ELECTRONIC INJECTOR FOR INJECTING A MEDICINAL PRODUCT
An example injector includes a rotary knob for selecting a function and setting a dosing quantity for an injection, a button located on an end of the rotary knob for initiating the injection, an electric motor, an encoder for evaluating output rotary motion of the motor, and a processor that converts the dosing quantity into a number of encoder pulses and controls operation of the motor based on the number of encoder pulses when dosage is triggered. The injector also includes a transmission coupled to the electric motor to convert a speed of the motor, a threaded spindle coupled to the transmission that moves linearly based on the output rotary motion of the motor at the speed as converted by the transmission, and a punch connected to an end of the threaded spindle. The linear movement of the spindle causes the punch to release medicament.
1 . An injector comprising:
a spindle, wherein the spindle comprises:
a gear wheel;
an internal spindle coupled to the gear wheel, wherein the internal spindle is threaded along a length of the internal spindle;
an inner sleeve, wherein the inner sleeve includes internal threads for mating with threads of the internal spindle for positioning the internal spindle into the inner sleeve, and wherein the inner sleeve includes external threads;
a spindle nut, wherein the spindle nut includes internal threads for mating with the external threads of the inner sleeve for positioning the inner sleeve into the spindle nut; and
an outer sleeve into which the spindle nut, the inner sleeve, and the internal spindle are positioned in a retracted state, wherein the outer sleeve includes an anti-rotation component,
wherein rotation of the gear wheel in a first direction causes extension of the spindle by:
extending the spindle nut away from the outer sleeve until the spindle nut meets an end of the inner sleeve via rotation of the internal spindle and the inner sleeve; and
then extending the inner sleeve away from the internal spindle, thereby pushing the spindle nut and the outer sleeve forward.
2 . The injector of claim 1 , further comprising:
an electric motor providing an output rotary motion; and
a transmission coupled to the electric motor to convert a speed of the motor based on the output rotary motion, wherein the transmission is further coupled to the gear wheel to cause the rotation of the gear wheel.
3 . The injector of claim 2 , wherein the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve move linearly based on the output rotary motion of the electric motor at the speed as converted by the transmission.
4 . The injector of claim 2 , wherein the transmission comprises a multi-stage spur gear.
5 . The injector of claim 2 , further comprising:
a housing, wherein the electric motor, the transmission, and the spindle are included within the housing.
6 . The injector of claim 5 , further comprising:
a digital display coupled to the housing, wherein the housing includes a back and two side portions, and wherein the digital display is coupled to the two side portions to enclose the housing.
7 . The injector of claim 1 , further comprising:
a display merged with an outer body of the injector.
8 . The injector of claim 1 , wherein the internal spindle includes a locking plate at an end of the internal spindle, wherein the locking plate prevents the internal spindle from being unscrewed from the inner sleeve.
9 . The injector of claim 1 , where the inner sleeve is freely rotatable.
10 . The injector of claim 1 , wherein rotation of the gear wheel in a second direction that is reverse of the first direction causes retraction of the spindle in an inverse order of the extension.
11 . An injector comprising:
a rotary knob for selecting a function of the injector and setting a dosing quantity for an injection;
a button located on an end of the rotary knob for initiating the injection;
an electric motor providing an output rotary motion;
an encoder for evaluating the output rotary motion of the motor;
a processor coupled to the rotary knob, the button, the electric motor, and the encoder, wherein the processor receives the selected function of the injector and the dosing quantity for the injection from the rotary knob and receives a signal from the button for initiating the injection and converts the dosing quantity into a number of encoder pulses, wherein the processor controls operation of the electric motor based on the number of encoder pulses when dosage is triggered via receipt of the signal from the button for initiating the injection;
a transmission coupled to the electric motor to convert a speed of the motor; and
a threaded spindle coupled to the transmission, wherein the threaded spindle moves linearly based on the output rotary motion of the electric motor at the speed as converted by the transmission.
12 . The injector of claim 11 , further comprising:
a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions that when executed by the processor, causes the processor to control operation of the motor.
13 . The injector of claim 11 , wherein the memory stores values including an injection history, a punch position, and user values.
14 . The injector of claim 11 , further comprising:
a housing, wherein the electric motor, the transmission, and the threaded spindle are included within the housing.
15 . The injector of claim 14 , further comprising:
a digital display coupled to the housing, wherein the housing includes a back and two side portions, and wherein the digital display is coupled to the two side portions to enclose the housing.
16 . The injector of claim 14 , further comprising:
a display merged with an outer body of the injector.
17 . A method for operating a spindle for an injector, the spindle comprising a gear wheel, an internal spindle coupled to the gear wheel that is threaded along a length of the internal spindle, an inner sleeve including internal threads for mating with threads of the internal spindle for positioning the internal spindle into the inner sleeve, a spindle nut including internal threads for mating with external threads of the inner sleeve for positioning the inner sleeve into the spindle nut, and an outer sleeve into which the spindle nut, the inner sleeve, and the internal spindle are positioned in a retracted state, the method comprising:
rotating the gear wheel in a first direction to cause extension of the spindle by:
extending the spindle nut away from the outer sleeve until the spindle nut meets an end of the inner sleeve via rotation of the internal spindle and the inner sleeve; and
then extending the inner sleeve away from the internal spindle, thereby pushing the spindle nut and the outer sleeve forward.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
providing, an electric motor, an output rotary motion; and
converting, by a transmission coupled to the electric motor, a speed of the motor based on the output rotary motion to cause rotation of the gear wheel by the transmission.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein rotating the gear wheel in the first direction comprises:
moving the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve linearly based on the output rotary motion of the electric motor at the speed as converted by the transmission.
20 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
rotating the gear wheel in a second direction that is reverse of the first direction to cause retraction of the spindle in an inverse order of the extension.