U.S. patent number 3,675,766 [Application Number 05/008,625] was granted by the patent office on 1972-07-11 for multiple puncture injector device.
Invention is credited to Sol Roy Rosenthal.
United States Patent |
3,675,766 |
Rosenthal |
July 11, 1972 |
MULTIPLE PUNCTURE INJECTOR DEVICE
Abstract
A multiple puncture injector device for use in transcutaneous
injection, the injector having a handle hingedly connected to the
top surface of a base plate and movable between a use position in
which the handle extends outwardly of the base plate and a storage
position in which the handle is substantially parallel to the base
plate to facilitate storage thereof; the base plates may be
straight or arcuate; the handles may be locked in the use and
storage positions. The injectors can be packaged in vacuum-packed
hermetically sealed containers, which containers are connected one
to another in end-to-end relationship to facilitate the detachment
of a selected one of the packages.
Inventors: |
Rosenthal; Sol Roy (Chicago,
IL) |
Family
ID: |
21732685 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/008,625 |
Filed: |
February 4, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/367;
604/47 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
17/205 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
17/20 (20060101); A61b 019/02 (); B65d
081/20 () |
Field of
Search: |
;206/63.4,63.2,56A,56AB
;128/253,333,314,315,329 ;15/258 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
4,609 |
|
1915 |
|
GB |
|
1,309,352 |
|
Oct 1962 |
|
FR |
|
Primary Examiner: Dixson, Jr.; William T.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A transcutaneous injector comprising a base plate having a top
surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of tines carried by said
bottom surface of said base plate extending outwardly therefrom and
substantially normal thereto, and a one-piece handle integral with
said top surface of said base plate and hingedly connected thereto,
said one-piece handle having a reduced cross section adjacent to
said top surface of said base plate, said one-piece handle being
movable between a use position in which said one-piece handle is
substantially normal to said base plate and extends outwardly
therefrom and a storage position in which said one-piece handle is
substantially parallel to said base plate to facilitate the storage
of said injector.
2. The transcutaneous injector set forth in claim 1, wherein said
base plate and said handle are formed of a synthetic plastic
resin.
3. The transcutaneous injector set forth in claim 1, wherein said
tines are formed from a metal plate carried by said base plate.
4. The transcutaneous injector set forth in claim 1, wherein said
handle is integral with said base plate.
5. The transcutaneous injector set forth in claim 1, wherein said
handle is rectangular in shape, and hinged to said base plate along
the entire length of said handle.
6. The transcutaneous injector set forth in claim 1, wherein said
handle is S-shaped, thereby to provide opposed gripping surfaces on
the side walls thereof.
7. The transcutaneous injector set forth in claim 1, wherein said
handle is positioned diagonally along said top surface of said base
plate.
8. The transcutaneous injector set forth in claim 1, wherein said
handle is positioned parallel to opposed side edges of said base
plate.
9. A prepared package for a transcutaneous injector comprising a
container, a transcutaneous injector entirely disposed within said
container, said injector including a base plate having a top
surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of tines carried by said
bottom surface of said base plate extending outwardly therefrom and
substantially normal thereto, said tines carrying a biological
substance on the distal ends thereof, and a one-piece handle
integral with said top surface of said base plate and hingedly
connected thereto, said handle having a reduced cross section
adjacent to said top surface of said base plate, said one-piece
handle being movable between a use position in which said one-piece
handle is substantially normal to said base plate and extends
outwardly therefrom and a storage position in which said one-piece
handle is substantially parallel to said base plate, said one-piece
handle being in said storage position when said injector is
disposed within said container, and means for maintaining said
tines out of contact with said container when said injector is
disposed within said container.
10. The prepared package set forth in claim 9, wherein said
container includes a substantially rigid bottom portion adapted to
house said injector therein to maintain said tines out of contact
with said substantially rigid bottom portion.
11. The prepared package set forth in claim 9, wherein said base
plate includes a pair of abutment surfaces positioned along opposed
side edges of said base plate, and said container includes a
substantially rigid bottom portion having a pair of shoulders
carried by opposed side walls thereof, each of said shoulders being
adapted to receive a respective one of said abutment surfaces, said
shoulders being spaced from the bottom wall of said rigid bottom
portion a distance greater than the distance between the distal end
of said tines and said abutment surfaces, whereby to maintain said
tines out of contact with said container when said injector is
disposed within said container.
12. The prepared package set forth in claim 9, wherein said means
for maintaining said tines out of contact with said container
include a substantially rigid U-shaped cover adapted to support
said base plate, the bottom wall of said U-shaped cover being
spaced apart in use from said base plate a distance greater than
the length of said tines so as to maintain said tines out of
contact with said container.
13. The prepared package set forth in claim 9, wherein said means
for maintaining said tines out of contact with said container
include an annular member disposed within said container and
adapted to receive said injector with the tines thereof disposed
within said annular member.
14. The prepared package set forth in claim 9, wherein said
container is vacuum-packed and hermetically sealed.
15. The prepared package set forth in claim 9, wherein said
container is a vacuum-packed hermetically sealed metal foil.
16. The prepared package set forth in claim 9, wherein said package
is connected to another of said prepared package in end-to-end
relationship, said connection being adapted easily to be broken to
detach a selected one of said prepared packages.
17. The prepared package set forth in claim 9, wherein said package
is vacuum-packed and hermetically sealed and connected to another
of said vacuum-packed hermetically sealed prepared package in
end-to-end relationship, said connection being adapted easily to be
broken to detach a selected one of said prepared packages.
18. A transcutaneous injector comprising an arcuate base plate
having a concave top surface and a convex bottom surface, a
plurality of tines carried by said convex bottom surface of said
base plate and extending outwardly therefrom, and a one-piece
handle integral with and hingedly connected to said concave top
surface of said base plate and extending outwardly therefrom, said
one-piece handle having a reduced cross section adjacent to said
base plate, said one-piece handle being movable between a use
position and a storage position, said injector being adapted to be
rolled against the skin to puncture the skin at a plurality of
points and introduce a biological substance carried by said tines
into the body.
19. The transcutaneous injector set forth in claim 18, wherein said
handle is fixedly connected to said concave top surface of said
base plate and forms a plane substantially parallel to the
direction said injector is rolled when introducing the biological
substance into the body.
20. A prepared package for a transcutaneous injector comprising a
container, a transcutaneous injector entirely disposed within said
container, said injector including a base plate having a top
surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of tines carried by said
bottom surface of said base plate extending outwardly therefrom and
substantially normal thereto, said tines carrying a biological
substance on the distal ends thereof, and a handle hingedly
connected to said top surface of said base plate, said handle being
movable between a use position in which said handle is
substantially normal to said base plate and extends outwardly
therefrom and a storage position in which said handle is
substantially parallel to said base plate, said handle being in
said storage position when said injector is disposed within said
container, a substantially rigid U-shaped cover adapted to support
said base plate, the bottom wall of said U-shaped cover being
spaced apart in use from said base plate a distance greater than
the length of said tines so as to maintain said tines out of
contact with said container when said injector is disposed
therewithin.
Description
This invention relates to a multiple puncture injector device for
use in transcutaneous injection and more particularly to an
injector with either a straight base or an arcuate base with a
handle hingedly secured thereto to facilitate easy storage
thereof.
An important object of the present invention is to provide a
transcutaneous injector comprising a base plate having a top
surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of tines carried by the
bottom surface of the base plate extending outwardly therefrom and
substantially normal thereto, and a handle hingedly connected to
the top surface of the base plate, the handle being movable between
a use position in which the handle is substantially normal to the
base plate and extends outwardly therefrom and a storage position
in which the handle is substantially parallel to the base plate to
facilitate the storage of the injector.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a prepared
package for an injector of the type set forth including a
vacuum-packed hermetically sealed container disposed completely
about the injector when the handle of the injector is in the
storage position.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a series of
prepared packages connected one to another in end-to-end
relationship, the connections being adapted easily to be broken to
detach a selected one of the series of prepared packages without
detaching the others of the series of prepared packages, each of
the packages being of the type set forth with the containers
thereof having connecting flanges extending outwardly
therefrom.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a
transcutaneous injector comprising an arcuate base plate having a
concave top surface and a convex bottom surface, a plurality of
tines carried by the convex bottom surface of the base plate and
extending outwardly therefrom, and a handle connected to the
concave top surface of the base plate and extending outwardly
therefrom, the injector being adapted to be rolled against the skin
to puncture the skin at a plurality of points and introduce a
biological substance carried by the tines into the body.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a
prepared package for an injector with an arcuate base plate of the
type set forth, the package including a vacuum-packed hermetically
sealed container disposed completely about the injector when the
handle of the injector is in the storage position.
The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,
together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be
understood by reference to the following specification taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a view in vertical section of a transcutaneous injector
incorporating therein features of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a series of prepared packages for
the injector of FIG. 1, one of the prepared packages having the
cover off to show the inside arrangement thereof;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view partly in vertical section of a
series of prepared packages for the injector of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the series of prepared
packages of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a handle for the
injector of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a handle for the
injector of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of an injector having a fixed
handle and an arcuate base;
FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the injector of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of an injector having a hinged
handle and an arcuate base;
FIG. 10 is a side elevational view partly in vertical section of a
series of prepared packages for the injector of FIGS. 1;
FIG. 11 is a view in vertical section of the injector of FIG. 9
disposed within a vacuum-packed hermetically sealed container;
FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of a series of the packages of
FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a plan view of an embodiment of the transcutaneous
injector of FIG. 1;
FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the injector of FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a view in vertical section of an injector mounted in a
vacuum-packed hermetically sealed container;
FIG. 16 is a plan view of the container of FIG. 15 without the
injector disposed therewithin;
FIG. 17 is a view in vertical section of a transcutaneous injector
having means for locking the handle thereof in the use and storage
positions thereof; and
FIG. 18 is a side elevational view partly broken away of the
injector of FIG. 17.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is disclosed an injector 100 having a
substantially flat base plate 101, the base plate 101 including a
top surface 102 and a bottom surface 103 spaced apart and parallel
thereto. Extending upwardly from opposed side edges of the bottom
surface 102 are two spaced-apart and generally parallel abutment
surfaces 104, each of the abutment surfaces 104 leading to a
shoulder 105 generally parallel to the top surface 102. Two
parallel spaced-apart grooves 106 are cut into the bottom surface
103 and extend for a predetermined distance from the bottom surface
103 toward the top surface 102, the grooves 106 being spaced apart
a preselected distance to receive therein a metal plate 107 having
upturned flanges 108, the flanges 108 being spaced apart a
predetermined distance and being of a predetermined length securely
to fit within the grooves 106. The metal plate 107 may be mounted
in the base plate 101 in a variety of ways, the above-described
method being selected merely for purposes of illustration.
Outwardly depending from and substantially normal to the metal
plate 107 are a plurality of tines 110, the tines 110 carrying on
the ends thereof distal from the metal plate 107 a biological
substance 111.
The injector 100 is provided with a handle 115, the handle 115
being connected to the top surface 102 of the base plate 101 and
positioned generally parallel to the side edges of the base plate
101, the handle 115 further including two spaced-apart and parallel
side walls 116 interconnected by a top wall 117 and two parallel
spaced-apart end walls 118. The handle 115 is hingedly connected to
the top surface 102 of the base plate 101 by a hinge 120, the hinge
120 being integral with the handle 115 and the base plate 101 and
being of reduced cross section as compared to the handle 115. The
handle 115 is movable between a use position, as shown in FIG. 1,
in which the handle 115 is substantially normal to the base plate
101 and extends outwardly therefrom and a storage position in which
the handle 115 is substantially parallel to the base plate 101 to
facilitate the storage of the injector 100, all as hereinafter
explained.
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown in the left-hand portion
thereof the injector 100 in position to be packaged, the injector
100 being provided with a U-shaped cover 125, the U-shaped cover
125 including two parallel spaced-apart side walls 126
interconnected by a bottom wall 127, the top edge of each of the
side walls 126 forming an abutment surface 128. The side walls 126
of the U-shaped cover 125 are spaced apart a predetermined distance
so as to receive thereon the shoulders 105 of the injector 100 and
firmly to engage the abutment surfaces 104 of the injector 100 with
the adjacent side wall 126 of the U-shaped cover 125. The vertical
lengths of the side walls 126 are selected so as to position the
bottom wall 127 of the U-shaped cover 125 away from the tines 110
and the biological substances 111 carried thereon when the injector
100 is positioned in use on the U-shaped cover 125, thereby to
maintain the tines 110 out of contact with the container material
as hereinafter explained.
There is further shown in the right-hand portion of FIG. 2 a
container 130 for the combination of the injector 100 and the
U-shaped cover 125, the container 130 including a top layer 131 of
synthetic plastic resin film of the type which, when applied to a
solid surface and heated, molds itself into a shape conforming to
the outer adjacent surface of the solid. The top layer 131 has
extending outwardly completely around the periphery thereof a top
flange 132. The container 130 further includes a bottom layer 133
of synthetic plastic resin film of the type which, when applied to
a solid surface and heated, molds itself into a shape conforming to
the outer adjacent surface of the solid. The bottom layer 133 is
disposed about the U-shaped cover 125 to substantially encircle the
same and includes a bottom flange 134 extending completely around
the periphery of the U-shaped cover 125, which flange 134 is
substantially coextensive with the top flange 132. The top flange
132 and the bottom flange 134 are of the type of synthetic plastic
resin which seals when heated, thereby to form a container 130
suitable for the storage of the injector 100 when the tines 110
thereof carry a non-living biological substance thereon, the
container 130 being sealed after the injector 100 has been
sterilized with ethylene oxide gas or by other means well known in
the art. When the tines 110 of the injector 100 carry thereon a
living biological substance, the injector 100 must be stored under
vacuum and the container 130 must be hermetically sealed to prevent
the biological substance from being contacted by air or moisture.
To this end, the container 130 may be made from glass or a metal
foil, as previously disclosed in my co-pending patent application
entitled VACUUM-PACKED HERMETICALLY SEALED MULTIPLE PUNCTURE
DEVICE, filed on June 16, 1969, Ser. No. 833,299.
Intermediate adjacent containers 130, either the top flange 132 of
the bottom flange 134 or both are scored as at 135 to provide
connections between a series of prepared packages 140 connected one
to another in end-to-end relationship, the connections therebetween
being adapted easily to be broken to detach a selected one of the
series of prepared packages 140 without detaching the others of the
series of prepared packages.
There is further disclosed, as shown in FIG. 3, an injector 200
having a substantially flat base plate 201, the base plate 201
including a top surface 202 and a bottom surface 203 spaced apart
and parallel thereto. Extending upwardly from opposed side edges of
the bottom surface 202 are two spaced-apart and generally parallel
abutment surfaces 204 leading to a shoulder 205 generally parallel
to the top surface 202. Two parallel spaced-apart grooves (not
shown) are cut into the bottom surface 203 and extend for a
predetermined distance from the bottom surface 203 toward the top
surface 202, the grooves being spaced apart a preselected distance
to receive therein a metal plate 207 having upturned flanges (not
shown), the flanges being spaced apart a predetermined distance and
of a predetermined length securely to fit within the grooves.
Outwardly depending from and substantially normal to the metal
plate 207 are a plurality of tines 210, the tines 210 carrying on
the ends thereof distal from the metal plate 207 a biological
substance 211.
The injector 200 is provided with a handle 215, the handle 215
being connected to the top surface 202 of the base plate 201 and
positioned generally parallel to the side edges of the base plate
201, the handle 215 further including two spaced-apart and parallel
side walls 216 interconnected by a top wall 217 and two
spaced-apart end walls 218. The handle 215 is hingedly connected to
the top surface 202 of the base plate 201 by a hinge 220 being
integral with the handle 215 and being of reduced cross section as
compared to the handle 215. The handle 215 is movable between a use
position, as shown in the left-hand portion of FIG. 3, in which the
handle 215 is substantially normal to the base plate 201 and
extends outwardly therefrom and a storage position, as shown in the
middle portion of FIG. 3, in which the handle 215 is substantially
parallel to the base plate 201 to facilitate the storage of the
injector 200, all as hereinafter explained.
Referring now to the middle portion of FIG. 3, there is shown the
injector 200 in position to be packaged in a container 230, the
container 230 including a top layer 231 of synthetic plastic resin
film of the type which, when applied to a solid surface and heated,
molds itself into a shape conforming to the outer adjacent surface
of the solid. The top layer 231 has extending outwardly completely
around the periphery thereof, a top flange 232, see particularly
FIG. 4. The container 230 further includes a bottom layer 233 of
synthetic plastic resin which is rigid and retains its shape and
rigidity when subjected to moderately elevated temperatures, the
bottom layer 233 including two parallel spaced-apart side walls 236
interconnected by a bottom wall 237, the top edges of the side
walls 236 being formed into shoulders 238. A bottom flange 234
extends outwardly completely around the periphery of the bottom
layer 233, the bottom flanges 234 of adjacent containers 230 being
connected and scored as at 235 to provide connections between a
series of prepared packages 240 connected one to the other in
end-to-end relationship, the connection therebetween being adapted
easily to be broken to detach a selected one of the series of
prepared packages 230 without detaching the others of the series of
prepared packages.
The bottom layer 233 of the container 230 performs the same
function as the U-shaped cover 125 previously described in that the
side walls 236 and shoulders 238 thereon are spaced apart a
predetermined distance so as to receive thereon the shoulders 205
of the injector 200 and firmly to engage the abutment surface 204
of the injector 200 with the adjacent side wall 236 of the bottom
layer 233. The vertical lengths of the side walls 236 are selected
so as to position the bottom wall 237 of the bottom layer 233 away
from the tines 210 and the biological substance 211 carried thereby
when the injector 200 is positioned within the container 230,
thereby to maintain the tines 210 out of contact with the container
230. In lieu of the shoulders 238, an internal ridge (not shown)
positioned on the bottom wall 237 of the bottom layer 233 of the
container 230 may be used to support the injector 200 when the
injector 200 is disposed within the container 230, thereby to
maintain the tines 210 out of contact with the container 230. The
container 230 herein may also be made impervious to air and
moisture, i.e., hermetically sealed, for the storage of an injector
200 carrying on the tines 210 thereof a living biological
substance, all as hereinbefore explained.
There is further disclosed, as shown in FIG. 10, an injector 300
having a substantially flat base plate 301, the base plate 301
including a top surface 302 and a bottom surface 303 spaced apart
and parallel thereto. Extending upwardly from opposed side edges of
the bottom surface 302 are two spaced-apart and generally parallel
abutment surfaces 304 leading to a shoulder 305 generally parallel
to the top surface 302. Two parallel spaced-apart grooves (not
shown) are cut into the bottom surface 303 and extend for a
predetermined distance from the bottom surface 303 toward the top
surface 302, the grooves being spaced apart a preselected distance
to receive therein a metal plate 307 having upturned flanges (not
shown), the flanges being spaced apart a predetermined distance and
of a predetermined length securely to fit within the grooves.
Outwardly depending from and substantially normal to the metal
plate 307 are a plurality of tines 310, the tines 310 carrying on
the ends thereof distal from the metal plate 307 a biological
substance 311.
The injector 300 is provided with a handle 315, the handle 315
being connected to the top surface 302 of the base plate 301 and
positioned generally parallel to the side edges of the base plate
301, the handle 315 further including two spaced-apart and parallel
side walls 316 interconnected by a top wall 317 and two
spaced-apart end walls 318. The handle 315 is hingedly connected to
the top surface 302 of the base plate 301 by a hinge 320 being
integral with the handle 315 and being of reduced cross section as
compared to the handle 315. The handle 315 is movable between a use
position, as shown in the left-hand portion of FIG. 3, in which the
handle 315 is substantially normal to the base plate 301 and
extends outwardly therefrom and a storage position, as shown in the
middle portion of FIG. 10, in which the handle 315 is substantially
parallel to the base plate 301 to facilitate the storage of the
injector 300, as is hereinafter explained.
Referring now to the middle portion of FIG. 10, there is shown the
injector 300 in position to be packaged in a container 330, the
container 330 including a top layer 331 of a rigid synthetic
plastic resin having extending outwardly therefrom and completely
around the periphery thereof a top flange 332. The container 330
further includes a bottom layer 333 of a rigid synthetic plastic
resin, the bottom layer 333 including two parallel side walls 336
interconnected by a bottom wall 337. Spaced a preselected distance
from the bottom wall 337 along each of the side walls 336 is a
shoulder 338, the shoulders 338 being cut into the respective side
walls 336 to provide a portion 339 of the side walls 336 extending
above the shoulders 338 having a reduced thickness. The portions
339 of the side walls 336 extend upwardly and are formed into a
bottom flange 334 extending completely around the periphery of the
bottom layer 333, the bottom flanges 334 being substantially
coextensive with the upper flanges 332 and being secured and scored
as at 335 to provide connections between a series of prepared
packages 340 connected one to the other in end-to-end relationship,
the connections therebetween being adapted easily to be broken to
detach a selected one of the series of prepared packages 340
without detaching the others of the series of prepared
packages.
The side walls 336 and particularly the portions 339 having a
reduced thickness are spaced apart a predetermined distance so as
to receive therein and on the shoulders 338 formed thereby the
shoulders 305 of the injector 300 and firmly to engage the abutment
surfaces 304 of the injector 300 with the adjacent side walls 336
of the bottom layer 333 of the container 330. The lengths of the
side walls 336 are selected so as to position the injector 300
completely within the vertical extent thereof when the handle 315
of the injector 300 is in the storage position thereof and to
position the bottom wall 337 of the container 330 away from the
tines 310 and the biological substances 311 carried thereon when
the injector 300 is positioned for storage within the container
330, thereby to maintain the tines 310 out of contact with the
container 330. The container 330 herein may also be made impervious
to air and moisture, i.e., hermetically sealed, for the storage of
an injector 300 carrying on the tines 310 thereof a living
biological substance, all as hereinbefore explained.
With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is disclosed an injector 400
having an arcuate base plate 401, the arcuate base plate 401
including a concave top surface 402 and a convex bottom surface
403, the convex bottom surface 403 being spaced apart and generally
parallel to the top surface 402. Extending diagonally upwardly from
opposed side edges of the convex bottom surface 403 are two
spaced-apart abutment surfaces 404, each of the abutment surfaces
404 leading to a shoulder 405, the shoulders 405 extending
diagonally outwardly and away from the adjacent abutment surface
404 to form an inverted "V" therebetween. Two spaced-apart grooves
406 are cut into the convex bottom surface 403 extending toward the
concave top surface 402, the grooves 406 being spaced apart a
preselected distance to receive therein a metal plate 407 having
upturned flanges 408, the flanges 408 being spaced apart a
predetermined distance and being of a predetermined length securely
to fit within the grooves 406. Outwardly depending from the metal
plate 407 are a plurality of tines 410, the tines 410 carrying on
the ends thereof distal from the metal plate 407 a biological
substance 411.
The injector 400 is provided with a handle 415, the handle 415
being fixedly connected to the concave top surface 402 of the
arcuate base plate 401 as at 420. The handle 415 forms a plane
parallel to the direction in which the injector 400 is rolled to
introduce the biological substance 411 on the distal ends of the
tines 410 into a body, all as hereinafter explained.
With reference to FIG. 5, there is shown therein a portion of an
injector 500, the injector 500 having a base plate 501 with a top
surface 502. Disposed upon the top surface 502 of the injector 500
is a handle 515, the handle 515 being an alternate embodiment for
the handle 415 for the injector 400 or being an alternate
embodiment for the handle 115 of the injector 100. The handle 515
is hingedly connected as at 520 to the base plate 501, as
hereinbefore described with reference to injectors 100, 200 and
300. The handle 515 includes two spaced-apart generally parallel
side walls 516 interconnected by a pair of upstanding end walls 517
and a top wall 518. Each of the side walls 516 has a vertical
portion 521 extending downwardly from the top wall 518, a lower
arcuate portion 522 extending upwardly from the top surface 502 of
the base plate 501 and an arcuate gripping section 523 intermediate
the vertical portion 521 and the arcuate portion 522 and
interconnecting the same to form a handle 515 easily gripped by the
fingers to manipulate the injector 500.
With reference to FIG. 6, there is shown therein a portion of an
injector 600, the injector 600 having a base plate 601 with a top
surface 602. Disposed upon the top surface 602 of the injector 600
is a handle 615, the handle 615 being an alternate embodiment for
the handle 115 of the injector 100. The handle 615 is hingedly
connected as at 620 to the base plate 601, the hinged connections
620 being spaced apart to allow the handle 615 to assume a storage
position wherein the handle 615 is substantially parallel to the
base plate 601. The handle 615 is S-shaped and includes two
spaced-apart generally parallel side walls 616 interconnected by
two spaced-apart end walls 617 and a top wall 618. The side walls
616 are complementary in shape and are formed of a right-hand curve
as at 621 which leads to a left-hand curve as at 622, all as viewed
in FIG. 6, to form a handle 615 easily gripped by the fingers to
manipulate the injector 600.
With reference to FIGS. 9, 11 and 12, there is disclosed an
injector 700 having an arcuate base plate 701, the arcuate base
plate 701 including a concave top surface 702 and a convex bottom
surface 703 being spaced apart and generally parallel to the top
surface 702. Extending diagonally upwardly from opposed side edges
of the convex bottom surface 703 are two spaced-apart abutment
surfaces 704, each of the abutment surfaces 704 leading to a
shoulder 705, the shoulders 705 extending diagonally outwardly and
away from the adjacent abutment surface 704 to form an inverted "V"
therebetween. Two spaced-apart grooves (not shown) are cut into the
convex bottom surface 703 extending toward the concave top surface
702, the grooves being spaced apart a preselected distance to
receive therein a metal plate 707 having upturned flanges (not
shown), the flanges being spaced apart a predetermined distance and
being of a predetermined length securely to fit within the grooves.
Outwardly depending from the metal plate 707 are a plurality of
tines 710, the tines 710 carrying on the ends thereof distal from
the metal plate 707 a biological substance 711.
The injector 700 is provided with a handle 715, the handle 715
being connected to the concave top surface 702 of the arcuate base
plate 701 and including two spaced-apart arcuate and parallel side
walls 716 interconnected by a top wall 717 and end walls 718. The
handle 715 is hingedly connected to the concave top surface 702 of
the arcuate base plate 701 adjacent one of the side edges thereof
by a hinge 720, the hinge 720 being integral with the handle 715
and the arcuate base plate 701 and being of reduced cross section
as compared to the handle 715. The handle 715 is movable between a
use position (the solid line position in FIG. 9) in which the
handle 715 is spaced from the arcuate base plate 701 and a storage
position (the dotted line position in FIG. 9) in which the handle
715 is substantially parallel to the arcuate base plate 701 to
facilitate the storage of the injector 700, all as hereinafter
explained. The degree of curve of the side walls 716 of the handle
715 is selected so that the handle 715 securely fits adjacent to
the concave top surface 702 of the arcuate base plate 701 when the
handle 715 is in the storage position thereof.
Referring now to FIG. 11, there is shown the injector 700 in a
container 730, the container 730 including a top layer 731 of
synthetic plastic resin film of the type which, when applied to a
solid surface and heated, molds itself into a shape conforming to
the outer adjacent surface of the solid. The top layer 731 has
extending outwardly completely around the periphery thereof a top
flange 732. The container 730 further includes a bottom layer 733
of synthetic plastic resin which is rigid and retains its shape and
rigid character when subjected to moderately elevated temperatures,
the bottom layer 733 includes two parallel spaced-apart side walls
736 interconnected by a bottom wall 737, the top edge of the side
walls 736 being formed into shoulders 738. A bottom flange 734
extends outwardly completely around the periphery of the bottom
layer 733, the bottom flanges 734 of adjacent containers 730 being
connected and scored as at 735 to provide connections between a
series of prepared packages 740 connected one to the other in
end-to-end relationship, the connections therebetween being adapted
easily to be broken to detach a selected one of the series of
prepared packages 740 without detaching the others of the series of
prepared packages.
The bottom layer 733 of the hermetically sealed container 730
performs the same function as the U-shaped cover 125 previously
described in that the side walls 736 and shoulders 738 thereon are
spaced apart a predetermined distance so as to receive thereon the
shoulders 705 of the injector 700 and firmly to engage the abutment
surfaces 704 of the injector 700 with the adjacent side wall 736 of
the bottom layer 733. The vertical lengths of the side walls 736
are selected so as to position the bottom wall 737 of the bottom
layer 733 away from the tines 710 and the biological substance 711
carried thereby when the injector 700 is positioned in use within
the container 730, thereby to maintain the tines 710 out of contact
with the container 730. The container 730 herein may also be made
impervious to air and moisture, i.e., hermetically sealed, for the
storage of an injector 700 carrying on the tines 710 thereof a
living biological substance, all as hereinbefore explained.
Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, there is disclosed an injector 800
having a substantially flat base plate 801, the base plate 801
including a top surface 802 and a bottom surface 803 spaced apart
and parallel thereto. Extending upwardly from opposed side edges of
the bottom surface 802 are two spaced-apart and generally parallel
abutment surfaces 804. Two spaced-apart grooves 806 are cut into
the bottom surface 803 and extend diagonally upwardly toward the
top surface 802 for a predetermined distance from the bottom
surface 803, the grooves 806 being spaced-apart a preselected
distance to receive therein a metal plate 807 having diagonally
upturned flanges 808, the flanges 808 being spaced-apart a
predetermined distance and of a predetermined angle and being of a
predetermined length securely to fit within the grooves 806.
Outwardly depending from and substantially normal to the base plate
807 are a plurality of tines 810, the tines 810 carrying on the
ends thereof distal from the metal plate 807 a biological substance
811.
The injector 800 is provided with a handle 815, the handle 815
being connected to the top surface 802 of the base plate 801 and
positioned generally diagonally to the side edges of the base plate
801, i.e., from corner to corner thereof, the handle 815 further
including two spaced-apart and parallel side walls 816
interconnected by a top wall 817 and two spaced-apart end walls
818. The handle 815 is hingedly connected to the top surface 802 of
the base plate 801 by a hinge 820, the hinge 820 being integral
with the handle 815 and the base plate 801 and being of reduced
cross section as compared to the handle 815. The handle 815 is
movable between a use position in which the handle 815 is
substantially normal to the base plate 801 and extends outwardly
therefrom and a storage position in which the handle 815 is
substantially parallel to the base plate 801 to facilitate the
storage of the injector 100. The diagonal positioning of the handle
815 is advantageous in that it provides for a better gripping
surface when using the injector 800 for inoculation purposes.
Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, there is disclosed an injector 900
similar in construction to the injector 100 with the metal plate
907 being mounted to the base plate 901 in a fashion similar to
that disclosed in injector 800. It is seen, therefore, that the
metal plate 900 carrying the tines 910 depending therefrom may be
mounted to the base plate 901 by various methods, the particular
method chosen herein being a matter of choice.
The injector 900 may optionally include two buttons or knobs 905
depending from the bottom surface 903 of the base plate 901 and
spaced apart 180.degree., the number of knobs 905 in excess of two
and the angular placement thereof being a matter of choice. The
injector 900 is provided with a handle 915, which handle 915 is of
the same type as hereinbefore disclosed and may be positioned as
shown, generally parallel to the side edges of the base plate 901
or positioned diagonally with respect thereto.
There is further disclosed a container 930, which container may be
made of glass if the biological substance 911 carried by the tines
910 is a living substance to hermetically seal the same, the
container 930 including a side wall 931 and a bottom wall 932, a
top (not shown) is provided for the container 930, which top may be
hermetically sealed to the side wall 931. Disposed within the
container 930 is a spacer ring 935, the spacer ring 935 being
generally annular in shape and having spaced at 90.degree.
intervals around the periphery thereof beveled side spacers 936.
The beveled side spacers 936 serve to position the spacer ring 935
within the container 930 and to position the injector 900 in
registry over the spacer 935 when the injector 900 is introduced
into the container 930, as hereinafter explained. The spacer ring
930 is further provided with knob or button receptacles 937 spaced
in angular relationship corresponding to the angular relationship
between the knobs or buttons 905 depending from the base plate 901
of the injector 900 and the number of buttons 905 which may be
used. Upon introduction of the injector 900 into the container 930,
the beveled side spacers 936 of the spacer ring 935 guide the
injector 900 to a registry position above the spacer ring 935.
Thereafter, the injector 900 is rotated until the knobs or buttons
905 are positioned above and fit within the receptacles 937,
thereby to position the injector 900 in the storage condition
thereof within the receptacle 937, it being noted that the vertical
length of the spacer ring 935 is of sufficient distance to maintain
the tines 910 out of contact with the container 930. Subsequent
hermetic sealing of the container 930 under vacuum will provide for
a substantial shelf life of the living biological substance 911
carried by the tines 910.
Referring now to FIGS. 17 and 18, there is disclosed therein an
injector 1000 similar in construction to the injector 900 except
that there is provided spaced apart and upwardly extending and
generally parallel side walls 1004, each of the side walls 1004
carrying on the inside surface thereof two spaced-apart button
receptacles 1005 each positioned near a respective end of the side
wall 1004 adjacent to the top wall 1002 of the base plate 1001. The
handle 1015 is provided on each end wall 1018 thereof with a button
1019 adapted to fit within one of the receptacles 1005.
As shown in the drawings, when the handle 1015 is in the storage
position thereof, the full-line position in FIG. 17 and the
phantom-line position in FIG. 18, the buttons 1019 are positioned
within their respective button receptacles 1005, thereby to lock
the handle 1015 in the storage position thereof. When the handle
1015 is in the use position thereof, the phantom-line position in
FIG. 17 and the full-line position in FIG. 18, the handle 1015 is
maintained in position by the positioning of the handle of the
user. It will be appreciated that the side walls 1004 of the
injector 1000 are made of resilient material, thereby to permit
dislodgement of the buttons 1019 from the respective receptacles
1005 therefor in order to move the handle 1015 from the use
position thereof to the storage position thereof, the side walls
1004 having a vertical extent about the distance above the base
plate 1002 as the handle 1015 is in the storage position thereof.
It is further pointed out that the upwardly extending side walls
1004 are but one means for locking the handle 1015 in the desired
position thereof, it being understood that other friction members
may be used to accomplish the same purpose and it is intended that
the above-illustrated means is but one illustration of locking
means for the hinged handle of the present invention.
Further constructional details and the operation of the device will
now be described. The metal plates hereinbefore described are
relatively thin, about 0.025 millimeters thick and have depending
therefrom relatively short tines about 2 millimeters in length, the
tines being spaced apart from about 2 to 10 millimeters, depending
on the type of innoculation to be performed, the tines being spaced
from the edge of the base plate about 1.5 to about 3.5 millimeters.
Generally, the biological substance is applied to the distal 1
millimeter of the tines and thereafter dried or freeze-dried. The
biological substance is introduced into the body through the skin
when the injector and the tines are pressed by a person holding the
injector against the skin. The inoculation with a multiple puncture
disc having a substantially flat base plate of the type illustrated
in FIGS. 1 to 4 and 10 herein, is well known in the art and these
devices, in general, are the subject of U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,619,962;
3,072,122; 3,221,739 and 3,221,740, all issued to me.
The biological substance placed on the tines may be chosen from a
living virus such as small pox, measles, yellow fever, rabies,
influenza, mumps or german measles; a living bacteria such as
bacillus Calmette and Guerin (BCG), H37Ra (human attenuated
tubercle bacilli); a non-living substance for skin testing for
tuberculins, histoplamims, coccidioidins, sensitins in general or
allergens; or a non-living substance for vaccinating for typhoid,
paratyphoid, cholera or pertussis. Particularly where the
biological substance is a living or visible bacteria or virus,
prolonged contact with air or moisture is detrimental and the shelf
life of any of the injectors described herein carrying a viable
biological substance can be substantially increased by maintaining
the injector under vacuum after the drying or freeze-drying of the
biological substance on the tines.
The biological substance may be freeze-dried on the tines by a
process described in the aforementioned U.S. patents granted to me,
and during the time that the injectors are in the vacuum chamber
subsequent to the freeze-drying of the biological substance, the
container materials may be applied thereto to insure the retention
of a vacuum within the containers if the vacuum is desired to be
retained. Alternately, and particularly where the injectors carry a
living biological substance, the injectors with the freeze-dried
biological substance may be transported from the chamber for
freeze-drying to a second vacuum chamber wherein the vacuum-packed
hermetically sealed containers are applied thereto, which container
may be made of plastic glass or metal foil.
As may be seen, there has been provided an inoculation device which
is smaller, lighter, easier to manufacture and easier to use than
the inoculation devices heretofore provided. For instance, the
handles of the inoculation devices described in my
previously-mentioned co-pending application are on the order of
about 30 millimeters high and about 15 millimeters in diameter,
whereas the inoculation devices of the present invention have flat
handles about 15 millimeters by 15 millimeters square and only
about 1 to 2 millimeters thick. The inoculation devices of the
present invention may carry either living biological substances or
non-living biological substances; however, if a living biological
substance is used, then the injector must be vacuum-packed and
hermetically sealed. Even in the case where a synthetic plastic
material is used to package an injector carrying a life biological
substance, the injector so packaged may be introduced into a
suitable container and thereafter hermetically sealed under vacuum
to provide a predetermined shelf life for the injector. In such a
case as this, several injectors packaged in plastic may be
introduced into the same container for subsequent hermetic sealing
thereof.
In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been
provided an injector device for use in transcutaneous injections
and package therefor, while there has been described what is at
present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention,
it will be understood that various modifications may be made
therein and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such
modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the
invention.
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