Automatic mixing and injecting apparatus

• US 6,387,078 B1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: West Pharmaceutical Services of Delaware, Inc. (West Pharmaceutical Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: INNOject Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Gillespie, Richard D. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/745,905
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 604/181, 604/187, 604/191, 604/201, 604/203, 604/205, 604/264, 604/272, 604/86, 604/87, 604/88, 604/89
• US Class Current: 604/181
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/206 With automatic needle insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2066 comprising means for injection of two or more media, e.g. by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/286 upon internal pressure increase, e.g. pierced or burst A61M5/283 takes precedence
• 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

An automatic mixing and injecting apparatus comprises a syringe assembly within a housing. The syringe assembly has a chamber for holding a liquid, which can be a liquid medicine or a solvent. A second chamber may hold a dry medicine. The second chamber is releasably sealed with respect to the first chamber. A spring-operated plunger forces liquid from the first chamber and causes the releasable seal to disengage when the needle has entered the recipient. At this time, the liquid flows through the second chamber and dissolves any dry medicine in that chamber. A releasable coupling disengages the plunger from the driver spring and allows the plunger, syringe, and needle to retract under the urging of a return spring.

Claims

1. An automatic mixing and injecting apparatus comprising:

a. a housing having a cavity and a proximal and a distal end;

b. a syringe assembly within the housing cavity, the syringe assembly further comprising;

(1) a first chamber for holding a liquid;

(2) a second chamber for holding a dry medicine, the second chamber disposed distally to the first chamber;

the second chamber releasably sealed with respect to the first chamber;

(3) a needle, the needle disposed distally of the second chamber; and

,

(4) a plunger;

the plunger having a plunger shaft disposed proximally;

the plunger being operable to force the liquid from the first chamber into the second chamber;

(5) a spring-to-plunger coupling engaging the plunger shaft and the driver spring;

(6) a splitter;

the splitter attached to the housing distally to the spring-to-plunger coupling;

the splitter further having a surface for engaging the spring-to-plunger coupling and forcing the spring-to-plunger coupling to disengage from the plunger shaft, thereby disengaging the driver spring from the syringe assembly; and

,

c. a driver spring within the housing, the driver spring engaging the plunger shaft, and operable when released to inject the needle and displace the liquid from the first chamber, through the second chamber and through the needle.

2. The automatic mixing and injecting apparatus of claim 1, where the plunger shaft further comprises a circumferential groove;

and, the spring-to-plunger coupling further comprises;

a. a plurality of axial slits; and

,

b. a radial lip for releasably engaging the circumferential groove, so that the radial lip disengages from the circumferential groove as the spring-to-plunger coupling engages the splitter.

3. The automatic mixing and injecting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a. a disk releasably sealing the first chamber from the second chamber; and

,

b. at least one aperture in the wall of the second chamber allowing liquid communication between the portion of the second chamber proximal to the released disk and the portion of the second chamber distal to the released disk, so that the liquid flows through the second chamber before being forced through the needle.

4. The automatic mixing and injecting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a return spring;

the return spring disposed between the housing and the syringe assembly;

the return spring urging the syringe assembly proximally.

5. The automatic mixing and injecting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a. at least two compressible barbs;

the barbs connected to the proximal end of the plunger shaft;

b. the housing having a housing cap;

c. a rod moveably disposed within the housing cap;

the rod having an interior bore sized to receive the barbs in their compressed state; and

,

d. a detent integral with the housing cap;

the detent sized to engage the barbs in their uncompressed state and prevent the distal movement of the plunger shaft until the barbs are compressed.

6. The automatic mixing and injecting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a flexible septum;

the flexible septum disposed proximally to the proximal end of the needle and sealing the needle from the second chamber;

so that liquid pressure in the second chamber causes the septum to deflect distally until the septum is penetrated by the proximal end of the needle.

7. An automatic mixing and injecting apparatus comprising:

a. a housing having a cavity and a proximal and a distal end;

b. a syringe assembly within the housing cavity, the syringe assembly further comprising;

(1) a first chamber for holding a liquid;

(2) a second chamber;

the second chamber disposed distally to the first chamber;

(3) a disk releasably sealing the first chamber from the second chamber;

(4) a needle disposed distally of the second chamber;

(5) a plunger;

the plunger having a plunger shaft disposed proximally;

the plunger being operable to force the liquid from the first chamber and cause the disk to release;

(6) a spring-to-plunger coupling engaging the plunger shaft and the driver spring;

(7) a splitter;

the splitter attached to the housing distally to the spring-to-plunger coupling;

the splitter further having a surface for engaging the spring-to-plunger coupling and forcing the spring-to-plunger coupling to disengage from the plunger shaft, thereby disengaging the driver spring from the syringe assembly; and

,

c. a least one aperture in the wall of the second chamber allowing liquid communication between the portion of the second chamber proximal to the released disk and the portion of the second chamber distal to the released disk, so that the liquid flows through the second chamber before being forced through the needle.

8. The automatic mixing and injecting apparatus of claim 7, where the plunger shaft further comprises a circumferential groove;

and, the spring-to-plunger coupling further comprises;

a. a plurality of axial slits; and

,

b. a radial lip for releasably engaging the circumferential groove, so that the radial lip disengages from the circumferential groove as the spring-to-plunger coupling engages the splitter.

9. The automatic mixing and injecting apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a driver spring within the housing, the driver spring engaging the plunger shaft and operable when released to inject the needle and displace the liquid past the released disk, through the second chamber and through the needle.

10. The automatic mixing and injecting apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a return spring;

the return spring disposed between the housing and the syringe assembly;

the return spring urging the syringe assembly proximally when the driver spring is disengaged from the syringe assembly.

11. The automatic mixing and injecting apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a. at least two compressible barbs;

the barbs connected to the proximal end of the plunger shaft;

b. the housing having a housing cap;

c. a rod disposed within the housing cap;

the rod having an interior bore sized to receive the barbs in their compressed state; and

,

d. a detent integral with the housing cap;

the detent sized to engage the barbs in their uncompressed state and prevent the distal movement of the plunger shaft until the barbs are compressed.

12. The automatic mixing and injecting apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a flexible septum;

the flexible septum disposed proximally to the proximal end of the needle and sealing the needle from the second chamber;

so that liquid pressure in the second chamber causes the septum to deflect distally until it is penetrated by the proximal end of the needle.

13. An automatic injecting apparatus comprising:

a. a housing having a cavity and a proximal and a distal end;

b. a syringe assembly within the housing, the syringe assembly further comprising;

(1) a first chamber for holding a liquid;

(2) a needle; and

,

(3) a plunger, the plunger having a plunger shaft disposed proximally, the plunger being operable to force the liquid from the first chamber;

c. the plunger shaft engaging a spring-to-plunger coupling;

d. a driver spring within the housing, engaging the spring-to-plunger coupling, operable to the syringe assembly to inject the needle and displace the liquid medicine through the needle; and

,

f. a splitter attached to the plunger shaft distally to the spring-to-plunger coupling;

the splitter having a surface for engaging the spring-to-plunger coupling and forcing the spring-to-plunger coupling to disengage from the plunger shaft, thereby disengaging the driver spring from the syringe assembly.

14. The automatic injecting apparatus of claim 13, where the plunger shaft further comprises a circumferential groove;

and, the spring-to-plunger coupling further comprises;

a. a plurality of axial slits; and

,

b. a radial lip for releasably engaging the circumferential groove, so that the radial lip disengages from the circumferential groove as the spring-to-plunger coupling engages the splitter.

15. The automatic injecting apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a. a second chamber for holding a liquid;

b. a disk disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber;

the disk releasably sealing the first chamber from the second chamber; and

,

c. a least one aperture in the wall of the second chamber allowing liquid communication between the portion of the second chamber proximal to the disengaged disk and the portion of the second chamber distal to the disengaged disk, so that the liquid flows through the second chamber before being forced through the needle.

16. The automatic injecting apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a return spring;

the return spring disposed between the housing and the syringe assembly;

the return spring urging the syringe assembly proximally when the driver spring is disengaged from the syringe assembly.

17. The automatic mixing and injecting apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a. at least two compressible barbs;

the barbs connected to the proximal end of the plunger shaft;

b. the housing having a housing cap;

c. a rod disposed within the housing cap;

the rod having an interior bore sized to receive the barbs in their compressed state; and

,

d. a detent integral with the housing cap;

the detent sized to engage the barbs in their uncompressed state and prevent the distal movement of the plunger shaft until the barbs are compressed.

18. The automatic mixing and injecting apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a flexible septum;

the flexible septum disposed proximally to the proximal end of the needle and sealing the needle from the second chamber;

so that liquid pressure in the chamber causes the septum to deflect distally until the septum is penetrated by the proximal end of the needle.

19. An automatic mixing and injecting apparatus comprising:

a. a housing having a cavity and a proximal and a distal end;

b. a syringe assembly within the housing cavity, the syringe assembly further comprising;

(1) a first chamber for holding a liquid;

(2) a second chamber for holding a dry medicine, the second chamber disposed distally to the first chamber;

(3) a disk releasably sealing the first chamber from the second chamber;

(4) a needle, the needle disposed distally of the second chamber;

(5) a plunger;

the plunger having a plunger shaft disposed proximally;

the plunger being operable to force the liquid from the first chamber into the second chamber;

(6) at least one aperture in the wall of the second chamber allowing liquid communication between the portion of the second chamber proximal to the released disk and the portion of the second chamber distal to the released disk, so that the liquid flows through the second chamber before being forced through the needle;

c. a driver spring within the housing, the driver spring engaging the plunger shaft, and operable when released to inject the needle and displace the liquid from the first chamber, through the second chamber and through the needle;

d. a spring-to-plunger coupling engaging the plunger shaft and the driver spring;

e. a splitter;

the splitter attached to the housing distally to the spring-to-plunger coupling;

the splitter further having a surface for engaging the spring-to-plunger coupling and forcing the spring-to-plunger coupling to disengage from the plunger shaft, thereby disengaging the driver spring from the syringe assembly;

f. the plunger shaft further comprising a circumferential groove; and

, the spring-to-plunger coupling further comprising;

(1) a plurality of axial slits; and

,

(2) a radial lip for releasably engaging the circumferential groove, so that the radial lip disengages from the circumferential groove as the spring-to-plunger coupling engages the splitter;

g. at least two compressible barbs;

the barbs connected to the proximal end of the plunger shaft;

h. a rod axially moveable within the housing;

the rod having an interior bore sized to receive the barbs in their compressed state; and

,

i. a detent integral with the housing;

the detent sized to engage the barbs in their uncompressed state and prevent the distal movement of the plunger shaft until the barbs are compressed;

j. a return spring;

the return spring disposed between the housing and the syringe assembly;

the return spring urging the syringe assembly proximally; and

,

k. a flexible septum;

the flexible septum disposed proximally to the proximal end of the needle and sealing the needle from the second chamber;

so that liquid pressure in the second chamber causes the septum to deflect distally until it is penetrated by the proximal end of the needle.