U.S. patent number 3,815,594 [Application Number 05/279,644] was granted by the patent office on 1974-06-11 for needleless inoculator.
Invention is credited to Norman R. Doherty.
United States Patent |
3,815,594 |
Doherty |
June 11, 1974 |
NEEDLELESS INOCULATOR
Abstract
A needleless injector is provided with a body portion having a
chamber for receiving a vial containing a fluid material.
Adjustable force applying means are positioned coaxially with the
vial in order to discharge the contents thereof through a bore and
into an injection head. Improved electrically operated means are
provided for cocking a spring member which is released by a
manually operable trigger for dispensing the fluid from the
head.
Inventors: |
Doherty; Norman R.
(Farmingdale, NY) |
Family
ID: |
23069850 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/279,644 |
Filed: |
August 10, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/68 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
5/30 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
5/30 (20060101); A61m 031/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/173H,DIG.1,218P,218A,218C,218F,218D,218R,213,216,215
;124/32 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gaudet; Richard A.
Assistant Examiner: Recla; Henry J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: King; Leonard H.
Claims
What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:
1. A needleless injector for discharging fluid from a sealed vial
having a puncturable member at one end and an axially displaceable
plug at the other end, said injector comprising:
a. a power pack section;
b. a magnetizable core slidably mounted in said power pack section
for axial movement between a latched position and an actuated
position;
b'. means for magnetizing said core for axial movement thereof;
c. latch means for holding said core in said latched position;
d. trigger means for disengaging said latch means;
e. first spring means for positively driving said core from said
latched position to said actuated position after said trigger means
disengages said latch means;
f. means coaxial with said core and axially displaceable as a
result of the movement thereof for axially displacing the plug in
the vial to thereby displace the fluid to the vial;
g. a vial support section and a discharge head coupled to said
power pack section, said vial support section being coaxial with
said core and including a piercing member for puncturing the end of
the vial opposite the plug; and
h. means for providing fluid communication between the vial and
said discharge head.
2. The injector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said power pack
section includes means for preventing rotation of said core.
3. The injector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said power pack
section includes means for varying the force of said first spring
means.
4. The injector in accordance with claim 3 wherein said force
varying means comprises a cap rotatably mounted on said core and
having a plurality of indicia that are registrable with a
non-rotatable portion of said power pack section.
5. The injector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plunger is
coaxially slidable within said core and second spring means are
further included for urging said plunger against the axially
movable plug of the vial for displacing the fluid therein.
6. The injector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first
spring means comprises a plurality of belleville washers positioned
about said core.
7. The injector in accordance with claim 1 further including means
for removably coupling said vial support section and said discharge
head to said power pack section.
8. The injector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vial
support section comprises a sleeve, a tubular rod coupled to said
sleeve, said piercing member being tubular and integral with said
rod, first valve means in said rod, a bore in said rod for
providing fluid communication between said piercing member and said
discharge head, and third spring means for urging said piercing
member into the puncturable member of the vial.
9. The injector in accordance with claim 8 further including means
for preventing relative rotation between said sleeve and said vial
support section.
10. The injector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said discharge
head comprises a hollow body portion, a passageway for providing
fluid communication between the interior of said body portion and
the vial, piston means slidable within said body portion, at least
one discharge orifice in said body portion, second valve means
intermediate said discharge orifice and said piston means and
fourth spring means for biasing said piston means to a position
normally closing said second valve means.
Description
The aforementioned Abstract is neither intended to define the
invention of the application which, of course, is measured by the
claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the
invention in any way.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fluid injection means
but more particularly to an improved needleless injector.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The patent literature is replete with many examples of needleless
injectors. Perhaps the best example of this type of device
heretofore available is the structure shown in the Zimmet et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,461,867, granted on Aug. 19, 1969. The Zimmet et
al. patent teaches the use of a body member having means for
supporting a vial and means coaxial with the vial for expressing
the fluid therefrom. The injector is provided with means for
controlling the fluid issuing from the vial under pressure. On a
second and parallel axis there is also provided a chamber in fluid
communication with the vial, as well as a plunger for forcing the
fluid from the second chamber into a discharge head that includes
still another valve. A hand operated lever is provided for loading
a spring that actuates the plunger into the second chamber.
While the Zimmet et al patent does teach relatively effective means
for injecting fluid without a needle, there are several
shortcomings in the device. First of all, the hand operated lever
for loading the plunger spring is somewhat awkward to use in that
two hands are required. That is, one hand must grip and securely
hold the body of the device while the other hand must be used to
pivot the lever about a pin. Secondly, separate forces on two
different parallel axes must be applied in order to discharge the
fluid from the vial and then discharge the fluid from the head.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
By way of contrast, the present invention provides a relatively
simple, hand-held device that may be cocked electrically and which
requires the use of only one hand for this purpose. An elongated
tubular body is provided with a spring-loaded, magnetizable core
member that is adapted to be inserted within an electrically
energizable coil. When current is passed through the coil, a
magnetic field will be induced and the core member will be axially
displaced thereby while a spring loaded trigger and latch will
automatically lock the core member in its displaced position. The
device is then operated merely by depressing the trigger so as to
free the core member from the latch. When the core member is
displaced a plunger carried thereby is coaxially inserted into a
vial containing the fluid. A valve that is coaxial with and
downstream of the vial controls the flow of fluid therefrom to a
discharge head which is also provided with a vial for metering the
quantity of fluid that is to be discharged.
One embodiment of the present invention was built to operate at
nominal 120 volts A.C. and delivered a volume of fluid which was
adjustable from 0 to 0.6 cc's. The device is completely divorced
from electrical sources when applied to the patient and thus avoids
accidental electrical shocks. The power pack section is readily
removable and reattachable to the head and vial support sections.
The use of a solenoid type device for cocking the instrument
provides inherently durable structure.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide
improved injection apparatus that does not require the use of a
needle for piercing tissue.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an
improved electrical cocking structure for the needleless injector
comprising the present invention.
A feature of the present invention is that the vial containing
fluid and the plunger for discharging the fluid are located on a
common axis.
Still another feature of this invention is that the vial support
section and the discharge head are readily separable and
interchangeable with respect to the power pack section.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention
will, in part, be pointed out with particularity, and will, in
part, become obvious from the following more detailed description
of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawing, which forms an integral part thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the various figures of the drawing like reference characters
designate like parts.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially broken away and partially
in section, illustrating the structure of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is an elevational view, partially broken away and partially
in section, illustrating the injector comprising the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view illustrating a portion of
the power pack section of the present invention;
FIG. 3A is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view illustrating
a constructional feature of the power pack section of this
invention;
FIG. 4 is an end elevational view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG.
3;
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal, exploded view, partially broken away and
partially in section, illustrating the components of the power pack
section comprising this invention;
FIG. 5A is a transverse, sectional view, taken along line 5A--5A of
FIG. 5;
FIG. 6 is a view in elevation of one of the components of the power
pack section of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal, elevational view of the combined vial
support section and discharge head of the present invention;
FIG. 7A is an end elevational view taken along line 7A--7A of FIG.
7;
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal, exploded view, partially broken away,
illustrating internal structure of the vial support section;
FIG. 9 is a longitudinal, sectional view illustrating additional
internal structure of the vial support section;
FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B are fragmentary, longitudinal views on an
enlarged scale and partially in section, illustrating further
details of the structure shown in FIG. 9;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged, sectional view of the discharge head
comprising this invention;
FIG. 11 and FIG. 11A are end elevational views of alternative
embodiments of the discharge head of this invention; and
FIG. 12 is a transverse, sectional view taken along line 12--12 of
FIG. 2.
Referring now to the drawing and specifically to FIG. 1, there is
shown an improved, needleless, hypodermic injector 20 comprising
the present invention. The injector 20 is comprised of three basic
sections. The first section is the power pack 22, the second or
intermediate section is the vial support 24 while the third section
is the discharge head portion 26. The power pack section 22 and the
vial support section 24 are removably coupled to each other by
means of a bayonet arrangement comprising radially inwardly
directed pins 28 and 30 of different sizes (FIG. 3) that mate with
suitably sized, shaped and located L-shaped slots 32 and 33 (FIG.
7). For purposes to be disclosed subsequently, there is also
provided a guide pin 34 extending radially outward. In the
embodiment illustrated the guide pin 34 is a screw that is
threadably received in a tapped hole 35.
Turning now to FIGS. 3-6, it will be seen that the power pack
section 22 is comprised of a tubular housing 36, which, for
purposes to be disclosed hereinafter, includes an aperture 38
through one wall thereof, a pair of internal, axially spaced apart
annular grooves 40, a second aperture 42 formed in one wall thereof
intermediate the annular grooves 40 and an elongated, axially
extending slot 44. A trigger 46 is provided that includes a recess
48 on the underside thereof at one end, a transversely extending
lip 50 at the other end and a downwardly depending ear 52
intermediate the recess 48 and the lip 50. The trigger 46 is
pivotally mounted within the slot 44 by means of a pin 54 that
extends through a hole 56 formed in the ear 52 and a chordally
directed pair of aligned holes 58 formed in the wall of the housing
36. The axis of the pin 54 is substantially parallel to the
transversely extending lip 50. A blind recess 62 is formed in the
wall of the housing 36 in order to receive one end of a generally
radially oriented, external compression spring 64. The other end of
the compression spring 64 is received in the recess 48 formed in
the underside of the trigger 46. For esthetic reasons, the ends of
the holes 58 may be plugged after the mounting pin 54 is inserted
therethrough. Finally, the housing 36 is provided with an internal,
transverse wall 66 positioned approximately at the location of the
pair of holes 58. An axially extending bore 68 is formed in the
transverse wall 66 for reasons which will become apparent
hereinafter.
Continuing with the description of the power pack section 22, there
is also provided, as shown in FIG. 5, a central, tubular core,
generally designated by the reference character 70, which is
located within the housing 36. The tubular core 70 is comprised of
an elongated, axially extending cylindrical portion 72 terminating
in a first transversely enlarged diameter portion 74. There is also
provided a second enlarged diameter portion 76 as well as two
additional portions 78 and 80 having relatively smaller diameters.
A pair of transverse walls 82 and 83 are defined between the
diametrical portions 78 and 80 and between the diametrical portions
76 and 78, respectively. The core member 70, as shown, for example,
in FIG. 5, terminates at one end in a transverse wall 84 having an
axially oriented bore 86 therethrough. The opposite end of the core
70 is provided with external threads 88.
A hollow, axially movable rod 90 is positioned within the core 70
and is provided with an enlarged, first head portion 92 at one end
thereof. The opposite end of the rod 90 is also provided with a
second head portion 94. In the embodiment illustrated the second
head portion 94 is formed by a screw that is threadably received
within the end of the rod 90. Thus, the rod 90 is axially slidable
within and relative to the core 70 but, by virtue of the head
portions 92 and 94 at its opposite ends, is captured and the axial
movement thereof is limited.
A plurality of belleville washers 96 are mounted on the tubular
portion 72 in abutment at one end with the diameter 74 in order to
form a resilient, spring-like biasing member. A collar 97 having a
single flat surface 98 formed on the periphery thereof, is loosely
mounted on the tubular portion 72 in order to capture the
belleville washers 96. Undercuts 100 are formed on axially opposite
sides of the collar 97 and receive resilient washers 102. In the
assembled condition within the housing 36, the enlarged diameter
portion 76 abuts the transverse wall 66 and two retaining rings 104
that are received in the annular grooves 40, are mounted about the
collar 97 proximate the axially spaced ends thereof. Thus, the
collar 97 is prevented from moving axially. A radially extending
pin 106 extends through the opening 42 in the housing 36 and is
provided with a headed inner end 108 that bears against the flat
peripheral surface 98 of the collar 97. This construction also
prevents rotational movement of the collar 97. However, the core 70
is slidable in an axial direction relative to the collar 97.
An elongated compression spring 110 is positioned within the
tubular rod 90 and also extends through the tubular core 70 for
biasing the rod 90 with respect to the core 70. The left hand end
of the compression spring 110 is provided with an internal
stiffening rod 112 as shown in FIG. 5. A magnetizable cap member
114 is provided with internal threads 116 that mate with the
threads 88 formed on the core member 72 in order to form an
integral but separable unit. A conical seat 118 is also provided in
the cap member 114 in order to receive the left hand end of the
stiffening rod 112. In the assembled condition the cap member 114
bears against one of the resilient washers 102 and is telescopingly
positioned within the housing 36. On the outside surface of the cap
member 114 there is provided a plurality of indicia 119 which, in
the embodiment illustrated, take the form of consecutive numbers.
The indicia 119 are positioned along a helical path and are
arranged to register through the opening 38 formed in the housing
36 so as to provide an indication of the dosage to be discharged.
This setting determines the travel of member 70 when the spring
pressure is released as described hereinafter. As shown in FIGS. 7
and 8, the vial supporting section 24 is comprised of a housing 120
on one end of which the bayonet slots 32 and 33 are formed. The
bayonet type coupling renders it a simple matter to uncouple the
vial support section 24 from the power pack section 22 when the
vial V must be replaced. This construction also facilitates
sterilization of the discharge head section 26. The housing 120 is
further provided with an internal, annular lip 121 and a pair of
diametrically opposed, axially extending slots 122 through which
the contents of a vial V are visible. Internally of the housing
there is provided a tubular sleeve 124 having a pair of
diametrically opposed, axially extending slots 125 aligned with
slots 122 and a transverse wall 126 formed at one end thereof. A
threaded opening 128 is formed in the wall 126. The sleeve 124 is
further provided with a relatively narrow and relatively short
axially extending slot 130 near the end opposite the wall 126. The
slot 130 is angularly offset from the diametrically opposed slots
122 and receives the guide pin 34 for preventing rotation of the
sleeve 124. As shown in FIG. 12, the guide pin 34 does not touch
the vial V which has a pierceable head end H, an axially movable
integral plug P and which is positioned internally of the sleeve
124. In the assembled condition, the left hand end surface 132 of
the sleeve 124 abuts the transverse wall 82 formed between the
diametrical portions 78 and 80 of the member 70.
A tubular rod 134 (FIG. 9) is provided with external threads at one
end thereof that mate with the threads 128 formed in the sleeve
124. A plug 136, having a fine, central bore 138, is provided with
a tubular piercing member 140 that is in fluid communication with
the bore 138. An elongated compression spring 137 is positioned
about the tubular rod 134. One end of the spring 137 bears against
the end wall 126 of the sleeve 124 while the other end of the
spring 137 bears against the annular lip 121 of the housing 120. In
the assembled condition, the piercing member 140 extends through
the end H of the vial V in order to receive the fluid therein. At
this time, it should be noted that the head portion 94 of the rod
90 bears against and axially pushes the plug P within the vial V so
as to force the fluid into and through the piercing member 140 and
the bore 138. The plug 136 is captured within the tubular rod 134
by means of mating threads 142 and is also provided with a sealing
ring 144 that is secured in an annular groove 146 formed on the
outside surface of the plug 136. The sealing ring 144 is positioned
within a counterbored recess 148 formed in the left hand end of the
tubular rod 134 as shown in FIG. 9.
An internal chamber or cavity 150 is provided in the tubular rod
134 so as to be in communication with the bore 138. A bore 152 is
also formed in the tubular rod 134 and is in fluid communication
with the cavity 150 and thus with the bore 138. A rod 154 is
slidably positioned within the cavity 150 and, at one end thereof,
is provided with a conical neck portion 156 on which is mounted a
resilient sealing member 158. As shown in FIG. 9A, the left hand
end of the neck 156 abuts the right hand end of the plug 136 and
the sealing member 158 is positioned about the bore 138. At the
opposite end of the rod 154, as shown in FIG. 9, there is provided
a reduced diameter portion 160 that forms a transverse wall 162 in
combination with the body portion 154. A compression spring 164
that normally urges the rod 154 and the sealing member 158 to the
left (FIG. 9), is positioned about the reduced diameter portion 160
and extends between the transverse wall 162 of the rod 154 and the
transverse end wall of the cavity 150.
The right hand end of the tubular rod 134 (FIG. 9) terminates in a
first diametrical portion 166, an annular undercut 168 and a
conical tip 170. The bore 152 extends through the tip 170. A first
plastic washer 172, which may be made of Teflon, is positioned
about the diametrical portion 166 and a resilient, elastomeric
washer 174 is mounted on the undercut 168. A plastic cap member
176, which also may be made of Teflon, is slipped over the washer
174. As shown in FIG. 9B, the cap member 176 is also captured
within the undercut 168. The conical tip 170 serves to capture the
cap member 176 which is provided with a conically diverging bore
180. As shown in FIG. 9B, the cap member 176 extends axially beyond
the conical tip 170.
The head portion 26 comprising the present invention may best be
seen in FIG. 10. A housing 182 having a channel 184 formed therein
is secured integrally to the housing 120 by any convenient means
such as brazing or the like whereby the channel 184 is in fluid
communication with the bore 152. A counterbored hole, defined by
bores 186 and 188 as well as a transverse interface 190
therebetween, is formed in the housing 182 with the bore 186 being
in communication with the channel 184.
A first tubular sleeve 192, having a transverse flange 194 is
positioned within the housing 182 such that a sealing ring 196 is
captured between the flange 194 and the transverse wall 190. The
sleeve 192 is further provided with an internal chamber 198 that
communicates with a fine bore 200 having a conical orifice 202. A
plurality of radially extending holes 204, for example three, are
formed in the sleeve 192 so as to be in communication with the
chamber 198. The head end of the sleeve 192 is defined by an end
portion 206 in which an undercut 208 is formed in order to receive
a resilient sealing ring 210.
A piston 214 is slidably received within the sleeve 192 and
includes a piston head 220. A pair of sealing rings 216 and 218 are
located near the head end 220 A plug 222 is threaded into the
housing 182 in order to capture a spring 224 that is arranged to
bear against the head end 220 of the piston 214. Plug 222 captures
O-Ring 215 and squeezes it against head end 220 and also forces
sleeve 192 to squeeze O Ring 196 against wall 190 thereby sealing
off the contents of sleeve 192. A sealing ring 226 is positioned
within the chamber 198 about the bore 200 and adjacent the left
hand end of the piston rod 214 as shown in FIG. 10. An elastomeric
sleeve 228 is mounted on the outer end of the piston 192 and
surrounds the conical orifice 202. It will be noted that the sleeve
228 extends axially to the left of the orifice 202 as shown for
example in FIG. 10.
Alternative embodiments of the present invention are shown in FIG.
11 and FIG. 11A. Instead of providing a single, centrally located
bore such as shown by reference character 200 in the first
embodiment (FIG. 11), there may also be provided a plurality of
bores 230 that are equally spaced apart on a common radius (FIG.
11A). In both embodiments the bores 200 or 230 are in the order of
0.003 inches diameter.
MODE OF OPERATION
Reference may be had once again to FIG. 1 for a better
understanding of the means used for cocking the injector 20. There
is provided a housing 232 comprised of a base member 234 and an
integral, vertically extending support column 236. A bore 238
extends through the column 236 and the base member 234 and has
concentrically positioned thereabout, in the vicinity of the base
member 234, a coil 240 that is suitably secured in the base member
234. The coil 240 is connected in series with an electrical power
source. A manual switch 242 and a conventional trigger circuit 244
for generating large pulses of current. A suitable fuse 246 may
also be provided.
When the power pack section 22 of the injector 20 is inserted in
the bore 238 and the switch 242 is closed, the magnetizable core 70
will be drawn downwardly as would be the armature of a solenoid.
This causes the belleville washers 96 to be compressed between the
axially movable diametrical portion 74 and the axially secured
collar 97. Energy is thus stored in the belleville washers 96.
At the same time the spring 64 urges the trigger 46 in a
counterclockwise direction (as seen in FIG. 3) about the pin 54, so
that the lip 50 of the trigger 46 abuts the transverse wall 83
whereby the core 70 is secured in its loaded or cocked position. It
should be noted at this time that the spring 110 normally urges the
head portion 94 longitudinally to the right into coaxial engagement
with the plug P of the vial V. At the same time the spring 137
longitudinally urges the sleeve 124 that contains the vial V to the
left in coaxial opposition to the spring 110. The spring 164 is
simultaneously urging the rod 154 to the left in the same direction
as the sleeve 124 so that the sealing member 158 will prevent fluid
leakage to the bore 138.
When the trigger 46 is depressed, or moved in a clockwise
direction, the lip 50 is removed from the transverse wall 83, thus
permitting the belleville washers 96 to drive the core member 70 to
the right, moving member 124 forward thereby pushing fluid through
bore 121 and through the channel 184 formed in the discharge head
26.
Upon entering the discharge head 26 the fluid traverses the
radially oriented holes 204 formed in the housing 192. It should be
noted at this time that while two holes 204 are shown as being
diametrically opposed to each other, this is done primarily for
convenience of illustration. It will be evident that more than two
holes may be provided, and in fact in one embodiment of the
invention there are three equally spaced apart radially extending
holes 204. The fluid then enters the chamber 198 formed
intermediate the tubular housing 192 and the piston 214. This
action causes the piston head 220 to be moved to the right against
the force of the spring 224. This action also causes the piston 214
to move axially away from the sealing member 226 to thereby open
the fine bore 200 and the conical orifice 202 so that fluid may be
discharged. When all of the fluid has been discharged the spring
224 returns the piston 214 back into sealing engagement with the
ring 226.
There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the
invention presently contemplated. However, it is to be understood
that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without
departing from the spirit of the invention.
* * * * *