Cutaneous Injection Delivery Under Suction

Abstract

The delivery of a fluid cutaneously is effected by generating a suction force on a surface of a housing. A surface of a cutaneous layer is received under the suction force about which the proximal end of a needle thereby to pierce the cutaneous surface and to effect an injection of fluid. There is generated a suction force to operate the movement of a needle in the housing. The needle is moved under the suction force from the housing thereby to permit piercing a cutaneous layer. The bladder for containing fluid is emptied under the suction into the distal end of the needle and thereby permit the expulsion of fluid through the proximal end of the needle for injection below the cutaneous layer.

1 . A device for delivery of a fluid cutaneously comprising: 
 a) a housing having a peripheral edge;    b) a needle in the housing for piercing the cutaneous layer;    c) a bladder for containing fluid for injection below the cutaneous layer;    d) an area transversely within peripheral edge of the housing and through which the proximal end of the needle may be directed, and the area being for receiving the surface of the cutaneous layer about which the proximal end of the needle is to pierce to effect an injection of fluid;    e) means for generating a suction force at the area thereby to urge the cutaneous layer towards the area within the peripheral edge of the housing and thereby provide a stabilizing force to the cutaneous layer;    f) means to cause the needle to move through the transverse area and thereby pierce the surface of the cutaneous layer;    g) means for permitting the expulsion of fluid from the bladder into the distal end of the needle and thereby permit the expulsion of fluid through the proximal end of the needle;    h) a biasing means for causing the needle to be normally urged from the transverse area; and    i) a surface on the peripheral area, the surface being for receiving the cutaneous layer under action of the suction force, and thereby stabilize the cutaneous layer prior to and during piercing of the cutaneous layer by the proximal end of the needle; the surface including multiple ports through which a suction can be applied to the surface, and wherein there are multiple needles in relative adjacency with each other thereby to permit multiple piercings of the cutaneous layer.    
   
   
       2 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  including mounting means for supporting a needle, and wherein the means to cause the needle to move through the transverse area is means for providing a suction force to cause the movement of the needle mounting means and thereby cause the needle to move between a position of repose relatively withdrawn from the transverse area and a position extending through the transverse area.  
   
   
       3 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  including means for permitting the bladder to move under a suction force towards the proximal end of the needle, and thereby permit the distal end to pierce the bladder and permit fluid from the bladder to enter the distal end of the needle and subsequently exit the proximal end of the needle; and wherein the bladder is formed in part of elastomeric material whereby the elastomeric material retains a force on the fluid in the bladder.  
   
   
       4 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the housing is a cylindrical member with a circular outer edge, the transverse area being inwardly concavely shaped area within the peripheral outer edge to permit the cutaneous surface to be drawn under suction to form a convex shape against the concave surface, the concave surface having multiple outlets surrounding a location for permitting passage of the needle through the area.  
   
   
       5 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  including a ventilation chamber removed from the transverse area, there being a needle mounting means between he transverse area and the bladder being located between the needle mounting means and the ventilation chamber.  
   
   
       6 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the needle is mounted with a movable plate, the plate having a biasing means located between a block for holding the needle and the plate, the biasing means acting to urge the block and needle from the plate, and the suction acting to urge the block towards the needle plate, and wherein the bladder is formed with a mounting plate for the needle, and wherein one wall of the bladder is the mounting plate, and wherein there is pierceable member of the mounting plate, such that, under suction, the plate is drawn towards the distal end of the needle, and the distal end of the needle is permitted to penetrate the pierceable member and enter the bladder.  
   
   
       7 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the housing is an elongated structure, the needle being centrally located, and there being sequentially from a proximal end of the housing, firstly the transverse area including a surface through which the needle is adapted to move in an axial direction, a stabilizing block, one end of which forms the transverse surface, ports being directed through the block from a side removed from the transverse surface, a guide block for receiving a needle block so that the needle block is movable in the guide block, the guide block having ports to permit suction to pass to an axially movable needle mounting plate, and the suction inlet to the housing, the suction inlet being located between the guide block and the stabilizing block, a bladder connected with the needle mounting plate, and a ventilation chamber located on the opposite side of the bladder.  
   
   
       8 . A method for delivery of a fluid cutaneously comprising: 
 a) generating a suction force on a surface of a housing thereby to receive under the suction force a surface of a cutaneous layer about which the proximal end of a needle is to pierce to effect an injection of fluid;    b) generating a suction force to operate the movement of a needle in the housing;    c) moving a needle under the suction force from the housing thereby to permit piercing a cutaneous layer;    d) emptying a bladder for containing fluid into the distal end of the needle and thereby permit the expulsion of fluid through the proximal end of the needle for injection below the cutaneous layer;    e) moving the needle to move through the transverse area under a suction force and thereby cause the needle to move between a position of repose relatively withdrawn from the transverse area and a position extending through the transverse area;    f) moving the bladder to move under a suction force towards the proximal end of the needle , and thereby permit the distal end to pierce the bladder and permit fluid from the bladder to enter the distal end of the needle and subsequently exit the proximal end of the needle;    g) biasing the needle to be normally urged from the transverse area; and    h) applying to the surface including multiple suction points, and applying multiple piercings through multiple needles in relative adjacency with each other.    
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 8  including moving the bladder under a suction force towards the proximal end of the needles, and thereby permit the distal end to pierce the bladder and permit fluid from the bladder to enter the distal end of the needles and subsequently exit the proximal end of the respective needles.  
   
   
       10 . A device for delivery of a fluid cutaneously comprising: 
 a) a housing having a peripheral edge;    b) a needle in the housing for piercing the cutaneous layer;    c) a bladder for containing fluid for injection below the cutaneous layer;    d) an area transversely within peripheral edge of the housing and through which the proximal end of the needle may be directed, and the area being for receiving the surface of the cutaneous layer about which the proximal end of the needle is to pierce to effect an injection of fluid; and    e) a suction generator for creating a suction force at the area thereby to urge the cutaneous layer towards the area within the peripheral edge of the housing and thereby provide a stabilizing force to the cutaneous layer; the arrangement being such that the needle is caused to move through the transverse area and thereby pierce the surface of the cutaneous layer; and permitting the expulsion of fluid from the bladder into the distal end of the needle and thereby permit the expulsion of fluid through the proximal end of the needle, said device including a mounting for supporting a needle, and wherein an electromagnetic force causes the needle to move through the transverse area and provides a force to cause the movement of the needle mounting and thereby cause the needle to move between a position of repose relatively withdrawn from the transverse area and a position extending through the transverse area.