Two-chamber mixing syringe

• US 4,031,892 A
• Filed: 02/13/1976
• Issued: 06/28/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ampoules Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ampoules Incorporated
• Inventors: Hurschman, Alfred A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Application Number:
  US05/657,860
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 128/218 M, 128/218 R, 128/218 D, 128/218 DA, 128/218 P, 128/218 PA, 128/218 F, 128/218 C, 128/272.1, 128/272.3, 128/272, 128/215, 128/216 , 128/234, 128/DIG. 28, 206/47, 206/219
• US Class Current: 604/416
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2013 having two piercing ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2093 Containers having several compartments for products to be mixed
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3109 Caps sealing the needle bore by use of, e.g. air-hardening adhesive, elastomer or epoxy resin
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1782 Devices aiding filling of syringes in situ combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents A61J1/2096, filling of medical containers in general B65B3/003
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2448 comprising means for injection of two or more media, e.g. by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2459 upon internal pressure increase, e.g. pierced or burst A61M5/2429 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/30 Syringes for injection by jet action, without needle, e.g. for use with replaceable ampoules or carpules
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3145 Filters incorporated in syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31505 Integral with the syringe barrel, i.e. connected to the barrel so as to make up a single complete piece or unit
• 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

Abstract

Two-chamber syringes for mixing a powdered medicament with a diluent and then injecting the mixed ingredients into a patient are disclosed, together with a technique for assembling those syringes. According to one aspect of the invention, the syringe includes a vial formed with a single glass cylinder closed at one end by a plunger and at its other end by a pierceable diaphragm. An intermediate pierceable diaphragm divides the cylinder into upper and lower chambers, and is locked against axial movement relative to the cylinder. A powdered medicament is provided in the upper chamber and a diluent is provided in the lower chamber. The ingredients are mixed by inserting the vial into a cup-shaped holder having a hollow, pointed needle extending from the base of the holder. Axial pressure on the vial causes the pointed end of the needle to sequentially pierce the end and intermediate diaphragms, and to cause the diluent to flow into an opening in the sidewall of the needle, through the needle, and then into the upper chamber from the pointed needle end. The thus-mixed ingredients are dispensed by applying axial pressure to the plunger, or by drawing metered amounts into the medicament pressurizing chamber of a needleless, hypojet injector.

Claims

1. A two-chamber mixing vial comprising:

(a) a glass cylinder;

(b) closure means closing one end of said cylinder;

(c) an end diaphragm closing the other end of said cylinder; and

(d) a stationary intermediate diaphragm within said cylinder separating the interior of the cylinder into first and second chambers respectively defined by said closure means and intermediate diaphragm and by said intermediate diaphragm and end diaphragm;

said cylinder and intermediate diaphragm having coacting parts that comprise means for locking the intermediate diaphragm against axial movement toward the said plunger during a mixing operation and during a dispensing operation.

2. A two-chamber mixing vial according to claim 1 wherein said closure means comprises a plunger slidable within said cylinder.

3. A two-chamber mixing vial according to claim 1 wherein said one end of said cylinder comprises a bottle neck and wherein said closure means comprises a stopper within said neck.

4. A two-chamber mixing vial according to claim 1 wherein said coacting parts lock said intermediate diaphragm against axial movement toward said closure means and toward said intermediate diaphragm.

5. A two-chamber mixing vial according to claim 4 wherein said coacting parts include an inwardly extending circumferential rib in the cylinder which cooperates with a circumferential recess in said intermediate diaphragm.

6. A two-chamber mixing syringe comprising:

(a) vial means, said vial means comprising first and second cylinders;

(b) a plunger slidable within and closing one end of the first cylinder;

(c) intermediate diaphragm means closing the other end of said first cylinder and closing one end of said second cylinder, said intermediate diaphragm means having a radially extending annular flange against which said other end and said one end are butted to lock said intermediate diaphragm means against movement toward said plunger;

(d) an end diaphragm closing the other end of said second cylinder; and

(e) a sleeve telescopingly receiving said vial means.

7. A two-chamber mixing syringe according to claim 6 wherein said intermediate diaphragm means comprises first and second diaphragms which are butted together.

8. A two-chamber mixing syringe comprising:

(a) vial means, said vial means comprising first and second vials each having a neck at one end thereof;

(b) a plunger slidable within and closing the other end of said first vial;

(c) intermediate diaphragm means closing the necked end of said first vial and the necked end of said second vial, said intermediate diaphragm means having a radially extending flange against which the necked end of each vial butts;

(d) means banding said neck ends together; and

(e) an end diaphragm closing the other end of said second vial.

9. A two-chamber mixing syringe according to claim 8 wherein said intermediate diaphragm means comprises first and second diaphragms which are butted together.