EXTERNAL DRUG PUMP
First Claim
1. Apparatus for administering a substance to a subject, comprising:
- a vial that contains the substance;
a stopper within the vial, slidably coupled to the vial;
a first threaded element (a) rotatable with respect to the vial and (b) substantially immobile proximally with respect to the vial during rotation of the first threaded element; and
a second threaded element that is threadedly coupled to the first threaded element,at least a distal end of the second threaded element substantially non-rotatable with respect to the vial,the distal end of the second threaded element defining a coupling portion that couples the second threaded element to the stopper, andthe first threaded element, by rotating, linearly advancing the stopper and at least the distal end of the second threaded element toward a distal end of the vial.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus is described for administering a substance to a subject. A vial contains the substance and a stopper is disposed within the vial and is slidably coupled to the vial. A first threaded element is (a) rotatable with respect to the vial and (b) substantially immobile proximally with respect to the vial during rotation of the first threaded element. A second threaded element is threadedly coupled to the first threaded element. At least a distal end of the second threaded element is substantially non-rotatable with respect to the vial, and the distal end of the second threaded element defines a coupling portion that couples the second threaded element to the stopper. The first threaded element, by rotating, linearly advances the stopper and at least the distal end of the second threaded element toward a distal end of the vial. Other embodiments are also described.
305 Citations
92 Claims
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1. Apparatus for administering a substance to a subject, comprising:
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a vial that contains the substance; a stopper within the vial, slidably coupled to the vial; a first threaded element (a) rotatable with respect to the vial and (b) substantially immobile proximally with respect to the vial during rotation of the first threaded element; and a second threaded element that is threadedly coupled to the first threaded element, at least a distal end of the second threaded element substantially non-rotatable with respect to the vial, the distal end of the second threaded element defining a coupling portion that couples the second threaded element to the stopper, and the first threaded element, by rotating, linearly advancing the stopper and at least the distal end of the second threaded element toward a distal end of the vial. - View Dependent Claims (3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 39, 40, 43, 46, 47, 50)
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2. (canceled)
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4-5. -5. (canceled)
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7-8. -8. (canceled)
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11. (canceled)
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15-38. -38. (canceled)
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41-42. -42. (canceled)
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44-45. -45. (canceled)
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48-49. -49. (canceled)
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51-52. -52. (canceled)
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53. A method, comprising:
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providing; a vial that contains a substance, and is sealed by a stopper, and first and second threaded elements for placement within the vial, the first and second threaded elements being threadedly coupled to each other, a distal end of the second threaded element being for coupling to the stopper; inserting the vial into a housing base, the threaded elements having been inserted into the vial, and the distal end of the second threaded element having been coupled to the stopper; and pushing the substance out of the vial by advancing the stopper and at least the distal end of the second threaded element toward a distal end of the vial, the advancing being performed by; rotating the first threaded element with respect to the vial, impeding proximal linear motion of the first threaded element with respect to the vial during rotation of the first threaded element, and impeding rotational motion of at least the distal end of the second threaded element with respect to the vial. - View Dependent Claims (54, 59, 61, 63, 64, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88)
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55-58. -58. (canceled)
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60. (canceled)
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62. (canceled)
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65-82. -82. (canceled)
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89. Apparatus for administering a substance to a subject, comprising:
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a vial that contains the substance; a stopper within the vial, slidably coupled to the vial; a shaft within the vial, a distal portion of the shaft being coupled to the stopper; and a rotation mechanism disposed proximally to the vial, coupled to the shaft and configured to linearly advance the stopper toward a distal end of the vial by rotating the shaft, wherein at all times during the rotating of the shaft, (a) a distal end of the shaft is configured to remain proximal to a distal end of the stopper, and (b) a proximal end of the shaft is configured to remain distal to a proximal end of the rotation mechanism.
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90. (canceled)
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91. Apparatus for administering a substance to a subject, comprising:
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a vial that contains the substance; a stopper within the vial, slidably coupled to the vial; a first threaded element (a) rotatable with respect to the vial and (b) substantially immobile proximally with respect to the vial during rotation of the first threaded element; and a second threaded element that is threadedly coupled to the first threaded element, at least a distal end of the second threaded element substantially non-rotatable with respect to the vial, the distal end of the second threaded element remaining proximal to a distal end of the stopper at all times during rotation of the first threaded element, and the first threaded element, by rotating, linearly advancing the stopper and at least the distal end of the second threaded element toward a distal end of the vial.
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92. (canceled)
Specification