Device and method for the automatic initiation of an injection

• US 9,327,078 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2012
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avant Medical Corporation
• Original Assignee: Avant Medical Corporation
• Inventors: Slate, John B., Burk, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Snyder, Melissa A
• Application Number:
  US13/655,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20130046277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 604 65- 68
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2073 preventing premature release, e.g. by making use of a safety lock
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/13 with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54
• 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 system and method to automatically initiate an injection procedure of a medicament into a patient. In the system, a delivery assembly includes an injector for infusing the medicament into the patient. Further, the system includes a monitor for detecting a parameter characteristic of the procedure, for instance, a pressure indicative of a partial vacuum between the injector and the injection site, a pressure exerted by the patient against the delivery assembly, a conductance, a capacitance, or an optical blood reading. Also, the system includes a timer for determining compliance of the parameter within a predetermined range during a first time interval. In response to the timer, an actuator initiates the injection procedure at the expiration of the first time interval. Further, the actuator may stop the injection procedure if the parameter is outside the predetermined range during a second time interval.

Claims

1. A system for automatically initiating an injection procedure for injection of a fluid medicament into a patient which comprises:

a fluid delivery assembly having an injector for infusing a predetermined volume of the medicament into the patient, the injector having an external tip with a depression formed around the external tip;

a control element for setting a predetermined range of values of an operational parameter characteristic of the procedure;

a monitor provided at the depression and electronically connected to the control element for detecting the operational parameter characteristic of the procedure in the depression when the injector is positioned at an injection site; and

an actuator connected to the fluid delivery assembly, and responsive to the control element, for initiating the injection procedure by the fluid delivery assembly when the operational parameter characteristic is within the predetermined range of values.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the control element sets a time interval “

Δ

t₁” and

the system further comprises a timer electronically connected to the monitor for observing the operational parameter characteristic of the procedure and wherein the actuator is responsive to the timer for initiating the injection procedure by the fluid delivery assembly at the expiration of a time interval “

Δ

t₁”

within which the operational parameter characteristic stays within the predetermined range.

3. A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a vacuum line in communication with the depression to provide a partial vacuum in the depression.

4. A system as recited in claim 3 wherein the injector is a needleless injector, and the operational parameter is a pressure value indicative of a partial vacuum established in the depression.

5. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the injector is a needleless injector, and the operational parameter is a pressure value indicative of a partial vacuum established between the injector and an injection site on the patient.

6. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the injector is a needle, and the operational parameter is a reaction pressure exerted by the patient against the fluid delivery assembly.

7. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the operational parameter is selected from a group consisting of a conductance, a capacitance and an optical blood reading.

8. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the fluid delivery assembly comprises:

a fluid chamber for holding the fluid medicament, wherein the fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the injector; and

a plunger positioned in the fluid chamber for advancement therethrough to expel fluid therefrom through the injector.

9. A system as recited in claim 8 further comprising a drive mechanism for advancing the plunger.

10. A system for automatically initiating and terminating an injection procedure for injection of a fluid medicament into a patient which comprises:

a fluid delivery assembly having an injector for infusing a predetermined volume of the medicament into the patient, the injector having an external tip with a depression formed around the external tip;

a control means for setting a predetermined range of values of an operational parameter characteristic of the procedure;

a monitoring means for detecting the operational parameter characteristic of the procedure at the depression, the monitoring means electronically connected to the control means for detecting the operational parameter characteristic of the procedure in the depression when the injector is positioned at an injection site; and

an actuating means for initiating the injection procedure by the fluid delivery assembly, the actuating means connected to the fluid delivery assembly, and responsive to the control means, to initiate the injection procedure by the fluid delivery assembly when the operational parameter characteristic is within the predetermined range of values.

11. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein the control means sets a time interval “

Δ

t₁” and

the system further comprises a timing means electronically connected to the monitoring means for observing the operational parameter characteristic of the procedure and wherein the actuating means is responsive to the timing means for initiating the injection procedure by the fluid delivery assembly at the expiration of a time interval “

Δ

t₁”

within which the operational parameter characteristic stays within the predetermined range.

12. A system as recited in claim 10 further comprising a vacuum line in communication with the depression to provide a partial vacuum in the depression.

13. A system as recited in claim 12 wherein the injector is a needleless injector, and the operational parameter is a pressure value indicative of a partial vacuum established in the depression.

14. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein the operational parameter is selected from a group consisting of a conductance, a capacitance and an optical blood reading.

15. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein the fluid delivery assembly further comprises:

a fluid chamber for holding the fluid medicament, wherein the fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the injector;

a plunger positioned in the fluid chamber for advancement therethrough to expel fluid therefrom through the injector; and

a drive mechanism for advancing the plunger.

16. A method for automatically conducting an injection procedure for injection of a fluid medicament into a patient which comprises the steps of:

providing a fluid delivery assembly having an injector for infusing a predetermined volume of the medicament into the patient, the injector having an external tip with a depression formed around the external tip;

using a controller to set a predetermined range of values of an operational parameter characteristic of the procedure;

monitoring the operational parameter characteristic of the procedure at the depression with a monitor that is connected to the controller to detect the operational parameter characteristic of the procedure in the depression when the injector is positioned at an injection site; and

initiating the injection procedure by the fluid delivery assembly with an actuator connected to the controller when the operational parameter characteristic is within the predetermined range of values.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

setting a time interval “

Δ

t₁”

; and

electronically connecting a timer to the monitor for observing the operational parameter characteristic of the procedure, and wherein the actuator is responsive to the timer for initiating the injection procedure by the fluid delivery assembly at the expiration of a time interval “

Δ

t₁”

within which the operational parameter characteristic stays within the predetermined range.

18. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein the fluid delivery assembly further comprises a vacuum line in communication with the depression to provide a partial vacuum in the depression.

19. A method as recited in claim 18 wherein the operational parameter is a pressure value indicative of a partial vacuum established in the depression.

20. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein the fluid delivery assembly further comprises:

a fluid chamber for holding the fluid medicament, wherein the fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the injector;

a plunger positioned in the fluid chamber for advancement therethrough to expel fluid therefrom through the injector; and

a drive mechanism for advancing the plunger.