SYRINGE WITH ROTATABLE ELEMENT, ASPIRATION SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE SYRINGE, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

• US 20140200483A1
• Filed: 03/18/2014
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PMT Partners, LLC
• Original Assignee: Control Medical Technology LLC
• Inventors: Fojtik, Shawn P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,207,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/566
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0283 with vacuum aspiration, e.g. caused by retractable plunger or by connected syringe A61B10/025, A61B10/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3139 Finger grips not integrally formed with the syringe barrel, e.g. using adapter with finger grips
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3135 characterised by constructional features of the proximal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence

Abstract

A syringe includes a barrel and a rotatable element on the barrel; for example at a proximal location along the length of the barrel. The rotatable element rotates at least partially around the barrel. When a handle is associated with the rotatable element, the barrel may rotate as the handle is held substantially stationary or the handle may be rotated while the barrel and any peripheral device secured thereto remain substantially stationary. When handles are associated with a rotatable element that may be removed from a barrel, a barrel that is disassembled from the rotatable element may be replaced with another barrel of the same or a different configuration. The barrel and plunger may be configured to cause the barrel to rotate as the plunger moves along the length of the barrel. Methods of using a syringe with a rotatable element on a barrel thereof are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A syringe, comprising:

a barrel;

a plunger insertable into the barrel;

a rotatable element disposed about the barrel and configured to rotate at least partially about a circumference of the barrel during use of the syringe; and

a handle coupled to the rotatable element.

2. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the barrel includes a groove that engages at least a portion of the rotatable element.

3. The syringe of claim 2, wherein the groove comprises an area of smaller outer dimension than a main body of the barrel and is located between the main body and a retention element.

4. The syringe of claim 3, wherein the retention element is configured to enable removal of the rotatable element from the barrel.

5. The syringe of claim 3, wherein the retention element is configured to engage a locking element.

6. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises gripping elements.

7. The syringe of claim 6, wherein the gripping elements comprise apertures for receiving fingers.

8. The syringe of claim 7, further comprising:

a thumb receptacle at a proximal end of the plunger.

9. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises aspiration handles, including:

a first handle member coupled to the rotatable element; and

a second handle member coupled to the plunger to enable the plunger to move longitudinally through the barrel as first handle member and the second handle member are forced together or forced apart from one another.

10. The syringe of claim 9, wherein:

the first handle member is pivotally associated with the rotatable element; and

the first handle member and the second handle member are pivotally connected to one another at intermediate locations.

11. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the barrel and the plunger include cooperating rotation elements that cause the barrel to rotate relative to the rotatable element, the plunger and the handle as the plunger move longitudinally through the barrel.

12. The syringe of claim 11, wherein the cooperating rotation elements include:

at least one elongate, helically oriented element carried by an interior surface of the barrel; and

at least one corresponding feature on the plunger for engaging the at least one elongate, helically oriented element.

13. The syringe of claim 12, wherein the at least one elongate, helically oriented element comprises a thread protruding from the interior surface of the barrel and the at least one corresponding feature comprises a notch formed in an alignment feature of plunger and configured to receive the thread.

14. The syringe of claim 13, comprising a pair of elongate, helically oriented threads protruding from the interior surface of the barrel and a pair of notches formed in the alignment feature.

15. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the rotatable element is configured to:

enable the barrel to rotate without substantially moving the handle; and

enable the handle to rotate about the barrel without substantially causing the barrel to rotate.

16. A method for using a syringe, comprising:

grasping a handle associated with a rotatable element on a barrel, the rotatable element;

enabling rotation of the handle at least partially around a circumference of the barrel;

or

enabling rotation of the barrel at least partially about its longitudinal axis while the handle remains substantially stationary;

securing a device to the barrel;

actuating the handle to move a plunger longitudinally through the barrel; and

after securing the device to the barrel, and while grasping the handle or actuating the handle, rotating at least one of the barrel and the handle relative to another of the handle and the barrel.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

rotating the handle while a distal end of the device is present within a body of a subject and without causing the barrel or the device to rotate.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein securing comprises securing the device to the barrel as a distal end of the device is present within a body of a subject.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

rotating the barrel without substantially moving the handle.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein actuating the handle comprises forcing aspiration handles together.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein actuating the handle causes the barrel to rotate.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein:

securing the device to the barrel comprises securing a biopsy needle to the barrel; and

actuating the handle facilitates;

coring of a sample with the biopsy needle; and

aspiration of the sample into at least the biopsy needle.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein:

securing the device to the barrel comprises securing a catheter to the barrel; and

actuating the handle causes;

rotation of the catheter about an axis extending along a length of the catheter; and

aspiration of a sample into the barrel.