Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11872376-B2
Publication Date
2024-01-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
An injection device for injecting, the injection device comprising a housing having an interiorly facing wall with the wall having a plurality of ribs formed thereon, the ribs defining a channel extending therebetween, a plunger rod mountable within the housing and having at least one protrusion engageable within the channel, a cylindrical body, a spring mounted at a distal end of the housing with the spring being biased between the distal end and a needle hub, and a pusher rod raised such that pressure thereon from the plunger rod will cause the pusher rod to enter the cylindrical body, the pressure causing the spring to act on the needle hub to move the needle hub and the cylindrical body upwardly within the housing such that a needle is in an enclosed position within the housing and cannot be reused.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an injection device for injecting an injectable substance, comprising a housing with an interiorly facing wall. The wall has a plurality of parallel ribs formed thereon, with the ribs defining a channel extending therebetween, including a first upper rib, a second upper rib, a first lower rib and a second lower rib. A diagonal rib extends between an end of the second upper rib and an end of the first upper rib, and a horizontal rib extends radially from an upper end of the second lower rib.
The injection device includes a plunger rod mountable within the housing, the plunger rod having at least one protrusion extending outwardly therefrom. A vial containing the injectable substance is also provided, the vial having at least one protrusion extending radially outwardly therefrom, together with a needle hub and a hollow needle secured thereto. A spring is mounted at a distal end of the housing, biased between the distal end of the housing and the needle hub.
Depressing the plunger rod with a load causes a pusher rod to push the injectable substance from the vial into the hollow needle for injection, while the plunger rod has a recessed arcuate surface at a distal end. The at least one protrusion extending radially outwardly from the vial contacts the recessed arcuate surface to cause rotation of the vial such that the at least one protrusion lines up with the channel, allowing the spring to move the vial and the needle hub upwardly within the housing.
During upward movement, the at least one protrusion of the vial contacts the diagonal rib, causing the at least one protrusion to move into a space between the second upper rib and the wall, where the horizontal rib prevents the plunger rod from being depressed again.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes two independent claims and describes 6 main inventive feature elements centered on a rib-and-channel interaction and a spring-driven needle hub/vial movement with a rotation mechanism that enables one-time depression prevention.
Rib-defined channel and specific rib geometry on an interior wall
A housing having an interiorly facing wall, said wall having a plurality of parallel ribs formed thereon, said ribs defining a channel extending therebetween, wherein the plurality of parallel ribs comprises a first upper rib, a second upper rib, a first lower rib and a second lower rib.
Diagonal rib extending between upper rib ends
A diagonal rib extending between an end of the second upper rib and an end of the first upper rib.
Radial horizontal rib as a stop feature
A horizontal rib extending radially from an upper end of said second lower rib.
Plunger rod recessed arcuate surface to rotate the vial
A plunger rod mountable within said housing, said plunger rod having at least one protrusion extending outwardly therefrom, wherein the recessed arcuate surface at a distal end of said plunger rod causes rotation of the vial such that the at least one protrusion extending radially outward from the vial lines up with the channel.
Spring biased movement of the needle hub upwardly
A spring mounted at a distal end of said housing, said spring being biased between said distal end of said housing and said needle hub, wherein the at least one protrusion contacts the diagonal rib while the vial and the needle hub are driven upwardly within said housing by said spring.
Post-movement rib-based prevention of further depression
Causing the at least one protrusion of the vial to move into a space between said second upper rib and said wall such that said horizontal rib prevents the plunger rod from being depressed again.
Overall, the independent claims cover an injection device where housing ribs define a channel and include a diagonal rib and a horizontal rib; a plunger rod with a recessed arcuate surface rotates a vial via protrusion contact to align with the channel; a spring drives the needle hub and vial upwardly; and, after upward movement, the protrusion contacts the diagonal rib and relocates into a space blocked by the horizontal rib so the plunger rod cannot be depressed again.
Stated Advantages
prevents the plunger rod from being depressed again
withdrawing the needle and preventing reuse/needle-stick
Documented Applications
injecting an injectable substance using the described injection device
Interested in licensing this patent?