Luer cap for terminally sterilized syringe

• US 5,807,345 A
• Filed: 06/27/1997
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hospira Incorporated (Pfizer Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Inventors: Grabenkort, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANH TUAN TUONG
• Application Number:
  US08/884,314
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 604/111, 604/192, 604/199, 604/206, 604/241-243, 604/256, 604/283, 604/905, 604/240, 215/200, 215/201, 215/202, 215/208, 215/211, 215/214, 215/217, 215/218, 215/219, 215/246, 215/252, 215/318, 215/320
• US Class Current: 604/199
• 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 5/3134 characterised by constructional features of the distal end, i.e. end closest to the tip of the needle cannula

Abstract

The injection molded luer cap of the present invention includes a stiff body having a circumferential sleeve extending downward from the body. The sleeve has an inner circumferential surface for sealingly fitting over the exterior surface of the fitment. A solid stem extends downward concentrically within the sleeve. The stem has an outside surface for a slip fit within the bore of the fitment and supports the male luer fitment during heat sterilization.

Claims

1. An assembly including a medical syringe and a removable cap for the medical syringe, said syringe including a barrel having a hollow chamber, an open first end communicating with said chamber for receiving a slidable piston plunger, a second end for dispensing medicament and a luer fitment extending from said second end having a longitudinally extending cylindrically tapering exterior surface and an inner surface defining a center bore which extends from said chamber through said fitment, the cap comprising:

a body portion formed of a stiff material and having a circumferential sleeve extending downward from the body portion, the sleeve having a tapering inner circumferential surface for sealingly fitting over the tapering exterior surface of the fitment; and

means extending downwardly from said body portion within said sleeve for supporting said luer fitment during heat sterilization to minimize deformation of said fitment and to prevent said cap from sealing to said syringe.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for supporting includes a stem extending downward from said body portion, concentrically within the sleeve, the stem having an outside surface for a slip fit within the bore of the fitment.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said stem extends beyond the length of said fitment into said chamber of said barrel.

4. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said stem is non-resilient and solid, extending substantially the length of the fitment and substantially across the cross-sectional area defining said bore.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said inner surface defining the center bore and the outside surface of the stem each have a complimentary reverse taper.

6. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the cap further comprises a grippable portion extending from the body portion opposite to the sleeve and stem for manual manipulation.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said syringe further including a concentric annular collar which extends from said second end of said barrel and surrounds the fitment, said collar has an interior surface with threads and said cap has at least one radial lug for threadingly engaging said threads of said interior surface of said collar.

8. An assembly including a syringe and a cap for said syringe, said syringe having a barrel with a hollow chamber, an open first end communicating with said chamber for receiving a slidable piston plunger and a second end for dispensing medicament and a male luer fitment extending from said second end having a longitudinally extending cylindrically tapering exterior surface and an inner surface defining a center bore which extends from said chamber through said fitment, the cap comprising:

a stiff body portion having a circumferential sleeve extending downward from the body portion, the sleeve having a tapering inner circumferential surface for sealingly fitting over the exterior surface of the male luer fitment; and

means extending from said body portion for supporting said luer fitment during heat sterilization to minimize deformation thereof and to prevent said cap from sealing to said syringe, said means for supporting includes a solid non-resilient stem extending downward from said body portion, concentrically within the sleeve, the stem having an outside surface for providing a slip fit within the bore and for providing support within the center bore of the fitment to resist heat distortion.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said the stem extends beyond the length of said fitment into said chamber of said barrel.

10. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said stem extends substantially the length of said fitment and substantially across the cross sectional area defining said bore.

11. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said inner surface defining the center bore and the outside surface of the stem each have a complimentary reverse taper.

12. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said syringe further including a concentric annular collar which extends from said second end of said barrel and surrounds the fitment, said collar has an interior surface with threads and said cap has at least one radial lug for threadingly engaging said threads of said interior surface of said collar mates with a cooperative fitment that has at least one radial lug for threadingly engaging the collar threads.

13. A assembly having a medical syringe and a removable cap for said syringe, said syringe including:

a barrel having a hollow chamber, an open first end communicating with said chamber for receiving a slidable piston plunger and a second end for dispensing medicament and a luer fitment extending from said second end having a longitudinally extending cylindrically tapering exterior surface and an inner surface defining a center bore which extends from said chamber through said fitment, the cap comprising;

a body portion formed of a stiff material and having a circumferential sleeve extending downward from the body portion, the sleeve having a tapering inner circumferential surface for sealingly fitting over the tapering exterior surface of the fitment; and

means extending from said body portion within said sleeve for supporting said luer fitment during heat sterilization to minimize deformation thereof and to prevent said cap from sealing to said syringe, said means for supporting including a solid non-resilient stem extending downward from said body portion, concentrically within the sleeve, the stem substantially the length of said fitment and substantially across the cross-sectional area defining the bore for providing support within the center of the fitment to resist distortion, said stem extending beyond the length of said fitment into said chamber of said barrel, said stem having an outside surface for providing a slip fit within the bore and for providing support within the center bore of the fitment to resist heat distortion.

14. An assembly including a medical syringe and a removable cap for the medical syringe, said syringe including a barrel having a hollow chamber, an open first end communicating with said chamber for receiving a slidable piston plunger, a second end for dispensing medicament and a luer fitment extending from said second end having a longitudinally extending cylindrically tapering an exterior surface and an inner surface defining a center bore which extends ending said chamber through said fitment, said inner bore having a diameter, the cap comprising:

a body portion having a circumferential sleeve extending downward from the body portion, the sleeve having a tapering inner circumferential surface for sealingly fitting over the tapering exterior surface of the fitment; and

means extending downwardly from said body portion within said sleeve for maintaining the size of said diameter of said bore of said luer fitment during heat sterilization and for preventing said cap from sealing to said syringe.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein said means for maintaining includes a stem extending downward from said body portion, concentrically within the sleeve, the stem having an outside surface for a slip fit within the bore of the fitment.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the cap further comprises a grippable portion extending from the body portion opposite to the sleeve and stem for manual manipulation.

17. The assembly of claim 15 wherein said stem extends beyond the length of said fitment into said chamber of said barrel.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein said stem is non-resilient and solid, extending substantially across the cross-sectional area defining said bore.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein said inner surface defining the center bore and the outside surface of the stem each have a complimentary reverse taper.

20. The assembly of claim 14 wherein said syringe further including a concentric annular collar which extends from said second end of said barrel and surrounds the fitment, said collar has an interior surface with threads and said cap has at least one radial lug for threadingly engaging said threads of said interior surface of said collar.

21. A assembly having a medical syringe and a removable cap for said syringe, said syringe including:

a barrel having a hollow chamber, an open first end communicating with said chamber for receiving a slidable piston plunger and a second end for dispensing medicament and a luer fitment extending from said second end having a longitudinally extending cylindrically tapering exterior surface and an inner surface defining a center bore which extends from said chamber through said fitment, the cap comprising;

a body portion formed of a stiff material and having a circumferential sleeve extending downward from the body portion, the sleeve having a tapering inner circumferential surface for sealingly fitting over the tapering exterior surface of the fitment; and

a solid non-resilient stem extending downward from said body portion, concentrically within the sleeve, the stem having an outside surface for providing a slip fit within the bore and for providing support within the center bore of the fitment and for preventing said cap from sealing to said syringe during heat sterilization of said assembly.

22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the stem maintains the diameter of the bore by extending substantially the length of said fitment and substantially across the cross-sectional area defining the bore.

23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the stem extends beyond the length of said fitment into said chamber of said barrel.