Safety syringe needle device with interchangeable and retractable needle platform

• US 5,263,933 A
• Filed: 07/08/1992
• Issued: 11/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inviro Medical Devices Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Patco Ventures, Ltd.
• Inventors: Sharp, Fraser R., McLean, Donald A., Novacek, Laurel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US07/909,385
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 604/110, 604/187, 604/198, 604/195, 604/263
• US Class Current: 604/110
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/28 Devices for testing the effectiveness or completeness of sterilisation, e.g. indicators which change colour apparatus involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M1/34; methods involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3101 Leak prevention means for proximal end of syringes, i.e. syringe end opposite to needle mounting end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3104 Caps for syringes without needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3106 Plugs for syringes without needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3118 via the distal end of a syringe, i.e. syringe end for mounting a needle cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3121 via the proximal end of a syringe, i.e. syringe end opposite to needle cannula mounting end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3223 Means impeding or disabling repositioning of used needles at the syringe nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3224 Means to disalign the needle tip and syringe nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3231 Proximal end of needle captured or embedded inside piston head, e.g. by friction or hooks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3279 Breaking syringe nozzles or needle hubs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/322 Retractable needles, i.e. disconnected from and withdrawn into the syringe barrel by the piston devices for protecting guide needles in combination with catheters A61M25/0612
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/347 rotatable, e.g. bayonet or screw A61M5/344 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5086 for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile

Abstract

The syringe includes a barrel, a plunger, and an adapter for mounting the needle in the distal end of the barrel. The adapter includes a protrusion projecting away from the needle end and into the barrel defining an annular space between the barrel and the protrusion. The plunger and protrusion have complementary surfaces whereby the plunger may grip the adapter for removal of the adapter into the interior of the barrel after use. The adapter includes vent passages communicating between the central passage through the adapter and the annular space whereby air can be vented from the barrel after receiving fluid within the barrel and prior to injection. Thus, the syringe may be oriented in a vertical position needle end uppermost with the vent passages forming the most superior portion of the barrel interior whereby air may be vented.

Claims

1. A syringe comprising:

(a) a hollow axially elongated barrel;

(b) an adapter removably mounted adjacent the distal end of said barrel;

(c) means including a hollow needle carried by said adapter defining a fluid passage through said adapter in communication with the interior of the barrel;

(d) a plunger axially movable in the hollow interior of said barrel; and

(e) an adapter engagement structure disposed at the distal end of the plunger and engageable with a mating connection engagement structure on the adapter in response to axial movement of the plunger toward the distal end of the barrel, said structure being cooperable to cause (1) relative rotation of the plunger end and the adapter in response to such axial movement, (2) latching of the distal end of the plunger and the adapter to one another, and (3) the adapter and the needle carried by the adapter to part from the end of the barrel in response to subsequent relative rotation of the plunger and the barrel, thereby enabling the adapter and the needle to be withdrawn into the interior of the barrel when the plunger is withdrawn from the distal end of the barrel.

2. A syringe according to claim 1 wherein said adapter has a portion projecting into the barrel toward its proximal end, said fluid passage defining means including a fluid passage portion in said adapter opening into said barrel interior at a location between the proximal end of said projecting adapter portion and the distal end of said barrel to enable air to be vented from said barrel through said needle upon receiving fluid into said barrel and moving said plunger toward the distal end of said barrel.

3. A syringe according to claim 1 including means cooperable with the distal end of said barrel for closing said distal end thereof.

4. A syringe according to claim 1 wherein the proximal end of said plunger forms a cylinder and includes connection structure sized and designed to cooperate with complementary connection structure included at the distal end of said barrel, said plunger further including structure intermediate its proximal and distal ends for detachably connecting said proximal and distal ends, whereby said proximal end of the plunger, when the plunger is withdrawn from the distal end of the barrel, can be detached from said plunger and connected to the distal end of the barrel.

5. A syringe according to claim 1 w said plunger is movable in said barrel between retracted and extended positions relative to said barrel and including means connecting said barrel and said plunger in the retracted position of said plunger to indicate attempted movement of said plunger and said barrel relative to one another.

6. A syringe according to claim 1 including a needle guard removably connected to said distal end of said barrel and means connected to said barrel and said needle guard to indicate attempted movement of said needle guard and said barrel relative to one another.

7. A syringe according to claim 1 wherein said plunger is movable in said barrel between retracted and extended positions relative to said barrel, and including means connecting between said barrel and said plunger in the retracted position of said plunger to indicate attempted movement of said plunger and said barrel relative to one another.

9. A syringe according to claim 1 including means cooperable with the distal end of said barrel for closing said distal end thereof, said closing means including a cap having an open cylindrical end for receiving the distal end of said barrel and an opposite closed end, said opposite closed end having an outer flat surface, said opposite closed end having a surface with a feathered edge for creating a suction upon application of said closed end and said feathered edge against an adjoining flat surface.

10. A syringe according to claim 1 including means cooperable with the distal end of aid barrel for closing said distal end thereof, said closing means including a cap having an open cylindrical end for receiving the distal end of said barrel and an opposite closed end, said opposite closed end having an outer flat surface, said closed end having an outer surface and adhesive applied to said outer surface for releasably and adhesively securing said cap to an adjoining flat surface.

11. A syringe according to claim 10 including a release membrane overlying said adhesive and removable therefrom to expose said adhesive.

12. A syringe according to claim 1 wherein said distal end of said barrel terminates relative to said adapter and said needle such that said adapter lies wholly within the confines of said barrel and only said needle or a portion of said needle projects from said distal end of said barrel when the adapter lies in engagement with said barrel.

13. A syringe according to claim 1 wherein the adapter is detachably connected to the distal end of the barrel by a threaded connection of a first sense while the engagement structures between the adapter and plunger include a threaded connection of a second sense, opposite said first sense.

8. A syringe according to claim including means cooperable with the distal end aid barrel for closing said distal end thereof, said closing means including a cap having an open cylindrical end for receiving the distal end of said barrel and an opposite closed end, said opposite closed end having an outer flat surface.

14. A syringe comprising:

a hollow barrel and a plunger within said barrel having a syringe plunger latch at its distal end;

an adapter having a central body with a central bore therethrough, a distal portion for carrying a needle and a proximal portion with engagement surfaces for engaging the distal end of a syringe plunger latch;

a radially projecting portion extending circumferentially and radially outwardly from said central body and disposed between said distal and proximal portions of said adapter, said radially projecting portion being sized to fit within the distal end of a syringe barrel, said engagement surfaces of the central body including a pair of helical tracks disposed along said central body and terminating in flat generally axially and radially extending surfaces for engaging corresponding surfaces on said syringe plunger latch; and

an externally threaded section on said adapter sized to removably mate within an internally threaded portion of the distal end of said syringe barrel.

15. A syringe according to claim 14 wherein said proximal portion of said adapter projects rom said central body thereof into the barrel toward its proximal end, said bore defining with said needle a fluid passage through said adapter including a fluid passage portion in said adapter opening into the interior of said barrel at a location between said projecting adapter portion and the distal end of said barrel to enable air to be vented from said barrel through said needle upon receiving fluid into said barrel and moving said plunger toward the distal end of said barrel.

16. A syringe according to claim 14 including means cooperable with the distal end of said barrel for closing said distal end thereof.

17. A syringe according to claim 14 wherein the proximal end of said plunger forms a hollow cylinder and includes connection structure sized and designed to cooperate with complementary connection structure included at the distal end of said barrel, said plunger further including structure intermediate its proximal and distal ends for detachably connecting said proximal and distal ends, whereby said proximal end of the plunger, when the plunger is withdrawn from the distal end of the barrel, can be detached from said plunger and connected to the distal end of the barrel.

18. A syringe according to claim 14 wherein said plunger is movable in said barrel between retracted and extended positions relative to said barrel and including means connecting said barrel and said plunger in the retracted position of said plunger to indicate attempted movement of said plunger and said barrel relative to one another.

19. A syringe according to claim 14 including a needle guard removably connected to said distal end of said barrel and means connected to said barrel and said needle guard to indicate attempted movement of said needle guard and said barrel relative to one another.

20. A syringe according to claim 14 wherein said plunger is movable in said barrel between retracted and extended positions relative to said barrel, and including means connecting between said barrel and said plunger in the retracted position of said plunger to indicate attempted movement of said plunger and said barrel relative to one another.

21. A syringe according to claim 14 including means cooperable with the distal end of said barrel for closing said distal end thereof, said/closing means including a cap having an open cylindrical end for receiving the distal end of said barrel and an opposite closed end, said opposite closed end having an outer flat surface.

22. A syringe according to claim 14 including means cooperable with the distal end of said barrel for closing said distal end thereof, said closing means including a cap having an open cylindrical end for receiving the distal end of said barrel and an opposite closed end, said opposite closed end having an outer flat surface, said opposite closed end having a surface with a feathered edge for creating a suction upon application of said closed end and said feathered edge against an adjoining flat surface.

23. A syringe according to claim 14 including means cooperable with the distal end of s/aid barrel for closing said distal end thereof, said closing means including a cap having an open cylindrical end for receiving the distal end of said barrel and an opposite closed end, said opposite closed end having an outer flat surface, said closed end having an outer surface and adhesive applied to said outer surface for releasably and adhesively securing said cap to an adjoining flat surface.

24. A syringe according to claim 23 including a release membrane overlying said adhesive and removable therefrom to expose said adhesive.

25. A syringe according to claim 14 including a needle carried by said adapter, said distal end of said barrel terminating relative to said adapter and said needle such that said adapter lies wholly within the confines of said barrel and only said needle or a portion of said needle projects from said distal end of said barrel when the adapter lies in engagement with said barrel.

26. A syringe according to claim 14 wherein said engagement surface on said plunger latch includes one of a complementary groove and a rib, said engagement surface on said adapter including the other of said complementary groove and rib, said complementary groove and rib extending at least partially in a circumferential direction generally normal to the axis of said syringe barrel.

27. A syringe comprising:

(a) a hollow, axially elongated barrel;

(b) an adapter carried by said barrel adjacent the distal end thereof and removable therefrom in response to rotation relative to the barrel, the adapter carrying a needle and providing fluid communication with the interior of said hollow barrel;

(c) a plunger axially movable in the hollow barrel; and

(d) adapter engagement structure disposed at the distal end of the plunger and engageable with a mating connection engagement structure on the adapter, said structures having alignment, drive and connective pairs of respective engagement surfaces, said alignment pair of surfaces being engageable and relatively movable to align and engage said drive surfaces one with the other thereby to enable subsequent rotation of the adapter relative to the barrel in response to relative rotation of the plunger and barrel, said connective surfaces being engageable in response to substantially full axial insertion of said plunger in said barrel to connect the plunger and adapter one with the other, enabling the adapter and needle to part from the end of the barrel and to be withdrawn into the interior of the barrel when the plunger is withdrawn from the distal end of the barrel.

28. A syringe according to claim 27 wherein said adapter has a portion projecting into the barrel toward its proximal end, said fluid communication through said adapter including a fluid passage portion in said adapter opening into said barrel interior at a location between said projecting adapter portion and the distal end of said barrel to enable air to be vented from said barrel through said needle upon receiving fluid into said barrel and moving said plunger toward the distal end of said barrel, said fluid passage portion being additionally spaced axially toward the distal end of said adapter from said adapter engagement structure.

29. A syringe according to claim 27 including means cooperable with the distal end of said barrel for closing said distal end thereof.

30. A syringe according to claim 27 wherein the proximal end of said plunger forms a hollow cylinder and includes connection structure sized and designed to cooperate with complementary connection structure included at the distal end of said barrel, said plunger further including structure intermediate its proximal and distal ends for detachably connecting said proximal and distal ends, whereby said proximal end of the plunger, when the plunger is withdrawn from the distal end of the barrel, can be detached from said plunger and connected to the distal end of the barrel.

31. A syringe according to claim 27 wherein said plunger is movable in said barrel between retracted and extended positions relative to said barrel and including means connecting said barrel and said plunger in the retracted position of said plunger to indicate attempted movement of said plunger and said barrel relative to one another.

32. A syringe according to claim 27 including a needle guard removably connected to said distal end of said barrel and means connected to said barrel and said needle guard to indicate attempted movement of said needle guard and said barrel relative to one another.

33. A syringe according to claim 27 wherein said plunger is movable in said barrel between retracted and extended positions relative to said barrel, and including means connecting between said barrel and said plunger in the retracted position of said plunger to indicate attempted movement of said plunger and said barrel relative to one another.

34. A syringe according to claim 27 including means cooperable with the distal end of said barrel for closing said distal end thereof, said closing means including a cap having an open cylindrical end for receiving the distal end of said barrel and an opposite closed end, said opposite closed end having an outer flat surface.

35. A syringe according to claim 27 including means cooperable with the distal end of said barrel for closing said distal end thereof, said closing means including a cap having an open cylindrical end for receiving the distal end of said barrel and an opposite closed end, said opposite closed end having an outer flat surface, said opposite closed end having a surface with a feathered edge for creating a suction upon application of said closed end and said feathered edge against an adjoining flat surface.

36. A syringe according to claim 27 including means cooperable with the distal end of said barrel for closing said distal end thereof, said closing means including a cap having an open cylindrical end for receiving the distal end of said barrel and an opposite closed end, said opposite closed end having an outer flat surface, said closed end having an outer surface and adhesive applied to said outer surface for releasably and adhesively securing said cap to an adjoining flat surface.

37. A syringe according to claim 36 including a release membrane overlying said adhesive and removable therefrom to expose said adhesive.

38. A syringe according to claim 27 wherein said distal end of said barrel terminates relative to said adapter and said needle such that said adapter lies wholly within the confines of said barrel and only said needle or a portion of said needle projects from said distal end of said barrel when the adapter lies in engagement with said barrel.

39. A syringe according to claim 27 wherein said connective surfaces comprise a groove on one of said adapter and said plunger and a projection on the other of said adapter and said plunger for reception in said groove.

40. A syringe according to claim 27 wherein said alignment pair of surfaces are relatively rotatable in response to axial movement of said plunger in said barrel and in a direction toward full axial insertion of the plunger in the barrel, said alignment surfaces comprising surfaces on said adapter and plunger, respectively, inclined relative to the axis of the barrel.

41. A syringe comprising:

(a) a hollow, axially-elongated barrel;

(b) an adapter carried by said barrel adjacent the distal end thereof and removable therefrom in response to rotation relative to the barrel, the adapter carrying a hollow needle and providing fluid communication through said needle to the interior of the hollow barrel;

(c) a plunger axially movable in the hollow barrel;

(d) cooperable rotary drive and driven surfaces on said plunger and said adapter, respectively;

(e) connective surfaces on said plunger and adapter, respectively; and

(f) means cooperable between the distal end of the plunger and the adapter to (a) enable initial relative rotation therebetween in response to axial movement of the plunger in the barrel toward full insertion into the barrel to align the cooperable rotary drive and driven surfaces, respectively, one with the other, (b) engage the connective surfaces thereof in response to axial movement of the plunger in the barrel toward full insertion into the barrel enabling joint axial movement of the adapter and plunger, and (c) upon subsequent relative rotational movement of said plunger and barrel, enable said adapter to part from the end of the barrel and to be withdrawn together with the needle into the interior of the barrel when the plunger is withdrawn from the distal end of the barrel.

42. A syringe according to claim 41 wherein said adapter has a portion projecting into the barrel toward its proximal end, said fluid communication through said adapter including a fluid passage portion in said adapter opening into said barrel interior at a location between the proximal end of said projecting adapter portion and the distal end of said barrel to enable air to be vented from said barrel through said needle upon receiving fluid into said barrel and moving said plunger toward the distal end of said barrel.

43. A syringe according to claim 41 including means cooperable with the distal end of said barrel for closing said distal end thereof.

44. A syringe according to claim 41 wherein the proximal end of said plunger forms a hollow cylinder and includes connection structure sized and designed to cooperate with complementary connection structure included at the distal end of said barrel, said plunger further including structure intermediate its proximal and distal ends for detachably connecting said proximal and distal ends, whereby said proximal end of the plunger, when the plunger is withdrawn from the distal end of the barrel, can be detached from said plunger and connected to the distal end of the barrel.

45. A syringe according to claim 41 wherein said plunger is movable in said barrel between retracted and extended positions relative to said barrel and including means connecting said barrel and said plunger in the retracted position of said plunger to indicate attempted movement of said plunger and said barrel relative to one another.

46. A syringe according to claim 41 including a needle guard removably connected to said distal end of said barrel and means connected to said barrel and said needle guard to indicate attempted movement of said needle guard and said barrel relative to one another.

47. A syringe according to claim 41 wherein said plunger is movable in said barrel between retracted and extended positions relative to said barrel, and including means connecting between said barrel and said plunger in the retracted position of said plunger to indicate attempted movement of said plunger and said barrel relative to one another.

48. A syringe according to claim 41 including means cooperable with the distal end of sad barrel for closing said distal end thereof, said closing means including a cap having an open cylindrical end for receiving the distal end of said barrel and an opposite closed end, said opposite closed end having an outer flat surface.

49. A syringe according to claim 41 including means cooperable with the distal end of said barrel for closing said distal end thereof, said closing means including a cap having an open cylindrical end for receiving the distal end of said barrel and an opposite closed end, said opposite closed end having an outer flat surface, said opposite closed end having a surface with a feathered edge for creating a suction upon application of said closed end and said feathered edge against an adjoining flat surface.

50. A syringe according to claim 41 including means cooperable with the distal end of said barrel for closing said distal end thereof, said closing means including a cap having an open cylindrical end for receiving the distal end of said barrel and an opposite closed end, said opposite closed end having an outer flat surface, said closed end having an outer surface and adhesive applied to said outer surface for releasably and adhesively securing said cap to an adjoining flat surface.

51. A syringe according to claim 50 including a release membrane overlying said adhesive and removable therefrom to expose said adhesive.

52. A syringe according to claim 41 wherein said distal end of said barrel terminated relative to said adapter and said needle such that said adapter lies wholly within the confines of said barrel and only said needle or a portion of said needle projects from said distal end of said barrel when the adapter lies in engagement with said barrel.

53. A syringe comprising:

(a) a hollow, axially elongated barrel;

(b) an adapter carried by said barrel adjacent the distal end thereof and removable therefrom in response to rotation relative to the barrel, the adapter carrying a needle and providing fluid communication with the interior of said hollow barrel;

(c) a plunger axially movable in the hollow barrel; and

(d) adapter engagement structure disposed at the distal end of the plunger and engageable with a mating connection engagement structure on the adapter, said structures having respective drive and connective engagement surfaces, said drive surfaces being engageable with one another in response to axial movement of said plunger toward the distal end of said barrel and jointly movable upon engagement to enable rotation of the adapter relative to the barrel in response to relative rotation of the plunger and barrel, said connective surfaces comprising latching surfaces engageable with one another in response to axial movement of said plunger toward the distal end of said barrel to positively connect the plunger and adapter one with the other, said drive surfaces enabling the adapter and needle to part from the end of the barrel in response to relative rotation of the adapter and barrel and said connective surfaces enabling the adapter and needle carried thereby to be withdrawn into the interior of the barrel when the plunger is withdrawn from the distal end of the barrel.

54. A syringe according to claim 53 wherein said latching surfaces include a radially recessed portion on one of said adapter and said plunger and a radial projection on the other of said adapter and plunger, respectively, such that, upon axial movement of said plunger toward the distal end of said barrel, said radially recessed portion and said radial projection engage one another enabling joint axial movement of said adapter and said plunger to withdraw the needle into the interior of the barrel.

55. A syringe according to claim 54 wherein said radially recessed portion and said radial projection extend substantially fully circumferentially about said syringe.

56. A syringe comprising:

(a) a hollow, axially elongated barrel;

(b) an adapter carried by said barrel adjacent the distal end thereof and removable therefrom in response to rotation relative to the barrel, said adapter being adapted to carry a needle to provide for fluid communication with the interior of

(c) a plunger axially movable in the hollow barrel; and

(d) adapter engagement structure disposed at the distal end of the plunger and engageable with a mating connection engagement structure on the adapter, said structures having respective drive and connective engagement surfaces, said drive surfaces being engageable with one another in response to axial movement of said plunger toward the distal end of said barrel and jointly movable upon engagement to enable rotation of the adapter relative to the barrel, said connective surfaces comprising latching surfaces engageable with one another in response to axial movement of said plunger toward the distal end of said barrel to positively connect the plunger and adapter one with the other, said drive surfaces enabling the adapter to part from the end of the barrel in response to relative rotation of the adapter and barrel and said connective surfaces enabling the adapter and any needle carried thereby to be withdrawn into the interior of the barrel when the plunger is withdrawn from the distal end of the barrel.

57. A syringe according to claim 56 including a closure connected to the distal end of said barrel for sealing the interior of the barrel at its distal end prior to use.

58. A syringe according to claim 56 including a seal between said plunger and said barrel adjacent the proximal end of the barrel when the plunger is substantially fully received in the barrel thereby sealing the interior of the barrel at its proximal end prior to use.

59. A syringe according to claim 56 including a closure connected to the distal end of said barrel for sealing the interior of the barrel at its distal end prior to use and a seal between said plunger and said barrel adjacent the proximal end of the barrel when the plunger is substantially fully received in the barrel for sealing the interior of the barrel at its proximal end prior to use.

60. A syringe according to claim 59 wherein said seal adjacent the proximal end of the barrel includes a complementary rib and groove between the barrel and plunger.