# US 9,517,328 B2 · Medicament applicator

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- Number: US 9,517,328 B2
- Document ID: US9517328B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/921,429
- Filed: 2013-06-19
- Published: 2014-12-25
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2013-06-19
- Assignees: Kashiv Pharma, LLC
- Applicants: Kashiv Pharma, LLC
- Inventors: Jamelo J Mellejor; Sanjeev K Gupta; Dipen Desai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517328B2

## CPC

- A61M 31/007: {Injectors for solid bodies, e.g. suppositories}
- A61M 3/0262: {manually, e.g. by squeezing a bulb}
- A61M 5/178: Syringes
- A61M 5/315: Pistons; Piston-rods; Guiding, blocking or restricting the movement of the rod {or piston}; Appliances on the rod for facilitating dosing {; Dosing mechanisms}
- A61M 5/31501: {Means for blocking or restricting the movement of the rod or piston (A61M5/5013 takes precedence)}
- A61M 37/0069: {Devices for implanting pellets, e.g. markers or solid medicaments (for introducing of radioactive sources for interstitial radiation therapy, i.e. brachytherapy A61N5/1027)}
- A61M 2005/005: {Magazines with multiple ampoules directly inserted into an injection or infusion device, e.g. revolver-like magazines containing ampoules with or without needles}
- A61M 2210/14: Female reproductive, genital organs
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

Apparatus and methods for inserting a medicament into a body cavity are described. The apparatus comprises an elongate tube with a plunger rod therein. The plunger rod has at least one projection which cooperatively interacts or engages with at least one discontinuity on the inside of the elongate tube so that proximal movement of the plunger rod with respect to the elongate tube expels the medicament into the body cavity.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An assembly for introducing a medicament into a body cavity, the assembly comprising:
an elongate tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer surface, an inner surface and an opening extending from the distal end to the proximal end, the proximal end adapted to support a medicament, the elongate tube comprising at least one radial discontinuity adjacent the distal end and extending inwardly from the inner surface of the tube; and
a plunger rod having an elongate body with a distal end and a proximal end, the plunger rod extending from the proximal end of the elongate tube to the distal end of the elongate tube and adapted to be slidably engaged within the tube, the plunger rod comprising at least two axially spaced projections adjacent the distal end of the elongate body that cooperatively engages with longitudinally opposing surfaces of each of the at least one radial discontinuity.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one radial discontinuity on the elongate tube cooperatively engages between the at least two axially spaced projections on the elongate body of the plunger rod.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The assembly of claim 2, wherein when the at least one radial discontinuity on the elongate tube is cooperatively engaged between the at least two axially spaced projections on the elongate body of the plunger rod, spontaneous movement of the plunger rod distally or proximally with respect to the elongate tube is substantially prevented.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the elongate tube contains a medicament.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The assembly of claim 4, wherein the medicament is a tablet.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The assembly of claim 5, wherein the tablet comprises an estrogen compound.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The assembly of claim 5, wherein the tablet comprises from about 10 mcg to about 25 mcg of an estrogen compound.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least two axially spaced projections on the elongate body are positioned a sufficient distance from the distal end of the plunger rod such that when the at least one radial discontinuity on the elongate tube is cooperatively engaged between the at least two axially spaced projections, proximal movement of the plunger rod with respect to the elongate tube causes the proximal end of the plunger rod to expel the medicament from the proximal end of the elongate tube.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongate body of the plunger rod comprises two intersecting beams extending from the distal end to the proximal end, such that elongate body has a cruciform-shaped cross section comprising four rays.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The assembly of claim 9, wherein two of the four rays each contain two axially spaced projections.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the plunger rod is undivided.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the plunger rod is blunt or rounded.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the elongate tube comprises at least two tongues adapted to support the medicament.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least two tongues each comprise recessed walls adapted to engage the surface of the medicament.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least two tongues prevent the medicament from being prematurely expelled from the proximal end of the elongate tube.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The assembly of claim 13, wherein the proximal end of the elongate tube further comprises at least two lips adapted to prevent lateral movement of the medicament.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The assembly of claim 16, wherein the at least lips are biased inward from the outer surface of the elongate tube at its proximal end.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the plunger rod further comprises a thumbpress on the distal end.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the elongate tube comprises at least one roughened surface adapted to prevent slippage of the elongate tube between a user's fingers.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the elongate tube and plunger rod are made from a material comprising one or more of polypropylene and high-density polyethylene.

### Claim 21 (depends on 8)

A method of depositing a medicament into a body cavity, the method comprising:
inserting the distal end of the elongate tube of the assembly of claim 8 into the body cavity; and
expelling the medicament into the body cavity.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21 wherein the step of expelling the medicament comprises applying proximally directed pressure to the proximal end of the plunger rod such that the plunger rod moves proximally with respect to the elongate tube causing the at least one radial discontinuity on the elongate tube to disengage from the at least two radial projections on the elongate body of the plunger rod.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the medicament is a tablet.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein the tablet comprises an estrogen compound.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein the tablet comprises from about 10 mcg to about 25 mcg of the estrogen compound.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, wherein the body cavity is a vagina.