INJECTION DEVICE

Abstract

An injection device for injecting an injectable substance, the injection device comprising a housing having an interiorly facing wall with the wall having a plurality of ribs formed thereon, the ribs defining a channel extending therebetween, a plunger rod mountable within the housing and having at least one protrusion engageable within the channel, a vial containing the injectable substance, a spring mounted at the distal end of the housing with the spring being biased between the distal end and the needle hub, and a pusher rod raised such that pressure thereon from the plunger rod will cause the pusher rod to push the injectable substance into the hollow needle for injection, the pressure causing the spring to act on the needle hub to move the needle hub and vial upwardly within the housing such that the needle is an enclosed position within the housing and cannot be reused.

Claims

1. An injection device for injecting an injectable substance, said injection device comprising: a housing, said housing having an interiorly facing wall, said wall having a plurality of ribs formed thereon, said ribs defining a channel extending therebetween; a plunger rod mountable within said housing, said plunger rod having at least one protrusion extending outwardly therefrom; a vial containing said injectable substance, said vial having at least one protrusion extending outwardly therefrom; a needle hub and a hollow needle secured thereto; a spring mounted at a distal end of said housing, said spring being biased between a distal end of said housing and said needle hub; and a pusher rod mounted within said plunger rod, said pusher rod being arranged such that pressure on said plunger rod will cause said pusher rod to push said injectable substance from said vial into said hollow needle for injection, said plunger rod having an arcuate surface at a proximal end thereof, said protrusion extending outwardly from said vial contacting said arcuate surface to cause rotation of said vial allowing said spring to move said vial upwardly within said housing.

2. The injection device of claim 1 wherein said housing and said plunger rod have a circular pattern.

3. The injection device of claim 1 wherein said injectable substance is selected from a group consisting of a solid substance and a semi-solid substance.

4. The injection device of claim 1 wherein said needle hub has upwardly extending projections to stop the rotation of said vial at a desired point.

5. The injection device of claim 1 wherein said injection device is formed of a plastic material.

6. The injection device of claim 1 wherein a portion of said housing and said vial are formed of a transparent material such that said injectable substance is visually accessible.

7. The injection device of claim 1 wherein said protrusion on said plunger rod includes a generally L-shaped flange formed thereon.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments thereof, in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled injection device;

[0015] FIG. 2a is an exploded view of the injection device;

[0016] FIG. 2b is a longitudinal sectional view of the housing;

[0017] FIG. 3a is a perspective view of the plunger rod;

[0018] FIG. 3b is side elevational view thereof as seen from the left hand side of FIG. 3a;

[0019] FIG. 3c is a bottom plan view thereof;

[0020] FIG. 3d is a top plan view thereof;

[0021] FIG. 3e is a perspective view as seen from the right hand side of FIG. 3A;

[0022] FIG. 4a is a longitudinal sectional view of the injection device is an assembled condition;

[0023] FIG. 4b is a perspective view of the longitudinal sectional view following commencing of activation;

[0024] FIG. 4c is a cutaway view illustrating activation of the device;

[0025] FIG. 4d is a sectional view taken along the lines 4D-4D of FIG. 4A;

[0026] FIG. 4e is a sectional view taken along the lines 4E-4E of FIG. 4A;

[0027] FIG. 5a is a sectional view illustrating injection of the injectable substance;

[0028] FIG. 5b is a cutaway perspective view thereof;

[0029] FIG. 5c is a sectional view taken along the lines 5C-5C of FIG. 5B;

[0030] FIG. 6a is a perspective cutaway view of the device when injecting;

[0031] FIG. 6b is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating movement of the device subsequent to injection;

[0032] FIG. 6c is a perspective view thereof;

[0033] FIG. 6d is a sectional view taken along the lines 6D-6D of FIG. 6A; and

[0034] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating movement of the injection device after injection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 an injection device generally designated by reference numeral 10. Injection device 10 has an outer enclosure 12 which surrounds the remaining components comprising a plunger rod generally designated by reference numeral 14, a vial generally designated by reference numeral 16, a needle hub 18, a spring 20, an injection needle 22, a cover 24 and a pusher rod 26.

[0036] As may be seen in FIG. 2b, housing 12 is formed of a main cylindrical side wall 30, a lower side wall 32 and an upper side wall portion 34. On the interior of cylindrical side wall 30, there is provided a first upper rib 36 and a second upper rib 38. A diagonal rib 40 extends between the end of second upper rib 38 and first upper rib 36.

[0037] A first lower rib 42 is parallel to a second lower rib 44. Extending outwardly from an upper end of second lower rib 44 is a horizontal rib 46.

[0038] Lower side wall 32 also has a lower rib 48 and a second lower rib 50 which is parallel thereto. This defines a channel therebetween. It is noted that there is a space between rib 42 and rib 48. As may be seen in FIG. 2b, the interior wall is also provided with an upper horizontal flange 52 and a lower horizontal flange 54.

[0039] Vial 16, as may be seen in FIG. 2a, includes a cylindrical body 66 having a pair of ears or upper protrusions 68 formed thereon. Each protrusion 68 has a somewhat L-shaped portion 70 located thereon. Vial 16 also includes lower protrusions 72 which extend outwardly from the body 66.

[0040] Needle hub 18, as seen in FIG. 2a, has an upper cylindrical body 74 and a lower cylindrical body 76. There are also provided upwardly extending protrusions 78 extending upwardly from upper cylindrical body 74. It will be noted that vial 16 sits on needle hub 18.

[0041] In operation, the injection device is assembled as illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 4a. It will be noted that raised portion 62 rides between ribs 36, 38, 42, 44 such that the plunger rod may be pushed downwardly such that pusher rod 26 will extend through vial 16 and push the medicament located downwardly into hollow needle 22. This may be accomplished during the motion wherein needle 22 is inserted into the patient.

[0042] In doing so, upper protrusions 68 contact recess arcuate wall 58 and are thus rotated due to the arcuate nature of recess wall 58. Ribs 48 and 50 prevent protrusions 78 from rotating. L-shaped portion 70 engages with the bottom of rib 42 to prevent upward movement. This rotation will bring upper protrusions 68 in line with the channel between ribs 42, 44. The pressure of spring 20 will then cause needle hub 18 and vial 16 to extend upwardly through housing 14. As the components are driven upwardly, protrusions 68 will contact diagonal rib 40 and thus go into the space between rib 38 and the wall. In doing so, further attempts to push on plunger rod 14 will be stopped by horizontal rib 46.

[0043] It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.