Injection system

Abstract

An injection system for treating the body of a human or animal, comprising a syringe (10) having at least one chamber (18) for containing a therapeutic fluid, wherein the chamber (18) opens into a nozzle (20) and is connected to a pressurizing system for pressurizing the fluid in the chamber such that a skin-penetrating jet (24) is ejected from the nozzle (20), the system comprising at least one alternative dosing device (26, 28) for administering the therapeutic fluid, wherein the nozzle (20) of the syringe is integrated with an adapter (30) that can be connected to a mating adapter (32) of at least one alternative dosing device (26, 28).

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to an injection system for treating the human or animal body, comprising a syringe having at least one chamber for containing a therapeutic fluid, the chamber opening into a nozzle and being connected to a pressurization system for pressurizing the fluid in the chamber such that a skin-penetrating jet is ejected from the nozzle.

Background Art

[0002] WO 2018 / 115249 discloses a syringe of the above type in the form of a hand-held injection gun having two nozzle heads arranged side by side and each having an associated nozzle. This syringe has the advantage that it can administer two different therapeutic fluids, such as a vaccine or a drug, at the same time.

[0003] The above document discloses a needleless injection system, but more conventional injection systems comprise a needle connected to a syringe body by means of a pair of standardized fitting attachments. For example, the pair of attachments may be configured as a Luer lock, as described in US 2021 / 135878.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to increase the versatility of syringes of the above type.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve this objective, the system according to the present invention comprises at least one alternative dosing device for administering a therapeutic fluid, wherein the syringe nozzle is integrated with an adapter that can be connected to a mating adapter of at least one alternative dosing device.

[0007] The alternative administration device may be, for example, a needle or a spray nozzle. Therefore, a syringe originally designed for needleless injection may be converted into a syringe for administering the therapeutic agent via a needle, if this administration method is deemed necessary or advantageous, or it may be used to administer the therapeutic agent in the form of a spray applied orally or nasally to mammals. The conversion of the syringe for the alternative administration method can be achieved simply by connecting an adapter for the alternative administration device to an adapter integrated into the syringe nozzle.

[0008] Useful details and further developments of the present invention are shown in the dependent claims.

[0009] The adapters for the alternative dispensing device and syringe may be, for example, standardized fittings that constitute a Luer fitting or Luer lock.

[0010] The syringe may be a twin-type syringe of the type described above. Then, by attaching a spray nozzle to the nozzle head of the syringe, it is possible to spray the therapeutic fluid into, for example, two nostrils of a mammal simultaneously.

[0011] Here, an example of an embodiment will be described in conjunction with the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of the injection system according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view of a different embodiment of a syringe nozzle head that forms part of an injection system according to the present invention. [Figure 3]This is a cross-sectional view of a different embodiment of a syringe nozzle head that forms part of an injection system according to the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of a different embodiment of a syringe nozzle head that forms part of an injection system according to the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a front view of a syringe in an injection system according to another embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle head of a conventional syringe. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] An exemplary injection system is shown in Figure 1, comprising a syringe 10 which can take the form of a handheld injection gun having a body 12 and a nozzle head 14. A fluid cartridge 16 containing a therapeutic fluid such as a vaccine, drug, or hormone is inserted into the body 12. Inside the body 12, the fluid cartridge 16 is connected to a fluid chamber 18 formed inside the nozzle head 14. The chamber 18 opens into the nozzle 20. The body 12 houses any known type of pressurization system for pressurizing the fluid in the chamber 18, for example, a piston / cylinder unit with an associated drive mechanism. The pressurization system can be activated by pulling a trigger 22, as a result of high pressure being generated in the fluid in the chamber 18, and a jet 24 of therapeutic fluid being ejected from the nozzle 20. When the nozzle head 14 is applied to the skin of a patient or animal, the jet 24 penetrates the skin, so that the therapeutic fluid can be administered intradermally or intramuscularly without the use of a needle.

[0014] The injection system further comprises several alternative administration devices, which may include a needle 26 and a spray nozzle 28 as shown in the examples. Other examples of alternative administration devices may be devices for oral administration, devices for intravenous administration, or devices for rectal administration, intramammary administration, intranasal administration, and / or intraocular administration.

[0015] The syringe further comprises an adapter that is integrated with the nozzle and is connectable to a fitting adapter of an alternative administration device for administering a therapeutic fluid.

[0016] Preferably, the fitting adapter of the alternative administration device (26, 28) is a female adapter 32 by which the administration device can be safely and securely connected to the nozzle 20, whereby the therapeutic fluid is introduced into alternative administration devices such as the needle 26 and the spray nozzle 28. Preferably, the nozzle 20 is integrated with a complementary male adapter 30. Suitably, the adapter is a luer lock.

[0017] The nozzle 20 may be integrated with the male adapter 30. Preferably, the male adapter is configured as a luer lock as shown in this example. Each of the alternative administration devices 26, 28 has a complementary female adapter 32 by which the administration device can be safely and securely connected to the nozzle 20, as a result of which the therapeutic fluid is introduced into alternative administration devices such as the needle 26 and the spray nozzle 28.

[0018] The housing 12 of the syringe shown in FIG. 1 and its internal components can have the same design as a conventional syringe. An exemplary nozzle head 34 of a conventional syringe is shown in cross-section in FIG. 6. This nozzle head has a cylindrical body 36 that forms the fluid chamber 18 and the nozzle 20. The wall of the fluid chamber 18 has internal threads so that the body 36 can be screwed into external threads of a socket (not shown) that forms a supply line for supplying the therapeutic fluid into the chamber 18 from the housing 12.

[0019] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle head 14 of the syringe 10 shown in Figure 1. The nozzle head 14 has the same body 36 as the conventional nozzle head 34, but further includes an adapter 30. The adapter 30 may be in the form of a male Luer lock. As is known in the art, a Luer lock has a generally cylindrical but slightly conical fitting 38 (Luer cone) surrounded by a female-threaded sleeve 40. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the male part of the Luer lock is attached to the body 36 such that the protrusion of the nozzle 20 protrudes into the fitting 38 and seals the proximal end of the fitting 38. Each female adapter 32 has a hollow cylindrical fitting with an inner surface that mates with the outer surface of the male fitting 38. The radial protrusions 42 on the outer peripheral surface of the female adapter 32 can engage the female threads of the sleeve 40, whereby an alternative dosing device (e.g., the needle 26 or the spray nozzle 28) is firmly fixed to the nozzle head 14. When the pressurization system is activated, the fluid ejected from the nozzle 20 is introduced into an alternative dosing device such as a needle and a spray nozzle without the risk of leakage.

[0020] Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the nozzle head 14' having a body 36'. The body 36' has an upper wall that includes the nozzle 20. This upper wall has a greater thickness than the upper wall of the body 36 in Figure 2, surrounds the fitting 38 and the nozzle 20, and has a recess 44 that forms female threads for the protrusions 42.

[0021] Figure 4 shows the nozzle head 14'' according to yet another embodiment different from the embodiment shown in Figure 3, which has a body 36'' with an upper wall that is thinner than that of Figure 3. Accordingly, the fitting 38' and the recess 44' in this embodiment are shorter than those in Figure 3. The thickness of the upper wall of the body 36'' may be the same as the thickness of the upper wall of the body of the conventional nozzle head 34.

[0022] The appropriate dimensions for the mounting fixtures (38, 38', 38") or recesses (44, 44', 44") are 2.0mm to 15.0mm, preferably 2.2mm to 14.0mm, preferably 2.5mm to 13.0mm, preferably 2.7mm to 12.0mm, preferably 3.0mm to 11.0mm, preferably 3.1mm to 10.0mm, preferably 3.2mm to 9.5mm, preferably 3.3mm to 9.0mm, preferably 3.4mm to 8.5mm, and preferably 3.5mm to 8.0mm. The diameter is preferably 3.6mm to 7.5mm, preferably 3.7mm to 7.0mm, preferably 3.8mm to 6.5mm, preferably 3.9mm to 6.0mm, preferably 4.0mm to 5.5mm, preferably 4.1mm to 5.4mm, preferably 4.2mm to 5.3mm, preferably 4.3mm to 5.2mm, preferably 4.4mm to 5.1mm, preferably 4.5mm to 5.0mm, preferably 4.6mm to 4.9mm, and preferably 4.7mm to 4.8mm.

[0023] The appropriate dimensions of the mounting fixture (38, 38', 38") or recess (44, 44', 44") are at least 2.0 mm, preferably at least 2.2 mm, preferably at least 2.5 mm, preferably at least 2.7 mm, preferably at least 3.0 mm, preferably at least 3.1 mm, preferably at least 3.2 mm, preferably at least 3.3 mm, preferably at least 3.4 mm, preferably at least 3.5 mm, preferably at least 3.6 mm, preferably at least 3.7 mm, preferably at least 3.8 mm, preferably at least 3.9 mm, preferably at least 4.0 mm, preferably at least 4.1 mm, preferably at least 4.2 mm, preferably at least 4.3 mm, preferably at least 4.4 mm, preferably at least 4.5 mm, preferably at least 4.6 mm, preferably at least 4.7 mm.

[0024] Suitable dimensions for the mounting fixture (38, 38', 38") or recess (44, 44', 44") are less than 15.0 mm, preferably less than 14.0 mm, preferably less than 13.0 mm, preferably less than 12.0 mm, preferably less than 11.0 mm, preferably less than 10.0 mm, preferably less than 9.5 mm, preferably less than 9.0 mm, preferably less than 8.5 mm, preferably less than 8.0 mm, preferably less than 7.5 mm, preferably less than 7.0 mm, preferably less than 6.5 mm, preferably less than 6.0 mm, preferably less than 5.5 mm, preferably less than 5.4 mm, preferably less than 5.3 mm, preferably less than 5.2 mm, preferably less than 5.1 mm, preferably less than 5.0 mm, preferably less than 4.9 mm, and preferably less than 4.8 mm.

[0025] Figure 5 shows a front view of a syringe 10' having two nozzle heads 14 arranged side by side. The syringe 10' has two pressurization systems, one for each nozzle head 14, which can operate independently of each other, but can also be switched to a state where both pressurization systems are activated simultaneously by pulling the trigger 22.

Claims

1. An injection system for treating the body of a human or animal, comprising a syringe having at least one chamber for containing a therapeutic fluid, wherein the chamber is connected to a pressurizing system for pressurizing the fluid in the chamber so that a skin-penetrating jet is ejected from the nozzle, the system comprising at least one alternative dosing device for administering the therapeutic fluid, and the nozzle of the syringe is integrated with an adapter that can be connected to a mating adapter of the at least one alternative dosing device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the alternative administration devices is a spray nozzle.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the alternative administration devices is a needle.

4. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the adapter of the syringe and the alternative dispensing device are configured to form a Luer connector.

5. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the adapter of the syringe and the alternative dispensing device are configured to form a Luer lock.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the adapter of the syringe comprises a male Luer cone surrounded by a female threaded sleeve, and both the Luer cone and the sleeve protrude from the wall of a body including the nozzle which opens into the interior of the Luer cone.

7. The system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the adapter of the syringe has a Luer cone positioned in the center of a female thread recess of the main body that forms the nozzle.

8. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the syringe has a plurality of nozzles, each associated with a fluid chamber and a pressurizing system.

9. A syringe for treating the body of a human or animal, comprising at least one chamber for containing a therapeutic fluid, wherein the chamber is connected to a pressurizing system for pressurizing the fluid in the chamber such that it opens into a nozzle and a skin-penetrating jet is ejected from the nozzle, and the syringe further comprises an adapter integrated with the nozzle, which is connectable to a mating adapter of an alternative dosing device for administering the therapeutic fluid.

10. The syringe according to claim 9, wherein the adapter of the syringe and the fitting adapter of the alternative dispensing device are configured to form a Luer connector.

11. The syringe according to any one of claims 9 and 10, wherein the adapter of the syringe and the fitting adapter of the alternative dosing device are configured to form a Luer lock.

12. The syringe according to claim 11, wherein the adapter of the syringe comprises a male Luer cone surrounded by a female threaded sleeve, and both the Luer cone and the sleeve protrude from the wall of the body containing the nozzle which opens into the interior of the Luer cone, preferably the adapter of the syringe has a Luer cone positioned in the center of a female threaded recess of the body that forms the nozzle.

13. The syringe according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the syringe has a plurality of nozzles, each associated with a fluid chamber and a pressurizing system.

14. The syringe according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein at least one of the alternative administration devices is a spray nozzle or a needle.

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