KR19990087354A - Nozzle assembly with adjustable plunger travel - Google Patents

Abstract

A nozzle assembly suitable for use with a syringe having an energy source, the fluid assembly having a first end and a second end, the first end having a fluid passageway therethrough, and the second end A first driving part positioned to move into the chamber and a second driving part positioned away from the first driving part according to a predetermined moving distance and a second driving part located in the second driving part, And a space portion disposed between the first driving portion and the second driving portion so as to maintain the predetermined moving distance while the first and second driving portions move before the energy generating source is operated .

Description

Nozzle assembly with adjustable plunger travel

The medical community is concerned about the possibility of an infection from an accident-related illness, such as AIDS, hepatitis and other diseases that can be transmitted through body fluids, through needles and needle syringes which are accidentally stuck or improperly sterilized. I brought it. One way to prevent this kind of discomfort is to discard all needle syringes after a single use.

U.S. Patent 5,226,882 (Bates); 5,423,756 (van der Merwe); 5,135,507 (Haber et al); 5,407,431 (Botich), and the like. These needle syringes have a body for receiving the drug and include a sliding plunger / piston assembly within the body for discharging the drug outside the body. As discussed in the Bates and van der Merwe patents, the piston is separated from the plunger after draining the drug (the lead serves to push the drug). In the Haber and Botich patents, a similar effect can be obtained by locking the piston in the torso so that it can not be reused after injection.

A needleless syringe has no needle. Therefore, such a syringe completely excludes the possibility of stabbing or possibility. At least because of this, the needleless syringe is superior to the accidental disease transmission. U.S. Patent 5,062,830 (Dunlap); 4,790,824 (Morrow et al); 4,623,332 (Lindmayer et al); No. 4,421,508 (Cohen); 4,089,334 (Schwebel et al.,); 3,688,765 (Gasaway); 3,115,133 (Morando); 2,816,543 (Venditty); No. 2,754,818 (Scherer), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Such a syringe treats the drug with a fine high-speed jet, and regards the jet as capable of passing through the skin tissue without subcutaneous needles under sufficient pressure. Such a syringe typically includes a nozzle assembly having a trunked nozzle body for receiving a drug. The nozzle member has a hole that pushes the jet stream of the drug from the chamber when the plunger / piston is actuated by an energy source such as a coil spring, a gas spring and a gas cartridge or the like.

Although there are needle-free syringes that solve the known problems associated with needle syringes, it is desirable to discard the nozzle assembly to prevent re-use after use of the syringe as an additional stable preventative measure. For example, after a single use, the high pressure supplied by the energy source causes the seal to partially break between the plunger / piston and nozzle assembly. Therefore, when the same nozzle is continuously used, the pressure required for carrying the drug properly can not be formed. In addition, such high pressures can not penetrate the desired depth of the jet having sufficient velocity when the same assembly is to be reused by extending the hole in the nozzle assembly.

In addition, some of such devices may employ a rather complicated mechanism for filling and emptying the fluid chamber and can not precisely control the transport force for discharging fluid out of the chamber. The present invention provides a new structure with improved features in this field.

summary

The present invention relates to a syringe having an energy generating source and having a first end and a second end, the syringe having a first end and a second end, the first end having a hole through which the fluid can move and the second end having an inlet, It relates to the nozzle assembly available for the device. Such a device includes a first drive unit movably disposed in the chamber; A second driver positioned movably in the chamber and spaced a predetermined distance from the first driver; And an end working portion for drawing or discharging the fluid into the chamber through the hole and a second driving portion for maintaining the predetermined moving distance while the first driving portion and the second driving portion move before the energy generating source is operated, And a spacing portion disposed between the driving portions.

In one embodiment, the space portion comprises a frangible connection portion between the first and second driving portions, wherein when the energy generating source is actuated, a force is applied to the second driving portion to break the frangible connection portion, The driving unit is driven at a predetermined moving distance to push the first driving unit toward the first driving unit, and the first driving unit is pushed toward the chamber hole to discharge the fluid from the chamber. Generally, the first driving part includes a sealing part to prevent the fluid from being discharged from the chamber toward the periphery of the first driving part and the end entrance, and the frangible connecting part preferably has a slightly smaller cross section than that of the first and second driving parts Do.

The second driver may include an end column to move the second driver in a direction away from the chamber bore to draw the fluid into the chamber or to hold the end column to extract the second driver from the chamber, The first drive remains in the chamber to prevent the nozzle assembly from being used again. Advantageously, the first and second drivers may be manufactured with markings having predetermined travel distances to provide different travel distances by selecting the first and second drivers having different markings. Such a mark has several different color codes corresponding to the predetermined travel distance between the first and the first driving parts.

Preferably, the chamber includes a tapered portion adjacent the aperture, and the second drive portion includes a tapered conical portion corresponding to such a tapered portion of the chamber. The first and second drive portions may have a cylindrical shape and have a frangible connection portion composed of a rectangular connecting portion connecting straight sides of the D-shaped portion and a D-shaped end portion facing each other.

In another embodiment, the space portion includes an elastic biasing portion disposed between the first and second driving portions to elastically hold the predetermined moving distance. The resilient biasing portion can be a spring, which connects the first and second drive portions to be actuated by the sleeve member and the spring is disposed within the sleeve member between the drive portions. The first driving part has a sealing part in contact with the inner wall of the chamber to prevent the fluid from flowing out to the periphery of the first driving part and the end inlet. The chamber typically includes a tapered portion adjacent the aperture and the first drive portion includes a tapered conical portion corresponding to such a tapered portion of the chamber.

In another embodiment, the elastic deflection portion is suitably arranged to maintain a predetermined travel distance when the load is greater than the movement force applied to the second drive portion with a predetermined load. In addition, the first driving portion includes a plunger connected to the end portion to be discharged to discharge the fluid from the chamber hole, so that the nozzle assembly can be disposed after use. In such a structure, the plunger includes a first end portion facing the first driving portion and a second end portion facing the hole of the chamber. The first drive portion includes a first end portion facing the second drive portion and a second end portion facing the first end portion of the plunger, and the first end portion of the plunger and the second end portion of the first drive portion Part includes ejection connection means to form a removable connection.

The releasable connection means cooperates with the chamber so that when the nozzle assembly is positioned within the chamber, it is connected and is in a disengaged state as it exits the chamber. Thus, the device can be used without fear of unexpected separation of the nozzle assembly. The first driving part includes a tail part having a predetermined length so as to face the second driving part and adjust the predetermined moving distance. The tail portion of the first drive has a length adjustable to selectively vary the predetermined travel distance.

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a nozzle assembly suitable for a needle-free subcutaneous fluid syringe having a nozzle portion and a ram defining a blind bore with at least one bore communicating with the bore. The nozzle assembly includes a first driving unit; A second driving unit selectively separated from the first driving unit according to a free moving distance; And a plunger portion positioned to be movable in the bore. The bore and the movable plunger define a fluid chamber of varying volumes communicating with the bore, the plunger having a first position in which the first chamber has a minimum volume by the ram, a second position in which the fluid chamber has a maximum volume, And a medium volume less than the maximum volume and greater than the minimum volume, to the intermediate position of the fluid chamber.

The second driving part is separated from the first driving part by a predetermined free moving distance, and the plunger and the first and second driving parts are effectively connected to each other to selectively discharge the fluid and draw the fluid into the chamber. The apparatus also includes a member operative to maintain a predetermined travel distance when the plunger assembly is moved from the second position to the intermediate position and to eliminate a predetermined travel distance when the plunger assembly is moved from the intermediate position to the first position, . Advantageously, the plunger is detachably connected to the second drive and is disposable.

Another aspect of the present invention is a scanning device comprising a housing, an energy source, a propulsion mechanism for operating an energy source, and a nozzle assembly as described above, wherein the nozzle assembly is connected to the hose for removal after use.

The present invention relates to a fluid scanning nozzle assembly having a plunger including first and second driving means spaced a predetermined travel distance which is a scanning force. Such a moving distance can be selectively controlled by an internal mechanism capable of varying the moving distance or a plunger mechanism selected by the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig.

1 is an enlarged perspective view of a nozzle assembly according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a plunger before scanning with a front view of a fragile plunger according to the invention;

Figure 3 shows a view similar to Figure 2 or plunger during or after injection;

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

5A is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle assembly of the present invention having a plunger drawn from a nozzle member;

Figure 5b is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle assembly of the present invention before withdrawing drug from the ampule chamber;

Figure 5c shows the syringe of the present invention after loading the drug into the syringe body;

Figure 5d shows the syringe of the present invention after the frangible portion of the piston is broken;

5e shows the syringe of the present invention after the piston has pushed fluid into the body;

Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a nozzle assembly of the present invention adapted to be connected to a syringe;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a nozzle assembly of the present invention to enable connection to a ram; FIG.

Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the front end of the plunger assembly shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the sleeve portion of the plunger shown in Figure 7;

10 is an external view of the pin portion of the plunger shown in Fig. 7;

11 is a partial cross-sectional view of the nozzle assembly of the present invention after drawing fluid into the chamber;

Figure 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of a nozzle assembly of the present invention that emits air or excess fluid out of the chamber;

Figure 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of the nozzle assembly of the present invention after the energy device is actuated and the ram has moved a predetermined distance;

14 is a partial cross-sectional view of the nozzle assembly of the present invention after the plunger has pushed fluid out of the chamber;

15 is a schematic front view including a first embodiment of the plunger / ram assembly of the present invention;

16 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of one end portion of the fluid syringe taken along line 16-15 of Fig. 15;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the plunger shown in FIG. 16;

Figure 18 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the plunger taken along line 18-18 of Figure 17;

19 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a plunger taken along line 19-19 of Fig. 17;

20 is a separate enlarged view of the first drive or end shown in Fig. 16;

21 is a separate enlarged view of the sleeve shown in Fig. 16;

FIG. 22 is a separate enlarged view of the pin or the second driving portion shown in FIG. 16; FIG.

23 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the plunger / ram assembly of the present invention;

24 is a cross-sectional view of an adjustable tip or a separate enlarged portion of the first drive as shown in FIG. 23;

Figure 25 shows a plunger / ram assembly similar to that of Figure 23 but adjusted to a maximum free travel distance D ₁ in the assembled state;

Figure 26 shows a plunger / ram assembly similar to that of Figure 23 but adjusted to a reduced free travel distance D ₁ in the assembled state;

27 is an enlarged perspective view partially showing an adjusting device for adjusting the free moving distance D ₁ in the plunger / ram assembly of the second embodiment;

28 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 25 but including a nozzle body and a syringe housing during a charging operation;

Figure 29 is a view similar to Figure 28 but during the performance of the ejection;

30 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 28 but illustrating the operation of performing an initial scan;

31 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 28 but with a closed travel distance during operation;

Figure 32 is similar to Figure 28 but shows the diagram during scanning.

The nozzle assembly of the present invention is suitable for use in any conventional syringe, including the needleless mold described above in the aforementioned patents (the relevant documents are incorporated by reference). When using a syringe with a needle, the hole is in the needle bore and fluid path of the appropriate size.

The nozzle assembly includes apertures of appropriate diameter that can produce a uniform jet flow under a given pressure range and scanning depth. Suitably, such a diameter will be about 0.07-0.4 mm, and most preferably about 0.165 mm (0.0065 inch). If a very precise jet flow is required, the hole may be made of synthetic rubber or a synthetic cordierite such as sapphire, as detailed in U.S. Patent 4,722,728 (Dixon). Hereinafter, the term " hole " means a hole including a straight line, a converging line, a diverging line, and a converging diverging line.

The holes may be used to pull fluid or liquid medication into the chamber. U.S. Patent 4,507,113 (Dunlap); 4,883,483, and 4,662,878 (Lindymayer), a device for filling drugs into the inner chamber of the nozzle assembly from the liquid drug delivery vial directly through the discharge orifice can be used to fill the chamber with the drug. Other coupling devices may be used if desired.

In one embodiment of the invention, the predetermined travel distance is provided by a frangible plunger mechanism for maintaining a travel distance between the two halves of the plunger separated by frangible connections. Such a specific example is shown in Figs. 1-5.

As shown in Figures 5a-e, such a nozzle assembly 10 includes a nozzle portion 20 and has a cylindrical ampule chamber 26 ending in a cone 28. [ The chamber includes an outer ridge 40 that can be attached to the injection device. The plunger 50 is received through the inlet end of the chamber with a pressure wall conforming to the cone 28. It may be positioned to slide longitudinally within the emf chamber 26 to release fluid out of the chamber and also draw fluid medicament into the chamber.

As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, such a plunger 5 is fragile and has a first drive portion 60 and a second drive portion 70. As shown, such a drive generally has a cylindrical shape with D-shaped ends 65, 75. Such a drive is connected at a distance to the predetermined travel distance or gap C by the frangible connection or leg 80. [ 4, a suitable brittle leg 80 is a relatively thin rectangular member connecting the D-shaped end of the first drive portion 60 and the drive portion 70. As shown in Fig. Advantageously, the frangible legs 80 have a square cross-section. The frangible legs 80 are disposed on both sides of the straight sides of the D-shaped ends 65 and 75 of the first and second drive portions 60 and 70 and on the longitudinal axis of the plunger 50 And are arranged at positions perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the first and second driving portions. The plunger 50 comprising the frangible legs 80 is made of a plastic such as polycarbonate or polypropylene and the frangible legs 80 move or withdraw the plunger so that the legs 80 Quot; P " that allows the fluid drug to be drawn into the < / RTI >

Alternatively, the frangible plunger 50 may need to be used with a pre-filled ampoule to move the plunger to the longitudinal axis to draw fluid medication into the ampoule 26 or to withdraw excess fluids or bubbles from the ampoule I will not.

At the front end of the first driving part 60, a doline seal 62 is formed around the circle with a similar O-ring to seal the inner wall of the chamber. The plunger 50 itself can serve as a seal. If desired, the fluid in the chamber may escape from the periphery of the driving portions 60 and 70, so that other sealing or sealing portions may be formed at the ends of the second driving portion to be attracted from the vicinity of the first driving portion 60 and the second driving portion 70 to the chamber Thereby minimizing the inflow of air and preventing the air from entering the hole 22 to prevent the fluid from flowing out of the chamber.

5a-e, the nozzle assembly 10 is configured to connect the end column 72 of the second drive portion 70 to the ram 90 of the syringe and to the bayonet- To the syringe body (not shown) (Figure 5A). The connection between the plunger 50 and the ram 90 is a conventional connection that can hold or separate these elements in ball or slot form.

The plunger 50 is pushed into the chamber 26 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. As shown in FIG. 5B, the plunger 50 is fully pushed out before the liquid medication enters the chamber 26. When the plunger 50 is pushed in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5B, a part of the vacuum is formed in the chamber 26, and the drug enters the chamber 26 through the hole 22.

P ", which is necessary for the action of pushing back air or drug release or gradual release before injection, creates a frangible connection so as not to destroy the legs 80. The ram 90 transmits this force ("P") to the second drive portion 70 and the frangible legs 80, when applying a relatively large injection force ("P") to the ram 90, . The second driving part 70 blocks the gap G and transfers the force to the first driving part 60 to discharge the drug out of the chamber 26 as shown in FIG. Finally, Figure 5E shows the state in which the injection is complete and all the drug is released. At this time, the nozzle assembly 10 rotates until the ridges 40 are removed from the scanning device. Since the first driving part 60 is detached from the second driving part and connected to the ram 90, the first driving part 60 remains in the chamber 26. The second driving unit 70 is taken out of the ram 90 and discarded together with the nozzle assembly 10. [ Thereby preventing unwanted reuse of the nozzle assembly.

During normal operation of the syringe the ram 90 of the syringe connected to the energy source provides a sudden force or impact P to the second drive 70 to move the second drive 70 into the first chamber 60 . This action is sufficient to move the solution contained in the ampule 26 out through the orifice 22 when the jet flow pressure is at its peak, e.g., above 5,000 psi outside the orifice 22. Such abrupt force may destroy the brittle legs 80 prior to injection. In particular, the force P applied to the second driving unit is transmitted to the first driving unit 60 through the legs 80. Initially, a frictional force formed in the seal 62 is generated to prevent the plunger 50 from momentarily moving. Once you have overcome this frictional force, the plunger begins to move and pressurizes the drug in the chamber. This forms a resistive or back pressure in the first drive. When the difference between the resistance applied by the fluid to the first driving portion and the force imposed by the second driving portion directed to the first driving portion 60 reaches a predetermined level, the legs 80 are broken and the second driving portion 70 ) Collide with the first driving unit 60.

Or before the relatively large scanning force P is applied to the ram 90, the legs 80 are broken by an intermediate force greater than the force P. Such a moderate force may be generated by a pressure or other propelling mechanism acting on the fluid contained in the ampule chamber 26 through the orifice 22.

Gaps G play an important role in creating adequate pressure spikes to pierce through the patient's skin. The gap G can be changed to change the initial pressure applied to the first driving unit. Therefore, the peak pressure can be changed with the gap G. [ It can also vary widely depending on the viscosity of the drug, the desired penetration depth, and other variables that can affect the initial injection pressure. Those skilled in the art will be able, through routine experimentation, to determine an optimal gap for any frangible plunger 50 that can be used with a particular drug. Advantageously, the frangible plunger 50 or nozzle assembly 10 or both can be made of different colors, each color indicating a gap G of a predetermined width. This color code helps the user to select the proper nozzle assembly for a specific application.

Once the first driving part 60 and the second driving part 70 are separated from each other, the first driving part 60 remains in the chamber. Therefore, the chamber and the plunger 50 can not be used again. The degree of force that breaks the gap can be adjusted by varying the size of the legs 80. In addition, a destruction recording line or the like may be provided to control the destruction of the legs 80. [ It can be determined experimentally to create an appropriate performance criterion.

The nozzle assembly 10 can be connected to the injection device using a known structure for attaching and detaching the two components together. The present invention contemplates a bayonet pedestal arranged radially in the ridge (40). Such a ridge 40 may be placed first in an inlet having a similar cross-section in the syringe to insert the ridge. Thus, the nozzle unit 20 rotates with respect to the syringe at a predetermined angle to prevent the nozzle body from being separated in the axial direction. The nozzle assembly 10 can be quickly engaged and disengaged by the bayonet-stand. Or a screw can be used to secure the nozzle assembly 10 to the syringe. Other connection means may be used if desired for a particular use.

The frangible plunger 50 according to the present invention may be used in conjunction with a spring having a hypodermic needle, wherein the frangible leg 80 will perceive that it is destroyed before the start of the injection or after the injection is completely finished.

In another embodiment of the present invention (FIGS. 6-14), the nozzle assembly 210 has a nozzle portion 220 that includes a cylindrical rample portion 226 ending in a cone 22 *. The chamber 226 may include an external helical thread for selectively releasable connection to the syringe. The plunger assembly 250 is received through the inlet end of the chamber 226 with a pressure wall corresponding to the cone 228, as can be seen separately in Fig. And is reciprocated in the emf chamber 226 through the longitudinal axis to move the fluid out of the chamber and to move the fluid into the chamber.

7-10, the plunger assembly 250 includes a tip, a first drive 260, a pin 270 and a sleeve 280, an elastic (not shown) And a spring. Such members generally have a cylindrical shape and are connected together as shown in Fig. The spring portion 282 is preferably a helical compression spring. The pin 270 is inserted into the sleeve such that the outer annular shoulder of the pin 270 contacts the inner annular shoulder 2810 of the sleeve. The relative size and orientation of the shoulders 274, 281 helps to keep the pin 270 in the sleeve 280. The end pillar 272 of the pin 270 extends out of the sleeve 280. The spring 282 then inserts into the sleeve 280 as shown. The tip 260 is connected by a screw to the sleeve 280 and a spring 282 is pushed in to allow a space between the end of the predetermined first distance D ₁ or tip 262 and the front end of the pin 270 So as to maintain elasticity.

8, the team 260 is comprised of a front end 262 having a conical head or a tapered pressure wall 263, a connecting portion 264, and a rear portion 266. Or the rear portion 266 is integrally formed with the front portion 262. [ A seal 267 and an adjacent backup ring 268 are disposed between the front 262 and the rear 266. 6, the sealing portion 267 is preferably an O-ring having an outer diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the ampoule 226 such that the plunger assembly 250 is sealed in the ampoule chamber 226 in a sliding manner do.

8, the connecting portion 264 of the front portion 262 is connected to the rear portion 266 by a screw. In such a configuration, when the seal 267 is to be replaced, the front portion 262 is detached from the rear portion 266 to expose the seal portion 267 for removal and replacement. The rear portion 266 is also comprised of a tail portion 269 that is received in a spring 282. As described above, the distance between the distal end of the tail portion 269 and the forward end of the pin 270 is a first distance D ₁ . The conical portion 263 is shaped and sized to fit the cone 228 so that when the plunger assembly 50 is pushed against the ampoule chamber 226 all the actual liquid is drained out of the ampoule chamber 226.

The plunger assembly 250 can be made of a plastic such as polycarbonate or polypropylene or a durable material such as aluminum, stainless steel or other materials. As described above, the plunger assembly 250 is easily detachable for cleaning and replacement.

6 and 11-14, the end pillar 272 of the pin 270 is connected to the ram 290 of the syringe and the auxiliary internal thread screw 292 at the front end of the syringe body 294 The nozzle assembly 210 can be attached to the syringe. The connection of such a plunger assembly with the ram 290 can be any conventional connecting means for holding or detachably holding these elements together, such as ball, slotted. The distal end 284 of the sleeve 280 and the front end 292 of the ram 290 are separated in accordance with a second predetermined distance D ₂ where D ₂ is somewhat shorter than D ₁ . Thus, the second distance D ₂ is the adjusted gap or free travel distance through which the ram 290 moves before it impacts or moves on the sleeve portion 280. In such an embodiment, the sleeve portion 280 functions the same as the second drive. The relatively large surface area of the annular end 284 of the sleeve 280 accommodates the impact imposed by the ram 290 and resists wear due to repeated use of the syringe.

The plunger assembly 250 is pushed into the ampule 226 to release air. FIG. 6 shows the plunger assembly 250 in a fully pushed state before drawing the desired injection into the chamber 226. When the plunger assembly 250 pushes toward the distal end, a partial vacuum is created in the chamber 226 and the desired fluid can be drawn into the chamber through the hole 22, as shown in FIG.

When air bubbles or excess fluid are drawn into the ampule chamber 226, the plunger assembly 250 must be pushed forward to release air bubbles or excess fluid. As can be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, and according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spring portion 282 is rigid to resist relative movement between the pin 270 and the tip 260. The spring 282 is then preloaded (pressed into the sleeve 280) to compensate for some relative movement between the pin and the tip, and after the release process a gap D ₂ or the free moving distance is restored. Those skilled in the art will be able to select a suitable elastic spring to accomplish this purpose. Once loaded, the force loaded on the spring 282 provides greater force than required to move the plunger assembly 250 into the hole 222 in the chamber 26.

The ram transfers this force F to the pin 270 when applied to the relatively large scanning force F from the syringe in the ram 290. This force F pushes the resilient spring 282 and the ram 290 passes the gap D2 and transfers the force directly to the sleeve so that the sleeve 280 and the tip 260 are moved to the front end as shown in Figures 13 and 14 Causing the fluid to exit the chamber 226. When the nozzle assembly 210 is reused by the same patient, when the pin 270 is pushed to the end with the ram 290 as shown in FIG. 11, the first and second distances D ₁ , And D ₂ are accurately restored.

After completing the fluid scan, the nozzle assembly 210 is rotated until there is no corresponding threaded row 292 in the threaded bar 240 in the syringe body 294 and the needle 270 is rotated The nozzle assembly 210 can be removed.

Upon normal operation of the needleless syringe, the ram 290 of the syringe is effectively connected to the energy source to provide a sudden force or impact F on the pin 270, which force is such that the spring 282 can be depressed And causes the ram 290 to drive the sleeve 280 and the tip 260 directly toward the hole 222. This action is sufficient to move the fluid contained in the ampule chamber 226 out through the orifice 222 at relatively high jet flow pressures above 5,000 psi. &Quot; High pressure " refers to jet air pressure that can pass through a person's skin. Which is generally greater than 1,000 psi, and generally ranging from about 3,000 to 10,000 psi.

A second distance or gap D ₂ plays an important role in making the appropriate pressure spike necessary to pass through the patient's skin or other parts of the patient's body. The initial force applied to the tip 260 can be varied by varying the degree of the gap D ₂ . Therefore, the peak pressure can be varied by changing the gap D ₂ .

It can also vary widely depending on the viscosity of the drug to be injected, the desired penetration depth of the penetration, and other variables that can affect the initial injection pressure. Those skilled in the art will be able, through routine experimentation, to determine an optimal gap for any frangible plunger 50 that can be used with a particular drug. Advantageously, the plunger assembly 250 or the nozzle assembly 210, or both, can be made of different colors and each color represents a predetermined gap D ₂ . These color codes help the user to easily select the appropriate nozzle assembly for a specific application.

The distance D ₁ between the distal end 265 of the tip 260 and the forward end 276 of the pin 270 is shorter than the second distance D ₂ . In this arrangement, the pin 270 performs the same function as the second driver, with the front end 276 of the pin 270 pushing the end of the tip 260 and the ram 290 and the pin 270 contacting the spring 282 ).

The nozzle assembly 210 may be connected to the injection device using a known structure for attaching and detaching the two components together. The present invention has determined that a bayonet-base arranged in the screw thread 240 in the radial direction is preferable. Such a screw thread 240 may be placed first in the inlet having a similar cross-section in the syringe to insert the screw thread. Then, the nozzle unit 220 is rotated with respect to the syringe at a predetermined angle to prevent the nozzle body from being separated in the axial direction. The nozzle assembly 210 can be quickly engaged and disengaged by the bayonet-stand. Or a screw thread may be used to secure the nozzle assembly 210 to the syringe. Other connection means may be used if desired for a particular use.

15-32, another specific example is described. In order to maintain a predetermined moving distance, a spring is used. In this case, the distance between the first and second driving parts can be changed without replacing with another member.

15-16 illustrate a fluid syringe 300 having a nozzle body 302, a plunger / ram assembly 304, and a syringe housing 306. As shown in FIG. 16, the nozzle body 302 defines at least one hole 310 communicating with the fluid chamber or blind bore 308 and the chamber. The fluid or ampule chamber 308 has an end 312 that tapers towards the bore. The nozzle body 302 and the syringe housing 306 include connecting means 314 for selectively attaching and detaching the nozzle body to the scanning housing. For example, the connecting means 314 includes an external helical thread 316 formed around the nozzle body and an internal helical thread 318 formed on the syringe housing 306.

The plunger / ram assembly 304 is provided with a plunger assembly 320 suitable for being movable or relatively positioned in the chamber 308 and a ram 310 coupled to the plunger assembly for effectively attracting or discharging fluid through the orifice 310. [ Assembly 322,

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the plunger assembly 304 includes a plunger 324 and a seal 326. The plunger includes a pressure wall 328 having a shape corresponding to the end 312 of the chamber and is received through the inlet end of the chamber. The plunger assembly 304 may be disposed within the chamber 308 to reciprocate through a longitudinal axis to draw fluid out of the chamber through the hole 310 and to draw fluid into the chamber.

16 and 17, the seal 326 is preferably a separate part such as an O-ring located in the circumferential groove 332 in the plunger 324. [ Ring has an outer diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the chamber 308 so that the plunger assembly 320 is in a sealing relationship with the chamber 308. Or the sealing portion 326 may be formed integrally with the plunger, such as selected from a resilient material for the plunger. The plunger assembly 304 may include a backup ring 334 located adjacent the seal 326.

16 and 20-22, a second drive or pin 336, a first drive or tip 338, a sleeve 340, an elastic spring or a deflection 342 ). Such elements generally have a cylindrical shape and an arrangement as seen in FIG. The first and second driving portions are separated from each other by a predetermined free movement distance or gap D ₁ . The plunger assembly 324 is preferably connected to the first driver 338. Suitably, the plunger assembly 320 is detachably connected to the first drive 338 to enable the plunger assembly 324 to be used for a single use.

Suitably, the spring portion 342 is a helical compression spring. The pin 336 is inserted into the sleeve 340 such that the outer annular shoulder 346 of the pin 336 contacts the inner annular shoulder 348 of the sleeve 340. The relative size and orientation of the shoulder helps to keep the pin in the sleeve 340. The end 350 of the pin 336 extends beyond the sleeve 340. The spring 342_ is inserted into the sleeve 340 as seen in Figure 16. Finally, the external spiral or thread 352 of the tip 338 is engaged with a sleeve 340 And is resiliently retained by a predetermined distance D ₁ or space between the distal end 380 of the tip (first driving portion) and the front end 378 of the pin (second driving portion) .

The plunger 324 includes a first end 356 directed toward the first drive and a second end 358 directed toward the aperture 310 of the chamber 308, as shown in Figures 16-17. 16 and 22, the first drive or tip 338 is provided with a first end 360 directed toward the second drive and a second end 346 directed toward the first end 356 of the disposable plunger 324, And an end 362. And includes an ejection coupling means 364 forming a removable connection at the first end 356 of the plunger 324 and the second end 362 of the tip 338. As shown in Figures 16-17, the plunger 324 includes a plurality of fingers 366 having a tangled end 368 for releasable attachment to the circumferential groove 370 in the tip. The releasable connection means 364 interacts with the chamber 308 to remain in the expanded state when positioned within the chamber 308. Similarly, when withdrawn from the chamber 308, the discharge connection means 364 is disconnected.

In this feature, the plunger assembly 320 is separated from the tip 338 when the seal 326 or the plunger 324 needs to be replaced. The tip 338 also includes a tail portion 372 that is received in a spring 342. As described above, the distance between the distal end of the tail portion 372 and the forward end 378 of the pin 336 is a first distance D ₁ .

16, 22, and 23, the second drive (e.g., the pin) includes a first end 374 coupled to the ram 325 and a first end 374 of the first drive 338, 360, respectively. Suitably, one of the opposing ends of the first and second driving portions has a concave hemispherical surface 378. The other one of opposite ends of the first and second driving portions has a convex hemispherical surface 380 corresponding to the concave hemispherical surface. Therefore, the hemispherical surface is resiliently separated by the elastic deflection portion 342 in accordance with the free movement distance D ₁ . Compared to a flat surface, the hemispherical surface maximizes the contact or impact surface area between the first and second drive portions to minimize wear or deformation between such facing surfaces after repeated use. Or the opposing surfaces may be planar or may have some complementary shapes.

Optionally, as seen in other embodiments, the plunger assembly 320 may be made of polycarbonate or plastic such as polypropylene, elastomer, or durable or other materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, or the like.

Referring to Figure 16, the nozzle body 302 may be attached to the syringe housing by connecting an external helical thread 318 to an internal helical thread 318 at the front end of the syringe housing. The connection between the pin 336 and the ram 325 may be connected in a conventional manner such as by holding the ram 325 in engagement with the end 374 of the pin 336, The distal end 341 of the sleeve 340 and the front end of the ram 325 are separated by a predetermined second distance D ₂ where D ₂ is a somewhat longer distance than D ₁ . Thus, the first distance D1 is the adjusted distance or free movement distance through which the second drive (e.g., pin 336) moves before moving or impacting the distal end 380 of the first drive 338 (e.g., tip) do. Or the free moving distance D ₂ is shorter than D ₁ . In this case, the free moving distance is adjusted by moving the pin 336, and the length of the middle portion adjusts the size of the free moving distance. In other words, the ram 325 contacts the sleeve 340.

In the second embodiment shown in Figs. 25-32, a modified plunger / ram assembly is shown. In such an arrangement, the first drive (e.g., tip 338) has a means 384 for adjusting the free travel distance D ₁ in place. 25-26, the tip 338 is provided with a tail 382 having a bush 386 with a bore 388 connected thereto and a connected stem 392 movably positioned on the bore 388 of the bush 386 390). The bush 386 has an external helical thread 394 that is releasably connected to an internal helical thread 396 at one end of the sleeve 340. The free end of the connected stem 392 has a slot that allows for various adjustments to the proper length of the tail 390 that leaves the bush 386. As shown in FIG. 25, when the length of the tail portion 390 is shortened, the free movement distance D ₁ is increased, and when the length of the tail portion 390 is extended, the free movement distance D ₁ is reduced.

Fig. 27 shows an adjusting mechanism 400 for changing the length of the tail portion 390. Fig. The adjustment mechanism preferably includes a knob 402 that is rotatably connected to a suitable blade 404 so that it can be connected to a slot of a connected stem 392. The machine gun also includes indicator means 406, such as a dial gauge 408, for measuring the length or measuring the length of the tail portion 390 leading to the outside of the bushing and towards the second drive.

The plunger / ram assembly in accordance with the present invention is suitable for use with any syringe, including the pyramidal syringe described in the aforementioned patents. When using a syringe with a needle, there is a hole in the fluid passage of the bore of the needle of the proper size.

The operation of the plunger / ram assembly of the second embodiment shown in Figs. 28-32 will now be described. The plunger / ram assembly 304 is pushed into the front end of the chamber 308 to draw air out. As shown in FIG. 28, the plunger / ram assembly 304 is fully pushed in before the desired injectate is drawn into the chamber 308. When the plunger / ram assembly 304 is fully pushed to the end, a partial vacuum is created within the chamber 308 and the desired fluid is introduced into the chamber 308 through the hole 310, do.

If air bubbles or excess fluid is entrained into the chamber, the plunger / ram assembly 304 must be pushed forward to evacuate the bubbles or excess fluid. 30, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the spring 342 is robust enough to resist relative movement between the pin 336 and the tip 338. As shown in FIG. There is no relative motion between the pin 336 and the tip 338 during release or propulsion because the spring 342 is engaged with a linear load (squeezed in the sleeve 340), so that the first and second drive portions 338 , 336), the gap D ₁ or free travel distance between is maintained. Those skilled in the art will be able to select a suitable elastic spring to accomplish this purpose. Once in place, the spring provides a force beyond the force required to move the plunger / ram assembly 304 into the chamber 310 in the chamber 308 due to the load.

When applying a relatively large force F to the ram 325 to inject a high pressure fluid, the ram 325 transfers this force F to the second drive or pin 36. [ This force F pushes the resilient spring 342 and the ram 290 directs the force through the gap D ₁ to the first drive or tip 338. 32, the tip 338 moves the plunger 324 toward the hole 310 to release fluid out of the chamber 226. As shown in FIG. 29, when the plunger / ram assembly 304 is reused by the same patient, when the pin 336 is pushed to the distal end with the ram 325, the restoring force of the spring 342 causes the first 2 Distances D ₁ and D ₂ are correctly restored.

After completing the fluid scan, the nozzle body 302 may be rotated from the syringe housing to the threaded row 240 until there is no corresponding threaded thread to remove the nozzle body 302 from the syringe housing. The plunger 324 may be processed or the tip 338 may be replaced with another tip having a different gyratory tail portion 390 to change the free travel distance between the first and second drive portions.

During normal operation of the fluid syringe, the ram 325 of the syringe is effectively connected to an energy source to provide a sudden force or impact F on the pin 336, which force is such that the spring 342 can be depressed Causing the pin 336 to drive the tip 338 and the plunger 324 directly toward the hole 310. This action is sufficient to move the fluid contained in the chamber 308 out through the hole 310 at a relatively high jet flow pressure of 5,000 psi or more. &Quot; High pressure " refers to jet air pressure that can pass through a person's skin. Which is generally greater than 1,000 psi, and generally ranging from about 3,000 to 10,000 psi.

The first distance or gap D ₁ plays an important role in making the appropriate pressure spike necessary to pass through the patient's skin or other parts of the patient's body. By changing the degree of the gap D ₁ , the initial force applied to the tip and plunger can be varied. Therefore, the peak pressure can be varied by changing the gap D ₁ . It can also vary widely depending on the viscosity of the drug to be injected, the desired penetration depth of the penetration, and other variables that can affect the initial injection pressure. Those skilled in the art will be able, through routine experimentation, to determine an optimal gap for a plunger assembly that can be used with a particular drug. Advantageously, the tip, pin or entire ram assembly can be made to have different indicia, such as different color codes, each marking a gap D ₁ of a predetermined width. These color codes help the user to easily select the appropriate nozzle assembly for a specific application.

In another embodiment, the first distance D ₁ between the distal end of the tip 336 and the front end of the pin 338 is selected to be longer than the second distance D ₂ . In such an arrangement, the sleeve 340 is immediately impacted by the ram 325 and thereby moves the tip 338 and the plunger 324 towards the hole 310.

The nozzle body 302 may be connected to the injection device using a known structure for attaching and detaching the two components together. The present invention has determined that a bayonet-base arranged in a radial direction on the screw thread is preferable. Such a thread may be first placed in the inlet having a similar cross-section in the syringe housing to insert the thread. The nozzle portion is then rotated relative to the syringe housing at a predetermined angle to prevent the nozzle body from being disengaged in the axial direction. The nozzle body can be quickly engaged and disengaged by the bayonet-stand. Other connection means may be used if desired for a particular use.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the invention. Thus, any and all variants obtainable from the above description belong to the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the following claims.

Claims (20)

A nozzle assembly suitable for use in a syringe having an energy source, the nozzle assembly comprising: A chamber having a fluid and having a first end and a second end, the first end having a hole therethrough and the second end having an inlet; A first driver positioned to move into the chamber; And a second driving part located away from the first driving part according to a predetermined moving distance, and an end part capable of attracting or discharging a fluid into the chamber through a hole in the second driving part; And a space portion disposed between the first driving portion and the second driving portion to maintain a predetermined moving distance while the first and second driving portions are moved before the energy generating source is operated. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the space portion comprises a frangible connection portion between the first and second driving portions, and when the energy generating source is operated, a force is generated to break the frangible connection portion, And moving the second driving unit to push the first driving unit toward the first driving unit after the moving distance, and pushing the first driving unit toward the chamber hole to discharge the fluid from the chamber. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first drive includes a sealing portion to prevent fluid from being discharged from the chamber toward the periphery of the first drive and the end of the first drive, the frangible connection portion having a slightly smaller cross- The nozzle assembly comprising: The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second drive portion may include an end column to move the second drive in a direction away from the chamber aperture to draw fluid into the chamber, or to capture the end column to withdraw the second drive from the chamber Wherein the first driver remains in the chamber after scanning to prevent the nozzle assembly from being used again. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first driving unit and the second driving unit are manufactured so as to have a mark indicating a predetermined moving distance, and by selecting the first and second driving units having different markings, Nozzle assembly. 6. The nozzle assembly of claim 5, wherein the indicia comprises a specific color code having a different color corresponding to a predetermined travel distance between the first and second drive portions, respectively. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber includes a tapered portion adjacent the aperture, the first drive portion includes a tapered conical portion corresponding to such a tapered portion of the chamber; The first and second driving portions may be cylindrically shaped and each have a straight side face of D-shape and a brittle connecting portion is formed of a rectangular leg connecting the D-shaped end portions of the first and second driving portions Nozzle assembly. 2. The nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the spacing portion comprises an elastic biasing portion disposed between the first and second driving portions to elastically maintain a predetermined moving distance. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the resilient biasing portion is a spring; The first and second driving portions are effectively connected by the sleeve portion; Wherein the spring is disposed in the sleeve between the drive portions. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first drive has a contact seal on the inner wall of the chamber to prevent fluid from being released from the chamber around the first drive and through the inlet; Wherein the chamber includes a tapered portion adjacent the hole and the first drive portion includes a conical portion that is tapered in a shape corresponding to the tapered portion of the chamber; The distal end of the first driving part is located in the sleeve so as to be in contact with the front end of the second driving part; And the second driving unit is connected to an energy source. The nozzle assembly according to claim 8, wherein the elastic biasing portion has a predetermined load, and is arranged to maintain a predetermined moving distance when the linear load is greater than a moving force applied to the second driving portion. 12. The nozzle assembly of claim 11, wherein the first drive includes a plunger detachably connected to a front end thereof to discharge fluid out of the chamber bore. 13. The plunger of claim 12, wherein the plunger includes a first end portion facing the first drive portion and a second end portion facing the aperture of the chamber, wherein the first drive portion includes a first end portion facing the second drive portion, And a second end portion facing the first end portion of the plunger, wherein the discharge end of the first end portion of the plunger and the second end portion of the first drive portion are provided with a releasable connection means The nozzle assembly comprising: 14. The nozzle assembly of claim 13, wherein the releasable connection means cooperates with the chamber such that when the nozzle assembly is positioned within the chamber, it is connected and separated from the chamber. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the chamber and the plunger define a chamber of various volumes, wherein the chamber has a first position where the energy plunger has a minimum volume, a second position where the chamber has a maximum volume, Selectively move to an intermediate position having an intermediate volume greater than the volume and less than the maximum volume; The plunger, the first drive and the second drive are connected to each other to discharge or attract fluid from the chamber, and when the plunger is moved from the second position to the intermediate position and when the plunger is moved from the intermediate position to the first position Wherein a space member is included to maintain a predetermined travel distance. 16. The nozzle assembly of claim 15, wherein the plunger is releasably connected to the first drive and is disposable. 12. The nozzle assembly of claim 11, wherein the first driver includes a tail portion facing the second driver, and the tail portion has a pre-selected length to adjust a predetermined travel distance. 18. The nozzle assembly of claim 17, wherein the tail portion of the first drive has an adjustable length to selectively vary the preset travel distance. And a propulsion mechanism for actuating the housing, the energy source and the energy source and the nozzle assembly according to claim 1. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the nozzle assembly is detachably attached to the housing and is single use.