Automatic injection device

Abstract

The present application discloses an automatic injection device for performing a rapid injection operation, the automatic injection device comprising a sleeve, a driving unit and an actuating assembly, the sleeve further comprising a channel and a stop portion. The actuating assembly is movably arranged in the channel, and the actuating assembly further comprises a resilient member, a first component and a second component. The two ends of the resilient member are respectively connected to the first component and the second component, and the first component is detachably combined with the driving unit. The driving unit can drive the first component to move, and the second component is stopped by the stop portion, so that the resilient member is kept in a stretched state; when the first component is separated from the driving unit, the elastic potential energy of the resilient member in the stretched state makes the second component move in the opposite direction, so as to perform the rapid injection operation.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to an injection device, and more particularly to an automatic injection device capable of performing a rapid injection operation. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the advancement of medical technology, automatic injectors have been widely used by the public. Most of the prior art automatic injectors use a motor as the main power source. The user only needs to trigger a button with one hand to drive the motor to push the push rod to perform the injection operation, thereby simplifying the operation procedure and improving the convenience of injection.

[0003] However, when the patient has special injection needs, such as the need to instantaneously implant a drug, a weight loss patch, or a cosmetic short needle into the shallow subcutaneous layer of the human body, if the prior art automatic injector is used to perform the corresponding injection operation, it is often difficult to meet the demand for rapid injection. For example, the automatic injector powered by the motor needs to cooperate with the screw rod and the corresponding threaded structure to drive the push rod to move by rotating, which is labor-saving but time-consuming. However, once the patient needs to perform injection on a large area of skin, the prior art automatic injector will not be sufficient.

[0004] Therefore, how to provide an automatic injection device that can increase the injection speed to achieve the purpose of performing a rapid injection operation and is more convenient for the user to operate is a subject worthy of study. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application is made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an automatic injection device capable of performing a rapid injection operation, which can increase the injection speed and simplify the structure design to improve the convenience of use.

[0006] The automatic injection device of the present application comprises a sleeve, a driving unit, and an actuating assembly. The sleeve comprises a channel and a stop portion, and the stop portion is arranged in the channel; the driving unit is arranged in the channel; the actuating assembly is movably arranged along an axis in the channel, and the actuating assembly comprises an elastic member, a first component, and a second component: the elastic member comprises a first end and a second end; the first component is connected to the first end of the elastic member, and the first component is detachably combined with the driving unit; and the second component is connected to the second end of the elastic member. The driving unit can drive the first component to move a set distance along the axis in a first direction, and the second component is stopped by the stop portion, so that the elastic member remains in a stretched state; when the first component is separated from the driving unit, the elastic member drives the second component to move along the axis in the opposite direction of the first direction by the elastic potential energy of the elastic member in the stretched state, so as to perform a rapid injection operation by the second component.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present application, the actuating assembly further comprises a guide rod, one end of the guide rod is connected to the second component and the other end extends along the axis and penetrates through the elastic member and the first component.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present application, the length of the guide rod is not less than the length of the elastic member in the stretched state.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present application, the first component comprises a through hole and the guide rod penetrates through the through hole.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present application, the elastic member is a tension spring.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present application, the driving unit comprises a coupling portion and the first component comprises a corresponding coupling portion corresponding to the coupling portion.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present application, the coupling portion is a hook structure or a latch structure and the corresponding coupling portion is a buckle structure or a socket structure.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present application, the driving unit is an electromagnet and the first component is a permanent magnet.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present application, the sleeve further comprises an operating portion, through which the first component is separated from the driving unit.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present application, the injection device further comprises a power supply unit, which is coupled to the sleeve and electrically connected to the driving unit.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present application, the sleeve further comprises at least one limiting member and the second component of the actuating assembly further comprises at least one corresponding limiting member; when the second component moves relative to the sleeve, the second component moves along the axis by cooperation of the at least one corresponding limiting member with the at least one limiting member.

[0017] The automatic injection device of the present application first moves the elastic member by the driving unit, so that the elastic member is in and maintains the stretched state, and once the elastic member is released, a large elastic potential energy is generated to perform a rapid injection operation. The automatic injection device of the present application can be applied to special injection or drug delivery requirements, is convenient to operate, and can effectively simplify the structural design of the device.

[0018] The specific techniques adopted by the present application will be further described through the following embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0019] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the automatic injection device of the present application.

[0020] Figure 2 is a schematic view of the first embodiment of the automatic injection device of the present application during an injection operation.

[0021] Figure 3 is a schematic view of the first embodiment of the automatic injection device after performing an injection operation.

[0022] Figure 4 is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the automatic injection device.

[0023] Figure 5 is a schematic view of the second embodiment of the automatic injection device during an injection operation.

[0024] Figure 6 is a schematic view of the second embodiment of the automatic injection device after performing an injection operation.

[0025] Main component symbol explanation:

[0026] 1, 1a injection device

[0027] 10 sleeve

[0028] 11 channel

[0029] 12 stopper

[0030] 13 operation portion

[0031] 14 limiting member

[0032] 20, 20a driving unit

[0033] 21 coupling portion

[0034] 30 actuating assembly

[0035] 31 elastic member

[0036] 311 first end

[0037] 312 second end

[0038] 32, 32a first component

[0039] 321 through hole

[0040] 322 corresponding coupling portion

[0041] 33 second component

[0042] 331 corresponding limiting member

[0043] 34 guide rod

[0044] 40 power supply unit

[0045] 41 charging port

[0046] L axis

[0047] D1 first direction

[0048] D2 second direction DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] Since various modifications and embodiments can be made to the application without departing from the scope thereof, and it is to be understood that it is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that the scope of the application is to be interpreted only in accordance with the appended claims. The features and advantages of the embodiments will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0050] In this document, the terms "a" or "an" are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one, independent of any other instances or usages of "at least one." In this document, the term "or" as used herein is to be interpreted as inclusive or meaning at least one of the items listed is present. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary are excluded. Only the transitional phrases "consisting of and "consisting essentially of are to be construed as closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, 8.07(a)(13)(i)(E).

[0051] In this document, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc. are used merely as identifiers for distinguished elements, and are not necessarily intended to denote a spatial or chronological order among the identified elements. It will be understood that, in some circumstances, spatially relative terms, such as "on", "above", "below", "top", "bottom", "side", "front", "back", "back-and- forth", "up", "down", "under", "above", "between", "in", "out", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "near", "far", "horizontal", "vertical", "above", "below", "clockwise", "counter-clockwise", "first", "second", "third", etc., are used for clarity in describing the illustrated embodiments and are not necessarily intended to denote spatial or chronological sequence among the elements. It is to be understood that these terms are intended to encompass different positional configurations or sequences of the described elements without limitation, unless otherwise indicated.

[0052] In this document, the terms "include", "have", or any other similar term are used synonymously with "comprise". For example, when a composition, a process, a method, etc. comprises or includes at least one component, the composition, the process, the method, etc. is not necessarily limited to the at least one component, but can also include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such composition, process, method, etc.

[0053] The automatic injection device of the present application can be applied to special injection or administration needs. The aforementioned special injection needs can be the need to instantaneously implant an object into a human body at a shallow subcutaneous layer, a large area or a plurality of areas of the skin, and the aforementioned object can be a medicament, a weight loss patch, a cosmetic short needle or other implantation object.

[0054] Referring to Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the automatic injection device of the present application. As shown in Figure 1As shown, the automatic injection device 1 of the present application comprises a sleeve 10, a driving unit 20 and an actuating assembly 30. The sleeve 10 comprises a channel 11 and a stopper 12. The channel 11 corresponds to an axis L, and at least one end of the channel 11 is open for a needle, a medicament or an implant to pass through. The channel 11 can be provided with necessary components of the injection device 1, and the stopper 12 is provided in the channel 11 and is a protrusion or a flange structure extending from an inner surface of the sleeve 10 towards the channel 11. The stopper 12 is used to limit the moving position or distance of a movable component in the channel 11 relative to the sleeve 10 along the axis L. The sleeve 10 can be made of a relatively strong material, such as a plastic material, a metal or an alloy, but the present application is not limited thereto.

[0055] The driving unit 20 and the actuating assembly 30 are both provided in the channel 11 of the sleeve 10. In the actuating design, the driving unit 20 can drive the actuating assembly 30 to move in a first direction (in the present application, the first direction is defined as the direction approaching the driving unit 20), and the actuating assembly 30 can move independently in the channel 11 relative to the sleeve 10 and the driving unit 20 along the axis L. According to different structural designs, the driving unit 20 can be electrically driven or magnetically driven to drive the actuating assembly 30 to move in the first direction.

[0056] The actuating assembly 30 comprises a resilient member 31, a first component 32 and a second component 33. The resilient member 31 comprises a first end 311 and a second end 312. The first component 32 is connected to the first end 311 of the resilient member 31, and the second component 33 is connected to the second end 312 of the resilient member 31. In one embodiment of the present application, the resilient member 31 is a tensile spring. The first component 32 and the second component 33 can be made of a relatively strong material, such as a plastic material, a metal or an alloy, but the present application is not limited thereto. In addition, an implant or a medicament to be injected can be installed in the channel 11 of the sleeve 10 and located at a side of the second component 33 of the actuating assembly 30 away from the first component 32.

[0057] In the structural design, the stopper 12 of the sleeve 10 is arranged between the first part 32 and the second part 33 of the actuating assembly 30, and the first part 32 or the second part 33 cannot pass through the stopper 12 during the movement in the channel 11, only the elastic member 31 can pass through the stopper 12 freely. That is, the first part 32 is limited to move in the channel 11 on one side of the stopper 12, and the second part 33 is limited to move in the channel 11 on the other side of the stopper 12. The first part 32 is arranged between the driving unit 20 and the stopper 12, and the first part 32 is detachably combined with the driving unit 20. In the state that the first part 32 is combined with the driving unit 20, the second part 33 contacts the stopper 12 and is stopped by the stopper 12, so that the first part 32 can be moved along the axis L in the first direction D1 by the driving unit 20, and the elastic member 31 is also moved and stretched.

[0058] In an embodiment of the present application, the driving unit 20 comprises a combination part 21, and the first part 32 comprises a corresponding combination part 322. The driving unit 20 can be combined with the corresponding combination part 21 of the first part 32 through the combination part 21. The combination part 21 and the corresponding combination part 21 are designed to match each other in structure, for example, in the first embodiment of the present application, assuming that the driving unit 20 is a motor, the combination part 21 is a hook structure, and the corresponding combination part 322 is a buckle structure or another hook structure which can match the hook structure. Alternatively, when the combination part 21 is a pin structure, the corresponding combination part 322 is a hole structure which can match the pin structure. It should be noted that the structures of the combination part 21 and the corresponding combination part 322 can also be interchanged.

[0059] In an embodiment of the present application, the actuating assembly 30 further comprises a guide rod 34. One end of the guide rod 34 is connected to the second part 33, and the other end of the guide rod 34 extends along the axis L and penetrates the elastic member 31 and the first part 32. The first part 32 further comprises a through hole 321, and the guide rod 34 can pass through the through hole 321.

[0060] In an embodiment of the present application, the length of the guide rod 34 is not less than the length of the elastic member 31 in the stretched state. Therefore, by arranging the guide rod 34, the elastic member 31 and the first part 32 can continuously move along the direction of the axis L, regardless of whether the elastic member 31 is in the stretched state or the general contracted state.

[0061] In addition, in one embodiment of the present application, the sleeve 10 further comprises an operation portion 13. A user can control the driving unit 20 to drive the first component 32 of the actuating assembly 30 to move, control the first component 32 to be separated from the driving unit 20, or switch, execute or instruct corresponding functions through the operation portion 13. The operation portion 13 can be composed of a simple button, or the operation portion 13 can be a touch screen for a user to operate, or a combination of the two.

[0062] In one embodiment of the present application, the automatic injection device 1 of the present application further comprises a power supply unit 40. The power supply unit 40 is combined with the sleeve 10 to supply power required by each component in the automatic injection device 1 of the present application. For example, the power supply unit 40 can be electrically connected to the driving unit 20, and the power supply unit 40 can also be electrically connected to the operation portion 13 of the sleeve 10. Depending on different structural designs, the power supply unit 40 can be directly arranged in the channel 11 of the sleeve 10, for example, arranged at the other end of the channel 11 away from the injection object or the implant object, or the power supply unit 40 can also be arranged independently outside the channel 11. In one embodiment of the present application, the power supply unit 40 can be a rechargeable battery module, and the power supply unit 40 can comprise a charging port 41. The charging port 41 is exposed outside the sleeve 10, so that the charging port 41 can be directly connected to a household socket or a mobile power supply through a transmission line, so as to perform charging operation for the power supply unit 40.

[0063] In addition, in one embodiment of the present application, the sleeve 10 further comprises at least one limiting member 14, and the second component 33 of the actuating assembly 30 further comprises at least one corresponding limiting member 331. When the second component 33 moves relative to the sleeve 10, the second component 33 can be kept moving along the axis L by cooperation between the at least one corresponding limiting member 331 and the at least one limiting member 14. Each limiting member 14 is a protrusion, and each corresponding limiting member 331 is a linear groove for the protrusion to insert and move, and the linear groove extends along the parallel axis L. The structures of the aforementioned limiting member 14 and corresponding limiting member 331 can be interchangeable. The number and position of the limiting member 14 will correspond to the number and position of the corresponding limiting member 331.

[0064] The actuating principle of the first embodiment of the automatic injection device 1 of the present application will be described in detail below. Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 , wherein Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the automatic injection device of the present application in the process of injection operation, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the automatic injection device of the present application after performing injection operation.

[0065] As Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, when a user wants to perform an injection operation using the automatic injection device 1 of the present application, the power supply unit 40 can be first controlled to start supplying power by operating the operating member 12. Because the driving unit 20 is connected to the first part 32 of the actuating assembly 30, and the second part 33 of the actuating assembly 30 is stopped by the stopper 12, when the power supply unit 40 supplies power to the driving unit 20, the driving unit 20 will drive the corresponding engaging portion 322 of the first part 32 through the engaging portion 21, and then move the first part 32 along the axis L in the first direction D1, and the elastic member 31 will also move and be stretched. Because the elastic potential energy provided by the elastic member 31 is proportional to the square of the moving distance of the elastic member 31, the greater the moving distance of the elastic member 31, the more elastic potential energy will be stored. The equation of the elastic potential energy Ep is as follows:

[0066]

[0067] where k is the spring elastic coefficient, and x is the spring moving distance.

[0068] When the driving unit 20 drives the first part 32 to move in the first direction D1 to a set distance, the driving unit 20 will stop driving and keep the elastic member 31 in the stretched state. The set distance can be adjusted or changed according to different elastic members 31 or design requirements.

[0069] When the driving unit 20 stops driving, the driving unit 20 can automatically separate the first part 32, or the user can control the first part 32 to separate from the driving unit 20 by operating the operating member 13. For example, in the present embodiment, assuming that the driving unit 20 is a motor, the engaging portion 21 is a hook structure, and the corresponding engaging portion 322 is a buckle structure, when the driving unit 20 rotates in a certain direction and stops driving, the driving unit 20 can automatically perform reverse rotation, or perform reverse rotation by operating the operating member 13, so that the engaging portion 21 of the driving unit 20 is separated from the corresponding engaging portion 322 of the first part 32, and then the first part 32 is controlled to separate from the driving unit 20.

[0070] At this time, because the side of the elastic member 31 close to the first part 32 loses the stretching external force, the elastic potential energy of the elastic member 31 in the stretched state is released, so that the elastic member 31 drives the second part 33 to move along the axis L in the second direction D2 (i.e. the opposite direction of the first direction D1) quickly. Therefore, the second part 33 can push the aforementioned object to be implanted or the medicament to be injected, so as to perform the injection operation.

[0071] Accordingly, compared with the prior art automatic injection device, the automatic injection device 1 of the present application can complete the rapid injection operation by increasing the elastic potential energy of the elastic member 31, and effectively shorten the injection operation time.

[0072] The structure and operation principle of the second embodiment of the automatic injection device 1a of the present application will be described in detail below. Please refer to Figures 4 to 6 wherein Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the automatic injection device of the present application, Figure 5 is a schematic view of the second embodiment of the automatic injection device of the present application during an injection operation, Figure 6 is a schematic view of the second embodiment of the automatic injection device of the present application after an injection operation is performed.

[0073] The second embodiment of the automatic injection device of the present application is a variation of the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 4 , in the second embodiment of the automatic injection device 1a of the present application, the driving unit 20a is an electromagnet, and the first component 32a is a permanent magnet. Compared with the first embodiment, in the present embodiment, the driving unit 20a cancels the design of the coupling portion, and the first component 32a cancels the design of the corresponding coupling portion, and only the magnetic force is used as the driving force for the coupling or decoupling between the driving unit 20a and the first component 32a.

[0074] As shown in Figure 5 , when the power supply unit 40 supplies power to the driving unit 20a, the driving unit 20a generates a magnetic force and corresponding magnetic poles on both sides. At this time, the first component 32a is designed as a permanent magnet, so that the driving unit 20a and the first component 32a form a magnetic attraction force, thereby driving the first component 32a to move along the axis L in the first direction D1, and the elastic member 31 is also moved to be stretched. When the driving unit 20a drives the first component 32a to move in the first direction D1 to a set distance x, the driving unit 20a and the first component 32a are coupled to each other due to the magnetic attraction, and the elastic member 31 is maintained in the stretched state.

[0075] At this time, in the design, the driving unit 20a automatically stops driving or is controlled by the user to stop driving through the operation portion 13, so that the originally generated magnetic force disappears; or the driving unit 20a provides a reverse current, so that the magnetic poles generated on both sides are opposite. Regardless of which of the above designs is adopted, the first component 32a is separated from the driving unit 20a under the action of no external magnetic attraction or external magnetic repulsion, thereby causing the elastic member 31 to drive the second component 33 to move rapidly along the axis L in the second direction D2 (i.e., the opposite direction of the first direction D1). Therefore, the second component 33 can push the aforementioned object to be implanted or the medicament to be injected to perform the injection operation.

[0076] The foregoing implementations are merely illustrative of the application and are not intended to limit or restrict the scope of the application in any way. Thus, the foregoing implementations are illustrative only and should not be considered limiting in any regard. The application is defined only by the claims— a procedural recitation of the application followed by statements of intended applications. Thus, techniques of the present application could be utilized in other applications and not only for the applications described above without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the present application. The claims should not be restricted to the applications presented by the foregoing constructions carrying out the present application.

Claims

1. An automatic injection device for performing a bolus injection operation, comprising: The automatic injection device comprises: a sleeve, comprising a channel and a stopper, the stopper being arranged in the channel; a driving unit arranged in the channel; and an actuating assembly movably arranged in the channel along an axis, the actuating assembly further comprising: a resilient member, comprising a first end and a second end; a first component connected to the first end of the resilient member, the first component being detachably coupled to the driving unit; and a second component connected to the second end of the resilient member; wherein the driving unit is capable of driving the first component to move a set distance along the axis in a first direction, and the second component is stopped by the stopper, so that the resilient member is kept in a stretched state; when the first component is detached from the driving unit, the second component is driven by the resilient member to move along the axis in a direction opposite to the first direction, so as to perform the rapid injection operation through the second component; the actuating assembly further comprises a guide rod, one end of the guide rod being connected to the second component, and the other end of the guide rod extending along the axis and penetrating through the resilient member and the first component; wherein the length of the guide rod is not less than the length of the resilient member in the stretched state, the first component comprises a through hole, and the guide rod penetrates through the through hole.

2. An automatic injection device according to claim 1, wherein, wherein the resilient member is a tensile spring.

3. The automatic injection device of claim 1, wherein, wherein the driving unit further comprises a coupling portion, and the first component comprises a corresponding coupling portion capable of being coupled to the coupling portion.

4. An automatic injection device according to claim 3, wherein wherein the coupling portion is a hook structure or a latch structure, and the corresponding coupling portion is a buckle structure or a socket structure.

5. The automatic injection device of claim 1, wherein, wherein the driving unit is an electromagnet, and the first component is a permanent magnet.

6. The automatic injection device of claim 1, wherein, wherein the sleeve further comprises an operation portion, through which the first component is controlled to be detached from the driving unit.

7. The automatic injection device of claim 1, wherein, wherein a power supply unit is further included, the power supply unit being coupled to the sleeve and electrically connected to the driving unit.

8. The automatic injection device of claim 1, wherein, wherein the sleeve further comprises at least one limiting member, and the second component of the actuating assembly further comprises at least one corresponding limiting member; when the second component moves relative to the sleeve, the second component is moved along the axis by the at least one corresponding limiting member cooperating with the at least one limiting member.

Images