Disposable syringe and cartridge with pneumatic chamber
First Claim
1. A syringe comprising:
- a) a hollow barrel comprising a first barrel end and a second barrel end, said first barrel end being open and said second barrel end comprising means for allowing attachment of a needle assembly;
b) a master plunger assembly mounted in said barrel for longitudinal movement therein, said master plunger assembly comprising a master plunger and a plunger member extending through said first barrel end for allowing a user to apply pressure thereto;
c) a slave plunger mounted in said barrel for longitudinal movement therein, said slave plunger located between said master plunger assembly and said second barrel end so as to define a liquid chamber between said slave plunger and said second barrel end, and to define a pneumatic chamber containing a gas between said slave plunger and said master plunger assembly;
whereby, when said liquid chamber contains a liquid to be dispensed from said syringe, a user applying selective pressure to said plunger member will cause said master plunger assembly to slide towards said slave plunger and compress said gas against said slave plunger, said slave plunger will as a result of said pressure slide towards said second barrel end as said gas decompresses and apply pressure against said liquid as a result thereof, and said liquid will be dispensed out of the syringe via the means for allowing attachment of a needle assembly.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A syringe or cartridge having a hollow barrel with an open end and a second end suitable for attaching a needle assembly. A master plunger assembly that includes a master plunger and a plunger member is mounted in the barrel for longitudinal movement therein. A slave plunger is mounted in the barrel for longitudinal movement therein, and is located between the master plunger assembly and the second barrel end so as to define two chambers. The first chamber a liquid chamber and is between the slave plunger and the second barrel end, and the second chamber is a pneumatic chamber and is between the slave plunger and the master plunger assembly. The liquid-containing chamber is suitable for containing a liquid to be dispensed from the syringe, and the pneumatic chamber contains a gas such as air. When the liquid-containing chamber contains a liquid to be dispensed, a user applying selective pressure to the plunger member will cause the master plunger assembly to slide towards the slave plunger and compress the gas against the slave plunger. The slave plunger will as a result of this pressure slide towards the second barrel end as the gas decompresses and apply pressure against the liquid as a result thereof. The liquid will then be dispensed out of the syringe or cartridge via a needle attached to the barrel end.
41 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A syringe comprising:
-
a) a hollow barrel comprising a first barrel end and a second barrel end, said first barrel end being open and said second barrel end comprising means for allowing attachment of a needle assembly;
b) a master plunger assembly mounted in said barrel for longitudinal movement therein, said master plunger assembly comprising a master plunger and a plunger member extending through said first barrel end for allowing a user to apply pressure thereto;
c) a slave plunger mounted in said barrel for longitudinal movement therein, said slave plunger located between said master plunger assembly and said second barrel end so as to define a liquid chamber between said slave plunger and said second barrel end, and to define a pneumatic chamber containing a gas between said slave plunger and said master plunger assembly;
whereby, when said liquid chamber contains a liquid to be dispensed from said syringe, a user applying selective pressure to said plunger member will cause said master plunger assembly to slide towards said slave plunger and compress said gas against said slave plunger, said slave plunger will as a result of said pressure slide towards said second barrel end as said gas decompresses and apply pressure against said liquid as a result thereof, and said liquid will be dispensed out of the syringe via the means for allowing attachment of a needle assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A cartridge comprising:
-
a) a hollow barrel comprising a first barrel end and a second barrel end, said first barrel end being open and said second barrel end comprising means for allowing penetration of a needle assembly;
b) a master plunger mounted in said barrel near said first barrel end for longitudinal movement therein;
c) a slave plunger mounted in said barrel for longitudinal movement therein, said slave plunger located between said master plunger and said second barrel end so as to define a liquid chamber between said slave plunger and said second barrel end and a pneumatic chamber between said slave plunger and said master plunger;
wherein said liquid chamber is filled with a liquid to be dispensed from the cartridge via said second barrel end and said pneumatic chamber is filled with a gas. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A packaged cartridge combination comprising:
-
i) a cartridge comprising a) a hollow barrel comprising a first barrel end and a second barrel end, said first barrel end being open and said second barrel end comprising means for allowing penetration of a needle assembly;
b) a master plunger mounted in said barrel near said first barrel end for longitudinal movement therein;
c) a slave plunger mounted in said barrel for longitudinal movement therein, said slave plunger located between said master plunger and said second barrel end so as to define a liquid chamber between said slave plunger and said second barrel end and a pneumatic chamber between said slave plunger and said master plunger;
d) an aperture in said barrel, said aperture disposed along said barrel so as to allow air to flow to or from said pneumatic chamber;
wherein said liquid chamber is filled with a liquid to be dispensed from the cartridge via said second barrel end; and
ii) a cartridge packaging hermetically sealed around said cartridge in which said cartridge is vacuum sealed within said packaging;
whereby as a result of said vacuum sealing, the volume of space interior to said cartridge packaging and said pneumatic chamber are substantially void of air. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
-
16. A pipette comprising:
-
a) a hollow barrel having a first diameter and comprising a first barrel end and a second barrel end, said first barrel end being open and said second barrel end tapering from the first diameter to a second diameter, said second diameter being substantially smaller than said first diameter, said second barrel end being open at said second diameter;
b) a master plunger mounted in said barrel for longitudinal movement therein;
c) a slave plunger mounted in said barrel for longitudinal movement therein, said slave plunger located between said master plunger assembly and said second barrel end so as to define a liquid chamber between said slave plunger and said second barrel end, and to define a pneumatic chamber containing a gas between said slave plunger and said master plunger assembly;
d) a squeeze bulb mounted on the first barrel end; and
e) a flexible tether connected between the master plunger and the slave plunger;
whereby, when said liquid chamber contains a liquid to be dispensed from said pipette, a user applying selective pressure to said squeeze bulb will cause said master plunger assembly to slide towards said slave plunger and compress said gas against said slave plunger, said slave plunger will as a result of said pressure slide towards said second barrel end as said gas decompresses and apply pressure against said liquid as a result thereof, and said liquid will be dispensed out of the pipette via the second barrel end. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
Specification