Syringe plunger immobilizing device

• US 6,368,305 B1
• Filed: 09/28/1999
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Virginia R. Dutton
• Original Assignee: Virginia R. Dutton
• Inventors: Dutton, Virginia R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US09/406,371
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 604/218, 604/192, 604/198, 604/110, 604/263, 604/117, 604/197, 604/241, 606/1, 606/108
• US Class Current: 604/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/31508 provided on the piston-rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6036 characterised by physical shape, e.g. array of activating switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6081 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31501 Means for blocking or restricting the movement of the rod or piston A61M5/5013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31505 Integral with the syringe barrel, i.e. connected to the barrel so as to make up a single complete piece or unit

Abstract

A disposable syringe plunger immobilizing device includes first and second hollow members, a means for connecting the first and second hollow members to one another, and a means for holding the first and second hollow members in contact with one another. When in contact with one another, the first and second hollow members contact a syringe plunger and the main body of the syringe to hold the syringe plunger in place in a bore of the main body of the syringe, so that movement of the syringe plunger relative to the main body of the syringe is inhibited. In this fashion, the syringe may be preloaded with a medicament and then safely transported without loss of the medicament within the syringe until the syringe is used. The disposable syringe plunger immobilizing device may be manufactured in different sizes to accommodate various syringe sizes and volumes of medicament to be injected and colors to assist in identification of the various sizes of the device. After use, the disposable syringe plunger immobilizing device may be discarded.

Claims

1. A syringe plunger immobilizing device, comprising:

a first hollow member;

a second hollow member;

a means for hingeably connecting said first hollow member to said second hollow member; and

a means for holding said first hollow member in contact with said second hollow membered;

wherein each of said first hollow member and said second hollow member includes a main wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, an outer end wall, a frusto-conical inner end wall and a cylindrical sleeve portion;

said first side wall being connected to said main wall along a first edge of said main wall, and said second side wall being connected to said main wall along a second edge substantially parallel to said first edge such that said first side wall is opposite said second side wall;

said outer end wall being connected to said main wall along a third edge of said main wall, said third edge being substantially perpendicular to said first edge and said second edge;

said inner end wall being connected to said main wall along a fourth edge of said main end wall, said fourth edge being substantially perpendicular to said third edge;

said outer end wall further being connected to said first side wall and said second side wall such that said outer end wall is opposite said inner end wall; and

said cylindrical sleeve portion contacting said inner end wall.

2. The syringe plunger immobilizing device of claim 1, wherein each of said first hollow member and said second hollow member has an inwardly directed flange, said flange being effective to contact a surface of a finger-engaging transverse flange of a syringe.

3. The syringe plunger immobilizing device of claim 1, wherein said means for hingeably connecting said first hollow member to said second hollow member is a member selected from the group consisting of a hinge, a flap, a plurality of rings, and a plurality of tabs.

4. The syringe plunger immobilizing device of claim 1, wherein said means for holding said first hollow member in contact with said second hollow member is a member selected from the group consisting of a latch, an adhesive element, or a hook and loop fastener.

5. The syringe plunger immobilizing device of claim 2, wherein each of said first hollow member and said second hollow member includes an additional inwardly directed flange, said additional inwardly directed flange being effective to engage a surface of a transverse cap said of a syringe plunger.

6. The syringe plunger immobilizing device of claim 2, wherein each of said first hollow member and said second hollow member includes a plurality of additional inwardly directed flanges, each of said plurality of additional inwardly directed flanges being effective to engage a surface of a transverse cap said of a syringe plunger.

7. A disposable syringe assembly, comprising:

a disposable syringe; and

a disposable syringe plunger immobilizing device;

said disposable syringe plunger immobilizing device including a first syringe plunger casing member;

a second syringe plunger casing member;

a means for connecting said first syringe plunger casing member to said second syringe plunger casing member, and a means for holding said first hollow member in contact with said second hollow member;

wherein each of said first hollow member and said second hollow member includes a main wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, an outer wall, an outer end wall, a frusto-conical inner end wall and a cylindrical sleeve portion;

said first side wall being connected to said main wall along a first edge of said main wall, and said second side wall being connected to said main wall along a second edge substantially parallel to said first edge such that said first side wall is opposite said second wall;

said outer end wall being connected to said main wall along a third edge of said main wall, said third edge being substantially perpendicular to said first edge and said second edge;

said inner end wall being connected to said main wall along a fourth edge of said main end wall, said fourth edge being substantially perpendicular to said third edge;

said outer end wall further being connected to said first side wall and said second side wall such that said outer end wall is opposite said inner end wall; and

said cylindrical sleeve portion contacting said inner end wall.

8. The syringe plunger immobilizing device of claim 7, wherein each of said first hollow member and said second hollow member has an inwardly directed flange, said flange being effective to contact a surface of a finger-engaging transverse flange of a syringe.

9. The syringe plunger immobilizing device of claim 7, wherein said means for hingeably connecting said first hollow member to said second hollow member is a member selected from the group consisting of a hinge, a flap, a plurality of rings, and a plurality of tabs.

10. The syringe plunger immobilizing device of claim 7, wherein said means for holding said first hollow member in contact with said second hollow member is a member selected from the group consisting of a latch, an adhesive element, or a hook and loop fastener.

11. The syringe plunger immobilizing device of claim 8, wherein each of said first hollow member and said second hollow member includes an additional inwardly directed flange, said additional inwardly directed flange being effective to engage a surface of a transverse cap said of a syringe plunger.

12. The syringe plunger immobilizing device of claim 8, wherein each of said first hollow member and said second hollow member includes a plurality of additional inwardly directed flanges, each of said plurality of additional inwardly directed flanges being effective to engage a surface of a transverse cap said of a syringe plunger.

13. A method for immobilizing a syringe, comprising the steps of:

contacting a syringe plunger of a syringe with a syringe plunger immobilizing device;

said syringe plunger immobilizing device containing a first syringe plunger casing member;

a second syringe plunger casing member;

a means for connecting said first syringe plunger casing member to said second syringe plunger casing member, and a means for holding said first hollow member in contact with said second hollow member;

wherein said first and second syringe plunger casing members are adapted to allow substantially no movement between said syringe plunger and said syringe, and engage a traverse flange in said syringe.

14. A syringe plunger immobilizing device, comprising:

a first hollow member;

a second hollow member;

a pair of opposing pull-off strips for connecting said first hollow member to said second hollow member; and

a means for holding said first hollow member in contact with said second hollow member;

wherein each of said first hollow member and said second hollow member includes a main wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, an outer end wall, a frusto-conical inner end wall and a cylindrical sleeve portion;

said first side wall being connected to said main wall along a first edge of said main wall, and said second side wall being connected to said main wall along a second edge substantially parallel to said first edge such that said first side wall is opposite said second side wall;

said outer end wall being connected to said main wall along a third edge of said main wall, said third edge being substantially perpendicular to said first edge and said second edge;

said inner end wall being connected to said main wall along a fourth edge of said main end wall, said fourth edge being substantially perpendicular to said third edge;

said outer end w all further being connected to said first side wall and said second side wall such that said outer end wall is opposite said inner end wall;

and said cylindrical sleeve portion contacting said inner end wall.

15. A disposable syringe assembly, comprising:

a disposable syringe; and

a disposable syringe plunger immobilizing device;

said disposable syringe plunger immobilizing device including a first syringe plunger casing member;

a second syringe plunger casing member;

a pair of opposing pull-off strips for connecting said first syringe plunger casing member to said second syringe plunger casing member, and a means for holding said first hollow member in contact with said second hollow members;

wherein each of said first hollow member and said second hollow member includes a main wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, an outer end wall, a frusto-conical inner end wall and a cylindrical sleeve portion;

said first side wall being connected to said main wall along a first edge of said main wall, and said second side wall being connected to said main wall along a second edge substantially parallel to said first edge such that said first side wall is opposite said second side wall;

said outer end wall being connected to said main wall along a third edge of said main wall, said third edge being substantially perpendicular to said first edge and said second edge;

said inner end wall being connected to said main wall along a fourth edge of said main end wall, said fourth edge being substantially perpendicular to said third edge;

said outer end wall further being connected to said first side wall and said second side wall such that said outer end wall is opposite said inner end wall; and

said cylindrical sleeve portion contacting said inner end wall.