Single use syringe

• US 5,000,735 A
• Filed: 01/05/1989
• Issued: 03/19/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Whelan, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Application Number:
  US07/294,061
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 604/110, 604/228, 604/187, 604/218, 604/236, 604/238, 604/246, 604/247
• US Class Current: 604/110
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3128 Incorporating one-way valves, e.g. pressure-relief or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/5026 allowing single filling of syringe
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/5073 by breaking or rupturing the connection parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/50 having means for preventing re-use, or for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile retractable needles or needle protectors with means for preventing re-use A61M5/321
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5066 Means for preventing re-use by disconnection of piston and piston-rod

Abstract

A hyperdermic syringe having a plunger which separates from a piston inside a barrel of the syringe after a downward stroke of the plunger preventing reuse of the syringe. The plunger breaks breakaway portions mounted inside the piston when pushed downward to unload the syringe effectively separating the plunger from the piston and destroying the syringe, preventing the piston from being withdrawn for the purpose of reloading the syringe. In another embodiment, a connector is used to releasably engage a plunger to a piston. Downward movement of the plunger causes upward extensions of the connector to move toward each other and lock together. The plunger disengages from the connector and piston after the extension lock together. A modified tip portion of a barrel containing a valve ball and valve flaps may be used to prevent the syringe from being used after a single use discharging medicinal fluid from the syringe. The valve ball blocks flow of medicinal fluid into the syringe after use of the syringe. The modified tip portion may be used alone or in conjunction with the designs which disengage the plunger from the piston after a single use of the syringe.

Claims

1. A single use hypodermic syringe comprising:

a hollow barrel having interior walls;

a hollow piston slidably engaging said interior walls of said barrel in order to provide a seal between said piston and said walls;

a plunger fitting inside said barrel having a forward end releasably engaged to said piston; and

support means mounted inside said piston for releasably engaging said plunger to said piston so that said plunger is capable of being initially withdrawn in order to fill said barrel with medicinal fluid and capable of being subsequently pushed forward in order to discharge said medicinal fluid from said barrel, said plunger disengaging from said piston upon subsequent withdrawal of said plunger, said support means including breakaway portions capable of being broken by forward movement of said plunger in order to disengage said plunger from said piston, said barrel having valve means at the forward end thereof for regulating flow of said medicinal fluid in and out of said barrel and for preventing flow of said medicinal fluid into said barrel after an initial use of said syringe.

2. The single use hypodermic syringe of claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises a hollow tip portion having an aperture therein attached to said forward end of said barrel, upper and lower meshes mounted inside said tip portion, valve flaps mounted inside said tip portion between said meshes and a valve element located inside said tip portion between said meshes.

3. The single use hypodermic syringe of claim 1 wherein said support means comprises an annular ring portion having said breakaway portions extending radically inward from said ring portion.

4. The single use hypodermic syringe of claim 3 wherein said breakaway portions are tabs, said tabs and said ring portion fitting into an annular groove in said piston, said piston having an annular ledge supporting bottom surfaces of said tabs, said tabs having slots therein and engaging an annular groove in said forward end of said plunger, said ring portion having an opening therein.

5. The single use hypodermic syringe of claim 4 wherein said barrel has a hollow tip portion with an aperture therein at the forward end thereof, upper and lower meshes mounted inside said tip portion, valve flaps mounted inside said tip portion between said meshes and a valve element located inside said tip portion between said meshes.

6. A single use hypodermic syringe comprising:

a hollow barrel having interior walls;

a hollow piston slidably engaging said interior walls of said barrel in order to provide a seal between said piston and said walls;

a plunger fitting inside said barrel having a forward end releasably engaged to said piston; and

support means mounted inside said piston for releasably engaging said plunger to said piston so that said plunger is capable of being initially withdrawn in order to fill said barrel with medicinal fluid and capable of being subsequently pushed forward in order to discharge said medicinal fluid from said barrel, said plunger disengaging from said piston upon subsequent withdrawal of said plunger, said support means including breakaway portions capable of being broken by forward movement of said plunger in order to disengage said plunger from said piston, said support means comprising vertical tab supports with said breakaway portions attached thereto supported by horizontal tab supports.

7. The single use hypodermic syringe of claim 6 wherein said breakaway portions are tabs, said vertical and horizontal tab supports fitting in an internal bore of said piston, said tabs having slots therein and engaging an annular groove in said forward end of said plunger.

8. The single use hypodermic syringe of claim 7 wherein said barrel has a hollow tip portion with an aperture therein at the forward end thereof, upper and lower meshes mounted inside said tip portion, valve flaps mounted inside said tip portion between said meshes and a valve element located inside said tip portion between said meshes.

9. A single use hypodermic syringe comprising:

a hollow barrel having interior walls;

a hollow piston slidably engaging said interior walls of said barrel in order to provide a seal between said piston and said walls;

a plunger fitting inside said barrel having a forward end releasably engaged to said piston; and

support means mounted inside said piston for releasably engaging said plunger to said piston so that said plunger is capable of being initially withdrawn in order to fill said barrel with medicinal fluid and capable of being subsequently pushed forward in order to discharge said medicinal fluid from said barrel, said plunger disengaging from said piston upon subsequent withdrawal of said plunger, said support means including breakaway portions capable of being broken by forward movement of said plunger in order to disengage said plunger from said piston, said support means comprising two ring halves held together by said breakaway portions.

10. The single use hypodermic syringe of claim 9 wherein said breakaway portions are elongated connecting members, said forward end of said plunger having a frustro-conically-shaped portion capable of engaging said ring halves in order to separate said halves causing said connecting members to break so that said plunger will disengage from said piston.

11. The single use hypodermic syringe of claim 10 wherein one of said elongated connecting members has an end thereof that engages a socket in one of said ring halves.

12. The single use hypodermic syringe of claim 11 wherein said barrel has a hollow tip portion with an aperture therein at the forward end thereof, upper and lower meshes mounted inside said tip portion, valve flaps mounted inside said tip portion between said meshes and a valve element located inside said tip portion between said meshes.

13. A single use hypodermic syringe comprising:

a hollow barrel having interior walls and a hollow tip portion with an aperture therein at a forward end of said barrel;

a hollow piston slidably engaging said interior walls of said barrel in order to provide a seal between said piston and said walls;

a plunger fitting inside said barrel having a forward end engaged to said piston; and

valve means inside said tip portion for regulating flow of medicinal fluid in and out of said aperture in said tip portion and for preventing flow of said medicinal fluid into said aperture after an initial use of said syringe, said valve means adapted to respond solely due to changes in fluid pressure in order to prevent said flow of said medicinal fluid into said aperture after said initial use, said valve means including a valve element and valve flaps, said valve element and valve flaps being adapted so that said flow of said medicinal fluid into said aperture is prevented after said initial use of said syringe.

14. A single use hypodermic syringe comprising:

a hollow barrel having interior walls and a hollow tip portion with an aperture therein at the forward end of said barrel;

a hollow piston slidably engaging said interior walls of said barrel in order to provide a seal between said piston and said walls;

a plunger fitting inside said barrel having a forward end engaged to said piston; and

valve means inside said tip portion for regulating flow of medicinal fluid in an dout of said aperture in said tip portion and for preventing flow of said medicinal fluid into said aperture after an initial use of said syringe, said valve means comprising upper and lower meshes mounted inside said tip portion, valve flaps mounted inside said tip portion between said meshes and a valve element located inside said tip portion between said meshes.

15. The single use hypodermic syringe of claim 14 wherein said valve element is capable of passing downward through an aperture formed by said valve flaps as said flaps bend downward from an original position when said plunger and said piston are pushed downward to discharge said medicinal fluid out of said tip portion through said aperture in said tip portion, said valve element prevented from passing upward from below said valve flaps through said aperture formed by said flaps after said flaps return upward to said original position when said plunger and said piston are withdrawn upward so that said valve element blocks flow of said medicinal fluid through said aperture formed by said flaps.