Modular gas-pressured needle-less injector

• US 6,613,010 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PenJet Corp.
• Original Assignee: PenJet Corp.
• Inventors: Castellano, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRISTOE JR, JOHN K
• Application Number:
  US09/834,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20020151840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 604/68, 604/69, 604/70, 604/72, 604/136, 604/140, 604/141, 604/143, 604/144, 604/145, 604/181, 604/187, 222/162, 222/389, 222/399, 128/200.14, 128/200.21, 128/200.23
• 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 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

Abstract

A needle-less injector suitable for injecting fluid through a surface includes a housing, a driver, an engine and a trigger. The housing contains a fluid and the engine contains a compressed gas. Upon application of sufficient force to the trigger, the compressed gas is released from the engine forcing the driver through the interior of the housing, expelling the liquid from the housing at a speed sufficient to pierce an injection surface. In one embodiment, the needle-less injector includes a mechanism for mitigating the kickback associated with releasing compressed gas from the engine. In another embodiment, the housing includes finger rests that provide stability and resistance to activate the device. In another embodiment, the engine is fitted with a reusable valve. In another embodiment, a safety clamp is included on the housing, preventing accidental activation of the device,

Claims

1. A needle-less injector suitable for injecting a fluid through a surface, said needle-less injector comprising:

a housing containing the fluid, said housing further containing at least one orifice;

a diffuser affixed to said housing, said diffuser having disposed therein at least one channel;

an engine fitted within said housing, said engine further containing a gas;

a driver that forces said fluid out of said housing, said driver being slidably disposed within said housing;

a trigger coupled to said housing; and

a valve attached to said engine;

wherein depression of said trigger causes said valve to open; and

wherein said valve can survive being repeatedly opened.

2. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 1, said valve comprising:

a valve stem having a circular ridge;

a valve head affixed to said valve stem and said circular ridge;

a valve stem guide pane affixed to said engine; and

a spring having a first end resting against said circular ridge and a second end resting against said valve stem guide pane.

3. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 1, said driver comprising:

a piston; and

a plunger.

4. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 3, wherein

said plunger is symmetrical;

and

said plunger forms a substantially airtight seal with said housing.

5. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 3, said plunger comprising:

a conical front end;

a conical back end; and

a cylindrical body.

6. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 5, said plunger further comprising at least one ridge surrounding said cylindrical body.

7. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 3, said piston comprising an expansion cup.

8. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an ampoule cap removably attached to said housing, wherein said ampoule cap forms an airtight seal over said orifice of said housing.

9. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 1, said housing further comprising an exhaust passage.

10. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 1, said trigger further comprising an end with a non-slip surface.

11. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 1, said trigger further comprising at least one retainer hook mechanism and said housing further comprising at least one latch retainer mechanism.

12. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 1, said diffuser further comprising a locking ring and said engine further comprising at least one grip to lock around said locking ring.

13. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a safety clamp removably attached to said housing, wherein said safety clamp prevents said trigger from moving relative to said housing in the axial direction of said at least one orifice.

14. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 1, said housing further comprising at least one finger rest.

15. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 1, said housing further comprising two finger rests disposed opposite one another, said finger rests further comprising a non-slip surface.

16. A needle-less injector suitable for injecting a fluid through a surface, said needle-less injector comprising:

a housing containing the fluid, said housing further containing at least one orifice;

a diffuser affixed to said housing, said diffuser having disposed therein at least one channel;

an engine fitted within said housing, said engine further containing a gas;

a driver that forces said fluid out of said housing, said driver being slidably disposed within said housing;

a trigger coupled to said housing; and

at least one grip disposed on said engine, said grip adapted to lock with an element of a needle-less injector.

17. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 16, said engine further comprising a valve.

18. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 17, and said valve comprising:

a valve stem having a circular ridge;

a valve head affixed to said valve stem and said circular ridge;

a valve stem guide pane affixed to said engine; and

a spring having a first end resting against said circular ridge and a second end resting against said valve stem guide pane.

19. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 18, wherein said valve opens upon depression of said trigger.

20. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 16, said driver comprising:

a piston; and

a plunger.

21. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 20, wherein

said plunger is symmetrical;

and

said plunger forms a substantially airtight seal with said housing.

22. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 20, said plunger comprising:

a conical front end;

a conical back end; and

a cylindrical body.

23. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 22, said plunger further comprising at least one ridge surrounding said cylindrical body.

24. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 20, said piston comprising an expansion cup.

25. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 16, further comprising

an ampoule cap removably attached to said housing, wherein said ampoule cap forms an airtight seal over said orifice of said housing.

26. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 16, said housing further comprising an exhaust passage.

27. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 16, said trigger further comprising an end with a non-slip surface.

28. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 16, said trigger further comprising at least one retainer hook mechanism and said housing further comprising at least one latch retainer mechanism.

29. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 16, said diffuser further comprising a locking ring and said needle-less injector comprising at least two grips to lock around said locking ring, said locking ring being said element of said needle-less injector with which said grips are adapted to lock.

30. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 16, further comprising a safety clamp removably attached to said housing, wherein said safety clamp prevents said trigger from moving relative to said housing in the axial direction of said at least one orifice.

31. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 16, said housing further comprising at least one finger rest.

32. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 16, said housing further comprising two finger rests disposed opposite one another, said finger rests further comprising a non-slip surface.

33. A needle-less injector suitable for injecting a fluid through a surface, said needle-less injector comprising:

a housing containing the fluid, said housing further containing at least one orifice;

an engine fitted within said housing, said engine containing a gas and including a valve, said valve including;

a valve stem having a circular ridge; and

a valve head affixed to said valve stem and said circular ridge;

a driver that forces said fluid out of said housing, said driver being slidably disposed within said housing; and

a diffuser affixed to said housing, said diffuser having a locking ring and said engine further including at least one grip to lock around said locking ring.

34. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 33, further including:

at least one latch retainer mechanism disposed on the exterior of said housing;

a trigger coupled to said housing; and

at least one retainer hook mechanism disposed on said trigger, said at least one retainer hook mechanism being aligned to interact with said latch retainer mechanism,

wherein said valve opens upon depression of said trigger.

35. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 33, said engine further including:

a valve stem guide pane affixed to said engine; and

a spring having a first end resting against said circular ridge and a second end resting against said valve stem guide pane.

36. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 33, further including a safety clamp removably attached to said housing, wherein said safety clamp prevents said trigger from moving relative to said housing in the axial direction of said at least one orifice.

37. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 33, said housing further including at least one finger rest.

38. A needle-less injector suitable for injecting a fluid through a surface, said needle-less injector comprising:

a housing containing the fluid, said housing having at least one orifice;

a diffuser affixed to said housing, said diffuser having disposed therein at least one channel;

an engine fitted within said housing, said engine containing a gas; and

a driver that forces said fluid out of said housing, said driver being slidably disposed within said housing and including;

a piston; and

a plunger, said plunger having;

a conical front end;

a conical back end; and

a cylindrical body.

39. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 38, wherein

said plunger is symmetrical along a plane perpendicular to a central axis; and

said plunger forms a seal with said housing.

40. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 38, said plunger including at least one ridge surrounding said cylindrical body.

41. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 38, wherein said piston includes an expansion cup.

42. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 38, further including:

at least one latch retainer mechanism disposed on the exterior of said housing;

a trigger coupled to said housing; and

at least one retainer hook mechanism disposed on said trigger, said at least one retainer hook mechanism being aligned to interact with said latch retainer mechanism.

43. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 38, wherein said housing includes at least one finger rest.

44. A needle-less injector suitable for injecting a fluid through a surface, said needle-less injector comprising:

a housing containing the fluid, said housing containing at least one orifice;

an engine fitted within said housing, said engine containing a gas; and

a driver that forces said fluid out of said housing, said driver being slidably disposed within said housing and including;

a piston; and

a plunger, said plunger having an expansion cup.

45. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 44, wherein

said plunger is symmetrical along a plane perpendicular to a central axis; and

said plunger forms a seal with said housing.

46. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 44, wherein said plunger includes at least one ridge surrounding said cylindrical body.

47. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 44, further including:

at least one latch retainer mechanism disposed on the exterior of said housing;

a trigger coupled to said housing; and

at least one retainer hook mechanism disposed on said trigger, said at least one retainer hook mechanism being aligned to interact with said latch retainer mechanism,

wherein said valve opens upon depression of said trigger.

48. The needle-less injector in accordance with claim 44, wherein said housing includes at least one finger rest.