Syringes and injector systems with collapsible cartridges

• US 6,620,134 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Medrad Incorporated (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Uber, Arthur E. III, Trombley, Frederick W. III
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMPBELL, THOR S
• Application Number:
  US09/831,125
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 604/131, 604/133, 604/151-154, 604/212-216, 604/232
• US Class Current: 604/133
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2425 by compression of deformable ampoule or carpule wall

Abstract

A syringe system (20) includes an elongated shell (30), a pressure member (80) slidable disposed within the elongated shell (30), and a collapsible cartridge (100). The Collapsible cartridge (100) is inserted within the elongated shell (30), and collapses as the pressure member (30) is advanced within the elongated body (30) to pressurize fluid within the collapsible cartridge (100). The collapsible cartridge (100) preferably further includes a passage (130) through which the fluid passes when pressurized by the pressure member (80).

Claims

1. A syringe system comprising:

a shell;

a pressure member slidably disposed within the shell;

a collapsible cartridge adapted to be inserted within the shell, the collapsible cartridge operable to collapse as the pressure member is advanced within the shell to pressurize fluid contained within the collapsible cartridge, the collapsible cartridge comprising a passage through which the fluid passes when pressurized by the pressure member; and

a seal disposed between the pressure member and the shell, the seal operable to allow the cartridge to be filled with fluid when the pressure member is retracted to draw fluid into the collapsible cartridge.

2. The syringe system of claim 1 wherein the pressure member comprises an attachment mechanism.

3. The syringe system of claim 2 wherein the attachment mechanism is operable to form an attachment with a drive member of a powered injector.

4. The syringe system of claim 1 wherein the seal is generally cylindrical.

5. The syringe system of claim 1 wherein the seal is positioned at a rearward end of the shell.

6. The syringe system of claim 1 wherein the collapsible cartridge comprises a pliant film suitable to withstand pressures commonly experienced in medical procedures while pressurized within the shell.

7. The syringe system of claim 1 wherein the collapsible cartridge is filled with the fluid prior to insertion of the collapsible cartridge within the shell.

8. The syringe system of claim 1 wherein the pressure member is adapted to be manually-actuated.

9. The syringe system of claim 1 wherein the collapsible cartridge comprises a bellows to allow the cartridge to collapse in an orderly fashion.

10. The syringe system of claim 1 wherein the collapsible cartridge is adapted to evert upon itself within the shell.

11. A cartridge for use in a shell, the cartridge comprising:

a pressure member slidably disposed within the shell;

a collapsible member adapted to be inserted within the shell, the collapsible member operable to collapse as the pressure member is advanced within the shell to pressurize fluid contained within the collapsible member, the collapsible member comprising a passage through which the fluid passes when pressurized by the pressure member; and

a seal disposed between the pressure member and the shell, the seal operable to allow the collapsible member to be filled with fluid when the pressure member is retracted to draw fluid into the collapsible member.

12. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the pressure member comprises an attachment mechanism.

13. The cartridge of claim 12 wherein the attachment mechanism is operable to form an attachment with a drive member of a powered injector.

14. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the seal is generally cylindrical.

15. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the seal is positioned at a rearward end of the shell.

16. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the collapsible member comprises a pliant film suitable to withstand pressures commonly experienced in medical procedures while pressurized within the shell.

17. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the collapsible member is filled with the fluid prior to insertion of the collapsible member within the shell.

18. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the pressure member is adapted to be manually-actuated.

19. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the collapsible member comprises a bellows to allow the member to collapse in an orderly fashion.

20. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the collapsible member is adapted to evert upon itself within the shell.

21. A method of injecting a fluid into a patient, the method comprising:

providing a collapsible cartridge for insertion into a shell, the collapsible cartridge comprising a passage through which the fluid passes from the collapsible cartridge to the patient;

providing a pressure member for pressurizing the fluid placed within the collapsible cartridge for injection into the patient;

providing a seal disposed between the pressure member and the shell, the seal operable to allow the cartridge to be filled with fluid when the pressure member is retracted to draw fluid into the collapsible cartridge;

inserting the collapsible cartridge into the shell; and

advancing the pressure member to collapse the collapsible cartridge and thereby pressurize the fluid within the collapsible cartridge for injection into the patient.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising retracting the pressure member to fill the collapsible cartridge with fluid.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

removing the collapsed cartridge from the shell; and

inserting a second collapsible cartridge into the shell.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the pressure member is manually advanced.

25. A fluid injection apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a drive member disposed within the housing; and

a syringe system operably associated with the housing and the drive member, the syringe system comprising a shell operably associated with the housing, a pressure member operable to be engaged by the drive member and slidably disposed within the shell, a collapsible cartridge adapted to be inserted within the shell and operable to be engaged by the pressure member, the collapsible cartridge operable to collapse as the pressure member is advanced by the drive member within the shell to pressurize fluid within the collapsible cartridge, the collapsible cartridge comprising a passage through which the fluid passes when pressurized by the pressure member, and a seal disposed between the pressure member and the shell, the seal operable to allow the cartridge to be filled with fluid when the pressure member is retracted to draw fluid into the collapsible cartridge.

26. The fluid injection apparatus of claim 25 wherein the pressure member and the drive member comprise mating elements of an attachment mechanism.

27. The fluid injection apparatus of claim 26 wherein the attachment mechanism allows the drive member to retract the pressure member within the shell.

28. The fluid injection apparatus of claim 25 wherein the seal is positioned at a rearward end of the shell.

29. The fluid injection apparatus of claim 25 wherein the collapsible cartridge comprises a pliant film suitable to withstand pressures commonly experienced in medical procedures while pressurized within the shell.

30. The fluid injection apparatus of claim 25 wherein the collapsible cartridge is filled with the fluid prior to insertion of the collapsible cartridge within the shell.

31. The fluid injection apparatus of claim 25 wherein the pressure member is adapted to be manually-actuated.

32. The fluid injection apparatus of claim 25 wherein the collapsible cartridge comprises a bellows to allow the cartridge to collapse in an orderly fashion.

33. The fluid injection apparatus of claim 25 wherein the collapsible cartridge is adapted to evert upon itself within the shell.