阅读说明：本技术 注射装置及其部件 (Injection device and components thereof ) 是由 M.佐洛图金 于 2020-04-15 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及针头保持组件、注射物输送系统、针头和安全机构,所有这些部件都用于注射装置。针头保持组件包括针头偏移螺母,该针头偏移螺母配置为可移除地附接至针头保持螺母并为针头提供支撑。注射物输送系统包括注射物保持隔室、柱塞和弹性构件。针头具有限定纵向通道的侧壁,并且包括侧壁上的至少两个孔口,但是在针头的尖端没有孔口。安全机构包括双开关,该双开关包括分别位于注射装置的手柄的相对侧的两个开关元件。(The present invention relates to needle holding assemblies, injectate delivery systems, needles, and safety mechanisms, all of which are used in injection devices. The needle retainer assembly includes a needle offset nut configured to removably attach to the needle retainer nut and provide support for the needle. The injectate delivery system includes an injectate holding compartment, a plunger, and a resilient member. The needle has a sidewall defining a longitudinal passage and includes at least two apertures in the sidewall, but no aperture at the tip of the needle. The safety mechanism comprises a dual switch comprising two switch elements located on opposite sides of the handle of the injection device, respectively.)

1. A needle retainer assembly for use with an injection device, comprising:

a needle holding nut; and

a needle offset nut;

wherein the needle retainer nut is configured to be removably attached to the injection device and removably secure the needle to the injection device, and wherein the needle offset nut is configured to be removably attached to the needle retainer nut and provide support for the needle.

2. The needle retainer assembly of claim 1, wherein the needle retainer nut and the needle offset nut include any suitable offset engagement mechanism that allows for independent separation of the needle retainer nut from the needle offset nut and the injection device.

3. The needle retainer assembly of claim 2, wherein the offset engagement mechanism is selected from the group consisting of threads, flange and flange engagement structures, pin locks, ball locks, key locks, and combinations thereof.

4. The needle retention assembly of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the needle retention nut is removably attached to the injection device by rotational engagement.

5. The needle retention assembly of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the needle offset nut is removably attached to the needle retention nut by rotational engagement.

6. The needle retention assembly of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the needle retention nut is removably attached to the injection device by rotational engagement in a first rotational direction, and wherein the needle offset nut is removably attached to the needle retention nut by rotational engagement in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.

7. The needle retainer assembly of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the needle retainer nut includes a retainer nut opening for receiving a proximal portion of the needle, wherein the needle retainer nut opening is defined by a retainer nut opening inner wall, wherein when the needle retainer nut is removably attached to an injection device and the needle is removably secured to the injection device, wherein the proximal portion of the needle is located within the retainer nut opening, and wherein the diameter of the proximal portion of the needle is less than the diameter of the retainer nut opening.

8. The needle retention assembly of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the needle offset nut includes an offset nut channel for receiving the distal portion of the needle, wherein the offset nut channel is defined by an offset nut channel inner wall, and wherein the distal portion of the needle is located within the offset nut channel when the needle offset nut is removably attached to the needle retention nut.

9. The needle retainer assembly of claim 8, wherein the offset nut channel has a diameter greater than an outer diameter of the distal portion of the needle, and wherein an offset nut channel inner wall of the offset nut channel is in abutting engagement with a sidewall of the distal portion of the needle when the needle is removably secured to the injection device by the needle retainer nut.

10. A method of attaching a needle to an injection device with a needle retention assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, comprising:

placing a proximal portion of the needle within a retaining nut opening of a needle retaining nut;

attaching a needle retaining nut to the injection device;

placing the offset nut channel of the needle offset nut over the distal portion of the needle; and is

A needle offset nut is attached to the needle retention nut.

11. A method of removing a needle from an injection device comprising the needle retention assembly of any of claims 1-9, comprising:

separating the needle retaining nut from the injection device; and is

The needle is removed from the retaining nut opening of the needle retaining nut.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

the needle offset nut is disengaged from the needle retention nut.

13. The method of any of claims 11-12, wherein the needle offset nut is separated from the needle retainer nut prior to separating the needle retainer nut from the injection device.

14. An injectate delivery system for use with an injection device, comprising:

an injectate-holding compartment;

a plunger, wherein the plunger is slidably disposed within the injectate-holding compartment to form a fluid-tight seal with the interior wall of the injectate-holding compartment; and

an elastic member;

wherein when the injectate-holding compartment is attached to the injection device, it is in fluid communication with the dosing chamber of the injection device; and is

Wherein the resilient member is configured to apply a continuous pressure to the plunger to force injectate from the injectate-holding compartment into the dosing chamber when the injectate-holding compartment is attached to the injection device, thereby requiring neither gravity nor negative pressure to prime the dosing chamber.

15. The injectate delivery system of claim 14, wherein the resilient member is a spring.

16. A method of using the injectate delivery system of any of claims 14-15 in conjunction with an injection device, comprising:

pressing a tip of a needle into a subject to be injected, wherein the needle is arranged for use in an injection device and the injectate delivery system is attached to the injection device; and is

Injecting an injectate into a subject to be injected;

wherein the injectate is supplied from the injectate-holding compartment to the dosing chamber, wherein the resilient member applies continuous pressure to the plunger, thereby requiring neither gravity nor negative pressure to prime the dosing chamber, and wherein movement of the plunger toward the end of the injectate-holding compartment forces injectate from the injectate-holding compartment into the dosing chamber.

17. A needle for use in conjunction with an injection device, comprising:

a needle having a sidewall defining a longitudinal channel, wherein the needle comprises at least two apertures in the needle sidewall, and wherein the needle has no apertures at the tip of the needle.

18. The needle of claim 17, wherein the needle comprises two apertures in a sidewall of the needle.

19. A safety mechanism for use in conjunction with an injection device, comprising:

a dual switch comprising two switch elements located on opposite sides of a handle of an injection device, respectively, wherein the dual switch is movable between an on position and an off position, and wherein movement of the switch element of one side of the dual switch automatically moves the switch element of the other side of the handle.

20. The safety mechanism of claim 19, wherein at least one of the switch elements comprises a depressible button, and wherein the dual switch is movable between the on position and the off position by simultaneously depressing the button and moving either switch element between the on position and the off position.

21. An injection device comprising a needle retainer assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

22. An injection device comprising the injectate delivery system of any one of claims 14-15.

23. An injection device comprising a needle according to any one of claims 17 to 18.

24. An injection device comprising a safety mechanism as claimed in any of claims 19 to 20.

25. The injection device of any of claims 22-24, further comprising a needle retainer assembly of any of claims 1-9.

26. The injection device of any of claims 21 and 23-24, further comprising the injectate delivery system of any of claims 14-15.

27. The injection device of any of claims 21-22 and 24, further comprising a needle of any of claims 17-18.

28. The injection device of any of claims 21-23, further comprising a safety mechanism of any of claims 19-20.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of injection devices.

Background

Historically, plant pests have been controlled by the application of large quantities of insecticides. However, many pesticides contain nicotine. Nicotine-based pesticides have been shown to be a cause of the reduction in bee numbers and are limited in certain jurisdictions. Concerns about the environmental and health effects of conventional pesticides have led to the study and development of more natural pesticides or biocontrol measures that are delivered to plants in small doses by injection.

In developing an alternative to large-scale application of conventional pesticides for controlling plant pathogens, researchers have developed toxic bacteriophages for use as biocontrol agents for diseases. One such disease is Pierce's disease, which affects grapevines and other plants and is transmitted by insects between plants. Although conventional insecticides are used to control insects that transmit plant diseases between plants, once a pathogen occurs within a plant, the phage attempts to limit the effect of the pathogen. However, unlike conventional insecticides, phages cannot be effectively applied to the surface of plants and must be injected into plants to be effective.

In injecting vascular plants (e.g., bacteriophage) for certain applications, it is desirable to deliver the injectate into the xylem of the plant. Xylem is the vascular tissue of a plant that transports water and nutrients from the root to the stem and leaves of the plant. Thus, injection into the xylem allows the injectate to be transported through the natural pathways of the xylem and provided to most plant tissues. Injection into the xylem is also desirable in cases where the injectate is used to affect bacteria present in the xylem tissue of the plant. A known application of injection into xylem tissue is the prevention and treatment associated with the plant pathogens Leptosphaeria maculans and Xanthomonas spp, which are commonly referred to as pilers' disease in viticulture.

There are several technical difficulties in attempting to inject liquids into the xylem of grapevine. First, in plants of different ages and sizes, xylem tissue is located at different depths beneath the outer skin of the plant. For example, in young grapevines, xylem tissue is located at a depth of 1-2 mm within the grapevine. In the more mature grapevine, the xylem tissue is located at a depth of 3-4 mm within the grapevine. Thus, it is not possible to use a uniform injection method for different types and/or ages of grapevines. Further, if the injectate is not delivered under pressure, the injectate may reach only a small portion of the xylem. Furthermore, when delivering very small doses (<200 microliters), it is difficult to fully prime the injection device so that each operational cycle of the injection device can expel the required dose to be administered. The small dose and narrow fluid path access may make the injection device priming process challenging. Another difficulty associated with this is that when mounting the vial on the injection device, it is often challenging to deliver the injectate to the correct location in situations where the vial may be at an angle, thereby resulting in an inability to feed the injectate into the device by gravity. Injection devices that rely on gravity to pressurize the injectate are not ideal. In addition, the needle of the injection device may be bent or broken due to the rigidity of the grapevine, and it is difficult to replace the needle when the vineyard is operated, and it is difficult to use a special tool.

Disclosure of Invention

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a needle retainer assembly for use with an injection device. The injection device includes a needle retention nut and a needle offset nut. The needle retention nut is configured to be removably attached to the injection device and removably secure the needle to the injection device. The needle offset nut is configured to removably attach to the needle retention nut and provide support for the needle.

In certain embodiments, the needle retainer nut and the needle offset nut comprise any suitable offset engagement mechanism that allows for independent separation of the needle retainer nut from the needle offset nut and the injection device. Suitable offset engagement mechanisms include, but are not limited to, threads, flange and flange engagement structures, pin locks, ball locks, key locks, and combinations thereof. Preferably the needle retainer nut is removably attached to the injection device by rotational engagement. Preferably, the needle offset nut is removably attached to the needle retention nut by a rotational engagement. More preferably, the needle retainer nut is removably attached to the injection device by rotational engagement in a first rotational direction, and the needle offset nut is removably attached to the needle retainer nut by rotational engagement in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.

In certain embodiments, the needle retainer nut includes a retainer nut opening for receiving a proximal portion of the needle. The needle retainer nut opening is defined by a retainer nut opening inner wall. The needle retainer nut is removably attached to the injection device and the needle is removably secured to the injection device. The proximal portion of the needle is located within the retaining nut opening and the proximal portion of the needle has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the retaining nut opening.

In some embodiments, the needle offset nut includes an offset nut channel for receiving the distal portion of the needle. The offset nut passage is defined by an offset nut passage inner wall. When the needle offset nut is removably attached to the needle retention nut, the distal portion of the needle is located within the offset nut channel. Preferably, the offset nut channel has a diameter greater than the outer diameter of the distal portion of the needle and the offset nut channel inner wall of the offset nut channel is in abutting engagement with the side wall of the distal portion of the needle when the needle is removably secured to the injection device by the needle retainer nut.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of attaching a needle to an injection device using the needle retention assembly of the present invention. The method comprises the following steps: placing a proximal portion of the needle within a retaining nut opening of a needle retaining nut; attaching a needle retaining nut to the injection device; and placing the offset nut channel of the needle offset nut over the distal portion of the needle; and attaching a needle offset nut to the needle retention nut.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of removing a needle from an injection device comprising the needle retention assembly of the present invention. The method comprises the following steps: separating the needle retaining nut from the injection device; and removing the needle from the retaining nut opening of the needle retaining nut. In some embodiments, the method further comprises separating the needle offset nut from the needle retention nut. The needle offset nut is preferably separated from the needle retaining nut prior to separating the needle retaining nut from the injection device.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to an injectate delivery system for use with an injection device. The injectate delivery system includes an injectate holding compartment, a plunger, and a resilient member. The plunger is slidably disposed within the injectate holding compartment to form a fluid-tight seal with the interior wall of the injectate holding compartment. When the injectate-holding compartment is attached to the injection device, it is in fluid communication with the dosing chamber of the injection device. The resilient member is configured to apply a continuous pressure to the plunger, thereby forcing injectate from the injectate holding compartment into the dosing chamber when the injectate holding compartment is attached to the injection device, thereby requiring neither gravity nor negative pressure to prime the dosing chamber.

In certain embodiments, the resilient member is a spring.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of using the injectate delivery system of the invention. The method comprises the following steps: the tip of the needle is pressed into the subject to be injected and the injectate is injected into the subject to be injected. The needle is arranged for use in an injection device to which the injectate delivery system is attached. Injectate is supplied to the dosing chamber from the injectate-holding compartment. The resilient member applies continuous pressure to the plunger, thereby requiring neither gravity nor negative pressure to prime the dose chamber. Movement of the plunger towards the end of the injectate-holding compartment forces injectate from the injectate-holding compartment into the dosing chamber.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a needle for use in conjunction with an injection device. The needle has a sidewall defining a longitudinal channel. The needle includes at least two apertures in a sidewall thereof.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a safety mechanism for an injection device, the safety mechanism comprising a dual switch comprising two switch elements located on either side of a handle of the injection device. The dual switch is movable between an on position and an off position, and movement of the switch element on one side of the dual switch automatically moves the switch element on the other side of the handle.

In another aspect, the invention relates to an injection device comprising one or more of the following components: the needle holding assembly of the present invention; the injectate delivery system of the present invention; the needle head of the invention; and the safety mechanism of the present invention.

In some embodiments, the at least one switch element comprises a depressible button, and the dual switch is movable between the on position and the off position by simultaneously depressing the buttons and moving either switch element between the on position and the off position.

Additional aspects of the invention, together with the attendant advantages and novel features, will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary injection device of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the injection device of fig. 1 with the safety mechanism in a closed position.

Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the injection device of fig. 1 showing the needle retainer assembly.

Fig. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the injection device of fig. 1 showing the needle retainer assembly with the needle offset nut and the needle retainer nut separated from the injection device.

Fig. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the injection device of fig. 1 showing the needle retainer assembly with the needle offset nut separated from the needle retainer nut.

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the injection device of fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the injection device of fig. 1 with the safety mechanism in an open position.

Fig. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the injection device of fig. 1 showing the needle retainer assembly with the needle bent.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the injectate delivery system of the injection device of fig. 1, with the spring in the compressed position.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the injectate delivery system of the injection device of fig. 1, with the spring in a partially uncompressed position.

Fig. 11 is a side view of the needle of fig. 1.

Detailed Description

Certain aspects of the present invention will now be described with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, but the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an injection device 10 of the present invention.

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a needle holder assembly 12. Needle holder assembly 12 is configured to provide support to a needle used in conjunction with an injection device, set the penetration depth of the needle used in conjunction with the injection device, and allow for easier and safer removal of the needle, particularly if the needle breaks, bends, and/or breaks.

Referring to fig. 2, the needle retainer assembly 12 includes a cylindrical needle retainer nut 14 and a semi-conical needle offset nut 16. Referring to fig. 3 and 4, the needle retainer nut 14 is configured to be removably attached to the injection device 10 and removably secure the needle 18 to the injection device 10. As shown in fig. 3 and 5, needle offset nut 16 is configured to be removably attached to needle retention nut 14 and provide support for needle 18. The needle retainer nut 14 may be removably attached to the injection device 10 by rotational engagement and the needle offset nut 16 may be removably attached to the needle retainer nut 14 by rotational engagement.

In certain embodiments, the needle retainer nut 14 may be removably attached to the injection device 10 by rotational engagement in a first rotational direction, and the needle offset nut 16 may be removably attached to the needle retainer nut 14 by rotational engagement in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction; this configuration allows the needle offset nut 16 to be more easily separated from the needle retainer nut 14 without separating the needle retainer nut 14 from the injection device 10.

As shown in fig. 2, 4 and 6, the needle retainer nut 14 includes two tapered radial grooves 19, 21, each defined by arcuate radial sidewalls 20, 22 disposed opposite one another, each extending between a cylindrical inner wall 24 and a cylindrical outer wall 26 of the needle retainer nut 14. The needle retainer nut 14 further includes two aligned openings 28, 30 disposed opposite one another, each defined by respective first and second axial side walls 32, 36 and respective first and second opposing axial side walls 38, and each extending between the cylindrical inner wall 24 and the cylindrical outer wall 26 of the needle retainer nut 14. The radial grooves 19 and 21 are directed in opposite directions, respectively. The alignment openings 28, 30 are configured to align with two identical flanges 40 (shown in fig. 2 and 6), 42 (partially shown in fig. 6) on the injection device 10 in order to position the needle retainer nut 14 for securing it to the injection device 10, and the arcuate side walls 20, 22 of the radial grooves 19, 21, respectively, are configured to secure the needle retainer nut 14 to the injection device 10 by rotational engagement to the respective flanges 40, 42 in a clockwise direction. As shown in fig. 6, each flange 40, 42 extends radially outward from an outer cylindrical surface 44 of a dose chamber 46 (shown in fig. 1). The flanges 40 and 42 are oriented in opposite directions, respectively. As shown in fig. 2, the flanges 40, 42 have proximal tapered surfaces that are located within the respective complementary tapered recesses 19, 21 and frictionally abuttingly engage portions of the arcuate side walls 20, 22. It will be appreciated that the needle retainer nut 14 may be configured to attach to the injection device 10 at a location other than the outer cylindrical surface 44 of the dose chamber.

As best shown in fig. 5, needle offset nut 16 includes threads 48 on a proximal portion of its cylindrical inner wall 50, threads 48 configured to secure needle offset nut 16 to needle retainer nut 14 by rotating in a counterclockwise direction engagement with threads 52 on a cylindrical outer wall 54 of needle retainer nut 14. Preferably threads 48 and 52 are fine threads to reduce the force required to secure needle offset nut 16 to needle retention nut 14 or remove needle offset nut 16 from needle retention nut 14.

Thus, as shown in fig. 3, the needle retainer nut 14 is rotationally engaged to the injection device 10 in a first rotational direction (i.e., clockwise) and the needle offset nut 16 is rotationally engaged to the needle retainer nut 14 in a second rotational direction (i.e., counterclockwise) opposite the first rotational direction. As a result, it is easy to unscrew and remove the needle deflection nut 16 from the needle retainer nut 14 without unscrewing the needle retainer nut 14 from the injection device 10.

It should be understood that the engagement of needle offset nut 16 with needle retention nut 14 and the engagement of needle retention nut 14 with injection device 10 may also be accomplished by utilizing any suitable offset engagement mechanism that allows needle retention nut 14 to be independently separated from needle offset nut 16 and injection device 10, including but not limited to threads, flange-and-flange engagement structures, latches, ball locks, key locks, and the like. It should also be understood that the outer surfaces of needle retainer nut 14 and needle offset nut 16 may include structure, material, or texture that makes them easier to grip by a user's hand. For example, as shown in fig. 7, one or more identical finger grips 56 may be disposed on the cylindrical outer wall 58 of the needle offset nut 16, although only one finger grip 56 is shown.

As shown in fig. 4, the needle retainer nut 14 includes a retainer nut opening 60 defined by the cylindrical inner wall 24 of the needle retainer nut and configured to receive a proximal portion of the needle 18. As shown in fig. 5, the proximal portion of needle 18 is located within retaining nut opening 60. The distal portion of the cylindrical outer flange 62 of the integrally formed cylindrical seat 64 of the needle 18 is in abutting engagement with the proximal portion of the cylindrical inner flange 66 of the cylindrical inner wall 24 of the needle retainer nut 14. As shown in fig. 1, the needle 18, the cylindrical seat 64 and the cylindrical dose chamber 46 of the injection device 10 are axially aligned, and a proximal portion of the cylindrical seat 64 is axially aligned and in abutting engagement with a distal end of the dose chamber 46. Thus, the needle 18 is removably secured to the injection device 10 by the needle retainer nut 14. The outer diameter of the needle 18 is smaller than the diameter of the retaining nut opening 60. Although no particular dimensional difference is required, the diameter of the retaining nut opening 60 is preferably oversized relative to the diameter of the needle 18 to facilitate insertion and removal of the needle 18 into and from the retaining nut opening 60 and to allow disengagement from the axially aligned configuration.

As shown in FIG. 5, needle offset nut 16 includes an offset nut channel 68 defined by a cylindrical offset nut channel inner wall 70 and configured to receive the distal portion of needle 18. As shown in fig. 3, the distal portion of needle 18 is located within offset nut passage 68. The diameter of the offset nut channel 68 is greater than the outer diameter of the distal portion of the needle 18, preferably only slightly greater, and the offset nut channel inner wall 70 abuttingly engages the side wall 72 of the distal portion of the needle 18 to provide support and rigidity to the needle 18. Thus, needle 18 is also less prone to shifting or lateral movement that could result in misalignment/bending or breakage of needle 18.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tip portion 74 of the needle 18 is positioned outside of the offset nut channel 68. The front flat face 76 of the needle offset nut 16 is configured to abut the subject being injected during the injection process and serves as a stop point for setting the maximum penetration depth of the needle 18 (i.e., only the tip portion 74 is able to penetrate the subject). It is preferred that the needle retainer assembly 12 includes a plurality of interchangeable needle offset nuts 16 of different heights h (see fig. 3; a plurality of needle offset nuts are not shown) to enable a user to select the length of the tip portion 74 of the needle 18 extending out of the offset nut channel 68 to select the desired depth of penetration of the needle 18.

The invention also relates to a method of attaching a needle to an injection device. The method comprises the following steps: placing a proximal portion of the needle within a retaining nut opening of a needle retaining nut; attaching a needle retaining nut to the injection device; placing the offset nut channel of the needle offset nut over the distal portion of the needle; and attaching a needle offset nut to the needle retention nut.

In certain embodiments, the attachment of the needle to the syringe may be performed using the injection device 10, the needle holder assembly 12, and the needle 18 according to the following exemplary methods. Referring to fig. 4, the proximal portion of the needle 18 is disposed within the retaining nut opening 60 of the needle retaining nut 14. The distal portion of the cylindrical seat 64 is axially aligned with and abuts the proximal portion of the cylindrical inner flange 66 of the retaining nut opening inner wall 24 of the needle retainer nut 14. Referring to fig. 6, the alignment opening 28 of the needle retainer nut 14 is aligned with a corresponding flange 40 of the injection device 10, and on the other side, the opening 30 (not shown) is aligned with a flange 42. The aligned openings 28, 30 are then placed over the respective flanges 40, 42 and the needle retainer nut 14 is rotated clockwise to the position shown in fig. 2 to place the tapered flanges 40, 42 within the respective tapered recesses 19, 21 and arcuate side walls 20, 22 and to frictionally engage the respective flanges 40, 42 against one another. Thus, the needle holding nut 14 and the injection device 10 are removably attached to each other, and the needle 18 is removably secured to a distal portion of the dosing chamber 46 (shown in fig. 1). Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the offset nut channel 68 of the needle offset nut 16 is placed over the distal portion of the needle 18 with the offset nut channel inner wall 70 abutting the side wall 72 of the distal portion of the needle 18 and the needle offset nut 16 is rotated counterclockwise to the position shown to rotationally engage and removably attach the needle offset nut 16 and the needle retainer nut 14 to one another.

The invention also relates to a method of removing a needle from an injection device. The method comprises the following steps: separating the needle retaining nut from the injection device; and removing the needle from the retaining nut opening of the needle retaining nut. In some embodiments, the method further comprises separating the needle offset nut from the needle retainer nut, and this additional step is optionally and preferably performed prior to separating the needle retainer nut from the injection device.

In certain embodiments, the removal of the needle from the injection device may be performed using the injection device 10, the needle holder assembly 12, and the needle 18 according to the following exemplary methods. Referring to fig. 3, needle offset nut 16 is rotated clockwise to rotate needle offset nut 16 and needle retainer nut 14 away from one another. Next, the offset nut passage inner wall 70 is brought out of contact with the side wall 72 of the distal portion of the needle 18 and the offset nut passage 68 of the needle offset nut 16 is moved in a direction away from the distal portion of the needle 18 to the position shown in FIG. 5. If the needle 18 is bent, broken and/or damaged as shown in fig. 8, performing this step first allows the user to eliminate the bent, broken and/or damaged portion of the needle 18 without the needle retaining nut 14. As needle offset nut 16 is threadably disengaged from needle retainer nut 14, the bent, broken and/or damaged portion of needle 18 is simultaneously pushed through offset nut opening 68. Once needle offset nut 16 is completely separated from needle retainer nut 14, needle offset nut 16 is more easily slidably removed by bending, breaking and/or damaging portions of needle 18, in part because needle offset nut 16 is free to move out of axial alignment with needle retainer nut 14. No tool is needed; the needle offset nut 16 may be removed by hand and the finger grips 56 make the needle offset nut 16 easier to remove. Next, referring to fig. 5, the needle retainer nut 14 is rotated counterclockwise to the orientation shown in fig. 6 to disengage the arcuate side walls 20, 22 of the radial recesses 19, 21 and the respective flanges 40, 42 from one another and the alignment openings 28, 30 are moved away from the respective flanges 40, 42 to disengage the needle retainer nut and the injection device from one another. The needle 18 can then be easily removed from the oversized retaining nut opening 60 of the needle retaining nut 14.

Referring again to fig. 1, another aspect of the present invention is directed to an injectate delivery system 78 for use in conjunction with an injection device. Injectate delivery system 78 includes: an injectate-holding compartment; a plunger slidably disposed within the injectate-holding compartment and forming a fluid-tight seal with the interior wall of the injectate-holding compartment; and an elastic member. When the injectate-holding compartment is attached to the injection device, it is in fluid communication with the dosing chamber of the injection device. The resilient member is configured to apply a continuous pressure to the plunger, thereby forcing injectate from the injectate holding compartment into the dosing chamber when the injectate holding compartment is attached to the injection device, thereby requiring neither gravity nor negative pressure to prime the dosing chamber.

As best shown in fig. 6, the injectate delivery system 78 includes a cylindrical injectate holding compartment 80, a cylindrical plunger 82 (including plunger seal 84), a spring 86, an inlet tube 88, and an inlet valve assembly 90. Referring to fig. 9, plunger 82 is slidably positioned within injectate holding compartment 80, with plunger seal 84 forming a fluid seal with the cylindrical interior wall 92 of injectate holding compartment 80. As shown, plunger 82 is located at the proximal end of injectate holding compartment 80 when spring 86 is compressed due to the presence of injectate (not shown) within injectate holding compartment 80. Fig. 10 shows plunger 82 in a distal most position distal of injectate holding compartment 80 with spring 86 partially uncompressed. The open tip 94 of the injectate holding compartment 80 is in fluid communication with the dosing chamber opening 96 through the inlet tube 88, as shown in fig. 6. Referring to fig. 1, an inlet valve assembly 90 including a ball valve 98 is configured to supply injectate from the injectate holding compartment 80 to the dosing chamber 46 and prevent injectate or air within the dosing chamber 46 from flowing to the injectate holding compartment 80. Ball valve 98 is normally open and allows injectate from injectate holding compartment 80 to flow into dosing chamber 46. Ball valve 98 closes only when back pressure is created on the ball of ball valve 98 by the distal movement of injectate piston 99 of injection device 10. Although the injectate delivery system is shown with the inlet valve assembly 90, it should be understood that any suitable inlet valve assembly (and any suitable valve) may be substituted, including but not limited to solenoid valves, gate valves, diaphragm valves, and the like.

Referring again to fig. 9, a cylindrical injectate-holding compartment 80 is slidably located within the opening of cylindrical barrel 100. A cylindrical cap 102 is threadably attached to the outer surface 103 of the cylindrical barrel 100 and is positioned over the proximal end of the cylindrical barrel 100. As shown in fig. 6, the cylindrical barrel 100 is in turn attached to the injection device 10 by the same bolts 104, these bolts 104 being located in respective aligned openings 106, 108, 110 and 112; 114. 116, 118, and an opening (not shown) corresponding to opening 112. It should be understood that the cylindrical injectate-holding compartment 80 can be attached to the injection device 10 in any suitable manner as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and does not necessarily have to be located within the cylindrical barrel cap 102.

Referring again to fig. 9, spring 86 is located between the proximal end of plunger 82 and top 122 of cartridge cap 102. The spring 86 is compressible and exerts a continuous pressure on the plunger 82 such that any injectate present in the injectate-holding compartment 80 is forced into the dosing chamber 46 (as shown in fig. 1) if the dosing chamber 46 is empty or partially empty. Thus, neither gravity nor negative pressure is required to prime the dosing chamber 46. It should be understood that while injectate delivery system 78 includes spring 86, any suitable resilient member configured to apply continuous pressure to plunger 82 is within the scope of the present invention.

In certain embodiments, as best shown in fig. 1, the plunger 82 includes a cylindrical bore defined by a cylindrical bore sidewall 124 and configured to receive an elongated threaded tool (not shown). As shown, bore sidewall 124 of plunger 82 preferably includes threads 128, which threads 128 are engageable with threads of an elongated threaded tool (not shown) so that when the threads of the threaded tool are engaged with threads 128, plunger 82 can be more easily moved distally within injectate-retaining compartment 80 by pulling on the threaded tool, thereby filling injectate-retaining compartment 80 with injectate.

Because injectate delivery system 78 does not rely on the use of gravity and/or negative pressure, it is capable of delivering minute amounts of injectate (i.e., as little as 20 microliters) more consistently and accurately than prior art injectate delivery systems. For the same reason, the accuracy of injectate delivery system 78 is not affected by its orientation during operation (i.e., upside down, sideways, etc.).

The invention also relates to a method of using an injectate delivery system with an injection device. The method comprises the following steps: pressing the tip of the needle into the object to be injected, wherein the needle is placed in a position for use in the injection device; and injecting the injectate into the subject to be injected. Injectate is supplied to the dosing chamber of the injection device from the injectate holding compartment of the injectate delivery system. The resilient member applies continuous pressure to the plunger of the injectate delivery system, thereby requiring neither gravity nor negative pressure to prime the dosing chamber. Movement of the plunger towards the end of the injectate-holding compartment forces injectate from the injectate-holding compartment into the dosing chamber.

In certain embodiments, the method of using the injectate delivery system can be performed using the injection device 10, the needle 18, and the injectate delivery system 78 according to the following exemplary method. Referring to fig. 1, the tip portion 74 of the needle 18 is pressed into the subject to be injected and an injectate (not shown) is injected into the subject. As explained in more detail below, the injection is performed by depressing the trigger 130, which in turn causes the injectate piston 132 to move within the dosing chamber 46 toward its distal end. This movement of the injectate piston 132 forces injectate present in the dosing chamber 46 through a seat central opening 134 in the proximal end of the cylindrical seat 64 of the needle 18, which is in fluid communication with a longitudinal channel 136 (shown in fig. 3) of the needle 18. Injectate then flows into the subject through the longitudinal passage 136 and the orifice 138. Injectate is supplied to the dosing chamber 46 from the injectate holding compartment 80. Spring 86 applies continuous pressure to plunger 82 so that neither gravity nor negative pressure is required to prime dosing chamber 46, and plunger 82 moves toward the distal end of injectate holding compartment 80 to force injectate from injectate holding compartment 80 into dosing chamber 46. At the completion of the injection, the injectate piston 132 moves within the dosing chamber 46 to return to its original position at the proximal end of the dosing chamber 46, as shown in fig. 1. This rearward movement of the injectate piston 132 creates a void space within the dosing chamber 46 that is immediately filled with additional injectate supplied from the injectate holding compartment 80 through the inlet tube 88 and inlet valve assembly 90. In some embodiments, the method further includes selecting a needle retaining nut 16 that will control the desired injection depth. In some such embodiments, the subject is a plant, such as grapevine, and the needle retaining nut 16 is selected for injection in the xylem layer of the subject.

The present invention also relates to a needle 18 for use in conjunction with the injection device 10. The needle 18 has a side wall defining a longitudinal passage. The needle 18 includes at least two apertures in the sidewall of the needle 18, but no aperture at the tip of the needle 18.

Referring to fig. 3 and 11, the needle 18 includes two identical apertures 138 on opposite surfaces of the sidewall 72, while the tip of the needle 18 has no apertures. Referring to fig. 3, when the needle 18 is attached to the injection device 10 and used to perform an injection, the orifice 138 is located distal of the offset nut channel inner wall 70 and injectate injected into the subject is forced to flow through the orifice 138. The inclusion of multiple smaller orifices 138 may increase the rigidity of the needle 18 during injection as compared to providing a single larger orifice at the tip of the needle 18. Furthermore, the apertures 138 disposed on the sidewall 72 of the needle 18 both reduce the risk of the needle 18 becoming clogged during injection, as compared to a single aperture located at the tip of the needle 18, and force injectate laterally into the target layer of the subject when the apertures 138 are located in the target layer. For example, the needle 18 may target the xylem layer of the vine. As described above, different heights h of the needle retainer nut 16 may be used to inject at a particular depth, such as the depth of the xylem layer.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a safety mechanism 140 for an injection device. The safety mechanism 140 comprises a dual switch, which itself comprises two switching elements. These switching elements may be placed on both sides of the handle of the injection device. The dual switch is movable between an on position and an off position, and in the case of switch elements on both sides of the handle of the injection device, movement of the switch element on one side of the dual switch automatically moves the switch element on the other side of the handle. The safety mechanism 140 may be operated by the left or right hand of the user. Preferably, the at least one switching element further comprises a depressible button. The dual switch is movable between an on position and an off position by simultaneously depressing the push buttons and moving either of the switch elements between the on position and the off position.

As shown in fig. 2, the safety mechanism 140 includes a dual switch 142 having identical switch elements 144 located on both sides (the other side not shown) of a handle 146 of the injection device 10. The dual switch 142 is movable between an on position, shown in fig. 2, and an off position, shown in fig. 7, and movement of one switch element 144 on one side of the dual switch 142 automatically moves a second switch element 144 on the other side of the dual switch 142. If the dual switch 142 is in the off position, the trigger 130 cannot be moved and, as a result, the injection device 10 cannot perform an injection. If the dual switch is in the on position, the trigger 130 may be moved and, as a result, the injection device 10 is able to perform an injection. One switch element 144 includes a depressible button 148. Pressing the button 148 inwardly and toward the handle 146 causes the two switch elements 144 to move simultaneously at an angle. When the button 148 is pressed, the switch element 144 may be rotated between an on position and an off position. The user can rotate the dual switch 142 with either the left or right hand using either switch element 144.

It should be understood that the needle holder assembly 12, injectate delivery system 78, multi-orifice needle 18, and safety mechanism 140 of the present invention can be used in conjunction with virtually any injection device configured for use with a needle, and can be attached to an injection device by a variety of mechanisms as appropriate for the particular injection device, as will be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Suitable injection devices include, but are not limited to, a stand-alone syringe or a syringe combined with other components/mechanisms to facilitate injection. It will also be appreciated that the needle holding assembly, injectate delivery system, multi-orifice needle and safety mechanism of the present invention can be used in conjunction with an injection device for injecting animals, humans or plants. In view of the fact that the needle holding assembly of the present invention is configured to provide support to a needle, and in view of its function as a substitute for a bent needle, the needle holding assembly of the present invention is well suited for use in conjunction with an injection device for injecting into a subject having a tough or wooden skin or outer layer. Similarly, in view of its increased rigidity, the needle of the present invention is well suited for use in conjunction with an injection device for injecting into a subject having a tough or wooden skin or outer layer.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects set forth above, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the invention.

Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

While certain specific embodiments have been shown and discussed above, various modifications may of course be made to these embodiments, and the invention is not limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts and steps described herein, except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims. Further, it will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.