Fluid dispensing apparatus

• US 5,807,334 A
• Filed: 10/20/1995
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Milestone Scientific Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Milton D. Hodosh
• Inventors: Newbold, Fitz-Eugene Dixon, Hodosh, Milton
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINGOOD, PAMELA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US08/546,382
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 604/131, 604/151, 604/152, 604/154, 604/155, 604/224, 128/DIG. 12, 74/421 A, 74/360, 74/89.17
• US Class Current: 604/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3152 including gearings to multiply or attenuate the piston displacing force
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/086 Docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54
• 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 5/3148 Means for causing or aiding aspiration or plunger retraction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/482 Varying injection pressure, e.g. by varying speed of injection

Abstract

A fluid dispenser includes a hollow housing having an elongate chamber formed therein. A power supply is located within the chamber of the housing, the power supply being in electrical communication with a motor also located within the chamber of the housing. A switch, accessible from outside the housing, is in electrical communication with the power supply and motor for selectively operating the motor from a non-operable condition to an operable condition. A gear train is driven by a drive shaft of the motor, the gear train being located within the chamber of the housing and having a plurality of gears. At least one of the gears defines a slow speed gear which is rotatable at a relatively slow rate of speed and at least another of the gears defines a fast speed gear which is rotatable at a relatively fast rate of speed. A rack member is selectively engagable with one of the slow and fast speed gears for moving the rack member linearly from a position in which the end portion is spaced from a carpule containing fluid to be dispensed to a position in which the end portion engages a carpule piston so as to effect the dispensing of fluid from the carpule at a controlled rate. Further provided is means for selectively engaging one of the slow and fast speed gears with the teeth of the rack member.

Claims

1. A fluid dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluid from a carpule having an axially slidable piston, said apparatus comprising:

a hollow housing having an elongate chamber formed therein, said housing extending generally along an axis and being constructed and arranged to be gripped within a person'"'"'s hand;

a carpule receiving member which is attached to said housing at one end thereof, said carpule receiving member having means for receiving a needle at its other opposite end and being adapted to receive a carpule having fluid therein which is ejected through the needle;

a power supply located within the chamber of the housing;

a motor energized by said power supply, said motor being located within the chamber of the housing and having a drive shaft which is rotatable driven;

a switch accessible from outside the housing and being in electrical communication with said power supply and motor for selectively operating said motor from a non-operable condition in which the power supply is electrically disconnected from the motor to an operable condition in which the power supply is electrically connected to the motor and supplies power thereto;

a gear train driven by said drive shaft of the motor, the gear train being located within the chamber of the housing and having a plurality of gears, at least one of said gears defining a slow speed gear which is rotatable at a relatively slow rate of speed and at least another of said gears defining a fast speed gear which is rotatable at a relatively fast rate of speed;

a rack member disposed within the chamber of the housing along said axis, said rack member comprising an elongate body having an end portion engagable with said piston of the carpule and teeth formed on a side thereof which are selectively engagable with one of said slow and fast speed gears for moving the rack member linearly from a position in which the end portion is spaced from the carpule piston to a position in which the end portion engages the carpule piston so as to effect the dispensing of fluid from the carpule and through the needle at a controlled rate; and

means for selectively engaging one of the slow and fast speed gears with the teeth of the rack member, said engaging means comprising a frame which houses the plurality of gears of said gear train, said frame being pivotally attached to the housing and having an outwardly protruding member which is accessible from outside the housing for moving the frame between a first position in which the slow speed gear is engaging the teeth of the rack member and a second position in which the fast speed gear is engaging the teeth.

2. A fluid dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said engaging means further comprising means for biasing said frame to its first position.

3. A fluid dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said biasing means comprising a spring engagable at one of its ends with the frame and at its other opposite end with the housing.

10. A fluid dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said housing having a pen light mounted on its forward end for illuminating the space in front of the dispensing apparatus.

4. A fluid dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluid from a carpule having an axially slidable piston, said apparatus comprising:

a hollow housing having an elongate chamber formed therein, said housing extending generally along an axis and being constructed and arranged to be gripped within a person'"'"'s hand;

a carpule receiving member which is attached to said housing at one end thereof, said carpule receiving member having means for receiving a needle at its other opposite end and being adapted to receive a carpule having fluid therein which is ejected through the needle, said carpule receiving member being releasably attached to the housing for removal to sterilize the receiving member;

a power supply located within the chamber of the housing;

a motor energized by said power supply, said motor being located within the chamber of the housing and having a drive shaft which is rotatable driven;

a switch accessible from outside the housing and being in electrical communication with said power supply and motor for selectively operating said motor from a non-operable condition in which the power supply is electrically disconnected from the motor to an operable condition in which the power supply is electrically connected to the motor and supplies power thereto;

a gear train driven by said drive shaft of the motor, the gear train being located within the chamber of the housing and having a plurality of gears, at least one of said gears defining a slow speed gear which is rotatable at a relatively slow rate of speed and at least another of said gears defining a fast speed gear which is rotatable at a relatively fast rate of speed;

a rack member disposed within the chamber of the housing along said axis, said rack member comprising an elongate body having an end portion engagable with said piston of the carpule and teeth formed on a side thereof which are selectively engagable with one of said slow and fast speed gears for moving the rack member linearly from a position in which the end portion is spaced from the carpule piston to a position in which the end portion engages the carpule piston so as to effect the dispensing of fluid from the carpule and through the needle at a controlled rate; and

means for selectively engaging one of the slow and fast speed gears with the teeth of the rack member.

5. A fluid dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 4, said carpule receiving member having a bayonet-type mount comprising a detent member formed on its end which is receivable within a slot formed in an annular sleeve which is attached to the housing.

6. A fluid dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluid from a carpule having an axially slidable piston, said apparatus comprising:

a hollow housing having an elongate chamber formed therein, said housing extending generally along an axis and being constructed and arranged to be gripped within a person'"'"'s hand;

a carpule receiving member which is attached to said housing at one end thereof, said carpule receiving member having means for receiving a needle at its other opposite end and being adapted to receive a carpule having fluid therein which is ejected through the needle;

a power supply located within the chamber of the housing;

a motor energized by said power supply, said motor being located within the chamber of the housing and having a drive shaft which is rotatable driven;

a switch accessible from outside the housing and being in electrical communication with said power supply and motor for selectively operating said motor from a non-operable condition in which the power supply is electrically disconnected from the motor to an operable condition in which the power supply is electrically connected to the motor and supplies power thereto, said switch comprising a depressible lever pivotally mounted on said housing;

a gear train driven by said drive shaft of the motor, the gear train being located within the chamber of the housing and having a plurality of gears, at least one of said gears defining a slow speed gear which is rotatable at a relatively slow rate of speed and at least another of said gears defining a fast speed gear which is rotatable at a relatively fast rate of speed;

a rack member disposed within the chamber of the housing along said axis, said rack member comprising an elongate body having an end portion engagable with said piston of the carpule and teeth formed on a side thereof which are selectively engaaable with one of said slow and fast speed gears for moving the rack member linearly from a position in which the end portion is spaced from the carpule piston to a position in which the end portion engages the carpule piston so as to effect the dispensing of fluid from the carpule and through the needle at a controlled rate; and

means for selectively engaging one of the slow and fast speed tears with the teeth of the rack member.

7. A fluid dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 6, said lever having a curved portion engagable with an axially slidable, annular sleeve which is disposed between the curved portion of the lever and the piston of the carpule, the arrangement is such that when the lever is pressed, the curved portion of the lever engages the annular sleeve for axially moving said annular sleeve towards the piston of the carpule thereby dispensing a small amount of fluid.

8. A fluid dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 7, said annular sleeve having a detent member engagable with the curved portion of the lever through a slot formed therein and an end portion engagable with the piston of the carpule.

9. A fluid dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 6, said switch further comprising three sets of contacts operably activating three speeds of the motor, said lever having a tail portion engagable with the three sets of contacts for selectively operating the motor in one of its three speeds.

11. A fluid dispensing apparatuses for dispensing fluid from a carpule having an axially slidable piston, said apparatus comprising:

a hollow housing having an elongate chamber formed therein, said housing extending generally along an axis and being constructed and arranged to be gripped within a person'"'"'s hand;

a carpule receiving member which is attached to said housing at one end thereof, said carpule receiving member having means for receiving a needle at its other opposite end and being adapted to receive a carpule having fluid therein which is ejected through the needle;

a power supply located within the chamber of the housing;

a motor energized by said power supply, said motor being located within the chamber of the housing and having a drive shaft which is rotatable driven;

a switch accessible from outside the housing and being in electrical communication with said power supply and motor for selectively operating said motor from a non-operable condition in which the power supply is electrically disconnected from the motor to an operable condition in which the power supply is electrically connected to the motor and supplies power thereto;

a gear train driven by said drive shaft of the motor, the gear train being located within the chamber of the housing and having a plurality of gears, at least one of said gears defining a slow speed gear which is rotatable at a relatively slow rate of speed and at least another of said gears defining a fast speed gear which is rotatable at a relatively fast rate of speed, said drive shaft of the motor having a worm gear mounted thereon, said worm gear engaging and driving a spur gear rotatably mounted on a shaft within the chamber and engagable with a gear of said gear train;

a rack member disposed within the chamber of the housing along said axis, said rack member comprising an elongate body having an end portion engagable with said piston of the carpule and teeth formed on a side thereof which are selectively engagable with one of said slow and fast speed gears for moving the rack member linearly from a position in which the end portion is spaced from the carpule piston to a position in which the end portion engage the carpule piston so as to effect the dispensing of fluid from the carpule and through the needle at a controlled rate; and

means for selectively engaging one of the slow and fast speed gears with the teeth of the rack member.

12. A fluid dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluid from a carpule having an axially slidable piston, said apparatus comprising:

a hollow housing having an elongate chamber formed therein, said housing extending generally along an axis and being constructed and arranged to be gripped within a person'"'"'s hand;

a carpule receiving member which is attached to said housing at one end thereof, said carpule receiving member having means for receiving a needle at its other opposite end and being adapted to receive a carpule having fluid therein which is ejected through the needle;

power supply means located within the chamber of the housing;

motor means energized by said power supply means, said motor means being located within the chamber of the housing;

a switch accessible from outside the housing and being in electrical communication with said power supply means and said motor means for selectively operating said motor means from a non-operable condition in which the power supply means is electrically disconnected from the motor means to an operable condition in which the power supply means is electrically connected to the motor means and supplies power thereto; and

transmission means located within the chamber of the housing and being driven by said motor means for dispensing of fluid from the carpule and through the needle at a controlled rate,

said switch comprising a depressible lever pivotally mounted on said housing, said lever having a curved portion engagable with an axially slidable, annular sleeve which is disposed between the curved portion of the lever and the piston of the carpule, the arrangement is such that when the lever is pressed, the curved portion of the lever engages the annular sleeve for axially moving said annular sleeve towards the piston of the carpule thereby manually dispensing a small amount of fluid without engaging said power supply means and said motor means.