Cilag International Gmbh

Capsugel Belgium Nv

Pfizer Corporation

Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc.

Nigel D Harrison

Stefaan Jaak Vanquickenborne

Daniel Peterson Godfrey

Tim Barrow-Williams

Rosemary Louise Habeshaw

Matthew James Brady

Mark Robson Humphries

Rosemary Louise Burnell

Paul Antony Merritt

David M Johnston

David Johnston

Gunther Victor Maria Emiel Van Goolen

Thomas Marcelina Louis De Ruijter

Martin Lawrence Hughes

Philip Jonathan West

An injection device () is described having a housing () and a cap (). The injection device () houses a syringe () having a needle () which is sealed by a boot (). The cap () is arranged so that the boot () can be connected to the cap () simply, but cannot be removed from the cap (). The housing () and cap () are arranged so that upon rotation of the cap (), the cap () is moved axially away from the housing () and the boot () is removed from the syringe (). The injection device is simple to use and manufacture.

Injection device

An injection device () is described. A housing () receives a syringe and includes a return spring () for biasing the syringe from an extended position in which its needle () extends from the housing () to a retracted position in which the it does not. A drive spring () acts on a first drive element () and a second drive element () acts upon the syringe to advance it from its retracted position to its extended position and discharge its contents through the needle. The first drive element () is capable of movement relative to the second () once a nominal decoupling position has been reached. A release mechanism is activated when the first drive element () is further advanced to a nominal release position, to release the syringe () from the action of the drive spring (), whereupon the return spring () restores the syringe () to its retracted position. Decoupling of the drive elements is achieved with a particular form of releasable drive coupling using two pairs of overlying flexible arms (). A particular form of release mechanism that also uses flexible arms () is also envisaged.

The present invention concerns an injection device with a housing adapted to receive a syringe having a discharge nozzle, the housing having an indicator opening. There is a trigger and a forward drive arranged to act upon the syringe on actuation of the trigger to advance the syringe from a retracted position to an extended position thereby discharging the contents of the syringe through the discharge nozzle. A support member is in contacting juxtaposition with the housing and a return drive is supported by the support member and arranged to act upon the syringe after the contents of the syringe has been discharged so that the syringe can be withdrawn from the extended position to the retracted position. Advantageously, the support member is arranged in the housing so that the second drive does not obscure an inspection of the contents of the syringe through the indicator opening. Hence, it can be clearly determined whether the contents of the syringe have been expelled from the syringe.

A rotary supply joint that may, in particular be a rotary timing valve, is provided for providing fluid flow at least periodically from inlet ports to outlet ports when respective openings in first and second surfaces which are rotating relative to each other are aligned, in which a gas bearing is arranged to provide a bearing force between the first and second surfaces.

Rotary supply joint, rotary timing valve and product handling apparatus

The present invention relates to a transfer line for the transfer of identical filled two-piece capsules between two successive processing stations comprising a and on unloading area, a plurality of identical transfer units each comprising a plurality of cavities each adapted to receive a capsule at the loading area and to let such capsule being unloaded at the unloading area, said plurality of cavities of each transfer unit being designed so as to receive in a first relative configuration the groups of filled two-piece capsules when located at a loading position in the loading area and so as to discharge these groups when located at an unloading position in the unloading area, a conveyor device adapted to temporarily and individually support the transfer units so as to transfer them from the loading position to the unloading position and vice-versa, while keeping them substantially in a same orientation in the loading and unloading positions, and at least from the loading position to the unloading position.

Transfer line

The invention relates to an apparatus for handling capsules in a capsule processing equipment. The invention also relates to capsule processing equipment, such as an inspection equipment or a capsule printing equipment that includes such an apparatus.

Apparatus for handling capsules and capsule processing equipment including such an apparatus

A syringe is received within a housing, the syringe having a bore terminating at a forward end in a hypodermic needle and at a rearward end in a flared opening in which a bung having a bore surrounded by a skirt is insertod. A drive element has a forward end consisting of a substantially flat annular region that bears upon the skirt of the bung and surrounds a conical middle region that is received in the bore of the bung. An actuator advances the drive element so as to advance the bung and discharge the contents through the needle. The opening in the rear of the synnge is flared by being provided with a radius. The combination of the radius at the opening and the projecting conical middle region of the drive element allows misalignments of the two to be managed during automated assembly.

An injection deviceis described having a housingthat receives a syringehaving a needle, wherein the syringe is supported in a syringe carrier. The syringeand syringe carrierare biased by a return springfrom an extended position in which the needleextends from the housingthrough an exit apertureto a retracted position in which it does not. A drive springacts via a drive to advance the syringefrom its retracted position to its extended position and discharge its contents through the needleand a return spring, brought into play when the drive has reached a nominal return position, restores the syringeto its retracted position. The injection device is less prone to failure than prior art devices and is safer should failure occur.

An injection device () is described of the type that receives a syringe, extends it, discharges its contents and then retracts it automatically. The injection device makes use of a fluid-damped delay mechanism.

There is provided a pressure-responsive device () suitable for use in an inhaler, the pressure-responsive device () comprising a closed frame () over which is fixed a membrane (), a tongue () being supported on the membrane (). Two upstanding wings () are integrally moulded with the tongue () and incorporate square apertures (). A method of manufacturing the pressure-responsive device () is also provided.

Pressure-responsive device and associated method of manufacture

The invention concerns an injection device with a housing adapted to receive a syringe having a discharge nozzle and a plunger. There is a trigger and a drive arranged to act upon the plunger on actuation of the trigger to advance the syringe from a retracted position to an extended position through an opening in the housing. A locking mechanism is arranged in and moveable relative to the housing. The locking mechanism is engaged with the plunger when the syringe is not in its extended position and disengaged from the plunger when the syringe is in its extended position. This means that movement of the plunger relative to the syringe is prevented when, in use, the syringe is advanced from a retracted position to an extended position. Hence the contents of the syringe are not expelled from the syringe during advancement from the retracted position to the extended position. The contents are only expelled when the syringe reaches the extended position.

A dosing device comprising a dispenser () for dispensing a dose material and a dose actuation mechanism () is provided. The dose actuation mechanism () comprises a number of integrally hinged links () which are connected to each other at hinging points. A deflectable tongue (), moveable in response to air flow from inhalation by a patient is attached to a first link (), to move the first link in response to air flow, movement of the first link being transferred to a second link () to cause actuation of the dispenser. The first link rests at an over center, or stable, position prior to operation, and moves under center during operation of the device to trigger movement of the second link. The dose actuation mechanism is a one-piece moulding from plastics material.

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Linton, United Kingdom

Nigel D Harrison