Vial Transfer and Injection Apparatus and Method

Abstract

Drug delivery system, injection device, transfer apparatus, vial holder and method of administering and transferring are disclosed. The system may include transfer apparatus and an injection device. The transfer apparatus may have receiving stations for a drug source, such as a vial or vial holder, and for an injection device, and fluid flow pathways for transferring drugs from the source into the injection device. The injection device may include an expandable elastic bladder and an injection cannula that is movable between a plurality of positions.

1 . A medication injection device comprising:
 a housing having a skin-facing surface that includes an injection needle aperture through which an injection needle may extend from the housing;   a skin displacement structure extending from the skin facing surface around the injection needle aperture; and   the displacement structure serving to compress tissue around the injection needle aperture and thereby creating a tissue pressure zone around the injection needle aperture having higher pressure than in tissue outwardly of the tissue pressure zone.   
     
     
         2 . The medication injection device of  claim 1  including adhesive tape configured to allow for attachment of the skin-facing surface of the housing of the medication injection device to a patient's skin. 
     
     
         3 . The medication injection device of  claim 2  having an underside that is tapered to allow for automatic application of the tape upon attachment of the medication injection device to the patient's skin. 
     
     
         4 . The medication injection device of  claim 2  in which the adhesive extends sufficiently beyond the housing to allow for a strain relief. 
     
     
         5 . The medication injection device of  claim 1  further comprising an injection needle movable from an initial retracted position to an injection position extending to a selected subcutaneous depth for injection and back to a final retracted position after injection is complete, the device being configured to maintain the tissue pressure zone after the needle returns to the retracted position. 
     
     
         6 . The medication injection device in  claim 5  including an actuator operably associated with the moveable injection needle. 
     
     
         7 . The medication injection device of  claim 6  in which the actuator is automatically locked out in a post injection position. 
     
     
         8 . The medication injection device of  claim 6  in which the actuator provides visual indication on a state of the medication injection device. 
     
     
         9 . The medication injection device of  claim 5  further comprising an arcuate expandable elastomeric bladder contained within said housing for holding a volume of liquid under pressure, the elastic force in the bladder walls providing the force by which the liquid is dispensed from the medication injection device,
 a manifold attached to said bladder, the manifold having a fluid inlet port and a fluid pathway communicating between the fluid inlet port and the bladder, 
 the injection needle being in fluid communication with the fluid pathway in the injection position. 
 
     
     
         10 . The medication injection device of  claim 9  including a progress gage that shows how much of the liquid from the arcuate expandable member has been expelled. 
     
     
         11 . The medication injection device of  claim 9  further comprising an end of dose indicator. 
     
     
         12 . The medication injection device of  claim 9  in which the end of dose indicator is cooperatively associated with the elastomeric bladder to urge the actuator to a post injection position when the bladder is empty. 
     
     
         13 . The medication injection device of  claim 9  in which the manifold includes a hydrophilic filter to allow for the passage of liquid but not air or particulate in the medication injection device. 
     
     
         14 . A method of injection of medicament using the medication injection device of  claim 1 .