Injection device

Abstract

The invention relates to a needle delivery device comprising a device body; one or more skin pinching members attached to the device body, the skin pinching members being moveable to pinch a longitudinal fold of skin of a patient. The device also comprises a drive mechanism configured to drive a needle out of the device body and along a needle path into the longitudinal fold of skin pinched between the pinching members, and subsequently withdraw the needle, the needle path extending substantially parallel to the surface of the patient.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A needle delivery device comprising:
 a device body;   one or more skin pinching members attached to the device body, the one or more skin pinching members being moveable to pinch a longitudinal fold of skin of a patient, wherein the one or more skin pinching members includes an inner surface which contacts a side of the longitudinal fold of skin upon movement of the one or more skin pinching members to create the longitudinal fold of skin; and   a drive mechanism configured, in use, to drive a needle along a needle path, into the longitudinal fold of skin pinched between the pinching members, and subsequently withdraw the needle, the needle path extending within the device body, passing out of the device body and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal fold of skin; and   at least one sensor mechanism including a plurality of sensors interspersed along the length of the inner surface of at least one of the skin pinching members so that the plurality of sensors face inwards towards the side of the longitudinal fold of skin in use, the plurality of sensors being configured to detect pinching along a length of the longitudinal fold of skin and to confirm the uniformity of the longitudinal fold of skin along its length.   
     
     
         30 . The needle delivery device according to  claim 29 , further comprising a pharmaceutical composition delivery mechanism configured, in use, to deliver a pharmaceutical composition through the needle. 
     
     
         31 . The needle delivery device according to  claim 29 , wherein the needle path changes direction as the needle path leaves the device body. 
     
     
         32 . The needle delivery device according to  claim 29 , further comprising at least one needle. 
     
     
         33 . The needle delivery device according to  claim 32 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one needle is flexible. 
     
     
         34 . The needle delivery device according to  claim 32 , further including a guide member configured to guide the at least one needle along the needle path. 
     
     
         35 . The needle delivery device of  claim 34 , wherein the guide member is, or includes, a roller. 
     
     
         36 . The needle delivery device according to  claim 33 , wherein the at least one needle is configured to revert to an elongated straight shape after passing through an arcing pathway. 
     
     
         37 . The needle delivery device according to  claim 32 , wherein when positioned within the device body the at least one needle is covered by a protective sheath. 
     
     
         38 . The needle delivery device according to  claim 37 , wherein the protective sheath has a rigid section and a flexible section, wherein the rigid section surrounds a tip of the at least one needle and comprises an opening to allow the at least one needle to exit the rigid section on actuation of the drive mechanism. 
     
     
         39 . The needle delivery device according to  claim 38 , wherein the protective sheath comprises a sealing membrane covering the opening, wherein the sealing membrane is penetrable by the at least one needle. 
     
     
         40 . The needle delivery device according to  claim 32 , wherein the at least one needle has a length of greater than about 12 mm. 
     
     
         41 . The needle delivery device according to  claim 30 , which comprises a pharmaceutical composition reservoir in fluid communication with the pharmaceutical composition delivery mechanism. 
     
     
         42 . The needle delivery device of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more skin pinching members are configured to automatically adjust based on a volume of a pharmaceutical composition to be injected into the skin; or
 wherein the plurality of sensors include pressure sensors, and wherein the one or more skin pinching members are configured to automatically adjust based on the pressure of the pinched skin measured by the pressure sensors.   
     
     
         43 . The needle delivery device according to  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprise at least one light source and at least one light sensor to detect the presence of pinched skin therebetween. 
     
     
         44 . The needle delivery device according to  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of a sensors comprise at least one mechanical switch to detect contact with pinched skin. 
     
     
         45 . The needle delivery device according to  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprise an electrical sensor to detect contact with pinched skin. 
     
     
         46 . The needle delivery device according to  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of sensors includes a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         47 . A method of sensing the pinching of a longitudinal fold of skin comprising;
 placing a device of  claim 29  in contact with the skin of a patient;   moving at least one skin pinching member to pinch a longitudinal fold of skin; and   sensing the pinching of the longitudinal fold of skin and confirming the uniformity of the longitudinal fold of skin along its length with the at least one sensor mechanism.