Apparatus for needle-less injection with a degassed fluid

Abstract

A needle-less injector suitable for injecting fluid through a surface includes a housing, a driver, an engine and a trigger. The housing contains a fluid and the engine contains a compressed gas. Upon application of sufficient force to the trigger, the compressed gas is released from the engine forcing the driver through the interior of the housing, expelling the liquid from the housing at a speed sufficient to pierce an injection surface. In one embodiment, the needle-less injector includes a mechanism for mitigating the kickback associated with releasing compressed gas from the engine. In another embodiment, the housing includes finger rests that provide stability and resistance to activate the device. In another embodiment, the engine is fitted with a reusable valve. In another embodiment, a safety clamp is included on the housing, preventing accidental activation of the device.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A needle-less injector suitable for injecting a fluid through a surface, said needle-less injector comprising: 
 a housing containing the fluid, said housing further containing at least one orifice;    at least one latch retainer mechanism disposed on the exterior of said housing;    an engine fitted within said housing, said engine further containing a gas;    a driver that forces said fluid out of said housing, said driver being slidably disposed within said housing;    a trigger coupled to said housing; and    at least one retainer hook mechanism disposed on said trigger, said at least one retainer hook mechanism being aligned to interact with said latch retainer mechanism.    
     
     
         2 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said at least one retainer hook mechanism and said at least one latch retainer mechanism operably interact allowing said trigger to only move axially in the direction of said at least one orifice.  
     
     
         3 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 1 , said engine further comprising a valve.  
     
     
         4 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 3 , said needle-less injector further comprising a diffuser affixed to said housing, said diffuser having disposed therein at least one channel, and said valve comprising: 
 a valve stem having a circular ridge;    a valve head affixed to said valve stem and said circular ridge;    a valve stem guide affixed to said engine; and    a spring having a first end resting against said circular ridge and a second end resting against said valve stem guide.    
     
     
         5 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said valve opens upon depression of said trigger.  
     
     
         6 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 1 , said driver comprising: 
 a piston; and    a plunger.    
     
     
         7 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein 
 said plunger is symmetrical; and    said plunger forms a substantially airtight seal with said housing.    
     
     
         8 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 6 , said plunger comprising: 
 a conical front end;    a conical back end; and    a cylindrical body.    
     
     
         9 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 8 , said plunger further comprising at least one ridge surrounding said cylindrical body.  
     
     
         10 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 6 , said piston comprising an expansion cup.  
     
     
         11 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an ampoule cap removably attached to said housing, wherein said ampoule cap forms an airtight seal over said orifice of said housing.  
     
     
         12 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 1 , said housing further comprising an exhaust passage.  
     
     
         13 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 1 , said trigger further comprising an end with a non-slip surface.  
     
     
         14 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 4 , said diffuser further comprising a locking ring and said engine further comprising at least one grip.  
     
     
         15 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a safety clamp removably attached to said housing, wherein said safety claim prevents said trigger from moving relative to said housing in the axial direction of said at least one orifice.  
     
     
         16 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 1 , said housing further comprising at least one finger rest.  
     
     
         17 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 1 , said housing further comprising two finger rests disposed opposite one another, said finger rests further comprising a non-slip surface.  
     
     
         18 . A needle-less injector suitable for injecting a fluid through a surface, said needle-less injector comprising: 
 a housing containing the fluid, said housing further containing at least one orifice;    an engine fitted within said housing, said engine further containing a gas;    a driver that forces said fluid out of said housing, said driver being slidably disposed within said housing;    a trigger coupled to said housing; and    a valve attached to said engine;    wherein depression of said trigger causes said valve to open; and    wherein said valve can survive being repeatedly opened.    
     
     
         19 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 18 , said valve comprising: 
 a valve stem having a circular ridge;    a valve head affixed to said valve stem and said circular ridge;    a valve stem guide affixed to said engine; and    a spring having a first end resting against said circular ridge and a second end resting against said valve stem guide.    
     
     
         20 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 18 , said needle-less injector further comprising a diffuser affixed to said housing, said diffuser having disposed therein at least one channel.  
     
     
         21 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 18 , said driver comprising: 
 a piston; and    a plunger.    
     
     
         22 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein 
 said plunger is symmetrical; and    said plunger forms a substantially airtight seal with said housing.    
     
     
         23 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 21 , said plunger comprising: 
 a conical front end;    a conical back end; and    a cylindrical body.    
     
     
         24 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 23 , said plunger further comprising at least one ridge surrounding said cylindrical body.  
     
     
         25 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 21 , said piston comprising an expansion cup.  
     
     
         26 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 18 , further comprising an ampoule cap removably attached to said housing, wherein said ampoule cap forms an airtight seal over said orifice of said housing.  
     
     
         27 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 18 , said housing further comprising an exhaust passage.  
     
     
         28 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 18 , said trigger further comprising an end with a non-slip surface.  
     
     
         29 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 18 , said trigger further comprising at least one retainer hook mechanism and said housing further comprising at least one latch retainer mechanism.  
     
     
         30 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 20 , said diffuser further comprising a locking ring and said engine further comprising at least one grip.  
     
     
         31 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 18 , further comprising a safety clamp removably attached to said housing, wherein said safety claim prevents said trigger from moving relative to said housing in the axial direction of said at least one orifice.  
     
     
         32 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 18 , said housing further comprising at least one finger rest.  
     
     
         33 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 18 , said housing further comprising two finger rests disposed opposite one another, said finger rests further comprising a non-slip surface.  
     
     
         34 . A needle-less injector suitable for injecting a fluid through a surface, said needle-less injector comprising: 
 a housing containing the fluid, said housing further containing at least one orifice;    an engine fitted within said housing, said engine further containing a gas;    a driver that forces said fluid out of said housing, said driver being slidably disposed within said housing;    a trigger coupled to said housing; and    at least one grip disposed on said engine.    
     
     
         35 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 34 , said engine further comprising a valve.  
     
     
         36 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 35 , said needle-less injector further comprising a diffuser affixed to said housing, said diffuser having disposed therein at least one channel, and said valve comprising: 
 a valve stem having a circular ridge;    a valve head affixed to said valve stem and said circular ridge;    a valve stem guide affixed to said engine; and    a spring having a first end resting against said circular ridge and a second end resting against said valve stem guide.    
     
     
         37 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 36 , wherein said valve opens upon depression of said trigger.  
     
     
         38 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 34 , said driver comprising: 
 a piston; and    a plunger.    
     
     
         39 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 38 , wherein 
 said plunger is symmetrical; and    said plunger forms a substantially airtight seal with said housing.    
     
     
         40 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 38 , said plunger comprising: 
 a conical front end;    a conical back end; and    a cylindrical body.    
     
     
         41 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 40 , said plunger further comprising at least one ridge surrounding said cylindrical body.  
     
     
         42 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 38 , said piston comprising an expansion cup.  
     
     
         43 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 34 , further comprising an ampoule cap removably attached to said housing, wherein said ampoule cap forms an airtight seal over said orifice of said housing.  
     
     
         44 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 34 , said housing further comprising an exhaust passage.  
     
     
         45 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 34 , said trigger further comprising an end with a non-slip surface.  
     
     
         46 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 34 , said trigger further comprising at least one retainer hook mechanism and said housing further comprising at least one latch retainer mechanism.  
     
     
         47 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 36 , said diffuser further comprising a locking ring and said needle-less injector comprising at least two grips.  
     
     
         48 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 34 , further comprising a safety clamp removably attached to said housing, wherein said safety claim prevents said trigger from moving relative to said housing in the axial direction of said at least one orifice.  
     
     
         49 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 34 , said housing further comprising at least one finger rest.  
     
     
         50 . The needle-less injector in accordance with  claim 34 , said housing further comprising two finger rests disposed opposite one another, said finger rests further comprising a non-slip surface.