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).

  • Publication number: 20080077095
    Abstract: A device for administering a product dose, the device including a display drum for displaying a product dose, a housing, a first conveying member moveable relative to the housing in a conveying direction, a second conveying member moveable relative to the housing in and counter to the conveying direction, the second conveying member in a first threaded engagement with the first conveying member while being rotationally movable relative to the housing and the first conveying member and being translationally movable relative to the first conveying member counter to the conveying direction, a metering apparatus by which a product dose can be adjusted and which encompasses the display drum, the display drum being rotationally movable relative to the housing while being translationally movable in and counter to the conveying direction in a second threaded engagement, and a coupling element which interconnects the first conveying member and the display drum in a torsion-resistant manner in a coupling engagement whi
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventor: Fritz Kirchhofer
  • Publication number: 20080021397
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Jurg Steck, Peter Hostettler, Stephan Jost, Hanspeter Heiniger
  • Publication number: 20080021410
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Jurg Steck, Peter Hostettler, Stephan Jost, Hanspeter Heiniger
  • Patent number: 7316670
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG
    Inventors: Roney Graf, Fritz Kirchhofer
  • Patent number: 7309327
    Abstract: An administering apparatus for delivering a dosage of product including a casing with a reservoir for the product, a conveying device, a dosage setting member mechanically coupled to the conveying device and a stopper for the dosage setting member. The conveying device is formed by a driven device and a drive device. The driven device, a piston rod in one embodiment, is mounted by the casing such that it performs a delivery movement in the form of a delivery stroke in an advancing direction along a translational axis to deliver a product dosage selected using the dosage setting member. The delivery movement of the driven device is effected with the drive device, the drive device and the driven device being coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Michael Schaer
  • Publication number: 20070276341
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Roney Graf, Fritz Kirchhofer
  • Publication number: 20070270762
    Abstract: An administering apparatus including a rotational block which, in the end position of the dosage setting member, permits the rotational dosing movement in a first rotational direction and blocks the rotational dosing movement in a second rotational direction, wherein the rotational block comprises at least one first rotational stopper and at least one second rotational stopper, the first rotational stopper and the second rotational stopper abutting against one another in the end position of the dosage setting member, wherein the at least one first rotational stopper is secured against rotating by the dosage setting member and the at least one second rotational stopper is secured against rotating by the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Michael Schaer
  • Publication number: 20070270761
    Abstract: A reservoir module for an administering apparatus, the reservoir module including a rotational block which permits the rotational dosing movement in a first rotational direction and blocks the rotational dosing movement in a second rotational direction, wherein the rotational block includes at least one first rotational stopper and at least one second rotational stopper, the first rotational stopper and the second rotational stopper abut against one another in the end position of the dosage setting member, wherein the dosage setting member is moved away from the translational stopper by the permitted rotational dosing movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Michael Schaer
  • Publication number: 20070270739
    Abstract: A mixing device for an injectable product including a casing, an ampoule including at least a first chamber containing a first product component and at least a second chamber containing a second product component, and a drive mechanism which drives a stopper in the ampoule relative to the casing using a translational movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Christoph Rindlisbacher
  • Publication number: 20070233009
    Abstract: An administering apparatus for administering a fluid product, the apparatus including a casing comprising a reservoir for the product, a driven device which acts on the product contained in the reservoir to deliver the product, a drive device which acts on the driven device, a moveable actuating device coupled to the drive device, the actuating device having at least two different initial positions from which it is moved to actuate the delivery of the fluid product, a restoring device which moves the actuating device, after its movement from one initial position, back to the other initial position, wherein the administering apparatus is formed such that different amounts of delivered fluid are assigned to the movement of the actuating device from the different initial positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventor: Fritz Kirchhofer
  • Publication number: 20070167908
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Christoph Rindlisbacher
  • Publication number: 20070100292
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Jurg Steck, Peter Hostettler, Stephan Jost, Hanspeter Heiniger
  • Patent number: 7169133
    Abstract: An injection device including a housing, a reservoir for a product to be injected, an advancing apparatus that carries out an advancing movement to discharge a selected dose of product from the reservoir, a dosing member that carries out a propulsion movement relative to the housing in a propulsion direction and a dosing movement counter to the propulsion direction, the dosing member operably coupled with the advancing apparatus such that the propulsion movement causes the advancing movement of the advancing apparatus, wherein the length of a distance determining the discharged dose is selected by the dosing movement, a first catch mechanism formed by the housing in a sleeve section that surrounds the dosing member, and a second catch mechanism formed by one of the dosing member or a separate, additional dosing catch body, wherein a catch engagement of the catch mechanisms is releasable through a rotation free dosing movement of the dosing member or the separate, additional dosing catch body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG
    Inventors: Lorenz Broennimann, Fritz Kirchhofer
  • Publication number: 20060258989
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Inventor: Fritz Kirchhofer
  • Patent number: 7128728
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Tecpharma Licensing AG
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Jürg Steck, Peter Hostettler, Stephan Jost, Hanspeter Heiniger
  • Publication number: 20060224123
    Abstract: A device for administering a substance including a measuring mechanism for measuring, without contact, a position, the measuring involving at least two elements of the device, at least one of the elements moveable with respect to the other, the measuring mechanism including at least two optical sensors for sensing a relative movement between the elements, the relative movement providing a profile trajectory. The present invention encompasses a method for measuring, without contact, a relative position between elements or structures which can be moved relative to each other, wherein sensors sense and/or record a profile trajectory associated with the elements or structures when one element is moved relative to another element, the trajectory processed to determine the position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Inventors: Kurt Friedli, Ulrich Haueter, Fritz Kirchhofer
  • Publication number: 20050222540
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Eugen Bucher
  • Publication number: 20050177115
    Abstract: An injection device including a housing, a reservoir for a product to be injected, an advancing apparatus that carries out an advancing movement to discharge a selected dose of product from the reservoir, a dosing member that carries out a propulsion movement relative to the housing in a propulsion direction and a dosing movement counter to the propulsion direction, the dosing member operably coupled with the advancing apparatus such that the propulsion movement causes the advancing movement of the advancing apparatus, wherein the length of a distance determining the discharged dose is selected by the dosing movement, a first catch mechanism formed by the housing in a sleeve section that surrounds the dosing member, and a second catch mechanism formed by one of the dosing member or a separate, additional dosing catch body, wherein a catch engagement of the catch mechanisms is releasable through a rotation free dosing movement of the dosing member or the separate, additional dosing catch body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: Lorenz Broennimann, Fritz Kirchhofer
  • Publication number: 20050154351
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Roney Graf, Fritz Kirchhofer
  • Publication number: 20050154352
    Abstract: 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 the
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Gurtner, Fritz Kirchhofer