Manual dispensing aid for a syringe

• US 5,611,784 A
• Filed: 12/16/1994
• Issued: 03/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Company
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Company
• Inventors: Anderson, Robert, Nguyen, Son, Scalese, Robert, Hall, Randy, Frudden, Jon E., Riedi, Eric, Barresi, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRING, NOELLE K
• Application Number:
  US08/357,528
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 128/DIG. 1, 604/186, 604/187, 604/207-211, 604/224, 604/225, 604/227, 604/228, 604/246, 604/67
• US Class Current: 604/211
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/70 with testing or calibration facilities
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31531 Microsyringes, e.g. having piston bore diameter close or equal to needle shaft diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31586 performed by rotationally moving or pivoted actuator, e.g. an injection lever or handle
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/027 Digital display, e.g. LCD, LED
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0217 of the plunger pump type medical syringes A61M
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/027 of the syringe type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/01 Motorized syringe

Abstract

A releasably attachable manual dispensing aid is operable with a syringe having a syringe body and a syringe plunger that is movable within the syringe body. The dispensing aid includes a dispensing aid body that is releasably attachable to the syringe body. The dispensing aid further includes a dispensing aid plunger that is attachable to the syringe plunger, and has a slide that is slidable within the dispensing aid body. A fine adjustment, bottom stop, Chaney stop, and/or drag brake for the slide are optionally provided. An electronic linear position measuring device has a first portion fixed to the dispensing aid body and a second portion fixed to the dispensing aid plunger. Optionally, the dispensing aid includes a microprocessor that receives as inputs a calibration value for a particular syringe and the position signal, and determines as an output signal the true volume of liquid displaced by the syringe plunger movement.

Claims

1. A releasably attachable manual dispensing aid operable with a syringe having a syringe body and a syringe plunger slidable within the syringe body, the dispensing aid comprising:

a dispensing aid body;

a slide that is slidable within the dispensing aid body;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid body directly to the syringe body;

a dispensing aid plunger connected to the slide, the dispensing aid plunger being directly graspable and operable by a human hand to produce a linear motion of the slide;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid plunger to the syringe plunger;

an electronic linear position measuring device having a first portion fixed to the dispensing aid body and a second portion fixed to the dispensing aid plunger;

a microprocessor which receives an output signal from the linear position measuring device;

a digital volume readout which receives an output signal from the microprocessor; and

means for providing a volume calibration factor to the microprocessor.

2. A releasably attachable manual dispensing aid operable with a syringe having a syringe body and a syringe plunger slidable within the syringe body, the dispensing aid comprising:

a dispensing aid body;

a slide that is slidable within the dispensing aid body;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid body directly to the syringe body;

a dispensing aid plunger connected to the slide, the dispensing aid plunger being directly graspable and operable by a human hand to produce a linear motion of the slide;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid plunger to the syringe plunger;

an electronic linear position measuring device having a first portion fixed to the dispensing aid body and a second portion fixed to the dispensing aid plunger; and

a fine adjustment wheel that engagably contacts the slide.

3. A releasably attachable manual dispensing aid operable with a syringe having a syringe body and a syringe plunger slidable within the syringe body, the dispensing aid comprising:

a dispensing aid body;

a slide that is slidable within the dispensing aid body;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid body directly to the syringe body;

a dispensing aid plunger connected to the slide, the dispensing aid plunger being directly graspable and operable by a human hand to produce a linear motion of the slide;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid plunger to the syringe plunger;

an electronic linear position measuring device having a first portion fixed to the dispensing aid body and a second portion fixed to the dispensing aid plunger;

a drag brake pad selectively engagable with the slide to apply a drag braking force to the movement of the slide;

an actuating arm attached to the drag brake pad;

a drag brake adjustment control operable on the actuating arm to apply the drag braking force to the drag brake pad;

a spring reacting between the dispensing aid body and the actuating arm; and

means for adjusting a preload of the spring.

4. A releasably attachable manual dispensing aid operable with a syringe having a syringe body and a syringe plunger slidable within the syringe body, the dispensing aid comprising:

a dispensing aid body;

a slide that is slidable within the dispensing aid body;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid body directly to the syringe body;

a dispensing aid plunger connected to the slide, the dispensing aid plunger being directly graspable and operable by a human hand to produce a linear motion of the slide;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid plunger to the syringe plunger;

an electronic linear position measuring device having a first portion fixed to the dispensing aid body and a second portion fixed to the dispensing aid plunger;

a stop selectively engagable with the dispensing aid slide, the stop including;

a screw shaft extending parallel to the slide and having external threads thereon;

a block having internal threads thereon engaged to the external threads of the screw shaft;

a set wheel engaged to the screw shaft such that turning of the set wheel causes the threaded block to traverse in a direction parallel to the screw shaft;

means for selectively engaging the shaft, the means for engaging the shaft being mounted on the block; and

means for activating the means for selectively engaging the shaft.

5. A releasably attachable manual dispensing aid operable with a syringe having a syringe body and a syringe plunger slidable within the syringe body, the dispensing aid comprising:

a dispensing aid body;

a slide that is slidable within the dispensing aid body;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid body directly to the syringe body;

a dispensing aid plunger directly graspable and operable by a human hand to produce a linear motion of the slide;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid plunger to the syringe plunger;

an electronic linear position measuring device comprising

a first portion fixed to the dispensing aid body and having a first metallic electrode,

a second portion fixed to the dispensing aid plunger and having a second metallic electrode disposed in a facing relation to the first metallic electrode, and

means for measuring a capacitance of a circuit including the first metallic electrode and the second metallic electrode and producing an output linear position signal responsive to the measured capacitance;

a microprocessor which receives the output linear position signal of the means for measuring and produces a microprocessor output signal;

a readout which receives the microprocessor output signal; and

means for providing a volume calibration factor to the microprocessor.

6. A releasably attachable manual dispensing aid operable with a syringe having a syringe body and a syringe plunger slidable within the syringe body, the dispensing aid comprising:

a dispensing aid body;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid body to the syringe body;

a dispensing aid plunger slidable within the dispensing aid body;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid plunger to the syringe plunger;

an electronic linear position measuring device that produces an output linear position signal responsive to the relative position of the dispensing aid body and the dispensing aid plunger;

an input terminal operable to receive a calibration value representative of the characteristics of a particular syringe;

a microprocessor which receives the output linear position signal from the linear position measuring device and the calibration value from the input terminal, and produces a microprocessor output signal in which the linear position of the syringe plunger relative to the syringe body is corrected for the calibration value; and

a display of the microprocessor output signal.

7. The dispensing aid of claim 6 wherein the microprocessor includes means for determining a volume of liquid displaced by the syringe during movement of the syringe plunger, from the output linear position signal of the linear position measuring device and the calibration value, and for providing that volume value as the microprocessor output signal.

8. A method for dispensing liquids from a syringe, comprising the steps of:

manufacturing a syringe to a nominal volume standard;

determining a calibration value for an actual syringe volume as compared with the nominal volume standard of the step of manufacturing;

providing a dispensing aid having a volume readout signal and means for utilizing the calibration factor to determine the volume readout signal;

providing the calibration value to the dispensing aid; and

manually dispensing liquid from the syringe using the dispensing aid; and

the dispensing aid producing the volume readout signal concurrently with the step of manually dispensing, the means for utilizing of the dispensing aid correcting the volume readout signal for the calibration value.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of providing a dispensing aid includes the step of providing:

a dispensing aid body;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid body to the syringe body;

a dispensing aid plunger slidable within the dispensing aid body

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid plunger to a syringe plunger;

an electronic linear position measuring device that produces an output linear position signal responsive to the relative position of the dispensing aid body and the dispensing aid plunger;

a microprocessor which receives the output linear position signal of the linear position measuring device and the calibration value, and produces a microprocessor output signal to the volume readout signal.

10. A precision volumetric liquid measuring and dispensing system for dispensing liquids from a syringe, the syringe including a body with a bore therein and a plunger linearly displaceable along a plunger axis into and out of the bore, the system comprising in combination:

a housing,

means to secure the body of the syringe to said housing,

a slide,

means to secure said slide to said plunger with a long axis of said slide parallel to said plunger axis and adjacent said housing,

said slide including indicia spaced along said long axis, the indicia correlating to a position of said indicia along said long axis, and

a sensor secured to said housing, said sensor including;

means to read said indicia adjacent said sensor,

means to correlate said indicia adjacent said sensor with a position of said plunger along said plunger axis, and

means to display plunger position information from said correlating means in visually perceptible form.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said correlating means includes means to be selectively zeroed such that linear displacement of the plunger away from a location at which the correlating means was zeroed, can be quantified.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said means to secure said slide to said plunger includes a collet, said collet including means to adjust a diameter thereof to selectively grasp and release a button at an end of the plunger of the syringe.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said slide is supported along a linear pathway adjacent said housing with a linear bearing, said linear bearing preventing said slide from moving non-parallel to said plunger axis.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein an adjustable braking mechanism is oriented between said housing and said slide, said adjustable braking mechanism including means to adjust a friction force experienced by said slide when said slide is translated linearly with respect to said housing.

15. The system of claim 10 further including an adjustable stop including means to limit linear translation of said slide along said long axis of said slide beyond said stop.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein said display means includes means to concurrently display plunger position information as said information is received from said correlating means.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein said means to secure said slide to said plunger includes a collet, said collet including means to adjust a diameter thereof to selectively grasp and release a button at an end of the plunger of the syringe.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein said slide is supported along a linear pathway adjacent said housing with a linear bearing, said linear bearing preventing said slide from moving non-parallel to said plunger axis.

19. The system of claim 10 wherein an adjustable braking mechanism is oriented between said housing and said slide, said adjustable braking mechanism including means to adjust a friction force experienced by said slide when said slide is translated linearly with respect to said housing.

20. A method for dispensing precise quantities of liquid from a syringe which has a plunger that reciprocates linearly in a syringe body, the steps including:

fixing the syringe body to a dispensing indicator housing,

attaching a sensor on the dispenser indicator housing,

attaching the syringe plunger to a dispensing indicator plunger,

constraining the plungers to move linearly, parallel and in synchrony,

orienting the dispensing indicator plunger to pass by the sensor on the dispenser indicator housing,

sensing the dispensing indicator plunger'"'"'s linear movement,

displaying the linear movement on a visually readable output.

21. A releasably attachable manual dispensing aid operable with a syringe having a syringe body and a syringe plunger slidable within the syringe body, the dispensing aid comprising:

a dispensing aid body;

a slide that is slidable within the dispensing aid body;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid body directly to the syringe body;

a dispensing aid plunger connected to the slide, the dispensing aid plunger being directly graspable and operable by a human hand to produce a linear motion of the slide;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid plunger to the syringe plunger; and

an electronic linear position measuring device having a first portion fixed to the dispensing aid body and a second portion fixed to the dispensing aid plunger;

wherein the electronic linear position measuring device relies on capacitance means and produces an output responsive to capacitance between the first portion and the second portion.

22. The dispensing aid of claim 21, further including a digital readout whose output signal is responsive to a readout signal from the linear position measuring device.

23. The dispensing aid of claim 21, further including a microprocessor which receives an output signal from the linear position measuring device.

24. A releasably attachable manual dispensing aid operable with a syringe having a syringe body and a syringe plunger slidable within the syringe body, the dispensing aid comprising:

a dispensing aid body;

a slide that is slidable within the dispensing aid body;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid body directly to the syringe body;

a dispensing aid plunger connected to the slide, the dispensing aid plunger being directly graspable and operable by a human hand to produce a linear motion of the slide;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid plunger to the syringe plunger;

an electronic linear position measuring device having a first portion fixed to the dispensing aid body and a second portion fixed to the dispensing aid plunger; and

an adjustable stop that limits the linear movement of the dispensing aid plunger relative to the dispensing aid body.

25. The dispensing aid of claim 24 including a digital readout whose output signal is responsive to a readout signal from the linear position measuring device.

26. The dispensing aid of claim 24 further including a microprocessor which receives an output signal from the linear position measuring device.

27. A releasably attachable manual dispensing aid operable with a syringe having a syringe body and a syringe plunger slidable within the syringe body, the dispensing aid comprising:

a dispensing aid body;

a slide that is slidable within the dispensing aid body;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid body directly to the syringe body;

a dispensing aid plunger connected to the slide, the dispensing aid plunger being directly graspable and operable by a human hand to produce a linear motion of the slide;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid plunger to the syringe plunger;

an electronic linear position measuring device having a first portion fixed to the dispensing aid body and a second portion fixed to the dispensing aid plunger; and

a drag brake pad selectively engagable with the slide to apply a drag braking force to the movement of the slide.

28. The dispensing aid of claim 27 including a digital readout whose output signal is responsive to a readout signal from the linear position measuring device.

29. The dispensing aid of claim 27 further including a microprocessor which receives an output signal from the linear position measuring device.

30. A releasably attachable manual dispensing aid operable with a syringe having a syringe body and a syringe plunger slidable within the syringe body, the dispensing aid comprising:

a dispensing aid body;

a slide that is slidable within the dispensing aid body;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid body directly to the syringe body;

a dispensing aid plunger directly graspable and operable by a human hand to produce a linear motion of the slide;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid plunger to the syringe plunger;

an electronic linear position measuring device comprising

a first portion fixed to the dispensing aid body and having a first metallic electrode,

a second portion fixed to the dispensing aid plunger and having a second metallic electrode disposed in a facing relation to the first metallic electrode, and

means for measuring a capacitance of a circuit including the first metallic electrode and the second metallic electrode and producing an output linear position signal responsive to the measured capacitance;

a microprocessor which receives the output linear position signal of the means for measuring and produces a microprocessor output signal;

a readout which receives the microprocessor output signal; and

an adjustable stop that limits the linear movement of the dispensing aid plunger relative to the dispensing aid body.

31. A releasably attachable manual dispensing aid operable with a syringe having a syringe body and a syringe plunger slidable within the syringe body, the dispensing aid comprising:

a dispensing aid body;

a slide that is slidable within the dispensing aid body;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid body directly to the syringe body;

a dispensing aid plunger directly graspable and operable by a human hand to produce a linear motion of the slide;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid plunger to the syringe plunger;

an electronic linear position measuring device comprising

a first portion fixed to the dispensing aid body and having a first metallic electrode,

a second portion fixed to the dispensing aid plunger and having a second metallic electrode disposed in a facing relation to the first metallic electrode, and

means for measuring a capacitance of a circuit including the first metallic electrode and the second metallic electrode and producing an output linear position signal responsive to the measured capacitance;

a microprocessor which receives the output linear position signal of the means for measuring and produces a microprocessor output signal; and

a readout which receives the microprocessor output signal;

wherein the means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid body to the syringe body includes a clip.

32. A releasably attachable manual dispensing aid operable with a syringe having a syringe body and a syringe plunger slidable within the syringe body, the dispensing aid comprising:

a dispensing aid body;

a slide that is slidable within the dispensing aid body;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid body directly to the syringe body;

a dispensing aid plunger directly graspable and operable by a human hand to produce a linear motion of the slide;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid plunger to the syringe plunger;

an electronic linear position measuring device comprising

a first portion fixed to the dispensing aid body and having a first metallic electrode,

a second portion fixed to the dispensing aid plunger and having a second metallic electrode disposed in a facing relation to the first metallic electrode, and

means for measuring a capacitance of a circuit including the first metallic electrode and the second metallic electrode and producing an output linear position signal responsive to the measured capacitance;

a microprocessor which receives the output linear position signal of the means for measuring and produces a microprocessor output signal; and

a readout which receives the microprocessor output signal;

wherein said means for attaching the dispensing aid plunger to the syringe plunger includes means to move a plunger clip from a first open position to a second retained position on the plunger.

33. A releasably attachable manual dispensing aid operable with a syringe having a syringe body and a syringe plunger slidable within the syringe body, the dispensing aid comprising:

a dispensing aid body;

a slide that is slidable within the dispensing aid body;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid body directly to the syringe body;

a dispensing aid plunger directly graspable and operable by a human hand to produce a linear motion of the slide;

means for releasably attaching the dispensing aid plunger to the syringe plunger;

an electronic linear position measuring device comprising

a first portion fixed to the dispensing aid body and having a first metallic electrode,

a second portion fixed to the dispensing aid plunger and having a second metallic electrode disposed in a facing relation to the first metallic electrode, and

means for measuring a capacitance of a circuit including the first metallic electrode and the second metallic electrode and producing an output linear position signal responsive to the measured capacitance;

a microprocessor which receives the output linear position signal of the means for measuring and produces a microprocessor output signal;

a readout which receives the microprocessor output signal; and

an output plug for the microprocessor output signal.

34. A dispensing aid for a syringe having a long axis and having a body carrying fluid in a bore coincident with the long axis, the syringe including a plunger which reciprocates in the bore, the dispensing aid comprising, in combination:

a housing,

means for holding the syringe body to the housing,

a first indicator operatively coupled to said housing,

means for removably fastening the syringe plunger to said first indicator such that said first indicator and the plunger move in synchrony and parallel to said long axis,

a second indicator fixed on said housing,

means for moving said first indicator with respect to said second indicator, and

means for determining and displaying the positional relationship between said first and second indicators;

wherein said means for holding the body to the housing includes a recess formed in the housing, said recess sized to support an enlargement on the body of the syringe in a manner restraining linear displacement of the syringe parallel to the long axis, and wherein said housing includes a clip adapted to secure said enlargement from translation non-parallel to the housing, whereby the body of the syringe is held securely to said housing.

35. The dispensing aid of claim 34 wherein said first indicator and said second indicator include means to detect a distance therebetween in a direction parallel to the long axis, such that a relative position of the plunger within the body, corresponding to the distance between said first indicator and said second indicator can be established.

36. A dispensing aid for a syringe having a long axis and having a body carrying fluid in a bore coincident with the long axis, the syringe including a plunger which reciprocates in the bore, the dispensing aid comprising, in combination:

a housing,

means for holding the syringe body to the housing,

a first indicator operatively coupled to said housing,

means for removably fastening the syringe plunger to said first indicator such that said first indicator and the plunger move in synchrony and parallel to said long axis,

a second indicator fixed on said housing,

means for moving said first indicator with respect to said second indicator, and

means for determining and displaying the positional relationship between said first and second indicators;

wherein said means for removably fastening the plunger to said first indicator includes a collet fastener and means to selectively expand and contract a diameter of the collet fastener to grasp and release a button on an end of the plunger.

37. The dispensing aid of claim 36 wherein said first indicator and said second indicator include means to detect a distance therebetween in a direction parallel to the long axis, such that a relative position of the plunger within the body, corresponding to the distance between said first indicator and said second indicator can be established.

38. A dispensing aid for a syringe having a long axis and having a body carrying fluid in a bore coincident with the long axis, the syringe including a plunger which reciprocates in the bore, the dispensing aid comprising, in combination:

a housing,

means for holding the syringe body to the housing,

a first indicator operatively coupled to said housing,

means for removably fastening the syringe plunger to said first indicator such that said first indicator and the plunger move in synchrony and parallel to said long axis,

a second indicator fixed on said housing,

means for moving said first indicator with respect to said second indicator, and

means for determining and displaying the positional relationship between said first and second indicators;

wherein said first indicator includes an elongate slide oriented with a long axis thereof parallel to the long axis of the syringe, said slide including means to coact with said second indicator to determine a relative distance between said first indicator and said second indicator.

39. The dispensing aid of claim 38 wherein said first indicator and said second indicator include means to detect a distance therebetween in a direction parallel to the long axis, such that a relative position of the plunger within the body, corresponding to the distance between said first indicator and said second indicator can be established.

40. The dispensing aid of claim 38 wherein said slide includes a bearing support restricting slide motion to a line parallel to the long axis of the syringe.

41. The dispensing aid of claim 40 wherein an adjustable friction brake is oriented between said housing and said slide, said adjustable friction brake including means to adjust friction forces experienced by said slide as said slide moves parallel to the long axis of the syringe, whereby an ease of motion of the slide and the plunger can be adjusted.