Details for Patent: 7,297,136

Title:	Medicine injection devices and methods
Abstract:	A reloadable medicine injector and methods are described in which a barrel with a receiving cavity is adapted to slidably receive a syringe subassembly for axial movement therein. Upon removal of a safety and release of a syringe driver, the syringe driver moves forward and injects the syringe needle. A plurality of penetration controls are shown for controlling injection needle penetration depth. The penetration controls have an abutment and various lengths to provide different needle penetration depth positions. In one form of penetration control a sleeve is used against which the syringe or related parts contact. In another form the front return spring is used as a penetration control. A cushioning ring may be used to reduce syringe breakage. A load distribution and guide ring may be used to distribute loading applied to the syringe and help guide the moving syringe.
Inventor(s):	Wyrick; Ronald E. (Spokane, WA)
Assignee:
Filing Date:	Dec 06, 2004
Application Number:	11/006,382
Claims:	1. An apparatus forming a medicine injection device adapted for use by an individual in emergency or field conditions for injection of medicine through skin of a user in either an automatic mode of operation or a secondary manual mode of operation, comprising: a tubular barrel of suitable strength to maintain an elongated substantially rigid tubular configuration during use having a muzzle end with a needle receiving aperture; a syringe subassembly receiving cavity situated along the barrel adjacent the muzzle end, adapted to releasably and slidably receive a syringe subassembly for movement toward and away from the muzzle end with a needle of the syringe subassembly being capable of projection through the needle receiving aperture; a syringe subassembly held within the syringe subassembly receiving cavity and movable therein; a syringe driver connected to the barrel, and having a driver bar movable toward the muzzle end against the syringe subassembly and into the syringe subassembly receiving cavity to move the syringe subassembly for administration of medicine therefrom; a penetration controller mounted at the muzzle end of the barrel and having a syringe subassembly abutment spaced from the muzzle end to achieve a desired needle penetration depth position; said penetration controller including a front spring that maintains the syringe subassembly in a retracted position within the tubular barrel such that the needle of the syringe subassembly is within the barrel unless the syringe driver is activated to extend the needle of the syringe subassembly projecting it through the needle receiving aperture; a detachable nose cap at the muzzle end of the barrel which allows a user to gain access to the syringe subassembly for the administration of a second or subsequent dose if needed by a user, wherein said detachable nose cap and penetration controller with front spring are connected to form a cap and penetration control assembly which can be removed by release of the detachable nose cap; wherein the penetration controller includes at least one penetration control sleeve which is connected to the nose cap with at least portions of the front spring therebetween. 2. An apparatus forming a medicine injection device adapted for use by an individual in emergency or field conditions for injection of medicine through skin of a user in either an automatic mode of operation or a secondary manual mode of operation, comprising: a tubular barrel of suitable strength to maintain an elongated substantially rigid tubular configuration during use having a muzzle end with a needle receiving aperture; a syringe subassembly receiving cavity situated along the barrel adjacent the muzzle end, adapted to releasably and slidably receive a syringe subassembly for movement toward and away from the muzzle end with a needle of the syringe subassembly being capable of projection through the needle receiving aperture; a syringe subassembly held within the syringe subassembly receiving cavity and movable therein; a syringe driver connected to the barrel, and having a driver bar movable toward the muzzle end against the syringe subassembly and into the syringe subassembly receiving cavity to move the syringe subassembly for administration of medicine therefrom; a penetration controller mounted at the muzzle end of the barrel and having a syringe subassembly abutment spaced from the muzzle end to achieve a desired needle penetration depth position; said penetration controller including a front spring that maintains the syringe subassembly in a retracted position within the tubular barrel such that the needle of the syringe subassembly is within the barrel unless the syringe driver is activated to extend the needle of the syringe subassembly projecting it through the needle receiving aperture; a detachable nose cap at the muzzle end of the barrel which allows a user to gain access to the syringe subassembly for the administration of a second or subsequent dose if needed by a user, wherein said detachable nose cap and penetration controller with front spring are connected to form a cap and penetration control assembly which can be removed by release of the detachable nose cap; wherein the penetration controller includes a penetration control sleeve with at least one flange having at least one lobe which engages with features of the nose cap to help maintain connection of said cap and penetration control assembly. 3. An apparatus forming a medicine injection device adapted for use by an individual in emergency or field conditions for injection of medicine through skin of a user in either an automatic mode of operation or a secondary manual mode of operation, comprising: a tubular barrel of suitable strength to maintain an elongated substantially rigid tubular configuration during use having a muzzle end with a needle receiving aperture; a syringe subassembly receiving cavity situated along the barrel adjacent the muzzle end, adapted to releasably and slidably receive a syringe subassembly for movement toward and away from the muzzle end with a needle of the syringe subassembly being capable of projection through the needle receiving aperture; a syringe subassembly held within the syringe subassembly receiving cavity and movable therein; a syringe driver connected to the barrel, and having a driver bar movable toward the muzzle end against the syringe subassembly and into the syringe subassembly receiving cavity to move the syringe subassembly for administration of medicine therefrom; a penetration controller mounted at the muzzle end of the barrel and having a syringe subassembly abutment spaced from the muzzle end to achieve a desired needle penetration depth position; said penetration controller including a front spring that maintains the syringe subassembly in a retracted position within the tubular barrel such that the needle of the syringe subassembly is within the barrel unless the syringe driver is activated to extend the needle of the syringe subassembly projecting it through the needle receiving aperture; a detachable nose cap at the muzzle end of the barrel which allows a user to gain access to the syringe subassembly for the administration of a second or subsequent dose if needed by a user, wherein said detachable nose cap and penetration controller with front spring are connected to form a can and penetration control assembly which can be removed by release of the detachable nose cap; wherein the penetration controller includes a penetration control sleeve with a flange having lobes which engage with features of the nose cap to help maintain connection of said cap and penetration control assembly. 4. An apparatus forming a medicine injection device adapted for use by an individual in emergency or field conditions for injection of medicine through skin of a user in either an automatic mode of operation or a secondary manual mode of operation, comprising: a tubular barrel of suitable strength to maintain an elongated substantially rigid tubular configuration during use having a muzzle end with a needle receiving aperture; a syringe subassembly receiving cavity situated along the barrel adjacent the muzzle end, adapted to releasably and slidably receive a syringe subassembly for movement toward and away from the muzzle end with a needle of the syringe subassembly being capable of projection through the needle receiving aperture; a syringe subassembly held within the syringe subassembly receiving cavity and movable therein; a syringe driver connected to the barrel, and having a driver bar movable toward the muzzle end against the syringe subassembly and into the syringe subassembly receiving cavity to move the syringe subassembly for administration of medicine therefrom; a penetration controller mounted at the muzzle end of the barrel and having a syringe subassembly abutment spaced from the muzzle end to achieve a desired needle penetration depth position; said penetration controller including a front spring that maintains the syringe subassembly in a retracted position within the tubular barrel such that the needle of the syringe subassembly is within the barrel unless the syringe driver is activated to extend the needle of the syringe subassembly projecting it through the needle receiving aperture; a detachable nose cap at the muzzle end of the barrel which allows a user to gain access to the syringe subassembly for the administration of a second or subsequent dose if needed by a user, wherein said detachable nose cap and penetration controller with front spring are connected to form a can and penetration control assembly which can be removed by release of the detachable nose cap; wherein the penetration controller includes a penetration control sleeve with a flange having lobes which engage with thread features of the nose cap to help maintain connection of said cap and penetration control assembly. 5. An apparatus forming a medicine injection device adapted for use by an individual in emergency or field conditions for injection of medicine through skin of a user in either an automatic mode of operation or a secondary manual mode of operation, comprising: a tubular barrel of suitable strength to maintain an elongated substantially rigid tubular configuration during use having a muzzle end with a needle receiving aperture; a syringe subassembly receiving cavity situated along the barrel adjacent the muzzle end, adapted to releasably and slidably receive a syringe subassembly for movement toward and away from the muzzle end with a needle of the syringe subassembly being capable of projection through the needle receiving aperture; a syringe subassembly held within the syringe subassembly receiving cavity and movable therein; a syringe driver connected to the barrel, and having a driver bar movable toward the muzzle end against the syringe subassembly and into the syringe subassembly receiving cavity to move the syringe subassembly for administration of medicine therefrom; a penetration controller mounted at the muzzle end of the barrel and having a syringe subassembly abutment spaced from the muzzle end to achieve a desired needle penetration depth position; said penetration controller including a front spring that maintains the syringe subassembly in a retracted position within the tubular barrel such that the needle of the syringe subassembly is within the barrel unless the syringe driver is activated to extend the needle of the syringe subassembly projecting it through the needle receiving aperture; a detachable nose cap at the muzzle end of the barrel which allows a user to gain access to the syringe subassembly for the administration of a second or subsequent dose if needed by a user, wherein said detachable nose cap and penetration controller with front spring are connected to form a cap and penetration control assembly which can be removed by release of the detachable nose cap; wherein the penetration controller includes a penetration control sleeve with at least one lobe that engages in the detachable nose cap. 6. An apparatus forming a medicine injection device adapted for use by an individual in emergency or field conditions for injection of medicine through skin of a user in either an automatic mode of operation or a secondary manual mode of operation, comprising: a tubular barrel of suitable strength to maintain an elongated substantially rigid tubular configuration during use having a muzzle end with a needle receiving aperture; a syringe subassembly receiving cavity situated along the barrel adjacent the muzzle end, adapted to releasably and slidably receive a syringe subassembly for movement toward and away from the muzzle end with a needle of the syringe subassembly being capable of projection through the needle receiving aperture; a syringe subassembly held within the syringe subassembly receiving cavity and movable therein; a syringe driver connected to the barrel, and having a driver bar movable toward the muzzle end against the syringe subassembly and into the syringe subassembly receiving cavity to move the syringe subassembly for administration of medicine therefrom; a penetration controller mounted at the muzzle end of the barrel and having a syringe subassembly abutment spaced from the muzzle end to achieve a desired needle penetration depth position; said penetration controller including a front spring that maintains the syringe subassembly in a retracted position within the tubular barrel such that the needle of the syringe subassembly is within the barrel unless the syringe driver is activated to extend the needle of the syringe subassembly projecting it through the needle receiving aperture; a detachable nose cap at the muzzle end of the barrel which allows a user to gain access to the syringe subassembly for the administration of a second or subsequent dose if needed by a user, wherein said detachable nose cap and penetration controller with front spring are connected to form a cap and penetration control assembly which can be removed by release of the detachable nose cap; wherein the penetration controller includes a penetration control sleeve with a flange and a spring that having at least one enlarged end winding that is positioned between the flange and the detachable nose cap.