US5730723A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas pressured needle-less injection device and method
Assignee: Penjet Corp
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Filing: 1996-09-25
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Granted: 1998-03-24
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Expires: 2016-09-25
Abstract
Abstract An improved medication delivery device is a pen sized instrument that is powered by compressed inert gas. The needle-less injector device contains pre-filled and pre-measured medication dosages. The injector device has a pre-filled and self-contained compressed gas for providing pressure to inject the medication into the skin surface without the use of a needle. The injector device has a pressure sensitive deployment mechanism which insures proper seating of the injector face against the skin surface before medication delivery is accomplished. The needle-less injector device assures safe use by inexperienced operators (including children) under adverse conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas P. Castellano
- 👤 Robert Schumecher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:59
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/178; A61M5/30; A61M5/20; A61M2005/2006; A61M2005/2013; A61M2005/2073; A61M5/24; A61M2005/2418; A61M5/31; A61M2005/3103; A61M2005/3104; A61M2005/3117; A61M2005/3118; A61M2005/3123; A61M5/315; A61M5/31511; A61M2005/31516; A61M5/2046; A61M5/2053; A61M5/28; A61M5/285; A61M5/286; A61M5/3007; A61M5/3129; A61M5/31525; A61M5/31533; A61M5/31535
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
A pre-filled compressed gas activated needle-less injector device suitable for injecting pre-filled liquid medication through the skin surface, the device comprising: a main body having a first gas chamber, a second gas chamber and a passageway in gaseous communication with the first and the second chambers, wherein the first gas chamber contains a pre-filled compressed gas that exits through the passageway and into the second chamber; a valve detachably mounted to block the passageway to prevent the flow of the compressed gas from the first gas chamber into the second chamber until detached; a chamber housing coupled to the main body, the chamber housing comprising: a liquid chamber that holds the liquid medication; a liquid forcing assembly disposed within the liquid chamber that forces the liquid medication out from the liquid chamber; and an orifice formed in one end of the chamber housing and in fluid communication with the liquid chamber, wherein when the valve is permanently detached from blocking the passageway, the compressed gas is released from the first gas chamber into the second gas chamber and the compressed gas pushes the liquid forcing assembly which in turn pushes the liquid medication exits through the orifice and pierces the skin surface; and an actuating member mounted on the main body to permanently detach the valve to release the compressed gas when a predetermined pressure is applied to the actuating member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
A pre-filled compressed gas activated needle-less injector device suitable for injecting pre-filled liquid medication through the skin surface, the device comprising: a main body having a first gas chamber, a second gas chamber and a passageway in gaseous communication with the first and the second chambers, wherein the first gas chamber contains a pre-filled compressed gas that exits through the passageway and into the second chamber; a valve detachably mounted to block the passageway to prevent the flow of the compressed gas from the first gas chamber into the second chamber until detached; a chamber housing coupled to the main body, the chamber housing comprising: a liquid chamber that holds the liquid medication; a liquid forcing assembly disposed within the liquid chamber that forces the liquid medication out from the liquid chamber; and an orifice formed in one end of the chamber housing and in fluid communication with the liquid chamber, wherein when the valve is permanently detached from blocking the passageway, the compressed gas is released from the first gas chamber into the second gas chamber and the compressed gas pushes the liquid forcing assembly which in turn pushes the liquid medication exits through the orifice and pierces the skin surface; and an actuating member mounted on the main body to permanently detach the valve to release the compressed gas when a predetermined pressure is applied to the actuating member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A needle-less injector device according to claim 1, further including a coil spring positioned between the actuating member and the main body to bias the actuating member in an un-depressed state, wherein the coil spring has sufficient tension so that the predetermined pressure to activate the actuating member is established when the orifice is positioned substantially perpendicular to the skin surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
A needle-less injector device according to claim 1, further including a lever slidably mounted through a side wall of the main body adjacent to the valve and triggered by the actuating member so that when one end of the lever is pushed in, the other end of the lever permanently detaches the valve from blocking the passageway thus releasing the compressed gas into the second gas chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
394 words
A one-time use, pre-filled compressed gas activated needle-less injector device suitable for injecting pre-filled liquid medication through the skin surface, the device comprising: a main body having a first gas chamber, a second gas chamber and a passageway in gaseous communication with the first and the second chambers, wherein the first gas chamber contains a pre-filled compressed gas that exits through the passageway and into the second chamber; a valve detachably mounted to block the passageway to prevent the flow of the compressed gas from the first gas chamber into the second chamber until detached; a chamber housing coupled to the main body, the chamber housing comprising: a liquid chamber that holds the liquid medication; a piston disposed and movable within the liquid chamber, wherein the piston includes a head disposed within the main body and creates an air and fluid tight seal so that compressed gas released from the first gas chamber is trapped in the second gas chamber; a plunger disposed and movable within the liquid chamber along with the piston to force the liquid medication out from the liquid chamber; and an orifice formed in one end of the chamber housing and in fluid communication with the liquid chamber, wherein when the valve is permanently detached from blocking the passageway, the compressed gas is released from the first gas chamber into the second chamber and the compressed gas pushes the piston which in turn pushes the plunger with the piston so that the liquid medication exits through the orifice and pierces the skin surface; an actuating member mounted on the main body to permanently detach the valve to release the compressed gas when a predetermined pressure is applied to the actuating member; a coil spring positioned between the actuating member and the main body to bias the actuating member in an un-depressed state, wherein the coil spring has sufficient tension so that the predetermined pressure to activate the actuating member is established when the orifice is positioned substantially perpendicular to the skin surface; and a lever slidably mounted through a side wall of the main body adjacent to the valve and triggered by the actuating member so that when one end of the lever is pushed in, the other end of the lever permanently detaches the valve from blocking the passageway thus releasing the compressed gas into the second gas chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
394 words
A one-time use, pre-filled compressed gas activated needle-less injector device suitable for injecting pre-filled liquid medication through the skin surface, the device comprising: a main body having a first gas chamber, a second gas chamber and a passageway in gaseous communication with the first and the second chambers, wherein the first gas chamber contains a pre-filled compressed gas that exits through the passageway and into the second chamber; a valve detachably mounted to block the passageway to prevent the flow of the compressed gas from the first gas chamber into the second chamber until detached; a chamber housing coupled to the main body, the chamber housing comprising: a liquid chamber that holds the liquid medication; a piston disposed and movable within the liquid chamber, wherein the piston includes a head disposed within the main body and creates an air and fluid tight seal so that compressed gas released from the first gas chamber is trapped in the second gas chamber; a plunger disposed and movable within the liquid chamber along with the piston to force the liquid medication out from the liquid chamber; and an orifice formed in one end of the chamber housing and in fluid communication with the liquid chamber, wherein when the valve is permanently detached from blocking the passageway, the compressed gas is released from the first gas chamber into the second chamber and the compressed gas pushes the piston which in turn pushes the plunger with the piston so that the liquid medication exits through the orifice and pierces the skin surface; an actuating member mounted on the main body to permanently detach the valve to release the compressed gas when a predetermined pressure is applied to the actuating member; a coil spring positioned between the actuating member and the main body to bias the actuating member in an un-depressed state, wherein the coil spring has sufficient tension so that the predetermined pressure to activate the actuating member is established when the orifice is positioned substantially perpendicular to the skin surface; and a lever slidably mounted through a side wall of the main body adjacent to the valve and triggered by the actuating member so that when one end of the lever is pushed in, the other end of the lever permanently detaches the valve from blocking the passageway thus releasing the compressed gas into the second gas chamber.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
360 words
A method for constructing a pre-filled compressed gas activated needle-less injector device suitable for injecting pre-filled liquid medication through the skin surface, the method comprising the steps of: forming a main body having a first gas chamber, a second gas chamber and a passageway in gaseous communication with the first and the second chambers, wherein gases in the first gas chamber exit through the passageway and into the second chamber; detachably mounting a valve to block the passageway to prevent the flow of the compressed gas from the first gas chamber into the second chamber until detached; forming a chamber housing by the steps of: forming a liquid chamber that holds the liquid medication, forming a liquid forcing assembly disposed within the liquid chamber that forces the liquid medication out from the liquid chamber, and forming an orifice formed in one end of the chamber housing and in fluid communication with the liquid chamber, wherein when the valve is permanently detached from blocking the passageway the compressed gas is released from the first gas chamber and the compressed gas pushes the liquid forcing assembly which in turn pushes the liquid medication out through the orifice and through the skin surface; coupling the chamber housing to the main body; mounting an actuating member on the main body to permanently detach the valve to release the compressed gas when a predetermined pressure is applied to the actuating member; disposing a coil spring between the actuating member and the main body to bias the actuating member away from the main body, wherein the coil spring has a sufficient tension so that the predetermined pressure is established to activate the actuating member when the orifice is positioned substantially perpendicular to the skin surface; filling the first gas chamber with compressed gas; filling the liquid chamber with liquid medication; and slidably mounting a lever through a side wall of the main body adjacent to the valve so that when one end of the lever is pushed in by the actuating member, the other end of the lever permanently detaches the valve from blocking the passageway thus releasing the compressed gas into the second gas chamber.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
360 words
A method for constructing a pre-filled compressed gas activated needle-less injector device suitable for injecting pre-filled liquid medication through the skin surface, the method comprising the steps of: forming a main body having a first gas chamber, a second gas chamber and a passageway in gaseous communication with the first and the second chambers, wherein gases in the first gas chamber exit through the passageway and into the second chamber; detachably mounting a valve to block the passageway to prevent the flow of the compressed gas from the first gas chamber into the second chamber until detached; forming a chamber housing by the steps of: forming a liquid chamber that holds the liquid medication, forming a liquid forcing assembly disposed within the liquid chamber that forces the liquid medication out from the liquid chamber, and forming an orifice formed in one end of the chamber housing and in fluid communication with the liquid chamber, wherein when the valve is permanently detached from blocking the passageway the compressed gas is released from the first gas chamber and the compressed gas pushes the liquid forcing assembly which in turn pushes the liquid medication out through the orifice and through the skin surface; coupling the chamber housing to the main body; mounting an actuating member on the main body to permanently detach the valve to release the compressed gas when a predetermined pressure is applied to the actuating member; disposing a coil spring between the actuating member and the main body to bias the actuating member away from the main body, wherein the coil spring has a sufficient tension so that the predetermined pressure is established to activate the actuating member when the orifice is positioned substantially perpendicular to the skin surface; filling the first gas chamber with compressed gas; filling the liquid chamber with liquid medication; and slidably mounting a lever through a side wall of the main body adjacent to the valve so that when one end of the lever is pushed in by the actuating member, the other end of the lever permanently detaches the valve from blocking the passageway thus releasing the compressed gas into the second gas chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the step of forming the liquid forcing assembly includes the steps of: installing a piston movable within the liquid chamber, wherein the piston includes a head disposed within the main body and creates an air and fluid tight seal to define the second gas chamber so that compressed gas released from the first gas chamber is trapped in the second gas chamber; and installing a plunger movable within the liquid chamber along with the piston to force the liquid medication out from the liquid chamber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-23 | 2001-09-22 | 2002-03-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-23 | 2005-09-22 | 2006-03-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-23 | 2009-09-22 | 2010-03-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |