Hypodermic jet injector
First Claim
1. A hand-held, portable apparatus for hypodermically injecting a quantity of liquid comprising:
- (a) a shell defining a chamber for containing the quantity of liquid,(b) an orifice communicating with the chamber, a mouth of the orifice being pressed against an injection site whenever an injection is to take place,(c) means for converting an applied force to a corresponding pressure applied to the liquid,(d) means for coupling the shell to the means for converting an applied force,(e) means for accumulating and storing a suitable amount of energy,(f) means for manually releasing the stored energy,(g) safety means connected between the means for manually releasing the stored energy and the shell for preventing release of the stored energy unless a shell is coupled to said means for converting an applied force, wherein the shell automatically engages the safety means by being coupled to said means for converting an applied force, and(h) means for converting the released energy to the applied force, the amount of stored energy being sufficient to produce enough pressure to cause the liquid to leave the chamber via the orifice at such a velocity that it can be hypodermically injected at an injection site.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ampule containing a liquid, e.g., a dose of medicine, connects to a hand-held portable power unit containing an energy accumulator which can be charged and then discharged by manual actuation of a trigger. Preferably the energy accumulator is a compressible spring which is charged by compressing it and discharged by releasing it. The discharging accumulator powers a thruster, preferably a rod, driving it against a plunger in the ampule. The driven plunger applies pressure to the liquid in the ampule and drives the liquid through a small tapered orifice having an open mouth. During an injection, the open mouth of the orifice is pressed against an injection site so that the liquid being forced through the orifice can hypodermically penetrate the injection site. The preferred compressible spring can be charged by forcing the thruster backward against the spring, compressing it to a point where a latching device catches it and holds it compressed. A carrying case automatically recharges the accumulator in this manner whenever the power unit is seated therein and the case'"'"'s lid is closed. The trigger releases the latching device. Preferably there are two independent safeties to prevent inadvertent triggering of the power unit. One safety jams the trigger unless power unit has an ampule properly engaged, and a second safety for optional use is a slide that also jams the trigger. The ampules can be single-use, disposable items. An ampule loader is also disclosed.
109 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A hand-held, portable apparatus for hypodermically injecting a quantity of liquid comprising:
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(a) a shell defining a chamber for containing the quantity of liquid, (b) an orifice communicating with the chamber, a mouth of the orifice being pressed against an injection site whenever an injection is to take place, (c) means for converting an applied force to a corresponding pressure applied to the liquid, (d) means for coupling the shell to the means for converting an applied force, (e) means for accumulating and storing a suitable amount of energy, (f) means for manually releasing the stored energy, (g) safety means connected between the means for manually releasing the stored energy and the shell for preventing release of the stored energy unless a shell is coupled to said means for converting an applied force, wherein the shell automatically engages the safety means by being coupled to said means for converting an applied force, and (h) means for converting the released energy to the applied force, the amount of stored energy being sufficient to produce enough pressure to cause the liquid to leave the chamber via the orifice at such a velocity that it can be hypodermically injected at an injection site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for hypodermically injecting a quantity of liquid comprising:
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(a) a liquid container comprising; (i) a shell defining a chamber for containing the quantity of liquid, (ii) an orifice communicating with the chamber, a mouth of the orifice being pressed against an injection site whenever an injection is to take place, and (iii) means for converting an applied force to a corresponding pressure applied to the liquid, and (b) a hand-held, portable power unit comprising; (i) means for coupling the liquid container and the power unit together in rigid relation, (ii) means for accumulating and storing a suitable amount of energy, (iii) means for manually releasing the stored energy, (iv) safety means connected between the means for manually releasing the stored energy and the liquid container for preventing release of the stored energy unless a liquid container is coupled to the power unit, wherein, the liquid container automatically engages the safety means by being coupled to the power unit, and (v) means for converting the released energy to the applied force, the amount of stored energy being sufficient to produce enough pressure to cause the liquid to leave the chamber via the orifice at such a velocity that it can be hypodermically injected at an injection site. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for hypodermically injecting a quantity of liquid comprising:
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(a) a liquid container comprising; (i) a shell defining a chamber for containing the quantity of liquid, (ii) an orifice communicating with the chamber, a mouth of the orifice being pressed against an injection site whenever an injection is to take place, (b) a power unit comprising; (i) means for converting an applied force to a corresponding pressure applied to the liquid, (ii) means for coupling the shell to the means for converting an applied force, (iii) means for accumulating and storing a suitable amount of energy, (iv) means for manually releasing the stored energy, (v) safety means connected between the means for manually releasing the stored energy and the liquid container for preventing release of the stored energy unless a shell is coupled to said means for converting an applied force, wherein the shell automatically engages the safety means by being coupled to said means for converting an applied force, and (vi) means for converting the released energy to the applied force, the amount of stored energy being sufficient to produce enough pressure to cause the liquid to leave the chamber via the orifice at such a velocity that it can be hypodermically injected at an injection site, and (c) means for causing said means for accumulating and storing to accumulate said suitable amount of energy. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A hand-held, portable apparatus for needleless hypodermic injection of a quantity of liquid comprising:
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a shell defining a chamber for containing the quantity of liquid; an orifice communicating with the chamber, a mouth of the orifice being pressed against an injection site whenever an injection is to take place; a plunger disposed within the chamber for converting an applied force to a corresponding pressure applied to the liquid; a power unit including a cylindrical housing defining a longitudinal channel; a thrust rod disposed in the longitudinal channel for applying said force to the plunger; means for coupling the shell to the power unit; a spring disposed within the channel and communicating with the thrust rod, the spring for accumulating and storing a sufficient amount of energy when compressed to produce sufficient pressure to cause the liquid to leave the chamber via the orifice at such a velocity that it can be hypodermically injected at an injection site, wherein the energy is converted to said force by the thrust rod when the spring is released; a trigger assembly coupled to the spring for manually releasing the stored energy; and a safety interlock assembly, disposed in said coupling means and connected between said trigger assembly and said shell, the safety assembly preventing release of the stored energy by the trigger assembly unless a shell is coupled to the power unit, wherein said shell automatically engages said safety assembly by being coupled to said power unit, thereby allowing release of the stored energy by the trigger assembly. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A hand-held, portable apparatus for needleless hypodermic injection of a quantity of liquid comprising:
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a shell defining a chamber for containing the quantity of liquid; a orifice communicating with the chamber, a mouth of the orifice being pressed against an injection site whenever an injection is to take place; a plunger disposed within the chamber for converting an applied force to a corresponding pressure applied to the liquid; a power unit including a cylindrical housing defining a longitudinal channel; a thrust rod disposed in the longitudinal channel for applying said force to the plunger; means for coupling the shell to the power unit; a spring disposed within the channel and communicating with the thrust rod, the spring for accumulating and storing a sufficient amount of energy when compressed to produce sufficient pressure to cause the liquid to leave the chamber via the orifice at such a velocity that it can be hypodermically injected at a injection site, wherein the energy is converted to said force by the thrust rod when the spring is released; a trigger assembly coupled to the spring for manually releasing the stored energy; a safety interlock assembly, coupled between said trigger assembly and said coupling means, the safety assembly preventing release of the stored energy by the trigger assembly unless a shell is coupled to the power unit; and a carrying case comprising a receptacle wherein the power unit is disposed within the receptacle, the carrying case further comprising a closable lid and means, responsive to the closing of the lid, for engaging the power unit to compress the spring to accumulate said suitable amount of energy. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A system for hypodermically injecting a quantity of liquid comprising:
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(a) a liquid container comprising; (i) a shell defining a chamber for containing the quantity of liquid, (ii) an orifice communicating with the chamber, a mouth of the orifice being pressed against an injection site whenever an injection is to take place, (b) a power unit comprising; (i) means for converting an applied force to a corresponding pressure applied to the liquid, (ii) means for coupling the shell to the means for converting an applied force, (iii) a compressible spring; (iv) holding means, responsive to manual actuation, for holding the spring in a compressed state; (v) safety means connected between the means for manually releasing the stored energy and the liquid container for preventing release of the stored energy unless a shell is coupled to said means for converting an applied force, and (vi) means for converting the released energy to the applied force, the amount of stored energy being sufficient to produce enough pressure to cause the liquid to leave the chamber via the orifice at such a velocity that it can be hypodermically injected at an injection site, and (c) a carrying case with a lid, said carrying case comprising a closable lid and means, responsive to the closing of the lid, for compressing said spring.
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Specification