Syringe device with resistive ridges and methods of use

• US 20040054332A1
• Filed: 09/18/2002
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: G6 Science Corp.
• Original Assignee: G6 Science Corp.
• Inventors: Ferguson, Gary William
• Granted Patent: US 6,972,006 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/220
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/31506 formed as a single piece, e.g. moulded
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence

Abstract

A syringe device incorporating ridges that cause resistive changes to the movement of the syringe gasket or plunger, thereby providing user feedback as to the position and speed of plunger movement. Such user feedback may be useful in stressful situations, under poor lighting conditions or in other unfavorable circumstances. Additionally, in certain embodiments these ridges may aid in accurate dispension or allow the syringe to derive additional functionality, such as performing as a vacuum source. Ridges can be protrusions such as tabs, bubbles or continuous rings for single or repeated use or these ridges may be formed as indentations. Ridges may be formed in patterns, in various sizes and shapes or these ridges may be mixed and matched as required or desired. Ridges may also be formed from a soluble material and the resistive change may itself provide indication that the material has been substantially dissolved and dispensed. In some embodiments these ridges are formed primarily within the barrel portion of the syringe. In other embodiments these ridges may be formed on the plunger stem of the syringe. Ridges may be constructed to provide one type of resistive change during the aspiration stroke and a different resistive change to motion in the opposite direction.

Claims

1. A syringe device comprising

a hollow cylindrical member having an inner wall,

a sealing gasket disposed within said cylindrical member,

a plunger connected to said sealing gasket, said plunger implemented to drive said sealing gasket substantially axially within said cylindrical member,

at least one ridge formed on said inner wall,

said at least one ridge providing a change in resistance to said substantially axial movement of said sealing gasket within said cylindrical member.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one ridge comprises at least one tab.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one ridge comprises a continuous ring.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one ridge comprises a collapsible bubble.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the movement of said gasket over said at least one ridge causes an increase in said resistance.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the movement of said gasket over said at least one ridge provides a resistive change in the form of a decrease in resistance.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one ridge is made of a material that dissolves when a solvent is aspirated.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said change in resistance provides a continued indication of a continued presence of a material, not yet dissolved in said solvent.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one ridge comprises a plurality of ridges.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said plurality of ridges are arranged in a sequence.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said plurality of ridges have at least two different sizes or shapes, wherein said change in resistance depends on the size of said size or shape.

12. A syringe device comprising

a hollow cylindrical member having an inner wall, said inner wall having an inner diameter,

a sealing gasket disposed within said cylindrical member,

a plunger connected to said sealing gasket, said plunger implemented to drive said sealing gasket substantially axially within said cylindrical member,

a ridge formed on said inner wall, wherein said ridge comprises a tapering of said inner diameter,

said tapering providing a change in resistance to said substantially axial movement of said sealing gasket within said cylindrical member.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said tapering comprises a predetermined pattern.

14. A syringe device comprising

a hollow cylindrical member having an inner wall,

a sealing gasket disposed within said cylindrical member,

a plunger connected to said sealing gasket, said plunger implemented to drive said sealing gasket substantially axially within said cylindrical member in a first direction and in a second direction,

at least one ridge formed on said inner wall,

said at least one ridge providing a first change in resistance to said substantially axial movement of said sealing gasket within said cylindrical member in said first direction and a second change in resistance in said substantially axial movement of said sealing gasket within said cylindrical member in said second direction.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said at least one ridge comprises at least one tab.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein said at least one ridge comprises a continuous ring.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein said at least one ridge comprises a collapsible bubble.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the movement of said gasket over said at least one ridge causes an increase in said resistance.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the movement of said gasket over said at least one ridge provides a resistive change in the form of a decrease in resistance.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein said at least one ridge is made of a material that dissolves when said gasket moves over said ridge.

21. The device of claim 14, wherein said at least one ridge comprises a plurality of ridges.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said plurality of ridges are arranged in a sequence.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein said plurality of ridges have at least two different sizes, wherein said change in resistance depends on the size of said size.

24. A method of sensing the volume of fluid moved by a syringe, comprising

driving a gasket substantially axially within a hollow cylindrical member having an inner wall to aspirate and dispense said fluid, and

sensing a change in resistance caused by the movement of said gasket over at least one ridge formed on said inner wall.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said at least one ridge comprises at least one tab.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said at least one ridge comprises a continuous ring.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said at least one ridge comprises a collapsible bubble.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the movement of said gasket over said at least one ridge causes an increase in said resistance.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the movement of said gasket over said at least one ridge provides a resistive change in the form of a decrease in resistance.

30. The method of claim 24 wherein said at least one ridge is made of a material that dissolves when said gasket moves over said at least one ridge.

31. The method of claim 24 wherein said at least one ridge comprises a plurality of ridges.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said plurality of ridges are arranged in a sequence.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said plurality of ridges have at least two different sizes, wherein said change in resistance depends on the size of said size.

34. A method of sensing the volume of fluid moved by a syringe, comprising

driving a gasket substantially axially within a hollow cylindrical member having an inner wall to aspirate and dispense said fluid, and

sensing a change in resistance caused by the tapering of the inner diameter of said cylindrical member.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said tapering comprises a predetermined pattern.

36. A method of sensing the volume of fluid moved by a syringe, comprising

an aspiration step comprising driving a gasket substantially axially within a hollow cylindrical member having an inner wall to aspirate said fluid,

a dispensing step comprising driving a gasket substantially axially within said cylindrical member to dispense said fluid,

sensing a first change in resistance caused by the movement during said aspiration step of said gasket over at least one ridge formed on said inner wall,

sensing a second change in resistance caused by the movement during said dispensing step of said gasket over said at least one ridge.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said at least one ridge comprises at least one tab.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein said at least one ridge comprises a continuous ring.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein said at least one ridge comprises a collapsible bubble.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the movement during said aspiration step of said gasket over said at least one ridge an increase in said resistance.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the movement during said dispensing step of said gasket over said at least one ridge causes an increase in said resistance.

42. The method of claim 36, wherein the movement during said aspiration step of said gasket over said at least one ridge causes a decrease in said resistance.

43. The method of claim 36, wherein the movement during said dispensing step of said gasket over said at least one ridge causes a decrease in said resistance.

44. The method of claim 36, wherein said at least one ridge is made of a material that dissolves when a solvent is aspirated.

45. The method of claim 36, wherein said at least one ridge comprises a plurality of ridges.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said plurality of ridges are arranged in a sequence.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein said plurality of ridges have at least two different sizes, wherein said change in resistance depends on the size of said ridges.

48. A syringe device comprising

a hollow cylindrical member having an inner wall, a first end, and a second end,

a sealing gasket disposed within said cylindrical member,

a plunger connected to said sealing gasket, said plunger implemented to drive said sealing gasket substantially axially within said cylindrical member,

a structure at said cylindrical member first end forming a cutout, said plunger moving axially through said cutout to drive said sealing gasket in a first direction toward said first end and in a second direction toward said second end,

at least one ridge formed on said plunger,

said at least one ridge providing a change in resistance to said substantially axial movement of said plunger through said cutout.

49. The device of claim 48, wherein said at least one ridge comprises at least one tab.

50. The device of claim 48, wherein said at least one ridge comprises a continuous ring.

51. The device of claim 48, wherein said at least one ridge comprises a plurality of ridges.

52. The device of claim 51, wherein said plurality of ridges are arranged in a sequence.

53. The device of claim 51, wherein said plurality of ridges have at least two different sizes or shapes, wherein said change in resistance depends on the said size or shape.

54. A syringe device comprising

a hollow cylindrical member having an inner wall, a first end, and a second end,

a sealing gasket disposed within said cylindrical member,

a plunger connected to said sealing gasket, said plunger implemented to drive said sealing gasket substantially axially within said cylindrical member in a first direction and in a second direction,

a structure at said cylindrical member first end forming a cutout, said plunger moving axially through said cutout to drive said sealing gasket,

at least one ridge formed on said plunger,

said at least one ridge providing a first change in resistance to said substantially axial movement of said plunger through said cutout in said first direction and a second change in resistance in said substantially axial movement of said plunger through said cutout in said second direction.

55. The device of claim 54, wherein said at least one ridge comprises at least one tab.

56. The device of claim 54, wherein said at least one ridge comprises a continuous ring.

57. The device of claim 54, wherein said at least one ridge comprises a plurality of ridges.

58. The device of claim 57, wherein said plurality of ridges are arranged in a sequence.

59. The device of claim 57, wherein said plurality of ridges have at least two different sizes or shapes, wherein said change in resistance depends on the said size or said shape.

60. A method of sensing the volume of fluid moved by a syringe, comprising

driving a plunger connected to a gasket substantially axially within a hollow cylindrical member to aspirate and dispense said fluid,

said cylindrical member having a first end, a second end, and a structure at said cylindrical member first end forming a cutout, and

sensing a change in resistance caused by at least one ridge on said plunger as said at least one ridge encounters said cutout.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein said at least one ridge comprises at least one tab.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein said at least one ridge comprises a continuous ring.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein said at least one ridge comprises a plurality of ridges.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein said plurality of ridges are arranged in a sequence.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein said plurality of ridges have at least two different sizes or shapes, wherein said change in resistance depends on the said size or said shape.

66. A method of sensing the volume of fluid moved by a syringe, comprising

an aspiration step comprising driving a plunger connected to a gasket substantially axially within a hollow cylindrical member to aspirate said fluid,

a dispensing step comprising driving said plunger connected to said gasket substantially axially within said cylindrical member to dispense said fluid,

said cylindrical member having a first end, a second end, and a structure at said cylindrical member first end forming a cutout, and

sensing a first change in resistance caused by at least one ridge on said plunger as said at least one ridge encounters said cutout during said aspiration step,

sensing a second change in resistance caused by said at least one ridge as said at least one ridge encounters said cutout during said dispensing step.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein said at least one ridge comprises at least one tab.

68. The method of claim 66, wherein said at least one ridge comprises a continuous ring.

69. The method of claim 66, wherein said at least one ridge comprises a plurality of ridges.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein said plurality of ridges are arranged in a sequence.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein said plurality of ridges have at least two different sizes or shapes, wherein said change in resistance depends on the said size or said shape.