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Publication Number
US-10099011-B2
Publication Date
2018-10-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
A needle-less injector device for delivering a dose of fluid intradermally, subcutaneously or intramuscularly to an animal or human. The device includes an inner housing having opposed ends. A syringe is disposed in one end of the inner housing. The syringe includes a nozzle for delivering a dose of fluid held within the syringe. A plunger is movably disposed within the syringe. A spring powered hammer is movably disposed within the inner housing. The hammer cooperates with the plunger to drive the dose of medicament from the nozzle. An injection delivery spring for powering the hammer is positioned and compressed between the other end of the inner housing and the spring powered hammer. An outer housing slideably supports the inner housing. A skin tensioning spring is mounted between the inner housing and the outer housing, the skin tensioning spring biasing the nozzle of the syringe against the animal or human. A trigger mechanism is disposed in the outer housing, the trigger mechanism cooperating with the spring powered hammer to release the injection delivery spring, wherein the size of the injection delivery spring and the length of the hammer dictate the amount of dose delivered and whether the dose is delivered intradermally, subcutaneously or intramuscularly to an animal or human.
Core Innovation
A hand-held needle-less injector device includes an inner housing and an outer housing, with the inner housing axially movable within the outer housing between a ready position and a firing position. A tensioning spring is provided between the inner housing and the outer housing, biasing the inner housing toward the ready position.
The injector includes a compressible coiled delivery spring within the inner housing and a hammer within the inner housing. When the injector is in the firing position, decompression of the compressible coiled delivery spring causes the delivery spring to move the hammer laterally within the inner housing.
A skin-tensioning spring stretches skin against a skin tensioner to align the nozzle at an angle suitable for injection as the inner housing reaches the firing position. The trigger and a trigger stop prevent injection in the ready position and allow injection when the inner housing reaches the firing position, enabling high-pressure delivery of fluid through a nozzle using the hammer-driven delivery spring mechanism.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a position-dependent, spring-driven needle-less injector in which inner housing movement between a ready position and a firing position controls when injection occurs, and decompression of a coiled delivery spring in the firing position drives lateral hammer motion.
Inner housing axially movable between ready and firing positions
An outer housing supports the inner housing such that the inner housing is axially movable between a ready position and a firing position, with the tensioning spring biasing the inner housing towards the ready position.
Tensioning spring biasing toward ready position
A tensioning spring between the inner housing and the outer housing biases the inner housing towards the ready position.
Compressible coiled delivery spring and lateral hammer motion in firing position
A compressible coiled delivery spring within the inner housing and a hammer within the inner housing, wherein decompression of the compressible coiled delivery spring while the injector is in the firing position causes the delivery spring to move the hammer laterally within the inner housing.
Overall, the claims coverage is directed to controlling injection by requiring the inner housing to reach the firing position before decompression of the compressible coiled delivery spring drives lateral movement of the hammer within the inner housing.
Stated Advantages
Injection is prevented when the injector is in the ready position and is caused when the injector is in the firing position.
Smaller doses are enabled without changing the syringe size by selecting injection delivery spring size/weights and varying hammer length.
Delivery depth is controlled by selecting injection delivery spring size/weights and by varying hammer length, allowing intradermal, subcutaneous, and intramuscular injection.
Safety/reliability is addressed through trigger safety stop/protrusion and position-dependent actuation logic.
Documented Applications
Intradermal injection, subcutaneous injection, and intramuscular injection are described as delivery depths achievable by the injector.
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