Device for dispensing discrete doses of a liquid

• US 6,056,728 A
• Filed: 09/29/1998
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Arzneimittel GmbH
• Original Assignee: Rhone- Poulenc Rorer Arzneimittel GmbH
• Inventors: von Schuckmann, Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): MCDERMOTT, CORRINE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US08/932,145
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 604/135, 604/136, 604/156, 604/157, 604/191, 604/207, 604/226, 604/231
• US Class Current: 604/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/206 With automatic needle insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/204 connected to external reservoirs for multiple refilling

Abstract

The invention is directed to a device (V) for the output of a liquid (2) in partitioned amounts (2'"'"') from a store room (3), preferably in form of a cartridge (K), over an output mouth piece (4), preferably in form of an injection needle (5), and has the object the application of exactly reproducible amounts from a reserve amount and its safe application. This is obtained by an intermediate reservoir (17) taking up the partitioned amount (2'"'"') from the store room (3), whereby for the intermediate reservoir (17) an output piston (19) is provided with a penetration canal (18) to fill the intermediate reservoir (17).

Claims

1. A device for the output of a liquid in partitioned amounts, comprising:

a receiver;

a store room receivable in the receiver for containing a supply of the liquid;

a cylinder including structure defining an intermediate reservoir for containing the partitioned amount when transferred from the store room;

an output mouth piece for delivery of the partitioned amount from the intermediate reservoir; and

an output piston movable within the intermediate reservoir, the output piston including a penetration canal for transfer of liquid from the store room to the intermediate reservoir, the output piston being movable together with the receiver in a first direction, movement of the output piston and the receiver relative to the intermediate reservoir in the first direction filing the intermediate reservoir with the partitioned amount of liquid from the store room when same is received in the receiver, the cylinder and the receiver each being movable in a second direction opposite to said first direction.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the output mouth piece includes an injection needle.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a reflux valve disposed between the store room and the intermediate reservoir.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for imparting movement to the cylinder and the receiver in the second direction in successive phases.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the mechanism for imparting movement includes two springs for respectively biasing the cylinder and the receiver, the successive phases being implemented by releasing the two springs held in a loaded condition.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the cylinder continues in a sleeve surrounding the receiver.

7. The device according to claim 6, further comprising an outer casing, one of the springs being arranged at the top end of the sleeve and the other of the springs being arranged at the top of the receiver, both of the springs being supported by the outer casing.

8. The device according to claim 7, further comprising a release mechanism for releasing the two springs, the release mechanism including a common release button.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the release mechanism further includes a release lever having two arms, the release button being arranged at one of the arms.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the release mechanism further includes a support for engaging the sleeve and preventing movement of the sleeve in the second direction when engaged therewith, the release lever directly releasing the support from engagement with the sleeve, the sleeve including an abutment for supporting the receiver prior to movement thereof to a released position, the abutment being driven into the released position in response to docking thereof on the support following disengagement of the support from the sleeve.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the support includes a bar loaded with the springs in the second direction, the bar being arranged at a remaining arm of the release lever.

12. The device according to claim 9, wherein the release lever extends in the outer casing of the device parallel with the receiver and the sleeve.

13. The device according to claim 7, further comprising:

a handle for urging the sleeve together with the receiver in the first direction into an intermediate position in which the sleeve is subjected to spring tension; and

a shiftable cocking lever for further urging the receiver from the intermediate position in the first direction into another position in which the receiver is subjected to spring tension.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the handle is a protecting cap that can be moved up from the mouth piece.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the sleeve includes a longitudinal slot, the shiftable cocking lever being arranged within the longitudinal slot, the longitudinal slot forming a stop at an upper edge thereof for engaging an upper edge of the shiftable cocking lever when the receiver is moved into said another position.

16. The device according to claim 14, further comprising a cover surrounding the mouth piece, the cover including an annular room in which a wall of the protecting cap is receivable to an extent limited by structure of the cover defining a stop within the annular room.

17. The device according to claim 7, wherein the spring of the receiver is more tensioned than the spring of the sleeve.

18. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an outer casing including a filling inlet arranged concentrically to a cavity formed in the receiver corresponding to the store room.

19. The device according to claim 18, further comprising a plug for closing the filling inlet.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the store room is a cartridge.

21. The device according to claim 20 wherein the cartridge is a glass carpule.

22. The device according to claim 20, wherein the plug has a length that effects an appropriate docking of the cartridge within the receiver when the plug is positioned to close the filling inlet.