Patent ID: 6309371
Filing Date: 2001-10-30
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
An injection device comprising:a housing;an injection-assisting probe retractably located at a distal end of an injection device;a nozzle assembly having an opening for slidingly receiving at least a portion of the probe and defining a fluid chamber and being removably associated with the housing;a trigger assembly;a plunger; andan energy generating source operatively associated with the trigger assembly so that movement of the trigger assembly activates the energy source to move the plunger in a first direction and expel a fluid from the fluid chamber;wherein said injection-assisting probe comprises:a probe tip located at a distal end of the probe with at least a portion configured and dimensioned to slide within and to extend beyond the nozzle assembly opening the nozzle assembly opening;a discharge channel within the probe tip and terminating in an orifice through which the fluid is expelled;a body portion extending towards the discharge channel;a plunger receptor configured and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the plunger; anda retraction element operatively associated with the nozzle assembly, whereinthe probe is located within the nozzle assembly in a retracted position prior to activation of the energy source;movement of the plunger in the first direction upon activation of the energy source results in at least a portion of the probe tip extending from the nozzle assembly opening such that the probe tip protrudes beyond the nozzle assembly opening; andthe retraction element returns the probe tip to the retracted position after activation of the energy source.