US 5,865,795 A · Safety mechanism for injection devices

Abstract

A safety mechanism for aiding in the prevention of accidental or unintentional discharge of a needleless injection device having a power unit, a housing, a plunger disposed within the housing, a trigger assembly, and a nozzle. The safety mechanism includes a locking member which is disposed at least partially on the exterior of the housing. The locking member works in concert with the triggering assembly to the prevent movement thereof, thereby preventing activation of the power unit to eject fluids through the nozzle. The locking member also works in concert with an interlocking sleeve which prevents activation of the injector when the nozzle is removed therefrom. The safety mechanism also includes a feature for automatically returning the locking member to a locked position after activation.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An injection device having a safety mechanism, wherein said injection device has a housing which includes an energy generating source and a nozzle removably associated with the housing and defining a fluid chamber therein, said safety mechanism comprising:

a triggering member disposed within the housing and operatively associated with the energy generating source so that movement of the triggering member activates the energy source to expel a fluid from the fluid chamber;
and
a locking member disposed on the exterior of the housing and operatively associated with the triggering member, said locking member being movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein movement of the triggering member is prevented when the locking member is in the locked position, wherein movement of the triggering member is possible when the locking member is in the unlocked position and wherein the locking member can be moved to the locked or unlocked positions irrespective of whether the nozzle is associated with the housing.

An injection device having a safety mechanism, wherein said injection device has a housing which includes a fluid chamber at least partially disposed therein, and an energy generating source, said safety mechanism comprising:

a triggering member disposed within the housing and operatively associated with the energy generating source so that movement of the triggering member activates the energy source to expel a fluid from the fluid chamber;
a locking member disposed on the exterior of the housing and operatively associated with the triggering member, said locking member being movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;
and
an interlock sleeve rotationally coupled with the locking member and having an aperture therein for receiving a lug, said interlock sleeve biased distally by a second biasing member, wherein:
movement of the triggering member is prevented when the locking member is in the locked position;
movement of the triggering member is possible when the locking member is in the unlocked position;
the housing and triggering member each have an aperture disposed thereon;
and
the locking member has a protruding lug which projects inwardly through the housing aperture and extends into the triggering member aperture, said lug being moveable within each of said apertures.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Safety mechanism for injection devices

Life of this patent

Safety mechanism for injection devices

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21