Focused dosimetry device and methods associated therewith
First Claim
1. A focused dosimetry device for use in facilitating the delivery of two successive doses of a substance, from a single volume of the substance contained in the device, during successive first and second modes of operation of the device, which comprises:
- a cartridge formed with a barrel having a passage through the barrel between a proximal end of the barrel and an axially spaced distal end of the barrel;
the barrel having an exterior shape of a prescribed configuration;
a plunger locatable and movable within the passage of the barrel;
a stem having a distal end positionable through the proximal end, and to a position within the passage, of the barrel to facilitate movement of the plunger within the barrel;
the stem formed with a proximal end spaced from the distal end thereof;
the stem formed with an intermediate section externally of the barrel and along an axis of the stem between the distal end and the proximal end thereof;
a cartridge-supporting carrier formed with a cartridge-receiving nest;
means, formed on the carrier, for removably retaining the cartridge within the cartridge-receiving nest;
a support member located on the carrier;
a passage formed through the support member;
an opening formed in the support member in communication with the passage to facilitate positioning of at least a portion of the intermediate section of the stem within the passage;
the support member being formed with a pair of ears normally spaced apart by a distance which defines a normal width of the opening;
the pair of ears being sufficiently resilient to be spread farther apart by a distance greater than the normal width of the opening to facilitate movement of the intermediate section of the stem through the opening and into and out of the passage;
the ears formed with portions which engage adjacent portions of the intermediate section of the stem when the intermediate section is located in the passage to maintain the intermediate section within the passage;
means, formed on the carrier, distally of a flange of the barrel when the cartridge is removably retained within the cartridge-receiving nest, for facilitating selective positioning of the cartridge in different locations on the carrier distally spaced from the flange of the barrel during successive first and second modes of operation of the device; and
means for allowing the intermediate section of the stem to be moved along the axis of the stem relative to the carrier while the stem is retained by the support member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device 560, for administering multiple single doses of a medicated cream, includes a cartridge 562 having a barrel 564 for containing the cream, a plunger 608 for moving the cream from within the cartridge, and a stem 610 for moving the plunger within the cartridge. A carrier 612 is formed with a cartridge-receiving nest 712 for receiving the barrel 564. A plurality of spaced, transaxial grooves 726, 728, 730 and 732 are formed in the carrier 612 for receiving a flange 572 of the cartridge 562 during the dispensing of multiple, successive, single doses of the cream. The carrier 612 is formed with a pair of resilient ears 750 and 752 and a passage 738 for removably retaining the stem 610 with the carrier while allowing axial movement of the stem.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A focused dosimetry device for use in facilitating the delivery of two successive doses of a substance, from a single volume of the substance contained in the device, during successive first and second modes of operation of the device, which comprises:
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a cartridge formed with a barrel having a passage through the barrel between a proximal end of the barrel and an axially spaced distal end of the barrel; the barrel having an exterior shape of a prescribed configuration; a plunger locatable and movable within the passage of the barrel; a stem having a distal end positionable through the proximal end, and to a position within the passage, of the barrel to facilitate movement of the plunger within the barrel; the stem formed with a proximal end spaced from the distal end thereof; the stem formed with an intermediate section externally of the barrel and along an axis of the stem between the distal end and the proximal end thereof; a cartridge-supporting carrier formed with a cartridge-receiving nest; means, formed on the carrier, for removably retaining the cartridge within the cartridge-receiving nest; a support member located on the carrier; a passage formed through the support member; an opening formed in the support member in communication with the passage to facilitate positioning of at least a portion of the intermediate section of the stem within the passage; the support member being formed with a pair of ears normally spaced apart by a distance which defines a normal width of the opening; the pair of ears being sufficiently resilient to be spread farther apart by a distance greater than the normal width of the opening to facilitate movement of the intermediate section of the stem through the opening and into and out of the passage; the ears formed with portions which engage adjacent portions of the intermediate section of the stem when the intermediate section is located in the passage to maintain the intermediate section within the passage; means, formed on the carrier, distally of a flange of the barrel when the cartridge is removably retained within the cartridge-receiving nest, for facilitating selective positioning of the cartridge in different locations on the carrier distally spaced from the flange of the barrel during successive first and second modes of operation of the device; and means for allowing the intermediate section of the stem to be moved along the axis of the stem relative to the carrier while the stem is retained by the support member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of dispensing successively a first given amount of a substance, and a second given amount of the substance, from a distal end of a barrel containing the substance, which comprises the steps of:
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providing a carrier having a stop surface at a proximal end thereof, a distal end, a first groove formed transverse to an axis of the carrier intermediate the proximal end and the distal end thereof, a second groove formed transverse to the axis of the carrier intermediate the proximal end and the distal end of the carrier and spaced from the first groove toward the proximal end of the carrier by a distance equal to a prescribed stem-travel distance, the first groove being closer to the distal end of the carrier than the second groove; placing a distal end of a stem through a proximal end of the barrel and into engagement with a plunger within the barrel; placing the barrel with the stem at a first prescribed location on the carrier; placing a flange of the barrel in the first groove on the carrier when the barrel is placed at the first prescribed location; moving the stem toward the distal end of, and relative to, the barrel thereby moving the plunger in a direction to dispense the substance from the distal end of the barrel; moving a surface of the stem into engagement with a the stop surface after the stem has travelled through a the prescribed stem-travel distance, relative to the barrel, whereby a the first given amount of the substance has been dispensed from the distal end of the barrel; removing the flange of the barrel from the first groove on the carrier following the dispensing of the first given amount of the substance; moving the barrel with the stem to a second prescribed location on the carrier in a proximal direction away from the first prescribed location whereby the surface of the stem is spaced from the stop surface by a distance equal to the prescribed stem-travel distance; placing the flange of the barrel in the second groove on the carrier when the barrel is placed at the second prescribed location; moving the stem toward the distal end of, and relative to, the barrel thereby moving the plunger in a direction to dispense the substance from the distal end of the barrel; moving the surface of the stem into engagement with the stop surface after the stem has travelled through the prescribed stem-travel distance, relative to the barrel, whereby the second given amount of the substance has been dispensed from the distal end of the barrel; and prior to placing the distal end of the stem through the proximal end of the barrel and into engagement with the plunger within the barrel, further comprising the step of mounting an intermediate section of the stem on the carrier for movement of the stem relative to the carrier. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A focused dosimetry device for use in facilitating the delivery of two successive doses of a substance, from a single volume of the substance contained in the device, during successive first and second modes of operation of the device, which comprises:
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a cartridge formed with a barrel having a passage through the barrel between a proximal end of the barrel and an axially spaced distal end of the barrel; the barrel having an exterior shape of a prescribed configuration; a plunger locatable and movable within the passage of the barrel; a stem having a distal end positionable through the proximal end, and to a position within the passage, of the barrel to facilitate movement of the plunger within the barrel; the stem formed with a proximal end spaced from the distal end thereof; the stem formed with an intermediate section externally of the barrel and along an axis of the stem between the distal end and the proximal end thereof; a cartridge-supporting carrier formed with a cartridge-receiving nest; means, formed on the carrier, for removably retaining the cartridge within the cartridge-receiving nest; means, formed on the carrier, for removably retaining the intermediate section of the stem with the carrier means, formed on the carrier, distally of the flange of the barrel when the cartridge is removably retained within the cartridge-receiving nest, for facilitating selective positioning of the cartridge in different locations on the carrier distally spaced from the flange of the barrel during successive first and second modes of operation of the device; means for allowing the intermediate section of the stem to be moved along the axis of the stem relative to the carrier while the stem is retained by the means for removably retaining the intermediate section of the stem with the carrier; an insert located within the passage of the barrel between a proximal surface of the plunger and the distal end of the stem, the insert formed with a first face positioned for engagement with the proximal surface of the plunger; and the insert formed with a second face positioned for engagement with the distal end of the stem.
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16. A focused dosimetry device for use in facilitating the delivery of two successive doses of a substance, from a single volume of the substance contained in the device, during successive first and second modes of operation of the device, which comprises:
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a cartridge formed with a barrel having a passage through the barrel between a proximal end of the barrel and an axially spaced distal end of the barrel; the barrel having an exterior shape of a prescribed configuration; a plunger locatable and movable within the passage of the barrel; a stem having a distal end positionable through the proximal end, and to a position within the passage, of the barrel to facilitate movement of the plunger within the barrel; the stem formed with a proximal end spaced from the distal end thereof; the stem formed with an intermediate section externally of the barrel and along an axis of the stem between the distal end and the proximal end thereof; a cartridge-supporting carrier formed with a cartridge-receiving nest; means, formed on the carrier, for removably retaining the cartridge within the cartridge-receiving nest; means, formed on the carrier, for removably retaining the intermediate section of the stem with the carrier means, formed on the carrier, distally of the flange of the barrel when the cartridge is removably retained within the cartridge-receiving nest, for facilitating selective positioning of the cartridge in different locations on the carrier distally spaced from the flange of the barrel during successive first and second modes of operation of the device; means for allowing the intermediate section of the stem to be moved along the axis of the stem relative to the carrier while the stem is retained by the means for removably retaining the intermediate section of the stem with the carrier; an insert located within the passage of the barrel between a proximal surface of the plunger and the distal end of the stem; a recess formed axially in the proximal surface of the plunger having a prescribed shape; a projection extending in a distal direction from the insert and formed in a shape complementary to the prescribed shape for receipt of the projection within the recess; and the insert formed with a face positioned for engagement with the distal end of the stem.
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17. A focused dosimetry device for supporting a substance-containing cartridge to facilitate the delivery of two successive doses of a substance, from a single volume of the substance contained in the cartridge, during successive first and second modes of operation of the device, the cartridge formed with a barrel having a passage through the barrel between a proximal end of the barrel and an axially spaced distal end of the barrel;
- the barrel having an exterior shape of a prescribed configuration;
a plunger locatable and movable within the passage of the barrel;
a stem having a distal end positionable through the proximal end of the barrel, and to a position within the passage of the barrel to facilitate movement of the plunger within the barrel;
the stem formed with a proximal end spaced from the distal end thereof;
the stem formed with an intermediate section externally of the barrel and along an axis of the stem between the distal end and the proximal end thereof, an insert located within the passage of the barrel between a proximal surface of the plunger and the distal end of the stem, the insert formed with a first face positioned for engagement with the proximal surface of the plunger; and
the insert formed with a second face positioned for engagement with the distal end of the stem, the focused dosimetry device comprises;a cartridge-supporting carrier formed with a cartridge-receiving nest; means, formed on the carrier, for removably retaining the cartridge within the cartridge-receiving nest; a support member located on the carrier; a passage formed through the support member; an opening formed in the support member in communication with the passage to facilitate positioning of at least a portion of the intermediate section of the stem within the passage; the support member being formed with a pair of ears normally spaced apart by a distance which defines a normal width of the opening; the pair of ears being sufficiently resilient to be spread farther apart by a distance greater than the normal width of the opening to facilitate movement of the intermediate section of the stem through the opening and into and out of the passage; the ears formed with portions which engage adjacent portions of the intermediate section of the stem when the intermediate section is located in the passage to maintain the intermediate section within the passage; means, formed on the carrier, distally of the flange of the barrel when the cartridge is removably retained within the cartridge-receiving nest, for facilitating selective positioning of the cartridge in different locations on the carrier distally spaced from the flange of the barrel during successive first and second modes of operation of the device; and means for allowing the intermediate section of the stem to be moved along the axis of the stem relative to the carrier while the stem is retained by the means for removably retaining the intermediate section of the stem with the carrier.
- the barrel having an exterior shape of a prescribed configuration;
Specification