Finger grip collar for a syringe or cartridge barrel

• US 5,997,514 A
• Filed: 01/15/1999
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics Incorporated (Bracco SPA)
• Original Assignee: Bracco Research USA Inc (Bracco U.S.A., Inc)
• Inventors: Balestracci, Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US09/232,037
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 604/227, 604/220, 604/187, 604/232
• US Class Current: 604/227
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3139 Finger grips not integrally formed with the syringe barrel, e.g. using adapter with finger grips
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3135 characterised by constructional features of the proximal end

Abstract

Finger grip collar positioned on the proximal end of a syringe or cartridge barrel by a snap-on motion to facilitate manipulation of the syringe or cartridge during the injection or withdrawal of a medical fluid into or from a site. The finger grip collar requires no special orientation or positioning on the barrel of the syringe or cartridge for the practitioner to manipulate the assemblage.

Claims

1. A finger grip collar in combination with a syringe or cartridge to facilitate the use of said syringe or cartridge during the injection or withdrawal of a medical fluid into or from a site, said combination comprising:

a) a cylindrical barrel having;

an inside diameter;

an outside diameter;

an open proximal end for receiving a plunger, said open proximal end terminating in a rim or flange having a distal surface and a proximal surface; and

a distal end for mounting a medical fluid access means thereon;

b) a plunger, having an outside diameter equal to or slightly greater than the inside diameter of said cylindrical barrel, slideably positioned in said cylindrical barrel;

c) a plunger rod having a proximal end and a distal end;

said plunger rod being removably attached or being integral at its distal end with said plunger;

d) a thumb rest at the proximal end of said plunger rod for facilitating exertion of manual pressure on said plunger rod;

e) a finger grip collar being positioned on the open proximal end of said cylindrical barrel adjacent to said distal surface of said rim or flange, said finger grip collar consisting of;

a flat resilient plastic body having a thickness of from about 2 to about 10 mm, said resilient plastic body having an elliptical outside wall, and a circular inside wall defining a cylindrical space within, wherein said cylindrical space has a diameter equal to or slightly greater than the outside diameter of said cylindrical barrel, said elliptical outside wall and said circular inside wall meeting at two points, said points being spaced from each other defining an opening into said cylindrical space, wherein said opening is slightly less or equal to the cylindrical space defined by said inside wall, wherein said resilient plastic body is of a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonates, nylon, acetates, polyethylene and polyesters.

2. The finger grip collar in combination with a syringe or cartridge of claim 1 wherein said inside and outside walls terminate in a reinforcing integral rim extending upward and downward from the flat resilient plastic body of the finger grip collar.

3. The finger grip collar in combination with a syringe or cartridge of claim 2 wherein said reinforcing integral rim extending about 2 to 5 mm upward or downward from said resilient plastic body of the finger grip collar.

4. A process of assembling a finger grip collar and a syringe or cartridge, wherein said syringe or cartridge is pre-filled with a medical fluid, and delivering said medical fluid to a site by injection, comprising the steps of:

(1) providing a syringe or cartridge comprising;

a) a cylindrical barrel having;

an inside diameter;

an outside diameter;

an open proximal end for receiving a plunger, said open proximal end terminating in a rim or flange having a distal surface and a proximal surface; and

a distal end for mounting a medical fluid access means thereon;

b) a plunger, having an outside diameter equal to or slightly greater than the inside diameter of said cylindrical barrel, slideably positioned in said cylindrical barrel;

c) a plunger rod having a proximal end and a distal end;

said plunger rod being removably attached or being integral at its distal end with said plunger;

d) a thumb rest at the proximal end of said plunger rod for facilitating exertion of manual pressure on said plunger rod;

(2) providing a finger grip collar consisting of;

a flat resilient plastic body having a thickness of from about 2 to about 10 mm, said resilient plastic body having an elliptical outside wall, and a circular inside wall defining a cylindrical space within, wherein said cylindrical space has a diameter equal to or slightly greater than the outside diameter of said cylindrical barrel, said elliptical outside wall and said circular inside wall meeting at two points, said points being spaced from each other defining an opening into said cylindrical space, wherein said opening is slightly less or equal to the cylindrical space defined by said inside wall, wherein said resilient plastic body is of a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonates, nylon, acetates, polyethylene and polyesters;

(3) placing said finger grip collar on the proximal end of said barrel adjacent to said distal surface of said rim or flange by a snap-on motion;

(4) engaging the finger grip collar with the index and middle fingers, and engaging the thumb rest on the proximal end of the plunger rod with the thumb finger by a practitioner; and

(5) exerting manual force onto said finger grip collar and onto said thumb rest to expel said medical fluid from said syringe or cartridge.