EP3706832A1

EP3706832A1 - Method and device for the needle-free injecting of fluid into a substrate, and fluid container for use in the method and the device

Info

Publication number: EP3706832A1
Application number: EP18822131.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fritz Schmitt
Original assignee: CC Pharma GmbH
Current assignee: Conzima GmbH
Priority date: 2017-11-10
Filing date: 2018-11-09
Publication date: 2020-09-16
Also published as: US20200353171A1; EP3706833A1; EP3706833B1; WO2019092644A1; US20200261653A1; WO2019092643A1; EP3706833C0; EP3706834A1; US20200360611A1; WO2019092642A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for the needle-free injecting of fluid into a substrate, in particular injecting a fluid pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation into a biological tissue, whereby, in a particularly advantageous manner, it is possible to reliably inject an in particular fine fluid jet completely into the substrate. According to the invention, this is achieved in that the ejected fluid jet is caused to rotate about its jet axis before coming into contact with the substrate, such that the jet has a helical movement and thereby practically bores into the substrate, without spraying out laterally.

Description

A method and apparatus for needleless injection of liquid into a substrate and liquid container for use in the method and apparatus

The invention relates to a method for the needleless injection of liquid into a substrate, in particular a liquid

pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation in a biological tissue. The invention is further directed to an injection device for needle-less injection of liquid into a substrate, in particular a liquid pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation in a biological tissue, with a liquid reservoir, an outlet nozzle and with a liquid from the reservoir ejizierenden by the outlet nozzle in the form of a liquid jet

Ej ector facility. Finally, the invention also relates to a fluid container for use in exercising the

inventive method and / or in the device according to the invention.

In order to inject a liquid into a substrate, for example a liquid pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation in or under the skin of a human or other animal, the liquid is regularly introduced through an injection needle into the substrate, ie the human or animal tissue. The

Injection needle must first be inserted into the substrate. As a result of the incision made at the needle tip by means of a cutting edge, injuries occur that usually heal quickly in living tissue but regularly result in scarring. In addition, injections with hypodermic needles always carry the risk of infection.

It has therefore been in the past with different experiments

For needle-less injection, hypodermic jet injectors are used to deliver a small amount of fluid, such as a vaccine or other drug, without the use of an injection needle pierceable into the substrate Anesthetic or the like to introduce directly through the skin surface in the tissue. Basically, the idea in these efforts was to penetrate the skin of the patient alone by the pressure of the fluid and to bring the injection medium to a desired depth. However, the devices developed for this purpose could not meet the expectations set in them.

The injection devices proposed in the past for the needleless injection of liquids such as medicaments have an energy storage such as a spring accumulator, an accumulator and / or a primer, which causes an increase in pressure in a liquid reservoir contained in the device when triggered to liquid from the supply through an outlet nozzle. The nozzle cross section is as small as possible and the pressure acting on the liquid reservoir pressure as high as possible, to a liquid jet with a small cross-section and large

To produce jet velocity.

From US 2002/0143323 Al an endoscopic device for gastrointestinal epithelium removal is known in which a probe is supplied with a liquid. The liquid is supplied to the probe from a reservoir, which is acted upon by pressurized gas from a gas cylinder. US 2006/0149193 A1 discloses a device with a probe and a liquid applicator, which has a liquid outlet opening for needleless injection of a liquid into a biological tissue and a liquid line leading to the liquid outlet opening. An associated liquid supply device has a drive device and is equipped with a pressure-storing

Pressure vessel connectable as energy storage. To the

Liquid supply device includes an expansion chamber having a movable wall surface which encloses the liquid to be injected and which can be acted upon by a pressure fluid.

Furthermore, devices are known which serve for the needleless injection of a liquid under the mucosa. For example, US 2009/0157114 A1 discloses an endoscope with a needleless probe

Injection of the mucosa. The probe pushes a beam Sodium chloride solution, due to its small cross-section and its simultaneously high speed in the tissue

penetrates. To promote the sodium chloride solution and the

to generate appropriate pressure is a pump unit or

optionally provided a force-enhancing lever.

The known devices have so far proven to be less successful, because the liquid jet thus generated is already apart immediately after its exit from the outlet nozzle and at the same time reduces its speed. When it strikes the substrate, it then tends to "spit up", ie to spray apart so that at least some of the liquid directed onto the substrate surface does not penetrate into the substrate but runs off to the side of the impact point It is unclear whether and what amount of liquid was actually injected into the substrate.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a method and a

Device of the type mentioned above, which provides a reliable injection of liquid into a substrate without

Use of a pierced into the substrate injection needle (cannula) is possible.

This object is achieved by the method according to the invention by the liquid in the form of a liquid jet to a

Injection speed is accelerated and the

Liquid jet is offset at least in its outer region before its impinging on the substrate in rotation about its beam axis. Accordingly, the device according to the invention is characterized by means for causing the liquid jet to rotate about its jet axis before impinging it on the substrate.

It has surprisingly been found that a widening, that is to say a cross-sectional enlargement, of the liquid jet on its way from the injection device to the substrate surface and the mushrooming that is repeatedly observed in the known devices when striking the substrate is avoided very reliably if the jet of liquid rotates about its own axis (beam axis) when impinging on the substrate with preferably a high jet velocity and a small jet cross-section. It is arrived that due to the rotation acting centripetal forces the

Liquid particles (molecules) hold together, and not only on the way the liquid jet from the outlet to the

Substrate surface, but also when penetrating into the substrate. In fact, at least with appropriate design of the

Outlet nozzle, it comes by the rotation of the jet after its exit from the outlet nozzle even to a cross-sectional reduction and thus to an increase in velocity of the liquid jet, so that it can impinge on the substrate even at a greater velocity than it has when exiting an outlet nozzle , Experiments have shown that the

Fluid jet when injected into biological tissue such as e.g. into or under the skin of a human or an animal reliably penetrates into this, even if the outlet nozzle of the device according to the invention at a distance from the

Tissue surface is positioned so the liquid jet so the distance between the nozzle and the tissue surface has to bridge as a "free jet", without increasing the distance would have an adverse effect on the injection quality. The rotation imparted to the beam before impinging on the substrate is superimposed by the translatory movement of the liquid in its direction of jet to a helical motion with which the beam, following the observations made, has very little resistance at the surface of the substrate this virtually "drilled" or "screwed in" to form an inlet channel corresponding to the beam cross-section, with practically virtually none of the fluid striking the substrate being lost, ie not penetrating into the substrate.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the rotation of the liquid jet is effected by means of at least one aperture or nozzle with at least one helical or helical running fluid channel. Accordingly, the

Injection device according to the invention as a means to the

To set liquid jet in rotation, preferably at least comprise an approximately helical or helical fluid channel at the outlet nozzle. With the help of the at least one helical or helical fluid channel is first at least a partial flow of the liquid flowing through the outlet nozzle on

Outer circumference of the liquid jet, so in the boundary region to the surrounding air, the desired rotational movement impressed, with this rotation or screwing movement transmits into the interior of the liquid jet. It is also possible that the

Rotation of the liquid jet is effected by means of a rotating diaphragm or nozzle, to which the device-wise provided means preferably comprise at least one rotatably driven part de outlet nozzle. Also a combination of the two

Rotation-generating measures is conceivable.

The injection device according to the invention may preferably be configured such that the liquid reservoir, the outlet nozzle and the Ej ektoreinrichtung in a common housing

arranged / can be arranged. The device can be made particularly compact in this way, it is for example as

Injection device for injecting cosmetic or

pharmaceutical liquids in or under the skin of a human or an animal even with one hand easily handled.

In an advantageous embodiment of the injection device, the at least one fluid channel at a passage in the

Exhaust nozzle limiting nozzle wall may be arranged. The arrangement may be made in the injection device such that the outlet nozzle has at least one convergent section, the cross section of which projected in the direction of flow

Reduces liquid so that the liquid is accelerated on its way through the converging portion of the outlet nozzle. In this case, it has proved to be advantageous if the

at least one fluid channel extends at least over a partial length of the convergent section.

The outlet nozzle can also have at least one section of constant cross section, wherein the at least one fluid channel then preferably (also) extends at least over a partial length of the section with a constant cross-section.

A particularly effective measure to the liquid flowing through the outlet nozzle, the desired rotation or

Impose screwing, consists in several, substantially rotationally symmetrical to the axis of the liquid jet in the

Outlet nozzle arranged fluid channels. By the majority of

Fluid channels obtained a comparatively large, helical or helical extending contact or exchange surface between the nozzle passage and the liquid flowing therethrough, whereby a strong spin or a relatively fast rotation of the liquid at the nozzle exit even at a short axial extent of the nozzle (Nozzle length) is reached. The fluid channels may be arranged adjacent to each other on the passage wall defining the passage of the outlet nozzle.

Another particularly advantageous embodiment is that the at least one fluid channel extends in the form of a coiled pipe from the inlet to the outlet side of the outlet through this. In this embodiment, the rotational component of motion, the liquid jet after his

Having passage through the outlet nozzle, caused by the helical shape of the conduit through which flows at least a partial flow of liquid and is offset due to the different radii on the inside and the outside of the coiled tubing in rotation about the axis of its current thread inside the conduit. If the

Piping additionally from the inlet side to the

Outlet side has decreasing helical radius, this leads in an exceptionally advantageous manner to a cyclone effect, namely to an increase in the flow velocity of the (rotating) liquid jet as it exits the thus designed outlet nozzle. You can so designed a nozzle so as

Designate cyclone nozzle. The effect described can be further enhanced by two or more coiled tubing are each provided offset by an angular amount to each other in the manner of a double or multiple helix. The effect of such a "cyclone nozzle" can also be with one or more of the Passage wall of a nozzle with a narrowing, in particular conical nozzle passage and arranged on the wall, helically extending fluid channels reach.

A likewise expedient design is when the outlet nozzle has a central, preferably straight passage for a partial flow of the liquid and when the at least one fluid channel coaxially surrounds the central passage helically. By the the central passage in particular

helically surrounding fluid channel then flows a (second) partial flow and thereby receives as described above

Impelled screw movement before it joins after leaving the nozzle with the (first) partial flow and its Rotationsbzw, helical movement transmits in this, so that the two streams of existing total liquid flow in

Advantageously according to the invention rotates about its beam axis, while it impinges on the substrate from the nozzle and itself

practically screwed into this or -bohrt.

As already indicated, the outlet nozzle can be rotatably mounted and be set in rotation by means of a drive. In this case, it preferably has at least one, in particular preferably a plurality of eccentric to the axis of the ejizierten from the outlet nozzle

Liquid jet disposed fluid channel (s) on. The rotational movement of the outlet nozzle or of the fluid channel (s) arranged therein about the axis of the fluid jet transmit their rotational movement to it, so that the fluid jet has the rotational movement according to the invention about its jet axis as it exits the nozzle.

A design which is particularly expedient in terms of production technology results when the outlet nozzle has a plurality of aperture disks arranged in the form of a diaphragm stack in the direction of passage of the fluid, each having a slot opening extending over a portion of the disk diameter, the slot openings being consecutive in the diaphragm stack Aperture discs in

Circumferentially arranged offset by an angle amount to each other are. The stacked aperture disks with the angularly offset aligned therein

Slit openings then form a central, substantially rectilinear passage in the axial direction of the nozzle passage and two arranged in the manner of a double helix, spiral staircase-like stepped fluid channels along the forming wall of the central passage. The arrangement is preferably so

in that the amount of offset in the circumferential direction at the radially outer ends of the slot openings is smaller than the width of the slot openings, so that the helical (staircase) shaped effect of the central passage helically surrounding

Fluid channels to the radially outermost edge regions

is ensured.

It is particularly advantageous for the use of the injection device as a cosmetic and / or pharmaceutical device, when the liquid supply in a liquid container

is received, which can preferably be arranged interchangeable in the housing. When the liquid reservoir is received in a fluid container accommodated interchangeably in the housing, for example in the form of a cartridge or an ampoule, not only different fluids can be injected with the same device with the least possible outlay, for example liquid pharmaceutical preparations of different types, as in A vaccine series may be needed by simply

successively containers with different liquids are used in the device. The arrangement furthermore has the advantage that the device can be cleaned and / or sterilized in a particularly simple and thorough manner without the liquid reservoir accommodated therein, which is particularly useful in its use in

pharmaceutical sectors, but also in the (commercial)

cosmetic area is of importance.

It has proven to be very advantageous if the outlet nozzle is arranged on the liquid container. This arrangement makes it possible in a particularly simple manner, the type and shape of the nozzle, in particular the passage provided therein for the liquid as best as possible to the specific, absorbed in the liquid container and to to adjust the injecting fluid. For example, it may be necessary in the processing of relatively high viscosity liquids such as

Hyaluronic acid preparations used in cosmetic applications, e.g. for injection of wrinkles or for modeling of lips and in medicine for injection into arthrosis damaged joints are used, a nozzle with a larger passage cross-section

to provide as for injecting from simple, physiological

Saline. The arrangement of the outlet nozzle directly on

Liquid container then ensures that in each case the appropriate outlet nozzle for the respective liquid received in the container is used. In particular, for reasons of hygiene, it is preferred that it in the inventive

Injection device used for coming

Liquid containers, especially those with it

arranged outlet nozzles, disposable containers that are disposed of after a single use, so do not be refilled.

The outlet nozzle may have a nozzle outlet extending substantially coaxially with the housing axis of the housing. The liquid then enters a coaxial with the housing axis of the housing

extending direction and thus generally perpendicular to the surface of the substrate, because in the handling of the device, the housing is generally aligned perpendicular to the substrate surface, such as a skin surface. But it is also possible in a particularly advantageous manner that the outlet nozzle has a nozzle outlet which extends at an angle to the housing axis, wherein the angle is preferably greater than 45 °. It is particularly advantageous if the nozzle outlet in one

Direction is, which is in the range of about 75 ° up to a right angle, the outlet thus extends substantially in a normal plane to the housing axis of the housing. At im

Substantially more consistent, that is approximately perpendicular to

Substrate surface of selected orientation of the housing allows this embodiment of the invention to inject the liquid substantially parallel to the substrate surface just below them in the substrate, which is particularly easy to reach when the substrate such as the skin of a human in his / her compliant upper layer and can be pressed using the device a bit trough-like, so that the

Nozzle outlet is then located in this trough-like forming recess below the level of the adjacent substrate and then the liquid can be injected substantially parallel to the substrate surface below it. In particular, for such an outlet nozzle, this or the front end of the housing may be provided with a depth indicator or a depth stop, so that the liquid can be introduced exactly to the desired depth below the substrate surface.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention

provided that the liquid container with the therein

absorbed liquid is taken together with a ej ektionsstößel the ej ektoreinrichtung in the housing or an acceleration path provided therein movable and that the

Housing at its front outlet end a stop for the

Liquid container has. This embodiment has the advantage that the liquid container, together with the liquid received therein, is first accelerated in the housing together with the ejector device before the liquid is expelled from its container through the outlet nozzle. This will be the

Pressure increase in the liquid upon actuation of the

Ej ektoreinrichtung for Ejizieren the liquid limited by the fluid is first imprinted a dynamic pressure component. In particular with pressure-sensitive liquids, the risk of damage can thereby be reduced or avoided altogether. In order to slow down the (static) pressure rise in the liquid when the liquid container strikes the stop, it is advantageous if a between the stop and the

Liquid container effective stop damper, for example, an elastomeric buffer element is provided.

With the invention, a liquid container for use be exercise of the method according to the invention and / or in the

Device proposed according to the invention, characterized i by at least one receiving space for liquid, a

Fluid outlet and a shock introduction element for introduction a pulse burst in the recorded in the receiving space liquid. At the shock introduction element, which in principle may basically be a whatsoever means or a configuration of the liquid container, whereby it is possible, a pressure surge (impulse impulse) in the im

Liquid introduced liquid to initiate liquid, can be provided for this purpose an actuating means of ej ektoreinrichtung which is accelerated to high speed after triggering the device, ie in particular the ejktor ram mentioned above,

attack. The impact of the actuator due to its mass and high speed shock pulse is at the stop of the actuating means at the shock introduction of the

Liquid container, or in the embodiment in which this is accelerated together with the liquid therein and the Ej ektorstößel together to a speed when hitting the liquid container to the for

provided stop in the housing, in the container

transferred liquid and causes in this a sudden, very large increase in pressure (pressure surge), which has the consequence that a first subset of the recorded in the container

Liquid is pressed with a correspondingly high pressure through the outlet nozzle, wherein it is imposed on the passage through the nozzle passage according to the invention, the rotational movement. The emerging as a result of the pressure surge first subset thus leaves the

Outlet nozzle according to the very large, short term in the

Liquid generated pressure at a very high speed as a liquid jet rotating about its jet axis and penetrates into the substrate without further significant resistance. In that

Substrate generates the rotating liquid jet an open at the substrate surface injection channel, which extends into a

Injection depth is sufficient. This depth achieved depends essentially on the jet thickness, which results essentially from the cross-section of the outlet nozzle through which the liquid leaves the device, and from the jet velocity with which the first subset impinges on the substrate surface. These

Velocity, on the other hand, is a function of the pressure that is actually reached for a very short time due to the impulse impulse in the fluid. So by the speed the actuator (Ej ektorstößel) and thus the size of the impulse imparted this varies, you can influence the injection or penetration into the substrate targeted. It has surprisingly been found that a subsequent injection channel generated by the advance by means of the first subset in the

Substrate introduced second subset of liquid, which is then usually ejected at significantly lower pressure through the outlet and accordingly injected at low speed into the substrate, in this until the end of the previously generated injection channel, that is up to the penetration depth, and then in this essentially evenly distributed around the channel. A second subset of the liquid can thus be introduced into the desired depth in the manner of a liquid depot. To carry out such a two-stage or multi-stage injection, such an electromagnetic drive for the ejector tappet has proven to be particularly effective as an ejector device. The ej ektorstößel is first of the electromagnetic drive in a

Acceleration distance in front of the liquid container (or together with this) to the desired, high ram speed

accelerated and then abruptly braked (possibly together with the liquid container) to produce the impulse pulse in the liquid, whereupon the pressure in the liquid as described suddenly rises to a very high value and the first subset of liquid is ejected from the container and the outlet nozzle with very high speed under rotation, so one

leaves helical movement according to the invention. For Ejizieren a second (and possible further) subset (s) in the injection channel thus generated by means of the first subset of the ejktor rammer on the model of a syringe plunger of an injection syringe with a

Ej ektionskraft inserted at the shock introduction element in the volume of the liquid received in the container and thereby expels them through the outlet nozzle, from where they in the previously shot by means of the first subset in the substrate

Injection channel passes.

The ej ektoreinrichtung with electromagnetic drive, which plays an independent inventive performance and the Of course, it is also suitable for methods and apparatuses in which the liquid accelerated to the needleless injection in the form of a thin jet is not set in rotation or screw movement, not only allows the above-described, stepped injection with two or more liquid subsets. It is also very well suited to a series of injection in a short time sequence at different, preferably immediately adjacent sites in the substrate

place. For this purpose, the ej ektorstößel immediately after generating the impulse pulse in the liquid reservoir, preferably by

short-term reversal of the current direction in the coil, again adjusted back to its original position and is so within a very short time ready for another injection process to which he is accelerated by the electromagnetic coil back in the injection direction and again generates a pressure pulse in the liquid reservoir. Particularly suitable for carrying out such series injections is a liquid container forming a cylinder space with a liquid outlet provided on one side and a piston which can be actuated by the ejector tappet and which is in it

impinging plunger caused steps in the cylinder space can be inserted, to always a subset of liquid from the

To eject fluid outlet, which then leaves the device through the outlet nozzle. Since the piston with each injection process of the ej ektorstößel increasingly deep into the cylinder chamber of the

Fluid container is inserted, increases

gradually the acceleration section, which is the EJ ektorstößel between a rear, constant stop in the housing and its front, defined by the piston stop point available. Since the increase in the acceleration distance under otherwise unchanged conditions, in particular constant current, with which the electromagnetic drive is applied, an increasingly greater speed of the plunger would have on its impact on the piston result, which then also the pressure pulse generated in the liquid and the resulting Increasing the jet speed and penetration depth increase, means are preferably provided for adjusting the plunger speed when it hits the piston, which make it possible, regardless of the position of the piston in the liquid container in this repeatable generate at least approximately equal pressure pulses, so that the injections produced in series penetrate each to the same depth into the substrate. The device according to the invention is thus advantageously suitable for the injection of wrinkles in the skin of a patient or else for the production of

Tattoos that can be generated without needles with the invention.

It is also possible for the electromagnet and / or the energy store (battery / accumulator) provided for its operation to be located on the movable part of the ejector device, that is to say in particular the ejector tappet, and can be removed together with the latter from the housing, For example, in order to clean this before a new use of equipment and / or to sterilize.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the drawings, wherein preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by examples and explained in more detail. It shows:

Fig. 1 is an overview of a

injection device according to the invention in a perspective view;

FIGS. 2a-c show the handpiece of the injection device according to FIG.

1 in longitudinal section in different

Working positions of the ej ector institution;

Fig. 3 Ej ektoreinrichtung with a first

Embodiment of an outlet nozzle used in the invention, in longitudinal section;

4 shows a second embodiment of an outlet nozzle for

Insert with the device according to the invention in section;

5 shows a third embodiment of an outlet nozzle for

Insert with the device according to the invention in section; Fig. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of an outlet nozzle for

Insert with the device according to the invention in section;

FIG. 7 shows the aperture disks of the diaphragm stack used in the embodiment according to FIG. 6 in a perspective exploded view (exploded view); FIG. and

Fig. 8 shows a fifth embodiment of an outlet nozzle for

Insert with the device according to the invention in section.

In Fig. 1, 10 in its entirety an injection device according to the invention is referred to, which has a handle portion 11 which is connected via a cable connection 12 with an external power supply 13, in the illustrated embodiment, a battery pack.

The handpiece 11 of the injection device 10 can from his

Users can be handled comfortably with a single hand. The detailed structure of the handle 11 is clearly visible in the sectional view according to FIGS. 2 a to c. Accordingly, it has a housing 14 which is provided on its outer periphery with a recess 15 in which a magnetic coil 16 is accommodated. The magnetic coil 16 is protected by means of a circumferential cover 17.

The magnetic coil 16 is part of a total of 18

designated Ej ektoreinrichtung to which further inserted into the housing, this essentially from its rear end (in the drawing right) to the front (left) outlet end passing through ejector tube 19 made of plastic and a longitudinally displaceably guided Ej ektorstößel 20, which in the embodiment shown has a rear portion 21 and a front portion 22. While the rear portion of larger diameter is adapted to the inner cross section of the Ejektorrohrs 19 and largely play and friction can slide in this, the front portion 22 has a smaller Diameter up. He forms a pressure piece 23, which from behind into a cylindrical liquid container 24 in the form of a

Inserted liquid cartridge or cartridge containing a in a substrate, for example, in or under the skin of a human or animal to be injected liquid 25. This liquid container 24 is similar to the rear one

Section 21 of the Ej ektorstößels 20 in the Ejektorrohr 19 in

Recorded essentially free of play, so that it can also easily slide in this. On the back (in the drawing so right), the liquid container 24 is closed with a piston 26 which holds the liquid 25 in the container 24 and is pushed so far into the cylinder space 27 defined by the container 24, that on its rear side the pressure piece 23 also a Piece far into this cylinder space borders. At its left in the drawing outlet side, the liquid container 24 is closed with a membrane 28.

The ejector tube 19 is at its front, in Fig.2 left

End face provided with a cap 29 having a central opening in which an inwardly in the direction of the

Liquid container 24 projecting Aufstechkanüle 30 is added. On the inside of the cap, an elastic buffer element 31 surrounding the piercing cannula 30 is arranged.

The Aufstechkanüle 30 projects with its piercing tip 32 opposite, the outlet end a little way over the cap 30 and thereby forms a centering for a

Outlet nozzle 33, which is plugged onto this outlet-side end of the cannula 31 and fixed to the housing 14 by means of a union nut 34.

In order to prepare the device for use, the Ej ektorstößel 20 is first with its front, the pressure piece 23 forming portion 22 from the rear in the cartridge-like configured

Liquid container 24 is inserted, wherein the end face of the pressure piece 23 rests against the piston 26 in the cylindrical opening of the liquid container. This unit made

Liquid cartridge and Ej ektorstößel can then with the Liquid cartridge front occlusive membrane 28 are pushed forward from behind into the ejector tube 19 in the housing 16, for which purpose a rear cover arranged on the housing 35 can be opened. After closing the cap, the device is ready. This operating state is shown in Fig. 2a.

On the basis of Fig.2a to 2c, the operation of the

Understand the device according to the invention in an injection process well: Fig. 2a shows the starting position of the

Ej ektoreinrichtung, in which the rear portion 21 of

Ej ektorstößels 20 in the rearmost position (in the drawing on the right) is located (rear end position). The ektorstößels in this position of the Ej and the front of this attached liquid container before this up to the end cap 29 extending free space in the Ejektorrohr 19 forms a

Acceleration section S, on the length of the plunger and

Liquid container 24 existing unit can be accelerated. To from the position shown in Figure 2a a

Injection process, the solenoid coil 16 is with

energized electrical energy from the battery pack 13 and thereby accelerates the ej ektorstößel 20 with the attached at the front liquid cartridge 24 via the acceleration section S in a direction of movement in the direction of the outlet nozzle (in the drawing to the left). The accelerated unit reaches in

a very high speed in the shortest possible time, which in practice can be over 500 m / s, with a suitably longer acceleration distance even more than 800 m / s. This movement does that

Liquid container 24 with the liquid recorded therein 25 first with, until it is braked by the buffer member 31, the ectrotorstößel between the front cap 29 of the ejector 19 and at high speed from the solenoid 16 in the direction of the outlet nozzle 33 moving unit and

Liquid container 24 is compressed. Above all, the buffer element 31 serves to prevent the liquid container abutting against the front cap 29 from springing back therefrom. The position of the EJ Ektoreinrichtung in this

Operating state is shown in Fig. 2b. As is indicated only schematically in dashed lines in the representations according to FIG. 2a, the free space 36 which is located in the interior of the ejector tube 19 between its front cap 29 and the end of the end of the membrane closed by the membrane

Liquid container 24 is present by means of a

Overflow 37 connected to the space 38 behind the rear plunger end 21. Due to the overflow line, air can be displaced from the front free space 36 or actually actively sucked through the negative pressure in the space 38 that forms behind the plunger during its forward movement, which ensures that the

Ej ector tappet 20 with the liquid container 24 is not slowed down due to increased air resistance. In the practical

Implementation of this feature, the overflow can be integrated in the wall of the housing so that it actually does not notice from the outside.

Once the piercing tip 32 of Aufstechkanüle 30 provided at the front end of the liquid container 24 membrane 28th

pierces, the liquid received in the container 25 can emerge from this front and through the cannula 31 in the

Outlet nozzle 33 arrive. Since, at the moment of piercing, the liquid container 24 with the liquid 25 received therein still moves at high speed and this movement aborts very abruptly, as soon as the buffer element 29 is compressed as much as possible, there is a short-term, very strong pressure increase in the received in the container 24

Fluid volume (pressure surge), because of the back of the piston 26 in the liquid container 24 with its pressure piece 23 oppressive ej ektorstößel 20 is braked just as suddenly and transmits the inherent dynamic energy as impulse pulse in the first mitbeschleunigte liquid, which the strong (static)

Pressure increase in this triggers. Due to this short-term very high pressure in the liquid, a first subset of the liquid is pressed at a correspondingly high pressure through the cannula and the subsequent outlet nozzle 33 and leaves again with a high static pressure corresponding high muzzle velocity at the outlet side of the outlet nozzle, where Liquid ambient pressure is imprinted and its inherent In practice, the utilized discharge nozzle, which is preferably designed as described below, may have a passage 36 for the liquid 25 having a diameter of 80 to 300 inches, so that the first , Due to the pressure surge ejected subset of liquid as very fine

Liquid jet with a correspondingly small cross-section hits the substrate at very high speed. The

Exit velocity of the liquid due to the pressure surge can easily be 1000 m / s. With this extremely fast and thin liquid jet, an injection channel is created (shot) in the substrate down to a depth that depends on the jet velocity and its diameter and, ultimately, on the strength of the impulse impulse, that of the jet

Ej ektorstößel is generated in the liquid supply.

If the entire amount of liquid is to be injected into the substrate at an injection site, the magnetic coil 16 can be energized further after reaching the front end position of the liquid container 24 (FIG. 2 b). As a result, the ej ektorstößel 20 is pressed with its front portion 22 (pressure piece 23) further from behind against the piston 26 in the liquid container, so that after the degradation of the pressure surge in the container still remaining

Liquid (second subset) is pressed through the cannula 31 as in a conventional syringe and then expelled through the outlet nozzle 33. It has surprisingly been found that, despite the then significantly lower pressure with which the second subset is ejected, it reliably and completely penetrates into the injection channel generated in advance in the substrate by means of the first subset and thus into the substrate, ie in the case of the first subset

Embodiment gets into or under the skin. This generally results in deposit formation at the end of the injection channel, i. the second subset of liquid is distributed substantially evenly in the tissue around the end portion of the sphere

Injection channel around. The injection process can be continued until the piston 26 is pushed from the pressure piece 23 completely to the front end of the liquid container (Fig. 2c). If desired, the apparatus may also provide a sequence of more or less densely positioned injections of comparatively small quantities of liquid at short intervals of time. For this purpose, by suitable control (change of the current flow direction) of the

Magnetic coil 16 of Ej ektorstößel 20 pulled directly after generating a pulse impulse in the liquid received in the container back to its original position (ie in the drawing to the right). Since the liquid container 24 after the very first, carried out as described above injection process of the piercing tip 32 of the cannula 30 on the membrane is already opened, it remains in this operation appropriately in its left side end position shown in the drawing of Figure 2c, which by a suitable , not shown retaining element

can be guaranteed. For example, for this purpose, a transversely biased radially inwardly transversely to the longitudinal axis of the Ejektorrohrs 19 in a recess in the Ejektorrohr be taken after the Vorbeigang the liquid cartridge after triggering the first injection process under the

Spring pressure moves radially inward and behind the

rearward (in the drawings at the right end of the

Liquid container) edge of the liquid container seizes and prevents it from moving back. The retracted by short-term reversal of the magnetic coil ej ektorstößel 20 can be held in its retracted position by means of a small permanent magnet or an electromagnet on the rear cap 35 of the housing so that it is not unintentional and / or premature alone due to its own weight against the Shock introducing element (piston 26) falls on the liquid container. The ej ektorstößel can then, if necessary, overcoming the magnetic holding force of said permanent magnet (not shown) or electromagnet, be accelerated again on the acceleration path lying in front of him to high speed, wherein he on the tail of his movement with the front

Pressure piece again slides into the cylinder chamber at the rear end of the liquid container and there hitting the piston 26 and thus again a pressure surge for ejecting a generated additional (small) subset of liquid. The repeated release of the electromagnet and thus caused ejection of

Fluid from the device may (after repositioning it at the next desired injection site) be manually, ie by actuation of a triggering mechanism (not shown)

done, or automatically in predetermined

Time intervals, these, for example when using the

Device as a tattoo machine, also can be chosen very short. An operation of the device with a triggering frequency in the

Magnitude of 35 to 200 Hz is readily possible with suitable dimensioning of the plunger and the acceleration section.

In Fig. 3 is in its installed state on the housing of the

Device according to the invention a first preferred embodiment of the used for use outlet nozzle 33 shown. It can be seen that this outlet nozzle 33 has a central, coaxial to the cannula 30 extending passage 39 for the liquid to be injected 25 having at its Durchlaßwandung 40 at least one helical or spiral-shaped fluid channel 41 extending from the nozzle inlet 42 at the side the cannula 30 extends to the nozzle outlet 43, from which the liquid 25 exits for injection. This helical fluid channel 41 causes the liquid flowing through the outlet nozzle 33 to swirl

Rotating motion is impressed, so that the liquid jet 44 is offset at the outlet from the nozzle in rotation about its beam axis 45 / is and thus as a rotating liquid jet to the

Substrate 46, in the embodiment, the skin of a human or animal is incident.

The superposition of the translational movement of the liquid with the imprinted rotation causes the

Fluid jet 44 when hitting the substrate 46 practically screwed into this or hinebohrt, the helical movement of the liquid apparently holds the beam in itself, so that it does not come to a mushrooming and lateral splash away of liquid when hitting the skin or substrate surface but this at least largely lossless enters the substrate and in this an injection channel 47 with a Depth T generated, in essence, by the nature of the substrate, the velocity of the liquid jet in

Axial direction and its cross section depends. In the embodiment shown, the passage 39 in the outlet nozzle

On the outlet side, a diameter of about 80 to 100 m and the (first) partial flow leaving this as a result of the pressure surge in the liquid supply occurs at a speed in the

Order of 100 to 1000 m / s from the nozzle. The depth of the resulting injection channel in (human or animal) tissue can thus be adjusted between a few millimeters and a few centimeters.

Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of an outlet nozzle according to the invention, wherein corresponding features with the same

Reference numerals are provided as in the first imple mentation form. The outlet nozzle 33 shown in Fig. 4 is fixed by means of a union nut 34a on the housing, which also forms a spacer or a depth gauge. The outlet nozzle according to FIG. 4 can be pressed somewhat into the substrate 46, namely from its upper side 48 into the skin of a patient, so that it can penetrate into the skin of a patient

trough-like depression 49 forms. A radially outward

projecting annular portion 50 on the union nut 34a limits the Eindrückiefe the nozzle or indicates the achievement of a desired depth, which is the case when the outer edge of the ring portion 50 also comes into contact with the skin surface 48. The outlet nozzle 33 has a passage 39 with an inlet-side approximately cup-shaped nozzle chamber 51, on the wall of two (or more) fluid channels 41 are formed, which wrap helically in the manner of a double (or multiple) helix and as described by the Nozzle flowing liquid impart the twist of the invention (screw movement). The nozzle has two (or more) laterally approximately radially outwardly open nozzle outlets 43, through the liquid jets 44 unlike the first imple mentation of the device, the nozzle not coaxial with the longitudinal direction, but in directions that in the

Substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device or - in the illustrated embodiment - even an angle et, which may be slightly greater than 90 °. That way it's easy possible, not the liquid

Inject them, but under them

Essentially parallel to this

The embodiment of an outlet nozzle 33 shown in FIG. 5 largely corresponds to that of FIG. However, the passage 39 here has no constant cross section over its entire length, but on the inlet side, it first has a converging section 53 whose cross-section is reduced in the direction of flow 54 of the liquid 25 ejected through the nozzle, and then into a section of constant cross-section 55. In both sections 53 and 55 are on the walls itself

helical widening fluid channels 41 provided, in the embodiment shown two channels, the manner of a

Double helix are arranged. The converging section initially provides for an acceleration of the liquid entering the nozzle from the liquid container.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the

Outlet nozzle 33 a plurality in the forward direction 54 of the liquid arranged one behind the other in the form of a diaphragm stack 57

Aperture discs 58, each one extending over part of the

Have disk diameter d extending slot opening 59, wherein the slot openings 59 of in the diaphragm stack 57th

successive diaphragm discs 58 are arranged offset in the circumferential direction by an angular amount ß to each other. The amount of this angular displacement β in the circumferential direction is smaller at the radially outer ends of the slot openings 59 than the width of the slot openings. This results in a helical staircase

Fluid channel 41 with a central passage opening. The

Embodiment with the stacked aperture is even with the smallest dimensions with a passage cross-section, which is in the micrometer range, particularly easy and inexpensive to produce.

In the outlet nozzle 33 shown in FIG. 8, four fluid channels 41 are provided on the wall 40 of the passage 39 passing therethrough

formed over the length of the section with constant Cross-section 55 extend rectilinearly parallel to the flow direction and are separated by webs 60 against each other. The entire nozzle is rotatable on the housing in this embodiment

Device mounted and driven by a motor motor electric motor. If it is rotated during the ej ektionsvorgangs, transfer the webs on the passage wall, this rotational movement in the outer peripheral region of the liquid jet flowing through the nozzle and thus shape this the

inventive rotary motion.

The invention provides a method for needleless injection of liquid into a substrate, in particular for injecting liquid, pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation into a biological tissue, in which liquid is ejected from a fluid reservoir through an outlet nozzle and leaves it as a fluid jet, which enters the substrate, this method including characterized in that by means of a with

High speed emerging from the outlet nozzle, first

Subset of liquid is a pre-jet is generated, which forms an injection channel in the substrate, and then that at least a second subset of liquid is introduced through the injection channel generated by the pre-jet into the substrate. In this case, the first subset of liquid is preferably ejected through the outlet nozzle under high pressure generated by means of a pulse impulse. In an equally advantageous embodiment rotates

at least the pre-jet as it enters the substrate about its fluid jet axis.

Furthermore, it can be provided that at least the first subset in its passage through the outlet nozzle in rotation about the

Fluid jet axis is offset. The pulse pulse is preferably by means of a preferably electro-magnetically on a

Impact speed accelerated ej ektionsstößels causes the at least the first subset of liquid with his on

Impact velocity accelerated mass applied. The

at least second subset can be by means of the pressure on the

Liquid ej ektionsdemößels be ejiziert by the outlet nozzle. In this case, the ej ektionsstößel to pressure be subjected to the at least second subset with an electromagnetically generated force.

The invention further provides an injection device for the needleless injection of a liquid into a substrate, in particular for injecting liquid pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation into a biological tissue, comprising a housing, a liquid reservoir accommodated or arrangeable in the housing, an outlet nozzle and with an ejection device for Ejizieren of liquid from the liquid supply through the outlet, wherein the injection device is characterized in that the ej ektionseinrichtung means for generating a force acting on at least a first subset of liquid in the liquid reservoir impulse impulse, which means of Ej ektionseinrichtung for generating the impulse pulse preferred one a

Impact speed acceleratable Ej ektionsstößel may include, with its accelerated mass on the impact velocity, the at least first subset of liquid can be acted upon. The arrangement may preferably be made such that the

Liquid supply can be acted upon by means of an Ej ektionseinrichtung operable ejection piston, which in turn can be acted upon by the EJ ektionsstößel or formed by this. The ej ektionseinrichtung may have an electromagnetic drive for the ej ektionsstößel.

The ej ektionseinrichtung preferably has an acceleration section for the Ej ektionsstößel. The electromagnetic drive may be disposed at a rear end of the housing spaced from or about the middle of the outlet nozzle, and the acceleration path extending between the outlet nozzle and the rear housing end.

The electromagnetic drive can be very much preferred

Design also a ej ektionsstößel self-trained magnetic coil and, for. a Ej ektionsstößel surrounding

Have iron cylinder. Also, the EJ ektionsstößel be provided with a power storage device to supply the electromagnet mi current. The acceleration section is preferably in the area in front of and behind the Ej ektionsstößel with pressure equalization openings in

Connection, which may be connected to each other via an overflow.

The ej ektionseinrichtung has expedient means for generating a pressure increase in the liquid supply in immediate connection to the impulse impulse applied, which means for generating the

Pressure increase essentially of the Ej ektionsstößel can be formed, which acts on the liquid reservoir after the impulse shock by means of a force-exerting drive. In this case, the force-exerting drive can be the electromagnetic drive. The liquid supply is preferably received in the invention in a liquid container, which is particularly preferably interchangeable in the housing can be arranged.

The embodiment can also be made such that the outlet nozzle is arranged on the liquid container. The outlet nozzle preferably has means for causing the fluid jet to rotate at least in its outer region prior to impinging it on the substrate. The outlet nozzle may have a nozzle outlet extending substantially coaxially with the housing axis of the housing. But it is also possible if the outlet nozzle extending substantially in a normal plane to the housing axis of the housing

Has nozzle outlet. The outlet nozzle and / or the front end of the housing can with a depth indicator or a

Depth stop be provided.

In a particularly advantageous manner, it is possible that the

Liquid container with the liquid received therein together with the ej ektionsstößel in the housing or the acceleration path provided therein is movably received un the housing at its front outlet end has a stop for da liquid container. The stop can with a

Be provided stop damper, for example, an elastomeric buffer element. Finally, the invention also provides a fluid container for use in practicing the method and / or in the device characterized by at least one, a first, in a substrate to be injected liquid receiving piston chamber having a liquid outlet and a shock introduction element for

Initiation of exercisable on the liquid container

Pulse thrust has.

Claims

claims

Process for the needleless injection of liquid into a substrate, in particular a liquid pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation in a biological tissue, in which the liquid (25) is accelerated in the form of a liquid jet (44) to an injection speed and the

Liquid jet (44) at least in its outer region before its impinging on the substrate (46) is set in rotation about its beam axis (45).

A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotation of the liquid jet (44) by means of at least one aperture or nozzle (33) with at least one helical or helical running fluid channel (41) is effected.

A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the liquid is received in a liquid container (24) and for generating the liquid jet therefrom

is ejected and that the rotation of the liquid jet is caused by rotation of the liquid container.

Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized

characterized in that the rotation of the liquid jet (44) is effected by means of a rotating aperture or nozzle (33).

Injection device for injecting liquid into a substrate, in particular a liquid pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation into a biological tissue, with a liquid reservoir (24), an outlet nozzle (33) and with a liquid (25) from the reservoir through the outlet nozzle in the form of a needle Fluid jet (44) ejizierenden

Ej ektoreinrichtung (18), characterized by means (33,41) to the liquid jet (44) before its impact on the substrate (46) in rotation about its beam axis (45)

offset. Injection device according to claim 5, characterized in that the liquid reservoir (24), the outlet nozzle (33) and the Ej ektoreinrichtung (18) in a common housing (14) are arranged / arranged. na

ass di.

the Au

Inj ektionsvorrichtung according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the at least one fluid channel (41) on a passage (39) in the outlet nozzle (33) limiting passage wall (40) is arranged.

Injection device according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the outlet nozzle (33) has at least one convergent section (53) whose cross-section decreases in the direction of flow (54) of the ejected liquid (25).

Injection device according to claim 9, characterized in that the at least one fluid channel (41) extends at least over a partial length of the convergent portion (53).

Injection device according to one of claims 5 to 10,

characterized by several, essentially

rotationally symmetrical to the axis of the passage (39) in the outlet nozzle (33) arranged fluid channels (41).

Injection device according to claim 11, characterized in that the fluid channels (41) adjacent to one another delimit the passage (39) of the outlet nozzle (33)

Durchlasswandung (40) are arranged.

Injection device according to one of claims 5 to 12,

characterized in that the outlet nozzle (33) is rotatably mounted and displaceable by means of a drive in rotation and at least one, preferably a plurality of eccentric to Axis (45) of the ejizierten from the outlet nozzle

Liquid jet (44) arranged (n) fluid channel / channels (41).

Injection device according to one of claims 5 to 13,

characterized in that the liquid reservoir is arranged in a liquid container (24).

Injection device according to claim 14, characterized in that the liquid container (24) can be set in rotation by means of a drive.

Injection device according to claim 15, characterized in that the liquid container (24) is part of a

Housing (14) recorded cartridge, as

electric motor driven rotor of a on the device (10) formed electromotive drive is configured.

Injection device according to claim 21, characterized in that the cartridge is received rotatably and / or translationally movable in the housing (14).

Injection device according to one of claims 5 to 17,

characterized in that the outlet nozzle (33) has a plurality in the flow direction (54) of the liquid (25) successively in the form of a diaphragm stack (57) arranged aperture discs (58), each one over a part of the

Have disc diameter (d) extending slot opening (59), wherein the slot openings (59) of in the

Aperture stacks (57) successive aperture discs (58) are arranged offset in the circumferential direction by an angular amount (ß) to each other.

Injection device according to claim 18, characterized in that the amount of offset (_β) in the circumferential direction at the radially outer ends of the slot openings (59) is smaller than the width of the slot openings (59). Injection device according to one of claims 14 to 19, characterized in that the liquid container (24) is replaceable in the housing (14) can be arranged.

Injection device according to one of claims 14 to 20, characterized in that the outlet nozzle (33) on

Liquid container (24) is arranged.

Injection device according to one of claims 5 to 21,

characterized in that the outlet nozzle (33) has a nozzle outlet (43) extending substantially coaxially with the housing axis of the housing (14).

Injection device according to one of claims 5 to 22,

characterized in that the outlet nozzle (33) has a substantially in a normal plane to the housing axis of the housing (14) extending nozzle outlet (43).

Injection device according to one of claims 5 to 23,

characterized in that the outlet nozzle (33) or the front end of the housing (14) is provided with a depth indicator or a depth stop (34a).

Injection device according to one of claims 14 to 24, characterized in that the liquid container (24) with the liquid (25) received therein together with an ejection tappet (20) of the ejector device (18) in the housing (14) or a therein provided acceleration path (S) is movably received and that the housing (14) is provided with a stop (30) for the liquid container (24).

Injection device according to claim 25, characterized in that the stop (30) or the liquid container (24) is provided with a stop damper (29), for example an elastomeric buffer element. Liquid container for use in exercising the

Method according to one of claims 1 to 4 and / or in the device according to one of claims 5 to 26, characterized by at least one receiving space (27) for liquid (25), a liquid outlet and a shock introduction element (26) for initiating a pulse impulse in the in the receiving space taken up liquid (25).