SYRINGE HAVING A PROXIMAL END WITH AN OUTWARD EXTENDING LIP

• US 20090216190A1
• Filed: 05/07/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Medrad Incorporated (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Haury, John A., Spohn, Michael A., Grubic, Herbert M., Schriver, Ralph H., Joyce, Thomas P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,337,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/125
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1458 Means for capture of the plunger flange

Abstract

A syringe includes a body having a distal end, a proximal end and a center section therebetween, a plunger movably disposed in the body, and a lip extending outward from the proximal end of the body. The outward extending lip has an outer diameter no greater than the outer diameter of the center section. The outward extending lip may extend around the circumference of the proximal end.

Claims

1. A syringe comprising:

a body comprising a distal end, a proximal end and a center section therebetween, the center section having an outer diameter;

a plunger movably disposed in the body; and

a lip extending outward from the proximal end of the body, wherein the outward extending lip has an outer diameter no greater than the outer diameter of the center section.

2. The syringe of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the body comprises an injection section including a conical portion that extends and tapers from the center section to an injection neck forming a discharge outlet and the proximal end comprises a radial expansion section having a reduced wall thickness such that an inner diameter of the radial expansion section is larger than an inner diameter of the center section and the outer diameter of the radial expansion section is smaller than an outer diameter of the center section, wherein an outer surface of the body at the radial expansion section is tapered or stepped inward toward a central axis of the body and an inner surface of the body at the radial expansion section is tapered or stepped outward away from the central axis of the body to form the reduced wall thickness.

3. The syringe of claim 2 wherein the plunger comprises a coupling end with a pair of coupling members defining a slot therebetween.

4. The syringe of claim 3, further comprising an alignment flange formed on the conical portion and extending the distance between the center section and the injection neck, the alignment flange being generally rectangular in shape and defining an internal hollow area therein in fluid communication with the interior of the body, the internal hollow area of the alignment flange being adapted to collect air bubbles therein that are present within the interior of the body.

5. The syringe of claim 4 wherein the slot defined between the coupling members on the plunger is substantially aligned with the alignment flange formed on the conical portion such that the alignment flange provides an indication of the orientation of the slot, and further wherein the radial expansion section accommodates outward expansion of the body induced by the plunger.

6. The syringe of claim 3 wherein the coupling members comprise flexible coupling members.

7. The syringe of claim 2 wherein the conical portion includes a light-sensitive fluid dot as an optical aid.

8. The syringe of claim 4 wherein the alignment flange extends outward from the conical portion sufficiently to be grasped by a user of the syringe and used as a handle for manipulating the syringe.

9. The syringe of claim 2 wherein the reduced wall thickness allows the radial expansion section to expand outward such that its outer diameter is no greater than approximately the outer diameter of the center section when the syringe plunger is disposed in the radial expansion section.

10. The syringe of claim 2 wherein the body is made of a deformable material permitting the radial expansion section to expand outward such that its outer diameter is no greater than approximately the outer diameter of the center section when the syringe plunger is disposed in the radial expansion section.

11. The syringe of claim 2 wherein the reduced wall thickness allows the radial expansion section to expand outward when the plunger is disposed in the expansion section.

12. The syringe of claim 2 wherein the body is made of a deformable material permitting the expansion section to expand outward when the plunger is disposed in the expansion section.

13. The syringe of claim 1 wherein the body is constructed of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene, polycarbonate or any combination thereof.

14. The syringe of claim 1 wherein the outward extending lip extends around the circumference of the proximal end of the body.

15. A syringe comprising:

a body comprising a distal end, a proximal end and a center section therebetween, the center section having an outer diameter, the distal end of the body comprising an injection section including a conical portion that extends and tapers from the center section to an injection neck forming a discharge outlet and the proximal end comprising a radial expansion section having a reduced wall thickness such that an inner diameter of the radial expansion section is larger than an inner diameter of the center section and the outer diameter of the radial expansion section is smaller than an outer diameter of the center section;

a plunger movably disposed in the body and comprising a coupling end with a pair of coupling members defining a slot therebetween;

an alignment flange formed on the conical portion and extending the distance between the center section and the injection neck, the alignment flange defining an internal hollow area therein in fluid communication with the interior of the body, the internal hollow area of the alignment flange being adapted to collect air bubbles therein that are present within the interior of the body; and

a lip extending outward from the proximal end of the body, wherein the outward extending lip has an outer diameter no greater than the outer diameter of the center section.

16. The syringe of claim 15 wherein the slot defined between the coupling members on the plunger is substantially aligned with the alignment flange formed on the conical portion such that the alignment flange provides an indication of the orientation of the slot, and further wherein the radial expansion section accommodates outward expansion of the body induced by the plunger.

17. The syringe of claim 15 wherein the alignment flange extends outward from the conical portion sufficiently to be grasped by a user of the syringe and used as a handle for manipulating the syringe.

18. The syringe of claim 15 wherein the outward extending lip extends around the circumference of the proximal end of the body.