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  Drug delivery system for administering an adjustable preset doseUSPTO Application #: 20080108952Title: Drug delivery system for administering an adjustable preset dose Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for setting a dose of a drug in a syringe having a plunger, comprising an outer housing and an inner housing adapted for encircling the syringe, such that the inner housing is positioned within the outer housing to set the dose of the drug. In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a dosage indicator disposed on the inner housing and the outer housing further comprises an opening for viewing the dosage indicator. (end of abstract) Agent: Mcdermott, Will & Emery - San Diego, CA, US Inventors: Michael W. Horvath, David F. Jensen, Mark R. Sponsel, Joseph P. Rossi, Gregory D. Malone USPTO Applicaton #: 20080108952 - Class: 604208000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Surgery, Means For Introducing Or Removing Material From Body For Therapeutic Purposes (e.g., Medicating, Irrigating, Aspirating, Etc.), Treating Material Introduced Into Or Removed From Body Orifice, Or Inserted Or Removed Subcutaneously Other Than By Diffusing Through Skin, Material Introduced Or Removed Through Conduit, Holder, Or Implantable Reservoir Inserted In Body, Means Moved By Person To Inject Or Remove Fluent Material To Or From Body Inserted Conduit, Holder, Or Reservoir, Injector Or Aspirator Syringe Supported Only By Person During Use (e.g., Hand Held Hypodermic Syringe, Douche Tube With Forced Injection, Etc.), Having Means For Metering Material Flow To Or From Body, The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080108952. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 10/367,626, filed Feb. 14, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to systems for delivering a dosage of a drug to a patient. [0003] Drugs are often intended to be administered to a patient by an at home health care provider. Because of various factors, however, different amounts of the drug must be administered to different patients. Such factors can include, for example, the size and weight of the patient, the age of the patient, the sex of the patient, whether the patient is a child or an adult, etc. Currently, in order to administer the proper dose to the patient, drug delivery devices typically require that the device is manufactured such that the entire volume is metered to deliver the desired dose of the drug, or the at home health care provider must adjust the volume to be delivered, thereby adjusting the dose themselves. Both of these options, however, have certain inherent drawbacks. [0004] In the former case, the manufacturer is required to make several versions of a device, with each version including a different volume (usually incremental) of the drug. Further, because several different versions of the device are required, both the distributor of the drug and the pharmacist are required to use more "shelf space" by keeping an inventory of the various devices containing different amounts of the drug. [0005] In the latter case, it is more likely (as compared to a pharmacist) that the at home health care provider might make an error in setting the proper dosage. This could be especially important if the patient requires an immediate injection of the drug (due to a medical emergency). [0006] A cross section view of an example of a conventional syringe 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The syringe 10 typically comprises a barrel 12 having a proximal end designed for receiving a plunger 18 and a distal end designed for attaching an applicator tip to expel the drug into the patient. Before administration of a medicine, the drug formulation is metered into the barrel 12 of the syringe 10 to a predetermined volume. Next, the plunger 18 is inserted into the proximal end of the barrel 12. The drug can then be expelled by pushing the plunger 18 toward the distal end of the barrel 12. [0007] As shown in FIG. 1, the proximal end of the barrel 12 can further comprise a flange 16, and the distal end of the barrel 12 can further comprise a syringe tip 14. Typically, the plunger 18 further comprises a shaft having a disk-shaped flange 22 located on its proximal end and a stopper 20, usually made of a rubber material, attached to its distal end. The shaft and the disk-shaped flange 22 are often formed from a single piece of material such as either glass or plastic. The stopper 20 is usually attached to the shaft of the plunger 18 by providing a threaded tip (not shown) to the end of the shaft for screwing into the stopper 20. [0008] There is a need for drug delivery systems for the treatment of patients who experience epileptic seizures. Typically, patients who suffer increased and intermittent seizure activity due to epilepsy are treated via a rectal drug delivery device that administers a pre-set dose of a drug such as diazepam in a gel form. As discussed above, however, there is a need for a system that employs a conventional syringe for delivering an adjustable pre-set dosage of a drug. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for setting a dose of a drug in a syringe having a plunger, comprising an outer housing and an inner housing adapted for encircling the syringe, such that the inner housing is positioned within the outer housing to set the dose of the drug. In an embodiment, a dosage indicator disposed on the inner housing and the outer housing further comprises an opening for viewing the dosage indicator. [0010] In another embodiment of the present invention, a locking assembly is connected to the inner housing and the outer housing for fixing the relative positions of the inner housing and the outer housing such that the dosage indicator is viewable through the opening in the outer housing. [0011] In a further embodiment, a dosage indicator is disposed on the outer housing and provides a predetermined number of dosages of the drug in increments ranging from approximately 0.25 ml to approximately 5 ml. In another embodiment, a dosage indicator provides a predetermined number of dosages of the drug in increments ranging from approximately 0.5 mg to approximately 10 mg. [0012] In an embodiment, a limiter attached to either the inner or the outer housing for fixing at least one distance that the plunger can move within the syringe. In another embodiment, the plunger is substantially cylindrical in shape. [0013] In yet another embodiment, a grip connected to either or both the inner and outer housing to adjust the amount of and/or deliver the dosage to a patient. In another embodiment, a nozzle is attached to the inner housing for the dispensing of the drug and has a material disposed on the exterior of the nozzle. In one embodiment, the material comprises a lubricious material, such as a polymer material containing polytetrafluoroethylene. In an embodiment, a removable covering is attached to either the nozzle or the syringe. [0014] In an embodiment, the outer housing comprises two portions that are substantially cylindrical in shape. In another embodiment, threadings are disposed on the exterior of the inner housing and the interior of the outer housing, such that the threadings on the inner and outer housing are slidably disposed within each other and the relative axial positions of the inner and outer housings are adjustable by rotation of the outer housing relative to the inner housing. In one embodiment, the threadings on the inner and outer housings are predetermined such that a desired predetermined dosage corresponds to a predetermined amount of rotation of the outer housing relative to the inner housing. [0015] In yet another embodiment, locking assemblies are attached to the inner housing, the outer housing and/or the syringe for fixing the relative positions of the syringe and the inner housing. In one embodiment, the drug comprises an anti-seizure medication such as diazepam. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] FIG. 1, described above, is a cross section view of a conventional syringe. [0017] FIG. 2 is a cross section view of a simplified embodiment of the drug delivery system of the present invention. [0018] FIGS. 3(A)-(C) are cross section views of the embodiment of FIG. 2 illustrating various dosage amounts. [0019] FIGS. 4(A)-(B) are cross section views of the embodiment of FIG. 2 illustrating a locking assembly. [0020] FIGS. 5(A)-(B) are cross section views of the embodiment of FIG. 2 illustrating the administration of a dose. Continue reading... Full patent description for Drug delivery system for administering an adjustable preset dose Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Drug delivery system for administering an adjustable preset dose patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Drug delivery system for administering an adjustable preset dose or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Medical device container Next Patent Application: Injection device with a variable thread guide Industry Class: Surgery ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Drug delivery system for administering an adjustable preset dose patent info. 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