Substance delivery device

Abstract

A device for implanting a substance into subcutaneous tissue or the dermis of a patient can include a housing, a hypodermic needle, a rod, and a bolt-action rod displacement mechanism. The hypodermic needle can include a lumen that is preloaded with a dermal filler thread. The rod can be configured to fit within the lumen of the hypodermic needle. Upon displacement within the lumen, the rod can cause displacement of the dermal filler thread within the lumen. The bolt-action rod displacement mechanism can be configured to displace the rod within the lumen away from a starting position toward the dermal filler thread.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A device for implanting a substance into subcutaneous tissue or the dermis of a patient, the device comprising:
 a housing;   a hypodermic needle having a lumen that is preloaded with a dermal filler thread;   a rod that is configured to fit within the lumen and, upon displacement within the lumen, to cause displacement of the dermal filler thread within the lumen; and   a bolt-action rod displacement mechanism configured to displace the rod within the lumen away from a starting position toward the dermal filler thread.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the bolt-action rod displacement mechanism comprises a pneumatically-loaded bolt action mechanism configured to pneumatically displace the rod within the lumen away from a starting position toward the dermal filler thread. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the pneumatically-loaded bolt action mechanism comprises a pressurized gas reservoir wherein a pressurized gas within the pressurized gas reservoir is configured to pneumatically displace the rod. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the pneumatically-loaded bolt action mechanism comprises a pressurized liquid reservoir wherein a pressurized liquid within the pressurized liquid reservoir is configured to pneumatically displace the rod. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the pneumatically-loaded bolt action mechanism comprises a carbon dioxide canister wherein pressurized carbon dioxide within the carbon dioxide canister is configured to pneumatically displace the rod. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the bolt-action rod displacement mechanism comprises:
 a gear operatively coupled to the rod, wherein the gear rotates as the rod is linearly displaced; and   a biasing member coupled to the gear, wherein the biasing member is configured to rotate the gear to advance the rod.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein retraction of the rod energizes the biasing member. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , the bolt-action rod displacement mechanism further comprising a rod cocking piece coupled to the rod, the rod cocking piece extending out of the housing to permit the rod to be retracted. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the rod is configured to retracted to at least one cocked position, wherein the at least one cocked position corresponds to a desired volume of dermal filler thread to be discharged. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the bolt-action rod displacement mechanism further comprises a trigger lock movable between an engaged position to retain the rod in the at least one cocked position and a disengaged position to permit the biasing member to advance the rod. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising a needle retraction mechanism configured to displace the hypodermic needle relative to the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , the needle retraction mechanism further comprising a needle cocking piece coupled to the hypodermic needle, wherein the needle cocking piece extends out of the housing to permit the hypodermic needle to be displaced relative to the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the needle retraction mechanism comprises a spring-loaded bolt action mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . A method of reducing appearance of a wrinkle in the skin of a patient, the method comprising:
 delivering a dermal filler thread beneath the wrinkle via a device that comprises (i) a hypodermic needle having a lumen that is preloaded with the dermal filler thread, and (ii) a rod configured to fit within the lumen;   displacing the rod within the lumen in a direction away from a starting position and toward the dermal filler thread to cause the dermal filler thread to exit the lumen and enter the skin.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the displacing comprises pneumatically displacing the rod within the lumen away from a starting position toward the dermal filler thread. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the displacing comprises rotating a gear via a biasing member to advance the rod. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising energizing the biasing member by retracting the rod relative to the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 retracting the rod to at least one cocked position; and   discharging a desired volume of dermal filler thread corresponding to the at least one cocked position.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 retaining the rod at the at least one cocked position via a trigger lock in an engaged position; and   disengaging the trigger lock to advance the rod.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising displacing the hypodermic needle relative to the housing via a needle retraction mechanism.