US3208452A - Surface treating device - Google Patents

Description

sept. 2s, 1965 J. J. STERN SURFACE TREATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 8, 1960 United States Patent() 3,208,452 SURFACE TREATING DEVICE `lerome J. Stern, Englewood, NJ., assignor to Panray- Parlam Corp., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 54,688 8 Claims. (Cl. 12S-315) This invention is that of a skin penetrating and puncturing device useful in a wide variety of skin penetrating applications such as occur in diagnostic and immunization and other procedures in medicine and therapy. It is applicable, for example, in carrying out various skin puncture type tests such as tuberculin, lepromin, histoplasmin, blastomycosin, and icoccidio testing; as a scarier in vaccinations such as for smallpox, or with BCG vaccine; in scratch tests as in allergy and sensitization testing; or as a lancet as in hemotology or other uses. It can be used in other form of applications where the skin is to be penetrated for the administration generally intradermally of a diagnostic :or immunizing or other agent.

Disadvantages in other devices used in these various applications include their limitation to one or another of the different needs; irregular penetration varying with differences in pressure applied by the particular individual operator, or the characteristics of the puncturing elements used to puncture the skin; time consumed in, or cost of, the administration; or diiliculty in sterilization.

The advent of mass examinations or immunizations such as with tuberculin testing or BCG vaccination encouraged increased use of a multiple needle penetrator. Attempts were made to develop automatic jabbing and/or Withdrawal actions in such a multi-needle applicator. Yet such applicator still showed most of the earlier named disadvantages. In addition, the cylindrical puncturing needles especially of the phonograph needle type did not evenly puncture the skin, but rather often simply tore it and did not give uniform penetration to the selected depth. Then also, sterilization need between uses reduced greatly the number of individuals that `could be handled in a given time. Furthermore, the needle assemblies were costly, and too much time was required for changing needle heads and for overall assembly.

The skin puncturing device of the invention avoids such various limitations in the earlier devices. For example, an important feature of the device of the invention is the uniformity of penetration of the puncturing needles into the skin and of the resulting punctures, with much greater certainty of introduction of the treating agent.

Another important feature is the earlier withdrawal of the needles from the punctures, following release of the handle pressure from the operating handle, thereby considerably reducing undesirable cutting of the skin.

A further significant feature is the simplicity and low cost of the puncturing needle assembly. Then a still further advantageous feature is the ease and quickness by which the needle assembly can be removed and replaced by a fresh one.

Still another feature is the more positive control of the treating agent for more certain application of it by the individual penetrating needles.

Yet another beneficial feature is versatility of the device, which makes it effective in a variety of applications which involve skin puncture and penetration by a testing or treating agent.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be seen from the following detailed description of the illustrative particular embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a vertical section through the device before it is used; with some parts shown not in section, and the linger grips shown in partial section;

3,208,452 Patented Sept. 28, 1965 ICC FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view similar to that of FIG. l, but showing the position and relationship of the parts after pressure was applied to the device and the needle head impact pin had driven the penetrating needles into the skin of a subject;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view transverse to the axis of the device, taken along the line 3 3 and looking in the direction shown by the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an 'enlarged sectional view transverse to the axis of the device, al-ong the line 4 4 and looking in the direction shown by the arrows;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view transverse to the axis of the device, along theline 5 5 and looking in the direction shown by the arrows;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the otherwise assembled penetrating needles head, retracting spring therefor, and 'enclosing cup or cap; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of merely a different needle head with only one penetrator needle of somewhat different form, and of the corresponding needle enclosing cup or cap with merely one slit opening, but without showing the retracting spring.

FIG. 1 shows the enclosing housing orbarrel 10 externally threaded at its upper end to register with internal threads in the lower and wider opening in top closure or handle anchor 11, and internally threaded at its lower end to receive in registry the external threads on the inner end of the needle head impact pin guide and base 12.

The needle head assembly (eg. as in exploded view FIG. 6) includes needle head 15 in the form of a stamping unitary with its depending skirt 21 and from which dependneedles 22; and the latter two enclose needle head return Vspring 16 based against th'e bottom of, and together with skirt 21 andneedles 22 encircled by, needle head shell Aor cup 17. Outwardly extending ange 18- at the upper end of cup 17 enables its attachment against the outer end of head base 12 as later explained, while slits 19 in `the bottom end of cup 17 permit the projection therethrough of the cutting parts ofneedles 22 also as later described.

Indent or pocket 20, in the preferred and more advantageous form of head shell 17, as shown in FIGS. l-3, serves two very helpful purposes. In one, on the inside it serves to hold the lower end of spring 16 centered, thereby doubly to assure keeping it away fromneedles 22 when they are propelled downwardly. In the other, on the outside it serves as a pocket or reservoir that more dependably holds the testing or treating agent, before the parts are activated, and makes it better available to be carried along by the needles as they pass through slits 19 to puncture and penetrate the skin.

Flattened guidingsegment 23, and preferably diametrically opposedsuch segments 23, in skirt 21 of ne'edle head 15 and correspondingly similarly located flattened guide surface 24, and advantageously diametrically opposed flattened guide surfaces 24, in the cylindrical portion of shell 17 serve more easily to positionneedles 22 for more ready passage through slits 19.

As shown more clearly inl FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, a tab segment 25 `is (and preferably diametrically opposed tab segments 25 are, cut from iiange 18 of head Ashell 17 and bent radially inwardly back over the closed top of needle head 15, thus to hold the latter enclosing and slightly compressing spring 16 and encircled by the upright cylindrical part of shell 17, so that all three of these parts thereby together constitute an unitary needle head assembly.

This unitary needle head assembly is held readily removably secured to the outer end of needle head impact pin guide and base 12, by inserting flange 18 of needle cup 17 through the open segment of inwardly extending ange 29 at the outer end of needle head attaching bushing 30 (as seen in FIGS. 1-4) to seat the outer periphery of flange 18 a-gainst the inner periphery of the narrower lower part of bushing 30, and, by holding the latter by its external knurling 32, rotating it so that its internal threads run over the external threads at the bottom end of barrel until flange 29 draws flange 18 tightly enough against the bottom of base 12 to hold the needle assembly sufficiently securely.

Considering now the activating elements of the device, as assembled in FIG. 1, starter or handle shaft 35 is held longitudinally axially mov-able to and fro within the closely fitting central bore of top closure and handle .anchor 11. A-s thus assembled, shaft 35 is held removable from that bore of anchor 11 by the radially outwardly extending handleshaft anchoring ange 36 conveniently, although not absolutely necessarily, integral with the inner end of shaft 35.

Palm or pusher handle 37 is secured preferably removably to the outer end of handle shaft 35 by suitable locking means such aslocking bolt 39. The inner end of starter shaft 35 by itsintegral ange 36 is in separable ycontact with the upper end of operating shaft `40, the lower end of which extends longitudinally axially slidable in close fit within the upper and open end of the closedbottomed central ybore of impact piston 41.

The upper end of operating shaft 40 is supported by, and extends through a central aperture in, return sprlng compressing Washer 43 longitudinal axially movably sup- .ported against the inner wall of the upper part ofbarrel 10 and removably anchored to the upper end of shaft 40 by suitable removable anchoring means `such as U-shaped retainer washer 45 snugly removably tted into the annular slot 47 in that end of shaft 40. That upper part of shaft 40 is loosely encircled by pusher handle 37, return yspring 49 compressibly extending ybetween its compressor washer 43 and its stop or restraining washer 50.

Stop washer 50 is removably supported in fixed position on annular shoulder 51 provided by the relatively slight reduction in internal diameter ofbarrel 10. Thus, compressor washer 43 and restraining washer `50 dene the longitudinally axially separated upper and lower ends respectively of what can be called the pusher handle return spring chamber.

Shaft 40 is longitudinally axially movable thro-ugh the central aperture in stop washer 50. Conveniently suitably below it shaft 40 passes through the central aperture in impact piston drive spring compression washer 52 held removably xed on, and movable with, shaft 40 by suitable removable ianchoring means such as another U-shaped retainer washer 53 snugly removably fitted into annular slot 55 in the corresponding intermediate location on shaft 40.

The corresponding intermediate portion of shaft 40 is loosely encircled by impact piston drive spring 58 com- Apressibly extending between its compression Washer 52 and the upper end of impact piston 41. Thus, compression washer 52 and the upper end of impact piston 41 provide the longitudinally axially separated upper and lower ends respectively of what can be called the shortenable impact piston drive spring chamber.

Intermediate the lower end of drive spring 58 and the upper end of needle head impact pin guide and base 12,barrel 10 is reduced in internal diameter to provide a narrowedimpact end 62 and, at the latters upper end, an annular shoulder `67. The latter is part of impact piston restraining means comprising, for example, a restrainer ball cam, or perferably two diametrically oppositely positionedball cams 68 with each of them rollably supported in its separate respective one of two diametrically opposed horizontally cylindrical bores extending radially through the cylindrical wall of impact piston 41, and being temporarily immovably held by resting on shoulder 67 and being trapped between the inner wall ofbarrel 10 and the outer wall ofcontrol piston 70.

Control piston 70 is longitudinally axially slidable within the axial bore in impact piston 41, and has a radially annularly reduced portion 71 which thus .provides theannular recess 72 intermediate the ends ofcontrol piston 70. Initially, as in the inactive position illustrated in FIG. l,control piston spring 73 is in its expanded condition between the lower end ofcontrol piston 70 and the inner base 74 of the axial bore in impact piston 41. Thus,spring 73 holds the upper end of control piston 41 in separable contact with the lower end of operating shaft 40.

From the lower end of impact piston 41, needlehead impact pin 77 extends in longitudinally axially movable insertion into the upper part of axiallycentral bore 78 in needle head impact pin guide and base 12.

Longitudinal engager slot 81, intermediate compression Washer 52 and the lower end of operating shaft 40, extends (in this embodiment) in shaft 40 from a point about midway throughhead 83 of impact piston 41 to a point about midway in the impact piston drive shaft chamber, and engages with impact piston control pin 82 removably snugly inserted through a radial aperture inpiston head 83 and protruding into slot 81 in longitudinally to and fro movable engagement with it.

Finger grips 69 are attached at suitable diametrically opposed locations on theoutside 4of barrel 10.

In using the device, a suitable quantity of a suitable form of the treating agent (generally a physiologically suitable solution) is placed on a cleaned part of the skin in known manner, and spread to cover the desired area. The device is taken hold of by engaging the undersides yof finger `grips 69 generally with adjacent lingers and the top of pusher handle 37 by the palm beyond the base of the thumb. The slotted base of needle head cup 17 then is placed gently in the center of the treating agent covered area. While holding the device `firmly there, pressure is applied to pusher handle 37. That (as seen from FIGS. 1 and 2) results in depressing simultaneously starter shaft 35 and with its operating shaft 40 together with compression Washer 43 and in turn also depressing return spring 49 against stop washer 50. Depression of operating shaft 40 simultaneously depresses spring compression washer 52 and thereby compresses impact piston drive spring 58.

The depression of operating shaft 40 simultaneously also depressescontrol piston 70 together with its reduced portion 71. When theannular recess 72 then arrives at i the level ofball cams 68, they roll off of shoulder 67 intoannular recess 72.

With the earlier restraint on impact piston 41 thus removed, compressed spring 58 instantly thereafter expands. It thereby simultaneously shoots impact piston 41 together with its integral needlehead impact pin 77 downwardly. The lower end ofimpact pin 77 thereby practically simultaneously strikes the closedbase 86 of needle head 15 thereby at the same time driving it downwardly so thatneedles 22 pass practically in the same instant through slots 19 and the treating liquid layer and puncture and penetrate the skin, thereby drawing the treating liquid adhering to them along into the skin.

In the just foregonig described combination of actions, as drive shaft 40 was being depressed and impact piston 41 was held stationary by being restrained byball cams 68, impact piston control pin 82 thus likewise remained stationary. However, slot 81 was being lowered with shaft 40 so that the effect was that control pin 82 appeared in progressively higher relative positions in slot 81.

The expansion of drive spring 58, by pushing impact piston 41 down, also draws control pin 82 back to its starting position at the lower end of slot 81 (as seen in FIG. 2 compared with FIG. 1).

The aforesaid described shooting of impact piston 41 downwardly simultaneously compressedcontrol piston spring 73 .and needle head return spring 16. Having allowed to elapse the mere small fraction of a moment needed for theneedles 22 to reach the set selected depth of penetration into the skin, the palm pressure is removed from pusher handle 37. That then simultaneously releases the pressure on washer 43 and simultaneously on return spring 49, and thus also raises operating shaft 40. It simultaneously raisescontrol piston 70 because of the location of control pin 82 at the bottom of slot 81, and with it needlehead impact pin 77. That thereby releases the pressure onbase 86 of needle head 15, so that almost simultaneous with the withdrawal of pressure from pusher handle 37, needle head return spring 16 can expand and push needle head back to its retracted position as in FIG. 1 with simultaneous withdrawal ofneedle 22 from the skin.

Then the instant thatball cams 68 reach the level of shoulder 67 inside ofbarrel 10, the downwardly outward inclination of lannularly reduced portion 71rolls cams 68 onto shoulder 67 (again as in FIG. 1) and out of the path ofcontrol piston 70 so that it no longer is restrained. As a result,control piston spring 73 expands and raisescontrol piston 70 so that its top again contacts the lower end of shaft 40.

The complete needle assembly then can be very quickly removed from the device merely by taking hold of its attaching bushing 30 by its knurling 32 yand giving that bushing about a quarter of a turn, or merely enough, to loosen the grasp on flange 18. By at the same time turning the device to have the open end of flange 29 face downward, the needle yassembly will fall out of the device. A sterilized needle assembly then can be attached by the reverse Aprocedure already described, and the device in even less Vthan a second is ready for use again.

The used needle assembly can be discarded at no great loss for they are very inexpensive as both needle head 15 and cup 17 :are made merely as stampings, and the piece of spring 16 also is inexpensive. However, for additional economy, if desired, Iany number of accumulated needle assemblies can be sterilized together by proper approved dependable procedure.

The assembly of the device is simple. The bottom end ofbarrel 10 can be closed as already described by screwing on impact pin guide and base 12. On the outside, 'spring 73 can be dropped to inner base 74 of piston 41, and -control piston 70 slid in atop ofspring 73. Then spring 58, compression washer 52, retainer washer 53, stop washer 50, spring 49, compressing washer 43 and retainer washer 45 can be mounted about shaft 40 in obvious manner in their just named sequence. p The lower end of shaft 40 then is inserted into the central bore inhead 83 of impact piston 41 and rotated until slot 81 can be seen through the orifice to receive control pin 81 to be in registry with the orifice. Pin 82 then is inserted deep enough not to protrude -outside of the outer peripheral surface ofhead 83. Then as the entire assembly fromimpact pin 77 up to retainer washer 45 is being inserted through the open top ofbarrel 10,ball cams 68 are placed in their respective orifice holders.

Shaft 35 then is inserted upwardly through the bottom -of the bore in handle anchor 11 and drawn upward till anchoringflange 36 touches its underside. Pusher handle A37 then is set on and locked in place. The handle anchor then is screwed over the top ofbarrel 10 as already described.

Any lof the specifically described parts can be replaced by any others physically suitable to perform the equivalent function. To be able to separate shaft 40 fromhead 83 of impact piston 41, Ifor disassembling the device, when initially preparing those parts, a bore just like that for receiving control pin 82 c-an be reamed inhead 83 diametrically opposite the first orifice. Then also a bore of like diameter can be reamed diametrically through shaft 40 at the upper end of slot 81 and transversely to its axis. Then to separate shaft 40 from impact piston 41, shaft 40 is depressed .into impact piston 41 funtil pin 82 is in registry with the top of slot 81. Control pin 82 then can be knocked out by inserting through the two other orifices in registry with it a knockout pin of suitable size and tapping it against pin 82 until it is driven out.

Instead of needle head 15 with four needles and needle cup 17 with four slots, corresponding needle heads and cups with a higher number of needles and slots respectively can be used :and made of similar stampings, eg. 'six of each; or with a lower number even down to one as illustrated in FIG.- 7; and with different design needles such as needle 22b in FIG. 7, wherein the broader faces converge outwardly toward one another; or also with different peripheral outlines, depending 4on the use to be made of them.

A stock of sterilized needle assemblies can be kept on hand. For example, the assembly can be inserted up to flange 18 into one end of a sleeve of a plastic material stable to steril-ization and longer than cup 17. Each such assembly so inserted in such sleeve can be enclosed in a sealed plastic envelope, and .a plurality of such articles thus can be properly sterilized. They can be kept on hand in any convenient container, and used singly by tearing open the single envelope, holding its contents by the extended length lof the sleeve, thus engaging flange 18 on flange 29 of the device, and tightening bushing 30, and pulling off the protective plastic sleeve.

The device need not be limited t0 use with humans, with whom a penetration of one-half or one milliliter more commonly is used (provided for, e.g. by using teeth of the necessary length), but also can be used with animals Or in other applications Where a surface is to be penetrated in a relatively similar way, even with fruits or vegetables or other articles.

While the invention has been explained by detailed description of certain specific embodiments of it, it is understood that various modifications and substitutions can be` made in any such modifications within the scope of the appended claims which are intended also to include equivalents of any of the specific embodiments.

What is claimed is:

1. In a surface puncturing and penetrating device, a

cylindrical barrel having an operating end and a puncture application end; a top closure-bushing attached at the operating end thereof; a bottom closure-bushing attached at the other and application end thereof; co-axially posi- `tioned within said barrel lan axially longitudinally movable .shaft having two separable parts longitudinally axially aligned and so movable in relation to one another; the first of said shaft parts having an operating end extending longitudinally axially movably through the top closurebushing; the second separable shaft part having at its outer end an impact-imparting shaft extending longitudinally axially movable through the bottom closure-bushing, whereby the outer end of said impact shaft strikingly can impart a blow to a suitable element interposed in the path of movement of said outer end of said impact shaft and holding outwardly extending puncturing means having an outwardly extendable puncturing end, to cause said outer puncturing ends of said puncturing means to puncture and penetrate a surface located near enough to be reached and penetnated by said outer ends following the delivery of said blow to said puncturing means; means within and intermediate the ends of said barrel for propelling the second of said separable shaft parts toward the application end of said barrel, and restraining means engageable therein for engaging said second shaft part to restrain said second shaft part against such movement as said first shaft part is being so moved; and means intermediate the ends of the barrel for releasing said restraining means while said second shaft part is still stationary; and within said barrel, said propelling means engaging with said second shaft part for propelling it longitudinally axially toward said application end of the barrel upon withdrawing said restraining means therefor therefrom; and Within said barrel and engaging with said first shaft part, means for longitudinally axially returning said first shaft part to about its starting location directly after removal therefrom of the force that directed it toward the application end, :and after the second shaft part was directed toward said application end; and means interconnecting said two shaft parts for drawing the second part back into the bottom closure-bushing as said first shaft part is being drawn back to about its starting location.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for restraining the second shaft part from moving toward the application end as the first shaft part is doing so, comprises a ball cam engaged between a portion of said second shaft part and a shoulder in the interior of said barrel.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interior of said barrel has an impact piston spring chamber, and the means for propelling said second shaft part toward the application end is a compressible spring encircling part of said shaft and which spring is compressed within said impact piston spring chamber.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interior of said barrel has an operating handle return spring chamber, and outside of said barrel an operating handle is affixed to said rst part of said shaft; and the means for propelling said first part of said shaft away from the application end is a compressible resilient spring encircling said first part of said shaft, and which compressible spring is compressed within said handle return spring chamber.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, which is effective to puncture the skin, and wherein to the outer end of the application end of the device there is attached holding and securing means for holding tightly secured to it, while the device is to be used for causing skin puncturing, a readily removable skin-puncturing needle-holding assembly including therein an axially longitudinally movable needle-holding head; and for holding said assembly and the needle holding head in it so positioned for the inner end of the head to be struck by the outer end of the impact-imparting shaft when the latter is propelled outwardly, whereby said head is advanced sharply to cause each needle held by it to penetrate the skin; said holding and securing means including means cooperatively operable simply to release readily the needle-holding assembly as a unit even by merely allowing it to fall off by gravity, and then to let it be replaced similarly readily by another such assembly, and all without any need to remove any other part of the device.

6, In a surface puncturing device, a cylindrical barrel having an operating end and a puncture application end, said operating end terminating with an axially transverse end face; attached at the outer end of said application end, holding and securing means for holding readily rer movably tightly secured to said end a readily releasable unitary puncturing needle holding assembly including therein an axially longitudinally movable needle-holding head; an impact-imparting shaft member longitudinally axially impellably movable within said barrel to enable the lower end of said shaft to deliver a surface-puncturing force against the inner end of the needle-holding head; means within said barrel and cooperatively in contact with said shaft member and capable of developing about it a releasable force that can impel it toward said head; within said barrel and engageable with said shaft releasable restraining means arranged to restrain the shaft member, while said force thus is being developed, with its lower end at a location where it would be out of contact with the needle-holding head; within said barrel, means operable on said restraining means t release it when the shaft member is to be propelled toward the application end; said needle-holding assembly holding and securing means (a) being so located at the application end of the barrel to be able to hold a unitary needle-holding assembly secured to the outer end of said end of the barrel in such position for the inner end of the needleholding head to be struck by the lower end of the impact-imparting shaft after it is released from its restraining means, to advance the head sharply to cause each needle held by it to penetrate the intended surface; and

(b) including means cooperatively operable to hold the unitary needle-holding assembly securely while the device is being operated to puncture a surface, and movable simply to release readily said needle-holding assembly as a unit even by merely allowing it to fall off by gravity, and then to let it be replaced similarly readily, and all without any need to remove any other part of the device.

7. In a surface puncturing device, a cylindrical barrel having an operating end and a puncture application end, end, said operating end terminating with an axially transverse end face; attached at the outer end of said application end, holding and securing means for holding readily removably tightly secured to said end a readily releasable unitary puncturing-needle-holding assembly including therein an axially longitudinally movable needleholding head; an impact-imparting shaft member longitudinally axially impellably movable within said barrel to enable the lower end of said shaft to deliver a surface-puncturing force against the inner end of the needleholding head; means within said barrel and cooperatively in contact with said shaft member and capable of developing about it a releasable force that can impel it toward said head; within said barrel and engageable with said shaft, releasable restraining means arranged to restrain the shaft member, while said force thus is being developed, with its lower' end at a location where it would be out of Contact with the needle-holding head; within said barrel means operable on said restraining means to release it when the shaft member is to be i propelled toward the application end; said needle-holding assembly holding and securing means comprising threadengaging means on the outer cylindrical surface of the application end of the barrel; a bushing having threadengaging means at least in the upper end of its inner wall; said bushing being removably attached to said application end of the barrel by engagement of its said thread-engaging means on the thread-engaging means on said wall of said bushing; said bushing having about part of the periphery of its outer end a radially inwardly turned ange; the thread-engaging means on the inner wall of the bushing, the thread-engaging means on the application end of the barrel, and said flange being so positioned relative to one another to enable the bushing to be screwed onto the application end of the barrel to draw the inner surface of said flange sufficiently close to the axially transverse end face of the barrel to enable sald flange securely to engage between it and said end face of the barrel, a bead extending radially outwardly from the inner end of the unitary puncturing-needle-holdlng assembly thereby to be readily removably held tightly against that end of the barrel; the said flange on the bushing extending around the periphery of the outer end of the bushing to the extent sufficient to enable said flange to hold securely between it and said end face the unitary needle-holding assembly and to leave unencumbered the rest of the periphery of the outer end of the bushing to an extent sufficient to enable the bead of said unitary assembly to be slipped in between the bushing flange and said end face and be secured therebetween by tightly screwing the bushing along the barrel; and whereby simply unscrewing the bushing for even less than a whole turn is sufficient to release said grip of the bead of the unitary assembly between the bushing flange and the end face of the barrel to allow the unitary assembly to be removed, even by simply falling off, from the device and without any need for entirely unscrewing and removing the bushing.

8. A needle head assembly for a surface puncturing device having holding and securing means for a needleholding assembly, which assembly comprises a needle head having a needle head base and at least one skin puncturing needle depending therefrom; a needle cup having a closed base at one end and being open at the other to receive and encircle said head :and with the at least one needle extending into the interior of said cup; a resilient compressible spring of such dimensions to be resiliently compressibly engaged between the base of said needle head and of said cup; for each said needle a slot in the base of said cup aligned to be in registry l0 with its respective said needle so that said needle can pass through said slot; and means extending radially from the periphery of said cup for engagement by the holding and securing means of said puncturng device.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 802,247 10/05 Traxel 30-367 3,029,512 4/ 62 Saxton 30-367 3,039,467 6/ 62 Stone et al. 30-367 FOREIGN PATENTS 741,774 l2/ 55 Great Brita-in.

286,128 6/ 31 Italy.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

HAROLD B. WHITMORE, JORDAN FRANKLIN,

Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. IN A SURFACE PUNCTURING AND PENETRATING DEVICE, A CYLINDRICAL BARREL HAVING AN OPERATING END AND A PUNCTURE APPLICATION END; A TOP CLOSURE-BUSHING ATTACHED AT THE OPERATING END THEREOF; A BOTTOM CLOSURE-BUSHING ATTACHED AT THE OTHER AND APPLICATION END THEREOF; CO-AXIALLY POSITIONED WITHIN SAID BARREL AN AXIALLY LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE SHAFT HAVING TWO SEPARABLE PARTS LONGITUDINALLY AXIALLY ALIGNED AND SO MOVABLE IN RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER; THE FIRST OF SAID SHAFT PARTS HAVING AN OPERATING END EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY AXIALLY MOVABLY THROUGH THE TOP CLOSUREBUSHING; THE SECOND SEPARABLE SHAFT PART HAVING AT ITS OUTER END AN IMPACT-IMPARTING SHAFT EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY AXIALLY MOVABLE THROUGH THE BOTTOM CLOSURE-BUSHING, WHEREBY THE OUTER END OF SAID IMPACT SHAFT STRIKINGLY CAN IMPART A BLOW TO A SUITABLE ELEMENT INTERPOSED IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID OUTER END OF SAID IMPACT SHAFT AND HOLDING OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PUNCTURING MEANS HAVING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDABLE PUNCTURING END, TO CAUSE SAID OUTER PUNCTURING ENDS OF SAID PUNCTURING MEANS TO PUNCTURE AND PENETRATE A SURFACE LOCATED NEAR ENOUGH TO BE REACHED AND PENETRATED BY SAID OUTER ENDS FOLLOWING THE DELIVERY OF SAID BLOW TO SAID PUNCTURING MEANS; MEANS WITHIN AND INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID BARREL FOR PROPELLING THE SECOND OF SAID SEPARABLE SHAFT PARTS TOWARD THE APPLICATION END OF SAID BARREL, AND RESTRAINING MEANS ENGAGEABLE THEREIN FOR ENGAGING SAID SECOND SHAFT PART TO RESTRAIN SAID SECOND SHAFT PART AGAINST SUCH MOVEMENT AS SAID FIRST SHAFT PART IS BEING SO MOVED; AND MEANS INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF THE BARREL FOR RELEASING SAID RESTRAINING MEANS WHILE SAID SECOND SHAFT PART IS STILL STATIONARY; AND WITHIN SAID BARREL, SAID PROPELLING MEANS ENGAGING WITH SAID SECOND SHAFT PART FOR PROPELLING IT LONGITUDINALLY AXIALLY TOWARD SAID APPLICATION END OF THE BARREL UPON WITHDRAWING SAID RESTRAINING MEANS THEREFOR THEREFROM; AND WITHIN SAID BARREL AND ENGAGING WITH SAID FIRST SHAFT PART, MEANS FOR LONGITUDINALLY AXIALLY RETURNING SAID FIRST SHAFT PART TO ABOUT ITS STARTING LOCATION DIRECTLY AFTER REMOVAL THEREFROM OF THE FORCE THAT DIRECTED IT TOWARD THE APPLICATION END, AND AFTER THE SECOND SHAFT PART WAS DIRECTED TOWARD SAID APPLICATION END; AND MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID TWO SHAFT PARTS FOR DRAWING THE SECOND PART BACK INTO THE BOTTOM CLOSURE-BUSHING AS SAID FIRST SHAFT PART IS BEING DRAWN BACK TO ABOUT ITS STARTING LOCATION.

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