Patent ID: 6997904
Filing Date: 2006-02-14
Classification: A61F,A61M

Abstract:
1. A fluid injection apparatus for dispensing a viscous fluid for use with a disposable container which contains the viscous fluid therein, the disposable container including an outlet passageway for ejection of the viscous fluid therefrom, comprising; a) a housing having first and second opposed ends and defining a chamber which is sufficiently large to receive therein said disposable container, said second opposed end having an opening sufficiently large for the outlet passageway to protrude therethrough and sufficiently small to retain the disposable container in said housing, said housing including a first locking flange located at said first opposed end; and b) a locking head assembly for locking the disposable container in said housing, said locking head assembly including a top plate and a second locking flange which engages with said first locking flange for locking said locking head assembly to said housing, said locking head assembly including a passageway in communication with an interior of said disposable container and coupling means for connecting a pressurizing fluid to said passageway for pressurizing the interior of the disposable container for expelling fluid therefrom, said coupling means including a rigid tube coupled to said top plate and extending through said top plate, and a flexible tube coupled to said rigid tube on a top side of said top plate for transmitting the pressurizing fluid into the interior of said disposable container, wherein said rigid tube defines a gasket retainer flange on a bottom side of said top plate, including a gasket mounted on said gasket retainer flange, said gasket having a sufficient size so that when said locking head assembly is coupled to said housing, said gasket is seated in the interior of said disposable container forming a seal so that said pressurizing fluid pressurizes the interior of the disposable container, and wherein said disposable container is a disposable syringe including a syringe cylinder containing said viscous fluid and said outlet passageway is defined by a syringe needle or cannula, and wherein when the disposable syringe is assembled within the housing and locking head assembly locked on the housing, the gasket is inserted and seated in a top portion of the syringe cylinder.