Claims for Patent: 5,716,338

Summary for Patent: 5,716,338

Title:	Dual-chamber type injection cartridge with bypass connection
Abstract:	An injection cartridge (1) of the dual-chamber type having a bypass connection (12) between its two chambers (9, 10) which is arranged such that the interior wall of the cartridge is modified in a predetermined area in such a way that the movable wall (11) between the two chambers does not seal completely against the interior wall in said area. The modification of the wall is arranged as a plurality of lands and grooves (12) which have a direction that is inclined in relation to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge barrel.
Inventor(s):	Hjertman; Birger (Hasselby, SE), Pavlu; Bohdan (Huddinge, SE)
Assignee:	Pharmacia & Upjohn Aktiebolag (Stockholm, SE)
Application Number:	08/448,607
Patent Claims:	1. An injection cartridge of the dual-chamber type, comprising a tubular barrel wherein said barrel has a front end, a rear end, interior wall and interior surface, and wherein said front end is sealed by a closure which may be penetrated by an outlet conduit for a liquid preparation from the cartridge, said rear end is closed by a piston which may be moved forward, and a movable transversal wall inside said barrel, said movable transversal wall dividing the cartridge into two separate chambers, and a bypass connection between the two separate chambers, said connection being openable by the displacement of said movable transversal wall to permit a bypass flow of liquid between the two separate chambers, wherein said bypass connection between the two separate chambers is arranged as a modification of the interior surface of the barrel along a predetermined area wherein said predetermined area extends completely around the circumference of said interior wall of the barrel, such that said movable transversal wall does not seal completely against said interior wall of the barrel within said area, characterized in that said modification is arranged as a plurality of lands and grooves having an inclined direction in relation to the longitudinal axis of said barrel, said lands and grooves extending along all of said predetermined area, and wherein said tubular barrel has a nominal interior circumference and said lands extend inward from the nominal interior circumference of the tubular barrel. 2. Injection cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the grooves extend outward from said nominal circumference. 3. Injection cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that the inclined direction of said lands and grooves and the longitudinal axis of the cartridge barrel forms an angle from 5 to 45 degrees. 4. The injection cartridge according to claim 3 wherein said angle is from 10 to 30 degrees. 5. The injection cartridge according to claim 3 wherein said angle is about 20 degrees. 6. Injection cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that the depth of said grooves or the height of said lands or both is between 0.06 and 0.6 mm. 7. Injection cartridge according to claim 6, characterized in that the angle between the direction of said lands and grooves and the longitudinal axis of the cartridge barrel is from 5 to 45 degrees. 8. Injection cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that the cartridge has a smooth-walled part and the height of the lands and the depth of the grooves, as well as their number, are correlated in such a way that the movable transversal wall has essentially the same cross-sectional area when it is positioned in the area of said lands and grooves as when it is positioned in a smooth-walled part of the cartridge. 9. Injection cartridge according to claim 8, characterized in that said modification of interior wall surface is divided into at least two spaced circumferential areas, and that the movable wall is provided with peripheral sealing ridges, said ridges and said areas having the same spacing wherein there are the same number of ridges as there are areas. 10. Injection cartridge according to claim 8, characterized in that the depth of said grooves or the height of said lands or both is between 0.06 and 0.6 mm. 11. Injection cartridge according to claim 8, characterized in that the inclined direction of said lands and grooves and the longitudinal axis of the cartridge barrel forms an angle from 5 to 45 degrees. 12. The injection cartridge according to claim 11 wherein said angle is from 10 to 30 degrees. 13. The injection cartridge according to claim 11 wherein said angle is about 20 degrees. 14. Injection cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that said modification of said interior surface is divided into at least two spaced circumferential areas, and that the movable wall is provided with peripheral sealing ridges, said ridges and said areas having the same spacing wherein there are the same number of ridges as there are areas. 15. Injection cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that said modification of said interior surface is divided into at least two spaced circumferential areas, and that the movable wall is provided with peripheral sealing ridges, said ridges and said areas having the same spacing wherein there are the same number of ridges as there are areas. 16. Injection cartridge according to claim 15, characterized in that the depth of said grooves or the height of said lands or both is between 0.06 and 0.6 mm. 17. Injection cartridge according to claim 15, characterized in that the angle between the direction of said lands and grooves and the longitudinal axis of the cartridge barrel is from 5 to 45 degrees. 18. Injection cartridge according to claim 1 characterized in that the inclined direction of said lands and grooves and the longitudinal axis of the cartridge barrel forms an angle from 5 to 45 degrees. 19. The injection cartridge according to claim 18 wherein said angle is from 10 to 30 degrees. 20. The injection cartridge according to claim 18 wherein said angle is about 20 degrees.