Cartridge-holder assembly for medication dispensing unit

Claim 2

A cartridge assembly for a syringe-type medication dispensing unit, said assembly comprising: a cartridge comprising a cartridge body having first and second ends, a pierceable membrane mounted at the first end, and a piston mounted at the second end, with a volume of mediation contained in the cartridge body between the membrane and the piston; a cartridge holder having first and second ends, said first holder end defining a central opening and means for mounting a double ended needle, said second holder end defining means for securing the holder to a medication dispensing unit and an actuating shoulder, said holder defining a central cavity; one of said central cavity and said cartridge being shaped with a plurality of raised lands adapted to frictionally to engage the opposed surface of the other of said cartridge and cavity so as to form an assembly which can be handled as a single modular unit with the cartridge held securely in the holder.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein the double ended needle mounting means comprises a first set of external threads.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 wherein the holder securing means comprises a second set of external threads.

Claim 5

A cartridge assembly for a syringe-type medication dispensing unit, said assembly comprising: a cartridge comprising a cartridge body having first and second ends, a pierceable membrane mounted at the first end, and a piston mounted at the second end, with a volume of medication contained in the cartridge body between the membrane and the piston; a cartridge holder having first and second ends, said first holder end defining a central opening and means for mounting a double ended needle, said second holder end defining means for securing the holder to a medication dispensing unit and an actuating shoulder, said holder defining a central cavity shaped to receive and frictionally engage the cartridge to form an assembly which can be handled as a single, modular unit with the cartridge held securely in the holder; wherein the holder securing means comprises a second set of external threads; and wherein the modular unit is mounted to a syringe type medication dispensing unit having a plunger engageable with the piston, a one-way mechanism engaged with the plunger, and an actuating member for the one-way mechanism, wherein the second holder end is received within the dispensing unit, wherein the second set of external threads is engaged with the dispensing unit, and wherein the actuating shoulder is engaged with the actuating member.

Claim 6

A cartridge assembly for a syringe-type medication dispensing unit, said assembly comprising: a cartridge comprising a cartridge body having first and second ends, a pierceable membrane mounted at the first end, and a piston mounted at the second end, with a volume of medication contained in the cartridge body between the membrane and the piston; a cartridge holder having first and second ends, said first holder end defining a central opening and means for mounting a double ended needle, said second holder end defining means for securing the holder to a medication dispensing unit and an actuating shoulder, said holder defining a central cavity shaped to receive and frictionally engage the cartridge to form an assembly which can be handled as a single, modular unit with the cartridge held securely in the holder; wherein the holder securing means comprises a second set of external threads; and wherein the modular unit is mounted to a syringe type medication dispensing unit having a plunger engageable with the piston, a one-way mechanism engaged with the plunger, and an actuating member for the one-way mechanism, wherein the second holder end is received within the dispensing unit, wherein the second set of external threads is engaged with the dispensing unit, and wherein the actuating shoulder is engaged with the actuating member.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 4 wherein the dispensing unit and the holder define a detent system which holds the second set of external threads in engagement with the dispensing unit.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 5 wherein the detent system comprises inter engaging ramps on the holder and the dispensing device adjacent the second set of external threads.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 1 wherein the modular unit is mounted to a cap which encloses the first end of the holder, wherein the holder defines at least one stop member wherein the cap defines at least one lug, wherein at least one of the stop member and lug has a transverse face and a sloping face oriented such that the stop member and lug abut at the transverse face to limit rotation of the cap when the cap is rotated in a first direction with respect to the holder, and the stop member and the lug abut at the sloping face to shift the cap axially along the holder when the cap is rotated in a second direction with respect to the holder.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 1 wherein the modular unit is mounted to a cap which encloses the first end of the holder; wherein one of the holder and the cap defines at least one groove having an axial portion and a circumferential portion; and wherein the other of the holder and the cap defines a protruding element shaped to slide in the groove to secure the cap and holder together in a bayonet mount.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 1 wherein the holder frictionally engages only the first end of the cartridge.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 9 wherein the cartridge defines an annular collar disposed around the membrane, and wherein the holder frictionally engages the cartridge only at the collar.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 10 wherein the plurality of raised lands are positioned on the holder to frictionally engage the collar.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 2 further comprising: a needle assembly comprising a double ended needle secured to a mounting element which defines a set of internal threads engaged with the first set of external threads of the holder, with one end of the needle passing through the membrane and in contact with the medication.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 1 wherein the medication comprises an insulin solution.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 1 wherein the second end of the cartridge extends out of the holder by a distance of about 1/2 inch or more.

Claim 17

A cartridge assembly for a syringe-type medication dispensing unit, said assembly comprising: a cartridge comprising a cartridge body having first and second ends, a pierceable membrane mounted at the first end, and a piston mounted at the second end, with a volume of medication contained in the cartridge body between the membrane and the piston and an annular collar disposed around the membrane; a cartridge holder having first and second ends, said first holder end defining a central opening and a first set of external threads, said second holder end defining an actuating shoulder and a second set of external threads said holder defining a central cavity shaped to receive the cartridge with the pierceable membrane adjacent the central opening, said cartridge having a length greater than that of the holder such that the second end of the cartridge extends out of the holder, said holder defining a plurality of raised lands positioned to frictionally engage the collar to form an assembly which can be handled as a single, modular unit with the cartridge held removably in the holder by friction between the collar and the holder, said holder shaped to receive the cartridge freely until the lands engage the collar, such that the weight of the cartridge will move the cartridge into the holder until the lands contact the collar.

Claim 18

A cartridge assembly for a syringe-type medication dispensing unit, said assembly comprising: a cartridge comprising a cartridge body having first and second ends, a pierceable membrane mounted at the first end, and a piston mounted at the second end, with a volume of medication contained in the cartridge body between the membrane and the piston and an annular collar disposed around the membrane; a cartridge holder having first and second ends, said first holder end defining a central opening and a first set of external threads, said second holder end defining an actuating shoulder and a second set of external threads said holder defining a central cavity shaped to receive the cartridge with the pierceable membrane adjacent the central opening, said cartridge having a length greater than that of the holder such that the second end of the cartridge extends out of the holder, said holder defining a plurality of raised lands positioned to frictionally engage the collar to form an assembly which can be handled as a single, modular unit with the cartridge held removably in the holder by friction between the collar and the holder, said holder shaped to receive the cartridge freely until the lands engage the collar, such that the weight of the cartridge will move the cartridge into the holder until the lands contact the collar.

Claim 19

The invention of claim 15 wherein the modular unit is mounted to a syringe type medication dispensing unit having a plunger engageable with the piston, a one-way mechanism engaged with the plunger, and a one-way mechanism actuating member, wherein the second hold end is received within the dispensing unit, wherein the second set of external threads is engaged with the dispensing unit, and wherein the actuating shoulder is engaged with the one-way mechanism actuating member.

Claim 20

The invention of claim 16 wherein the dispensing unit and the holder define a detent system which the second set of external threads in engagement with the dispensing unit.

Claim 21

The invention of claim 17 wherein the detent system comprises inter-engaging ramps on the holder and the dispensing device adjacent the second set of external threads.

Claim 22

The invention of claim 18 wherein the modular unit is mounted to a cap which encloses the first end of the holder, wherein the holder defines at least one stop member, wherein the cap defines at least one lug, wherein at least one of the stop member and lug has a transverse face and a sloping face oriented such that the stop member and lug abut at the transverse face to limit rotation of the cap when the cap is rotated in a first direction with respect to the holder, and the stop member and the lug abut at the sloping face to shift the cap axially along the holder when the cap is rotated in a second direction with respect to the holder.

Claim 23

The invention of claim 15 wherein the modular unit is mounted to a cap which encloses the first end of the holder; wherein one of the holder and the cap defines at least one groove having an axial portion and a circumferential portion; and wherein the other of the holder and the cap defines a protruding element shaped to slide in the groove to secure the cap and holder together in a bayonet mount.

Claim 24

The invention of claim 15 further comprising: a needle assembly comprising a double ended needle secured to amounting element which defines a set of internal threads engaged with the first set of external threades of the holder, with one end of the needle passing through the membrane and in contact with the medication.

Claim 25

The invention of claim 15 wherein the medication comprises insulin.

Claim 26

The invention of claim 15 wherein the lands are axially oriented.