US3376866A - Medicament injector with attached vial - Google Patents

Description

R. W. OGLE MEDIGAMENT INJECTOR WITH ATTACHED VIAL April 9, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 19, 1966 INVENTOR. Z67%06Z BY 6, figas 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. w. OGLE MEDICAMENT INJECTOR WITH ATTACHED VIAL April 9, 1968 Filed May 19, 1966 INVENTOR. #zaa ATEMX S United States Patent 3,376,866 MEDICAMENT INJECTOR WITH ATTACHED VIAL Robert W. Ogle, Phoenix, Ariz. (811 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, Calif. 90617) Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 474,413,

July 23, 1965. This application May 19, 1966, Ser.

17 Claims. (Cl. 128-220) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A medicament injector comprising a cylindrical vial having an open end and a closed end, a resilient plug inserted at least partially through said open end engaging the walls of said vial with a press fit, a cylindrical member having one closed end and a needle extending both outwardly and inwardly from said cylindrical member with a sharpened inner end terminating within the walls of said cylindrical member, cooperating threaded interlocking means on said cylindrical member and said plug, whereby upon interlocking the said plug with said cylindrical member said vial is first held in an assembled but non-operating position and upon further interlocking of said plug with said cylindrical member said plug is pierced by said needle and said needle communicates with said vial and said plug is locked securely to said cylindrical member to permit aspiration upon withdrawal of said vial or to permit expulsion of the contents of said vial upon exertion of pressure on said vial. The plug and cylindrical member may be provided with a plurality of cooperating teeth extending towards each other which are adapted to releasably engage and lock to prevent relative rotative movement therebetween.

This application is a continuation-in-part of applicants copending US. patent application Ser. No. 474,413, filed July 23, 1965 for Combination Package, Vial and Injector, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

This invention relates to a combination package, vial and injector, and though it has sometimes been referred to in this art as a syringe, we prefer to distinguish from a syringe in this invention in that a syringe ordinarily consists of a barrel which contains an injectable fluid and a plunger which propels the fluid from the barrel, wherein in this invention, the container for the fluid also acts as a propeller or propelling agent for the fluid and thus differs from the hyperdermic syringe. However, it is noted in the prior art, and particularly those patents to Lockhart, such as Lockhart 2,490,447 and 2,586,069, that this general type of injector is nevertheless termed a syringe.

It is a feature of this invention that the vial portion which contains the injectable fiuid forms a separate element which may be removed from the combination, filled with the desired injectable fluid with conventional filling machines, sealed with the sealing mechanism hereinafter described, and then combined with the remainder of the injector to form the overall injector and/or syringe.

It is a further feature of this invention that after the vial has been loaded and sealed as heretofore mentioned it may be combined with the barrel of the injector for storage without in any way communicating the contents of the fluid to the barrel of the injector until precisely at the point when it is desired to use the injector.

It is a further feature of this invention that sure, positive, and always effective means not relying upon mere friction are present, which enable the user, i.e., the physician or nurse, to aspirate the injector positively in all cases so as to prevent the injection of the medicament Patented Apr. 9, 1968 ICC directly into a vital portion of the body, such as a vein, artery, or organ, unless so desired.

It is a further feature of this invention that the needle of the injector in the portion extending within the injector terminates short of the surrounding cylindrical portion rather than extending at any time beyond said cylindrical portion with the result that the tip of said portion of said needle is protected at all times from accidental contact which might in some manner injure or render ineffective this end of the needle.

It is a further feature of this invention that whereas said needle referred to above is at all times short of the surrounding cylindrical portion, it assures that the juncturing of the rubber stopper as hereinafter described is directed centrally, thus avoiding any possibility of the needle puncturing a side or" said stopper and rendering the device ineffective.

It is a further feature of this invention that the glass vial at its open end preferably is of reduced internal diameter. However, certain embodiments of the invention are provided with a glass vial having a reduced portion which is of a very slightly reduced diameter on the order of twenty-thousandths of an inch. The presence of the reduced portion on the open end of the glass vial is of benefit in avoiding mishaps which might otherwise occur in the process of aspirating, as will be more fully hereinafter described. The same problem may be otherwise solved such as by the use of markings on the vial. This expedient is also more fully hereinafter described.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of means on the vial portion and the remainder of the injector whereby the rubber stopper in the vial portion may be freed from the walls thereof without the exertion of any substantial axial pressure on the stopper or on the fluid contents of a vial.

Experience with devices of the type embodied in the present invention has shown that the plug, which is of rubber or a rubber-like material may, over an extended period of time, actually seal to the inner walls of the vial not only forming a seal which is, of course, to be desired, but also a seizure which must be broken before the injector can be used. It is therefore an important feature and advantage of this invention that positive means are provided to interlock the plug and cylindrical member within the holder so that the seizure of the plug to the walls of the vial may be broken by turning the vial with respect to the holder and thus rotating the plug within the vial and breaking the seizure.

As set forth in the foregoing paragraph, it is an important object and feature of this invention to form such a positive interlocking when desired between the plug and the cylindrical member so that no slippage whatsoever is possible at this interlock with the result that the breaking of this seizure may be made entirely by rotation and no axial pressure on the vial in the direction of the needle is required such as might accidentally cause an expulsion of the contents of the vial by a premature rupture of the plug where it is pierced by the inner end of the needle. Such positive interlock is required as it has been found that attempts to break such a seizure without a positive interlock are ineffective.

It is another feature of this invention that a needle cover is employed which positively and surely maintains a seal on the open end of the needle, preferably not only at the needle end but also upon the hub from which the needle projects so that the expulsion of fluid from the injector is prevented until the needle cover is positively removed. This is important as it has been found in practice, that in use, when turning the vial to cause the inner end of the needle to puncture the plug, the nurse or physician may be simultaneously applying enough pressure to cause the premature expulsion of fluid from the end of the needle, as it is left unsealed at this time.

Yet another feature and object of the present invention is the provision of a threaded engagement means between the stopper of the vial and the balance of the injector portion whereby the threads on said stopper may be partly made up with threads on the injector portion to provide a unitary pre-assembled unit characterized by added convenience in shipping and handling. By the practice of the present invention this can be accomplished without communicating the contents of the vial with any portion of the needle. In addition, the engagement means in the shipping condition provides a seal around this end of the needle to thereby maintain complete sterility of that portion of the needle. This feature taken in combination with the needle cover above-described assures the complete sterility of the entire length of the needle during shipping, storage and handling.

In another and preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is a significant feature thereof that the injector portion does not contain any barrel such as is commonly utilized in injectors and/or syringes. Rather, according to the practice of this invention, the barrel has been entirely eliminated as an element of the combination without the sacrifice of any function of the overall unit.

These and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the annexed specification in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a package embodying the present invention as presented for distribution in one preferred embodiment;

FIGURE 2 is a section taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section of the preferred embodiment of this invention, which preferred embodiment is intended to be housed in the housing shown in FIG- URES l and 2 and is further illustrated as contained in said housing in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary section similar to FIG- URE 3 showing a different embodiment of the needle sealing means employed in the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view partly broken away and partly in section of the preferred embodiment of this invention incorporating the features of the positive interlock between the plug and the inner cylindrical member of the holder as well as the needle cap;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section through the device shown in FIGURE 5 with the vial more fully inserted and establishing the interlock;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged section taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the bottom of the holder employed in this embodiment;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged perspective elevation of the plug utilized in this embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 10 is a vertical section of the most advanced version of the invention illustrating that embodiment wherein the barrel around the body of the injector has been eliminated.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and particularly to the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3, the device is shown comprising a vial preferably in the form of a glass or plastic cylinder having an outer flange 21 of a closed end 22 and an open end 23. The walls of the open end 23 are necked-over as 24 for the purpose hereinafter described.

A resilient plug 25 is provided having a central bore 26 extending only part-way through the plug as clearly indicated in FIGURE 3. The plug 25 has a reduced section 27 provided with male threads 28 and an enlarged section 29 provided with outstanding rings 30, 31 and 32. The vial 20 may be placed in an ordinary filling machine as commonly used by pharmaceutical manufacturers and filled with a liquid injectable. Thereafter, the plug 25 may be inserted in the vial 20 to the extent that all three of the ring 30, 31 and 32 are contained within the vial and the outer ring 32 is within the necked-over end walls 24. It will thus be seen that the vial 29 with the plug 25 constitutes a self-contained unit in which the medicament may be sealed in a sterile condition. A holder 33 formed of glass or suitable plastic is provided which is generally cylindrical in form and has formed therein a second cylindrical member 34. The holder 33 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 35 at its open end. The cylindrical member 34 terminates at a point 36 well within the the open end of the holder 33 as clearly indicated. The interior of the cylindrical member 34 adjacent its outer end is provided with a series of female threads 37 adapted to mate with male threads 38 of the plug 25. The threads as just described engage with a loose fit so as to present substantially no friction-a1 resistance to the making up of the threads and certainly insutficient resistance to overcome the press fit of the rings 30, 31 and 32 within the vial 20. The holder 33 is provided with a closed end 38 and an outwardly extending boss 39 having a bore 40 therein in which is securely cemented, as by an epoxy cement, a needle 41 which has an inwardly extending sharpened end 42 and an outwardly sharpened end 43 in the fashion of a conventional syringe cannula.

In use, assuming the vial 20 to be filled with the injectable fluid 44 enclosed with the plug 25, the vial 20, having the plug secured therein with all three of the rings 30, 31 and 32 being inside the necked-over ends 24, is taken and inserted into the holder 33 such that the male threads 28 mate with the female threads 37 of the cylindrical member 34. This is the condition of the mechanism as shown in FIGURE 3.

In the condition shown in FIGURE 3, the device abovedescribed is taken and placed in the housing show in FIGURES 1 and 2. This housing comprises an upper cylindrical casing 45 and a lower cap 46 both of which have closed ends. The wall of the cap 46 is reduced as at 47 to form a shoulder 48 upon which the casing 45 may be seated and sealed with a press fit. It will be apparent that with a sterile seal at the point 48, the entire device as shown in FIGURE 3 is a sterile package contained in its sterile housing. The casing 45 is provided with a plurality of inwardly extending ribs 49 which extend downwardly to a portion 50 at which point the ribs 49 are of reduced width as shown at 51 forming a shoulder 52 against which the end wall 38 of the holder 33 seats when contained in the package and prevents the end 43 of the needle from striking the end of the casing 45. The reduced portion 47 of the cap 46 extends upwardly and provides a stop by engaging the flange 35 of the holder 33, thus securely holding the device between the two stops formed by the shoulder 50 and the reduced portion 47.

When it is desired to use the device of the embodiment above-described, the casing 45 and the cap 46 are removed. The device shown in FIGURE 3 is then taken with the holder 33, griped in the fingers of one hand and the vial 20 griped in the fingers of the other hand. The vial 20 is then turned in a clock-wise direction to cause male threads 28 to mate up with the female threads 37 until it reaches a point at which the sharpened end 42 of the needle 41 pierces the wall 53 of the plug 25, thus establishing communication between the needle 41 and bore 26 and hence the contents of vial 20.

In practice, no matter how carefully filled, the vial 20 will never be completely filled with fluid 44 but will contain a certain space 54 filled with nothing but air. Prior to injecting the device in the patient the physician or nurse will hold the device shown in FIGURE 3 in an upright position so as to cause the air bubble to be at the top of vial 20. Pressure is then applied on the end 22 of vial 20 to force the air in the space 54 outwardly through the needle 41. This procedure is continued until at least some small drop of fluid 44 is expelled from the end 43 of the cannula to demonstrate that all of the air has been evacuated.

Thereafter, the physician or nurse injects the cannula tip 43 into the patient. Before proceeding with an injection, however, it is common practice to aspirate the device. This is done 'by withdrawing by pulling outwardly on the vial as by finger contact with the flange 21 and observing the presence or absence of blood entering the vial 20.

Assuming the conditions to be correct, the physician or nurse then proceeds with the injection of the medicament into the patient which is done simply by pressing on the closed end 22 vial 20 to pass the vial over the walls of the cylindrical member 34 until the bottom 22 of the vial 20 contacts the bottom rings 30, of the plug 25. This completes the injection and the device is removed from the patient.

In FIGURE 4, there is shown another form of plug 25. In order to provide for an effective seal around the needle end 42 and to thereby prevent contamination of the needle as a result of air ad other foreign material seeping into the interior of member 34 around the threads of the plug 25, it has been found that the outside diameter of the needle end 42 is preferably slightly larger than the internal diameter of bore 70 to provide a press fit.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 5 through 9, there is shown a preferred embodiment of this invention. Again, a vial 120 generally similar to the vial 20 is provided which has an outer flange 121 on a closed end 122 and has an open end 123. The walls of the open end 123 are slightly reduced in interior diameter as in 124 for it has been found in practice that a reduction on the order of ten-thousandth inch is sufficient to provide a suitable warning and that the reduced portion 124 may even, if desired, be entirely eliminated and visual indicia relied upon to prevent the user from pulling the vial too far out of the assembly.

A resilient plug 125 generally similar to plug is provided and has a central bore 126 similar to bore 26 and also a central bore 170 similar to bore 70 aligned with the bore 126 but leaving an imperforated solid piece of the plug between the two bores. In order to facilitate the passage of the needle end 142 into bore 170 it has been found desirable to provide the bore 170 with slightly enlarged V-shaped guide or entrance portion 171. In addition to maintaining sterility, the seal formed between needle end 142 and bore hole 170 is of major importance in preventing the passage of some of the fluid in vial 120 into the interior of element 134 during the injection process. Since it is desired that all of the fluid in vial 120 be forced out through needle 141, the seal between bore hole 170 and needle 141 accomplishes an important function in the operation of the overall syringe. The plug 125 has reduced portion 127 provided with male threads 128 and an enlarged section 129 provided with outstanding rings 130, 131, and 132 It will be understood that in describing the embodiments of FIGURES 5 through 9 features in common with the previous embodiment are given like numbers except that they are in the one-hundred series. The vial 120 may be filled and sealed with the plug 125 exactly as the vial 20 in the previously embodiments.

The plug 125 differs from plug 25, however, in having formed upon the top of ring 132 a plurality of sharp teeth 180 which it will be noted'are cut to form a deep V 181 with the upper wall of the ring 132 tapering from the bottom of one sharp V tooth to the top of the next sharp V tooth as shown at 182.

The device shown in FIGURES 5 through 9 is provided with a holder 133, generally similar to the holder 33 and having a cylindrical member 134 formed therein comparable to member 34. The holder 133 is provided with a flange 135, comparable to flange 35. As in the previous embodiments, the cylindrical member 134 terminates at a point 136 which is well within the end of 6 the holder 133 as most clearly indicated in FIGURE 8. In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 5 through 9, the space between the end 136 of the member 134 and the bottom of the flange 135 is of lesser degree than in the previous embodiment since it has been found that it is only necessary to have enough wall contact within the cylindrical member 134 to center the upper end of plug 125 prior to any piercing by the needle 141. As before, the interior of the cylindrical member 134 adjacent its outer end, is provided with a series of female threads 137 adapted to mate with the male threads 128 of the plug 125. It will be noted in this embodiment that the threads are of the square or modified acme type rather than the sharp V thread shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 to reduce the possibility of thread stripping. The holder 133 is provided with a closed end 138 and outwardly extending boss 139- having a bore 140 therein in which is securely cemented a needle 141, which has an inwardly extending sharpened end 142 and an outwardly extending end 143 sharpened in the fashion of a conventional cannula. A needle cover 200 is provided having an open end 201 the Walls of which are tapered at 202 to have a press fit of the tapered walls with the boss 139. The needle cover 200 has -a hollow interior tapering to a section 203 which is cylindrical but smaller in diameter than the needle or cannula 141 and therefore receives the end of the needle with a press fit and seals the same when the needle cover 200 is in place. It will be realized, of course, that the needle cover is formed of a plastic or rubber-like material having resiliency sufiicient to form the press fit on the boss 139 and on the open end of the needle 143.

The use of the device described in FIGURES 5 through 9 is quite similar to that shown in FIGURE 3 with the exception that no cover as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 is required due to the fact that the needle is sealed by the needle cover 200 and the vial is sealed by the plug and when the device is assembled as shown in FIGURE 5, the interior of the cylindrical member 134- is closed by the threads 128 of the plug 125.

It has been found in practice that with the device as above-described, especially when the plug 125 is formed of rubber or rubber-like material, over a given period of time the rings 130, 131 and 132 of plug 125 will seize to and bind against the interior of the vial 120. In part, this is due to the fact that the rings must engage the walls of the vial with force sufficient to maintain a seal with the walls while rotational force is applied to initially make up the threads 128 with threads 137 and then to cause needle end 141 to pierce the imperforated section between bores 126 and of plug 125. This is particularly true in the case when the vial has been subjected to an elevated temperature. In order for this device to be operative, in such event, it is, of course, necessary that the plug 125 become free to slide within the vial 120 and it is therefore necessary to break the hind or seizure between the plug 125 and the vial 120. Any attempt to do this by pressing the vial 120 downwardly or forwardly in the direction of the needle would, of course, result in sudden explusion of the fluid in the vial at the inst-ant seizure was broken. To overcome this, the present embodiment utilizes the sharp teeth formed upon the plug 125 cooperating with sharp teeth formed on the open end of the cylindrical member 134. Both the teeth 180 and the teeth 190 have a sharp V cut and when the plug 125 is threaded into the cylindrical member 134,

the teeth 180 engage with the teeth 190 so that a positive grip is taken by the cylindrical member 134 on the plug 125.

When a rotary motion is applied between the vial 120 and the holder 133, the seizure or bind of the plug 125 with the interior of the vial 120 is broken. Moreover, all of the force involved is applied in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the syringe so that there is no tendency to cause an expulsion of the fluid from the vial 120 prematurely. Furthermore, if there is some relative motion of the vial 120 with respect to holder 133 in a longitudinal direction after the needle 141 pierces the plug 125 and establishes communication with the vial 120, accidental and premature expulsion of the medicament from the vial 120 is prevented by the presence of needle cover 200 on its dual seal, first upon the boss 139 and secondly at the zone 203 surrounding the end 143 of the needle. Accordingly, premature and undesired discharge of the medicament is at all times prevented until such time as the operator, by choice, removes the needle cover 209.

It will be noted that since the teeth 180 and 199, as has just been described, permit the breaking of the seizure of the plug 125 with the interior of vial 120 solely by force normal to the axis of the vial and further since the making up of the threads on plug 125 with the inner end 136 and the piercing of the plug 125 all take place by forces perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the syringe, there is no danger of the inadvertent expulsion of any liquid either during the making up of the threads and the piercing of plug 125, or during the breaking of the bind or seizure of the plug.

It will be noted that while the embodiments shown in FIGURES through 9 have the needle end 141 sealed in bore 170, that in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3 there is no bore in the plug 125 comparable to the bore 170. However, it is within the compass of this invention that the concept of the bore 170 and the plug receiving the needle 141 may be substituted in FIGURE 3 so that the needle 141 is sealed in which case a cap similar to cap 209 will be used to cover the open end 43 of the needle 41 and the housing consisting of the casing 45 and cap 46 may be eliminated. It is also within the concept of this invention to use a plug of the type shown in FIGURE 3 in any of the embodiments shown in FIGURES 4 through 9. In this case then, in order to maintain an aseptic condition, a housing such as shown in FIGURES l and 2 is necessary. However, it will be accordingly obvious that when a plug such as shown in FIGURES 4 through 9 is utilized, then an aseptic condition is established and a mere needle cap such as cap 200 may complete the package and the outer housing comprising the casing 45 and cap 46 becomes superfluous.

Turning to FIGURE 10, there is shown the most sophisticated embodiment of the present invention. In this figure it will be appreciated that in describing the device, features in common with the previous embodiments are given like numbers except that they are in the threehundred series. The device shown in FIGURE 10 differs from the other embodiments principally in that the holder such as holder 33 in FIGURES 3 and 4 and holder 133 in FIGURES 5 through 9 has been eliminated. Otherwise, the structure of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 10 is essentially identical to that shown in FIGURES 5 through 9. Thus the embodiment of FIGURE 10 has a cylindrical member 334. This cylindrical member is provided at its lower end with flange 335. As before, the interior of the cylindrical member 334 adjacent its outer end, is provided with a series of female threads 337 adapted to mate with the male threads 328 of the plug 325. The cylindrical member 334 is provided with a closed end 338 and outwardly extending boss 339 having a bore 340 therein in which is cemented a needle 341 which has an inwardly extending sharpened end 342 and an outwardly extending sharpened end 343. The embodiment shown in FIGURE 10 may be provided with a needle cover which in all respects is identical to the needle cover shown in FIGURES 5 and 6.

In use, the making up of the threads on the plug 325 with the threads on the cylindrical member 334, the piercing of the plug 325, and the engagement of teeth on the upper end of member 334 to break the seizure of rings 330, 331 and 332 with the walls of the vial 320 are accomplished as before. Likewise, the removal of any air within vial 320 and the aspiration procedures are as previously described. However, in injecting the patient, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the device is normally gripped at the flange 335 which depends from the cylindrical member 334. The elimination of the holder or barrel as shown in this embodiment effects substantially economies in the manufacture of the injector by greatly simplifying the molding procedures, and reducing the amount of materials required for the production of each unit.

While there has been described what is at present considered preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention and it is intended to cover herein all such changes and modifications as come wtihin the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A medicament injector comprising: a cylindrical vial having an open end and a closed end, a resilient plug adapted to be inserted at least partially through said open end of said vial; a plurality of outwardly extending rings upon said plug engaging the walls of said vial with a press fit; a cylindrical member having one closed end, said cylindrical member being adapted to hold a needle extending outwardly from said cylindrical member and also inwardly into said cylindrical member and having a sharpened inner end; interlocking means on said cylindrical member and cooperating interlocking means on said plug, whereby upon interlocking of said plug with said cylindrical member said vial is first held in an assembled but non-operating position and upon further interlocking of said plug with said cylindrical member, said plug is adapted to be pierced by said needle and said needle communicated with said vial without the application of substantial axial pressure on said plug and said plug is locked securely to said cylindrical member to permit aspiration upon withdrawal of said vial or to permit expulsion of the contents of said vial upon exertion of pressure on said vial; and a plurality of teeth on the inner end of said cylindrical member and extending towards said resilient plug and said resilient plug being provided with a plurality of teeth formed thereon and extending towards said teeth on said cylindrical member; said teeth being adapted to releasably engage and lock against relative rotative movement of said cylindrical member and said plug when fully interlocked, whereby rotation of said vial with respect to said cylindrical member causes said plug to break free of any bind with said vial.

2. A medicament injector as set forth in claim 1 in which the walls of said vial at said open end are reduced in diameter to form a lip.

3. A medicament injector as set forth in claim 1 in which the walls of said vial at said open end are reduced in diameter to form a lip and said plug has a first central bore extending partly through said plug.

4. A medicament injector as set forth in claim 1 in which said teeth on said cylindrical member and said teeth on said plug are each formed with a sharp V undercut to prevent slippage therebetween when engaged.

5. A medicament injector comprising: a cylindrical vial having an open end and a closed end, a resilient plug adapted to be inserted at least partially through said open end of said vial; at plurality of outwardly extending rings upon said plug engaging the walls of said vial with a press fit; a cylindrical member having one closed end, said cylindrical member having a needle extending outwardly from said cylindrical member and also inwardly into said cylindrical member and having a sharpened inner end, said sharpened inner end of said needle terminating within the walls of said cylindrical member; means securing said needle to said cylindrical member, interlocking means on said cylindrical member and cooperating interlocking means on said plug; whereby upon 9 interlocking of said plug with said cylindrical member said vial is first held in an assembled but non-operating position and upon further interlocking of said plug with said holder said plug is pierced by said needle and said needle is communicated with said vial and said plug is locked securely to said cylindrical member to permit aspiration upon withdrawl of said vial or to permit expulsion of the contents of said vial upon exertion of pressure on said vial.

6.A medicament injector as set forth-in claim in which said plug has a central bore extending partly through said plug, and a second central bore therein extending partly through said plug and aligned with said first mentioned bore, said inner end of said needle in assembled but non-operating position entering said second bore and having a press fit therein and piercing said plug and entering said first mentioned bore upon said further interlocking of said plug to said holder.

7. A medicament injector comprising: a cylindrical vial having an open end and a closed end, a resilient plug adapted to be inserted at least partially through said open end of said vial; a plurality of outwardly extending rings upon said plug engaging the walls of said vial with a press fit; a cylindrical member having one closed end, said cylindrical member having a needle extending outwardly from said cylindrical member and also inwardly into said cylindrical member and having a sharpened inner end, said sharpened inner end of said needle terminating within the walls of said cylindrical member; means securing said needle to said cylindrical member, said plug being provided with a first central bore extending axially thereof and a second central bore extending axially therethrough in the opposite direction, said bores leaving an imperforate section of said plug therebetween adapted to be pierced by the inner end of said needle, whereby said cylindrical member acts to centralize said plug and insert said needle directly into said bores, interlocking means on said cylindrical member and cooperating interlocking means on said plug; whereby upon interlocking of said plug with said cylindrical member said vial is first held in an assembled but non-operating position and upon further interlocking of said plug with said holder said plug is pierced by said needle and said needle is communicated with said vial and said plug is locked securely to said cylindrical member to permit aspiration upon withdrawal of said vial or to permit expulsion of the contents of said vial upon exertion of pressure on said vial.

8. A medicament injector comprising: a clyindrical vial having an open end and a closed end, a resilient plug adapted to be inserted at least partially through said open end of said vial; a plurality of outwardly extending rings upon said plug engaging the Walls of said vial with a press fit; a cylindrical member having one closed end, said cylindrical member having a needle extending outwardly from said cylindrical member and also inwardly into said cylindrical member and having a sharpened inner end of said needle terminating within the walls of said cylindrical member; means securing said needle to said cylindrical member, and interlocking means on said cylindrical member and cooperating interlocking means on said plug, said interlocking means comprising threads formed at the open end of said cylindrical member, and threads formed on said plug and mating with said threads on the cylindrical member; whereby said vial is the first held in an assembled but non-operating position and upon further making up of said threads, said plug is pierced by said needle and said needle communicates with said vial without the application of substantial axial pressure on said plug and said plug is locked securely to said cylindrical member to permit aspiration upon withdrawal of said vial or to permit expulsion of the contents of said vial upon exertion of pressure on said vial.

9. A medicament injector comprising: a cylindrical vial having an open end and a closed end, a resilient plug adapted to be inserted atleast partially through said open end of said vial; a plurality of outwardly extending rings upon said plug engaging the walls of said vial with a press fit; a cylindrical member having one closeod end, said cylindrical member having a needle extending outwardly from said cylindrical member and also inwardly into said cylindrical member and having a sharpened inner end, said sharpened inner end of said needle termniating within the walls of said cylindrical member; means securing said needle to said cylindrical member, interlocking means on said cylindrical member and cooperating interlocking means on said plug, said interlocking means comprising threads formed at the open end of said cylindrical member, and threads formed on said plug and mating with said threads on the cylindrical member whereby said vial is first held in an assembled but nonoperating position and upon further making up of said threads said plug is pierced by said needle and said needle communicates with said vial without the application of substantial axial pressure on said plug and said plug is locked securely to said cylindrical member to permit aspiration upon withdrawal of said vial or to permit expulsion of the contents of said vial upon exertion of pressure on said vial; and a plurality of teeth at the inner end of said cylindrical member and extending towards said resilient plug, and said resilient plug being provided with a plurality of teeth formed thereon and extending towards said teeth on said cylindrical member; said teeth being adapted to releasably engage and lock against relative rotative movement of said cylindrical member and said plug when said threads are fully made up, whereby rotation of said vial with respect to said cylindrical member causes said plug to break free of any kind with said vial.

10. A medicament injector comprising: a cylindrical vial having an open end and a closed end, a resilient plug adapted to be inserted at least partially through said open end of said vial; a plurality of outwardly extending rings upon said plug engaging the walls of said vial with a press fit; a cylindrical holder having an open end and a closed end; a cylindrical member within and spaced from said holder having one end engaging said closed end of said holder, said cylindrical member extending longitudinally of said holder and terminating at an open and within said holder; said holder having a needle extending outwardly from said holder member and also inwardly into said cylindrical member and having a sharpened inner end, said sharpened inner end of said needle terminating within the walls of said cylindrical member; means securing said needle to said holder; interlocking means on said cylindrical member and cooperating interlocking means on said plug, said interlocking means comprising threads formed at the open end of said cylindrical member, and threads formed on said plug and mating with said threads on the cylindrical member whereby said vial is first held in an assembled but non-operating position and upon further making up of said threads said plug is pierced by said needle and said needle communicates with said vial without the app'icarion of substantial axial pressure on said plug and said plug is locked securely to said cylindrical member to permit aspiration upon withdrawal of said vial or to permit expulsion of the contents of said vial upon exertion of pressure on said vial; and a plurality of teeth at the inner end of said cylindrical member and extending toward said resilient plug, and said resilient plug being provided with a plurality or" teeth formed thereon and extending towards said teeth on said cylindrical member; said teeth being adapted to releasably engage and lock against relative rotative movement of said cylindrical member and said plug when said threads are fully made up, whereby rotation of said vial with respect to said cylindrical member causes said plug to break free of any bind with said vial.

11. A cylindrical member having one closed end, said cylindrical member having a needle extending outwardly from the closed end of said cylindrical member and also inwardly into said cylindrical member and having a sharpened inner end, means securing said needle to said cylindrical member, the inner end of said needle terminating within the walls of said cylindrical member, and said cylindrical member having threads thereon adapted to mate with threads on a second threaded member to form an interlock therebetween.

12. A cylindrical member having one closed end, said cylindrical member being adapted to hold a needle in an outwardly extending position from the closed end of said cylindrical member and also inwardly into said cylindrical member, the inner end of said cylindrical member being provided with a plurality of teeth formed thereon and adapted to extend toward a second member equipped with a plurality of teeth, said teeth being adapted to releasably engage and lock with said second member to prevent relative rotative movement therebetween.

13. A cylindrical holder having an open end and a closed end, a cylindrical member within and spaced from said holder having one end engaging said closed end of said holder, said cylindrical member extending longitudinally of said holder and terminating at an open end with said holder, said holder being adapted to hold a needle in an outwardly extending position from the closed end of said holder and also inwardly into said cylindrical member, the inner end of said cylindrical member being provided with a plurality of teeth formed thereon and adapted to extend toward a second member equipped with a plurality of teeth, said teeth being adapted to releasably engage and lock with said second member to prevent relative rotative movement therebetween.

14. A novel cylindrical vial having an open end and a closed end, a resilient plug inserted through said open end of said vial, a plurality of outwardly extending rings upon said plug engaging the walls of said vial with a press fit, said plug also being provided with a plurality of teeth formed thereon, said teeth extending towards and being adapted to releasably engage and lock with a second member having teeth to prevent relative rotative movement between said plug and said second member.

15. The vial of claim 14 wherein the walls of the vial at said open end are of reduced diameter to form a lip.

16. The vial of claim 14 wherein said plug has a central. bore extending partly through said plug.

17. A novel cylindrical vial having an open end and a closed end, a resiiient plug inserted through said open end of said vial, a plurality of outwardly extending rings upon said plug engaging the walls of said vial with a press fit, said plug also being provided with a plurality of teeth formed thereon, said teeth extending towards and being adapted to releasably engage and lock with a second member having teeth to prevent relative rotative movement between said plug and said second member, said resilient plug having an extension thereon and male threads formed on at least a portion of said extension and adapted to mate with female threads on said second member to interlock therewith.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,817,003 8/1931 Hein 128-220 2,497,562 2/1950 Smith 128220 2,524,362 10/1950 Smith 128--220 2,568,346 9/1951 Lockhart l28220 2,586,068 2/1952 Lockhart 128220 2,586,069 2/1952 Lockhart 128-220 3,098,482 7/1963 OSullivan 128220 3,128,766 4/1964 Mizzy 128220 3,272,322 9/1966 Ogle 20643 3,291,128 12/1966 ONell 128-219 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

R. L. FRINKS, Assistant Examiner.

Images