U.S. patent application number 09/888669 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-25 for injection device.
Invention is credited to Hjertman, Birger, Kirchhofer, Fritz, Levander, Gustav, Ljungquist, Olle, Michel, Peter.
Application Number | 20010034507 09/888669 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 4550424 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010034507 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kirchhofer, Fritz ; et
al. |
October 25, 2001 |
Injection device
Abstract
The invention relates to an injection device for injecting a
selectable dose of a liquid substance from an ampoule (2), located
in an ampoule holder (1), comprising a piston (12) and a
sleeve-shaped mechanism holder (3), mechanically coupled thereto,
in the interior of which a longitudinally shiftable shaft (4) is
provided which acts on the ampoule (2), the shaft (4) being
surrounded by an also longitudinally shiftable advancing sleeve
(5), mechanically coupled thereto, which in its upper end area is
closed by a lid (7). For selecting a dose of the liquid substance
to be injected, a dosing sleeve (6) with a stepped member (13) is
provided, which is disposed on the mechanism holder (3) in its
upper end area, the dose to be respectively administered being
adjustable by a rotation of the dosing sleeve (6) with the stepped
member (13).
Inventors: |
Kirchhofer, Fritz;
(Sumiswald, CH) ; Michel, Peter; (Burgdorf,
CH) ; Hjertman, Birger; (Vallingby, SE) ;
Levander, Gustav; (Helsingborg, SE) ; Ljungquist,
Olle; (Taby, SE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David E. Bruhn
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
220 South Sixth Street
Minneapolis
MN
55402-1498
US
|
Family ID: |
4550424 |
Appl. No.: |
09/888669 |
Filed: |
June 25, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09888669 |
Jun 25, 2001 |
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08983553 |
Jun 18, 1998 |
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6277101 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
604/211 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 5/24 20130101; A61M
5/31563 20130101; A61M 5/31553 20130101; A61M 5/3156 20130101; A61M
5/3158 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
604/211 |
International
Class: |
A61M 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 2, 1996 |
WO |
PCT/CH96/00115 |
Claims
1. Injection device for injecting a selectable dose of a liquid
substance from an ampoule (2), located in an ampoule holder (1),
comprising a piston (12) and a sleeve-shaped mechanism holder (3),
mechanically coupled thereto, in the interior of which a
longitudinally shiftable shaft (4) is provided which acts on the
ampoule (2), the shaft (4) being surrounded by an also
longitudinally shiftable advancing sleeve (5), mechanically coupled
thereto, which in its upper end area is closed by a lid (7),
characterized in that, for selecting a dose of the liquid substance
to be injected, a dosing sleeve (6) with a stepped member (13) is
provided which is disposed on the mechanism holder (3), in its
upper end area, whereby the dose to be respectively administered is
adjustable by a rotation of the dosing sleeve (6) with the stepped
member (13).
2. Injection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the
dosing sleeve (6) with the stepped member (13) surrounds the
advancing sleeve (5).
3. Injection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in
that a cam (8), arranged on the advancing sleeve (5), comes to a
stop upon pulling out the advancing sleeve (5) in the direction of
the lid (7) against the step of the stepped member (13),
respectively adjusted, and upon pressing down the advancing sleeve
(5), the cam (8) comes to a stop against a shoulder (18) of the
mechanism holder (3), resulting in the injection lift X.
4. Injection device according to one of the claims 1 to 3,
characterized in that, for the mechanical coupling of the shaft (4)
with the advancing sleeve (5), the shaft (4) is provided with a
toothing (17) which cooperates with a locking cam (10) of the
advancing sleeve (5).
5. Injection device according to one of the claims 1 to 4,
characterized in that the depth of tooth of the toothings (17) on
the shaft (4) corresponds to a step height of the stepped member
(13).
6. Injection device according to one of the claims 1 to 5,
characterized in that, in the area of its lower end, the mechanism
holder (3) comprises a catch (11) which cooperates with the
toothing (17) of the shaft (4).
7. Injection device according to one of the claims 1 to 6,
characterized in that the dosing sleeve (6) is composed of an
operating element (16) having a profile, a cylinder (15) with dose
imprint adjoining thereto, a catch stop (14), and the stepped
member (13) adjoining thereto.
8. Injection device according to one of the claims 1 to 7,
characterized in that the dose imprint on the cylinder (15) is
visible via a window (9) in the mechanism holder (3).
9. Injection device according to one of the claims 1 to 8,
characterized in that, in its interior, the mechanism holder (3)
comprises a multitude of bulges (19) into which the projections
(20) of the stepped member (13) catch.
10. Injection device according to one of the claims 1 to 9,
characterized for the administering of medicines.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to an injection device for injecting a
selectable dose of a liquid substance from an ampoule located in an
ampoule holder, comprising a sleeve-shaped mechanism holder
mechanically coupled thereto, in the interior of the mechanism
holder a longitudinally shiftable shaft with a piston disposed
thereon being provided which acts on the ampoule, wherein the shaft
being surrounded by an also longitudinally shiftable advancing
sleeve, mechanically coupled thereto, which in its upper end area
is closed by a lid.
[0002] Such an injection device is known from EP 0 373 321 B 1 that
consists of an ampoule sleeve for receiving the ampoule and a
delivering mechanism. In turn, this is composed of a cylindrical
piston shaft with an inner hollow cylinder and an outer hollow
cylinder which is formed in one piece with this and which exhibits
a guiding cam on its outer shell. A dosing ring is fixed radially
to the outer hollow cylinder. The dosing can be read off by means
of a scaling fastened to the outer perimeter of the dosing ring
through a sight glass set into the housing of the mechanism holder.
The delivering mechanism is disposed longitudinally movably in the
mechanism holder by means of a retaining spring and secured by a
lid screwable into the housing of the mechanism holder. The dosing
ring rests against the lid with the force of the retaining spring.
The housing of the mechanism holder is provided on its inside with
elongated slots of different length in which the corresponding
guiding cam of the delivering mechanism is able to glide. As a
result, the lift of the delivering mechanism is determined by the
length of the elongated slot cooperating with the guiding cam. The
adaptation of the dose to be administered to the needs of a patient
takes place exclusively by an authorized person, e.g. a physician.
A special-purpose wrench is necessary, by means of which an
interlocking ring of the device can be unlocked until the guiding
cam of the delivering mechanism is released from the respective
elongated slot. The physician is then able to select the desired
dose by rotation of the released delivering mechanism and renewed
catch of the guiding cam into a corresponding elongated slot.
[0003] Once selected, the dose cannot be varied without
considerable effort. In addition, based on the construction of the
delivering mechanism, the injection device can only be used for
delivering a single dose although possibly a sufficient supply of
medicine is still available in the ampoule. In order to administer
another dose of medicine, the ampoule sleeve must be unlocked from
the mechanism holder and disposed of together with the ampoule
possibly still containing medicine.
[0004] An injection device of generic type is known from EP 0 037
696 B 1 with which a dose of a liquid substance to be administered
can be taken from an ampoule via a transmission mechanism of
tractive force acting in one direction upon operating a locking
cap. The transmission mechanism of tractive force consists in that
one pushing part is equipped with a plurality of teeth and the
other pushing part with a pawl, which intermesh and therefore
effect the advance of the transmission mechanism of tractive force
only in one direction of ejection of the dose to be administered.
The maximum lift height and therefore the maximum dose to be
administered is limited via a notch and a stop. The operator of the
injection device is also able to select less than the maximum dose
by listening to the number of clicks which occur when, during the
advance, the teeth of the pushing part catch in the pawl. In this
connection, one click corresponds to the minimum dose. The
operating element, the locking cap, is pushed back up to a stop by
means of a spring.
[0005] This injection device is designed for extremely careful
operation since a click can easily be overheard and different doses
to be administered not be securely adjusted. In addition, no
display unit is foreseen for the dose to be selected.
[0006] The present invention is therefore based on the problem to
identify an injection device of the type described above which is
simple in the constructive design and simple in the handling and
with which the operator himself by simple movements is safely able
to select the dose to be administered.
[0007] This problem is thereby solved in that a dosing sleeve with
a stepped member is provided for selecting a dose of a liquid
substance to be injected, which is disposed on the mechanism holder
in its upper end area, wherein the dose to be respectively
administered being adjustable by a rotation of the dosing sleeve
with the stepped member.
[0008] In this case, the dosing sleeve is composed of an operating
element with a profile, an adjoining cylinder with dose imprint, a
catch stop, and the stepped member adjoining this. The constructive
coupling of the dosing sleeve to the injection device is thereby
characterized in that together with the stepped member and the
cylinder with the dose imprint it surrounds the advancing
sleeve.
[0009] The injection device according to the invention has the
fundamental advantage that a dose, adjusted once, can be applied
repeatedly; the user just has to load the injection device before
each injection. The selection of the dose to be applied is quite
easy due to a simple rotation of the dosing sleeve.
[0010] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be
taken from the dependent claims.
[0011] One embodiment of the invention is represented in the
figures.
[0012] It is shown in:
[0013] FIG. 1: the injection device according to the invention in
section;
[0014] FIG. 2: the dosing sleeve with stepped member in a
perspective view;
[0015] FIG. 3: a section along the line A-A in FIG. 1.
[0016] The injection device shown in FIG. 1 consists of the ampoule
holder 1 in which the ampoule 2 with the piston 12 and with the
liquid substance to be administered are located. The sleeve-shaped
mechanism holder 3 is mechanically coupled to the ampoule holder 1
by a thread or another suitable lock such as a bayonet lock. In the
interior of the mechanism holder 3, the longitudinally shiftable
shaft 4 is disposed acting on the piston 12 of the ampoule 2. The
shaft 4 is surrounded by the also longitudinally shiftable
advancing sleeve 5 mechanically coupled thereto, which is closed in
its upper end area by the lid 7. For selecting a dose of the liquid
substance to be injected, the dosing sleeve 6 with the stepped
member 13 is provided which is arranged on the mechanism holder 3
in its upper end area. In this case, the dosing sleeve 6 with the
stepped member 13 surrounds the advancing sleeve 5. The dose to be
respectively adjusted and to be administered is selectable by a
simple rotation of the dosing sleeve 6 with the stepped member 13.
The dosing sleeve 6 is mechanically coupled to the mechanism holder
3 via the catch stop 14. The dosing sleeve 6 consists, according to
FIG. 2, of the profiled operating element 16, the adjoining
cylinder 15 with the dose imprint, the catch stop 14, and the
stepped member 13 adjoining this. The cam 8 is disposed on the
advancing sleeve 5, which upon withdrawing the advancing sleeve 5
in the direction of the lid 7 comes to a stop against the step of
the stepped member 13 respectively adjusted. Upon pressing down the
advancing sleeve 5, the cam 8 comes to a stop against the shoulder
18 of the mechanism holder 3, resulting in the injection lift
X.
[0017] For mechanical coupling of shaft 4 with the advancing sleeve
5 the shaft 4 is provided with the toothing 17 which cooperates
with the locking cam 10 of the advancing sleeve 5. In this case,
the depth of tooth of the toothings 17 on the shaft 4 corresponds
to the step height of the stepped member 13. In the area of its
lower end, the mechanism holder 3 comprises the catch 11 which also
cooperates with the toothing 17 of the shaft 4. The dose imprint on
the cylinder 15 is visible via a window 9 in the mechanism holder
3. In its interior, the mechanism holder 3 comprises a plurality of
bulges 19 into which the projections 20 of the stepped member 13
catch. (FIG. 3) The shaft 4 is non-rotatably longitudinally
shiftable.
[0018] The mode of operation of the injection device according to
the invention is as follows:
[0019] The operator turns the dosing sleeve 6 with the stepped
member 13 until the desired dose imprint on the cylinder appears in
the window 9. Then, the injection device is loaded. FIG. 1 shows
this before the loading. For the loading, the advancing sleeve 5 is
pulled upward by the lid 7, mechanically coupled thereto, until the
cam 8 which is part of the advancing sleeve 5 comes to a stop
against the currently adjusted step of the stepped member 13. In
this case, the locking cam 10 of the advancing sleeve 5 glides over
the toothing 17 of the shaft 4, the teeth of which (not shown) are
arrow-shaped downward. In order to prevent that the shaft 4 is
nevertheless shifted upward at the same time, the catch 11 is
provided on the mechanism holder 3 which is not shiftable
longitudinally. Thus, the catch 11 braces itself into the toothing
17 and prevents motion of the shaft 4 upward. For administering the
selected dose, pressure in the downward direction is exerted by the
operator on the lid 7 and on the advancing sleeve 5 coupled
thereto. In this case, the locking cam 10 braces itself into the
toothing 17 and, so to say, takes the shaft 4 along and the piston
12 coupled to the shaft 4 exerts pressure on the ampoule 2 located
in the ampoule holder 1, with which the liquid substance is applied
by administering it through an injection needle (not shown). Upon
pressing down the advancing sleeve 5 by means of the lid 7, the
teeth of the toothing 17 also glide over the catch 11 of the
mechanism holder 3, wherein the catch 11 is out of mesh by means of
the selected arrow-shape of the teeth of the toothing 17. The
advance motion of the advancing sleeve 5 in the downward direction
lasts until the cam 8 comes to a stop against the shoulder 18 of
the mechanism holder 3 so that the selected dose of the liquid
substance is administered. The injection device is prepared by
renewed loading for one or more subsequent injections. The shaft 4
remains during the loading processes in the immediately
before-given state by means of the toothing of catch 11 with the
teeth of toothing 17. In particular, the shaft moves only in one
direction, that is so to say downward, while the advancing sleeve
lets itself move in two directions, so to say upward for loading
and downward for applying. The injection device according to the
invention can serve for the administering of medicine. However, it
is also possible to administer lotions and other liquid substances
with it.
[0020] The length of the injection lift X is determined by the
individual differences of the steps of the stepped member 13 such
that with an ampoule 2 with a specific diameter X is an integral
multitude of a dose unit.
* * * * *