US3815594A - Needleless inoculator - Google Patents

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.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Doherty June 11, 1974 NEEDLELESS INOCULATOR [76] Inventor: Norman R. Doherty, 870 Main St.,

Farmingdale, NY. 11713 [58] Field ofSearch 128/173 H, DIG. 1, 218 P, 128/218 A, 2l8 C, 218 F, 218 D, 218 R, 213,216,215; 124/32 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,167,178 l/l9l6 Hill ..124/32 2,550,053 4/1951 Ferguson 128/173 H 2,635,602 4/1953 Hein 128/173 H 2,708,110 5/1955 Clay 267/162 2,754,818 7/1956 Scherer 128/173 H 8/1962 Johnson et a1. 128/218 F 3,461,867 8/1969 Zimmet et a1. 128/173 H 3,688,765

Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-Henry J. Recla Attorney, Agent, or FirmLeonard H. King 57' ABSTRACT A needleless injector is provided with a body portion having a chamber for receiving a vial containing a fluidmaterial. 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.

10 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures SOURCE 9/1972 Gasaway.... 128/173H zATENTEDJUN 1 1 I974sum 30; 3

. 1 I NEEDLELESS INOCULATOR 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 2 cidental: 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 pressing the fluid therefromQThe injector is provided I 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 aspring that actuates the plunger into the second chamber.

While the. Zimmet et al patent doesteach 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 thattwo hands are requiredThat 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 parallelaxes must be applied in order to discharge the fluid from the vial and then discharge the fluid from the head.

SUMMARY OF THE nvention 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

cocking the instrument provides inherently durable structure.

Accordingly, it isan 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 animproved electrical cockingstructure 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. 1

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 descriptionof the invention,

In the various figures of the drawing like reference I characters designate like parts.

magnetic field will be induced andthe core member will be axially displaced thereby while aspring 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 AC. and delivered a volume of fluid which was adjustable from 0 to 0.6 ccs. The device is completely divorced from electrical sources when applied to the patient and thus avoids ac- In the drawings: v FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially broken away and partially in section, illustrating the structure of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevationalview, partially broken" away and partially in section, illustrating theinjector comprising the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view illustrating a portion of the power pack section of the present invention; I

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; l 4

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal, exploded view, partially broken-away and partially in section, illustrating the components of the power pack section comprising thisinvention; g i

FIG. 5A is a transverse, sectional view, taken along line SA5A of- FIG. 5; I 7 a FIG. 6 is a view in elevation of one of the componen 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.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, sectional view of the discharge head comprising this invention;

FIG. 11 and FIG. 1 1A 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-l2 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawing and specifically to FIG. 1, there is shown an improved, needleless, hypodermic injector comprising the present invention. Theinjector 20 is comprised of three basic sections. The first section is thepower pack 22, the second or intermediate section is thevial support 24 while the third section is thedischarge head portion 26. The power-pack section 22 and thevial support section 24 are removably coupled to each other by means of a bayonet arrangement comprising radially inwardly directedpins 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 disclosedsubsequently, there is also provided aguide pin 34 extending radially outward. In the embodiment illustrated theguide pin 34 is a screw that is threadably received in a tappedhole 35. Y

Turning-now to FIGS. 3-6, it will be seen that thepower pack section 22 is comprised of atubular housing 36, which, for purposes to be disclosed hereinafter, includes anaperture 38 through one wall thereof, a pair of internal, axially spaced apartannular grooves 40, asecond aperture 42 formed in one wall thereof intermediate the annular grooves and an elongated, axially extendingslot 44. Atrigger 46 is provided that includes arecess 48 on the underside thereof at one end, a transversely extendinglip 50 at the other end'and a downwardly dependingear 52 intermediate therecess 48 and the lip '50. Thetrigger 46 is pivotally mounted within theslot 44 by means of apin 54 that extends through ahole 56 formed in theear 52 and a chordally directed pair of alignedholes 58 formed in the wall of thehousing 36. The axis of thepin 54 is substantially parallel to the transversely extendinglip 50. Ablind recess 62 is formed in the wall of thehousing 36 in order to receive'oneend of a generally radially oriented,external compression spring 64. The other end of thecompression spring 64 is received in therecess 48 formed in the underside of the trigger '46. For e sthetic reasons, the ends ofthe'holes 58 may be plugged after the mountingpin 54 is inserted therethrough. Finally, thehousing 36 is provided with an internal,transverse wall 66 positioned approximately at the location of the pair ofholes 58. An axially extendingbore 68 is formed in thetransverse wall 66 for reasons which will become apparent hereinafter.

Continuing with the description of thepower pack section 22, there is also provided, as shown in FIG. 5, a central, tubular core, generally designated by thereference character 70, which is located within thehousing 36. Thetubular core 70 is comprised of an elongated, axially extendingcylindrical portion 72,termi+ nating in a first transversely enlargeddiameter portion 74. There is also provided a secondenlarged diameter portion 76 as well as twoadditional portions 78 and 80 having relatively smaller diameters. A pair oftransverse walls 82 and 83 are defined between thediametrical portions 78 and 80 and between thediametrical portions 76 and 78, respectively. Thecore member 70,

as shown, for example, in FIG. 5, terminates at one end in atransverse wall 84 having an axially oriented bore 86 therethrough. The opposite end of thecore 70 is provided withexternal threads 88.

A hollow, axially movable rod 90'is positioned within thecore 70 and is provided with an enlarged,first head portion 92 at one end thereof. The opposite end of therod 90 is also provided with asecond head portion 94. In the embodiment illustrated thesecond head portion 94 is formed by a screw that is threadably received within the end of therod 90. Thus. therod 90 is axially slidable within and relative to the core 70 but. by virtue of thehead portions 92 and 94 at its opposite ends. is captured and the axial movement thereof is limited.

A plurality ofbelleville washers 96 aremounted on thetubular portion 72 in abutment at one end with thediameter 74 in order to form a resilient, spring-like bi asing member. Acollar 97 having a singleflat surface 98 formed on the periphery thereof, is loosely mounted on thetubular portion 72 in order to capture thebelleville washers 96.Undercuts 100 are formed on axially opposite sides of thecollar 97 and receiveresilient washers 102. In the assembled condition within thehousing 36, theenlarged diameter portion 76 abuts thetransverse wall 66 and two retainingrings 104 that are received in theannular grooves 40, are mounted about thecollar 97 proximate the axially spaced ends thereof. Thus, thecollar 97 is prevented from moving axially. A radially extendingpin 106 extends through the opening 42in thehousing 36 and is provided with a headedinner end 108 that bears against the flatperipheral surface 98 of thecollar 97. This construction also prevents rotational movement of thecollar 97. However, thecore 70 is slidable in an axial direction relative'to thecollar 97. I

' Ari .elongated compression spring 110 is positioned within thetubular rod 90 and also extends through thetubular core 70 for biasing therod 90 with respect to I the core 70. The left hand end of thecompression spring 110 is provided with aninternal stiffening rod 112 as shown in FIG. 5. A magnetizable' cap member 114-is provided with internal-threads 116 that mate with thethreads 88 formed on thecore member 72 in order to form an integral but separable unit. A conical seat. 118 is also provided in-thecap member 114 in order to receive the left hand end of the. stiffeningrod 112. In the assembled condition thecap member 114 bears against one of theresilient washers 102 and is telescopingly positioned within thehousing 36; On the outside surface of thecap member 114 there is provided a plurality ofindicia 119 which, in the embodiment illustrated, take the form of consecutive numbers. Theindicia 119 are positioned along a helical path and are arranged to register through theopening 38 formed in thehousing 36 so asto provide an indication of the dosage to be discharged. This setting determines the travel of member 70when the spring pressure is released as described hereinafter. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8,-thevial supporting section 24 is comprised of ahousing 120 on one. end of which thebayonet slots 32 and 33 are formed. The bayonet type coupling renders it a simple matter to uncouple thevial support section 24 from thepower pack section 22 when the vial V must be replaced. This construction also facilitates sterilization of thedischarge head section 26. Thehousing 120 is furtherprovided with an internal, annular lip 12] and a pair of diametrically opposed, axially extendingslots 122 through which the contents of a vial V are visible. Internally of the housing there is provided a tubular slee've124 having a pair of diametrically opposed. axially extendingslots 125 aligned withslots 122 and atransverse wall 126 formed at one end thereof. A threadedopening 128 is formed in thewall 126. Thesleeve 124 is further provided with a relatively narrow and relativelyshort axiallyextending slot 130 near the end opposite thewall 126. Theslot 130 is angularly offset from the diametricallyopposed slots 122 and receives theguide pin 34 for preventing rotation of thesleeve 124. As shown in FIG. 12, theguide 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 thesleeve 124. In the assembled condition, the lefthand end surface 132 of thesleeve 124 abuts thetransverse wall 82 formed between thediametrical portions 78 and 80 of themember 70.

A tubular rod 134 (FIG. 9) is provided with external threads at one end thereof that mate with thethreads 128 formedin'the sleeve 124. Aplug 136, having a fine,central bore 138, is provided withatubular piercing member 140 that is in fluid communication with thebore 138. Anelongated compression spring 137 is positioned about the tubular 'rod'134. One end of thespring 137 bears against theend wall 126 of thesleeve 124 while the other end of the spring 137-bears against theannular lip 121 of thehousing 120. In the assembled condition, the piercingmember 140 extends through the end H of the vial V in order to receive thefluid is slipped over the wash'e'i174rAs shown in FIG. 9B. thecap member 176 is also captured within the undercut 168. Theconical tip 170 serves to capture thecap member 176 which is provided with a conically divergingbore 180. As shown in FIG. 9B. thecap member 176' extends axially beyond theconical tip 170.

Thehead portion 26 comprising the present invention may best be seen in FIG. 10. Ahousing 182 having achannel 184 formed therein is secured integrally to sealingring 210.

Apiston 214 is slidably received within the sleeve.

therein. At this time, it should be noted that thehead portion 94 of the rod bears against and axially pushes the plug P within the vial V so as. to force the fluid-into and through the piercing member and thebore 138. Theplug 136 is captured within thetubular rod 134 by means ofmating threads 142 and is also provided with asealing ring 144 that'is secured in anannular groove 146 formed on the outside surface of theplug 136. The sealingring 144 is positioned within acounterbored recess 148 formed in the left hand end of thetubular rod 134 as shown in FIG. 9.

An internal chamber orcavity 150 isprovided in thetubular rod 134 so as to be in communication with thebore 138. Abore 152 is' also formed in thetubular rod 134 and is in fluid communication with thecavity 150 and thus with thebore 138. Arod 154 is slidably positioned within thecavity 150 and, at one end thereof, is provided with aconical neck portion 156 on which is mounted aresilient sealing member 158. As shown in FIG. 9A, the left hand end of theneck 156 abuts the right hand end of theplug 136 and the sealingmember 158 is positioned about thebore 138. At the opposite end of therod 154, as shown in FIG. 9, there is provided a reduceddiameter portion 160 that forms atransverse wall 162 in combination with thebody portion 154. Acompression spring 164 that normally urges therod 154 and the sealingmember 158 to the left (FIG. 9), is positioned about the reduceddiameter portion 160 and extends between thetransverse wall 162 of therod 154 and the transverse end wallof thecavity 150. i

The right handend of the tubular rod 134 (FIG. 9) terminates in a firstdiametrica]portion 166, an annular undercut 168 and aconical tip 170. Thebore 152 extends through thetip 170. A firstplastic washer 172, which may be made of Teflon, is positioned about thediametrical portion 166 and a resilient,elastomeric washer 174 is mounted on the undercut 168. Aplastic cap member 176, which also may be made of Teflon,

thehousing 120 by any convenient means such as brazing or the like whereby thechannel 184 is in fluid communication with thebore 152. A counterbored hole, defined bybores 186 and 188 as well as atransverse interface 190 therebetween, is formed in thehousing 182 with the bore 186v being in communication with thechannel 184.

A firsttubular sleeve 192, having atransverse flange 194 is positioned within thehousing 182 such that asealing ring 196 is captured between theflange 194 and thetransverse wall 190. Thesleeve 192 is further provided'with aninternal chamber 198 that communicates with afine bore 200 having aconical orifice 202. A plurality of radially extendingholes 204, for example three, are formed in thesleeve 192 so as to be in communication with thechamber 198. The head end of thesleeve 192 isdefined by anend portion 206 in which an undercut 208 is formed in order to receive a resilient 192 and includes apiston head 220. A pair of sealingrings 216 and 218 are located near the head end 220 Aplug 222 is threaded into thehousing 182 in order to capture aspring 224 thatis arranged to bear against thehead end 220 of the piston 21 4.Plug 222 captures O-Ring2l5 and squeezes it againsthead end 220 and also forcessleeve 192 to squeeze O Ring .196 againstwall 190 thereby sealing off the contents ofsleeve 192. A sealingring 226 is positioned within thechamber 198 about thebore 200 and adjacent the left hand end of thepiston rod 214 as shown in FIG. 10. Anclastomeric sleeve 228 is mounted on the outer end of thepiston 192 and surrounds theconical orifice 202. It will be noted that thesleeve 228 extends axially to the left of theorifice 202 as shown for example in FIG. 10.

Alternative embodiments of the present inventionthat .are equally spaced apart on a common radius (FIG. 11A). In both embodiments thebores 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 theinjector 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 conventionaltrigger circuit 244 for generating. large pulses of current. A suitable .fuse 246 may also be provided.

When thepower pack section 22 of the injector is inserted in the bore 238 and the switch 242 is closed. themagnetizable core 70 will be drawn downwardly as would be the armature of a solenoid. This causesthebelleville washers 96 to be compressed between the axially movablediametrical portion 74 and the axially securedcollar 97. Energy is thus stored in thebelleville washers 96.

At the same time thespring 64 urges thetrigger 46 in a counterclockwise direction (as seen in FIG; 3) about thepin 54, so that thelip 50 of the-trigger 46 abuts thetransverse wall 83 whereby thecore 70 is secured in its loaded or cocked position. It should be noted at this time that thespring 110 normally urges thehead portion 94 longitudinally to the right into coaxial engagement with the plug of the vial V. At the same time the spring. 137 longitudinally urges thesleeve 124 that contains the vial V, to the left in coaxial opposition to the spring 1 10. The spring l64is simultaneously urging therod 154 to the left ,in the same direction as the sleevel24 so that the sealingmember 158 will prevent fluid leakage to thebore 138.

When thetrigger 46 is depre ssed, or moved in a clockwise direction, thelip 50 is removed from thetransverse wall 83, thus permitting thebelleville washers 96 to drive thecore member 70 to the right, movingmember 124 forward thereby pushing fluid throughbore 121 and through thechannel 184 formed in thedischarge head 26.

Upon entering thedischarge head 26 the fluid traverses the radially orientedholes 204 formed in thehousing 192. It should be noted at this time that while twoholes 204 are shown as being diametrically opposed to each other, this is done primarily for convenience of illustration. It will be evidentthat more than two holes may be provided,.and in fact in one embodiment of the invention there are three equally spaced apart radially extendingholes 204. The fluid then enters thechamber 198 formed intermediate thetubular housing 192 and thepiston 214. This action causes thepiston head 220 to be moved to the right against the force of thespring 224. This action also causes thepiston 214 to moveaxially away from the sealingmember 226 to thereby open thefine bore 200 and theconical orifice 202 so that fluid may be discharged. When all of the fluid has been discharged thespring 224 returns thepiston 214 back into sealing engagement'with thering 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.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. 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 movec. 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 displace- 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.

Claims (10)

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.

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