Self-Lubricating Medical Syringes

• US 20160367758A1
• Filed: 06/15/2016
• Published: 12/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebrasci, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Zebrasci, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Wilcox, Daniel Alden, Gertz, Frederick Talley, Noolandi, Jaan, Schultheis, Robert James
• Granted Patent: US 9,999,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31513 Piston constructions to improve sealing or sliding

Abstract

A self-lubricating medical syringe is provided for self-lubricating the inner surface of a prefilled syringe barrel. The syringe has a plunger distinguishing a compressible porous cylinder, which can be infused with a lubricant and is sandwiched in between a proximal and distal rubber tip. The self-lubricating medical syringe will be able to compensate for any missing lubricant along the inner surface of the syringe barrel and will also be able to provide for a uniform motion of the plunger.

Claims

1. A self-lubricating medical syringe, comprising:

a cylindrical barrel with a plunger that fits in the cylindrical barrel,

wherein the plunger has a proximal end and a distal end,

wherein the plunger can be moved along the cylindrical barrel,

wherein the plunger distinguishes a compressible porous cylinder sandwiched in between a proximal rubber tip at the proximal end and a distal rubber tip at the distal end,

wherein the compressible porous cylinder has a hole in axial direction of the cylindrical barrel,

wherein the compressible porous cylinder can be infused with a lubricant,

wherein proximal rubber tip has a proximal protuberance at the side facing the compressible porous cylinder and wherein the proximal protuberance fits within the hole of the compressible porous cylinder,

wherein distal rubber tip has a distal protuberance at the side facing the compressible porous cylinder and wherein the distal protuberance fits within the hole of the compressible porous cylinder,

wherein the proximal protuberance and distal protuberance are aligned in the axial direction and are at a distance from each other within the hole of the compressible porous cylinder when the compressible porous cylinder is in a non-compressed state,

wherein the distance between the proximal protuberance and distal protuberance gets smaller when the compressible porous cylinder is in being compressed when the plunger is being pushed along the cylindrical barrel, and

wherein the compressible porous cylinder when being compressed forces out the lubricant onto the inner surface of the cylindrical barrel and therewith self-lubricating the inner surface of the cylindrical barrel.

2. The self-lubricating medical syringe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the compressible porous cylinder is a porous foam or a porous rubber.

3. The self-lubricating medical syringe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the proximal rubber tip has one or more rubber ribs.

4. The self-lubricating medical syringe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the distal rubber tip has one or more rubber ribs.