Injector for hypodermically implanting an object in a living being

• US 5,273,532 A
• Filed: 09/03/1992
• Issued: 12/28/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Benning, Franciscus H. C., Niezink, Herman
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/939,789
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 604/57, 604/59-64, 606/116, 606/117, 221/151
• US Class Current: 604/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0069 Devices for implanting pellets, e.g. markers or solid medicaments for introducing of radioactive sources for interstitial radiation therapy, i.e. brachytherapy A61N5/1027

Abstract

Injector for hypodermically implanting of an object (14) in a living being. This injector comprises a housing (13), with a hollow needle (3) which can be moved in and out from the housing (13). In the hollow needle (3) a pushing rod (9) is received, to position an object (14) in a living being after introduction of the needle (3). Near the housing (13) a locking means is provided to realize positioning of the object. In the storage position, the needle (3) is inside the housing (13). For injecting, first of all the needle (3) is moved out of the housing (13) and locked. A spring (4) is tensioned by the outward movement of the needle (3). During introduction into the animal of the needle (3), a locking means will be actuated, after which the needle (3) returns and positioning of the object (14) is realized.

Claims

1. An injector for hypodermically implanting an object in a living being comprising:

a housing;

a hollow needle suitable for delivering said object therethrough and into said living being, said hollow needle having a sharp end and a supported end, said supported end connected to said housing such that said hollow needle slidably moves between a retracted position at least partially within said housing and an extended position at least partially outside of said housing;

a push rod fitted within said hollow needle and operably connected to said housing such that said push rod is maintained in a fixed position during the movement of said hollow needle from said extended position toward said retracted position;

a biasing member connected to said housing and said hollow needle to exert a force so as to urge said needle toward said retracted position;

a control member for manually moving said needle to said extended position against said force of said biasing member;

a first locking catch for retaining said needle in said extended position; and

an unlocking member connected to said housing and located such that said unlocking member will contact said living being when said extended needle is fully inserted, and said unlocking member interacting with said first locking catch such that contact of said unlocking member with said living being will release said first locking catch so that said biasing member will urge said needle to said retracted position around said push rod thereby leaving said object implanted within said living being.

2. The injector of claim 1 wherein said push rod is moveable with respect to said housing and further comprising:

a second biasing member for exerting a force to move said push rod from a first position where said push rod is substantially withdrawn from said needle and a second position where said push rod is fully inserted within said needle;

a second locking catch for retaining said push rod in said first position; and

wherein said unlocking member further interacts with said second locking catch to release said second latching catch to move said push rod to said second position prior to said unlocking member releasing said first locking catch.

3. The injector of claim 2 and further comprising a cartridge for holding a plurality of objects to be inserted into living beings, said cartridge adapted to be positioned within said housing for feeding objects to be inserted into said needle.

4. The injector of claim 1 and further comprising a needle holder connected to said needle at said supported end and wherein said needle is detachably secured to said needle holder.