Hypodermic syringe

• US 4,254,768 A
• Filed: 09/14/1979
• Issued: 03/10/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Perla J. Ty
• Original Assignee: Perla J. Ty
• Inventors: Ty, Perla J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Application Number:
  US06/075,836
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 128/218 M, 128/218 R, 128/272.1
• US Class Current: 604/518
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3123 having air entrapping or venting means, e.g. purging channels in pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/284 comprising means for injection of two or more media, e.g. by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence

Abstract

A multiple barrel hypodermic syringe is provided for mixing materials contained in the barrels prior to use. A typical two barrel syringe comprises a lower barrel for containing a sterile material such as a lyophilizable product, and an upper barrel containing a liquid diluent. The two barrels can be completely disengaged for separate replacement, alteration or reconstitution, etc., of their contents, if necessary.

One or more slot vents are provided along either barrel to enable release of air, gas, moisture, etc., within the lower barrel when they are partially engaged. Upon further engagement in a sterile environment, the slot vents will be totally occluded by the mating surfaces of the two barrels; this enables the syringe to be sealed and the contents stored for future use.

The hypodermic syringe of this invention also enables a lyophilization process to be carried out in situ followed by storage.

Claims

1. A multiple barrel hypodermic syringe, comprising:

a lower barrel having an outlet port for a hypodermic needle;

an upper barrel providing a removable hypodermic plunger at its upper end and a displaceable or frangible bottom seal at its lower end, the upper barrel being adapted to contain liquids or solids therein, the upper and lower barrels being sealed from each other solely by means of the bottom seal;

the upper and lower barrels being sized for sliding engagement along their respective outer and inner peripheries;

one or more grooves defining vent slots which connect the lower barrel interior solely to atmosphere, the vent grooves extending along a barrel periphery to permit gas, air and moisture to escape solely to atmosphere when the barrels are partly engaged, the vent slots being occluded to seal the lower barrel and its contents from the atmosphere, when the two barrels are substantially engaged;

the upper and lower barrels being adapted to contain a liquid or solid, whereby disengagement of the barrels and hypodermic plunger enables separate removal and replacement of material from its respective barrel, without contamination of material in adjacent barrels.

2. The hypodermic syringe of claim 1 in which the solid or liquid is a pharmaceutical.

3. The hypodermic syringe of claim 1 including flange members disposed on the upper and lower barrels, and adapted to contact each other when the barrels are substantially engaged;

and, an elastomeric ring engaging the flanges, thereby sealing the lower barrel.

4. The hypodermic syringe of claim 1, the upper and lower barrels being partially engaged, thereby exposing a vent slot;

the lower barrel containing a lyophilizable material, the said syringe being adapted for an in situ lyophilization process.

5. The hypodermic syringe of claim 1, comprising means to seal the syringe following the lyophilization process.

6. A process for the in situ lyophilization of a material, which comprises carrying out the lyophilization process in a multiple barrel hypodermic syringe, including:

a lower barrel having an outlet port for a hypodermic needle;

an upper barrel providing a removable hypodermic plunger at its upper end, and a displaceable or frangible bottom seal at its lower end, the upper barrel being adapted to contain liquids or solids therein, the upper and lower barrels being sealed from each other solely by means of the bottom seal;

the upper and lower barrels being sized for sliding engagement along their respective outer and inner peripheries;

one or more grooves defining vent slots which connect the lower barrel interior solely to atmosphere, the vent grooves extending along a barrel periphery to permit gas, air and moisture to escape during lyophilization solely to atmosphere when the barrels are partly engaged, the vent slots being occluded to seal the lower barrel and its contents from the atmosphere, when the two barrels are substantially engaged;

the upper and lower barrels being adapted to contain a liquid or solid, whereby disengagement of the barrels and hypodermic plunger enables separate removal and replacement of material from its respective barrel, without contamination of material in adjacent barrels.

7. The process of claim 6 in which the lower barrel is sealed following lyophilization.

8. The process of claim 6 in which the hypodermic syringe includes:

flange members disposed on the upper and lower barrels, and adapted to contact each other when the barrels are substantially engaged; and

, an elastomeric ring adapted to engage the flanges, thereby sealing the lower barrel upon completion of the lyophilization process.

9. The process of claim 6 in which the lyophilized material is a pharmaceutical.