Syringe Having a Spring Action Plunger Rod

• US 20130085457A1
• Filed: 09/19/2012
• Published: 04/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton Dickinson France (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Becton Dickinson France (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Schiff, David Robert, Turpault, Mathieu Dominic, Gatta, Antonio, Coleman, John Depler
• Granted Patent: US 9,597,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/228
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/31518 designed to reduce the overall size of an injection device, e.g. using flexible or pivotally connected chain-like rod members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3135 characterised by constructional features of the proximal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31501 Means for blocking or restricting the movement of the rod or piston A61M5/5013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 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: B65D 77/20 by applying separate lids or covers , i.e. flexible membrane or foil-like covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/32 Tearing-strings or like flexible elements

Abstract

A syringe assembly including a syringe barrel defining a chamber having a stopper therein is disclosed. The syringe assembly includes a plunger rod associated with the stopper, the plunger rod includes an outer sleeve having a distal end interconnected to the stopper and a sidewall portion defining an opening therein. The plunder rod also includes an inner sleeve disposed within the outer sleeve including a longitudinally extending track in alignment with the opening in the outer sleeve. The inner sleeve is adapted for telescopic movement with respect to the outer sleeve. The plunger rod also includes a spring mounted in association with the inner sleeve. The syringe assembly further includes a holding mechanism associated with the plunger rod and configured for cooperation with the inner and outer sleeves. Relative movement between the inner and outer sleeves causes the plunger rod to transition from a collapsed position to an extended position.

Claims

1. A syringe assembly comprising:

a syringe barrel having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending between the first end and the second end defining a chamber;

a stopper disposed within the chamber of the syringe barrel;

a plunger rod associated with the stopper, the plunger rod comprising;

an outer sleeve having a distal end interconnected to the stopper, the outer sleeve comprising a sidewall portion defining an opening therein;

an inner sleeve disposed within the outer sleeve, the inner sleeve including a longitudinally extending track, at least a portion of the track being in alignment with the opening in the outer sleeve, wherein the inner sleeve is adapted for telescopic movement with respect to the outer sleeve; and

a spring mounted in association with the inner sleeve; and

a holding mechanism associated with the plunger rod and configured for cooperation with the inner and outer sleeves, wherein relative movement between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve causes the plunger rod to transition from a collapsed pre-use position to an extended ready-to-use position.

2. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein relative movement between the inner and outer sleeves releases the spring from a compressed position and transitions the plunger rod to the ready-to-use position.

3. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein the plunger rod is transitionable from the pre-use position, in which the spring is in the compressed position and the inner sleeve is collapsed within the outer sleeve, and the ready-to-use position in which the spring is expanded and the inner sleeve is extended out from the outer sleeve.

4. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein the opening in the outer sleeve comprises a longitudinally extending opening and the holding mechanism comprises a flexible finger associated with the outer sleeve and the longitudinally extending opening, the flexible finger configured for cooperation with the opening in the outer sleeve and with the track in the inner sleeve, and wherein a distally directed force applied to the inner sleeve causes relative movement between the flexible finger and the track to release the spring from the compressed position and allow the inner sleeve of the plunger rod to transition from the collapsed pre-use position to the extended ready-to-use position

5. The syringe assembly of claim 4, wherein the longitudinally extending track extends through a sidewall portion of the inner sleeve and the track includes a first stop and a second stop.

6. The syringe assembly of claim 5, wherein the flexible finger includes a laterally extending member that extends through the opening in the outer sleeve and the track in the inner sleeve, and wherein the distally directed force causes disengagement of the laterally extending member of the flexible finger from the first stop and release of the spring.

7. The syringe assembly of claim 6, wherein upon release of the spring, the laterally extending member moves along the longitudinally extending track and locks in the second stop to maintain the inner sleeve in the ready-to-use position.

8. The syringe assembly of claim 7, wherein the flexible finger is configured to flex in a lateral direction with respect to the longitudinally extending track and the opening in the outer sleeve to allow the laterally extending member to disengage from the first stop and engage the second stop upon release and expansion of the spring.

9. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner sleeve includes a locking finger configured for cooperating with an aperture in the outer sleeve for locking the plunger rod in the extended ready-to-use position and for preventing pull-out of the inner sleeve from the outer sleeve.

10. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein the holding mechanism is secured to the outer sleeve.

11. The syringe assembly of claim 1, further comprising an alignment member associated with at least one of the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve to prevent relative rotation of the inner sleeve with respect to the outer sleeve.

12. The syringe assembly of claim 11, wherein the alignment member comprises a keyed track.

13. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein the holding mechanism comprises a spring finger and a U-shaped locking member cooperating with the outer sleeve and the longitudinally extending track of the inner sleeve.

14. The syringe assembly of claim 1, further comprising a medication or drug disposed within the syringe barrel.

15. A spring released plunger rod assembly comprising:

an outer sleeve having a first end configured for interconnecting to a stopper, the outer sleeve including an opening extending through a sidewall portion;

an inner sleeve disposed within the outer sleeve and mounted for telescopic movement with respect to the outer sleeve;

a spring mounted in association with the inner sleeve;

a longitudinally extending track associated with the inner sleeve; and

a holding mechanism associated with a plunger rod and configured for cooperation with the inner and outer sleeves, wherein relative movement between the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve causes the plunger rod to transition from a collapsed pre-use position to an extended ready-to-use position.

16. The spring released plunger rod assembly of claim 15, wherein the holding mechanism comprises a flexible finger associated with the outer sleeve, the flexible finger configured for cooperation with the opening in the outer sleeve and with the track in the inner sleeve, and wherein a distally directed force applied to the inner sleeve causes relative movement between the flexible finger and the track to release the spring from a compressed position and to allow the inner sleeve of the plunger rod assembly to transition from the collapsed pre-use position to the extended ready-to-use position.

17. The spring release plunger rod assembly of claim 16, wherein the longitudinally extending track extends through a sidewall portion of the inner sleeve and includes a first stop and a second stop, and wherein the flexible finger includes a laterally extending member and the distally directed force causes disengagement of the laterally extending member from the first stop to release the spring.

18. The spring release plunger rod assembly of claim 15, wherein the inner sleeve includes a locking finger configured for cooperating with an aperture in the outer sleeve for locking the plunger rod in the extended ready-to-use position and for preventing pull-out of the inner sleeve from the outer sleeve.

19. The spring release plunger rod assembly of claim 15, further comprising a stop member associated with the outer sleeve and configured to cooperate with a syringe barrel to limit movement of the outer sleeve into the syringe barrel upon the application of a distally directed force to the plunger rod.

20. The spring release plunger rod assembly of claim 15, wherein the holding mechanism comprises a spring finger and a U-shaped locking member cooperating with the outer sleeve and the longitudinally extending track of the inner sleeve.

21. A packaging assembly for use with a pre-filled syringe assembly having a spring released plunger rod, the packaging assembly comprising:

a cap configured for covering the plunger rod; and

a cover molded about a syringe barrel and a tip cap, the tip cap and cover being connected by a frangible portion, and wherein the tip cap comprises a rigid member configured to prevent the application of a distally directed force on the plunger rod.

22. A packaging assembly for use with a pre-filled syringe assembly having a spring released plunger rod, said packaging assembly comprising:

a tear tab positioned about a portion of the plunger rod at a location between a plunger rod thumb press and a syringe barrel flange; and

a cover molded about a syringe barrel and a tip cap.

23. The packaging assembly of claim 22, wherein the tear tab includes a grasping portion to assist in removal of the tear tab from about the plunger rod and is configured to prevent distal movement of the spring released plunger rod and inadvertent release of the spring released plunger rod, and the cover comprises a frangible portion to assist in its removal from about the syringe barrel and tip cap.