Claims for Patent: 5,665,071

Summary for Patent: 5,665,071

Title:	Reloadable automatic or manual emergency injection system
Abstract:	A reloadable automatic or manually usable medicine injection apparatus having a barrel which receives a syringe subassembly. The syringe subassembiy includes an ampule for housing fluid medication, a needle, a plunger stopper, and plunger shaft which allow removal and manual use. The injection apparatus includes a driver for forcing the syringe subassembly to inject the needle and displace fluid medication. The injection apparatus preferably includes a trigger handle, sheath remover, and removable stop system for delivery of multiple doses.
Inventor(s):	Wyrick; Ronald E. (Spokane, WA)
Assignee:	Washington Biotech Corp. (Spokane, WA)
Application Number:	08/670,630
Patent Claims:	1. A fluid medication injection apparatus comprising: a barrel having a cavity therein; a syringe subassembly within the barrel and sized to slide within the cavity, the syringe subassembly having an ampule for housing fluid medication, a needle, and a plunger having a plunger shaft, the plunger being operable to force the fluid medication from the ampule through the needle; a protective sheath provided on the needle; a driver having a driver shaft operable to detachably engage the plunger shaft for forcing the syringe subassembly to inject the needle and displace fluid medication through the needle, the driver being movable between a cocked position and extended positions; a driver release for controllably releasing the driver from the cocked position into an extended position; and a sheath remover for engaging and removing the protective sheath from the needle. 2. A fluid medication injection apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: the barrel has a muzzle end through which the needle passes during injection; and the sheath remover is detachably connected to the muzzle end. 3. A dual use fluid medication injection apparatus capable of both mechanically powered administration and manual administration of a fluid medication, comprising: a barrel having a cavity therein; a manually usable syringe subassembly positioned within the barrel and sized to slide within the cavity, the syringe subassembly having: an ampule for housing fluid medication; a needle in fluid communication with said ampule; a plunger for forcing the fluid medication from the ampule through the needle; said plunger including a plunger shaft and a plunger portion which extends from the ampule to allow manual depression of the plunger to dispense fluid from the ampule; said barrel including at least a first part and a second part which are manually detachable to allow removal and installation of the syringe subassembly; a driver having a driver shaft which is operable to detachably engage the plunger shaft, for forcing the syringe subassembly to inject the needle and displace fluid medication through the needle, the driver being movable between a cocked position and extended positions; said plunger being unattached to said driver to allow removal of said syringe subassembly from the barrel while in cocked or extended positions; a driver release for controllably releasing the driver from the cocked position into an extended position; a sheath remover for engaging and removing the protective sheath from the needle. 4. In an injection apparatus having a syringe subassembly and a driver having a driver shaft operable to displace medication therefrom, the syringe subassembly, comprising: an ampule for housing fluid medication; a needle capable of fluid communication with said ampule; a plunger for forcing the fluid medication from the ampule through the needle; said plunger having a plunger shaft adjustable in length to adjust a desired dose amount which will be dispensed, the plunger shaft being engaged by the driver shaft of the driver when the fluid medication is forced from the ampule; wherein said plunger shaft includes a first plunger shaft part and a second plunger shaft part which is axially adjusted relative to said first plunger shaft part.