Needleless delivery systems
View Patent ↗A needleless injector including a body including a fluid chamber; an outer shaft extending from an outer shaft proximal end to an outer shaft distal end, wherein the outer shaft includes an outer shaft lumen to accommodate an injection shaft; an injection shaft located within the outer shaft lumen and moveable lengthwise and/or rotationally within the outer shaft lumen, wherein the injection shaft includes an injection shaft proximal end, an injection shaft distal end, an injection shaft terminus, and an injection lumen. The injector further includes an injection orifice at the distal end of the injection shaft and in fluid communication with the fluid chamber through the injection lumen; a pressure source in communication with the fluid chamber; and an optical device that allows viewing a location at a distal end of the device.
1. A needleless injector comprising:
a body comprising a fluid chamber;
an outer shaft extending from an outer shaft proximal end at the body to an outer shaft distal end, the outer shaft comprising an outer shaft lumen between the outer shaft proximal end and the outer shaft distal end, to accommodate an injection shaft;
an injection shaft located within the outer shaft lumen and moveable lengthwise, rotationally, or lengthwise and rotationally, within the outer shaft lumen, the injection shaft comprising an injection shaft proximal end, an injection shaft distal end, an injection shaft terminus, and an injection lumen extending between the injection shaft proximal end and the injection shaft distal end,
an injection orifice at the distal end of the injection shaft and in fluid communication with the fluid chamber through the injection lumen, the injection orifice being located on a proximal side of the injection shaft terminus and being positioned for fluid ejection in a lateral direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the injection shaft at the location of the injection orifice, wherein the injection orifice is proximally located relative to the outer shaft distal end;
a pressure source in communication with the fluid chamber, the pressure source being capable of pressurizing fluid within the fluid chamber to an injection pressure capable of causing fluid ejected from the injection orifice to penetrate into tissue; and
an optical device that allows viewing a location at a distal end of the device,
wherein the outer shaft further comprises a slot, and wherein the injection orifice is positionable for fluid ejection in the lateral direction through the slot of the outer shaft.
2. A needleless injector according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure source is capable of pressurizing fluid within the fluid chamber to an injection pressure capable of causing fluid ejected from the injection orifice to pass through a tissue surface and become dispersed within tissue as droplets.
3. A needleless injector according to claim 1 , wherein the injection shaft includes multiple injection orifices on a proximal side of the injection shaft terminus.
4. A needleless injector according to claim 1 , wherein the injection pressure is 2000 pounds per square inch or greater.
5. A needleless injector according to claim 1 , wherein the outer shaft is flexible and the injection shaft is flexible.
6. A needleless injector according to claim 1 , wherein:
the pressure source is capable of pressurizing fluid within the fluid chamber to an injection pressure capable of causing fluid ejected from the injection orifice to pass through a tissue surface and become dispersed within tissue as droplets;
the outer shaft is flexible; and
the injection shaft is flexible.
7. A needleless injector according to claim 1 , wherein:
the injection pressure is 2000 pounds per square inch or greater;
the outer shaft is flexible; and
the injection shaft is flexible.