Patents by Inventor Fritz Kirchhofer
Fritz Kirchhofer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7789858Abstract: An administering device for a fluid product includes a product receptacle that accommodates the product to be administered, a fluid reservoir for a driving fluid, a driving means, a product chamber, and a fluid connection. The product receptacle includes an opening at a forward end and a product stopper at a rear end. The driving means acts upon the fluid reservoir, the pressure chamber adjoins the product stopper while the fluid connection is located between the fluid reservoir and the pressure chamber, and the driving means acts upon the fluid reservoir in such a way that the pressure chamber is impinged upon by pressure which affects the product stopper and the product is discharged from the product receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2007Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AGInventor: Fritz Kirchhofer
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Patent number: 7749200Abstract: An administering apparatus for administering a fluid product, including a casing, a reservoir for the product, a driven device which acts on the product contained in the reservoir to deliver the product, and a drive device which acts on the driven device and performs a delivery stroke in a drive direction from a delivery position up to a delivery stopper to deliver a product dosage to be administered, wherein a priming stopper is provided for the drive device and limits a priming stroke of the drive device, which serves to bleed, in the drive direction, wherein the priming stroke is axially shorter than a maximum delivery stroke, and wherein the drive device can be moved in the drive direction from a priming position up to the priming stopper and transversely to the drive direction as far as the delivery position.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2005Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AGInventors: Roney Graf, Fritz Kirchhofer
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Patent number: 7727202Abstract: A piston stopper for a medicine injector, wherein the stopper has a stopper body with a mesh section and at least one sealing element positioned at least partly around the circumference of the stopper body, wherein at least one of the sealing element and mesh section is connected to the stopper body in a material bond. A method for manufacturing such a piston stopper is encompassed.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2002Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AGInventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Michel Hirsiger, Frank Schiffmann, Hanspeter Stoller
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Patent number: 7727201Abstract: A device for the dosed administration of an injectable product, including a housing with a receptacle for the product and a drive mechanism movable via a dosing element supported displaceably in the housing, wherein the drive mechanism includes engagement elements situated together in groups, the distance between the groups corresponding to a dosing amount of the injectable product and the distance between the engagement elements corresponding to a priming amount of the injectable product, and wherein the dosing element is coupled to the drive mechanism so that the dosing element at one time interacts with a group of engagement elements to administer the dosing amount and at another time interacts with an engagement element to release the priming amount.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2005Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AGInventor: Fritz Kirchhofer
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Patent number: 7699816Abstract: A device for administering metered doses of an injectable product, including a housing, a drive member with a plunger, a drive button which, when displaced, moves the drive member relative to the housing, and at least one delaying member, which can be moved from a first position into a second position by displacing the drive button relative to the drive member in the longitudinal direction of the device, the drive member remaining stationary relative to the housing, whereby the at least one delaying member establishes a contact with the drive member in the first or second position so that when the drive button is displaced, the drive member can be moved in the forward direction before or after the at least one delaying member is moved relative to the drive member.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2005Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AGInventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Eugen Bucher
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Patent number: 7686782Abstract: A multi-chamber ampoule including a housing with a longitudinal axis, at least one bypass operably associated with the housing, at least one front and one rear piston both of which can engage with the housing in a sealing manner outside the vicinity of the bypass and both of which may be displaced along the longitudinal axis, wherein the rear piston includes at least one material which can project into the bypass when the rear piston is in the region of the bypass.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2007Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AGInventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Christoph Rindlisbacher
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Patent number: 7628773Abstract: A product dispensing apparatus including a reservoir module, a dosing module and a dose setting member. The reservoir module includes a front casing section, a block, a first connector, a piston, and a piston rod moveable in a dispensing movement and against the dispensing movement, and including a return block engageable with the block, wherein engagement between the block and the return block prevents the piston rod from moving against the dispensing movement. The dosing module includes a rear casing section, including a second connector which is engageable with the first connector to form a detachable connection between the reservoir module and the dosing module, and a dosing and drive device. The dose setting member engages the piston rod such that it is moveable together with and in the same direction as the piston rod during the dispensing movement and is moveable relative to the piston rod against the dispensing movement.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2004Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AGInventors: Roney Graf, Fritz Kirchhofer
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Publication number: 20090240212Abstract: A device for connecting an injection needle to an injection apparatus, wherein the device provides a plurality of possible points of contact in at least two planes, and wherein the points of contact have associated spring forces for acting generally perpendicularly on the injection apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2009Publication date: September 24, 2009Inventors: Gian-Carlo Covino, Patrick Fiechter, Fritz Kirchhofer, Hans-Ulrich Lehmann, Daniel Scheidegger, Stefan West
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Publication number: 20090198195Abstract: An administering apparatus including a casing, a reservoir, a piston accommodated in the reservoir such that it can be shifted in an advancing direction, a piston rod which acts on the piston in the advancing direction and forms a first locking mechanism, a second locking mechanism which cannot be moved counter to the advancing direction, a lock element row formed by successively arranged first locking elements, extending in the advancing direction, and formed by one of the locking mechanisms, and a second lock element formed by the other locking mechanism and engaged with the lock element row, wherein it engages with a lock element gap of the lock element row, wherein the second lock element is moved out of engagement by a movement, against an elasticity force, of the piston rod in the advancing direction, but, when engaged, counteracts a movement of the piston rod counter to the advancing direction with a resistance force greater than the elasticity force to prevent the piston rod from moving counter to theType: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2008Publication date: August 6, 2009Inventors: Thomas Gurtner, Fritz Kirchhofer
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Publication number: 20090099524Abstract: A device for administering a substance, e.g. a medicament or a therapeutic agent, at a controllable administration rate, wherein the device includes a housing with a drive receptacle area for a drive unit, a substance receiving region to hold a substance container and an arrangement for hydraulic power transmission, which does not contribute to controlling the administration rate, located between the drive receptacle area and the substance receiving region, whereby the administration rate is controlled exclusively by the drive unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2008Publication date: April 16, 2009Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Jurg Clavadetscher
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Patent number: 7470260Abstract: An administering apparatus including a casing, a reservoir, a piston accommodated in the reservoir such that it can be shifted in an advancing direction, a piston rod which acts on the piston in the advancing direction and forms a first locking mechanism, a second locking mechanism which cannot be moved counter to the advancing direction, a lock element row formed by successively arranged first locking elements, extending in the advancing direction, and formed by one of the locking mechanisms, and a second lock element formed by the other locking mechanism and engaged with the lock element row, wherein it engages with a lock element gap of the lock element row, wherein the second lock element is moved out of engagement by a movement, against an elasticity force, of the piston rod in the advancing direction, but, when engaged, counteracts a movement of the piston rod counter to the advancing direction with a resistance force greater than the elasticity force to prevent the piston rod from moving counter to theType: GrantFiled: January 13, 2005Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AGInventors: Thomas Gurtner, Fritz Kirchhofer
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Publication number: 20080195057Abstract: An administering apparatus for delivering a dosage of product including a casing with a reservoir for the product, a piston within the reservoir to deliver the product, a piston rod for engaging the piston, a drive device for driving the piston rod, and a dosage setting member mechanically engaging the piston rod and a stopper for the dosage setting member. The casing includes a front casing section containing a reservoir for the product and a rear casing section detachably connected to the front casing section. The front casing section is connected to or forms a first latching element, and the rear casing section is connected to or forms a second latching element. The latching elements are in latching engagement when the casing sections are connected. The casing sections may be axially fixed to one another by the latching engagement.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2008Publication date: August 14, 2008Applicant: TecPharma Licensing AGInventors: Roney Graf, Fritz Kirchhofer
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Publication number: 20080195051Abstract: An administering apparatus for delivering a dosage of product including a casing with a reservoir for the product, a piston within the reservoir to deliver the product, a piston rod for engaging the piston, a drive device for driving the piston rod, and a dosage setting member mechanically engaging the piston rod and a stopper for the dosage setting member. The casing includes a front casing section containing a reservoir for the product and a rear casing section detachably connected to the front casing section. The front casing section is connected to or forms a first latching element, and the rear casing section is connected to or forms a second latching element. The latching elements are in latching engagement when the casing sections are connected. The casing sections may be axially fixed to one another by the latching engagement.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2008Publication date: August 14, 2008Applicant: TecPharma Licensing AGInventors: Roney Graf, Fritz Kirchhofer
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Publication number: 20080132840Abstract: An administering device for a fluid product includes a product receptacle that accommodates the product to be administered, a fluid reservoir for a driving fluid, a driving means, a product chamber, and a fluid connection. The product receptacle includes an opening at a forward end and a product stopper at a rear end. The driving means acts upon the fluid reservoir, the pressure chamber adjoins the product stopper while the fluid connection is located between the fluid reservoir and the pressure chamber, and the driving means acts upon the fluid reservoir in such a way that the pressure chamber is impinged upon by pressure which affects the product stopper and the product is discharged from the product receptacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2007Publication date: June 5, 2008Inventor: Fritz Kirchhofer
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Publication number: 20080125727Abstract: An apparatus for the administration of a medicine, the apparatus including a hydraulic passage and a porous element, in some embodiments, a membrane, in the hydraulic passage, wherein the rate of administration is controlled, adjusted or selected by determining the rate of flow or delivering a component of an impulse pressure of a hydraulic fluid flowing through the passage and porous element. In some embodiments, different porous elements, a porous element having portions of varied permeability or a cover for covering all or a portion of the porous element may be used for selectively controlling or varying the rate of flow and, thereby, the rate of administration of the medicine.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2007Publication date: May 29, 2008Inventors: Alexander Seibold, Fritz Kirchhofer
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Patent number: 7377912Abstract: An administering apparatus for delivering a dosage of product including a casing with a reservoir for the product, a piston within the reservoir to deliver the product, a piston rod for engaging the piston, a drive device for driving the piston rod, and a dosage setting member mechanically engaging the piston rod and a stopper for the dosage setting member. The casing includes a front casing section containing a reservoir for the product and a rear casing section detachably connected to the front casing section. The front casing section is connected to or forms a first latching element, and the rear casing section is connected to or forms a second latching element. The latching elements are in latching engagement when the casing sections are connected. The casing sections may be axially fixed to one another by the latching engagement.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2004Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AGInventors: Roney Graf, Fritz Kirchhofer
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Publication number: 20080119796Abstract: A product dispensing apparatus including a reservoir module, a dosing module and a dose setting member. The reservoir module includes a front casing section, a block, a first connector, a piston, and a piston rod moveable in a dispensing movement and against the dispensing movement, and including a return block engageable with the block, wherein engagement between the block and the return block prevents the piston rod from moving against the dispensing movement. The dosing module includes a rear casing section, including a second connector which is engageable with the first connector to form a detachable connection between the reservoir module and the dosing module, and a dosing and drive device. The dose setting member engages the piston rod such that it is moveable together with and in the same direction as the piston rod during the dispensing movement and is moveable relative to the piston rod against the dispensing movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2008Publication date: May 22, 2008Inventors: Roney Graf, Fritz Kirchhofer
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Patent number: 7374558Abstract: An injection device including a sterile injection needle, the injection device including a container for an injectable product including an outlet for the product at a front end sealed by a membrane, the injection needle, which has a front needle portion facing away from the container for injecting into tissue and a rear needle portion which, in an initial state of the injection device lies opposite and faces the membrane and which is injected through the membrane into the container for an injection, a needle support which holds the injection needle in a central needle portion, and a casing which supports the needle support and the container and movably guides them relative to each other for piercing the membrane, wherein, in the initial state of the injection device, the needle support forms a sterile chamber for the rear needle portion, the chamber sealed by a sealing element on a rear side of the chamber facing the outlet of the container, and wherein the front end of the container for piercing the membranType: GrantFiled: January 30, 2003Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: TechPharma Licensing AGInventor: Fritz Kirchhofer
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Publication number: 20080103435Abstract: An administering apparatus with a dosage display, including a casing, a reservoir for a fluid product, a driven device which acts on the product, a dosing means for selecting a product dosage to be delivered which includes a dosage scale including a number of dosage marks axially spaced from each other, and a drive device coupled to the driven device for driving the driven device, the drive device performing a delivery stroke from an initial position, in a drive direction, to a delivery stopper, the length of the delivery stroke counter to the drive direction being limited by selecting the product dosage using the dosing means, wherein the casing is transparent at least in an area overlapping the dosage scale, and wherein the drive device forms an indicator to the dosage scale in order to indicate the initial position of the drive device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2008Publication date: May 1, 2008Inventors: Roney Graf, Fritz Kirchhofer
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Patent number: 7357791Abstract: The invention provides a injection device for administering an injectable product, including a base section adapted to receive a container from which a product dose is dispensed through a needle by displacement of a piston in the container, and a drive unit including a driven member, a drive element and a damping arrangement, the drive unit for applying a force to advance the piston in the container to dispense a dose, wherein the damping arrangement generally counteracts the drive force and counter forces. The invention also encompasses a needle safety sleeve and a blocking structure for use with injection devices.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2006Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AGInventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Jürg Steck, Peter Hostettler, Stephan Jost, Hanspeter Heiniger