U.S. patent number 3,880,163 [Application Number 05/409,852] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-29 for medicinal syringe actuating device.
Invention is credited to Jack H. Ritterskamp.
United States Patent |
3,880,163 |
Ritterskamp |
April 29, 1975 |
Medicinal syringe actuating device
Abstract
A removable cylindrical carrier is longitudinally slidable
within a cylindrical inner body which, in turn, is longitudinally
slidable in a generally cylindrical outer body. The carrier accepts
and mechanically operates various conventional hypodermic syringes.
A combination of springs and latches impart, restrain or release
forces which cause the device to operate the syringe, impelling the
syringe plunger to expel the syringe load when the syringe needle
fully penetrates the user's flesh as the carriage moves in the
outer body upon release of the carrier latch. The body has
interchangeable locator tips to act as guides to determine the
attitude of the syringe needle with respect to the flesh.
Inventors: |
Ritterskamp; Jack H. (Santa
Monica, CA) |
Family
ID: |
23622247 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/409,852 |
Filed: |
October 26, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/136 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
5/2033 (20130101); A61M 2005/31506 (20130101); A61M
2005/206 (20130101); A61M 2005/2418 (20130101); A61M
5/31501 (20130101); A61M 5/3257 (20130101); A61M
2005/3151 (20130101); A61M 5/422 (20130101); A61M
5/46 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
5/20 (20060101); A61M 5/42 (20060101); A61M
5/46 (20060101); A61M 5/315 (20060101); A61m
005/20 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/218F,215,218R,218A,218D,218C,234,214R,216 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,100,079 |
|
Sep 1955 |
|
FR |
|
1,362,060 |
|
Apr 1964 |
|
FR |
|
576,216 |
|
May 1959 |
|
CA |
|
Primary Examiner: Gaudet; Richard A.
Assistant Examiner: McGowan; J. C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gribble; Wm. Jacquet
Claims
I claim:
1. A hypodermic syringe actuator for use with a conventional
syringe having a case for fluid, a case flange at one end thereof,
a fluid-expelling plunger, a hypodermic needle and a protective
needle cap, the actuator comprising an elongate outer body, a front
body opening, a rear body opening, an inner cylinder movable
longitudinally in the outer body, a spring holder on said outer
body, a bearing leg on said inner cylinder, a spring between the
holder and the leg, the leg and holder being urged apart by the
spring to springload said inner cylinder for motion longitudinally
of said body toward the front opening; means releasably securing
said inner cylinder in springloaded condition in said outer body, a
syringe-receiving carrier removably lodged in said inner cylinder,
means for latching said carrier to move with said inner cylinder,
means for unlatching said carrier from said inner cylinder to move
therein, retraction means biasing said carrier along said inner
cylinder; syringe-receiving means at one end of said carrier
adapted to grip the syringe at its case flange, a syringe plunger
actuator extending from the other end of said carrier, spring means
biasing said plunger actuator toward said syringe-receiving means;
a latch defeating means operable during elongate motion of the
inner cylinder and carrier toward the forward body opening; means
limiting motion of the carrier with respect to the inner cylinder,
and means limiting motion of the inner cylinder with respect to the
outer body.
2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for
latching the carrier to move with the inner cylinder comprises a
compound leaf spring in the carrier, a latch portion at an end of
the leaf spring, an aperture in the carrier, a first forward slot
in the inner cylinder, said aperture and slot coinciding when the
retraction means and the springloading means are activated.
3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a second
inner cylinder slot forward of the first slot and axially aligned
with the first slot, a trigger pivotably secured in the outer body,
an externally operable trigger thrust disc, a trigger tang, and a
trigger load spring biasing the trigger tang into latching
engagement with the first and second inner cylinder slots, said
tang being adapted to expel from slot engagement the latch portion
of the compound leaf spring when thrust is withdrawn from the
trigger thrust disc.
4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said leaf spring
extends from the latch portion to a forward bifurcated portion
oriented at right angles to the latch portion and so adapted to
contact the case flange of a syringe in the carrier.
5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the syringe plunger
actuator comprises a shaft in the carrier, a shaft plunger, spring,
a latch plate in the carrier about the shaft, surfaces centrally of
the plate defining a lock aperture adapted to bind the shaft
against the pressure of the plunger spring when the latch plate is
askew with respect to the shaft and to release the shaft when the
plate is normal to the shaft, a spring loading said plate into
skewed attitude, a tang on said plate, and an end on the outer
body, said tang contacting said end upon forward motion of the
inner cylinder and the carrier to change the attitude of the latch
plate to normal of the shaft.
6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 further comprising a
contact head on the shaft, and a cushion on the head.
7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the carrier
retraction means comprises an annular wall on the front end of the
inner cylinder, a retraction spool with flanged ends, a spring on
the spool bearing between the annular wall and a spool flange; said
spool being hollow to surround a syringe held in the carrier, and a
forward wall on the front end of the carrier adapted to be thrust
upon by the spool when the carrier is unlatched from the
cylinder.
8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the inner cylinder
comprises a longitudinal wall, a front annular wall, a flanged
spool circumscribed by the annular wall, a spring between the
annular wall and a spool flange, an open rear wall, a first front
slot, a second front slot, a rear slot, all of said slots being
longitudinally aligned in the longitudinal wall, a wall of the rear
slot defining a stop surface for the latch portion of the carrier
leaf spring, a rear slot extension unaligned with said slots but
connected to the rear slot, and an inwardly extending boss adapted
to align the carrier.
9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the carrier
comprises an elongate cylindrical wall, a rear end wall, a front
end wall, an intermediate rear wall, an intermediate front wall,
circumferential openings in the cylindrical wall between the front
wall and the front intermediate wall adapted to receive the case
flange of a hypodermic syringe, a flange retaining spring adjacent
the front wall, a spring latch, a latch aperture, an elongate pair
of spaced wall surfaces in the cylindrical wall defining a guide
groove diametrically opposed to the latch aperture, said groove
narrowing rearwardly of the carrier, a plunger actuator shaft
journalled in the rear wall, an acuator spring, a shaft latch, a
contact head on the shaft, and means for defeating the latch.
10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said latch
securing said plunger actuator in the bias-loaded position
comprises a latch disc, central offset grippers in the disc, and a
compression spring biasing the latch disc and grippers into
latching position; and said latch defeating means comprises a
contact wall on said outer body, and a latch disc tang adapted to
engage the contact wall upon forward longitudinal motion of said
carrier, said latch disc being urged into latching position by the
compression spring to arrest the plunger actuator upon reversal of
longitudinal motion of said carrier.
11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a
tubular flesh contact tip, means at the front opening of the outer
body for releasably receiving the contact tip, a first contact
surface on the contact tip defined in a plane normal to the axis of
longitudinal motion of the inner cylinder, and a second contact
surface on the tip opposite the first contact surface defined in a
plane at an acute angle to said axis of longitudinal motion of the
inner cylinder.
12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said means for
receiving the contact tips comprises a hollow front nose on the
outer body, a pair of diametrically opposed registry stops on the
hollow nose, said registry stops being adapted to engage either
contact surface of a flesh contact tip.
13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a
second holder spaced from the spring holder, a spring retainer
fixed between said holders, an inner cylinder wall, said bearing
leg extending from said wall about said retainer and movable
therealong and said spring between the bearing leg and the holder
being a compression spring.
14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 further comprising a
spring retaining rod comprising said spring retainer, and a carrier
cushion between said bearing leg and one of the holders.
15. A hypodermic syringe actuator for use with a conventional
syringe having a fluid case, a case flange at one end thereof, a
fluid-expelling plunger, a needle and a needle cap, the actuator
comprising an elongate outer body, an open front end, an open rear
end, a removable nose piece, a contact surface on the nose piece,
means on the body for releasably receiving the nose piece, an inner
cylinder movable longitudinally in the body, an elongate cylinder
wall, an open rear end on the cylinder, an annular restrictive wall
on the front of the cylinder, a retraction spool held movably in
the cylinder and restrained by the annular wall, a spring urging
the spool into the cylinder, first and second latch slots in the
cylinder wall, a rearward aperture in the cylinder wall axially
aligned with the first and second slots, an aperture extension
off-axis from the slots and aperture, a boss extending inwardly
from the cylinder wall; a carrier in the inner cylinder and
removable therefrom, a syringe receptacle on the carrier, a syringe
plunger actuator on the carrier, an actuator latch, means for
defeating the actuator latch, a latch hood, a syringe retainer
spring on the carrier, a latch aperture in the carrier wall, a
carrier latch adapted to protrude into and through the aperture to
latch in an inner cylinder slot, a cocking shaft protruding from
the carrier; said carrier including a pair of spaced peripheral
walls extending from the syringe receptacle rearwardly of the
carrier; a cylinder impelling spring, means on the outer body
retaining the impelling spring, a bearing leg on the inner cylinder
thrust upon by the impelling spring to load the cylinder forward,
an outer body trigger springloaded to latch in a forward inner
cylinder slot, said trigger including an engaging tang and a thrust
disc, a trigger spring between the tang and disc; said tang
latching said inner cylinder in a first cocked position and
releasing said cylinder with the carrier containing a syringe for
insertion of the needle responsive to pressure on the trigger
thrust disc; said tang repelling said carrier latch from a cylinder
slot upon release of the trigger; and a disc shroud on the outer
body adapted to preclude accidental thrust upon the trigger
disc.
16. Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said latch
securing said plunger actuator in the bias-loaded position
comprises a latch disc, central offset grippers in the disc, and a
compression spring biasing the latch disc and the grippers into
latching position; and said latch defeating means comprises a
contact wall on said outer body, and a latch disc tang adapted to
engage said contact wall upon forward longitudinal motion of said
carrier, said latch disc being urged into latching position by said
spring to arrest the plunger actuator upon reversal of longitudinal
motion of said carrier by release of pressure upon the trigger
thrust disc.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to devices for use by persons compelled to
self-administer hypodermic injections, but is equally useful for
those who administer injections to others, since the device of the
invention compensates for lack of manual dexterity and overcomes
psychological inhibitions because its operation makes injections
essentially painless. Heretofore small children, arthritic
patients, elderly chronic patients, diabetics and others have
depended upon professional medical personnel for injections, at
high cost of time and money, because the conventional hypodermic
needle plunger properly should be advanced at a steady rate while
in the flesh. The areas of the body that are medically preferred
because they have fewer large blood vessels and are sufficiently
muscular to receive and dissipate solution injections such as those
used by diabetics, are awkward to reach with the two handed
technique normally necessary for proper injections. Additionally,
frequent injections in the same area over long periods result in
toughening of the flesh in those areas where the injections are
made, increasing the tendency to inject only in that area of
decreased sensitivity, instead of promoting complete healing of an
area by using each medically presecribed area in turn. The desired
steady rate of injection of the fluid requires quick, straight
insertion and withdrawal and steady holding of the needle in place
in the flesh. The present invention has as its objective the
provision of a hypodermic syringe actuating device which may be
used and re-used and which accepts many of the conventional
hypodermic syringes and is also adapted to use by one hand.
This invention was the subject of a disclosure made under the
Document Disclosure Program submitted in a three-page paper
entitled "Disclosure Document" dated Apr. 10, 1972 and signed by
Jack H. Ritterskamp.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention contemplates a hypodermic syringe actuator comprising
a generally cylindrical outer body in which a second cylindrical
body is movable and which, in turn, carries a slidable cylindrical
carrier to which the conventional hypodermic syringe is attached. A
properly filled syringe is placed in the movable carrier which is
then assembled with the inner cylinder and the outer body. The
carrier has a spring-loaded retraction spool which guides the
syringe in part and aids in latching the cylinder. Compression
springs and latches impel and restrain, respectively, the plunger
actuator and a carrier impeller. A trigger suitable for operation
by a single digit unlatches the carrier for effecting insertion of
the syringe needle. An automatically released latch restrains the
plunger actuator during the insertion stroke of the carrier.
Preferably the outer body terminates at its injecting end in a
hollow nose section to which a guide tip is removably attachable.
Various length tips are provided so that various length syringes
may be accommodated with only tip change. The detachable tip also
is a sterilizable or sanitarily replaceable body contact element.
Spring means on the carrier retain the syringe in the carrier in
removable fashion. The carrier latch engages the inner cylindrical
body at either of two slots, that are rearward of the first slot,
which the trigger tang engages.
Wings on the inner cylinder protrude through longitudinal ways in
the outer body, affording cocking grips to load the carrier and
inner cylinder against the impelling insertion spring that dwells
in an elongate chamber at the outer periphery of the outer body.
Shrouds protect both trigger and plunger actuator latch against
accidental displacement.
The device of the invention can be made in a great part from
conventionally molded plastic or like materials and from stamped
metal parts and conventional springs. Its cost is low and its usage
simple, so that its benefits are easily available to all who need
it.
These and other advantages of the invention are apparent from the
following detailed description and accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a conventional hypodermic needle
syringe with protective cap in place over the needle;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are elevational views of alternative conventional
syringes with capped needles;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the syringe actuating device of the
invention showing in perspective the separable elements
thereof;
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device of the
invention showing the loaded syringe combined with the injector
body and carrier; and the inner cylinder cocked;
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section showing final preloading of the
retraction spool and latching of the carrier to the inner body;
FIG. 7 shows in longitudinal section the insertion of the syringe
needle and the start of the injection of fluid after trigger
actuation;
FIG. 8 illustrates the condition of the device in longitudinal
section as the last of the fluid is expelled from the syringe;
FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section illustrating retraction of the
empty syringe from the user and the extended position of the
carrier prior to removal from the inner cylinder;
FIG. 10 is a plan view, partly in section, of the embodiment of
FIG. 4 in the insertion condition of FIG. 7;
FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view, partly in section and partly broken
away, showing the latch slots in the inner cylinder;
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary plan section, similar to FIG. 10, showing
the inner cylinder in cocked attitude;
FIG. 13 is transverse sectional elevation, taken along line 13--13
of FIG. 7 illustrating the plunger actuator latch;
FIG. 14 is a transverse sectional elevation taken along line 14--14
of FIG. 7;
FIG. 15 is a transverse sectional elevation taken along line 15--15
of FIG. 7;
FIG. 16 is a transverse sectional elevation taken along line 16--16
of FIG. 7, showing the syringe retaining leaf spring; and
FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of an alternate
embodiment of the invention having friction-reducing cylinder
fins.
In the various Figures like parts are given like reference
characters.
In the specification a particular hypodermic syringe is presumed in
all Figures. However, the terms "syringe," "case," "plunger,"
"needle," and "needle cap" are common to all conventional syringes
and are so used.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Conventional hypodermic syringes 11, 12 and 13 are shown in FIGS.
1, 2 and 3, respectively. Each has a case 14, usually of plastic or
glass, in which a plunger 15 is slidable to expel a medicinal fluid
(not shown) from the case through needle 16. A protective cap 17 is
conventionally provided for each syringe to prevent contamination
and preclude injury. Each case has a flange 18. Although similar in
function, the flanges of conventional syringes may vary in shape
and size. The illustrative embodiment of the invention has a flange
receptacle adapted to several syringes, but receptacles of
differing configuration may be provided, if necessary to
accommodate the syringes with which the syringe actuator is
used.
Reference to FIG. 4 establishes the relationships between the
conventional syringe 11A, the syringe carrier 21 in which the
syringe is received after filling to the prescribed dosage and
setting for the purposed injection, and the outer body and inner
cylinder assembly 22 into which the carrier and the syringe are
loaded for injection. The Figure also shows a removable tip 24, one
means by which the invention provides for syringes of differing
lengths.
Assembly 22 comprises an outer body 26 having a hollow nose 27
adapted to receive tip 24 or other like tips. Stops like stop 28 on
the nose locate the tip with respect to the other components of the
outer body. Opposite the nose the outer body terminates in an open
end 29 best comprehended in FIGS. 5 through 11. Only cocking wing
31 of the inner cylinder is visible in FIG. 4, extending out
through one of a pair of elongate slots 32 in the body adjacent end
29. FIG. 12 shows fragmentarily inner cylinder 34 within body 26 in
cocked position, the wings 31 being to the rear of the slots 32.
The exterior wall of the peripheral chamber 36 is seen from FIG. 4
to extend for most of the length of the outer body. For purposes of
clarity that end of the actuator that contacts the user from which
the hypodermic needle extends shall be called the "front" of the
device and that end into which the carrier and syringe is loaded
(end 29) shall be called the "rear" of the actuator. Thus, chamber
36 stops short of front end 37 of the outer body.
The carrier 21 of FIG. 4 has a cylindrical outer wall 39 in which a
plunger actuator 41 resides. The actuator has a shaft 42, an
external knob 43 on the shaft and a contact head 44 bearing a
resilient cushion 45 for cushioning shock to glass syringes. A
compression spring 46 surrounds the shaft portion within the
carrier wall, bearing against the contact head and an end web 47 of
the carrier, seen in FIG. 5. The front of the carrier has a syringe
case flange receptacle 48 with slotted transverse walls 49, 51,
wall 49 being the end wall of the carrier front. A longitudinal
opening 52 in the cylindrical outer wall 39 opens from end wall 49
and extends to a narrowed portion 53 near the rear end of the
carrier. The front end of the opening affords loading access for
the syringe, as well as visual inspection of the association of the
syringe plunger and the actuator contact head. The function of the
portion 53 will be discussed later.
Opposed arcuate openings 54, 54A extend from opening 52 in each
direction betweenthe transverse walls 49, 51. A compound leaf
spring 55 has an upstanding bifurcated portion 57 in the space
between walls 49 and 51. The portion 57 holds the syringe case
flange 18 between itself and wall 51, securing the syringe in place
in the carriage. Various syringes may require differing arcuate
opening configurations.
Only the actuating tang 59 of a latch disc 61 shows in FIG. 4,
extending through a notch 62 in carriage wall 39. The tang resides
beneath a protective shroud 63 to preclude accidental actuation. A
similar shorter tang 64 (FIG. 5) engages wall 39 in a notch 65
opposite notch 62.
The phantom lines of FIG. 4 indicate the assembly procedure for the
components -- syringe 11A is fitted into carrier 21, the carrier is
fitted into body and cylinder assembly 22 and tip 24 is fitted to
nose 27.
The other elements of the inventive actuator are illustrated in the
drawings following FIG. 4. For instance, in FIG. 5, in which the
charged syringe, fitted in the carrier, is concealed with the outer
body, the configuration of the inner cylinder 34 is shown in
section. The inner cylinder is seen to be a hollow cylinder with a
slightly frusto-conical front end 66 terminating in an annular wall
67. The annular wall retains a retraction spool 69 at the end of
the inner cylinder. The spool surrounds the syringe, and in some
measure, guides the syringe in alignment with the hollow nose 27. A
compression spring 70 rides on a barrel 71 of the spool between
opposite end flanges 72, 73, bearing on the annular wall 67 of the
inner cylinder 34. The compression spring resists elongate motion
of the carrier toward the body nose, the wall 49 of the carrier and
spool flange 72 being adapted to meet.
FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate opposite surfaces of the inner cylinder
or body 34. In FIG. 10 the cylinder is seen to have the wings 31
protruding through the slots 32 of the outer body, as described
with respect to FIG. 4. A cylindrical boss 76 projects inwardly
from the inner wall of the inner cylinder about transversely even
with the wings. The boss 76, shown in broken lines in FIGS. 10 and
12, registers in narrowed portion 53 of carrier 21 to limit
rotation of the carrier with respect to the inner cylinder to
assure radial alignment of slots 81 and 82 with trigger tang
88.
It is obvious from the indicated construction that the inner
cylinder 34 must be placed in the outer body 26 when that body is
in two halves, prior to the final fixing of the halves together.
The inner cylinder, while movable axially of the outer body is thus
not removable from it. Similarly, retraction spool 69 is assembled
with inner cylinder 34 prior to the final assembly of the cylinder.
Other assembly steps and techniques in conformance with sound
fabrication practices are utilized in the making of the device of
the invention.
The reverse side of inner cylinder 34 is seen in FIG. 11, where
outer body 26 is partly broken away. A forward slot 81 in the wall
of the cylinder is aligned with a rearwardly displaced second slot
82. An opening 84 of the carrier coincides with second slot 82.
When carrier 21 is in latched position a latch portion 85 of the
previously referred to compound leaf spring 55 resides in and
extends beyond opening 84 and is engaged in slot 82 in the actuator
attitude of FIGS. 7, 10 and 11. In phantom lines the tang 88 of a
control trigger 89 overlies the latch portion 85, extending from
the trigger thrust disc 91.
The inner cylinder also has a rear and retainer aperture 93 axially
aligned with the forward slots 81, 82 (FIG. 11). Retainer sperture
93 engages latch portion 85 when the carrier is actuated rearwardly
at the end of syringe penetration and injection as described later.
An off-axis extension slot 95 admits the latch portion 85 when the
carrier is rotated, the carrier then being in position for removal
from the body-inner cylinder assembly.
The latch and trigger function is more easily comprehended in view
of FIG. 5, where trigger 89 is shown housed in the forward end of
peripheral chamber 36. A circular shroud 97 surrounds the disc to
guard against accidental contact with the thrust disc. The shroud
is open at 98 and the trigger extends through the opening to the
tang 88. Between the tang and the disc the trigger is pivoted upon
a pin 99. A spring 101 with base legs 102, 103 and thrust yoke 104
(see FIGS. 15 and 16) is secured on the pin and loads the trigger
toward the slots 81, 82, that is, toward the center of the
actuator. As seen in FIG. 5, the trigger tang 88 engages forward
slot 81, holding the inner cylinder in cocked position, the wings
31 being drawn to the rear of the outer body slots 32. A carrier
spring 106 is secured between forward and rear lugs 107, 108,
respectively, on a rod 109. The spring is compressed, in the
position of FIG. 5, between rear lug 107 and a depending leg 111 of
the cylinder 34. The leg is bifurcated to fit about the rod 109. A
cushion 112 absorbs force engendered when the cylinder and carrier
are spring-impelled from the position of FIG. 5 to the insertion
position of FIG. 7.
The latch and release mechanism for the plunger actuator assembly
can be detailed with respect to FIGS. 5 and 7, FIG. 5 showing the
actuator assembly loaded and latched, and FIG. 7 showing the latch
released. FIG. 8 shows the actuator discharged.
Within the protection of shroud 63 the actuator assembly latch 61
relates to the actuator shaft 42 in a canted position. This is a
conventional latch arrangement, wherein the edges of the latch
central aperture 115 bind on shaft 42 when the latch is at an angle
to the shaft, but clear the shaft when the latch is perpendicular
to it. The bottom tang of the latch is fixed in wall 39. The
actuating tang 59 is held forward by the pressure of a spiral
compression spring 119 held between the latch and the rear wall 21A
of the carrier. The spring and latch are in a rear chamber of the
carrier defined by wall 39 and 21A and partition web 47 forward of
the latch. The actuator shaft passes through openings in both wall
21A and web 47. It is released to the urging of spring 46 when the
inner cylinder and carrier move forward under the pressure of
spring 106 and tang 59 impinges upon the end 29 of the outer body
as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.
OPERATION OF THE DEVICE
In operation, the user first fills the syringe with the prescribed
fluid volume, indicated by the conventional syringe markings 131 in
FIG. 4. The actuating plunger of the carrier is then retracted to
place contact head 44 at least as far back on the index markings
132 on the interior wall of the carrier (FIGS. 5 and 10) as the
load of the syringe. Retracting plunger assembly 41 loads spring
46. Average loading is in the range of 2-6 pounds, the amount
needed to assure a steady, quick expulsion of the fluid in the
syringe into the flesh of the user. The syringe, with its cap 17
over needle 16, is then placed in the carrier.
The syringe is gripped by its flange 18 in the receptacle 48 of the
carrier between walls 54A and 49 of the carrier. Leaf spring
portion 57 insures a snug fit. The rest of the syringe barrel
extends from the carrier in cantilever fashion.
The cocked and loaded carrier is then placed into the body and
cylinder assembly 22 after the inner cylinder has been pulled to
rear position against the pressure of carrier spring 106. The
trigger tang 88 springs into forward slot 81 of the inner cylinder,
latching it in the position of FIG. 5. The latch portion 85 of leaf
spring 55 remains in carrier aperture 84. At this point carrier 21
is moved forward in the outer body as in FIG. 6, latched by the
engagement of latch portion 85 in the second axial slot 82. The
projecting cap 17 (phantom lines, FIG. 6) is then easily removed
from the needle by way of nose 27, the nose piece or tip 24 having
been positioned before installing the syringe in either tapered or
blunt presentation (see below). The needle is hidden from view by
the extension of the body and nose piece beyond the carrier.
The device of FIG. 6 is ready for actuation, with nose piece 24
rotatable on nose 27 to position in the most conveient attitude
with respect to the flesh line 78 of the user. The nose piece 24
has a tapered face 134 which seats on the flesh, helping to
maintain a selected attitude of the device with respect to the
flesh. The nose piece may also be reversed on the nose to present
perpendicular face 135 to orient the actuator for striaght-in
injection. It has been found that the nose piece pressure on the
flesh acts as a counter-irritant, lessening the perceived impact of
the needle.
Disc 91 of trigger 89 is depressed by a digit 136, in this case a
forefinger, and tang 88 releases from slot 81. Spring 106 impels
the carrier and the inner body forward, carrying the needle into
the flesh. The depth of penetration is controlled by the
relationship between the axial length of the particular nosepiece
and the combined syringe and needle length. By continually using
the same syringe and needle with the same nose piece, the medically
desirable repeated injection to the same depth in the flesh can be
achieved.
Simultaneously with the forward motion of the body and carrier,
locked together by the association of carrier leaf spring 55 and
body slot 82, latch disc 61 and its actuating tang 59 approach
contact with rear end 29 of the outer body 26. FIGS. 7 and 8 show
the contact position. In FIG. 7 contact has released plunger shaft
42 of the actuating assembly 41, as previously described, and
spring 46 impels contact head 44 against the syringe plunger 15,
forcing expulsion of fluid from the syringe barrel into the flesh
78 surrounding the needle. The rate of expulsion is a balance
between the spring pressure and the resistance to flow of the small
needle bore and the flesh density. Discharge is steady and quick
under the spring pressure. In FIG. 8 discharge is complete, the
contact head 44 having caused plunger 15 to reach the end of its
forward stroke.
Note that in both FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 the digit continues to depress
the trigger disc. Leaf spring 85 is thus able to contain the
carrier in forward position despite the retracting spring 70
because of the association of the leaf spring portion 85 and second
cylinder axial slot 82.
Once the user observes the forward position of knob 43, he may
release the digit pressure on the trigger, assured that the
injection is complete. The conventional time lapse between
penetration of the needle and injection of the fully filled syringe
contents is about four or five seconds, varying with needle gauge.
Upon release of digit pressure, spring 101 urges tang 88 against
leaf spring portion 85, removing it from slot 82. Retraction spring
70 urges carrier 21 rearwardly, as shown in FIG. 9, until spring
portion 85 is checked by the wall 138 of rear axial slot 93,
arresting the carrier in the body with needle 16 withdrawn from the
flesh. A slight rotation of the carrier aligns the portion 85 with
extension slot 95, in position for withdrawal from the
body-cylinder assembly 22.
The withdrawn carrier can then be relieved of the exhausted
syringe, which may be either discarded or refilled in accordance
with its nature.
The operational process may now be repeated for successive
injections.
Because of the cooperative arrangement between the trigger and the
latch on the carrier, the user may stop the injection if a
malfunction of penetration or fluid level is detected by releasing
the trigger disc, forcing the trigger tang to expel the latch
portion 85 so that retracting spool 69 impels the carrier and
syringe rearwardly, extracting the needle from the flesh.
Additionally, because of the unique combination of elements
comprising the invention, the syringe plunger cannot be withdrawn
so as to aspirate (draw in air), obviating the risk of injecting
any embolism-causing air bubble into the blood stream.
The syringe plunger cannot be withdrawn because displacement of
actuator latch tang 59 from end 29 of the outer body immediately
relatches the plunger actuator shaft against displacement in the
carrier, holding the syringe plunger at its most forward position
achieved at the instant of trigger release.
In the case of some materials of fabrication friction between the
peripheries of adjacent elements, such as the outer body and the
inner cylinder, or the inner cylinder and the carrier, may inhibit
free relative motion, as may entrapment of dust or other foreign
matter. It may therefore be desired to lessen friction contact by
lessening the area of contact. In the embodiment of FIG. 17, shown
fragmentarily, frictional contact is reduced by means of
longitudinal fins on the exterior peripheries of the inner cylinder
34A and the carrier 21A. For instance, a plurality of fins such as
the fins 141 may protrude at circumferentially spaced points from
the outer periphery of inner cylinder 34A, and only the lands 142
of each fin bear on the body inner surface. Similarly, a plurality
of fins like fin 145 of FIG. 17 may emerge at circumferentially
spaced points from the surface of carrier 21A with only the lands
146 of each fin in contact with the inner surface 148 of the inner
body.
These and other modifications within the scope of the invention
will occur to those skilled in this particular art. It is therefore
desired that the invention be measured by the appended claims
rather than the illustrative description and drawing disclosed in
this specification.
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