Reloadable injector
First Claim
1. An automatic injector comprising:
- a reusable power pack assembly including a body and an energy releasing assembly carried by said body, said energy releasing assembly capable of providing multiple energy releasing strokes; and
a disposable cartridge assembly adapted to be positioned in functionally cooperative relation with said power pack assembly to effectuate an injection operation therewith during one of said energy releasing strokes, said cartridge assembly comprising(i) a rigid housing,(ii) a container disposed within said rigid housing,(iii) a single charge of medicament normally contained within said container,(iv) a needle held in a normally protected position within said housing and adapted to communicate with said charge of medicament normally contained in said container, said needle being movable from said protected position within said housing to an unprotected projecting position from said housing in response to one of said energy releasing strokes,(v) a plunger disposed within said container and movable therethrough in response to one of said energy releasing strokes to force said medicament through said needle when said needle is moved into said unprotected projecting position from said housing, and(vi) a needle return spring constructed and arranged to move said needle from said unprotected projecting position to said protected position within said rigid housing,said disposable cartridge assembly being movable out of said functionally cooperative relation with said power pack assembly so that after said injection operation said cartridge assembly can be discarded as a separate unit from said power pack assembly with said rigid housing preventing unwanted contact with said needle disposed in said protected position therein, said energy releasing assembly carried by said body being maintained with said body after said injection operation for use with another cartridge assembly to effectuate another injection operation.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A reloadable automatic injector comprises a reusable power pack assembly for effectuating multiple injection operations. The power pack assembly includes an outer body and an energy releasing assembly disposed within the body. The energy releasing assembly is capable of providing multiple energy releasing strokes. A disposable cartridge assembly is provided which is engageable with the power pack assembly and forms an elongate injection assembly therewith. The cartridge assembly is adapted to receive energy from the power pack during one of the energy releasing strokes. The cartridge assembly includes a housing in which a charge of medicament and a needle is contained. A plunger is disposed within the housing for forcing the medicament through the needle. The cartridge assembly receives energy from the power pack assembly during one of the energy releasing strokes to enable the needle to project from the protected position to an unprotected projecting position from the housing and to enable the plunger to force the medicament through the needle. In addition, a needle return spring is provided for returning the needle from the unprotected position to the protected position within the housing so that the housing provides the needle with a rigid protective outer covering for sanitary disposal of the cartridge assembly.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An automatic injector comprising:
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a reusable power pack assembly including a body and an energy releasing assembly carried by said body, said energy releasing assembly capable of providing multiple energy releasing strokes; and a disposable cartridge assembly adapted to be positioned in functionally cooperative relation with said power pack assembly to effectuate an injection operation therewith during one of said energy releasing strokes, said cartridge assembly comprising (i) a rigid housing, (ii) a container disposed within said rigid housing, (iii) a single charge of medicament normally contained within said container, (iv) a needle held in a normally protected position within said housing and adapted to communicate with said charge of medicament normally contained in said container, said needle being movable from said protected position within said housing to an unprotected projecting position from said housing in response to one of said energy releasing strokes, (v) a plunger disposed within said container and movable therethrough in response to one of said energy releasing strokes to force said medicament through said needle when said needle is moved into said unprotected projecting position from said housing, and (vi) a needle return spring constructed and arranged to move said needle from said unprotected projecting position to said protected position within said rigid housing, said disposable cartridge assembly being movable out of said functionally cooperative relation with said power pack assembly so that after said injection operation said cartridge assembly can be discarded as a separate unit from said power pack assembly with said rigid housing preventing unwanted contact with said needle disposed in said protected position therein, said energy releasing assembly carried by said body being maintained with said body after said injection operation for use with another cartridge assembly to effectuate another injection operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for performing successive injection operations comprising the steps of:
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performing a predetermined actuating procedure on a power pack assembly when said power pack assembly is in functionally cooperable relation with a cartridge assembly, said power pack assembly being capable of effectuating multiple injection operations; moving a needle from a protected position within a housing of said cartridge assembly to an unprotected projecting position in which the needle projects from the housing in response to said predetermined actuating procedure; dispensing a medicament through said needle; moving said power pack assembly out of said functionally cooperable relation with said cartridge assembly; returning said needle to said protected position within said housing; and moving said power pack assembly into said functionally cooperable relation with another cartridge assembly. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification