SYRINGE PLUNGER POSITIONING APPARATUS AND METHOD
First Claim
1. An apparatus for syringe plunger positioning, comprising:
- an actuator to linearly advance and retract a support member along a predetermined axis;
a plurality of arm members, each interconnected to the support member for movement therewith, and each moveable relative to the support member in corresponding different directions toward the predetermined axis, wherein the actuator is operable to advance the support member to an advanced position for movement of said plurality of arm members in said different corresponding directions towards the predetermined axis and to retract the support member from the advanced position so that distal end portions of each of the plurality of arm members engage an inside surface of a plunger button of a syringe having a barrel located in a fixed, axially aligned position on the predetermined axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for syringe plunger positioning employing an actuator for linear advancement and retraction of the support member along a predetermined axis, and a plurality of arm members each interconnected to the support for movement therewith, and each moveable relative to the support member in corresponding different directions towards and away from the predetermined axis. The actuator may be operable to advance the support member to an advanced position for movement of the arm members from an open position in the different corresponding directions towards the predetermined axis to a closed position, and to retract the support member from the advanced position so that distal end portions of the arm members engage an inside surface of a plunger button of syringe having a barrel located in a fixed, axially aligned position on the predetermined axis. The apparatus and method may be employed in conjunction with syringe plunger positioning (e.g. for filling operations) that accommodates a wide variety of syringe plunger button configurations.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An apparatus for syringe plunger positioning, comprising:
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an actuator to linearly advance and retract a support member along a predetermined axis; a plurality of arm members, each interconnected to the support member for movement therewith, and each moveable relative to the support member in corresponding different directions toward the predetermined axis, wherein the actuator is operable to advance the support member to an advanced position for movement of said plurality of arm members in said different corresponding directions towards the predetermined axis and to retract the support member from the advanced position so that distal end portions of each of the plurality of arm members engage an inside surface of a plunger button of a syringe having a barrel located in a fixed, axially aligned position on the predetermined axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for syringe plunger positioning, comprising:
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advancing a support member and a plurality of arm members interconnected to the support member along a predetermined axis to an advanced position relative to a syringe having a barrel in a fixed, axially aligned position on the predetermined axis; moving each of said plurality of arm members in corresponding different directions toward the predetermined axis from an open position to a closed position; and
,retracting the support member and interconnected plurality of arm members from the advanced position so that distal end portions of the plurality of arm members engage an inside surface of a plunger button of said syringe to retract a plunger from said syringe barrel. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification