SYRINGE HAVING A PISTON WITH EMBEDDED RFID CHIP

• US 20150217059A1
• Filed: 08/19/2013
• Published: 08/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Inventors: Ashby, Dale M., Banco, Gino G., Beltran, Rene M., Keiper, Beth, Hernandez, Luis A., Arispe, Anthony, Carrillo, Tomas E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,076,609 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6009 for matching patient with his treatment, e.g. to improve transfusion security
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• 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 5/31513 Piston constructions to improve sealing or sliding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14114 using an adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14065 Positioning or centering articles in the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2021/003 Thermoplastic elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7544 Injection needles, syringes

Abstract

Although injection molding includes extreme conditions, an RFID device may be over-molded by injection molding. A syringe includes a barrel having a first and second axial ends, the barrel defining a cavity therein; a plunger configured to be received in the cavity and define with the barrel a chamber for holding a fluid, the plunger being axially moveable within the barrel for increasing and decreasing the volume of the chamber thereby respectively forcing fluid into or out of the chamber; and a plunger seal, also known as a “syringe stopper” for sealing between the plunger and the barrel, the plunger seal including an RFID device for identifying the syringe. The plunger seal may be made by injection molding.

Claims

1. A syringe comprising:

a barrel having a first and second axial ends, the barrel defining a cavity therein;

a plunger configured to be received in the cavity and define with the barrel a chamber for holding a fluid, the plunger being axially moveable within the barrel for increasing and decreasing the volume of the chamber thereby respectively forcing fluid into or out of the chamber; and

a plunger seal for sealing between the plunger and the barrel, the plunger seal including an RFID device for identifying the syringe.

2. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the plunger seal includes a generally cylindrical resilient body defining a central axis extending from a first axial end to a second axial end, and wherein the RFID device is embedded in the generally cylindrical resilient body.

3. The syringe of any preceding claim, wherein one of the first or second ends of the generally cylindrical body includes a frustoconical termination.

4. The syringe of any preceding claim, wherein the generally cylindrical resilient body includes a multi-ribbed sidewall.

5. The syringe of any preceding claim, wherein the generally cylindrical resilient body is monolithic.

6. The syringe of any preceding claim, wherein the RFID device is generally centered in the body relative to the central axis.

7. The syringe of any preceding claim, wherein the RFID device is a capsule.

8. The syringe of any preceding claim, wherein the RFID device is a flat circuit.

9. The syringe of any preceding claim, wherein the RFID device is a chip.

10. The syringe of any preceding claim, wherein the RFID device is a chip operatively coupled to a trailing antenna.

11. The syringe of claim 10, wherein the antenna is embedded in the plunger seal.

12. The syringe of any preceding claim, wherein the plunger seal is molded so as to embed the RFID device.

13. The syringe of any preceding claim, wherein the plunger seal is a monolithic structure.

14. The syringe of any one of claims 1-12, wherein the plunger seal includes a first piece bonded to a second piece, the first and second piece defining a cavity therein, wherein the RFID device is positioned in the cavity of the plunger seal.

15. The syringe of any preceding claim, wherein the plunger seal comprises thermoplastic elastomer.

17. The polymeric element of any preceding claim, wherein one of the first or second ends of the generally cylindrical body includes a frustoconical termination.

18. The polymeric element of any preceding claim, wherein the generally cylindrical resilient body includes a multi-ribbed sidewall.

19. The polymeric element of any preceding claim, wherein the generally cylindrical resilient body is monolithic.

20. The polymeric element of any preceding claim, wherein the RFID device is generally centered in the body relative to the central axis.

21. The polymeric element of any preceding claim, wherein the polymeric element is a plunger seal for a syringe.

22. The polymeric element of any preceding claim, wherein the RFID device is a capsule.

23. The polymeric element of any preceding claim, wherein the RFID device is a flat circuit.

24. The polymeric element of any preceding claim, wherein the RFID device is a chip.

25. The polymeric element of any preceding claim, wherein the RFID device is a chip coupled to a trailing antenna.

26. The polymeric element of claim 25, wherein the antenna is embedded in the polymeric element.

29. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising:

curing the polymeric material.

30. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising:

ejecting the polymeric element from the core with a stripper plate.

31. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the polymeric material is a thermoplastic elastomer.

32. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the polymeric element is an elastomeric seal.

33. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the polymeric element is a plunger seal for a syringe.

34. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising:

inserting one or more cavity inserts into a mold to form the mold cavity.

35. The method of any preceding claim, wherein attaching includes inserting the RFID device into a snap-fit holder.

36. The method of any preceding claim, wherein attaching includes adhesively attaching the RFID device to the holder.

37. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising:

dissolving the holder.

16. A polymeric element comprising:

a generally cylindrical resilient body defining a central axis extending from a first axial end to a second axial end; and

an RFID device substantially enclosed by the resilient body.

27. A method of making the polymeric element of any one of claims 16-26, the method comprising the steps of:

attaching an RFID device to a holder of a mold core;

inserting the mold core into a mold cavity; and

injecting polymeric material into the mold to thereby form the polymeric element.

28. A method of making an RFID-embedded polymeric element comprising the steps of:

attaching an RFID device to a holder of a mold core;

inserting the mold core into a mold cavity; and

injecting polymeric material into the mold cavity.