Injection device for minimally invasive procedures and uses thereof

An injection device, comprising:

• a) a syringe barrel, wherein the syringe barrel provides a fluid reservoir;
• b) a plunger configured to be controlled by the operator of the device and to move within the syringe barrel for loading and releasing fluid from the fluid reservoir in the syringe barrel;
• c) an injection needle that is fixed and operably coupled to the syringe barrel providing a fluid pathway for fluid contained in the syringe barrel to be injected into a target tissue when the plunger is depressed, wherein extraction or retraction of the needle is independent of movement of the plunger;
• d) an elongate sheath, comprising an internal lumen that contains the injection needle and having a distal tip that contains an opening for the injection needle, wherein:
• the sheath is movable around the injection needle;
• and
• control of the sheath is independent from movement of the plunger;
• and
• e) a controller for positioning the sheath, comprising:
• a housing, comprising at least a first and second stop to control exposure of the injection needle and that are provided within the housing at a predetermined distance from each other, wherein the stops can be locked;
• a central lumen in the housing comprising a connection member, wherein the connection member is configured to be movable in the central lumen in the housing and is coupled to the sheath, wherein the proximal end of the sheath is coupled to the distal end of the connection member so that movement of the connection member controls movement of the sheath;
• and
• a positioner mounted within the housing configured to move forward towards the distal end of the controller and rearward towards the proximal end of the controller, between the stops in the housing, wherein the positioner comprises a lock and release element that is configured in the positioner to engage the positioner with the stops, and is operatively connected to the connection member to guide movement of the connection member in the same direction, whereby movement of the positioner forward towards the distal end engages the first stop and moves the sheath to enclose the injection needle inside the lumen of the sheath, and movement of the positioner rearward towards the proximal end engages the second stop and moves the sheath to expose no more than a predetermined length of the distal tip of the injection needle through the opening for the injection needle for injection into the tissue.