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.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A hand-held injection device comprising:
 a cartridge suitable containing a dermal filler;   a shell configured to support the cartridge;   a motorized drive mechanism;   a power source for activating the drive mechanism; and   a plunger actuated by the drive mechanism for urging the dermal filler out of the cartridge.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising a user-programmable controller coupled to the drive mechanism and configured to be set at a user-defined injection rate. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the user-defined injection rate can be set at a rate between about 0.001 mL/sec and about 1 mL/sec. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising a needle coupled to a distal end portion of the cartridge, wherein the plunger is configured to urge the dermal filler out of the cartridge through the needle. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the shell comprises a U-shaped appendage configured to receive a finger of an operator, the shell further comprising an injection button disposed on a top side of the shell. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the shell has a pistol-grip style design in which the shell has a longitudinal body and a grip extending from a lateral side of the longitudinal body. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising a vial coupled to the cartridge for providing a dilutant for mixing with the dermal filler during delivery of the dermal filler. 
     
     
         18 . A hand-held injection device comprising:
 a cartridge containing a dermal filler and having a distal end portion configured to be coupled to a needle;   an outer shell configured to support the cartridge and be held by an operator;   a plunger coupled to the cartridge for urging the dermal filler from within the cartridge out through the needle;   a motorized drive mechanism comprising a motor and a gear, the motorized drive mechanism being coupled to the plunger for driving motion of the plunger; and   a power source configured to activate the motorized drive mechanism.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a user-programmable controller coupled to the motorized drive mechanism and configured to be set at a user-defined injection rate. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the user-defined injection rate can be set at a rate between about 0.001 mL/sec and about 1 mL/sec. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the shell comprises a U-shaped appendage configured to receive a finger of the operator, the shell further comprising an injection button disposed on a top side of the shell. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the shell has a pistol-grip style design in which the shell has a longitudinal body and a grip extending from a lateral side of the longitudinal body. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a vial coupled to the cartridge for providing a dilutant for mixing with the dermal filler during delivery of the dermal filler. 
     
     
         24 . A hand-held injection device comprising:
 a cartridge containing a dermal filler;   a vial coupled to the cartridge for providing a dilutant for mixing with the dermal filler in the cartridge;   a plunger configured to urge the dermal filler out of the cartridge; and   a motor configured to agitate the mixture in the cartridge.   
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , further comprising a motorized drive mechanism and a user-programmable controller coupled to the motorized drive mechanism for setting a user-defined injection rate. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the user-defined injection rate can be set at a rate between about 0.001 mL/sec and about 1 mL/sec. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 25 , further comprising a power source configured to activate the motorized drive mechanism. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 24 , further comprising a shell configured to support the cartridge, wherein the shell is elongate and configured to be held by an operator in a similar manner to that of a writing instrument. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the shell comprises a U-shaped appendage configured to receive a finger of an operator, the shell further comprising an injection button disposed on a top side of the shell. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 24 , further comprising a shell configured to support the cartridge, wherein the shell has a pistol-grip style design in which the shell has a longitudinal body and a grip extending from a lateral side of the longitudinal body.