Syringe with plunger rod having a flexible portion

• US 10,286,153 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2017
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton Dickinson France (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Becton Dickinson France (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Manke, Darrin Scott, Labak, Christopher, St. Cyr, Joseph Omer, Schiff, David Robert, Turpault, Mathieu Dominic, Gatta, Antonio, Coleman, John Depler
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez, Manuel A
• Application Number:
  US15/800,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20180117257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 604187, 604218, 604221, 604222, 604223, 604224, 604227, 604228, 604233
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3104 Caps for syringes without needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3106 Plugs for syringes without needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/31518 designed to reduce the overall size of an injection device, e.g. using flexible or pivotally connected chain-like rod members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31513 Piston constructions to improve sealing or sliding
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31515 Connection of piston with piston rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5086 for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile

Abstract

A syringe assembly including a plunger rod having a first end, a second end, and a rod portion extending therebetween, wherein at least a portion of the rod portion is flexible is disclosed. The flexible portion of the rod portion allows a stopper to be moved between a first position and a second position within a syringe barrel while the overall length of the syringe assembly remains the same throughout the movement between the first position and the second position. In another embodiment, a syringe assembly including a restraining member adapted to communicate with the flexible portion of the rod portion such that movement of the first end of the plunger rod in a first direction actuates movement of the second end of the plunger rod in a second direction different than the first direction is disclosed.

Claims

1. A syringe assembly, comprising:

a syringe barrel having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending therebetween and defining a chamber having an interior;

a plunger rod comprising a pair of opposing rod portions, each of said opposing rod portions having a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of each of the opposing rod portions is flexible;

a stopper engaged with the second end of the opposing rod portions and slidably disposed within the interior of the chamber of the syringe barrel, the stopper sized relative to the interior of the chamber of the syringe barrel to provide sealing engagement with the sidewall of the syringe barrel; and

a restraining member adapted to communicate with the flexible portions of the rod portions such that movement of the first end of the opposing rod portions in a first direction actuates movement of the second end of the opposing rod portions in a second direction, the second direction being different than the first direction.

2. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein the second direction is substantially opposite the first direction.

3. The syringe assembly of claim 1, further comprising a fluid contained within the chamber.

4. The syringe assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pair of handles disposed at opposite sides of the syringe barrel and connected to the first end of the opposing rod portions such that movement of the handles in the first direction advances the first end of the opposing rod portions in the first direction and the second end of the opposing rod portions in the second direction.

5. The syringe assembly of claim 4, wherein the handles include a key, and the restraining member defines a keyway, the keyway sized to accept the key of the handles therein, the keyway sized relative to the keys to guide movement of the handles.

6. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein the stopper includes a head portion engaged with the second ends of the opposing rod portions.

7. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein the restraining member comprises a top guide wall and a bottom guide wall, wherein the top guide wall and the bottom guide wall cooperate to form a guide channel, the guide channel sized to receive a portion of the plunger rod therein.

8. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein movement of the second end of the plunger rod in the second direction actuates the stopper toward the first end of the syringe barrel.

9. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein an overall length of the syringe assembly is the same when the stopper is in a first position and a second position.

10. The syringe assembly of claim 1, further comprising a medication or a drug disposed within the chamber of the syringe barrel.

11. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein the syringe assembly is fully encapsulated by a packaging element.

12. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the syringe assembly is encapsulated by a packaging element.

13. The syringe assembly of claim 12, wherein the packaging element comprises a tear strip.

14. A syringe assembly, comprising:

a syringe barrel having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending therebetween and defining a chamber having an interior;

a plunger rod comprising a continuous rod portion having a first end and a second end and a looped head portion, wherein at least a portion of the continuous rod portion is flexible;

a stopper engaged with the looped head portion and slidably disposed within the interior of the chamber of the syringe barrel, the stopper sized relative to the interior of the chamber of the syringe barrel to provide sealing engagement with the sidewall of the syringe barrel; and

a restraining member adapted to communicate with the flexible portion of the rod portion such that movement of at least the first end of the continuous rod portion in a first direction actuates movement of the head portion of the continuous rod portion in a second direction, the second direction being different than the first direction.

15. The syringe assembly of claim 14, wherein movement of the first end and the second end of the continuous rod portion in a first direction actuates movement of the head portion of the continuous rod portion in the second direction.

16. The syringe assembly of claim 14, wherein an overall length of the syringe assembly is the same when the stopper is in a first position and a second position.

17. The syringe assembly of claim 14, further comprising a fluid contained in the chamber.

18. The syringe assembly of claim 14, further comprising an actuator flange disposed at least partially about the syringe barrel and connected to at least the first end of the continuous rod portion such that movement of the actuator flange in a first direction advances the first end of the plunger rod in the first direction and the head portion of the continuous rod portion in a second direction.

19. The syringe assembly of claim 18, wherein the actuator flange includes a first portion and a second portion and the first end of the continuous rod portion is secured to the first portion of the actuator flange and the second end of the continuous rod portion is secured to the second portion of the actuator flange.

20. The syringe assembly of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the syringe assembly is encapsulated by a packaging element and the packaging element comprises a tear strip.