| abstract |
A microinjection system comprises a device for housing dried forms of medical reagents, such as vaccines, hormones, etc. in single doses. Within a single chamber, a dry reagent bed is provided adjacent a compression component that keeps the bed compacted. In operation, diluent flows through the chamber to carry the reagent out of the chamber in fluid form. In the illustrated embodiments, the fluid carrying reagent is directly delivered from the chamber via a needle. Integral or connectable diluent delivery devices are disclosed for providing an appropriate volume of diluent to the reagent chamber. Unstable formulations of drugs, for example, can be safely stored in dry form. When injection is needed, the drug can be delivered almost instantly in fluid form simply by releasing diluent through the chamber, where the reagent bed is dissolved or suspended while the remaining reagent is continually compacted. The resultant fluid contains a single dose of the reagent and is delivered directly to a patient, desirably without measurement of the fluid form. |