Manifold for injection apparatus

• US 5,478,323 A
• Filed: 11/02/1994
• Issued: 12/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company
• Original Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company
• Inventors: Westwood, Donald C., Schoenberg, Stephen J., Minami, Don S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): VANOVER, PERRY
• Application Number:
  US08/333,207
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 604/191, 604/90, 604/82-83, 604/211, 604/232, 604/237, 604/205, 604/186, 604/135, 604/240
• US Class Current: 604/191
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1083 having a plurality of female connectors, e.g. Luer connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1088 having a plurality of male connectors, e.g. Luer connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/19 having more than one chamber , e.g. including a manifold coupling two parallelly aligned syringes through separate channels to a common discharge assembly surgical glue applicators A61B17/00491
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2448 comprising means for injection of two or more media, e.g. by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31536 Blocking means to immobilize a selected dose, e.g. to administer equal doses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31541 Means preventing setting of a dose beyond the amount remaining in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31543 piston rod reset means, i.e. means for causing or facilitating retraction of piston rod to its starting position during cartridge change
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31553 without axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31563 interacting with a displaceable stop member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3158 performed by axially moving actuator operated by user, e.g. an injection button
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31581 performed by rotationally moving or pivoting actuator operated by user, e.g. an injection lever or handle

Abstract

A removable manifold assembly for attachment to the outlet end of a multi-cartridge injection device. The manifold assembly comprises two rigid plastic housings which encapsulate a rubber septum. Check valves are formed by compressing the front surface of the septum against a seal face of the rear housing to form a fluid tight interface therebetween. A first fluid path is formed from each cartridge in the injector through the manifold assembly to a patient delivery needle. A second fluid path is formed in the manifold assembly from the first fluid path to a back surface of the septum in order to enable a residual fluid force to be exerted against the back surface of the septum, thereby forcing the respective check valve in its closed position. The manifold assembly includes a unique geometry that permits the manifold to be snapped into engagement with the housing only when properly oriented with the housing. In one embodiment, the manifold assembly is designed to slip over the proximal ends of the cartridge retainers prior to snapping into engagement with the injector housing. In this embodiment, the manifold and cartridge containers are configured so that the manifold is able to slip over the cartridge retainers only when the cartridge retainers have been rotated into their locked positions within the injector housing.

Claims

1. A medication dispensing device for effecting the simultaneous delivery of two injectable products to a patient, comprising:

a housing;

a first container mounted to said housing and including a first plunger, a first exit end and a first injectable product between said first plunger and said first exit end;

a second container mounted to said housing and including a second plunger, a second exit end and a second injectable product between said second plunger and said second exit end;

first and second drive stems disposed in said housing and being drivingly coupled to said first and second plungers;

a drive assembly mounted to said housing and drivingly coupled to said first and second drive stems to axially advance said first and second drive stems upon actuation of said drive assembly, thereby axially advancing said first and second plungers to effect delivery of first and second dosages out of said first and second containers, respectively; and

a manifold secured to said exit ends of said first and second cartridges and comprising a manifold housing including a first cannula extending into said first cartridge and a second cannula extending into said second cartridge, said manifold housing including a delivery needle therein for delivery therethrough of injectable product, wherein a first fluid path for the first injectable product is formed in said manifold housing from said first cannula to said delivery needle, and a second fluid path for the second injectable product is formed in said manifold housing from said second cannula to said delivery needle, said manifold further including a pressure-actuated valve in said second fluid path, said valve being sufficiently flexible to move in a first direction to open and thereby permit the flow therethrough of the second injectable product upon the expulsion of the second injectable product out of said second cannula, said manifold including a third fluid path between said first fluid path and said valve, said third fluid path configured to divert a portion of the fluid flowing in said first fluid path to said third fluid path and onto said valve to create a fluid force on said valve in a second and opposite direction from said first direction.

2. A medication dispensing device for effecting the simultaneous delivery of two injectable products to a patient, comprising:

a housing;

a first container mounted to said housing and including a first plunger, a first exit end and a first injectable product between said first plunger and said first exit end;

a second container mounted to said housing and including a second plunger, a second exit end and a second injectable product between said second plunger and said second exit end;

first and second drive stems disposed in said housing and being drivingly coupled to said first and second plungers;

a drive assembly mounted to said housing and drivingly coupled to said first and second drive stems to axially advance said first and second drive stems upon actuation of said drive assembly, thereby axially advancing said first and second plungers to effect delivery of first and second dosages out of said first and second containers, respectively; and

a manifold secured to said exit ends of said first and second cartridges and comprising a manifold housing including a first cannula extending into said first cartridge and a second cannula extending into said second cartridge, said manifold housing including a delivery needle therein for delivery therethrough of injectable product, wherein a first fluid path for the first injectable product is formed in said manifold housing from said first cannula to said delivery needle, and a second fluid path for the second injectable product is formed in said manifold housing from said second cannula to said delivery needle, said manifold further including valve means in said second fluid path for regulating the flow of fluid in said second fluid path, said valve means opening in a first direction to permit the flow of the second injectable product therethrough upon the expulsion of the second injectable product out of said second cannula, said manifold including a third fluid path means between said first fluid path and said valve means, said third fluid path means configured to divert a portion of the fluid flowing in said first fluid path to said third fluid path means and onto said valve means to create a fluid force on said valve means in a second and opposite direction from said first direction.

3. A manifold assembly for attachment to an outlet end of a medication dispensing device for enabling the delivery of two injectable products through a single delivery needle, the manifold comprising:

a first housing including a delivery needle therein for delivery of the injectable products therethrough

a second housing including first and second cannulas extending therethrough; and

a rubber septum disposed between said first and second housings, wherein a first fluid path for the first injectable product is formed in said manifold from said first cannula to said delivery needle, and a second fluid path for the second injectable product is formed in said manifold housing from said second cannula to said delivery needle, wherein a portion of a first surface of said septum is in fluid-tight engagement with a sealing surface of said second housing to define a pressure-actuable check valve in said second fluid path, said check valve being sufficiently flexible such that upon a given increase in fluid pressure in said second cannula, said first surface of said septum is moved away from said sealing surface of said second housing, thereby permitting the flow of the second injectable product through said check valve upon expulsion of the second injectable product out of said second cannula, said first housing including a third fluid path extending from said second fluid path to a second surface of said septum, said second surface being opposite from said first surface, said third fluid path enabling a portion of the fluid in said second fluid path to migrate to said third fluid path to create a hydraulic force on said second surface of said septum.

4. A medication dispensing device for effecting the simultaneous delivery of two injectable products to a patient, comprising:

a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end including a first mating surface extending therefrom;

a first container disposed in said housing and including a first plunger, a first exit end and a first injectable product between said first plunger and said first exit end;

a second container disposed in said housing and including a second plunger, a second exit end and a second injectable product between said second plunger and said second exit end;

first and second drive stems disposed in said housing and being drivingly coupled to said first and second plungers;

a drive assembly mounted to said housing and drivingly coupled to said first and second drive stems to axially advance said first and second drive stems upon actuation of said drive assembly, thereby axially advancing said first and second plungers to effect delivery of first and second dosages out of said first and second containers, respectively; and

a manifold securable to said distal end of said housing, said manifold including a second mating surface extending therefrom, wherein said manifold is securable to said distal end of said housing when said manifold is oriented in a first radial position with respect to said housing such that said first mating surface matingly engages said second mating surface, said manifold being configured such that it cannot be secured to said housing when said manifold is oriented in a radial position other than said first radial position, thereby causing said second mating surface to not matingly engage said first mating surface.

5. A medication dispensing device for effecting the simultaneous delivery of two injectable products to a patient, comprising:

a housing having a proximal end and a distal end;

a first cartridge disposed in a first retainer and including a first plunger, a first exit end and a first injectable product between said first plunger and said first exit end, said first retainer being disposed within said housing, wherein a first end portion of said first retainer extends beyond said distal end of said housing, said first retainer being rotatable with respect to said housing between a first locked position and a first unlocked position;

a second cartridge disposed in a second retainer and including a second plunger, a second exit end and a second injectable product between said second plunger and said second exit end, said second retainer being disposed within said housing, wherein a second end portion of said second retainer extends beyond said distal end of said housing, said second retainer being rotatable with respect to said housing between a second locked position and a second unlocked position;

first and second drive stems disposed in said housing and being drivingly coupled to said first and second plungers;

a drive assembly mounted to said housing and drivingly coupled to said first and second drive stems to axially advance said first and second drive stems upon actuation of said drive assembly, thereby axially advancing said first and second plungers to effect delivery of first and second dosages out of said first and second containers, respectively; and

a removable manifold for mixing the first and second dosages and enabling a mixed dosage to be delivered therethrough, said manifold being movable over said first and second end portions and securable to said distal end of said housing while said first and second retainers are in their first and second locked positions, respectively, and wherein said manifold is incapable of being movable over said first and second end portions while at least one of said first and second end portions is in its respective said unlocked position.