IMPROVED PORTABLE SUBSTANCE-INJECTION DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable device for injecting a substance, comprising a supply circuit comprising a chamber having a first end with an outlet orifice and an open second end, a piston extending towards the inside of the chamber from the second end, the chamber having a volume that can be varied by the movement of the piston, a first electric motor (12) for moving the piston, the outlet orifice of the chamber being connected to a retractable injection needle (11) so as to supply this needle with the contents of the chamber. According to the invention, with the injection device comprising an injection-device body, the supply circuit is placed in the portable injection-device body, the injection-device body comprises a system for driving the needle (11) between a first position, in which the needle is housed inside the body of the injection device, and a second position, in which the needle (11) projects from the body of the injection device, the system for driving the injection needle (11) comprising a second motor (13) distinct from the first electric motor (12) so that the functions of retracting/deploying the injection needle (11) and of refilling/discharging a dose of substance are dissociated from one another.

Claims

1. A portable substance-injection device comprising a supply circuit comprising a chamber comprising a first end with an outlet orifice and a second open end, a piston extending towards the interior of said chamber from this second end, said chamber having a volume that varies as the piston moves, a first electric motor (12) to ensure the movement of said piston, said outlet orifice of said chamber being connected to a retractable injection needle (11) to supply this needle with the contents of said chamber, characterized in that said injection device comprising an injection-device body, said supply circuit is placed in said portable injection-device body, the injection-device body comprises a system for driving said needle (11) between a first position, in which the needle is housed inside the body of the injection device, and a second position, in which the needle (11) protrudes outside the body of the injection device, said system for driving said needle (11) comprising a second motor (13) separate from said first electric motor (12) so that the functions of retracting/deploying the injection needle (11) and of refilling/discharging a dose of substance, are dissociated.

2. The portable substance-injection device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for synchronizing the first and second electric motors so that the re-entry of the needle after injection of said substance and the refilling of the chamber are carried out simultaneously.

3. The portable substance-injection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first electric motor (12) is a stepper motor.

4. The portable substance-injection device according to claim 1, characterized in that said drive system of said injection needle (11) comprises a drive member moved by a servomotor (13).

5. The portable substance-injection device according to claim 4, characterized in that said drive member is a conrod/crank system (14).

6. The portable substance-injection device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said injection needle (11) being carried by said supply circuit, said drive member is connected to said supply circuit so that, when said drive member is moved by said servomotor (13), said supply circuit is moved into the injection-device body to move said needle between its first and second positions.

7. The portable substance-injection device according to claim 6, characterized in that said drive member is rigidly connected to the first motor (12).

8. The portable substance-injection device according to claim 4, characterized in that said injection needle (11) being carried by a needle support separate from said supply circuit, said drive member is connected to said needle support to move said needle between its first and second positions.

9. The portable substance-injection device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a gripping handle (16).

10. The portable substance-injection device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least a portion of the supply circuit, and in particular its chamber, is arranged non-horizontally in the portable injection device when the main body part is held parallel to the floor surface.

11. The portable substance-injection device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an electronic module configured to adjust the supply signal of the coil of the first motor as a function of the resisting torque applied to the rotor of this first electric motor (12).

12. The portable substance-injection device according to claim 1, characterized in that said chamber is sized to determine an injection dose.

13. The portable substance-injection device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises one or more elements selected from a motion sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a time sensor, a position sensor, a contactless communication device and/or a wireless communication module for communicating with a network.

14. A method for managing a substance-injection device comprising a supply circuit comprising a chamber comprising a first end with an outlet orifice and a second open end, a piston extending towards the interior of said chamber from this second end, said chamber having a volume that varies as the piston moves, a first electric motor (12) to ensure the movement of said piston, said outlet orifice of said chamber being connected to a retractable injection needle (11) to supply this needle with the contents of said chamber, characterized in that the injection-device body comprises a system for driving said needle (11) between a first position, in which the needle is housed inside the body of the injection device, and a second position, in which the needle (11) protrudes outside the body of the injection device, said system for driving said needle (11) comprising a second motor (13) separate from said first electric motor (12) so that the functions of retracting/deploying the injection needle (11) and of refilling/discharging a dose, are dissociated, said chamber is filled with said substance during the movement of said injection needle (11) from its second position to its first position.

15. The method for managing a substance-injection device according to claim 14, characterized in that said chamber is completely filled with said substance to determine a dose to be injected no later than when said injection needle (11) arrives in its first position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0085] Other advantages, aims and particular features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, made, for explanatory purposes and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0086] FIG. 1

[0087] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a substance injection device according to a particular embodiment of the present invention;

[0088] FIG. 2

[0089] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the injection device of FIG. 1 showing the arrangement of the drive system of the injection needle and that of the circuit for supplying said needle within the injection-device body;

[0090] FIG. 3

[0091] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the system for driving the injection needle of the injection device of FIG. 1;

[0092] FIG. 4

[0093] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an injection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, the arrangement of the drive system of the injection needle and the arrangement of the supply circuit of said needle within the injection-device body being visible;

[0094] FIG. 5

[0095] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an injection device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0096] The drawings and the following description essentially contain elements of a certain nature. They may therefore not only serve to better understand the present invention, but also contribute to its definition, where appropriate.

[0097] First, it should be noted that the figures are not to scale.

[0098] FIGS. 1 to 3 schematically illustrate a portable substance-injection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0099] This injection device 10 comprises a retractable needle 11 for the injection of a substance into an animal, here a piglet. In a known manner, this injection needle 11 is a hypodermic needle made of stainless steel.

[0100] This injection device 10 comprises a fluid supply circuit for discharging a dose of a substance to be delivered through this injection needle 11.

[0101] This supply circuit (partially shown) comprises a chamber that here has a hollow cylindrical body, which comprises a first end with an outlet orifice emerging onto a pipe in fluid communication with the inner channel of the injection needle 11 and a second open end, a piston extending towards the inside of this chamber from this second end.

[0102] The periphery of the piston head which is also cylindrical, ensures fluid-tightness with the inner wall of the chamber. This chamber thus has a variable volume by moving the piston therein.

[0103] The maximum volume of this chamber defines a dose of substance to be administered to the piglet, such as a 3 mL dose.

[0104] To ensure the movement of this piston, inside the chamber, the injection device comprises a stepper motor 12. This stepper motor 12 rotates a rotational/translational movement transformation system which is here a ball screw/nut system.

[0105] Thus, this drive unit comprising the stepper motor 12 and the ball screw/nut system makes it possible to move the piston in translation inside the chamber in order to vary its volume and discharge its contents through the injection needle 11.

[0106] The system for driving the injection needle 11 comprises, for its part, a servomotor 13, which produced enough torque to nose the needle 11 into the shoulder of the piglet.

[0107] The system for driving the injection needle 11 and the system for unloading a dose of substance through this injection needle 11 therefore each comprise a motor of their own.

[0108] In order to move the injection needle 11 between its first position and its second position, the servomotor 13 rotates a drive member which is here a conrod/crank system 14. A bearing 15 ensures the linear movement of the injection needle 11 between its two extreme positions.

[0109] The supply circuit comprising the first electric motor 12, the screw/nut system, the piston and the chamber, is here advantageously housed in the gripping handle 16 of the injection device 10.

[0110] An immediate advantage of this arrangement is that, the supply circuit being arranged in the shell of the injection device 10 non-horizontally but with its chamber directed upward, it is easier to drive out any air bubbles that would have been sucked into the supply circuit.

[0111] In addition, such a configuration allows greater compactness of the injection device 10 while ensuring better grip for the user, the center of gravity of the system being better positioned.

[0112] Thus, it is observed that the original design of the injection device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 ensures greater compactness and reduced weight to the latter, which leads to less fatigue for the operator when performing their tasks.

[0113] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a portable substance-injection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0114] The elements bearing the same references as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 represent the same objects, which will not be described again below.

[0115] The portable injection device 20 of FIG. 4 differs from that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 in that the servomotor 13 and the conrod/crank assembly 14 are arranged in the main body of this portable device under the supply circuit. The conrod/crank assembly 14 thus connects the servomotor 13 to the first electric motor 12 so that the rotational movement of the conrod by the servomotor 13 causes a translational movement of the first electric motor 12 inside the space defined by the shell of the injection device 20.

[0116] The translational movement of the first electric motor 12 to which the rest of the injection circuit of the injection needle is connected, this circuit also carrying the injection needle 11, makes it possible to move this injection needle out from and into the shell of the portable injection device 20.

[0117] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portable injection device 30 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0118] The elements bearing the same references as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 represent the same objects, which will not be described again below.

[0119] This injection device 30 comprises a fluid supply circuit for discharging a substance to be injected through its injection needle 11.

[0120] This supply circuit (partially shown) comprises a chamber 31 that here has a hollow cylindrical body, which comprises a first end with an outlet orifice 32 emerging onto a pipe (not shown) in fluid communication with the inner channel of the injection needle 11 and a second open end, a piston 33 extending towards the inside of this chamber 31 from this second end.

[0121] This portable injection device 30 also comprises a display screen 34 enabling the operator to select functions from a menu. An electronic module 35 provided with a processor makes it possible to manage the display and the software making it possible to operate the injection device 30.