Patent ID: 7988660

Claim:
A device for injecting a fluid dose into a body of a patient comprising: a needle-free injecting assembly constructed and arranged to deliver the fluid dose into the body, the needle-free injecting assembly including: a needle-free syringe defining an injection chamber configured to receive the fluid dose, and an outlet; and a plunger movable within the injection chamber, the plunger configured to be drawn away from the outlet to apply a vacuum force within the injection chamber; a fluid delivery assembly configured to deliver the fluid dose to the needle-free injecting assembly, the fluid delivery assembly including: a housing defining an interior space therein; a cartridge defining a reservoir for containing the fluid, the cartridge constructed and arranged to be received by the interior space, the cartridge having a first end and a second end defining an outlet; a movable piston contained within the first end of the cartridge; a drive train for applying a force to the movable piston; and a sensing assembly constructed and arranged to control at least the drive train; and an adapter removably coupled to the needle-free injecting assembly and fluidly coupling the cartridge to the needle-free injecting assembly, the adapter having a fluid flow passage extending transverse to an axis extending along a length of the needle-free injecting assembly, wherein the sensing assembly directs the drive train to apply a force to the movable piston for overcoming adhesion or static friction between the movable piston and the cartridge while the vacuum force draws the fluid dose from the cartridge through the adapter and into the injection chamber of the needle-free injecting assembly.