Syringe needle abstract
An injector device for a syringe and assembly is disclosed which
enables the user to inject a syringe needle to a predetermined depth.
The device includes a pipe union bearing upper retaining arms that
are adapted to interfit with a plunger of a standard injector syringe.
The pipe union is slidably mounted along an inner tube through which
the syringe and needle are projected. The pipe union and an attached
screw nut form upper and lower shoulders along the inner tube. The
pipe union is spring loaded for movement along the inner tube, and
this movement is set between the upper and lower shoulders by means
of a rotatable firing hammer. The hammer fixes the pipe union and
attached syringe in the upper, spring loaded position, and when
triggered, the hammer releases the pipe union to the lower position
and fires the syringe needle into the user. A lower adjustable tube
partly encloses the inner tube, and provides a lower flat surface
that contacts the user's body and enables the needle to be applied
at the desired location.
Syringe needle claims
I claim:
1. An injection device for a syringe and needle, comprising
a. an inner tube for guiding a syringe and needle assembly therethrough,
the inner tube including an outer surface and providing a hammer
holder mounted on the tube surface, and a hammer rotatably mounted
by the hammer holder, the hammer defining a stop end, and means
for securing a spring loading element disposed on said tube;
b. a spring loading element secured at one end of the tube;
c. a pipe union providing upper arms for engagement with a syringe
plunger, the pipe union being slidably mounted along the outer surface
of the inner tube, and attached to the inner tube by the spring
element, and being upwardly biased by said spring, the pipe union
extending outwardly from the tube surface to define a peripheral
shoulder;
d. a stop nut mounted upwardly of the pipe union and adjacent to
the upper engagement arms, and providing an outwardly extending
shoulder peripherally of the outer tube surface, the stop nut being
adapted for rotation to secure and release the plunger and upper
arms of the pipe union; and,
e. an outer tube surrounding a portion of the inner tube, and being
adjustably mounted thereon, the outer tube defining a flat end surface
for pressing against a user's body and providing a stable platform
for projection of the needle therefrom; whereby: i. when the injection
device is biased upwardly along the inner tube in a loaded position,
the hammer at the stop end is adapted to bear against the shoulder
of the pipe union and maintain the injector in the loaded position;
ii. when the hammer if tripped, the union tube is released and biased
downwardly by the spring, thereby projecting the attached syringe
and needle in a uniform manner along the inner tube; iii. when the
hammer at the stop end contacts the shoulder of the stop nut, the
pipe union will be restrained from further movement; and, iv. the
adjustable mounting of the outer tube along the inner tube provides
a projection length of the needle beyond the flat end of the outer
tube, which is uniform from injection to injection.
2. The injection device of claim 1 in which a peripheral groove
is defined around the outer tube surface, and the spring loading
element is secured at one end within the groove.
3. The injection device of claim 1 in which a threaded hole is
provided in the inner tube, and a longitudinal slot is provided
along the outer tube, the inner and outer tubes being secured by
a screw which passes through the slot and into the hole. the inner
and outer tubes being adapted to move relative to each other by
loosening the screw and adjustment of the tubes along the slot.
4. An assembly of an injection device and a syringe and needle,
comprising:
a. a syringe and needle, including a syringe plunger element;
b. an inner tube for guiding the syringe and needle therethrough,
the inner tube including an outer surface and providing a hammer
holder mounted on the tube surface, and a hammer rotatably mounted
by the hammer holder, the hammer defining a stop end, and means
for securing a spring loading element disposed on said tube;
c. a spring loading element secured at one end of the tube;
d. a pipe union providing upper arms for engagement with a syringe
plunger, the pipe union being slidably mounted along the outer surface
of the inner tube, and attached to the inner tube by the spring
element, and being upwardly biased by said spring, the pipe union
extending outwardly from the tube surface to define a peripheral
shoulder;
e. a stop nut mounted upwardly of the pipe union and adjacent to
the upper engagement arms, and providing an outwardly extending
shoulder peripherally of the outer tube surface, the stop nut being
adapted for rotation to secure and release the plunger and upper
arms of the pipe union; and,
f. an outer tube surrounding a portion of the inner tube, and being
adjustably mounted thereon, the outer tube defining a flat end surface
for pressing against a user's body and providing a stable platform
for projection of the needle therefrom; whereby: i. when the injection
device is biased upwardly along the inner tube in a loaded position,
the hammer at the stop end is adapted to bear against the shoulder
of the pipe union and maintain the injector in the loaded position;
ii. when the hammer is tripped, the union tube is released and biased
downwardly by the spring, thereby projecting the attached syringe
and needle in a uniform manner along the inner tube; iii. when the
hammer at the stop end contacts the shoulder of the stop nut, the
pipe union will be restrained from further movement; and, iv. the
adjustable mounting of the outer tube along the inner tube provides
a projection length of the needle beyond the flat end of the outer
tube, which is uniform from injection to injection.
5. The injection device of claim 4 in which a peripheral groove
is defined around the outer tube surface, and the spring loading
element is secured at one end within the groove.
6. The injection device of claim 4 in which a threaded hole is
provided in the inner tube, and a longitudinal slot is provided
along the outer tube, the inner and outer tubes being secured by
a screw which passes through the slot and into the hole, the inner
and outer tubes being adapted to move relative to each other by
loosening the screw and adjustment of the tubes along the slot.
7. A method for injecting a syringe and needle included in an assembly
of an injection device, the assembly comprising:
a. a syringe and needle, including a syringe plunger element;
b. an inner tube for guiding the syringe and needle therethrough,
the inner tube including an outer surface and providing a hammer
holder mounted on the tube surface, and a hammer rotatably mounted
by the hammer holder, the hammer defining a stop end, and means
for securing a spring loading element disposed on said tube;
c. a spring loading element secured at one end of the tube;
d. a pipe union providing upper arms for engagement with a syringe
plunger, the pipe union being slidably mounted along the outer surface
of the inner tube, and attached to the inner tube by the spring
element, and being upwardly biased by said spring, the pipe union
extending outwardly from the tube surface to define a peripheral
shoulder;
e. a stop nut mounted upwardly of the pipe union and adjacent to
the upper engagement arms, and providing an outwardly extending
shoulder peripherally of the outer tube surface, the stop nut being
adapted for rotation to secure and release the plunger and upper
arms of the pipe union; and,
f. an outer tube surrounding a portion of the inner tube, and being
adjustably mounted thereon, the outer tube defining a flat end surface
for pressing against a user's body and providing a stable platform
for projection of the needle therefrom; the method comprising: i.
upwardly biasing the injection device along the inner tube in a
loaded position, the hammer at the stop end being adapted to bear
against the shoulder of the pipe union and maintain the injector
in the loaded position; ii. tripping the hammer, the union tube
being released and biased downwardly by the spring, thereby projecting
the attached syringe and needle in a uniform manner along the inner
tube; iii. contacting the hammer at the stop end with the shoulder
of the stop nut, thereby restraining the pipe union from further
movement; and, providing a projection length of the needle beyond
the flat end of the outer tube, which is uniform from injection
to injection, by means of the adjustable mounting of the outer tube
along the inner tube.
8. The method of claim 7 in which a peripheral groove is defined
around the outer tube surface, and the spring loading element is
secured at one end within the groove.
9. The method of claim 8 in which a threaded hole is provided
in the inner tube, and a longitudinal slot is provided along the
outer tube, the inner and outer tubes being secured by a screw which
passes through the slot and into the hole, the inner and outer tubes
being adapted to move relative to each other by loosening the screw
and adjustment of the tubes along the slot.
Syringe needle description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a new and improved injector for a syringe
needle, and an assembly therefor. More specifically, this invention
relates to an injector and assembly for securing to a syringe plunger
in a simple manner. The injector is adapted to fire the plunger
and needle into the user at a desired angle and depth while the
device is maintained in a secure position on the user's body. In
addition, the device does not require viewing of the syringe needle
by the user, many of whom find this objectionable.
Publications describing syringe injectors for self use are disclosed
in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2856924; 3702608; 3941130; 3880163; D.
247576; and, 4261358. These devices tend to be complicated in
terms of number of parts, and their assembly. Also, many prior art
injector devices are designed for use with only a single type, or
limited few, syringe injectors. Moreover, the stocking of replacement
components is expensive, so that generally the entire device is
usually replaced if a component part fails or becomes worn out.
In addition, some syringe injectors mount the syringe in an open
position, and this is objectionable to many users.
A spring loaded injector device for a syringe and needle is desired
having few component parts and a rugged construction. The device
should include a trigger system that provides a distinct switching
between two well defined upper and lower limits. This in turn will
enable the user to preset the device for a predictable needle exposure,
and hence penetration, after the injector has been fired.
THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a spring loaded injector device is
provided including an upper pipe union having engaging fingers that
are sized to secure a syringe plunger. The arrangement and configuration
of the fingers also enables the device to accommodate most of the
common commercial types of syringe plungers. The pipe union is slidably
mounted along the exterior of a hollow inner tube through which
the syringe and needle are projected by means of a spring loading.
A collar is threaded to the upper end of the pipe union and provides
a lower boundary stop for movement of the injector. At its lower
end, the pipe union forms a shoulder that provides an upper boundary
stop when the injector is loaded.
A pivotally moving trigger bar is mounted on the outer wall of
the hollow, inner tube. In the loaded position, the trigger bar
rests on the shoulder of the pipe union, and when the trigger bar
has been switched to fire the injector, the trigger bar will come
to rest against the collar. Thus, the distance through which the
syringe needle moves is very carefully defined, and this enables
the user to direct the injection to a precise site.
An outer tube is adjustably mounted on the exterior of the inner
tube for controlling the maximum length of syringe needle exposure.
Consequently, control of both the distance of syringe needle movement
and the location of the adjustable exterior tube enables the user
to employ the injector device with precision. The lower end of the
exterior tube is machined flat, and this permits the user to incline
the outlet (needle) end of the device against the body in a reasonably
uniform manner from injection to injection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an external view in side elevation showing the injector
device of the invention in the unloaded position;
FIG. 2 is an external view in side elevation showing the assembly
of the injector and a syringe with needle in the loaded position;
FIG. 3 is an external view in side elevation, partly broken away,
to show the spring loading, illustrating the assembly of the injector
and syringe following firing of the injector;
FIG. 4 is an external view in side elevation, partly in perspective,
showing the inner tube component of the injector device;
FIG. 5 is an external view, partly in perspective, showing the
union joint component of the injector device; and,
FIG. 6 is an external view, partly in perspective, showing the
outer tube component of the injector device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The injector device 10 of this invention is typically manufactured
from a stainless steel such as 304-316 and is shown comprising
a pipe union 11 threadably attached to a stop nut 12. Opposed curved
L-shaped arms 13 14 are formed at the upper end of the pipe union
for engaging the upper end of a plunger 15 of a syringe barrel.
The tube portion 16 of the injector defines an upper, peripheral
groove 17 a threaded hole 18 and a hammer holder 19 into which
is mounted a hammer 20 pivoted about a pin 21. The pipe union 11
is slidably mounted over the tube portion 16 and upwardly biased
by a spring 22. The pipe union 11 and tube portion 16 are connected
by the spring 22 which is secured at one end of the groove 17 of
the tube portion, together with a spline 17a, and along a shoulder
(not shown) around the interior wall of the pipe union. The lower
portion of the pipe union forms a circular, peripheral shoulder
23 around the tube portion 16 and the lower portion of the stop
nut 12 forms a circular, peripheral shoulder 24 around the pipe
union 11.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the outer tube 25 is adjustably mounted
outwardly of the tube portion 16. The outer tube provides a slot
26 through which a screw 27 passes for fitting into the threaded
hole 18. Adjustment of the outer tube 25 and the tube portion 16
relative to each other, is provided by loosening the screw 27 moving
the outer tube 25 along the slot 26 and then tightening the screw
into the hole 18 to secure the outer and inner tubes together. The
extent of adjustment between the outer and inner tubes will determine
the amount of needle projection beyond the outer tube. A cut out
28 may be provided to view the contents of the syringe, although
this is not necessary for operation of the device. The end portion
29 of the outer tube is machined flat so that it can be pressed
evenly against the user's skin.
In operation, the syringe 31 and attached needle 32 typically
about 24-26 gauge, are loaded into the top of the injector, and
then rotated so that the plunger 15 is engaged into the opposed
arms 13 14 as shown. The screw nut 12 is then rotated upwardly
to secure the arms and plunger together. Thus, the screw nut performs
the dual function of providing a stop shoulder, and to secure the
injector. Usually, a needle cover (not shown) is employed to maintain
the needle in a reasonably sterile condition, prior to use; when
the injector is ready for use, the needle cover is removed. The
outer tube 25 is then adjusted along slot 26 to provide the desired
length of needle exposure beyond the end portion 29 and the pipe
union 11 is retracted against the bias of the spring 22. The hammer
20 is then rotated until the hammer tip 20a rests under the shoulder
23 of the pipe union 11 and this will secure the injector in place
and ready for firing. The injector is then placed against the injection
site of the user's body, and fired by tripping the hammer end 20b.
This disengages the hammer end 20a from the shoulder 23 of the pipe
union 11 and causes the pipe union and attached syringe 31 and needle
32 to be thrust forwardly by the spring 27 until the hammer end
20a contacts the shoulder 24 of the stop nut 12. The needle is thereby
projected beyond the end portion 29 of the outer tube 25 to a preset
length, and into the user's body. The preset length is determined
by the projection distance between the two shoulders 23 and 24
and by the amount of extension of the outer tube 25 relative to
the inner tube 16.
The plunger is depressed to inject the desired amount of liquid,
the needle is withdrawn, and the syringe and needle are removed
by loosening the nut 12 and disengaging from the injector arms
13 14; finally, the syringe and needle are discarded.
The device of the present invention employs few components that
are large, sturdy, and will not deform (except possibly the spring),
even during extended use. Most importantly, the device does not
require the manufacture of a special associated type of syringe
device since the engaging arms 13 14 are sized to accommodate many
of the standard commercial syringes for self injection.
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