Needleless injector and ampule system

Abstract

A needle-less injector system having an ampule with an elongated hollow body. The elongated hollow body includes a nozzle and an aperture for receiving a plunger. The aperture extends from the second end of the body towards the first end and is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The ampule cooperates with a plunger that has a concave rib that extends about the perimeter of the plunger and towards the first end of the plunger. As the plunger moves through the aperture the concave rib sealingly engages the sidewalls of the aperture.

1 - 15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . A needleless injector system for holding a fluid and delivering a stream of fluid through an area, the system comprising: 
 a plunger extending about an axis and having opposed first and second ends and an external surface, said plunger including at least one concave rib extending about the axis, wherein said at least one concave rib has an outer diameter extending away from and greater than an outer diameter of the external surface; and    an ampule including an elongated hollow body having a first and second end, the first end of the elongated hollow body including a nozzle, and the second end of the hollow body including an aperture for receiving the plunger, said aperture being in fluid communication with the nozzle, wherein the outer diameter of said at least one concave rib sealing engages the hollow body to expand and seal the aperture in response to a deflection in the hollow body, wherein deflections in the hollow body caused by a pressure force created as the fluid is driven from the hollow body by the plunger is sealed by the at least one concave rib.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said plunger includes a second rib, the second rib being disposed at the second end of the plunger.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said first end of said plunger has a conical shape.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said plunger includes a second rib, the second rib being located at the second end of plunger.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the ampule is made from a polypropylene material.  
   
   
       21 . A needleless injector system for holding a fluid and delivering a stream of fluid through an area, the system comprising: 
 a plunger having opposed first and second ends and an external surface, said plunger including at least one concave rib extending from the external surface of the plunger, said at least one concave rib having an outer diameter extending away from and greater than an outer diameter of the external surface; and    an ampule having an elongated hollow body for receiving the fluid, the hollow body having first and second opposed ends, the first end of the elongated hollow body including a nozzle, the second end of the hollow body being open to receive the plunger, wherein the outer diameter of said at least one concave rib sealingly engages an inner diameter of the hollow body to form a sealing fit therewith to expand and seal the hollow body in response to deflections in the hollow body caused by a pressure force created as the fluid is driven from the hollow body by the plunger.    
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said plunger includes a second rib disposed at the second end of the plunger.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said concave rib is approximately conical in shape.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said plunger includes a second rib extending from said external surface, said second rib having a generally conical shape and being located at the second end of the plunger.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the ampule is made of a polypropylene material.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the plunger is made of a polypropylene material.  
   
   
       27 . A method for preventing pressure losses in a needle-less injector system while delivering a stream of fluid, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plunger, the plunger having opposed first and second ends and an external surface, said plunger including at least one concave rib having an outer diameter that extends away from and is greater than an outer diameter of the external surface;    providing an ampule, the ampule having an elongated hollow body, the hollow body having a first end and a second end, the first end of the elongated hollow body including a nozzle, the second end of the hollow body being open to receive the plunger, wherein the outer diameter of said at least one concave rib sealingly engages an inner diameter of the hollow body to form a sealing fit therewith;    supplying the ampule with fluid and placing the plunger into the hollow body so that the fluid is held between the plunger and the nozzle; and    compressing the fluid by moving the plunger towards the nozzle, wherein the at least one concave rib expands against the inner diameter of hollow body to seal the hollow body in response to deflections in the hollow body caused by a pressure force created as the fluid is driven from the hollow body by the plunger.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of forming the plunger form a polypropylene material.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of forming the ampule from a polypropylene material.