Intradermal injection device
Inventors
Van Damme, Pierre • Vankerckhoven, Vanessa • Verwulgen, Stijn • Camerlynck, Ruben • Coemans, Wouter • Scheelen, Linda • Beyers, Koen Catharina Lodewijk • Verleije, Bart • Boudewijns, Wim
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9931472-B2
Publication Date
2018-04-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
An intradermal injection device comprises a housing, a foot with an opening for passage of a needle; a reservoir movably mounted in the housing, and having a hollow space for holding a fluid; a hollow needle movably mounted in the housing and having a first end for penetrating the subject's skin and a second end for penetrating the reservoir, a plunger movably mounted in the housing for moving the needle through the opening for penetrating the subject's skin, and for pressing the fluid out of the reservoir. The reservoir is frictionally mounted inside the housing by first friction means, and the plunger is frictionally mounted to the reservoir by second friction means. The force to overcome the second friction is larger than the force to overcome the first friction.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an intradermal injection device that includes a housing and a foot mounted to the housing. The foot has a surface that can be placed on a subject's skin and an opening for allowing passage of a needle. A reservoir is movably mounted in the housing and includes a hollow space for holding a fluid to be administered, with a dividing wall forming a bottom of the hollow space for holding the fluid.
A hollow needle is movably mounted in the housing such that it selectively protrudes through the opening or is retracted from the opening. The needle has a first end for penetrating the subject's skin and a second end for penetrating the reservoir, where the first end includes a first opening for administering the fluid to the subject and the second end includes a second opening for accepting the fluid from the reservoir and passing it through the needle to the first end.
The core refinement is a frictional mounting relationship between the reservoir and housing and between the plunger and reservoir. The reservoir is frictionally mounted inside the housing by a first frictional mounting, and the plunger is frictionally mounted to the reservoir by a second frictional mounting such that the force required to overcome the resistance to move the plunger with respect to the reservoir is at least a predetermined amount larger than the force required to overcome the friction to move the reservoir with respect to the housing.
The plunger has a plunger head with a shape complimentary to the shape of the dividing wall of the reservoir. The plunger is movably mounted in the housing for moving the needle through the opening for penetrating the subject's skin and for pressing the fluid out of the reservoir into the needle.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent claim, with multiple inventive features centered on the intradermal injection device and its frictional mounting relationship.
Frictional mounting hierarchy and complimentary plunger head
An intradermal injection device with a frictionally mounted reservoir in the housing and a frictionally mounted plunger to the reservoir such that the force required to overcome resistance to move the plunger with respect to the reservoir is at least a predetermined amount larger than the force required to overcome friction to move the reservoir with respect to the housing, wherein the plunger has a plunger head with a shape complimentary to the shape of the dividing wall of the reservoir.
Movably mounted reservoir with dividing wall forming bottom of hollow space
A reservoir movably mounted in the housing having a hollow space for holding a fluid to be administered, wherein the reservoir has a dividing wall forming a bottom of the hollow space for holding the fluid.
Selectively protruding or retracting hollow needle with openings for fluid passage
A hollow needle movably mounted in the housing such that it can selectively protrude through the opening or be retracted from the opening, having a first end for penetrating the subject's skin with a first opening for administering the fluid to the subject, and a second end for penetrating the reservoir with a second opening for accepting the fluid from the reservoir and passing it through the needle to the first end.
Plunger moves needle and presses fluid out of reservoir
A plunger movably mounted in the housing for moving the needle through the opening for penetrating the subject's skin and for pressing the fluid out of the reservoir into the needle.
Skin-contact foot with needle passage opening
A foot mounted to the housing, having a surface which can be placed on a subject's skin to be injected, and having an opening for allowing passage of a needle.
Across the independent claim, the inventive concept is centered on an intradermal injection device with a frictionally mounted reservoir and plunger, a predetermined force hierarchy, a plunger head complimentary to the reservoir dividing wall, and a selectively protruding or retracting hollow needle.
Stated Advantages
Safety against needle stick and reuse.
Reduced overfill/waste and reduced waste and antigen dose.
Reduced training and improved logistics.
Hidden needle.
Documented Applications
Self-administration and logistics for intradermal injection, including use directed to addressing limitations of the Mantoux technique.
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