Injection device for soft-tissue augmentation fillers, bioactive agents and other biocompatible materials in liquid or gel form

Abstract

Described herein are injection devices capable of automatically injecting substances into the soft tissue of a patient. The devices can inject low to high viscosity materials at predetermined, user selected injection rates, allowing the operator more control than a traditional syringe. The devices can allow mixing of more than one substance and/or reconstitution of a solid substance for injection. The injection devices described herein can allow the operator to easily inject one or more low to high viscosity liquid or gel soft-tissue augmentation fillers, one or more drugs, one or more other biocompatible materials, or combinations thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hand-held injection device for a dermal filler comprising:
 a cartridge suitable for containing a dermal filler material and couplable to a needle;   a shell structured to contain the cartridge;   a vial, suitable for containing a fluid material to be mixed with the dermal filler material, the vial being fluidly coupled to the cartridge;   a pump and a one-way valve for directing the fluid material from the vial into the cartridge to be mixed with the dermal filler material; and   a plunger for forcing the mixture of dermal filler material and fluid material from the cartridge and out of the needle.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a controller for enabling a user to set a user-defined injection rate. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a controller for enabling a user to set a user-defined injection rate between about 0.001 mL/sec and about 1 mL/sec. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2  further comprising a motorized drive mechanism connected to the controller and capable of driving the plunger. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device includes a dermal filler material contained in the cartridge. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the dermal filler material is a hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1  further comprising a fluid material contained in the vial. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7  wherein the fluid material is saline. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 7  wherein the fluid material is a medicament. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 7  wherein the fluid material comprises a botulinum toxin. 
     
     
         11 . A hand-held injection device for injecting dermal fillers comprising:
 a dermal filler gel;   a cartridge containing the dermal filler gel and couplable to a needle;   a shell structured to contain the cartridge;   a fluid material;   a vial, containing the fluid material, the vial being fluidly coupled to the cartridge;   a pump and a one-way valve for directing the fluid material from the vial into the cartridge; and   a plunger advanceable in the cartridge for causing the dermal filler gel mixed with the fluid material to be extruded as a mixture.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  further comprising a controller for enabling a user to set a user-defined injection rate. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a controller for enabling a user to set a user-defined injection rate between about 0.001 mL/sec and about 1 mL/sec. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12  further comprising a motorized drive mechanism connected to the controller and capable of driving the plunger. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the dermal filler gel is a hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler gel. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 11  wherein the fluid material is saline. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 11  wherein the fluid material is a medicament. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 11  wherein the fluid material comprises a botulinum toxin.