Abstract: Either a pyrotechnic-powered needleless injector or (with spacer adapters) a conventional syringe is held in firmly abutting alignment with a dispensing orifice of a special storage vial. A flexible perforated seal forms a plug in the dispensing orifice, opens under liquid pressure to dispense medicament from vial to injector, and seals around the dispensing path between vial and injector against loss of the medicament. The liquid medicament is forced through the orifice under the action of a plunger forming one wall of the vial. The plunger in turn is driven by a micrometer-type screw whcih is calibrated in terms of dispensed volume.

Abstract: A self-contained disposable explosively actuated ampule for performing needleless percutaneous injection. The ampule comprises an outer shell enclosing an elongated inner chamber including a closed rear end containing a propellant charge, a tapered funnel-shaped forward end, and a scored sealing member hermetically sealing the chamber in the area of its funnel shaped end. A metered dose of fluid injectant is confined between the scored sealing member and a sealing plunger separating the injectant from the charge. The plunger is adapted for axial movement within the chamber and comprises a main body having sealing means thereabout which are compressed and tightened against the inner chamber wall, and having a tip portion projecting forwardly from the main body. Gas released at very high pressure by the charge drives the plunger in the chamber and pressurizes the fluid injectant, thereby causing the scored sealing member to rupture and enabling the fluid to be discharged from the chamber forward end.

Abstract: A pyrotechnically powered needleless injector for introducing predetermined quantities of medicaments interstitially through the skin. The injector includes a barrel formed to receive an ampul. An elongated disposable ampul, containing a quantity of a selected medicament and having an orifice at one end, a deflagatory gas-generating pyrotechnic charge at its other end, and a gas operated piston positioned between the charge and the medicament to eject the medicament through the orifice under high pressure upon detonation of the charge, is adapted to be inserted into and releasably secured in the barrel. The barrel is rotatably and slidably mounted to a housing containing a firing mechanism which is armed by relative motion of the barrel and housing. A triggering mechanism in the housing activates the firing mechanism to detonate the charge within the ampul.