Needleless jet injector system with separate drug reservoir

• US 6,652,483 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2001
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Original Assignee: Avant Drug Delivery Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Slate, John B., Burk, Michael W., Gorton, Lanny A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/892,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20020055707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 604/68-72, 604/500
• US Class Current: 604/68
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3104 Caps for syringes without needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/204 connected to external reservoirs for multiple refilling
• 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 5/425 Protruding skin to facilitate piercing, e.g. vacuum cylinders, vein immobilising means

Abstract

A device for providing medication for injection by a jet injector includes a cassette which connects an injector system to a reservoir. The cassette forms a fluid pathway at an interface of a cassette lower body and a cassette upper body. The cassette also forms an impulse chamber with a nozzle leading therefrom. The fluid pathway interconnects the reservoir with the impulse chamber. The medication flows from the reservoir along the fluid pathway and into the impulse chamber. Force from an impulse generator drives the fluid medicament from the impulse chamber through the nozzle, out an orifice in a tip of the nozzle, and into the skin of a patient. To prevent the pressure waves generated by the jet injector from breaking a glass cartridge in the reservoir, the fluid pathway is blocked, using a series of right angles or valves.

Claims

1. A device for interconnecting a reservoir with a jet injector to inject a fluid medicament into a patient which comprises:

an upper body member;

a lower body member attached to said upper body member to form a fluid pathway therebetween, wherein said fluid pathway has a first end and a second end;

a spike extending from said upper body member at said first end of said fluid pathway for piercing said reservoir to establish fluid communication between said reservoir and said fluid pathway;

an impulse chamber formed between said upper body member and said lower body member, said impulse chamber being connected in fluid communication with said second end of said fluid pathway for receiving said fluid medicament from said reservoir;

a nozzle formed with a tip extending from said lower body member to establish fluid communication between said impulse chamber and said tip;

arid

a plunger connectable with said jet injector for advancement of said plunger into said impulse chamber to deliver said fluid medicament from said impulse chamber into the patient when said tip of said nozzle is in contact with the skin of the patient; and

a suction means for creating a vacuum between the skin of the patient and said lower body member to stabilize the skin against said tip during an injection of said fluid medicament into the patient.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said reservoir is a glass cartridge having a stopper, and wherein said stopper is pierced by said spike to establish fluid communication between said cartridge and said impulse chamber.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said fluid pathway is formed with a plurality of curves for creating a tortuous pathway to attenuate a plurality of pressure waves caused by said plunger advancing into said impulse chamber.

4. A device as recited in claim 3 further comprising a means for selectively blocking fluid communication between said reservoir and said impulse chamber to isolate said reservoir from said plurality of pressure waves caused by said jet injector advancing into said impulse chamber.

5. A device as recited in claim 4 wherein said blocking means is a flap formed on said plunger to cover said second end of said fluid pathway when said plunger is advanced into said impulse chamber.

6. A device as recited in claim 4 wherein said blocking means is a ball check valve attached to a spring and disposed at said first end of said fluid pathway to close said first end of said fluid pathway from said reservoir.

7. A needleless jet injection assembly for injecting a fluid medicament through the skin of the patient which comprises:

a body member formed with a fluid pathway, said fluid pathway having a first opening and a second opening;

a reservoir attached to said body member at said first opening of said fluid pathway;

means formed on said body member at said first opening of said fluid pathway and engageable with said reservoir for establishing fluid communication between said reservoir and said fluid pathway;

an impulse chamber formed on said body member, said impulse chamber being connected in fluid communication with said second opening of said fluid pathway for receiving said fluid medicament from said reservoir;

a nozzle formed with a tip extending from said body member to establish fluid communication between said impulse chamber and said tip;

a plunger slidably mounted on said body member for advancement into said impulse chamber;

an impulse generator having a ram for striking said plunger to create a force for injecting said fluid medicament from said impulse chamber, through said tip and into the patient; and

a suction means for creating a vacuum between the skin of the patient and said tip to stabilize the skin against the tip during an injection of said fluid medicament into the patient.

8. An assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said reservoir is formed with a stopper and said establishing means is a spike, and further wherein said spike pierces said stopper to deliver said fluid medicament from said reservoir into said fluid pathway.

9. An assembly as recited in claim 7 further comprising a means for dispensing a measured amount of said fluid medicament from said reservoir, through said fluid pathway and into said impulse chamber to control said amount of said fluid medicament being injected into said patient.

10. An assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein a pressure wave is created when said ram strikes said plunger, and wherein said assembly further comprises a means for attenuating said pressure wave within said assembly to isolate said reservoir from said pressure wave.

11. An assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein said attenuating means is said fluid pathway formed with a plurality of angles between said reservoir and said impulse chamber for creating a tortuous pathway.

12. An assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein said attenuating means is a flap formed on said plunger to cover said second opening of said fluid pathway when said plunger is struck by said ram.

13. A method for injecting a fluid medicament through the skin of a patient comprising the steps of:

providing a device formed with a spike and a fluid pathway, said fluid pathway having a first opening and a second opening, and said spike being connected in fluid communication with said first opening of said fluid pathway, and further wherein said device has an impulse chamber formed with a tip, said impulse chamber being connected in fluid communication with said second opening of said fluid pathway to establish fluid communication from said spike through said fluid pathway and through said tip and wherein said device has a plunger slidably mounted on said device for advancement into said impulse chamber, and further wherein said creating step is accomplished by a jet injector striking said plunger to inject said fluid medicament from said impulse chamber into the patient;

selectively engaging a cartridge with said device, wherein said spike pierces said cartridge to establish fluid communication from said cartridge through said fluid pathway and into said impulse chamber;

positioning said tip of said device against the skin of the patient; and

creating a force for injecting said fluid medicament from said impulse chamber through said tip and through the skin of the patient.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein said jet injector has an impulse generator and a ram extending from said impulse generator, and wherein said ram strikes said plunger to create said force.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein said force creates a pressure wave and wherein said method further comprises the step of attenuating said pressure wave to isolate said cartridge from said pressure wave.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said attenuating step is accomplished by said fluid pathway being formed with a plurality of curves to create a tortuous pathway.

17. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising the step of generating a vacuum between the skin of the patient and said device to stabilize the skin against said tip during an injection of said fluid medicament into the patient.