Patents Assigned to Meridian Medical Technologies
  • Patent number: 6953445
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an automatic injection device containing a pre-loaded charge of medicament for automatically self-administering the medicament upon actuation thereof. The automatic injection device includes a housing assembly having an interior chamber, an activation assembly and a needle assembly for dispensing a dissolved medicament to a user. A dry compartment for storing a predetermined dry charge of dry medicament is located within the interior chamber. A wet compartment for storing a predetermined amount of liquid injection solution is also located within the interior chamber. A separation assembly separates the dry compartment from the wet compartment. The separation assembly prevents transfer of the liquid injection solution from the wet compartment to the dry compartment prior to activation of the automatic injection device. One or more medicament support assemblies located within the dry compartment prevent the passage of undissolved medicament from the dry compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Wilmot, Robert L. Hill, John Whittier
  • Patent number: 6770052
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an automatic injection device containing a pre-loaded charge of medicament for automatically self-administering the medicament upon actuation thereof. The automatic injection device includes a housing assembly having an interior chamber, a filter assembly, an activation assembly and a needle assembly. In accordance with the present invention, the interior chamber may include a dry compartment for storing a predetermined dry charge of dry medicament therein, and a wet compartment for storing a predetermined amount of liquid injection solution therein. The filter assembly enhances the laminar flow of fluid between the wet compartment to the dry compartment prior to the pressurization of the liquid injection solution within the wet compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Hill, John G. Wilmot, Steven Griffiths
  • Publication number: 20040138611
    Abstract: An automatic medicament injector having a compartment for a dry medicament component and a compartment for a wet medicament component. The two compartments are separated by a seal structure that has a plug that is moved from a sealing position into a mixing position when the device is activated. The seal structure includes a wiper that scrapes the interior walls in the dry component compartment to prevent the dry component from accumulating at the seal/glass interface. A tapered insert “funnels” the mixed medicament components to an attached needle assembly, but can be removed when the device is filled. A filter is provided between the medicament compartments and the needle assembly. A chamber between the filter and the needle assembly allows for better flow through the filter. An actuation assembly drives the plug into the mixing position and forces the mixed medicament through the needle and into the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: MERIDIAN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Steven M. Griffiths, Robert L. Hill, John G. Wilmot
  • Publication number: 20040097874
    Abstract: A separation assembly for a container for separating a first component from a second component is disclosed. The separation assembly includes a generally cylindrical body that is constructed and arranged to be slidably supported within a container between a liquid component and a dry component. The body includes a seal structure constructed and arranged within the container between the first component and the second component. The seal structure has an inner seal member wherein the inner seal member is initially in a sealing condition that maintains the first component sealed from the second component. The inner seal member being converted to a mixing condition in response to the predetermined operating condition such that the first component flows through at least one flow path in the seal structure to mix with the second component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: MERIDIAN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Griffiths, Robert L. Hill, John G. Wilmot
  • Patent number: 6702778
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an automatic injection device containing a pre-loaded charge of medicament for automatically self-administering the medicament upon actuation thereof. The automatic injection device includes a dry compartment located within a housing for storing a predetermined dry charge of the medicament therein, a wet compartment within the housing for storing a predetermined amount of liquid injection solution therein, an activation assembly for causing the liquid injection solution in the wet compartment to be transferred to the dry wet compartment, and at least one compression assembly for maintaining the medicament located in the dry compartment under a continuous compressive state as the liquid injection solution passes through the dry compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Leavitt Hill, Maria Cristina D'Erasmo, John G. Wilmot, Gerald L. Wannarka
  • Patent number: 6656150
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an automatic injection device containing a pre-loaded charge of medicament for automatically self-administering the medicament upon actuation thereof. The present invention is directed to an automatic injection device containing a pre-loaded charge of medicament for automatically self-administering the medicament upon actuation thereof. The injection device includes a housing assembly, a dry compartment located within the housing for storing a predetermined dry charge of dry medicament therein, and a wet compartment located within the housing for storing a predetermined amount of liquid injection solution therein. The injection device further includes an activation assembly that enables the pressurization of the liquid injection solution in the wet compartment. The activation assembly also enables the compression of the dry medicament within the dry compartment upon activation of the automatic injection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Hill, John G. Wilmot, Steven M Griffiths
  • Patent number: 6641561
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a drug delivery device. The device includes an interior chamber and a seal structure. In accordance with the present invention, the interior chamber may include a first, liquid medicament compartment and a second medicament compartment. The seal structure is conditionable to permit fluid to pass therethrough upon pressurization of the fluid. The seal structure preferably includes a sealing member which moves from a first sealed position into a second by-pass position upon pressurization of the liquid injection solution in the wet compartment of the housing assembly. Such by-pass movement of the sealing member enables the liquid injection solution to flow through the seal structure into the second ingredient compartment and mix for injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Hill, John G. Wilmot, Steven Griffiths
  • Publication number: 20030106824
    Abstract: A medicament container, medicament dispensing kit and packaging process that minimizes exposure of the medication to oxygen to prevent degradation of the medication are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Wilmot, C. Michael Mesa
  • Patent number: 6210369
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic injector having a drive assembly with an actuator extending from the rearward end portion of the housing and a removal resistant cover for preventing unintended operation of the actuator. The present invention also relates to a sealing arrangement wherein the needle is sealed within a sterilized needle chamber by at least three sealing members which cooperate to form the chamber. Also, the present invention relates to an injector in which the cartridge is mounted to a tubular cartridge mounting portion of the needle carrier with an annular sealing member disposed therebetween. The cartridge mounting portion has at least one generally axially extending groove which allows air to escape from the cartridge mounting portion as the cartridge is being moved forwardly to a medicament supplying position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Meridian Medical Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Wilmot, Jeffrey L. Goldberg, Jon Page, Cliff Ketcham, Jeffrey P. Castleberry, Jason Morton, Dave Edsall, Robert R. Boyd, Robert L. Hill
  • Patent number: 5868721
    Abstract: An injection device which includes a container constructed and arranged to contain a medicament, a medicament disposed within the container, a seal constructed and arranged to seal the medicament in the container, and a hypodermic needle. The hypodermic needle has a tubular, elongated, generally cylindrical wall defining an internal longitudinal bore extending longitudinally through the cylindrical wall along a longitudinal axis. The cylindrical wall forms a forward end defining a forward opening of the bore and a rearward end defining a rearward opening of the bore, the cylindrical wall having a laterally facing opening spaced closer to the rearward opening of the longitudinal bore than the forward opening of the longitudinal bore. The longitudinal bore is restricted at a position between the rearward opening and the laterally facing opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Meridian Medical Technologies
    Inventors: Robert A. Marinacci, William Robert Pearson, David Edward Spady, N. Lawrence Dalling
  • Patent number: 5716348
    Abstract: A hypodermic needle comprising a tubular, elongated, generally cylindrical wall defining an internal longitudinal bore extending longitudinally therethrough along a longitudinal axis, The longitudinal bore has forward and rearward openings. The cylindrical wall is constructed and arranged to form a forward pointed end and a rearward pointed end. The rearward pointed end is defined by an annular end surface forming the rearward end of said cylindrical wall. The rearward pointed end terminates in a rearwardmost point lying in an imaginary plane disposed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis. The annular rearward end surface defines an imaginary plane inclined with respect to the imaginary plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The cylindrical wall has a laterally facing opening spaced from the rearward opening of the longitudinal bore, and the longitudinal bore is restricted at a position between the rearward opening and the laterally facing opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Marinacci, William Robert Pearson, David Edward Spady, N. Lawrence Dalling
  • Patent number: 5713866
    Abstract: An automatic injector comprises a housing, a tubular cartridge disposed in the housing, the cartridge having a rearward portion thereof with a predetermined inner diameter and an inwardly extending shoulder connecting a forward portion of the cartridge with a smaller inner diameter than the predetermined diameter. A charge of liquid medicament is normally disposed in the cartridge, and a needle is disposed within the housing and adapted to communicate with the medicament through a forward end of the cartridge to dispense the medicament therethrough. A plunger disposed within the cartridge and rearwardly confines the medicament and has a rearward portion with a diameter sized to form a seal with the predetermined inner diameter of the rearward portion of the cartridge. The plunger is movable forwardly through the cartridge in slidingly sealed relation with respect thereto to displace the medicament through the needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John Glyndwr Wilmot
  • Patent number: 5658259
    Abstract: An injection device includes a generally tubular outer body and a medicament cartridge assembly carried within the outer body. The cartridge assembly includes a glass container, a charge of medicament disposed within the glass container, iii) a plunger member rearwardly confining the medicament, and iv) a seal for sealing the forward portion of the glass container. A needle has a rearward end disposed proximate the seal, with the seal and needle being movable with respect to one another. A rigid needle cover member is normally maintained in an inoperative position and is movable relative to said body to a protective position wherein the needle cover member extends forwardly to cover the forward end of the needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Pearson, David Edward Spady, Claudio Lopez, Hyung J. Lee, John G. Wilmot, N. Lawrence Dalling
  • Patent number: D506309
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Meridian Medical Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Young, Grant Smetham, John G. Wilmot, Gerald L. Wannarka
  • Patent number: RE35986
    Abstract: An automatic injector is provided having at least two chambers containing different ingredients of a medicament separated by .?.an impermeable membrane. A lance is movable independently of a plunger to cut or pierce the membrane before a spring-loaded drive member for the plunger is released to drive a needle out of the body of the injector and discharge the medicament through the needle. A removable safety clip is provided for preventing movement of art actuating cap into an operative position for advancing the lance, and release of the drive member is preventable by a removable safety pin until the injector is to be used..!. .Iadd.a sealing structure. One of the chambers has a needle disposed therein. The sealing structure is conditionable to permit the ingredients to mix in the injector in response to a predetermined actuating procedure before the ingredients are injected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Ritson, John G. Wilmot