Injection device having polyparaxylylene coated container

• US 5,354,286 A
• Filed: 12/07/1993
• Issued: 10/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meridian Medical Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Survival Technology, Inc. (Meridian Medical Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Monroe, O. Napoleon, Mesa, C. Michael, Lowery, Sandra A., Dalling, N. Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US08/162,294
• Time in Patent Office: 308 Days
• Field of Search: 604/230, 604/218, 604/187, 604/132-135, 604/157, 604/138, 604/232, 604/272
• US Class Current: 604/230
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/206 With automatic needle insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2073 preventing premature release, e.g. by making use of a safety lock
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3131 specially adapted for improving sealing or sliding
• 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 5/286 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

Abstract

An injection device comprises a plastic or metal container adapted to contain a charge of medicament, the container has at least an inner surface thereof coated with polyparaxylylene. A needle is cooperable with the container so as to be communicable with the medicament and provides a passage through which the medicament can be forced into the flesh of an individual. A plunger is disposed in the container in slidably sealed relation with the polyparaxylylene coating provided on the inner surface of the container. The plunger is movable through the container toward a generally forward end thereof to force the medicament through the needle and into the flesh of the individual.

Claims

1. An automatic injector comprising:

a housing;

a metallic cartridge contained within said housing, said cartridge having at least an inner surface thereof coated with polyparaxylylene to reduce the coefficient of friction of said inner surface;

a charge of medicament contained in said metallic cartridge and in communication with said polyparaxylylene coating, said polyparaxylylene coating preventing ions from being extracted from said metallic cartridge into said medicament;

a plunger normally disposed in a generally rearward end of said metallic cartridge and movable through said metallic cartridge toward a generally forward end thereof in response to a predetermined actuating procedure, said movable plunger rearwardly confining said medicament within said metallic cartridge and being in slidable sealed relation with said polyparaxylylene coating provided on said metallic cartridge, said polyparaxylylene coating sufficiently reducing the coefficient of friction of said inner surface to reduce the time required for said plunger to travel from said generally rearward end to said generally forward end of said metallic cartridge;

a needle normally disposed within said housing, said needle being projectable from a forward end of said housing and communicable with said medicament so that movement of said plunger through said cartridge forces said medicament through said needle and into the flesh of an individual in response to said predetermined actuating procedure; and

a releasable energy source releasable in response to said predetermined actuating procedure to project said needle from the forward end of the housing and slidingly drive said plunger through said metallic cartridge in sealed relation to expel said medicament through said needle and into the flesh of an individual.

2. The automatic injector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said metallic material is made from stainless steel.

3. The automatic injector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said metallic material is made from aluminum.

4. The automatic injector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said polyparaxylylene coating has a thickness between about 0.00001 to 0.001 inches.

5. The automatic injector as claimed in claim 4, wherein said polyparaxylylene coating has a thickness between about 0.00005 to 0.0003 inches.

6. The automatic injector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said needle is normally stored in contact with said medicament.

7. The automatic injector as claimed in claim 6, wherein said needle is provided with a coating of polyparaxylylene.

8. The automatic injector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said releasable energy source comprises a normally compressed spring which is decompressed in response to said predetermined actuating procedure.

9. An injection device comprising:

a plastic container having at least an inner surface thereof coated with polyparaxylylene to reduce the permeability of said plastic container to oxygen and moisture, said plastic container adapted to contain a charge of medicament in communication with said polyparaxylylene coating;

a needle cooperable with said container so as to be communicable with said medicament and providing a passage through which said medicament can be forced into the flesh of an individual; and

a plunger disposed in said plastic container in slidably sealed relation with said polyparaxylylene coating provided on said inner surface of said container, said plunger being movable through said plastic container toward a generally forward end thereof to force said medicament through said needle and into the flesh of the individual.

10. An injection device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

a housing for containing said plastic container, said needle being normally disposed within said housing and projectable from a forward end thereof in response to a predetermined actuating procedure; and

a releasable energy source releasable in response to said predetermined actuating procedure to project said needle from the forward end of the housing and drive said plunger through said plastic container to force said medicament through said needle and into the flesh of an individual.

11. The automatic injector as claimed in claim 10, wherein said releasable energy source comprises a normally compressed spring which is decompressed in response to said predetermined actuating procedure.

12. An injection device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said plunger is substantially elongate and has a rearward end thereof projecting from said container for manual engagement so that said plunger can be manually moved through said plastic container toward the generally forward end thereof to force said medicament through said needle and into the flesh of the individual.

13. The automatic injection as claimed in claim 9, wherein said polyparaxylylene coating has a thickness between about 0.00007 to 0.0005 inches.

14. The automatic injector as claimed in claim 13, wherein said polyparaxylylene coating has a thickness between about 0.00001 to 0.001 inches.

15. An automatic injector comprising:

a housing;

a cartridge contained within said housing;

a charge of medicament contained in said cartridge;

a needle normally disposed within said cartridge so as to be in communication with said medicament, said needle being provided with a polyparaxylylene coating for preventing ions from being extracted from said needle into said medicament, said needle being projectable from a forward end of said housing;

a plunger normally disposed in a generally rearward end of said cartridge and movable through said cartridge in response to a predetermined actuating procedure so as to force said medicament through said needle and into the flesh of an individual; and

a releasable energy source which is releasable in response to said predetermined actuating procedure to project said needle from the forward end of the housing and drive said plunger through said cartridge to expel said medicament through said needle and into the flesh of an individual.

16. The automatic injector as claimed in claim 15, wherein said releasable energy source comprises a normally compressed spring which is decompressed in response to said predetermined actuating procedure.