Automatic injection device for fluid

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is an automatic injection device, specifically an automatic injection device for fluid.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

Pneumatic devices usually comprise a high-pressure air source therein to be actuated to instantly release the high pressure air to pushes the liquid out. The high-pressure air source is sealed before being assembled in the pneumatic device. After the high-pressure air source is assembled in the pneumatic device, the user needs to use a hand tool to unseal the high-pressure air source so that the compressed air in the high-pressure air source could come out to pushes the liquid out. However, using the hand tool to unseal the high-pressure air source is inconvenient for the user, especially for pneumatic medical device.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides an automatic injection device for fluid to mitigate or to obviate the aforementioned problems.

The objective of the present invention is to provide an automatic injection device for fluid to allow easily use. The automatic injection device for fluid has a sleeve, an actuating unit, a barrel with a piercing needle, a high-pressure air source and a driven unit. The actuating unit is mounted in the sleeve. The high-pressure air source and the driven unit are mounted slidably in the barrel. The barrel, the high-pressure air source and the driven unit are first mounted in the sleeve to be ready for use. When the user needs to release the high-pressure air in the high-pressure air source, the user press the actuating unit to drive the driven unit to slide. Then the driven unit also drives the high-pressure air source to slide until the high-pressure air source hits the piercing needle. Therefore, the high-pressure air in the high-pressure air source is easily released by actuate the actuating unit without additional hand tools. Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic injection device for fluid in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sleeve of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the sleeve of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the actuating cap of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 is an operational perspective view of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 1 , showing that the barrel is not yet inserted into the sleeve;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cam of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 8 is an operational perspective view of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 1 , showing that the barrel is inserted into the sleeve;

FIG. 9 is an operational side view in partial section of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 1 , showing that the barrel is inserted into the sleeve;

FIG. 10 is an operational perspective view of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 1 , showing that the barrel is rotated;

FIG. 11 is an operational side view in partial section of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 1 , showing that the barrel is rotated;

FIG. 12 is an operational perspective view of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 1 , showing that the actuating cap is pressed;

FIG. 13 is an operational side view in partial section of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 1 , showing that the actuating cap is pressed;

FIG. 14 is an operational perspective view of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 1 , showing that the cam with the high-pressure air source slide toward the second end of the barrel;

FIG. 15 is an operational side view in partial section of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 1 , showing that the cam with the high-pressure air source slide toward the second end of the barrel; and

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an automatic injection device for fluid in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 16 ;

FIG. 18 is a top view of an actuating washer of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 16 ;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a piston of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 16 ;

FIG. 20 is a top view of a washer of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 16 ;

FIG. 21 is an operational side view in partial section of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 16 , showing that the piston and a high-pressure air source is mounted into a sleeve;

FIG. 22 is an operational side view in partial section of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 16 , showing that the washer is mounted into the sleeve;

FIG. 23 is an operational side view in partial section of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 16 , showing that an actuating resilient element is mounted in the sleeve;

FIG. 24 is an operational side view in partial section of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 16 , showing that the piston and the high-pressure air source are pushed upward to be locked in position;

FIG. 25 is an operational side view in partial section of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 16 , showing that a barrel is mounted around the high-pressure air source; and

FIG. 26 is an operational side view in partial section of the automatic injection device for fluid in FIG. 16 , showing that an actuating unit is actuated to push the piston and the high-pressure air source to move downward.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , an automatic injection device for fluid in accordance with the present invention comprises a sleeve 10 , an actuating unit 20 , a barrel 30 , a high-pressure air source 40 and a driven unit 50 .

With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 , the sleeve 10 is hollow and has an inside wall, a first end opening 11 , a second end opening 12 , a limiting unit 13 and multiple optional windows 14 . The limiting unit 13 is attached to the sleeve 10 and may comprise multiple stops 131 , multiple passages 132 and multiple lock holes 133 . The stops 131 are formed separately on the inside wall of the sleeve 10 . Each stop 131 has an inclined side 131 a and an upright side 131 b . Each passage 132 is formed on the inside wall of the sleeve 10 and is formed between adjacent stops 131 to separate the stops 131 . The lock holes 133 are formed transversely through the sleeve 10 . Each lock hole 133 has a longitudinal part 133 a and a lateral part 133 b communicating with the longitudinal part 133 a . The longitudinal part 133 a of each lock hole 133 communicates with the second end opening 12 of the sleeve 10 . The windows 14 are formed transversely through the sleeve 10 . In one embodiment, each window 14 corresponds to one of the passage 132 .

With reference to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 , the actuating unit 20 is mounted through the sleeve 10 and may comprise an actuating cap 21 and a resilient element 22 . The actuating cap 21 is mounted movably through the first end opening 11 of the sleeve 10 and has a base 211 , multiple claws 212 and a bump 213 . The claws 212 are formed longitudinally on the base 211 and separate to each other. Each claw 212 corresponds to one of the passage 132 and has a free end, a first side, a second side, an outer side, a flat surface 212 a , an inclined surface 212 b and a tab 212 c . The outer side is defined between the first and second sides. The flat surface 212 a is formed on the first side of the claw 212 . The inclined surface 212 b is formed on the second side of the claw 212 and connects to the free end of the claw 212 . The tab 212 c is formed on outer side of the claw 212 and is mounted through one of the windows 14 of the sleeve 10 to limit the sliding route of the actuating cap 21 . The bump 213 is formed longitudinally on the base 211 and may be formed at a center of the base 211 . The resilient element 22 is mounted in the sleeve 10 and is pressed against the actuating cap 21 . In one embodiment, one end of the resilient element 22 is mounted around the bump 213 of the actuating cap 21 . The resilient element 22 may be a spring.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 6 , the barrel 30 is selectively held on the second end opening 12 of the sleeve 10 and may comprise a body 31 , a piercing needle 32 and multiple protruding parts 33 . The body 31 is hollow and has an inside wall, an outside wall, a first end opening 311 , a second end and a slot 312 . The slot 312 is formed through the second end of the body 31 . The piercing needle 32 is attached to the second end of the body 31 and may have a central hole 321 communicating with the slot 312 of the body 31 . The protruding parts 33 are transversely formed separately on the outside wall of the body 31 and selectively slide into the lock holes 133 of the sleeve 10 .

The high pressure air source 40 is mounted slidably in the body 31 of the barrel 30 . In one embodiment, a collar 41 is mounted around the high pressure air source 40 and is against the inside wall of the body 31 to keep the high pressure air source 40 to slide along a central axis.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 7 , the driven unit 50 is mounted slidably in the barrel 30 , is attached to the high-pressure air source 40 , is selectively held by the limiting unit 13 and is selectively actuated by the actuating unit 20 to slide toward the second end of the barrel 30 . In one embodiment, the driven unit 50 may comprise a piston 51 and a cam 52 . The piston 51 is attached to the high-pressure air source 40 . The cam 52 is mounted around the piston 51 , selectively presses against the resilient element 22 and has an annular wall, multiple protrusions 521 and a central bump 522 . The protrusions 521 are transversely formed separately on the annular wall of the cam 52 . Each protrusion 521 selectively slides in one of the passage 132 of the sleeve 10 and selectively abuts against an end of one of the stop 131 of the sleeve 10 . Each protrusion 521 has an inclined side 521 a and an upright side 521 b . The inclined side 521 a of the protrusion 521 selectively abuts against the inclined surface 212 b of one of the claws 212 of the actuating cap 21 . The central bump 522 is formed longitudinally on the cam 52 and may be selectively protrude in one end of the resilient element 22 .

With reference to FIG. 6 , when the driven unit 50 and the high pressure air source 40 are not mounted into the second opening 12 of the sleeve 10 yet, the resilient element 22 is released. The high-pressure air source 40 is held by the piston 51 and is away from the piercing needle 321 .

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 , then the barrel 30 is pushed into the second opening 12 of the sleeve 10 to insert the driven unit 50 and the high pressure air source 40 into the second opening 12 of the sleeve 10 . The protruding parts 33 of the barrel 30 respectively slide into the longitudinal parts 133 a of the lock holes 133 of the sleeve 10 . The protrusions 521 of the cam 52 respectively slide along the passages 132 of the sleeve 10 and respectively abuts against the claws 212 of the actuating cap 21 to push the actuating cap 21 to move toward the first end opening 11 of the sleeve 10 . The upright sides 521 b of the protrusions 521 respectively slide along the inclined sides 131 a of the stops 131 of the sleeve 10 .

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 , the barrel 30 is rotated after the protruding parts 33 of the barrel 30 respectively slide to the ends of the longitudinal parts 133 a of the lock holes 133 of the sleeve 10 . When the barrel 30 is rotated, the protruding parts 33 respectively slide along the lateral parts 133 b of the lock holes 133 of the sleeve 10 . The protrusions 521 of the cam 52 respectively slide along the inclined sides 131 a of the stop 131 to constantly push the actuating cap 21 to move toward the first end opening 11 of the sleeve 10 . Since the sliding route of the tabs 212 c of the claws 212 of the actuating cap 21 are limited by the windows 14 of the sleeve 10 , the actuating cap 21 is stopped from moving toward the first end opening 11 of the sleeve 10 by the windows 14 of the sleeve 10 . Then the protrusions 521 of the cam 52 respectively slide along the inclined sides 131 a of the stop 131 to leave the claws 212 of the actuating cap 21 and to compress the resilient element 22 . When the protruding parts 33 of the barrel 30 respectively slide to the ends of the lateral parts 133 b of the lock holes 133 of the sleeve 10 , the protrusions 521 of the cam 52 respectively slide on ends of the stops 131 and the inclined sides 521 a of the protrusions 521 respectively abut against the inclined surfaces 212 b of the claws 212 of the actuating cap 21 . Since the protrusions 521 of the cam 52 are stopped by the ends of the stops 131 , the cam 52 along with the piston 51 and the high-pressure air source 40 are stopped from moving toward the second end opening 12 even the resilient element 22 pushes.

With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 , the user press the actuating cap 21 when the user needs to release the high-pressure air in the high-pressure air source 40 . When the actuating cap 21 is pressed into the first end opening 11 of the sleeve 10 , the inclined surfaces 212 b of the claws 212 of the actuating cap 21 respectively pushes the inclined sides 521 a of the protrusions 521 of the cam 52 so that the cam 52 is forced to rotate. The resilient element 22 is kept compressed between the actuating cap 21 and the cam 52 .

With reference to FIGS. 14 and 15 , the cam 52 is forced to rotate until the protrusions 521 respectively align with the passages 132 of the sleeve 10 . Since the stops 131 of the sleeve 10 no longer abut the protrusions 521 of the cam 52 when the protrusions 521 respectively align with the passages 132 of the sleeve 10 , the resilient force of the resilient element 22 pushes the cam 52 to move toward the second end opening 12 of the sleeve 10 . The barrel 30 is not move toward the second end opening 12 of the sleeve 10 since the protruding parts 33 are respectively located in the lateral parts 133 b of the lock holes 133 of the sleeve 10 . Therefore, the cam 52 along with the piston 51 and the high-pressure air source 40 are pushed toward the second end opening 12 of the sleeve 10 and toward the second end of the body 31 of the barrel 30 until an end of the high-pressure air source 40 hits the piercing needle 32 . Then the end of the high-pressure air source 40 is punctured through by the piercing needle 32 to release the high-pressure air in the high-pressure air source 40 through the central hole 321 of the piercing needle 32 and the slot 312 of the body 31 of the barrel 30 so that the fluid in the associate device is injected to the subject via the pneumatic force of the high-pressure air.

With reference to FIGS. 16 and 17 , another embodiment of an automatic injection device for fluid in accordance with the present invention comprises a sleeve 10 A, an actuating unit 20 A, a barrel 30 A, a high-pressure air source 40 A and a driven unit 50 A.

The sleeve 10 A is hollow and has an inside wall, an outside wall, a first end opening 11 A, a second end opening 12 A, a side hole 15 A, multiple lock holes 16 A, multiple lock protrusions 17 A and a cap 18 A. The side hole 15 A is formed transversely through the sleeve 10 . The lock holes 16 A are formed transversely through the sleeve 10 A. Each lock hole 16 A has a longitudinal part 161 A and a lateral part 162 A communicating with the longitudinal part 161 A. The longitudinal part 161 A of each lock hole 16 A communicates with the second end opening 12 A of the sleeve 10 A. The lock protrusions 17 A are transversely formed separately on the outside wall of the sleeve 10 A. The cap 18 A is mounted on the first end opening 11 A of the sleeve 10 A and may be held by the lock protrusions 17 A.

With reference to FIGS. 16 to 18 , the actuating unit 20 A is mounted in the sleeve 10 A. The actuating unit 20 A has an actuating washer 21 A, a resisting resilient element 22 A and an actuating resilient element 23 A. The actuating washer 21 A is mounted slidably through the side hole 15 A of the sleeve 10 A and has a distal end, a proximal end, an enlarged head 211 A, a limiting unit and a mounting tag 213 A. The enlarged head 211 A is formed on the distal end of the actuating washer 21 A and protrudes out of the side hole 15 A. The limiting unit is defined in the sleeve 10 A and may be a through hole 212 A formed through the actuating washer 21 A, located in the sleeve 10 A and having a larger part 2121 A and a smaller part 2122 A. The larger part 2121 A of the through hole 212 A is near the distal end while the smaller part 2122 A is near the proximal end. The larger part 2121 A and the smaller part 2122 A communicate with each other and an inner diameter of the larger part 2121 A is larger than an inner diameter of the smaller part 2122 A. The mounting tag 213 A is formed on the proximal end. The resisting resilient element 22 A is mounted around the mounting tag 213 A and is pressed between the proximal end of the actuating washer 21 A and the inside wall of the sleeve 10 A. The actuating resilient element 23 A is mounted in the sleeve 10 A and is pressed against the cap 18 A.

With reference to FIGS. 16 and 17 , the barrel 30 A is selectively held on the second end opening 12 A of the sleeve 10 A and may comprise a body 31 A, a piercing needle 32 A and multiple protruding parts 33 A. The body 31 A is hollow and has an inside wall, an outside wall, a first end opening 311 A, a second end and a slot 312 A. The slot 312 A is formed through the second end of the body 31 A. The piercing needle 32 A is attached to the second end of the body 31 A and may have a central hole 321 A communicating with the slot 312 A of the body 31 A. The protruding parts 33 A are transversely formed separately on the outside wall of the body 31 A and selectively slide into the lock holes 16 A of the sleeve 10 A.

The high pressure air source 40 A is mounted slidably in the body 31 A of the barrel 30 A.

With reference to FIGS. 17, 19 and 20 , the driven unit 50 A is mounted slidably in the barrel 30 A is attached to the high-pressure air source 40 A, is selectively held by the limiting unit and is selectively actuated by the actuating unit 20 A to slide toward the second end of the barrel 30 A. In one embodiment, the driven unit 50 may comprise a piston 51 A and a washer 53 A. The piston 51 A is attached to the high-pressure air source 40 A and has a crown 511 A, a shaft 512 A and a cam 513 A. The crown 511 A is attached to the high-pressure air source 40 A. The shaft 512 A is formed longitudinally on the crown 511 A and has a thinner segment 5121 A and a thicker segment 5122 A. The thinner segment 5121 A is formed longitudinally on the crown 211 A and selectively aligns with the smaller part 2122 A of the through hole 212 A of the actuating washer 21 A. The thicker segment 5122 A is formed longitudinally on, aligns with the thinner segment 5121 A and selectively aligns with the larger part 2121 A of the through hole 212 A of the actuating washer 21 A. The cam 513 A is formed on an end of the thicker segment 5122 A. The washer 53 A is secured on the piston 51 A via a cam hole 531 A penetrated by the cam.

With reference to FIGS. 21 and 22 , the high-pressure air source 40 A is attached to the crown 511 A of the piston 51 A. The piston 51 A with the high-pressure air source 40 A is mounted into the sleeve 10 A through the second end opening 12 A. The thicker segment 5122 A of the shaft 512 A of the piston 51 A is mounted in the larger part 2121 A of the through hole 212 A of the actuating washer 21 A to keep the actuating washer 21 A from pushing outward by the resisting resilient element 22 A. The washer 53 A is mounted into the sleeve 10 A through the first end opening 11 A and aligns the cam hole 531 A with the cam 513 A to mounted around the piston 51 A. Then the piston 51 A is rotated to misalign the cam 513 A and th cam hole 531 A so that the washer 53 A is secured around the piston 51 A.

With reference to FIG. 23 , the actuating resilient element 23 A and the cap 18 A are mounted into the first end opening 11 A. The actuating resilient element 23 A is clamped between the washer 53 A and the cap 18 A.

With reference to FIG. 24 , the high-pressure air source 40 A is pushed upward to force the piston 51 A to move upward. Then the shaft 512 A is moved upward and the thicker segment 5121 A passes through the through hole 212 A of the actuating washer 21 A. When the thicker segment 5122 A leaves the through hole 212 A and the thinner segment 5121 A reaches the through hole 212 A, the resisting resilient element 22 A releases its resilient force to push the actuating washer 21 A to move outward. Then the smaller part 2122 A of the through hole 212 A aligns with the thinner segment 5121 A of the shaft 512 A to keep the thicker segment 5122 A of the shaft 512 A from moving into the through hole 212 A so that the thicker segment 5122 A abuts against the upper surface of the actuating washer 21 A. In the mean time, the actuating resilient element 22 A is compressed by the washer 53 A to restore the resilient force. Since the thicker segment 5122 A of the shaft 512 A abuts against the upper surface of the actuating washer 21 A, the shaft 212 A is kept from moving downward even though the actuating resilient element 22 A presses against the washer 53 A.

With reference to FIG. 25 , the barrel 30 A is mounted into the second end opening 12 A of the sleeve 10 A to be mounted around the high-pressure source 40 A. The barrel 30 A is rotated to engage the protruding parts 33 A in the lock holes 16 A so that the barrel 30 A is secured around the high-pressure air source 40 A.

With reference to FIG. 26 , the user press the actuating washer 21 A when the user needs to release the high-pressure air in the high-pressure air source 40 A. The actuating washer 21 A is pressed into the sleeve 10 A to align the larger part 2121 A of the through hole 212 A with the thicker segment 5122 A of the shaft 512 A so that the thicker segment 5122 A is allowed to pass through the through hole 212 A again. Then the actuating resilient element 23 A releases its resilient force to push the shaft 512 A to move downward with the thicker segment 5122 A of the shaft 512 A passing through the larger part 2121 A of the through hole 212 A. Thus, the piston 51 A along with the high-pressure air source 40 A are pushed toward the second end opening 12 A of the sleeve 10 A and toward the second end of the body 31 A of the barrel 30 A until an end of the high-pressure air source 40 A hits the piercing needle 32 A. Then the end of the high-pressure air source 40 A is punctured through by the piercing needle 32 A to release the high-pressure air in the high-pressure air source 40 A through the central hole 321 A of the piercing needle 32 A and the slot 312 A of the body 31 A of the barrel 30 so that the fluid in the associate device is injected to the subject via the pneumatic force of the high-pressure air.

The advantages of the automatic injection device for fluid as described are recited as follow. With the cooperation of the driven unit 50 , 50 A and the actuating unit 20 , 20 A, the high-pressure air in the high-pressure air source 40 , 40 A is easily released by actuate the actuating unit 20 , 20 A without additional hand tools. Therefore, the user can use the automatic injection device for fluid as described to inject the fluid in the associate device conveniently.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.