Fluid transfer device having removable needle cartridge

• US 7,361,163 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2004
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ADS Technologies, Inc. (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ADS Technologies, Inc. (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cohen, Nahum
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GILBERT, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US10/868,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20040260270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 604/110, 604/173, 604/187, 604/195, 604/232, 604/506, 206/366, 600/309, 606181-182
• US Class Current: 604/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/004 Magazines with multiple needles directly inserted into an injection or infusion device, e.g. revolver-like magazines
• 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 2005/342 Off-center needles, i.e. needle connections not being coaxial with the longitudinal symmetry axis of syringe barrel
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2250/00 Specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/008 Racks for supporting syringes or needles A61M5/001 takes precedence
• 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 5/204 connected to external reservoirs for multiple refilling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/32 Needles; Details of needles pertaining to their connection with syringe or hub infusion needles A61M5/158; Accessories for bringing the needle into, or holding the needle on, the body A61M5/42, A61M5/46 take precedence; guide needles for catheters A61M25/065; Devices for protection of needles apparatus specially adapted for cleaning or sterilising needles A61M5/001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/326 Fully automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve does not require a deliberate action by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/34 Constructions for connecting the needle , e.g. to syringe nozzle or needle hub connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014

Abstract

A fluid transfer device including a cartridge having a plurality of needles, an advancer operative to selectably advance any of the plurality of needles in the cartridge to a needle deployment position, and a syringe operative to convey fluid through the needle in the needle deployment position.

Claims

1. A fluid transfer device comprising:

a cartridge comprising a plurality of needles;

an advancer operative to selectably advance any of said plurality of needles in said cartridge to a needle deployment position;

a fluid reservoir shareable by a plurality of said needles; and

a syringe operative, for each of said needles in said cartridge that is selectably advanced to said needle deployment position, to enter said cartridge, couple with said needle in said needle deployment position, and convey fluid from said fluid reservoir and into said needle via said cartridge,

wherein said cartridge includes a plurality of needle chambers, each chamber housing one of said plurality of needles, and

wherein any of said chambers includes at least one needle guard operative to at least partially obstruct an opening of said chamber subsequent to said needle being firstly extended at least partially out of said chamber.

2. A fluid transfer device according to claim 1 and further comprising apparatus operative to at least partially extend said needle out of said cartridge.

3. A fluid transfer device according to claim 2 wherein said apparatus is retractable to urge said needle at least partially back into said cartridge.

4. A fluid transfer device according to claim 1 wherein any of said chambers includes a spring operative to expand when said needle is extended at least partially out of said chamber and contract to retract said needle at least partially back into said chamber.

5. A fluid transfer device according to claim 1 wherein said needle guard is flexed and held in place between said needle and an inner wall of said chamber prior to said needle being firstly extended at least partially out of said chamber, and wherein said needle guard resiliently flattens at least partially across said opening of said chamber subsequent to said extending of said needle.

6. A fluid transfer device according to claim 1 wherein said cartridge is cylindrical and is operative to be rotated to advance any of said needles to said needle deployment position.

7. A fluid transfer device according to claim 1 wherein said cartridge is a ribbon in which a plurality of needle chambers are disposed.

8. A fluid transfer device according to claim 1 wherein said cartridge is a sliding cartridge and is operative to be slid along an axis to advance any of said needles to said needle deployment position.

9. A fluid transfer device according to claim 1 wherein said cartridge is operative to retain said plurality of needles within said cartridge subsequent to fluid conveyance through said plurality of needles.

10. A method for fluid transfer, the method comprising:

housing each of a plurality of needles in a corresponding one of a plurality of needle chambers disposed in a cartridge;

selectably advancing a first one of said plurality of needles in said cartridge to a needle deployment position;

coupling a syringe with said needle;

conveying fluid from a fluid reservoir through said syringe and said first needle in said needle deployment position via said cartridge;

selectably advancing a second one of said plurality of needles in said cartridge to said needle deployment position;

coupling said syringe with said second needle; and

conveying fluid from said fluid reservoir through said syringe and said second needle in said needle deployment position via said cartridge; and

at least partially obstructing an opening of any of said chambers subsequent to any of said needles being firstly extended at least partially out of said chamber.

11. A method according to claim 10 and further comprising at least partially extending any of said needles out of said cartridge.

12. A method according to claim 11 and further comprising at least partially retracting any of said needles back into said cartridge.

13. A method according to claim 10 and further comprising causing a spring disposed in any of said chambers to expand when any of said needles is extended at least partially out of said chamber and contract to retract said needle at least partially back into said chamber.

14. A method according to claim 10 and further comprising:

flexing and holding a needle guard in place between any of said needles and an inner wall of said chamber prior to said needle being firstly extended at least partially out of said chamber; and

flattening said needle guard at least partially across said opening of said chamber subsequent to said extending of said needle.

15. A method according to claim 10 and further comprising rotating said cartridge to advance any of said needles to said needle deployment position, where said cartridge is cylindrical.

16. A method according to claim 10 and further comprising sliding said cartridge along an axis to advance any of said needles to said needle deployment position, where said cartridge is a sliding cartridge.

17. A method according to claim 10 and further comprising retaining said plurality of needles within said cartridge subsequent to conveying fluid through said plurality of needles.