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: 20020016571
    Abstract: The invention refers to a device for administering an injectable product in doses, comprising a casing, itself comprising: a reservoir for the product; a piston which forces product out of the reservoir when moved in a feed direction towards a reservoir outlet; a drive member (6); a driven member which is slaved by the drive member (6) when the drive member (6) is moved in the feed direction, so moving the piston in the feed direction; and a dosing member (15) which may be rotated about the sliding axis (V) of the drive member (6), to set the product dosage to be administered. The drive member (6) and the dosing member (15) abut each other via at least one dosage stopper (14, 18) each, one of which is provided on the drive member (6) and the other on the dosing member (15). At least one of these dosage stoppers (14, 18) at least partially encircles the sliding axis (V) of the drive member (6) in the form of a spiral.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Thomas Gurtner
  • Publication number: 20010051792
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for administering an injectable product in doses, comprising:
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Applicant: Disetronic Licensing AG. a Switzerland corporation
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Thomas Gurtner
  • Publication number: 20010049496
    Abstract: The present invention provides an auto-injection device including a housing, a container from which a product is dispensed by advancing a piston, the container shiftably accommodated by the housing and carrying a needle, and a drive unit including a driven member, wherein the driven member is shiftably accommodated by the housing and, during an auto-injection, is adapted for inserting the needle and advancing the container to a predetermined frontal position in relation to the housing and advancing the piston within the container for dispensing of the product, wherein the driven member remains uncoupled with the piston until the container reaches its frontal position, and upon the container reaching its frontal position, the driven member detaches from the container and couples with the piston for advancing the piston within the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Jurg Steck, Peter Hostettler, Stephan Jost
  • Publication number: 20010044847
    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 10, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Jurg Steck, Peter Hostettler, Stephen Jost, Hanspeter Heiniger
  • Publication number: 20010034507
    Abstract: The invention relates to an injection device for injecting a selectable dose of a liquid substance from an ampoule (2), located in an ampoule holder (1), comprising a piston (12) and a sleeve-shaped mechanism holder (3), mechanically coupled thereto, in the interior of which a longitudinally shiftable shaft (4) is provided which acts on the ampoule (2), the shaft (4) being surrounded by an also longitudinally shiftable advancing sleeve (5), mechanically coupled thereto, which in its upper end area is closed by a lid (7). For selecting a dose of the liquid substance to be injected, a dosing sleeve (6) with a stepped member (13) is provided, which is disposed on the mechanism holder (3) in its upper end area, the dose to be respectively administered being adjustable by a rotation of the dosing sleeve (6) with the stepped member (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Peter Michel, Birger Hjertman, Gustav Levander, Olle Ljungquist
  • Patent number: 6280421
    Abstract: The present invention provides an auto-injection device including a housing, a container from which a product is dispensed by advancing a piston, the container shiftably accommodated by the housing and carrying a needle, and a drive unit including a driven member, wherein the driven member is shiftably accommodated by the housing and, during an auto-injection, is adapted for inserting the needle and advancing the container to a predetermined frontal position in relation to the housing and advancing the piston within the container for dispensing of the product, wherein the driven member remains uncoupled with the piston until the container reaches its frontal position, and upon the container reaching its frontal position, the driven member detaches from the container and couples with the piston for advancing the piston within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Disetronic Licensing AG
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Jürg Steck, Peter Hostettler, Stephan Jost
  • Patent number: 6277101
    Abstract: An injection device for injecting a preselectable dose of a liquid substance from an ampoule (2) with a stopper (12) located in an ampoule-holder (1) has a sleeve-shaped mechanism holder (3) mechanically linked to the stopper (12) and containing a sliding rod (4) which acts on the ampoule (2). The sliding rod (4) is surrounded by a sliding sleeve (5) mechanically coupled to the ampoule (2) and closed at its upper end by a lid (7). A dosing sleeve (13) is provided with a stepped member (13) arranged at the upper end of the mechanism holder (3) to preselect the dose of liquid substance to be injected. The dose to be administered can be adjusted by turning the dosing sleeve (6) provided with the stepped member (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Disetronic Licensing AG
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Peter Michel, Birger Hjertman, Gustav Levander, Olle Ljungquist
  • Patent number: 6258068
    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: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Disetronic Licensing AG
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Jürg Steck, Peter Hostettler, Stephan Jost, Hanspeter Heiniger
  • Patent number: 6193698
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for locking a dosing button in a device for the administration of a product to be injected in predetermined doses. This device comprises a body (1) with a housing (2) for the product, wherein a selected dose for injection is transported from said body out of a container (3) through a transport member (4). This device also comprises a drive member (5,7) for the transport member (4) as well as a dosing button (9) coupled to the drive member (5, 7) which is mounted so as to be capable of sliding within the body (1). The button ensures the transport of the selected dose when it is displaced from a first position into a second by actuating the drive member (5, 7). The dose is selected in the first position by rotating the dosing button (9) so that is can be moved from a first rotation position indicating that no transport is possible into a second rotation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Disetronic Licensing AG
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Guido Hertig
  • Patent number: 6086567
    Abstract: The invention relates to an injection device for injecting a selectable dose of a liquid substance from an ampoule, located in an ampoule holder, comprising a piston and a sleeve-shaped mechanism holder, in the interior of which a longitudinally shiftable shaft is provided, the shaft being surrounded by an also longitudinally shiftable advancing sleeve coupled thereto. For selecting a dose of the liquid substance to be injected, a dosing sleeve with a stepped member is provided, the dose to be respectively administered being adjustable by a rotation of the dosing sleeve with the stepped member. The adjusted dose is readable via a dose imprint on the dosing sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Disetronic Licensing AG
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Peter Michel
  • Patent number: 5611786
    Abstract: A fastening mechanism for a needle system with the liquid system being a cartridge ampoule (4) and with a needle holder (3). The needle holder (3) is snapped onto the cartridge ampoule (4) or a cartridge ampoule holder containing the cartridge ampoule (4) by means of a snap-in closure means. The fastening mechanism of the invention allows sanitary application of injected medicines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Disetronic AG
    Inventors: Fritz Kirchhofer, Willy Michel
  • Patent number: 5370629
    Abstract: The invention concerns an injection device (1) receiving in exchangeable manner an ampoule (4) with a plunger (5) and an injection needle (6). It further comprises an actuation means (7) essentially consisting of an operating head (8), a drive element (11), a guide element (24) and an output member (9, 19) preferably in the form of a rod (9) and flange (19). The output member is non-rotatably affixed to the guide element (11) itself rigidly mounted inside the device (1) and seated by its own thread in an internal thread (27) of the drive element (11) which can be displaced axially and into rotation by the manual operating head (8). When rotating the operating head (8), the output member (9, 19) is advanced and in the process forces forward the plunger (5), the result being injection. The stationary guide element (24) of the disclosed device is located axially ahead of the axially displaceable drive element (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Medimpex Ets.
    Inventors: Peter Michel, Fritz Kirchhofer