Apparatus and method for rapid auto-injection of medication

• US 7,658,724 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seedlings Life Science Ventures LLC
• Original Assignee: Seedlings Life Science Ventures LLC
• Inventors: Sellers, James M., Taylor, Haydn B., Rubin, Keith H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): WITCZAK, CATHERINE
• Application Number:
  US11/089,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20050171477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,783 Days
• Field of Search: 604/187, 604/197, 604/195, 604/156, 604/131, 604134- 7, 604/181, 604192- 4, 604/232, 604/110
• US Class Current: 604/137
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2013 triggering of discharging means by contact of injector with patient body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/314 Flat shaped barrel forms, e.g. credit card shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3247 Means to impede repositioning of protection sleeve from needle covering to needle uncovering position
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6063 Optical identification systems
• 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 5/24 Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or carpules, e.g. automatic ampoules or carpules A61J1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/282 by compression of deformable ampoule or carpule wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/283 by telescoping of ampoules or carpules with the syringe body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/286 upon internal pressure increase, e.g. pierced or burst A61M5/283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• 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 5/326 Fully automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve does not require a deliberate action by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3271 with guiding tracks for controlled sliding of needle protective sleeve from needle exposing to needle covering position

Abstract

An auto-injector for rapid delivery of a bolus of injectable medication has a generally flat, sealed housing with small peripheral dimensions, approximating those of a credit card. A syringe, configured to be contained within the flat housing is pre-filled with the medication. The housing contains a mechanism that, when triggered, automatically drives the syringe and needle forwardly to an injection position and then continues to compress the volume of the syringe to effect rapid injection. The forward injection end of the device includes an actuator that also conceals and protects the needle at all times and, prevents post-injection hazards. The flat faces of the device have graphic symbols and other visual indicia relating to the operation and condition of the device. The device enables a simple three-step operation that reduces the risk of improper use.

Claims

1. A method for automatically administering injectable medication comprising:

storing the medication in a flat syringe having an injection needle;

enclosing the flat syringe within a separate flat housing that includes a self-contained power source and drive mechanism for driving the syringe from a storage configuration in which the syringe and needle are contained completely within the housing to an injection configuration in which the injection needle protrudes from a region of the housing;

providing an actuator movably mounted to the housing at said region of the housing, the actuator being operatively associated with the drive mechanism to release the syringe for movement to the injection position in response to movement of the actuator relative to the housing by urging of the actuator against an injection site;

providing a cover on said region of the housing to completely enclose the region of the housing from which the needle and actuator extend, the method further comprising;

removing the cover from the housing and pressing the actuator against the injection site and under a force sufficient to cause release of the syringe to enable the self-contained power source and drive mechanism to drive the syringe to an injection configuration.

2. A method for rapid automatic self-administration of a bolus of injectable medication comprising:

providing a flat housing having forward and rearward ends with a separate flat syringe contained within the housing, the syringe containing an injectable medication;

a needle, extendable from a position contained completely within the housing to an injection position projecting beyond the forward end of the housing;

an actuating member movably mounted to the housing and extending beyond the forward end of the housing;

the housing containing powered mechanisms to extend the needle to the injection position and operate the syringe to inject a bolus of medication;

a cover attached to the forward end of the housing and enclosing the forward end of the housing;

the method further comprising;

grasping the rear end of the housing in one hand and, while so holding the housing, removing the cover with the other hand to expose the forward end of the housing and the actuator; and

then pressing the actuating member firmly against the intended injection site under a force sufficient to trigger the mechanisms for extending the needle and operating the syringe.

3. A method as defined in claim 2 further comprising:

preliminarily providing a peel-away strip connecting the cover to the housing and, before removal of the cover, peeling away the peel-away strip to facilitate cover removal.

4. An auto-injector comprising:

a flat housing having a forward end;

a flat container in the housing for storing an injectable medication;

an injection needle having a sharp forward end, the needle being connectible with the interior of the container to enable medication to flow to and through the needle; and

a needle shield extendable from the forward end of the housing, the needle shield being substantially flat and having a needle-receptive passageway formed therethrough;

the needle shield being automatically extendable, upon disengagement from an injection site, from a retracted position to an extended position, the extended position being sufficiently forward of the housing to cover the extended needle; and

a biohazard indicator on at least one flat surface of the needle shield.

5. An auto-injector as defined in claim 4 wherein the biohazard indicator is concealed within the housing when the needle shield is retracted and is exposed when the needle shield is in its fully extended position.