Syringe-in-Syringe Hollow Inner Barrel/Plunger With Integral Seal and Rupturable Membrane and Related Kits, Systems and Methods

• US 20100323322A1
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ultradent Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ultradent Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Sheetz, Jared, Jessop, Neil, McLean, Bruce S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,454,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 5/62 Applicators, e.g. syringes or guns
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/082 the partition being in the form of a plug or the like which is removed by increasing or decreasing the pressure within the container B65D81/3211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/0486 the inner container being coaxially disposed within the outer container B65D81/3876 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0005 Containers or packages provided with a piston or with a movable bottom or partition having approximately the same section as the container B65D83/0072 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A hollow inner plunger (100) for use within a syringe-in-syringe mixing system for mixing a two-part dental composition. The hollow inner plunger includes a body having a continuous cylindrical wall (102) defining an internal chamber (108) for containing a first component (HOa). The body (100) includes a proximal end (104) and a distal end (106). A sealing plug and rupturable membrane (116) are disposed at the distal end of the body, and the sealing plug and rupturable membrane (116) are integrally formed together as a single piece (e.g., formed of a single piece of elastomeric material). An associated syringe-in-syringe mixing system (124) includes a first plunger (126), the hollow inner plunger (100), and a syringe barrel (128) configured to contain a second component (HOb). When assembled, the first plunger (126) is slidably disposed within the hollow inner plunger (100), and the hollow inner plunger (100) is slidably disposed within the syringe barrel (128). The two components (110a, 110b) are initially separated by the rupturable membrane (116).

Claims

1. A hollow inner plunger for use within a syringe mixing system for mixing a two-part dental composition, the hollow inner plunger comprising:

a body including a continuous cylindrical wall defining an internal chamber for containing a first component, the body having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a sealing plug and a rupturable membrane disposed at the distal end of the body;

wherein the sealing plug and the rupturable membrane are integrally formed together as a single piece.

2. A hollow inner plunger as recited in claim 1, wherein the internal chamber has a diameter at the distal end of the body that is less than a diameter of the internal chamber at the proximal end of the body.

3. A hollow inner plunger as recited in claim 1, wherein the internal chamber has a diameter at the distal end of the body that is not more than about 75% of the diameter of the chamber at the proximal end.

4. A hollow inner plunger as recited in claim 1, wherein the internal chamber has a diameter at the distal end of the body that is not more than about 50% of the diameter of the chamber at the proximal end.

5. A hollow inner plunger as recited in claim 1, wherein the internal chamber has a diameter at the distal end of the body that is not more than about 35% of the diameter of the chamber at the proximal end.

6. A hollow inner plunger as recited in claim 1, wherein the rupturable membrane and sealing plug comprise an elastomeric material.

7. A hollow inner plunger as recited in claim 1, wherein the rupturable membrane and sealing plug comprise a thermoplastic elastomer or a thermoset elastomer.

8. A hollow inner plunger as recited in claim 1, wherein the rupturable membrane has a thickness between about 0.0005 inch and about 0.04 inch.

9. A hollow inner plunger as recited in claim 1, wherein the rupturable membrane has a thickness between about 0.002 inch and about 0.025 inch

10. A hollow inner plunger as recited in claim 1, wherein the rupturable membrane has a thickness between about 0.005 inch and about 0.015 inch.

11. A hollow inner plunger as recited in claim 1, further comprising a flange disposed at the proximal end of the body.

12. A hollow inner plunger as recited in claim 1, wherein the body further includes an outwardly extending annular ridge disposed near the distal end of the body and the sealing plug further includes a corresponding annular groove configured to matingly engage the annular ridge so as to attach the sealing plug and rupturable membrane to the body of the hollow inner plunger.

13. A hollow inner plunger as recited in claim 1, wherein the hollow inner plunger comprises a syringe barrel, and further comprising coupling means disposed at a distal end of the body for coupling the syringe barrel to another syringe barrel so as to allow for syringe-to-syringe mixing.

14. A syringe-in-syringe mixing system for use in mixing a two-part dental composition comprising:

a first plunger;

a hollow inner plunger configured to slidably receive the first plunger therein in sealing engagement, the hollow inner plunger comprising;

a body including a continuous cylindrical wall defining an internal chamber for containing a first component, the body having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a sealing plug and a rupturable membrane disposed at the distal end of the body;

wherein the sealing plug and the rupturable membrane are integrally formed together as a single piece; and

a syringe barrel configured to contain therein a second component, the syringe barrel being configured to slidably receive the hollow inner plunger therein in sealing engagement.

15. A syringe-in-syringe mixing system as recited in claim 14, further comprising a locking mechanism for preventing, or at least inhibiting, the first plunger from being withdrawn from the hollow inner plunger once fully inserted into the hollow inner plunger.

16. A syringe-in-syringe mixing system as recited in claim 15, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a plurality of interlock ribs formed near a proximal end of the first plunger, the plurality of interlock ribs being configured for insertion into the hollow inner plunger so as to prevent or at least inhibit the first plunger from being withdrawn once the plurality of interlock ribs have been inserted into the hollow inner plunger.

17. A syringe-in-syringe mixing system as recited in claim 15, wherein the locking mechanism comprises an annular interlock ring formed near a proximal end of the first plunger, the annular interlock ring being configured for insertion into the hollow inner plunger so as to prevent or at least inhibit the first plunger from being withdrawn once the annular interlock ring has been inserted into the hollow inner plunger.

18. A syringe-in-syringe mixing system for use in mixing a two-part dental composition comprising:

a first plunger;

a hollow inner plunger configured to slidably receive the first plunger therein in sealing engagement, the hollow inner plunger comprising;

a body including a continuous cylindrical wall defining an internal chamber for containing a first component, the body having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a sealing plug and a rupturable membrane disposed at the distal end of the body, the sealing plug and the rupturable membrane are integrally formed together as a single piece and wherein the rupturable membrane has a thickness between about 0.0005 inch and about 0.04 inch;

wherein the internal chamber has a diameter at the distal end of the body that is not more than about 75% of the largest diameter of the chamber; and

a syringe barrel configured to contain therein a second component, the syringe barrel being configured to slidably receive the hollow inner plunger therein in sealing engagement.

19. A syringe-in-syringe mixing system as recited in claim 18, wherein the rupturable membrane has a thickness between about 0.005 inch and about 0.010 inch.

20. A syringe-in-syringe mixing system as recited in claim 18, wherein the internal chamber has a diameter at the distal end of the body that is not more than about one-third of the largest diameter of the chamber.

22. A method as recited in claim 20, further comprising introducing a first component into the internal chamber of the hollow inner plunger prior to placing the integrally formed sealing plug and rupturable membrane over the distal end of the body.

21. A method of manufacturing a hollow inner plunger comprising:

providing a body including a continuous cylindrical wall defining an internal chamber for containing a first component, the body having a proximal end and a distal end;

providing a sealing plug and a rupturable membrane, the sealing plug and rupturable membrane being integrally formed together as a single piece; and

placing the integrally formed sealing plug and rupturable membrane over the distal end of the body.

23. A method of manufacturing a syringe-in-syringe mixing system comprising:

inserting a first plunger into a hollow inner plunger such that the first plunger is slidably received within the hollow inner plunger in sealing engagement;

introducing a first component into an internal chamber of the hollow inner plunger;

placing an integrally formed sealing plug and rupturable membrane over a distal end of the hollow inner plunger;

inserting the hollow inner plunger into a syringe barrel such that the hollow inner plunger is slidably received within the syringe barrel in sealing engagement;

introducing a second component into an internal chamber of the syringe barrel; and

sealing the distal end of the syringe barrel with a cap or plug.

24. A syringe barrel for use within a syringe-to-syringe mixing system for mixing a two-part dental composition, the syringe barrel comprising:

a body including a continuous cylindrical wall defining an internal chamber for containing a first component, the body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a sealing plug and a rupturable membrane disposed at the distal end of the body, the sealing plug and rupturable membrane being integrally formed together as a single piece; and

coupling means disposed at a distal end of the body for coupling the syringe barrel to another syringe barrel so as to allow for syringe-to-syringe mixing.