Patent ID: 8403887

Claim:
An apparatus for dispensing medicaments to a patient comprising: (a) a first assembly including first and second threadably interconnected housings and a rate control assembly carried by said second housing for controlling the rate of flow of medicaments to the patient; and (b) a second assembly connected to said first assembly, said second assembly comprising: (i) a carriage movable between a first retracted position and a second advanced, fluid delivery position; (ii) a fluid reservoir defining component carried by said carriage, said fluid reservoir defining component comprising collapsible container having a pierceable top wall and a reservoir for containing a medicinal fluid to be delivered to the patient; (iii) stored energy means operably associated with said carriage for moving said carriage between said first retracted position and said second advanced position to controllably collapse said collapsible container, said stored energy means comprising a plurality of springs, each of said plurality of variable force springs comprising a drum assembly and a band of material wound about said drum assembly; and (iv) spring retaining means operably associated with said plurality of variable force springs for initially retaining said plurality of variable force springs in an extended position and then, upon rotation of said first assembly relative to said second assembly to permit said variable force springs to retract.