Abstract: A cartridge and nozzle assembly for use in a needless injection system is provided.

Abstract: A needle-less hypodermic jet injection device includes a hand-held injector, and a drug injection cartridge which provides a cylinder of liquid medication to be injected, an injection orifice, and an injection piston forceful movement of which in the cylinder causes an injection jet of medication to be expelled from the orifice. The injection device also includes a gas pressure capsule which powers the jet injection and which also automatically resets the injection device during an injection in order to prepare it for a subsequent injection. A multi-function component of the device is effective to place it in a safe condition allowing the device to be prepared for a next injection, and to place the device in a ready condition for allowing a jet injection to be conducted by use of the device.

Abstract: The present invention typically is in the form of a needleless injector which includes the following components: (1) a needleless syringe installed in the injector for holding medication prior to injection, the syringe including an injection aperture at the forward end thereof; (2) a syringe plunger slidably mounted to the rear end of the syringe for forcing medication out the syringe aperture; (3) a syringe plunger drive mechanism providing power to drive the syringe plunger and thereby force medication out of the syringe; and (4) a syringe drive control mechanism for controlling the operation of the drive mechanism, the drive control mechanism including a warning system which warns the user if a pre-injection condition is not met, an interlock system which prevents injection from taking place if the pre-injection condition is not met, and a sensing system which senses whether the pre-injection condition is not met and conveys a signal to the warning and interlock systems informing as to whether the pre-inje

Abstract: Liquid-transfer apparatus, and methodology employing the same, operatively interposable a syringe and a vial, and accommodating both a single-mouth-size (single-size), two-vial transfer procedure, and a two-mouth-size (two-size), two-vial transfer procedure. The apparatus includes a liquid-transfer device having a syringe-coupling end, a vial-coupling end, and liquid-passage structure effectively communicating between these ends. In the case of accommodating a single-mouth-size (single-size), two-vial procedure, only the liquid-transfer device is employed, and the same is sized with a vial-coupling end that is constructed for direct coupling to the top of the single-size vial which is used.

Abstract: An ampule filling device having an ampule for jet injection attached to a transfer apparatus having a housing, a barrier within the housing, and a push rod attached to the housing to drive the medication from a medication vial. Further, the ampule filling device is advantageously bulk sterilized during assembly, and, assembled and packaged in an aseptic manufacturing environment.

Abstract: A needleless injection device includes an initiator valve controlling flow of compressed gas into a reservoir. A poppet valve connecting to the reservoir has a gas pressure regulation end to regulate flow from the initiator valve into the reservoir. A clamp piston is driven forward by gas pressure from the reservoir and causes jaws to clamp onto a plunger extending into an ampule. The poppet valve opens when reservoir pressure reaches the cracking pressure of the poppet valve. Gas from the reservoir rushes through the poppet valve into a drive chamber and forces a drive piston, containing the clamp piston and jaws, forward causing the plunger to slide into the ampule. A jet of injectant is discharged from the nozzle of the ampule and penetrates through the patient's skin. An improved method of needleless injection uses a specific pressure profile, ampule nozzle diameter, patient, injection site, and injectant parameters.

Abstract: A needleless injection device has a housing containing a pilot valve connectable to a compressed gas source. A two stage power amplifying valve includes a main valve operatively connected to the pilot valve. The pilot valve and main valve form a two-stage valve with the pilot valve activatable to open the main valve utilizing gas pressure. Compressed gas in a reservoir flows through the open main valve to drive a plunger into an ampule to inject an injectant through a patient's skin. Interlocks are provided to resist inadvertent actuation of the device and a indicator indicates whether there is sufficient gas pressure in the device for another injection.

Abstract: A drug vial mixing and transfer device having a piercing connector or a syringe attached to the end of one or more ports with interconnecting fluid passageways. Further, the piercing connector is used to support and penetrate standard glass drug vials filled with powder or lyophilized drugs or liquid diluent, while the syringe is used to transfer liquid diluent and drug solutions between the vials and the syringe advantageously within a sealed system.

Abstract: A needleless injection device includes an initiator valve controlling flow of compressed gas into a reservoir. A poppet valve connecting to the reservoir has a gas pressure regulation end to regulate flow from the initiator valve into the reservoir. A clamp piston is driven forward by gas pressure from the reservoir and causes jaws to clamp onto a plunger extending into an ampule. The poppet valve opens when reservoir pressure reaches the cracking pressure of the poppet valve. Gas from the reservoir rushes through the poppet valve into a drive chamber and forces a drive piston, containing the clamp piston and jaws, forward causing the plunger to slide into the ampule. A jet of injectant is discharged from the nozzle of the ampule and penetrates through the patient's skin. An improved method of needleless injection uses a specific pressure profile, ampule nozzle diameter, patient, injection site, and injectant parameters.

Abstract: A needless injection device includes an initiator valve controlling flow of compressed gas into a reservoir. A poppet valve connecting to the reservoir has a gas pressure regulation end to regulate flow from the initiator valve into the reservoir. A clamp piston is driven forward by gas pressure from the reservoir and causes jaws to clamp onto a plunger extending into an ampule. The poppet valve opens when reservoir pressure reaches the cracking pressure of the poppet valve. Gas from the reservoir rushes through the popper valve into a drive chamber and forces a drive piston, containing the clamp piston and jaws, forward causing the plunger to slide into the ampule. A jet of injectant sprays out of the nozzle of the ampule and penetrates through the patient's skin.

Abstract: A method and mold for making an ampule for a needleless or jet injector device. The tip of a core pin is guided into a clearance hole sufficiently large to prevent the tip from hitting the mold cavity. Plastic is injected into the mold and flows into the space between the core pin tip and the clearance hole forming a vestigial nozzle pilot cylinder around and over the ampule nozzle. The ampule is removed from the mold and the vestigial nozzle pilot cylinder is removed to form a finished ampule. A core pin tip is made of drawn wire or is separately replaceable on the core pin. A nozzle of an ampule is cast in place. An ampule is molded with an enlarged nozzle and a separate orifice is installed in the ampule to provide the desired nozzle opening.

Abstract: A needleless injection device has a housing containing a pilot valve connectable to a compressed gas source. A two stage power amplifying valve includes a main valve operatively connected to the pilot valve. The pilot valve and main valve form a two-stage valve with the pilot valve activatable to open the main valve utilizing gas pressure. Compressed gas in a reservoir flows through the open main valve to drive a plunger into an ampule to inject an injectant through a patient's skin. Interlocks are provided to resist inadvertent actuation of the device and a indicator indicates whether there is sufficient gas pressure in the device for another injection. An ampule for needleless injection has a nozzle length to nozzle diameter ratio of from 2.0 to 5.0 and a throat cone flair angle of from 10-14 degrees.

Abstract: A needleless injection device has a housing containing a pilot valve connectable to a compressed gas source. A main valve is operatively connected to the pilot valve. The pilot valve and main valve form a two-stage valve with the pilot valve activatable to open the main valve utilizing gas pressure. Compressed gas in a reservoir flows through the open main valve to driven a plunger into an ampule to inject an injectant through a patient's skin.

Abstract: A pre-filled ampule and a powered, non-invasive injection device assembly wherein the device includes a housing having an ampule-receiving chamber, a gas charge, and means for delivering a predetermined amount of gas to an ampule-receiving chamber. The device includes an injection-counting ring which is received in a groove extending about the housing wherein the ring includes a counting mechanism thereon and is constructed to allow one-way only rotation thereof relative to the housing. The ampule includes an elongate ampule body having a medication holder located at one end thereof, a transfer area located adjacent the other end thereof and a bypass area located adjacent an end of the transfer area. A plunger is provided and has one end thereof received in and closing one end of the medication holder with the other end of the plunger being received in the ampule-receiving chamber of the injection device. A floating seal is received and encloses the other end of the medication holder.

Abstract: The assembly includes an injection device which includes a housing having an ampule-receiving chamber, a gas charge, and means for delivering a predetermined amount of gas to the ampule-receiving chamber. The device includes an injection-counting ring which is received in a groove extending about the housing wherein the ring includes a counting mechanism thereon and is constructed to allow one-way only rotation thereof relative to the housing. The patient-fillable ampule of the invention includes an ampule body having a plunger end and an orifice end, a medication retaining cavity and an elongate plunger which is received in one end of the cavity. An orifice-bearing end cap is fixed to the orifice end of the body. A truncated hypodermic needle is received in the end cap. A removable needle is provided for filling the ampule and allows use of the ampule as a conventional syringe.

Abstract: A non-invasive hypodermic injection device includes a two-stage gas delivery system and a medication containing ampule having a truncated hypodermic needle at one end thereof. An ampule shroud encloses the ampule and maintains separation between the truncated hypodermic needle on the ampule and the skin of a patient being injected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pressure-operated hypodermic injection apparatus which is particularly suitable for needleless operation. The apparatus includes an elongate shell having an inwardly facing wall with a uniform configuration along a defined length thereof, with the shell further defining a discharge aperture adjacent one end thereof. It further includes a plunger which is slideably disposed within the defined length of the shell, and which is shiftable between a ready position and a spent position, with the spent position being closer to the aperture than the ready position. With the plunger in its ready position, the shell and plunger collectively define an ampule chamber which is capable of containing a dischargeable medication. A pressurized-gas cartridge is mounted to the plunger to shift therewith, and has gas-releasing means which faces away from the discharge aperture. A body is further included which is sealingly and releasably joined to the other end of the shell.