Single-use syringe

• US 20020193737A1
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: bioMD Ltd. (Anteris Technologies Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Afra Design Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Popovsky, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 6,997,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/110
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3104 Caps for syringes without needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3247 Means to impede repositioning of protection sleeve from needle covering to needle uncovering position
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3267 Biased sleeves where the needle is uncovered by insertion of the needle into a patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/042 Shrouds encircling the access needle preventing accidental needle-stick
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/288 by piercing without internal pressure increase A61M5/283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3202 Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3204 Needle cap remover, i.e. devices to dislodge protection cover from needle or needle hub, e.g. deshielding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/326 Fully automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve does not require a deliberate action by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/46 having means for controlling depth of insertion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/919 Syringe, means to protect user

Abstract

A single use syringe (10) includes a needle (18), barrel (16), plunger assembly (20) and shield (12). The barrel (16) bears a locking member (26) which encircles the front end of the barrel (16) and is carried forward by the barrel (16) to a position where it engages the shield (12) and is retained by the shield (12) such that the locking member (26) is separated from the barrel (16) as the barrel (16) is withdrawn rearwardly after use. The locking member (26) is resilient and, after it is removed from the barrel (16), assumes a configuration which prevents subsequent forward movement of the barrel (16) within the shield (12). The barrel includes a frangible seal (30) which is broken by rearward movement of needle mount (32). The shield (12) includes a shield extender (14) for controlling the depth of penetration of the needle. The syringe can also be used to inject medicament into a IV bag via a male port as shown in FIG. 7.

Claims

1. A single-use syringe comprising:

a shield;

a barrel having a needle at its forward end, the barrel being mounted for axial reciprocation within the shield between a rearward position whereat the needle is shielded and a forward position whereat the needle is exposed;

characterised in that the barrel carries forward a locking member when the barrel is moved from the rearward position to the forward position, and wherein the locking member engages the shield at the forward position, and is retained in a forward position by the shield as the barrel is returned to the rearward position, the locking member preventing subsequent forward movement of the barrel.

2. A single-use syringe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the barrel is biased to the rearward position.

3. A single-use syringe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the syringe includes a plunger assembly mounted for axial reciprocation within the barrel, and wherein the plunger assembly defines a thumb receiving portion and the shield defines at least one finger receiving portion such that the thumb and finger(s) of a single hand of a user can engage the syringe to firstly move the barrel forward relative to the shield to expose the needle, and thereafter to move the plunger assembly forward relative to the barrel to express medicament.

4. A single-use syringe as claimed in claim 2, wherein the syringe includes a plunger assembly mounted for axial reciprocation within the barrel, and wherein the plunger assembly defines a thumb receiving portion and the shield defines at least one finger receiving portion such that the thumb and finger(s) of a single hand of a user can engage the syringe to firstly move the barrel forward relative to the shield to expose the needle, and thereafter to move the plunger assembly forward relative to the barrel to express medicament.

5. A single-use syringe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking member initially encircles the forward end of the barrel, and wherein the locking member prevents subsequent forward movement of the barrel when it is removed from the forward end of the barrel.

6. A single-use syringe as claimed in claim 5, wherein the locking member is a bifurcated cylinder which adopts a truncated cone-like shape when it is removed from the forward end of the barrel.

7. A single-use syringe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking member engages, and is retained by, a slot defined in the shield.

8. A single-use syringe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shield includes a shield extender for controlling the depth of penetration of a needle.

9. A single-use syringe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the forward end of the shield is adapted to receive the male port of an IV bag or the like.