Reloadable automatic or manual emergency injection system

• US 5,665,071 A
• Filed: 06/26/1996
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shionogi Inc. (Shionogi & Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Washington Biotech Corporation
• Inventors: Wyrick, Ronald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rimell, Sam
• Assistant Examiner(s): YEH, LUKE
• Application Number:
  US08/670,630
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 604/136, 604/135, 604/134, 604/208, 604/211
• US Class Current: 604/134
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/206 With automatic needle insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2073 preventing premature release, e.g. by making use of a safety lock
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3139 Finger grips not integrally formed with the syringe barrel, e.g. using adapter with finger grips
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/003 Kits for diabetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2033 Spring-loaded one-shot injectors with or without automatic needle insertion multishot dosing syringes A61M5/31525, needle insertion only A61M5/3287
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/24 Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or carpules, e.g. automatic ampoules or carpules A61J1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31551 including axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31563 interacting with a displaceable stop member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31595 Pre-defined multi-dose administration by repeated overcoming of means blocking the free advancing movement of piston rod, e.g. by tearing or de-blocking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/326 Fully automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve does not require a deliberate action by the user

Abstract

A reloadable automatic or manually usable medicine injection apparatus having a barrel which receives a syringe subassembly. The syringe subassembiy includes an ampule for housing fluid medication, a needle, a plunger stopper, and plunger shaft which allow removal and manual use. The injection apparatus includes a driver for forcing the syringe subassembly to inject the needle and displace fluid medication. The injection apparatus preferably includes a trigger handle, sheath remover, and removable stop system for delivery of multiple doses.

Claims

1. A fluid medication injection apparatus comprising:

a barrel having a cavity therein;

a syringe subassembly within the barrel and sized to slide within the cavity, the syringe subassembly having an ampule for housing fluid medication, a needle, and a plunger having a plunger shaft, the plunger being operable to force the fluid medication from the ampule through the needle;

a protective sheath provided on the needle;

a driver having a driver shaft operable to detachably engage the plunger shaft for forcing the syringe subassembly to inject the needle and displace fluid medication through the needle, the driver being movable between a cocked position and extended positions;

a driver release for controllably releasing the driver from the cocked position into an extended position; and

a sheath remover for engaging and removing the protective sheath from the needle.

2. A fluid medication injection apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

the barrel has a muzzle end through which the needle passes during injection; and

the sheath remover is detachably connected to the muzzle end.

3. A dual use fluid medication injection apparatus capable of both mechanically powered administration and manual administration of a fluid medication, comprising:

a barrel having a cavity therein;

a manually usable syringe subassembly positioned within the barrel and sized to slide within the cavity, the syringe subassembly having;

an ampule for housing fluid medication;

a needle in fluid communication with said ampule;

a plunger for forcing the fluid medication from the ampule through the needle;

said plunger including a plunger shaft and a plunger portion which extends from the ampule to allow manual depression of the plunger to dispense fluid from the ampule;

said barrel including at least a first part and a second part which are manually detachable to allow removal and installation of the syringe subassembly;

a driver having a driver shaft which is operable to detachably engage the plunger shaft, for forcing the syringe subassembly to inject the needle and displace fluid medication through the needle, the driver being movable between a cocked position and extended positions;

said plunger being unattached to said driver to allow removal of said syringe subassembly from the barrel while in cocked or extended positions;

a driver release for controllably releasing the driver from the cocked position into an extended position;

a sheath remover for engaging and removing the protective sheath from the needle.

4. In an injection apparatus having a syringe subassembly and a driver having a driver shaft operable to displace medication therefrom, the syringe subassembly, comprising:

an ampule for housing fluid medication;

a needle capable of fluid communication with said ampule;

a plunger for forcing the fluid medication from the ampule through the needle;

said plunger having a plunger shaft adjustable in length to adjust a desired dose amount which will be dispensed, the plunger shaft being engaged by the driver shaft of the driver when the fluid medication is forced from the ampule;

wherein said plunger shaft includes a first plunger shaft part and a second plunger shaft part which is axially adjusted relative to said first plunger shaft part.