Automatic needle injector having safety triggering mechanism

• US 7,390,319 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2005
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven A. Friedman
• Original Assignee: Steven Friedman
• Inventors: Friedman, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOHARSKI, CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US11/105,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20060247579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 604/187, 604/130, 604/131, 604/134, 604/135, 604/136, 604/137, 604/138, 604/227, 604/232, 604/181, 604/188, 604/192, 604/193, 604/194, 604/195, 604/197, 604/198
• US Class Current: 604/187
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2013 triggering of discharging means by contact of injector with patient body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2073 preventing premature release, e.g. by making use of a safety lock
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/314 Flat shaped barrel forms, e.g. credit card shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2033 Spring-loaded one-shot injectors with or without automatic needle insertion multishot dosing syringes A61M5/31525, needle insertion only A61M5/3287
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3202 Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/36 with means for eliminating or preventing injection or infusion of air into body dialysis systems, blood oxygenators A61M1/14; haemofiltration equipment A61M1/34; automatic tube cut-off A61M39/281
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5086 for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile

Abstract

A card-shaped disposable auto-injector includes a two-step safety mechanism to prevent inadvertent use or activation of the injection mechanism. In one aspect, the auto-injector is sized and shaped so as to be easy to carry in a wallet-shaped case. In one aspect, it is rectangular in shape so as to facilitate carrying and storage, and to provide a relatively large amount of surface space for instructional text, diagrams, identifying information, warnings, and the like.

Claims

1. An injector, comprising:

a casing having an opening;

a syringe, located within the casing, for holding medication;

a trigger, coupled to the syringe and having at least a safe position and an injection-ready position, for initiating transmission of the medication in response to a) the trigger being in injection-ready position and b) force being applied to a bottom surface of the trigger;

a lever, engaged with the casing, for causing the trigger to move from the safe position into the injection-ready position by moving the syringe in a first direction along a first axis;

a first magnet coupled to at least one of the syringe and the trigger;

a second magnet coupled to the casing; and

a needle, coupled to the syringe, for, responsive to initiation by the trigger, transmitting medication from the syringe into an injection site on a patient;

the magnets being situated to engage with one another so as to assist movement of the trigger into the injection-ready position.

2. The injector of claim 1, wherein the magnets cause at least one of the trigger and syringe to move in a second direction along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

5. The injector of claim 1 or 3, wherein the syringe is horizontally and vertically movable within the casing.

6. The injector of claim 1 or 3, wherein the syringe has at least a safe position and an injection-ready position.

7. The injector of claim 1 or 3, wherein the trigger is fixed in relation to the syringe.

8. The injector of claim 1 or 3, wherein the lever causes the trigger to move into the injection-ready position by moving the syringe in a first direction along a first axis.

9. The injector of claim 1 or 3, wherein:

in the safe position, the trigger is not in alignment with the opening in the casing; and

in the injection-ready position, the trigger is in alignment with the opening in the casing.

10. The injector of claim 9, wherein:

in safe position, the trigger does not protrude through the opening in the casing; and

in injection-ready position, the trigger protrudes through the opening in the casing.

11. The injector of claim 1 or 3, wherein the casing comprises two substantially rectangular surfaces and four edge surfaces.

12. The injector of claim 11, wherein the opening is located in a first edge surface of the casing.

13. The injector of claim 11, wherein each edge surface is no more than ½

″

in width.

14. The injector of claim 1 or 3, wherein the casing is substantially rectangular in shape.

15. The injector of claim 14, wherein the casing is no more than ½

″

in thickness.

16. The injector of claim 1 or 3, wherein the casing is substantially card-shaped.

17. The injector of claim 1 or 3, wherein the casing is substantially cylindrical.

18. The injector of claim 1 or 3, wherein the lever is plastic.

19. The injector of claim 1 or 3, further comprising a safety, for, when engaged with the lever, preventing the lever from being activated.

20. The injector of claim 19, wherein the safety is removable.

3. An injector, comprising:

a casing having an opening;

a syringe, located within the casing, for holding medication;

a trigger, coupled to the syringe and having at least a safe position and an injection-ready position, for initiating transmission of the medication in response to a) the trigger being in injection-ready position and b) force being applied to a bottom surface of the trigger;

a lever, engaged with the casing, for causing the trigger to move from the safe position into the injection-ready position by moving the syringe in a first direction along a first axis;

a spring coupled to at least one of the syringe and the trigger, the spring biased to assist movement of the trigger into the injection-ready position; and

a needle, coupled to the syringe, for, responsive to initiation by the trigger, transmitting medication from the syringe into an injection site on a patient;

wherein the spring causes at least one of the trigger and syringe to move in a second direction along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

4. The injector of claim 3, further comprising:

a spring key for holding the spring; and

at least one seating arm for holding the spring key in place until trigger initiation.