Mixing and dispensing disposable medicament injector
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to mixing and dispensing disposable injectors having two separate chambers, one for the liquid and another for the dry medicament. 
     The need for a reliable and inexpensive mixing and dispensing disposable injector has faced the medical field for a long time. There have been many attempts made to provide such an injector; unfortunately, in virtually every instance the device would have one or more shortcomings which rendered it unsatisfactory. 
     In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to provide a mixing and dispensing disposable injector which is reliable and inexpensive to produce. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a mixing and dispensing injector which has a good shelf life. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide a mixing and dispensing injector comprising a barrel, closed at one end by a slidable plunger and at the other end by a diaphragm assembly with a second diaphragm assembly positioned within the barrel intermediate its ends to form two chambers. 
     The above and additional objects and advantages will become more apparent when considered in conjunction with the following detailed description and drawings: 
    
    
     IN THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view illustrating the device of this invention in storage condition; 
     FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the device in ready to use condition with the cannula mounted on the forward end and the plunger rod attached to the plunger in the rearward end; 
     FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the device showing the first step in the use procedure wherein the plunger rod has moved the plunger forward a small distance to force the liquid forward to thereby flex the wall of the second diaphragm assembly and cause it to be ruptured, thus allowing the liquid to flow into the dry medicament chamber, and 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the plunger in position against the second diaphragm and having forced all of the liquid into the dry medicament chamber where dissolving takes place; further, the liquid with the medicament dissolved therein has flexed the wall of the first diaphragm assembly to rupture same and establish fluid flow with the cannula. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, the mixing and dispensing disposable injector of this invention comprises a cylindrical glass barrel 12 having a plunger assembly 14 closing off the rearward end of the barrel 12 and a first diaphragm assembly 16 closing off the forward end of the barrel 12. A second diaphragm assembly 18 is positioned within the barrel 12 intermediate the barrel ends to form a first chamber 20 for the liquid and a second chamber 22 for the dry medicament. The forward end of the barrel is provided with a nose cap or cannula holder 24 which in turn mounts a cover 26. A finger grip 28 is fitted on the rear end of the barrel 12. 
     Referring to the various assemblies in more detail, the finger grip 28 comprises a circular body portion 30 having a pair of finger grip elements 32 and 34 extending diametrically outward from said body portion 30 and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the glass barrel 12. An outer circumferential wall 36 extends forwardly from the finger grip body portion 30 and is sized such that the inner surface 38 of the wall 36 snugly engages the outer surface 40 of the glass barrel 12. Similarly, a circular inner wall 42 extends forwardly from the finger grip body portion 30 and is sized so that its outer surface 44 will snugly grip the inner surface 46 of the glass barrel 12. It is by means of the engagement of the finger grip inner and outer walls 42 and 36, respectively, with the confronting surfaces of the glass barrel 12 that the finger grip is retained therein. On the inner side where the finger grip body portion 30 and the outer wall 36 meet there is provided a slight undercut 48 to give a small amount of flexibility to the body portion 30 and the outer wall 36 during the insertion of the glass barrel 12 into the space between the inner and outer walls 42 and 36. 
     Plunger assembly 14 which is slidably carried in the rearward end of the glass barrel 12 comprises a circular body portion 60 having a plurality of annular ribs 62 on its outer surface which sealingly engage the inner surface 46 of the glass barrel 12. The circular body 60 is provided with a central threaded bore 64 to receive a similarly threaded portion of the plunger rod 76. The bore 64 is closed off by forward face 66. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, plunger rod 76 is sized to fit within the inner wall 42 of finger grip 28 and has a forwardly extending prolongation 78 of reduced diameter which is threaded to threadedly fit in base 64. 
     The second diaphragm assembly 18 located midway the length of glass barrel 12 includes a body portion 90 having peripheral ribs 92 which sealingly engage the inner wall 46 of the glass barrel 12. A central opening 94 extends through the body 90 and is closed off on the rear end by a flexible wall 96. A needle 100 is centrally supported in opening 94 by means of holder 102 affixed to the body 90. It should be noted that the pointed end 104 of the needle 100 is faced in the direction of the flexible wall 96 and is spaced therefrom in such a manner that deflection of the wall 96 will cause the needle point 104 to puncture said wall. 
     The first diaphragm assembly 16 located in the forward end of the glass barrel 12 is functionally similar to the second diaphragm assembly 18. Specifically, first diaphragm assembly 16 includes a body portion 110 having a central opening 112 closed at its rearward end by a flexible wall 114. A needle 116 is centrally supported in the opening 112 by means of holder 118 affixed to the body portion 110. The pointed end 120 of the needle 116 is directed toward the flexible wall 114 is closely spaced relative thereto so that flexible wall 116 will cause the needle point 120 to pierce the wall and establish fluid flow through opening 112. The body portion 110 has a peripheral seal portion 122 adjacent the flexible wall 114 and in snug engagement with the inner surface 46 of the glass barrel 12. Immediately forward of said portion 122 there is an offset defining a forward body portion 124 of reduced diameter to form a space between the inner surface 46 of the glass barrel 12 and the forward body portion 124. 
     The cannula holder 24 comprises a circular body portion 130 having a central opening 132 therethrough. An outer circumferential wall 134 extends rearwardly from the circular body portion 130 and is sized so that the surface 136 of the outer wall 134 snugly engages the outer surface 40 of the glass barrel 12. Similarly, a circular inner wall 138 extends rearwardly from the body portion 130 and is sized such that its outer surface 140 snugly engages the inner surface 46 of the glass barrel 12. Here again, it is by means of the engagement of the cannula holder&#39;s inner and outer walls 138 and 134 with confronting surfaces on the glass barrel 12 that the holder 24 is held thereon. As in the finger grip 28, a slight undercut 142 is formed where the body 130 and the outer wall 134 meet to provide a small amount of flexibility for easing the assembly of the cannula holder 24 onto the barrel 12. It should be noted that this inner wall 138 is shorter than the outer wall 134 and that the inner wall fits in the spaced formed between the forward body portion 124 of the first diaphragm assembly 16 and the adjacent inner surface 46 of the glass tube 12. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the cannula holder cap or cover 26 has been removed and the cannula assembly 160 affixed to the cannula holder 24. More specifically, a hub receiving cylindrical member 131 extending from cannula holder body portion 130 receives cannula hub 162 which in turn mounts cannula 164 whereby the cannula 164 is in fluid communication with the forward side of the first diaphram assembly. As is evident from both FIGS. 1 and 2, the chamber 20 is filled with a liquid A and the chamber 22 is provided with the prescribed amount of dry medicament B. 
     In operation, the device in its storage condition as illustrated in FIG. 1 is made ready for use by removing the cap 26 and inserting cannula assembly 160 into hub receiving member 131. At the plunger end, the plunger rod 76 with its prolongation 78 is threadedly fitted in bore 64. As shown in FIG. 2, the device is ready for mixing operation. The first step in the mixing is illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein the plunger rod 76 is moved forwardly to move the plunger assembly 14 forwardly thereby causing the flexible diaphragm wall 96 to come into contact with needle point 104 and pierce the wall 96 to allow passage of the liquid A into chamber 22 for mixing with dry medicament B. Forward movement of the plunger rod 76 continues until practically all of the liquid A is driven from chamber 20. 
     When the plunger 14 comes into contact with the second diaphragm assembly 18 and prior to forward movement of the diphragm assembly 18, the cannula 164 should be introduced into the locus to receive the medicament whereupon the plunger 14 is moved forward by forward translation of the plunger rod to move second diphragm assembly 18 forward. Such movement causes the mixed liquid medicament (A + B) to flex wall 114 and allow needle point 120 to pierce said wall to establish liquid communication between chamber 22 and the cannula 164 for dispensing of the medicament. 
     In order for the device to function satisfactorily the second diaphragm assembly 18 must fit within the barrel 12 snugly enough so that it will not be moved forwardly in the barrel under the force initially exerted by the plunger 14 to cause piercing of the flexible wall 96 by the needle to establish flow into the medicament chamber 22 and yet allow the second diaphragm assembly to move forwardly under force of the plunger 14 in a later step of the operation.