US 5,505,704 A · Manifold medication injection apparatus and method

Abstract

A hand-held dual liquid medication injector have dual, bi-directional dosage metering mechanisms for permitting a variable dosage amount for each cartridge of liquid medication. The medications are mixed within a manifold having a valved mixing chamber and are injected via a single cannula. The mixing chamber is valved such that backflow of mixed or unmixed medications into the cartridges is prevented. An injection mechanism, independent of the metering mechanism, loads and injects the liquid medication. In one embodiment, downward movement of the injection mechanism during injection is translated into horizontal movement by the plunger mechanism. In another embodiment, a power-assisted plunger mechanism accomplishes injection.

Claims55

Dependent claims

A medication dispensing device for effecting the simultaneous delivery of two injectable products, comprising:

a housing;
a first cartridge received in said housing for containing and sealing a first injectable product therein, said first cartridge having a first exit end and including a first plunger therein;
a second cartridge received in said housing for containing and sealing a second injectable product therein, said second cartridge having a second exit end and including a second plunger therein;
a first dosage metering mechanism disposed in said housing and including a first dosage adjuster coupled to a first plunger-engageable member such that upon adjustment of said first dosage adjuster, said first member is axially advanceable a first distance with respect to said housing to establish a first set dosage of injectable product to be delivered without effecting delivery of the first injectable product;
a second dosage metering mechanism disposed in said housing and including a second dosage adjuster coupled to a second plunger-engageable member such that upon adjustment of said second dosage adjuster, said second member is axially advanceable a second distance with respect to said housing to establish a second set dosage of injectable product to be delivered without effecting delivery of the second injectable product;
a manifold secured to said first and second exit ends of said first and second cartridges, respectively, for enabling the mixing of said first and second set dosages of said first and second injectable products upon delivery from said respective cartridges into said manifold, said manifold being in fluid communication with said first and second cartridges and containing a common exit for enabling the mixed injectable product to be delivered to a user;
and
an injector mechanism coupled to said first and second members for simultaneously axially advancing said first and second members a distance sufficient to engage and axially advance said first and second plungers, respectively, to effect simultaneous delivery of said first and second set dosages into said manifold and out through said cannula.

5 more elements

A medication dispensing device for effecting the simultaneous delivery of two injectable products through a single cannula, comprising:

a housing;
a first cartridge received in said housing for containing and sealing a first injectable product therein, said first cartridge having a first exit end and including a first plunger therein;
a second cartridge received in said housing for containing and sealing a second injectable product therein, and said second cartridge having a second exit end and including a second plunger therein;
a dosage metering mechanism disposed in said housing to establish a first set dosage of the first injectable product to be delivered, and a second set dosage of the second injectable product to be delivered;
an injector mechanism to engage and axially advance said first and second plungers to effect simultaneous delivery of said first and second set dosages out of said first and second cartridges, respectively;
and
a manifold secured to said first and second exit ends of said first and second cartridges, respectively, for enabling the mixing of said first and second set dosages of said first and second injectable products upon delivery from said respective cartridges into said manifold, said manifold comprising a front housing, a rear housing including a first cannula extending into said first cartridge and a second cannula extending into said second cartridge, and a rubber septum disposed between said front and rear housings, said septum comprising a substantially flat surface adjacent ends of said first and second cannulas, said front housing including a delivery needle therein for delivery of injectable product through said delivery needle, wherein a first fluid path for the first injectable product is formed in said manifold from said first cannula to said delivery needle and a second fluid path for the second injectable product is formed in said manifold from said second cannula to said delivery needle, wherein a first flat portion of a first surface of said septum is in fluid-tight engagement with a first flat sealing surface of said rear housing to define a first pressure-actuated valve portion in said first fluid path and wherein a second flat portion of a second surface of said septum is in fluid-tight engagement with a second flat sealing surface of said rear housing to define a second pressure-actuated valve portion in said second fluid path, said first and second valve portions being biased in a closed position to prevent the flow of injectable product therethrough, said first and second valve portions being flexible enough to open to permit the flow therethrough of the first and second injectable products, respectively, upon the expulsion of the first and second injectable products out of said first and second cannulas, respectively.

4 more elements

An apparatus for the delivery of an injectable product, comprising:

a housing;
a container mounted to said housing and including a plunger, an exit and an injectable product between said plunger and said exit;
a drive stem disposed in said housing and drivingly coupled to said plunger;
a drive assembly mounted to said housing and axially movable in said housing between a pre-injection position and a post-injection position for moving said drive stem to drive said plunger within said container, said drive assembly including a first ratchet element, and a tubular element coupled to said drive stem such that said tubular element is rotatable with respect to said drive stem, wherein relative rotation between said tubular element and said drive stem controls the amount of telescopic extension of said drive stem from said tubular element to establish a set dosage of injectable product to be delivered, said drive stem being axially movable with said tubular element between said pre-injection position and said post-injection position;
and
a dose setting assembly coupled to said drive assembly and comprising a rotatable element having an end in the form of a dose setting knob and a second ratchet element engageable with said first ratchet element while said drive assembly is in said pre-injection position, wherein said dose setting knob is coupled to said tubular element while said drive assembly is in said pre-injection position so that rotation of said knob with respect to said housing results in rotation of said tubular element, said rotatable element being rotatable against the force of a spring from an initial radial position to a selective final radial position for selectively advancing said drive stem to set the dosage of injectable product to be delivered, said first ratchet element being spaced from said second ratchet element while said drive assembly is in said post-injection position, whereby said spring biases said rotatable element from said final radial position to said initial radial position upon movement of said drive assembly from said pre-injection position to said post-injection position.

3 more elements

An apparatus for the delivery of an injectable product, comprising:

a housing;
a container mounted to said housing and including a plunger, an exit and an injectable product between said plunger and said exit;
plunger-engagement means disposed in said housing for drivingly engaging said plunger;
drive means mounted to said housing for moving said plunger-engagement means between a pre-injection position and a post-injection position to drive said plunger within said container, said drive means including a first element, and a nut means coupled to said plunger-engagement means for rotation with respect to said plunger-engagement means, wherein relative rotation between said nut means and said plunger-engagement means controls the amount of telescopic extension of said plunger-engagement means from said nut means to establish a set dosage of injectable product to be delivered, said plunger-engagement means being axially movable with said nut means between said pre-injection position and said post-injection position;
and
dose setting means for setting a dosage of injectable product to be delivered, said dose setting means coupled to said drive means and comprising a rotatable element including a dose setting knob and a second element engageable with said first element while said drive means is in said pre-injection position, wherein said dose setting knob is coupled to said nut means while said plunger-engagement means is in said pre-injection position so that rotation of said knob with respect to said housing results in rotation of said nut means, said rotatable element being rotatable against the force of spring means from an initial radial position to a selective final radial position for selectively advancing said plunger-engagement means to set the dosage of injectable product to be delivered, said first ratchet element being spaced from said second ratchet member while said plunger-engagement means is in said post-injection position, whereby said spring means biases said rotatable element from said final radial position to said initial radial position upon movement of said plunger-engagement means from said pre-injection position to said post-injection position.

3 more elements

An apparatus for the delivery of an injectable product, comprising:

a housing;
a container received in said housing and including a plunger, an exit and an injectable product between said plunger and said exit;
a drive stem disposed in said housing and drivingly coupled to said plunger;
and
a drive assembly mounted to said housing and axially movable in said housing for moving said drive stem to drive said plunger within said container,
wherein a rotatable piece is secured to said drive stem for rotation therewith, and a locking sleeve is disposed about said drive stem and configured to restrict rotation of said rotatable piece with respect to said housing, said rotatable piece and said locking sleeve being biased in unlocked relationship with one another, said rotatable piece and said locking sleeve being forced into locked engagement with one another while said container is mounted to said housing to prevent rotation of said rotatable piece and said drive stem with respect to said housing, said rotatable piece and said locking sleeve being automatically disengaged from one another upon removal of said container from said housing, thereby permitting said rotatable piece and said drive stem to be rotated with respect to said housing.

3 more elements

An apparatus for effecting delivery of an injectable product, comprising:

a first cartridge for containing and sealing a first injectable product therein, said first cartridge having a first exit end and including a first plunger axially movable in said first cartridge to define a first axis of ejection of the first injectable product from said first cartridge;
a second cartridge for containing and sealing a second injectable product therein, said second cartridge having a second exit end and including a second plunger axially movable in said second cartridge to define a second axis of ejection of the second injectable product from said second cartridge;
a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said first and second cartridges are mounted to said distal end;
a manually operable dosage metering mechanism disposed in said housing for enabling a user to selectively set a dosage of at least one of the first and second injectable products to be delivered without effecting delivery of the respective injectable product from said respective cartridge;
a delivery mechanism for simultaneously axially advancing said first and second plungers a distance sufficient to effect simultaneous delivery of said first and second set dosages out of said respective cartridges, said delivery mechanism including an actuator movable in a direction transverse to said axes of delivery, wherein movement of said actuator in said transverse direction causes delivery of said first and second set dosages;
and
a manifold secured to said first and second exit ends of said cartridges for enabling the mixing of said set dosages of said first and second injectable products and the delivery of a mixed injectable product upon movement of said actuator, said manifold including a cannula extending into each of said cartridges and a common exit in fluid communication with said cartridges for enabling the mixed injectable product to be delivered to a user.

4 more elements

A method of delivering a selected dosage of mixed injectable product, the method comprising the steps of:

rotating a first knob of a first dosage metering mechanism disposed in an injector housing to set a first set dosage of first injectable product to be delivered out of a first container mounted in the housing, wherein the first injectable product is in the first container between a first plunger and a first exit end of the first container, wherein the first plunger is movable toward the first exit end along a first axis of ejection of the first injectable product from the first container;
rotating a second knob of a second dosage metering mechanism disposed in the injector housing to set a second set dosage of second injectable product to be delivered out of a second container mounted in the housing, wherein the second injectable product is in the second container between a second plunger and a second exit end of the second container, wherein the second plunger is movable toward the second exit end along a second axis of ejection of the second injectable product from the second container, the second axis being generally parallel to the first axis;
and
moving an actuator in a direction transverse to the first and second axes of ejection to simultaneously axially advance first and second plunger-engagement members in the housing to axially advance the first and second plungers, respectively, to effect simultaneous delivery of the first and second set dosages into a manifold attached to the first and second exit ends of the first and second containers and out through a needle extending from the manifold.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Manifold medication injection apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Manifold medication injection apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims55