Injection device for administering a vaccine

• US 7,670,314 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Children's Hospital & Medical Center
• Original Assignee: Children's Hospital & Medical Center
• Inventors: Ward, Jarvis, Wall, Eric James, Nesbitt, Daniel Frederick, Nesbitt, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Price; Nathan R
• Application Number:
  US10/597,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20070293826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,839 Days
• Field of Search: 604/117, 604131-139, 604/156, 604/157, 604192-198
• US Class Current: 604/135
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3106 Plugs for syringes without needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3114 Filling or refilling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3128 Incorporating one-way valves, e.g. pressure-relief or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3139 Finger grips not integrally formed with the syringe barrel, e.g. using adapter with finger grips
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/325 Means obstructing the needle passage at distal end of a needle protection sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/19 having more than one chamber , e.g. including a manifold coupling two parallelly aligned syringes through separate channels to a common discharge assembly surgical glue applicators A61B17/00491
• 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 5/2429 by telescoping of ampoules or carpules with the syringe body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2466 by piercing without internal pressure increase A61M5/2429 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3257 Semi-automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve extension requires a deliberate action by the user, e.g. manual release of spring-biased extension means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/347 rotatable, e.g. bayonet or screw A61M5/344 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/427 Locating point where body is to be pierced, e.g. vein location means using ultrasonic waves, injection site templates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/484 Regulating injection pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/50 having means for preventing re-use, or for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile retractable needles or needle protectors with means for preventing re-use A61M5/321

Abstract

A manually-powered injection device that self-administers a painless injection. The injection device provides a method for substantially painless injections of vaccine and other medication into a patient that does not require the use of an anesthetic, that does not require the medical personnel to spend a substantial amount of time performing the injection procedure, that is relatively simple and inexpensive to perform and operate, and that provides a relatively high degree of safety for both the medical personnel and for the patient. The injection needle can have an outside diameter greater than 0.10 mm and less than about 0.38 mm. The vaccine or other medicament can be injected painlessly through the needle and into the patient at a substantially constant volumetric flow rate of about 0.05 μL/s to about 50 μL/s, typically over a 3- to 5-minute period of time. The injection device is configured for easy handling, and is manually powered by the use of the hand or fingers of the medical technician, patient or other person.

Claims

1. A manually-powered injection device for painless intramuscular injection of an injectable liquid composition from with a reservoir, comprising:

a) a housing having a base for semi-permanent attachment to the skin of a patient,

b) an injection needle disposed substantially perpendicular to the base and within the housing, the needle having an injection end, and configured for axial movement manually between a first position wherein the injection end is within the housing and a second position wherein the injection end extends outwardly from the base to a distance sufficient for intramuscular insertion thereof, the injection needle having an outside diameter greater than 0.10 mm and less than about 0.38 mm that effects a painless insertion of the needle,

c) a means for retaining a reservoir containing an injectable liquid composition,

d) a means for providing liquid communication between the retained reservoir and the injection needle, and

e) a manually-powered spring that exerts pressure upon the injectable liquid composition within the retained reservoir to inject the injectable liquid at a substantially constant volumetric flow rate of about 0.5 μ

L/s to about 20 μ

L/s from the reservoir through the needle, which effects a painless injection.

2. The injection device of claim 1, further comprising a needle insertion securement configured to retain the inserted needle in its second position while injecting the liquid composition.

3. The injection device of claim 2 further comprising a means for retracting the injection needle, which retracts the injection end of the needle from its second position to a third position within the housing.

4. The injection device of claim 2 further comprising a needle carriage to which the injection needle is affixed, the needle carriage being configured for axial movement within the housing between a first position associated with the first position of the injection needle, and a second position associated with the second position of the injection needle, in response to a manual force applied by a person.

5. The injection device according to claim 4 further comprising an implement for use in applying the manual force to the needle carriage.

6. The injection device according to claim 4 wherein the needle insertion securement is configured to retain the needle carriage in its second position.

7. The injection device according to claim 6, further comprising a retracting means comprising a disengagement means configured to disengage the needle insertion securement from the needle carriage, and a power means configured to bias the needle carriage to a third position that is associated with a third position of the injection needle wherein the injection end of the needle is within the housing.

8. The injection device according to claim 1 wherein the device further comprises a separable base, a base securement means configured for separable securement of the separable base to the housing, and a base separation means configured for separation of the separable base from the housing, wherein the separable base comprises an adhesive for attachment thereof to the skin of the patient.

9. A manually-powered injection device for painless intramuscular injection of an injectable liquid composition, comprising:

a) a housing having a base for semi-permanent attachment to the skin of a patient,

b) an injection needle disposed substantially perpendicular to the base and within the housing, the needle having an injection end, and configured for axial movement manually between a first position wherein the injection end is within the housing and a second position wherein the injection end extends outwardly from the base to a distance sufficient for intramuscular insertion thereof, the injection needle having an outside diameter greater than 0.10 mm and less than about 0.38 mm that effects a painless insertion of the needle,

c) a reservoir containing an injectable liquid composition,

d) a means for liquid communication between the reservoir and the injection needle, and

e) a manually-powered spring that exerts pressure upon the injectable liquid composition within the retained reservoir to inject the injectable liquid at a substantially constant volumetric flow rate of about 0.5 μ

L/s to about 20 μ

L/s from the reservoir through the needle, which effects a painless injection.

10. The injection device of claim 9, further comprising a needle insertion securement configured to retain the inserted needle in its second position while injecting the liquid composition.

11. The injection device of claim 10 further comprising a means for retracting the injection needle, which retracts the injection end of the needle from its second position to a third position within the housing.

12. The injection device of claim 10 further comprising a needle carriage to which the injection needle is affixed, the needle carriage being configured for axial movement between a first position associated with the first position of the injection needle, and a second position associated with the second position of the injection needle, in response to a manual force applied by a person.

13. The injection device according to claim 12 further comprising an implement for use in applying the manual force to the needle carriage.

14. The injection device according to claim 12 wherein the needle carriage comprises threads, and the reservoir comprises cooperating threads that can engage and retain the threads of the reservoir.

15. The injection device according to claim 14 wherein the reservoir comprises a penetrable membrane, wherein when the cooperating threads of the reservoir and the needle carriage are engaged, a piercing conduit in liquid communication with the injection needlecan penetrate the penetrable membrane to establish liquid communication between the reservoir and the injection needle.

16. The injection device according to claim 9 wherein the device further comprises a separable base, a base securement means that separable secures the separable base to the housing, and a base separation means that separates the separable base from the housing, wherein the separable base comprises an adhesive for attachment thereof to the skin of the patient.

17. The injection device according to claim 12 wherein the needle insertion securement is configured to retain the needle carriage in its second position.

18. The injection device according to claim 17, further comprising a retracting means comprising a disengagement means configured to disengage the needle insertion securement from the needle carriage, and a power means configured to bias the needle carriage to a third position that is associated with a third position of the injection needle wherein the injection end of the needle is within the housing.