Medicament Dispensing Devices and Methods

Abstract

A medicament dispensing device including a substantially rigid carpule body which has a dispensing end and an actuation end opposite the dispensing end. The carpule body is substantially tubular and thus defines a carpule bore. The device further includes a plunger operatively disposed within the carpule bore having a plunger actuator near the actuation end of the carpule body and a plunger tip opposite the plunger actuator. The plunger tip and an orifice at the dispensing end of the carpule bore define a medicament volume which may be loaded with a medicament selected to achieve specific therapeutic goals.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medicament dispensing device comprising:
 a carpule body having a dispensing end and an actuation end opposite the dispensing end, the carpule body further defining a carpule bore, wherein the carpule body is curved to provide an angular displacement between a central axis of the carpule body at the actuation end and a central axis of the carpule body at the dispensing end; and   a plunger operatively disposed within the carpule bore, said plunger comprising a plunger actuator near the actuation end, a plunger tip opposite the plunger actuator and a plunger shaft between the plunger actuator and the plunger tip; wherein the plunger defines a medicament volume within the carpule bore between the plunger tip and an orifice at the dispensing end prior to actuation of the plunger and wherein the plunger tip extends to or through the orifice after actuation of the plunger.   
     
     
         2 . The medicament dispensing device of  claim 1  wherein the orifice at the dispensing end comprises a substantially rigid circular orifice. 
     
     
         3 . The medicament dispensing device of  claim 1  wherein the orifice has a diameter of 1.3 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The medicament dispensing device of  claim 1  wherein the carpule body is substantially rigid. 
     
     
         5 . The medicament dispensing device of  claim 1  wherein the carpule body at the dispensing end is tapered such that the orifice has substantially the same diameter as the plunger tip. 
     
     
         6 . The medicament dispensing device of  claim 1  wherein the plunger shaft is flexible. 
     
     
         7 . The medicament dispensing device of  claim 6  wherein the carpule body is substantially rigid. 
     
     
         8 . The medicament dispensing device of  claim 1  wherein the plunger tip defines a concave surface facing the orifice. 
     
     
         9 . The medicament dispensing device of  claim 1  further comprising a protective cover associated with the carpule body. 
     
     
         10 . The medicament dispensing device of  claim 9  wherein the protective cover covers the entire carpule body. 
     
     
         11 . The medicament dispensing device of  claim 10  wherein the protective cover comprises:
 a tab, and 
 a scored seam facilitating the opening of the protective cover. 
 
     
     
         12 . The medicament dispensing device of  claim 9  wherein the protective cover covers only the dispensing end of the carpule body. 
     
     
         13 . A method of dispensing a medicament comprising:
 providing a medicament dispensing device comprising;
 a carpule body having a dispensing end and an actuation end opposite the dispensing end, the carpule body further defining a carpule bore, wherein the carpule body is curved to provide an angular displacement between a central axis of the carpule body at the actuation end and a central axis of the carpule body at the dispensing end; and 
 a plunger operatively disposed within the carpule bore, said plunger comprising a plunger actuator near the actuation end, a plunger tip opposite the plunger actuator and a plunger shaft between the plunger actuator and the plunger tip; wherein the plunger defines a medicament volume within the carpule bore between the plunger tip and an orifice at the dispensing end prior to actuation of the plunger and wherein the plunger tip extends to or through the orifice after actuation of the plunger; 
   placing a medicament into the medicament volume;   inserting the medicament dispensing device into a site; and   causing the actuation of the plunger to dispense the medicament into the site.   
     
     
         14 . The method of dispensing a medicament of  claim 13  wherein the orifice at the dispensing end of the provided medicament dispensing device comprises a substantially rigid circular orifice. 
     
     
         15 . The method of dispensing a medicament of  claim 13  wherein the orifice of the provided medicament dispensing device has a diameter of 1.3 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The method of dispensing a medicament of  claim 13  wherein the carpule body of the provided medicament dispensing device is substantially rigid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of dispensing a medicament of  claim 13  wherein the carpule body at the dispensing end of the provided medicament dispensing device is tapered such that the orifice has substantially the same diameter as the plunger tip. 
     
     
         18 . The method of dispensing a medicament of  claim 13  wherein the plunger shaft of the provided medicament dispensing device is flexible. 
     
     
         19 . The method of dispensing a medicament of  claim 13  wherein the carpule body of the provided medicament dispensing device is substantially rigid. 
     
     
         20 . The method of dispensing a medicament of  claim 13  wherein the plunger tip defines a concave surface facing the orifice.