Drug solution delivery device

• US 6,565,531 B1
• Filed: 09/20/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nipro Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nipro Corporation
• Inventors: Nishiyama, Kazuhiko, Mori, Takeshi, Hiejima, Katsuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAYNARD, JENNIFER J
• Application Number:
  US09/666,591
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 604/48, 604/27, 604/131, 604/63, 604/134, 604/135, 604/181, 604/186, 604/187, 604/207, 604/208, 604/211, 604/218, 604/221, 604/228, 604/245, 604/246
• US Class Current: 604/135
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1454 spring-actuated, e.g. by a clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31515 Connection of piston with piston rod

Abstract

A drug solution delivery device comprises barrel (1) provided with a port at a distal end thereof and opened at a proximal end thereof, gasket (2) fluid-tightly and slidably arranged in the barrel, cylindrical connecting member (3) having proximal end (32) and distal end (31) to which gasket (2) is releasably connected, plunger (4) removably connected to proximal end (32) of connecting member (3), and pressed helical spring (5) arranged between gasket (2) and connecting member (3).

Claims

1. A drug solution delivery device comprising:

a barrel provided at a distal end thereof with a port and opened at a proximal end thereof;

a gasket fluid-tightly and slidably arranged in a lumen of the barrel;

a cylindrical connecting member having a proximal end and a distal end to which said gasket is being releasably connected, said connecting member being a stepped hollow cylindrical member having a small-sized cylindrical distal portion with an external diameter smaller than an internal diameter of the barrel, and wherein the spring is arranged round the distal portion;

a plunger removably engaged with the proximal end of said connecting member; and

a helical spring pressed and arranged between said gasket and said connecting member to push the gasket by a restoring force thereof to deliver a drug solution.

2. The drug solution delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the connection between said gasket and said connecting member is released by turning the connecting member around a central axis thereof.

3. The drug solution delivery device according to claim 2, wherein said connecting member is provided with one or more crossbars in a lumen of the distal portion thereof, and wherein said gasket is provided with a hook capable of being engaged with said crossbars.

4. The drug solution delivery device according to claim 3, wherein said connecting member is provided with a pair of crossbars symmetrically about an axis of the connecting member, and wherein said hook provided on said gasket is rotatably inserted into a gap between said crossbars in pair.

5. The drug solution delivery device according to claim 3, wherein said distal end of said connecting member is provided with a closure wall having a connecting hole on the central axis of said connecting member, and wherein said gasket is provided with a hook to be rotatably inserted into and releasably engaged with said connecting hole.

6. The drug solution delivery device according to claim 3, wherein said connecting member is provided in a side wall of the distal portion thereof with an L-shaped slit including an axial slit portion and a circumferential slit portion, and wherein said gasket is provided with means to be engaged with said circumferential slit portion.

7. The drug solution delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said distal end of said connecting member is provided with a closure wall having a circular connecting hole coaxial with the connecting member, and wherein said gasket is provided with at least one elongated flexible hook capable of being inserted into and engaged with the circular connecting hole, said gasket being adapted to be released from said connecting member by bending said hook inwardly.

8. The drug solution delivery device according to claim 7, wherein said gasket is provided with a pair of elongated flexible hooks symmetrically about an axis thereof.

9. The drug solution delivery device according to claim 1, wherein engagement between said plunger and said connecting member is released by rotating the plunger about an axis thereof.

10. A drug solution delivery device comprising:

a barrel provided at a distal end thereof with a port and opened at a proximal end thereof;

a gasket fluid-tightly and slidably arranged in a lumen of the barrel, said gasket being provided with at least one elongated flexible hook;

a cylindrical connecting member having a proximal end and a distal end to which said gasket is being releasably connected;

a plunger removably engaged with the proximal end of said connecting member; and

a helical spring pressed and arranged between said gasket and said connecting member to push the gasket by a restoring force thereof to deliver a drug solution, said spring being arranged so as to surround a shank of said hook.

11. The drug solution delivery device according to claim 10, wherein said distal end of said connecting member is provided with a closure wall having a connecting hole coaxial with an axis of the connecting member, and wherein said hook is rotatably inserted into and engaged with said connecting hole.

12. The drug solution delivery device according to claim 11, wherein said connecting hole is circular and wherein said hook is flexible so that said gasket is released from the connecting member by inwardly bending the hook.

13. The drug solution delivery device according to claim 12, wherein said gasket is provided with a pair of hooks symmetrically about the axis thereof.

14. The drug solution delivery device according to claim 10, wherein said distal end of said connecting member is provided with one or two crossbars, which cross a lumen of the connecting member and are adapted to be engaged with said hook, and wherein said gasket is capable of being released from the connecting member by turning the connecting member around an axis thereof.

15. The drug solution delivery device according to claim 14, wherein said connecting member is provided at a distal portion thereof with a small-sized cylindrical portion having an external diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the barrel, and wherein said hook is arranged in the lumen of a protruded cylindrical portion along with the helical spring surrounding a shank of said hook.

16. The drug solution delivery device according to claim 15, wherein the inner surface of the barrel and the outer surface of the gasket are respectively provided with plural longitudinal ribs to prevent the gasket from being rotated around an axis thereof when rotating the plunger or the connecting member.

17. The drug solution delivery device according to claim 11, wherein said gasket is so designed as to be released by turning the connecting member about the axis thereof.

18. The drug solution delivery device according to claim 14, wherein said connecting member is provided with a pair of crossbars symmetrically arranged about an axis thereof, and wherein said hook is rotatably arranged between said pair of crossbars.

19. The drug solution delivery device according to claim 10, wherein engagement between said plunger and said connecting member is released by rotating the plunger about an axis thereof.