Patent ID: 8048021

Claim:
A device for inserting a medicament within a body cavity of a mammal, said device comprising: a cartridge for containing said medicament therein, said cartridge comprising, a housing comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion and a housing slot disposed along a longitudinal axis of said housing, said housing slot having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, wherein said distal and proximal ends are terminated by housing slot protrusions extending across said transverse axis of said housing slot, a retractable chamber disposed within said housing, said retractable chamber comprising a distal internal surface, an external surface and a distal lumen defined by said distal internal surface, a substantially stationary member disposed within said lumen of said retractable chamber and having a uniform cross-section sized to provide a sliding fit within said lumen to provide for retraction of said retractable chamber about said substantially stationary member upon actuation of said device, said substantially stationary member comprising a proximal end having a substantially circular cross section and a locking tab located on the perimeter of said proximal end in alignment with and disposed within said housing slot; and means for retracting said retractable chamber about said substantially stationary member; and means for activating said means for retracting said retractable chamber, wherein said locking tab disposed within said housing slot maintains said substantially stationary member in a substantially stationary position upon actuation of said device.