the cavity; and

(iii) a plunger assembly movable within the cavity for drawing the liquid medication into the cavity and for forcing the liquid medication out from the cavity;

(b) an injector assembly for receiving and mounting the ampule assembly and for providing a force to move the plunger assembly to thereby force the liquid medication through the ampule assembly orifice, the injector assembly comprising;

(i) an injector body including a barrel closed at its back end, wherein the front end of the barrel is open and configured to receive the second end of the ampule assembly body to thereby mount the ampule assembly on the barrel;

(ii) a piston mounted for sliding movement in the barrel, the piston configured to be pushed by gas pressure from an at-rest position at the back end of the barrel toward the front end of the barrel;

(iii) a chamber in the injector body configured to house a compressed gas container;

(iv) a first passageway in the injector body through which gas flows from the gas container in the gas container chamber to the barrel to provide a force on the rearward-facing surface of the piston to move the piston toward the front end of the barrel;

(v) a second passageway in the injector body configured to be open for venting gas released from the gas container to the atmosphere when the end of the ampule assembly is not mounted in the injector assembly barrel;

(vi) means for sealing the second passageway to prevent venting gas through the passageway to the atmosphere, the seal provided only when the ampule assembly is mounted in the injector assembly barrel; and

(vii) means for releasing gas from the gas container to provide the force on the rearward-facing surface of the piston to thereby move the piston toward the front end of the barrel and into contact with the plunger assembly and for moving the plunger assembly toward the orifice to thereby eject the liquid medication from the cavity out through the orifice.

2. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 1 wherein the second passageway sealing means comprise:

(a) a valve stem mounted in the second passageway for sliding movement along the length of the second passageway, the valve stem being an L-shaped rod with the forward end of the valve stem having a bend extending upwardly into the opening in the front end of the injector body barrel;

(b) a valve seat at the upstream end of the second passageway; and

(c) a ball located between the valve seat and the back end of the valve stem, wherein the front end of the valve stem engages the second end of the ampule assembly body as the ampule assembly body is being mounted in the barrel so that the valve stem is moved by the ampule assembly body toward the valve seat during the mounting operation, the ampule assembly holding the valve stem in place at its rearmost position when the ampule assembly end is fully mounted in the barrel to thereby trap the ball in gas-sealing engagement on the valve seat.

3. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 1 wherein the gas-releasing means comprise:

(a) a actuating lever mounted on the injector body; and

(b) an elongated lance having one end mounted on the actuating lever and having a point on its opposite end, the lance extending through an opening in the injector body so that;

(i) the lance point is spaced apart from and is adjacent a frangible seal on a compressed gas container positioned in the gas container chamber when the actuating lever is in its unactuated position; and

(ii) the lance point is movable to a position by which it punctures the gas container seal to thereby release the gas from the container when the actuating lever is moved to its actuated position.

4. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 1 which also comprises means for varying the force of the gas acting on the piston to thereby vary the velocity of the medication as it is ejected through the ampule assembly orifice.

5. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 4 wherein the force-varying means comprise a gas-flow-regulator assembly comprising a disk having a plurality of gas-flow-restricting orifices of different sizes therethrough mounted in the injector body, the location of the disk being such that gas released from a gas container housed in the gas container chamber must pass through at least one such gas-flow-restricting orifice prior to contacting the piston, the flow-restricting orifices configured to be selectively positioned in the gas flow path by rotating the disk.

6. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 5 wherein the disk has three sets of gas-flow-restricting orifices spaced around the perimeter, with each such orifice set being identical and each orifice being spaced apart 120°

from each other orifice of the same size, the disk configured to be rotated so that in each selected position three orifices of equal size are in the gas flow path between the gas container and the piston.

7. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 4 wherein the force-varying means comprise a gas-flow-regulator assembly that comprises a throttle valve having a valve seat in the gas flow path between a gas container housed in the gas container chamber and the piston, sealing means for engagement with the valve seat, a spring for biasing the sealing means on the seat, and means for varying the compression of the spring to provide a variable force for holding the sealing means on the seat.

8. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 7 wherein the sealing means is a ball.

9. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 1 wherein the plunger assembly has a piston on its end which moves within the ampule cavity, the piston having a groove around the circumference of its front end so that a flange is at the front-facing surface of the piston.

10. A gas-actuated needleless hypodermic device for injecting liquid medication through the skin of persons or animals, the device comprising:

(a) an ampule assembly comprising;

(i) a body having a cavity for holding liquid medication between first and second ends of the body;

(ii) an orifice in the first end of the body through which such liquid medication can flow into and out from the cavity; and

(iii) a plunger assembly movable within the cavity for drawing the liquid medication into the cavity and for forcing the liquid medication out from the cavity;

(b) an injector assembly for receiving and mounting the ampule assembly and for providing a force to move the plunger assembly to thereby force the liquid medication through the ampule assembly orifice, the injector assembly comprising;

(i) an injector body including a barrel closed at its back end, wherein the front end of the barrel is open and configured to receive the second end of the ampule assembly body to thereby mount the ampule assembly on the barrel;

(ii) a piston mounted for sliding movement in the barrel, the piston pushed by gas pressure from an at-rest position at the back end of the barrel toward the front end of the barrel;

(iii) a chamber in the injector body configured to house a compressed gas container;

(iv) a passageway in the injector body through which gas flows from a gas container in the gas container chamber to the barrel to provide a force on the rearward-facing surface of the piston to move the piston toward the front end of the barrel;

(v) means for venting gas released from the gas container to the atmosphere when the ampule assembly end is not fully mounted in the injector assembly barrel so that the gas pressure in the injector assembly does not increase to a sufficient level to move the piston; and

(vi) means for releasing gas from the gas container to provide the force on the rearward-facing surface of the piston to thereby move the piston toward the front end of the barrel and into contact with the ampule assembly plunger assembly for moving the plunger assembly toward the orifice to thereby eject the liquid medication out from the cavity through the orifice.

11. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 10 wherein the gas-venting means comprise an opening through the injector body to the atmosphere.

12. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 11 additionally comprising means for sealing the injector body opening to prevent release of gas to the atmosphere, the seal provided only when the second end of the ampule assembly is fully mounted in the injector assembly barrel, the sealing means comprising:

(a) a valve seat on the outlet end of the injector body opening;

(b) a slide mounted in the injector body for movement toward and away from the valve seat, a pin extending from the front end of the slide into the opening in the forward end of the injector body barrel;

(c) a ball located between the valve seat and the rear end of the slide; and

(d) means on the ampule assembly to engage the pin as the assembly is being mounted in the front end of the barrel to move the slide toward the valve seat during the mounting operation and to hold the slide in place at its rearmost position when the ampule assembly second end is fully mounted in the barrel to thereby trap the ball in gas-sealing engagement on the valve seat.

13. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 10 wherein the gas-releasing means comprise:

(a) an actuating lever mounted on the injector body; and

(b) an elongated lance having one end mounted on the actuating lever and having a point on its opposite end, the lance extending through an opening in the injector body so that;

(i) the lance point is spaced apart from and is adjacent a frangible seal on a compressed gas container positioned in the gas container chamber when the actuating lever is in its unactuated position; and

(ii) the lance point is movable to a position by which it punctures the gas container seal to thereby release the gas from the container when the actuating lever is moved to its actuated position.

14. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 10 which also comprises means for varying the force of the gas acting on the piston to thereby vary the velocity of the medication as it is ejected through the ampule assembly orifice.

15. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 14 wherein the force-varying means comprise a gas-flow-regulator assembly comprising a disk having a plurality of gas-flow-restricting orifices of different sizes therethrough mounted in the injector body, the location of the disk being such that gas released from a gas container housed in the gas container chamber must pass through at least one such gas-flow-restricting orifice prior to contacting the piston, the flow-restricting orifices configured to be selectively positioned in the gas flow path by rotating the disk.

16. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 15 wherein the disk has three sets of gas-flow-restricting orifices spaced around the perimeter, with each such orifice set being identical and each orifice being spaced apart 120°

from each other orifice of the same size, the disk configured to be rotated so that in each selected position three orifices of equal size are in the gas flow path between the gas container and the piston.

17. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 14 wherein the force-varying means comprise a gas-flow-regulator assembly that comprises a throttle valve having a valve seat in the gas flow path between a gas container housed in the gas container chamber and the piston, sealing means for engagement with the valve seat, a spring for biasing the sealing means on the seat, and means for varying the compression of the spring to provide a variable force for holding the sealing means on the seat.

18. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 17 wherein the sealing means is a ball.

19. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 10 wherein the plunger assembly has a piston on its end which moves within the ampule cavity, the piston having a groove around the circumference of its front end so that a flange is at the front-facing surface of the piston.

20. A gas-pressure-actuated needleless hypodermic device for injecting liquid medication through the skin of persons or animals, the device comprising:

(a) an ampule assembly comprising;

(i) a body having a cavity for holding liquid medication between first and second ends of the body;

(ii) an orifice in the first end of the body through which such liquid medication can flow into and out from the cavity; and

(iii) a plunger assembly movable within the cavity for drawing the liquid medication into the cavity and for forcing the liquid medication out from the cavity;

(b) an injector assembly for receiving and mounting the ampule assembly and for providing a force to move the plunger assembly to thereby force the liquid medication through the ampule assembly orifice, the injector assembly comprising;

(i) an injector body including a barrel closed at its back end, wherein the front end of the barrel is open and configured to receive the end of the ampule assembly body to thereby mount the ampule assembly on the barrel;

(ii) a piston mounted for sliding movement in the barrel, the piston configured to be pushed by gas pressure from an at-rest position at the back end of the barrel toward the front end of the barrel;

(iii) a chamber in the injector body configured to house a container containing compressed gas;

(iv) a gas container in the chamber having a frangible seal on its end;

(v) a first passageway in the injector body through which gas flows from the gas container to the barrel to provide a force on the rearward-facing surface of the piston to move the piston toward the front end of the barrel;

(vi) a second passageway in the injector body configured to be open for venting gas released from the gas container to the atmosphere when the end of the ampule assembly is not fully mounted in the injector assembly barrel;

(vii) means for sealing the second passageway to prevent venting gas through the passageway to the atmosphere, the seal provided only when the ampule assembly second end is fully mounted in the injector assembly barrel;

(viii) means for piercing the frangible gas container seal for releasing gas from the container to provide the force on the rearward-facing surface of the piston to thereby move the piston toward the front end of the barrel and into contact with the plunger assembly and for moving the plunger assembly toward the orifice to thereby eject the liquid medication out from the cavity through the orifice; and

(ix) means for varying the force of the gas acting on the piston to thereby vary the velocity of the medication as it is ejected through the ampule assembly orifice.

21. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 20 wherein the second passageway sealing means comprise:

(a) a valve stem mounted in the second passageway for sliding movement along the length of the second passageway, the valve stem being an L-shaped rod with the forward end of the valve stem having a bend extending into the opening in the front of the injector body barrel;

(b) a valve seat at the upstream end of the second passageway; and

(c) a ball located between the valve seat and the back end of the valve stem, wherein the front end of the valve stem engages the second end of the ampule assembly body as the assembly is being mounted in the barrel so that the valve stem is moved toward the valve seat during the mounting operation, the ampule assembly holding the valve stem in place at its rearmost position when the ampule assembly is fully mounted in the barrel to thereby trap the ball in gas-sealing engagement on the valve seat.

22. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 20 wherein the frangible gas-seal-piercing means comprise:

(a) an actuating lever mounted on the injector body; and

(b) an elongated lance having one end mounted on the actuating lever and having a point on its opposite end, the lance extending through an opening in the injector body so that;

(i) the lance point is spaced apart from and is adjacent the frangible gas container seal when the actuating lever is in its unactuated position; and

(ii) the lance point is movable to a position by which it punctures the frangible seal to thereby release the gas from the container when the actuating lever is moved to its actuated position.

23. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 20 wherein the force-varying means comprise a gas-flow-regulator assembly comprising a disk having a plurality of gas-flow-restricting orifices of different sizes therethrough mounted in the injector body, the location of the disk being such that gas released from the container must pass through at least one such gas-flow-restricting orifice prior to contacting the piston, the flow-restricting orifices configured to be selectively positioned in the gas flow path by rotating the disk.

24. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 23 wherein the disk has three sets of gas-flow-restricting orifices spaced around the perimeter, with each such orifice set being identical and each orifice being spaced apart 120°

from each other orifice of the same size, the disk configured to be rotated so that in each selected position three orifices of equal size are in the gas flow path between the gas container and the piston.

25. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 20 wherein the force-varying means comprise a gas-flow-regulator assembly that comprises a throttle valve having a valve seat in the gas flow path between the gas container and the piston, a ball for engagement with the valve seat, a spring for biasing the ball onto the seat, and means for varying the compression of the spring to provide a variable force to holding the ball on the seat.

26. A gas-pressure-actuated needleless hypodermic device for injecting liquid medication through the skin of persons or animals, the device comprising:

(a) an ampule assembly comprising;

(i) a body having a cavity for holding liquid medication between first and second ends of the body;

(ii) an orifice in the first end of the body through which such liquid medication can flow into and out from the cavity; and

(iii) a plunger assembly movable within the cavity for drawing the liquid medication into the cavity and for forcing the liquid medication out from the cavity;

(b) an injector assembly for receiving and mounting the ampule assembly and for providing a force to move the plunger assembly to thereby force the liquid medication through the ampule assembly orifice, the injector assembly comprising;

(i) an injector body including a barrel closed at its back end, wherein the front end of the barrel is open and configured to receive the end of the ampule assembly to thereby mount the ampule assembly on the barrel;

(ii) a piston mounted for sliding movement in the barrel, the piston configured to be pushed by gas pressure from an at-rest position at the back end of the barrel toward the front end of the barrel;

(iii) a chamber in the injector body configured to house a container containing compressed gas;

(iv) a gas container in the chamber having a frangible seal on its end;

(v) a passageway in the injector body through which gas flows from the gas container to the barrel to provide a force on the rearward-facing surface of the piston to move the piston toward the front end of the barrel;

(vi) an opening through the injector body to the atmosphere for venting gas released from the gas container to the atmosphere when the ampule assembly end is not fully mounted in the injector assembly barrel;

(vii) means for sealing the injector body opening to prevent release of gas to the atmosphere, the seal provided only when the ampule assembly is fully mounted in the injector assembly barrel, the sealing means comprising;

(a) a valve seat on the outlet end of the injector body opening;

(b) a slide mounted in the injector body for movement toward and away from the valve seat, a pin extending from the front end of the slide into the opening in the forward end of the injector body barrel;

(c) a ball located between the valve seat and the rear end of the slide; and

(d) means on the ampule assembly to engage the pin as the assembly is being mounted in the front end of the barrel to move the slide toward the valve seat during the mounting operation and to hold the slide in place at its rearmost position when the ampule assembly end is fully mounted in the barrel to thereby trap the ball in gas-sealing engagement on the valve seat;

(viii) means for piercing the frangible gas container seal for releasing gas from the container to provide the force on the rearward-facing surface of the piston to thereby move the piston toward the front end of the barrel and into contact with the plunger assembly and for moving the plunger assembly toward the orifice to thereby eject the liquid medication out from the cavity through the orifice; and

(ix) means for varying the force of the gas acting on the piston to thereby vary the velocity of the medication as it is ejected through the ampule assembly orifice, the force-varying means comprising a gas-flow-regulator assembly that comprises a throttle valve having a valve seat in the gas flow path between the gas container and the piston, a ball for engagement with the valve seat, a spring for biasing the ball onto the seat, and means for varying the tension on the spring to provide a variable force for holding the ball on the seat.

27. A gas-pressure-actuated needleless hypodermic device for injecting liquid medication through the skin of persons or animals, the device comprising:

(a) an ampule assembly comprising;

(i) a body having a cavity for holding liquid medication between first and second ends of the body;

(ii) an orifice in the first end of the body through which such liquid medication can flow into and out from the cavity; and

(iii) a plunger assembly movable within the cavity for drawing the liquid medication into the cavity and for forcing the liquid medication out from the cavity;

(b) an injector assembly for receiving and mounting the ampule assembly and for providing a force to move the plunger assembly to thereby force the liquid medication through the ampule assembly orifice, the injector assembly comprising;

(i) an injector body including a barrel closed at its back end, wherein the front end of the barrel is open and configured to receive the end of the ampule assembly to thereby mount the ampule assembly on the barrel;

(ii) a piston mounted for sliding movement in the barrel, the piston configured to be pushed by gas pressure from an at-rest position at the back end of the barrel toward the front end of the barrel;

(iii) a chamber in the injector body configured to house a container containing compressed gas;

(iv) a gas container in the chamber having a frangible seal on its end;

(v) a passageway in the injector body through which gas flows from the gas container to the barrel to provide a force on the rearward-facing surface of the piston to move the piston toward the front end of the barrel;

(vi) means for piercing the frangible gas container seal for releasing gas from the container to provide the force on the rearward-facing surface of the piston to thereby move the piston toward the front end of the barrel and into contact with the plunger assembly and for moving the plunger assembly toward the orifice to thereby eject the liquid medication out from the cavity through the orifice; and

(vii) means for varying the force of the gas acting on the piston to thereby vary the velocity of the medication as it is ejected through the ampule assembly orifice, the force-varying means comprising a gas-flow-regulator assembly comprising a disk having a plurality of gas-flow-restricting orifices of different sizes therethrough mounted in the injector body, the location of the disk being such that gas released from the container must pass through at least one such gas-flow-restricting orifice prior to contacting the piston, the flow-restricting orifices configured to be selectively positioned in the gas flow path by rotating the disk.

28. A gas-pressure-actuated needleless hypodermic device for injecting liquid medication through the skin of persons or animals, the device comprising:

(a) an ampule assembly comprising;

(i) a body having a cavity for holding liquid medication between first and second ends of the body;

(ii) an orifice in the first end of the body through which such liquid medication can flow into and out from the cavity; and

(iii) a plunger assembly movable within the cavity for drawing the liquid medication into the cavity and for forcing the liquid medication out from the cavity;

(b) an injector assembly for receiving and externally mounting the ampule assembly and for providing a force to move the plunger assembly to thereby force the liquid medication through the ampule assembly orifice, the injector assembly comprising;

(i) an injector body including a barrel closed at its back end, wherein the front end of the barrel is open and configured to receive the second end of the ampule assembly body to thereby mount the ampule assembly on the barrel;

(ii) a piston mounted for sliding movement in the barrel, the piston configured to be pushed by gas pressure from an at-rest position at the back end of the barrel toward the front end of the barrel;

(iii) a chamber in the injector body configured to house a compressed gas container;

(iv) a first passageway in the injector body through which gas flows from the gas container in the gas container chamber to the barrel to provide a force on the rearward-facing surface of the piston to move the piston toward the front end of the barrel;

(v) a second passageway in the injector body configured to be open for venting gas released from the gas container to the atmosphere when the end of the ampule assembly is not mounted in the injector assembly barrel;

(vi) means for sealing the second passageway to prevent venting gas through the passageway to the atmosphere, the seal provided only when the ampule assembly is mounted in the injector assembly barrel; and

(vii) means for releasing gas from the gas container to provide the force on the rearward-facing surface of the piston to thereby move the piston toward the front end of the barrel and into contact with the plunger assembly and for moving the plunger assembly toward the orifice to thereby eject the liquid medication from the cavity out through the orifice.

29. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 28 wherein the second passageway sealing means comprise:

(a) a valve stem mounted in the second passageway for sliding movement along the length of the second passageway, the valve stem being an L-shaped rod with the forward end of the valve stem having a bend extending upwardly into the opening in the front end of the injector body barrel;

(b) a valve seat at the upstream end of the second passageway; and

(c) a ball located between the valve seat and the back end of the valve stem, wherein the front end of the valve stem engages the second end of the ampule assembly body as the ampule assembly body is being mounted in the barrel so that the valve stem is moved by the ampule assembly body toward the valve seat during the mounting operation, the ampule assembly holding the valve stem in place at its rearmost position when the ampule assembly end is fully mounted in the barrel to thereby trap the ball in gas-sealing engagement on the valve seat.

30. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 28 wherein the gas-releasing means comprise:

(a) a actuating lever mounted on the injector body; and

(b) an elongated lance having one end mounted on the actuating lever and having a point on its opposite end, the lance extending through an opening in the injector body so that;

(i) the lance point is spaced apart from and is adjacent a frangible seal on a compressed gas container positioned in the gas container chamber when the actuating lever is in its unactuated position; and

(ii) the lance point is movable to a position by which it punctures the gas container seal to thereby release the gas from the container when the actuating lever is moved to its actuated position.

31. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 28 which also comprises means for varying the force of the gas acting on the piston to thereby vary the velocity of the medication as it is ejected through the ampule assembly orifice.

32. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 31 wherein the force-varying means comprise a gas-flow-regulator assembly comprising a disk having a plurality of gas-flow-restricting orifices of different sizes therethrough mounted in the injector body, the location of the disk being such that gas released from a gas container housed in the gas container chamber must pass through at least one such gas-flow-restricting orifice prior to contacting the piston, the flow-restricting orifices configured to be selectively positioned in the gas flow path by rotating the disk.

33. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 32 wherein the disk has three sets of gas-flow-restricting orifices spaced around the perimeter, with each such orifice set being identical and each orifice being spaced apart 120°

from each other orifice of the same size, the disk configured to be rotated so that in each selected position three orifices of equal size are in the gas flow path between the gas container and the piston.

34. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 31 wherein the force-varying means comprise a gas-flow-regulator assembly that comprises a throttle valve having a valve seat in the gas flow path between a gas container housed in the gas container chamber and the piston, sealing means for engagement with the valve seat, a spring for biasing the sealing means on the seat, and means for varying the compression of the spring to provide a variable force for holding the sealing means on the seat.

35. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 34 wherein the sealing means is a ball.

36. A needleless hypodermic injection device as is claimed in claim 28 wherein the plunger assembly has a piston on its end which moves within the ampule cavity, the piston having a groove around the circumference of its front end so that a flange is at the front-facing surface of the piston.

37. A system for injecting liquid medication through the skin of persons or animals, the system comprising a needleless hypodermic injection device and an adaptor assembly for use on a medication vial for transferring medication to the injection device;

(a) the injection device comprising;

(i) an ampule assembly comprising;

a body having a cavity for holding liquid medication between first and second ends of the body;

an orifice in the first end of the body through which such liquid medication can flow into and out from the cavity; and

a plunger assembly movable within the cavity for drawing the liquid medication into the cavity and for forcing the liquid medication out from the cavity;

(ii) an injector assembly for receiving and mounting the ampule assembly and for providing a force to move the plunger assembly to thereby force the liquid medication through the ampule assembly orifice, the injector assembly comprising;

an injector body including a barrel closed at its back end, wherein the front end of the barrel is open and configured to receive the second end of the ampule assembly body to thereby mount the ampule assembly on the barrel;

a piston mounted for sliding movement in the barrel, the piston configured to be pushed by gas pressure from an at-rest position at the back end of the barrel toward the front end of the barrel;

a chamber in the injector body configured to house a compressed gas container;

a first passageway in the injector body through which gas flows from the gas container in the gas container chamber to the barrel to provide a force on a rearward-facing surface of the piston to move the piston toward the front end of the barrel;

a second passageway in the injector body configured to be open for venting gas released from the gas container to the atmosphere when the end of the ampule assembly is not mounted in the injector assembly barrel;

means for sealing the second passageway to prevent venting gas through the passageway to the atmosphere, the seal provided only when the ampule assembly is mounted in the injector assembly barrel; and

means for releasing gas from the gas container to provide the force on the rearward-facing surface of the piston to thereby move the piston toward the front end of the barrel and into contact with the plunger assembly and for moving the plunger assembly toward the orifice to thereby eject the liquid medication from the cavity out through the orifice; and

(b) the adaptor assembly comprising;

(i) a body having two cavities spaced apart from each other on its opposite ends, the first such cavity configured to receive the cap on a vial of liquid medication and the second such cavity configured to engage the end of an ampule assembly;

(ii) a resilient diaphragm mounted at the bottom of the second cavity, the diaphragm having a circular recess formed through a portion of its center adjacent the first cavity, and having a slit extending through its center registered with the circular recess, the slit being closed when the ampule assembly is not in the cavity, and configured to be opened by the first end of the ampule assembly when the first end of the ampule assembly is fully mounted in the cavity; and

(iii) a hollow, tubular needle extending through the center of the portion of the adaptor body that separates the first and second adaptor body cavities from each other, wherein the top opening of the needle is positioned in the circular diaphragm recess with the point of the needle extending a sufficient distance into the first adaptor body cavity so that the medication vial cap is pierced by the needle when the adaptor is on the vial.

38. A system for injecting liquid medication through the skin persons or animals, the system comprising an injector assembly, an ampule assembly, an adaptor assembly for use on a medication vial for transferring medication to the ampule assembly, and a compressed gas container;

(a) the ampule assembly comprising;

(i) a body having a cavity for holding liquid medication between first and second ends of the body;

(ii) an orifice in the first end of the body through which such liquid medication can flow into and out from the cavity; and

(iii) a plunger assembly movable within the cavity for drawing the liquid medication into the cavity and for forcing the liquid medication out from the cavity;

(b) the injector assembly for receiving and mounting the ampule assembly and for providing a force to move the plunger assembly to thereby force the liquid medication through the ampule assembly orifice, the injector assembly comprising;

(i) an injector body including a barrel closed at its back end, wherein the front end of the barrel is open and configured to receive the second end of the ampule assembly body to thereby mount the ampule assembly on the barrel;

(ii) a piston mounted for sliding movement in the barrel, the piston configured to be pushed by gas pressure from an at-rest position at the back end of the barrel toward the front end of the barrel;

(iii) a chamber in the injector body configured to house a compressed gas container;

(iv) a first passageway in the injector body through which gas flows from the gas container in the gas container chamber to the barrel to provide a force on the rearward-facing surface of the piston to move the piston toward the front end of the barrel;

(v) a second passageway to the injector body configured to be open for venting gas released from the gas container to the atmosphere when the end of the ampule assembly is not mounted in the injector assembly barrel;

(vi) means for sealing the second passageway to prevent venting gas through the passageway to the atmosphere, the seal provided only when the ampule assembly is mounted in the injector assembly barrel; and

(vii) means for releasing gas from a gas container to provide the force on the rearward-facing surface of the piston to thereby move the piston toward the front end of the barrel and into contact with the plunger assembly and for moving the plunger assembly toward the orifice to thereby eject the liquid medication from the cavity out through the orifice;

(c) the compressed gas container provided for mounting in the injector body chamber; and

(d) the adaptor assembly comprising;

(i) a body having two cavities spaced apart from each other on its opposite ends, the first such cavity configured to receive the cap on a vial of liquid medication and the second such cavity configured to engage the end of an ampule assembly;

(ii) a resilient diaphragm mounted at the bottom of the second cavity, the diaphragm having a circular recess formed through a portion of its center adjacent the first cavity, and having a slit extending through its center registered with the circular recess, the slit being closed when the ampule assembly is not in the cavity, and configured to be opened by the first end of the ampule assembly when the first end of the ampule assembly is fully mounted in the cavity; and

(iii) a hollow, tubular needle extending through the center of the portion of the adaptor body that separates the first and second adaptor body cavities from each other, wherein the top opening of the needle is positioned in the circular diaphragm recess with the point of the needle extending a sufficient distance into the first adaptor body cavity so that the medication vial cap is pierced by the needle when the adaptor is on the vial.