Syringe holder and applicator

• US 5,282,793 A
• Filed: 10/02/1989
• Issued: 02/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eldon E. Larson
• Original Assignee: Eldon E. Larson
• Inventors: Larson, Eldon E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Application Number:
  US07/371,520
• Time in Patent Office: 1,583 Days
• Field of Search: 604/198, 604/187, 604/263, 604/136, 604/137
• US Class Current: 604/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3287 Accessories for bringing the needle into the body; Automatic needle insertion A61M5/20, A61M5/31525 take precedence

Abstract

The structure of the Syringe Holder and Applicator provides an inner cylindrical tube adapted to have a hypodermic syringe inserted and held therein. This inner tubular syringe holder is slideably contained within an outer cylindrical tube. A cylindrical coil-spring retainer tube is also contained within the outer tube at the distal end of the outer tube'"'"'s cylindrical cavity, leaving a considerable portion of the outer tube'"'"'s cylindrical cavity free for occupation by the inner tubular syringe holder. The body of the outer tube is provided with a trigger mechanism which will automatically engage and lock the inner tubular syringe holder in a retracted position within the outer tube'"'"'s cylindrical cavity when the inner tubular syringe holder is retracted toward the distal end of the outer tube'"'"'s cylindrical cavity. The trigger mechanism is designed to, when pressed inward, release the inner tubular syringe holder for travel within the outer tube'"'"'s cylindrical cavity. A coil spring is positioned axially within the cylindrical coil-spring retainer tube and bears against the distal end of the inner tubular syringe holder to urge the tubular syringe holder toward the proximal end of the outer tube'"'"'s cylindrical cavity. The coil spring and its cylindrical coil-spring retainer tube are so constructed and arranged, with respect to one another and with respect to the inner syringe tubular holder, that a hypodermic syringe barrel may be axially inserted in the proximal end of the coil-spring retainer tube and axially through the coil spring into the inner tubular syringe holder.

Claims

1. A syringe holder and applicator which comprises an outer cylindrical tube having a distal end into which a syringe may be inserted manually and having a proximal end through which a syringe needle may be extended automatically;

an inner tubular syringe holder slideably fitted within said outer tube for axial movement in a cylindrical cavity provided by said outer tube, said tubular syringe holder having a distal end oriented toward the distal end of said outer tube and having a proximal end oriented toward the proximal end of said outer tube, and said tubular syringe holder being adapted to receive and hold the barrel of a syringe that has been inserted through the distal end of said outer tube into said tubular syringe holder with the syringe needle protruding through the proximal end of said of said tubular syringe holder;

a coil spring member positioned within said cylindrical cavity axially of said tubular syringe holder and extending between the distal end of said outer tube and the adjacent distal end of said inner tubular syringe holder whereby positioning of said tubular syringe holder in a retracted position will result in compression of said coil spring;

a trigger means integral with said outer tube, said trigger means having a first portion extending toward the distal end of said outer tube, said first portion having a locking element inclined inward to engage a portion of said tubular syringe holder to lock said tubular syringe holder in a retracted position toward the distal end of said cylindrical cavity when said tubular syringe holder is moved axially to that retracted position;

said trigger means having another portion integral with and extending from said first portion toward the distal end of said outer tube and inclined outward toward the distal end of said outer tube, said second portion being so constructed and associated with said first portion that radially inward pressure on said second portion will result in said first portion being moved radially outward to release said locking element from a locking relationship with said tubular syringe holder to release said tubular syringe holder whereby said tubular syringe holder will be permitted to travel axially toward the proximal end of said outer tube under the force of said coil spring; and

a cylindrical coil-spring retainer tube axially fitted within said outer tube, said retainer tube having a distal end positioned adjacent the distal end of said outer tube and having a proximal end oriented toward the proximal end of said outer tube, and said retainer tube extending from the distal end of said outer tube toward said tubular syringe holder, said coil spring being positioned within said retainer tube and seating against the retainer tube distal end and extending through the retainer tube proximal end into abutment with said tubular syringe holder;

said trigger means comprising a strip integral with said outer tube, said trigger strip being integral at its ends with said outer tube and free to flex inward and outward with respect to said outer tube along the length of said strip, said first portion comprising the proximal half of said strip and said second portion comprising the distal half of said strip, and said strip having a hinge line thereacross between the two portions whereby said two portions may flex with respect to one another about said hinge line.

2. The holder of claim 1 wherein said strip second portion is provided with an inner land surface adjacent to said hinge line and contacting said coil-spring retainer tube whereby application of inward pressure on said second portion will cause said land surface to bear against said coil-spring retainer tube and raise said hinge line upward causing said second portion to flex upward and disengage said tubular syringe holder.

3. The holder of claim 2 wherein said strip second portion is provided with a second hinge line thereacross at a point distally of said inner land surface whereby application of said inward pressure will cause said second hinge line to deflect inward and cause said first hinge line to deflect outward, thereby rocking said land surface to effect a radially-outward shift of said locking element out of locking engagement with said tubular syringe holder.

4. A syringe holder and applicator which comprises an outer cylindrical tube having a distal end into which a syringe may be inserted manually and having a proximal end through which a syringe needle may be extended automatically;

an inner tubular syringe holder slideably fitted within said outer tube for axial movement in a cylindrical cavity provided by said outer tube, said tubular syringe holder having a distal end oriented toward the distal end of said outer tube and having a proximal end oriented toward the proximal end of said outer tube, and said tubular syringe holder being adapted to receive and hold the barrel of a syringe that has been inserted through the distal end of said outer tube into said tubular syringe holder with the syringe needle protruding through the proximal end of said of said tubular syringe holder;

a coil spring member positioned within said cylindrical cavity axially of said tubular syringe holder and extending between the distal end of said outer tube and the adjacent distal end of said inner tubular syringe holder whereby positioning of said tubular syringe holder in a retracted position will result in compression of said coil spring;

a trigger means integral with said outer tube, said trigger means having a first portion extending toward the distal end of said outer tube, said first portion having a locking element inclined inward to engage a portion of said tubular syringe holder to lock said tubular syringe holder in a retracted position toward the distal end of said cylindrical cavity when said tubular syringe holder is moved axially to that retracted position;

said trigger means having another portion integral with and extending from said first portion toward the distal end of said outer tube and inclined outward toward the distal end of said outer tube, said second portion being so constructed and associated with said first portion that radially inward pressure on said second portion will result in said first portion being moved radially outward to release said locking element from a locking relationship with said tubular syringe holder to release said tubular syringe holder whereby said tubular syringe holder will be permitted to travel axially toward the proximal end of said outer tube under the force of said coil spring;

said trigger means comprising a strip integral with said outer tube, said trigger strip being integral at its ends with said outer tube and free to flex inward and outward with respect to said outer tube along the length of said strip, said first portion comprising the proximal half of said strip and said second portion comprising the distal half of said strip, and said strip having a hinge line thereacross between the two portions whereby said two portions may flex with respect to one another about said hinge line.

5. The holder of claim 4 wherein said strip second portion is provided with an inner land surface adjacent to said hinge line and contacting said coil-spring retainer tube whereby application of inward pressure on said second portion will cause said land surface to bear against said coil-spring retainer tube and raise said hinge line upward causing said second portion to flex upward and disengage said tubular syringe holder.

6. The holder of claim 5 wherein said strip second portion is provided with a second hinge line thereacross at a point distally of said inner land surface whereby application of said inward pressure will cause said second hinge line to deflect inward and cause said first hinge line to deflect outward, thereby rocking said land surface to effect a radially-outward shift of said locking element out of locking engagement with said tubular syringe holder.