Jet injector apparatus and method

• US 6,585,685 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2002
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bioject Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bioject Incorporated
• Inventors: Williamson, Daniel E., Staylor, John Lawrence, Landau, Sergio
• Primary Examiner(s): Fetsuga, Robert M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WIEKER, AMANDA FLYNN
• Application Number:
  US10/143,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20020188251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 604/68-72, 604/136, 604/140-145, 604/181-187, 604/207-211, 604/246
• US Class Current: 604/68
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2073 preventing premature release, e.g. by making use of a safety lock
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3125 specific display means, e.g. to indicate dose setting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1782 Devices aiding filling of syringes in situ combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents A61J1/2096, filling of medical containers in general B65B3/003
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2053 Media being expelled from injector by pressurised fluid or vacuum for infusion A61M5/145, A61M5/155
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/30 Syringes for injection by jet action, without needle, e.g. for use with replaceable ampoules or carpules
• 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 5/31553 without axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31556 Accuracy improving means

Abstract

A gas-powered, durable, needle-free hypodermic jet injection device includes a hand-held injector which carries a disposable injection cartridge with a volume of liquid medication to be injected in the form of a high velocity jet capable of penetrating the skin without the use of a hypodermic needle. The injection device provides an injection orifice, and an injection piston. Forceful movement of the injection piston caused by high pressure gas causes a high velocity injection jet of liquid medication to be expelled from the injection cylinder via the injection orifice. The injection device includes features which improve its safety, and also which improve its ease of manufacture, its durability, and its cost effectiveness.

Claims

1. A gas powered hypodermic jet injection device, said device comprising:

a device body having provision for engaging with and carrying a jet injection cartridge;

a gas piston reciprocable in said device body and cooperable with the jet injection cartridge to effect a jet injection in response to communication of pressurized gas to said gas piston;

a valve device for effecting communication of pressurized gas to said gas piston in response to movement of said valve device from a first to a second position;

a safety ring rotationally carried on said device body and in a respective first position preventing movement of said valve device from said first to said second position, said safety ring being rotationally movable to a respective second position in which said valve device is movable from said first to said second position; and

at least two tactile detents disposed on said device body such that each of said tactile detents provides a detented limit position corresponding to either said first position or said second position of said safety ring.

2. A gas powered hypodermic jet injection device, said device comprising:

a device body having provision for engaging with and carrying a jet injection cartridge, wherein said device body further includes a latching member in a respective first position securing the jet injection cartridge to said device body, and in a respective second position said latch member allowing said jet injection cartridge to engage with or disengage from said device body;

a gas piston reciprocable in said device body and cooperable with the jet injection cartridge to effect a jet injection in response to communication of pressurized gas to said gas piston;

a valve device for effecting communication of pressurized gas to said gas piston in response to movement of said valve device from a first to a second position; and

a safety ring rotationally carried on said device body and in a respective first position preventing movement of said valve device from said first to said second position, said safety ring being rotationally movable to a respective second position in which said valve device is movable from said first to said second position, said safety ring including a portion which in said respective second position of said safety ring aligns with and blocks said latch member from moving from said first position of said latch member to said second position of said latch member.

3. The jet injection device of claim 2 wherein in said respective first position of said safety ring, said portion of said safety ring is moved out of alignment with said latch member, so that in said second position of said safety ring said latch member is movable to said second position of said latch member.

4. The jet injection device of claim 2 wherein said device defines a recess extending axially and including a pair of lateral extensions for receiving latching lugs carried on said injection cartridge, said safety ring including a plate-like portion partially closing a forward side of said safety ring, and defining an aperture matching said recess in shape to receive said injection cartridge including said latching lugs, in said first position of said safety ring, said aperture of said safety ring being congruent with said recess to allow said injection cartridge to move axially in and out of said recess;

and in said second position of said safety ring, said aperture being rotationally disposed relative to and non-congruent with said recess so that said injection cartridge is either trapped in said recess or prevented from entering said recess by confrontation of said latching lugs with respective portions of said plate-like portion of said safety ring.

5. The jet injection device of claim 2 wherein said latching member includes a latch plate slidably movable laterally of said device body, and said latch plate defining an aperture through which a portion of said injection cartridge is received, said device including a plate-like spring member including an axially and radially extending spring arm portion, and said spring arm portion yieldably engaging said latch plate to yieldably bias said latch plate to a first position in which it latchingly engages said injection cartridge, said latch plate including an outwardly disposed finger pad by which said latch plate may be moved to a second position unlatching from said injection cartridge, and said axially and radially extending spring arm of said plate-like spring member elastically yielding to allow movement of said latch plate member to said second position.

6. The jet injection device of claim 2 wherein said latching member includes a latch plate slidably movable laterally of said device body, and said latch plate defining an aperture through which a portion of said injection cartridge is received, said device including a plate-like spring member including an axially and radially extending spring arm portion, and said spring arm portion yieldably engaging said latch plate to yieldably bias said latch plate to a first position in which it latchingly engages said injection cartridge, said latch plate including an outwardly disposed finger pad by which said latch plate may be moved to a second position unlatching from said injection cartridge, and said axially and radially extending spring arm of said plate-like spring member elastically yielding to allow movement of said latch plate member to said second position.

7. The jet injection device of claim 6 wherein said plate-like spring member further includes an axially and circumferentially extending spring finger confronting a portion of said injection cartridge, said device body including a recess into which said injection cartridge is receivable to be engaged by and carried by said device body, said recess leading to said plate-like spring member, so that said spring finger is engaged by said injection cartridge and urges said injection cartridge out of said recess.

8. The jet injection device of claim 6 wherein said gas piston further includes an axially extending stem, said plate-like spring member defining a centrally disposed guide hole, an a forward portion of said gas piston stem extending through and being guided in reciprocation by said guide hole in alignment with said injection cartridge.

9. The jet injection device of claim 6 wherein said device further includes a return spring at one end bearing upon said gas piston and urging said gas piston to a first position in preparation for receiving pressurized gas communicated thereto, said plate-like spring member opposing said return spring at an opposite end so that opposite end of said return spring seats upon said plate-like spring member.

10. A gas powered hypodermic jet injection device, said device comprising:

a device body having provision for engaging with and carrying a jet injection cartridge;

a gas piston reciprocable in said device body and cooperable with the jet injection cartridge to effect a jet injection in response to communication of pressurized gas to said gas piston;

a valve device for effecting communication of pressurized gas to said gas piston in response to movement of said valve device from a first to a second position;

a safety ring rotationally carried on said device body and in a respective first position preventing movement of said valve device from said first to said second position, said safety ring being rotationally movable to a respective second position in which said valve device is movable from said first to said second position;

said valve device including a projection extending toward said safety ring, and said projection moving between a respective first disposition and a second disposition in response to movement of said valve device between said first position of said valve device and said second position of said valve device;

said safety ring including a cam surface which in said first position of said safety ring confronts and is engageable by said projection, thus to prevent said valve device from moving from said first position of said valve device to said second position of said valve device.

11. The jet injection device of claim 10 wherein said safety ring further includes an axial and radially extending recess which in said second position of said safety ring aligns with and into which said projection of said valve device is receivable upon movement of said valve device from said first position of said valve device to said second position of said valve device.

12. The jet injection device of claim 11 wherein said projection of said valve device when received into said axially and radially extending recess of said safety ring in said second position of said valve device prevents rotational movement of said safety ring from said second position of said safety ring to said first position of said safety ring.

13. A gas powered hypodermic jet injection device, said device comprising:

a device body having provision for engaging with and carrying a jet injection cartridge;

a gas piston reciprocable in said device body and cooperable with the jet injection cartridge to effect a jet injection in response to communication of pressurized gas to said gas piston;

a valve device for effecting communication of pressurized gas to said gas piston in response to movement of said valve device from a first to a second position;

a safety ring rotationally carried on said device body and in a respective first position preventing movement of said valve device from said first to said second position, said safety ring being rotationally movable to a respective second position in which said valve device is movable from said first to said second position; and

wherein said device body defines a cavity for receiving a gas pressure cartridge, said device body further including a door hingably attaching to said device body by means of a hinge pin, and said gas pressure cartridge being impaled at a penetrable, diaphragm portion thereof upon a penetrator member of said injection device in response to closing of said door so that gas pressure within said gas pressure cartridge acting on said penetrator member causes a recoil force directed axially of said device;

said hinge pin being disposed off axis of said device body so that said recoil force passes off center of said hinge pin in a direction relative to said hinge pin causing a closing torque to be effected on said door.

14. A gas powered hypodermic jet injection device, said device comprising:

a device body having a forward end;

an axially extending recess at said forward end for receiving and retaining an injection cylinder which includes cylinder bore in which an injection piston is sealingly movable to cooperatively define a variable-volume chamber for holding a dose of liquid medication, and a fine-dimension orifice for forming the liquid medication into a high-velocity injection jet in response to forceful movement of the injection piston, the injection cylinder having a pair of diametrically opposite latching lugs projecting radially outwardly at an aft portion thereof;

a gas pressure piston sealingly reciprocable in said device body, and forcefully moving said injection piston in said cylinder in response to communication of gas pressure to said gas pressure piston

a valve device for communicating pressurized gas from a source thereof to said gas pressure piston in response to axially forward relative movement of a trigger sleeve outwardly disposed on said device body;

a multi-function safety ring rotationally carried on said device body and in a respective first position;

a) preventing movement of said valve device from said first to said second position, said safety ring being rotationally movable to a respective second position in which said trigger sleeve of said valve device is movable from said first to said second position, and

b) in said first position said safety ring allowing movement of said injection cartridge into and from said recess, in said second rotational position said safety ring both preventing movement into and out of said recess of said injection cartridge; and

c) in said first position said safety ring allowing a latching member to move laterally to allow axial insertion of an injection cartridge manually into said recess, and so as to latch with said injection cartridge at the latching lugs thereof, in said second rotational position, said safety ring preventing said latching member from moving laterally so as to prevent unlatching of said latching member from the latching lugs of an injection cartridge disposed in said recess.

15. The jet injection device of claim 14 wherein said latching member of said device includes a pair of plate-like latching parts, each latching part defining a respective aperture receiving therethrough an aft portion of the injection cartridge including the latching lugs, each of said plate-like latching parts respectively engaging one of the latching lugs of the injection cylinder, and each latching part including a respective oppositely-disposed finger pad outwardly disposed on said device, said safety ring in said second rotational position including a pair of portions each blocking lateral movement of a respective one of said pair of said latching parts of said latching member by engaging beneath a respective one of said finger pads and preventing the respective latching part from disengaging from the latching lugs of the injection cartridge.

16. The jet injection device of claim 15 wherein in said respective first position of said safety ring, said portions of said safety ring is moved out of alignment with said finger pads of said pair of latching parts, so that in said first position of said safety ring said latch member is movable to said second position of said latch member and said injection cartridge is movable into and out of said recess.

17. The jet injection device of claim 14 in which said trigger sleeve of said valve device include a diametrically opposite pair of projections each extending axially along a respective exterior surface of said device and toward said safety ring, and in response to movement of said trigger sleeve between said first and said second positions for said valve device said pair of projections moving axially between a respective first place respectively spaced from said safety ring and respectively in engagement with said safety ring;

said safety ring including a diametrically opposite pair of cam surfaces which in said first position of said safety ring confronts and is engageable by said projections, thus to prevent said trigger sleeve of said valve device from moving from said first position of said valve device to said second position of said valve device.

18. The jet injection device of claim 17 wherein said safety ring further includes a diametrically opposite pair of axially and radially extending recesses which in said second position of said safety ring each aligns with and into which a respective one of said pair of projections of said trigger sleeve of said valve device is receivable upon movement of said valve device from said first position of said valve device to said second position of said valve device.

19. The jet injection device of claim 18 wherein said pair of projections of said trigger sleeve of said valve device when received into said axial and radially extending recesses of said safety ring in said second position of said safety ring and of said valve device cooperatively prevent rotational movement of said safety ring from said second position of said safety ring to said first position of said safety ring.

20. The jet injection device of claim 14 wherein said device defines a recess extending axially and including a pair of lateral extensions for receiving the diametrically opposite pair of latching lugs of the injection cartridge, said safety ring including a plate-like portion partially closing a forward side of said safety ring, and said plate-like portion of said safety ring further defining an especially contoured aperture matching said recess in shape to in said first rotational position of said safety ring receive through said aperture an aft portion of said injection cartridge including said latching lugs, so that in said first position of said safety ring said aperture being congruent with said recess to allow said injection cartridge to move axially in and out of said recess;

and in said second position of said safety ring said aperture being rotationally disposed relative to and non-congruent with said recess so that said injection cartridge is either trapped in said recess by confrontation of the latching lugs with said plate-like portion of said safety ring, or is prevented from entering said recess also by confrontation of said latching lugs with respective portions of said plate-like portion of said safety ring which at least partially overlie said pair of lateral extensions of said recess.

21. A jet injection device including a device body defining a cavity for receiving therein a pressurized gas capsule, said cavity being closed by a door member pivotally secured to said device body by a hinge pin, and said gas pressure cartridge being impaled at a penetrable diaphragm portion thereof upon a penetrator member of said injection device in response to closing of said door so that gas pressure within said gas pressure cartridge acting on said penetrator member causes a recoil force directed axially of said device;

said hinge pin being disposed off axis of said device body so that said recoil force passes off center of said hinge pin in a direction relative to said hinge pin causing a closing torque to be effected on said door.

22. A gas powered hypodermic jet injection device, said device comprising:

a device body having a forward end;

an axially extending recess at said forward end for receiving and retaining an injection cylinder which includes cylinder bore in which an injection piston is sealingly movable to cooperatively define a variable-volume chamber for holding a dose of liquid medication, and a fine-dimension orifice for forming the liquid medication into a high-velocity injection jet in response to forceful movement of the injection piston, the injection cylinder having a pair of diametrically opposite latching lugs projecting radially outwardly at an aft portion thereof;

a gas pressure piston sealingly reciprocable in said device body, and including an axially forwardly extending stem portion engaging with and forcefully moving said injection piston in said cylinder in response to communication of gas pressure to said gas pressure piston;

a pair of latching plate members each laterally movable of said device body and each respectively engaging in a first position with one of said pair of latching lugs of said injection cartridge, in a second position said latching plate members disengaging from said latching lugs to allow said injection cartridge to enter into and exit from said recess;

a piston return spring about said stem portion of said gas pressure piston, and bearing at one end on a head portion of said gas pressure piston;

a multi-function spring member disposed to close an aft extent of said recess and to span a bore of said housing in which said gas pressure piston is received, said spring member including;

a) an aft surface against which seats said return spring;

b) a pair of axially and circumferentially extending spring fingers each engageable by an aft end surface of the injection cartridge, and said spring fingers both yielding to allow entry into said recess of said injection cartridge and latching of said latching lugs with said latching plate members, and upon unlatching of said injection cartridge said spring fingers at least partially ejecting said injection cartridge from said recess;

c) a central guide hole slidably receiving a forward portion of said stem of said gas pressure piston and both guiding said stem relative to and aligning said stem with said injection cartridge; and

d) a diametrically opposite pair of axially and radially extending spring arms each respectively engaging with one of said latching plate members to urge said latching plate members to a first position in which said latching plate members latchingly engage with said latching lugs of said injection cartridge, and said spring arms yielding to allow said latching plate members to slide laterally to a second position allowing said injection cartridge to move into and from said recess.

23. A gas powered hypodermic jet injection device, said device comprising:

a device body having provision for engaging with and carrying a jet injection cartridge;

said device body defining a gas piston bore into which is communicated pressurized gas to effect a jet injection;

a gas piston reciprocable in said gas piston bore of said device body and cooperable with the jet injection cartridge to reciprocate in said gas piston bore so as to effect a jet injection in response to communication of pressurized gas to said gas piston bore and gas piston;

a valve device for controllable effecting communication of pressurized gas from a source thereof to said gas piston bore and gas piston;

said device body including a first portion and a second portion which comparably provide for carrying said injection cartridge, and which also carry said valve device and said source of pressurized gas for communication into said gas pressure bore and to said gas pressure piston, said first body portion and second body portion further comparably defining a joint line extending axially of said device body, with said first body portion and said second body portion each including provisions for securing to one another, and one of said first body portion and said second body portion defining a cylindrical extension extending axially and defining a through bore, said through bore of said one body portion sealingly and movably receiving said gas piston;

wherein said device body further includes a laterally extending guide way disposed at one end of said bore and adjacent to said injection cartridge, said guide way providing for said device body to movably receive a pair of latching plates for lateral relative movement to latch with and unlatch from the injection cartridge, and said pair of latching plates being captively and movably received between said first body portion and said second body portion.

24. The jet injection device of claim 23 wherein in said device body further defines a laterally extending recess adjacent to and spaced toward said cylindrical body portion relative to said guide way, a plate-like spring member being received into said laterally extending recess and spanning a forward end of said bore.

25. The jet injection device of claim 24 wherein said one body portion defines a reduced diameter bore portion of said bore which reduced diameter bore portion is disposed at the aft end of said bore, said reduced diameter bore portion providing a step on said bore, and said reduced diameter bore portion being threaded to sealingly receive a stem member having a head disposed within said bore, so that said plate-like member and said head of said stem cooperatively capture said gas piston therebetween.

26. A gas powered hypodermic jet injection device, said device comprising:

a device body having provision for engaging with and carrying a jet injection cartridge;

said device body defining a gas piston bore into which is communicated pressurized gas to effect a jet injection;

a gas piston reciprocable in said gas piston bore of said device body and cooperable with the jet injection cartridge to reciprocate in said gas piston bore so as to effect a jet injection in response to communication of pressurized gas to said gas piston bore and gas piston;

a valve device for controllable effecting communication of pressurized gas from a source thereof to said gas piston bore and gas piston;

said device body including a first portion and a second portion which comparably provide for carrying said injection cartridge, and which also carry said valve device and said source of pressurized gas for communication into said gas pressure bore and to said gas pressure piston, said first body portion and second body portion further comparably defining a joint line extending axially of said device body, with said first body portion and said second body portion each including provisions for securing to one another and one of said first body portion and said second body portion defining a cylindrical extension extending axially and defining a through bore, said through bore of said one body portion sealingly and movably receiving said gas piston;

wherein said device body outwardly defines a pair of diametrically opposite and axially extending grooves each extending toward a forward end of said device body, each of said first body portion and said second body portion defining a respective one of said pair of grooves, and a trigger sleeve being axially slidably movable over said cylindrical extension, said trigger sleeve including a pair of diametrically opposite axial projections each extending toward a forward end of said device body, and said pair of axial projections of said trigger sleeve respectively being received slidably into said pair of axially extending grooves of said device body portions.