Syringe with indicator float

• US 10,378,949 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2015
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Uber, III, Arthur E., Cowan, Kevin P., Sams, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Osinski, Bradley J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah, Nilay J
• Application Number:
  US15/317,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20170115156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• 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 5/40 using low-level float-valve to cut off media flow from reservoir position detection of a floating member A61M5/1685
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/027 of the syringe type
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/64 of the free float type without mechanical transmission elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/76 characterised by the construction of the float

Abstract

A syringe assembly may include a syringe having a distal end, a proximal end, and a sidewall extending between the distal end and the proximal end and defining an interior volume; and an indicator float provided in the interior volume of the syringe. The indicator float may be buoyant such that the indicator float is movable between the distal end and the proximal end of the syringe based on a fluid fill level within the interior volume of the syringe.

Claims

1. A syringe assembly, comprising:

a syringe having a distal end, a proximal end, and a sidewall extending between the distal end and the proximal end and defining an interior volume; and

an indicator float provided in the interior volume of the syringe,

wherein the indicator float comprises a cap, a base, and at least two distal arms extending radially inward and longitudinally in a distal direction from the base to the cap and connecting the cap to the base, wherein the indicator float has a frusto-conical shape, and

wherein the indicator float is buoyant such that the indicator float is movable between the distal end and the proximal end of the syringe based on a fill level of a fluid within the interior volume of the syringe.

2. The syringe assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plunger provided in the interior volume of the syringe,

wherein the plunger is reversibly movable between the distal end and the proximal end of the syringe;

and

wherein a distal surface of the plunger has a shape that substantially corresponds to the frusto-conical shape of the indicator float.

3. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein the cap has an annular shape with a central opening.

4. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein the base has an annular shape with a central opening.

5. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein the base defines a plurality of openings, wherein the plurality of openings defined by the base are circumferentially spaced around the base.

6. The syringe assembly of claim 1, further comprising a movably captured member provided on the indicator float.

7. The syringe assembly of claim 6, further comprising a captured member enclosure provided on the indicator float, wherein the captured member enclosure is configured to retain the movably captured member such that the movably captured member is movable within the captured member enclosure.

8. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein an outer circumferential surface of the indicator float is sized to be in proximity to the sidewall.

9. The syringe assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a lower cap; and

at least two proximal arms extending in a proximal direction from the base to the lower cap.

10. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least two distal arms connecting the base to the cap spiral from the base to the cap.

11. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein the indicator float is positioned in the interior volume of the syringe to prevent pivoting of the indicator float relative to a longitudinal axis of the syringe.

12. The syringe assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second indicator float positioned in the interior volume of the syringe, wherein the second indicator float has at least one of a different density and a different buoyancy than the indicator float.