Syringe interfaces, syringe adapters and injector systems

• US 7,497,843 B1
• Filed: 03/11/2005
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Medrad Incorporated (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Cowan, Kevin P., Neill, James R., Castillo, Luis
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOULTON, ELIZABETH ROSE
• Application Number:
  US11/078,813
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: 64151-155, 642/28, 641/87
• US Class Current: 604/152
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6045 having complementary physical shapes for indexing or registration purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• 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

Abstract

A syringe interface is provided for attaching a syringe to an injector. The syringe includes, a first and second set of generally opposing, radially outward projecting mounting flanges, and a second set of flanges offset from the first set of mounting flanges. The syringe interface includes a first set of generally opposed slots adapted to receive therethrough the first set and second set, respectively, of mounting flanges, and a first and second set of generally opposed retaining flanges adapted to releasably engage the first and second set respectively, a set of mounting flanges, when the syringe is rotated within the syringe interface. The syringe verification mechanism includes at least one flange interaction element disposed within at least one slot of the first set of slots, and at least a first flange abutment member being positioned to prevent engagement of the second set of mounting flanges with the second set of retaining flanges unless the flange verification element interacts with at least one of the flanges of the first set of mounting flanges.

Claims

1. A syringe interface for attaching a first syringe to an injector, the first syringe comprising an elongated main body, a plunger movably disposed within the main body, a first set of generally opposing, radially outward projecting mounting flanges, and a second set of generally opposing, radially outward projecting mounting flanges, the first set of mounting flanges being offset from the second set of mounting flanges, the syringe interface comprising:

a first set of generally opposed slots adapted to receive therethrough the first set of mounting flanges;

a second set of generally opposed slots adapted to receive therethrough the second set of mounting flanges, the first set of slots being offset from the second set of slots;

a first set of generally opposed retaining flanges adapted to releasably engage the first set of mounting flanges;

a second set of generally opposed retaining flanges adapted to releasably engage the second set of mounting flanges when the syringe is rotated within the syringe interface to bring the first set of mounting flanges into general alignment with the first set of retaining flanges and the second set of mounting flanges into general alignment with the second set of retaining flanges; and

a syringe verification mechanism comprising;

at least one extension disposed within at least one slot of the first set of slots and axially forward of the second set of generally opposed retaining flanges; and

at least a first flange abutment member in operative connection with the at least one extension, the first flange abutment member being positioned to prevent engagement of the second set of mounting flanges with the second set of retaining flanges unless the at least one extension interacts with at least one of the flanges of the first set of mounting flanges,

wherein the first flange abutment member comprises a first contact member slidably disposed in an axial direction within the at least one slot of the first set of slots,

wherein the syringe verification mechanism further comprises a second contact member slidably disposed in an axial direction within the other slot of the first set of slots,

wherein the first contact member and the second contact member project forward from an annular member that is slidably disposed within the syringe interface.

2. The syringe interface of claim 1 wherein the at least one extension comprises a contact member that is movably disposed within at least one slot of the first set of slots.

3. The syringe interface of claim 2 wherein the contact member is slidably disposed in an axial direction within the at least one slot and the first flange abutment member is in mechanical connection with the contact member.

4. The syringe interface of claim 1 wherein the second contact member is positioned with respect to the annular member generally opposite to the first contact member.

5. The syringe interface of claim 1, further comprising a plunger abutment adapted to contact a plunger of the first syringe during attachment of the first syringe to the syringe interface.

6. The syringe interface of claim 5, further comprising a plunger interface slidably disposed within the plunger abutment.

7. The syringe interface of claim 5 wherein the plunger abutment comprises a generally cylindrical member.

8. The syringe interface of claim 6 wherein the plunger interface comprises at least two radially outward extending connection flanges on a forward end thereof that cooperate with at least two relatively flexible capture members protruding from the rear of the plunger, the flexible capture members flexing when contacted by the connection flanges to form a connection with the plunger interface.

9. The syringe interface of claim 8 wherein the piston interface further comprises at least two sloped surfaces to the rear of the connecting flanges at an axial position in general alignment with the axial position of a radially inward projecting flange on the rearward end of each of the flexible capture members when the plunger is connected to the plunger interface, the radius of each of sloped surfaces increasing around the circumference thereof until the radius of each of the sloped surfaces is at least equal to the radius of one of the connecting flanges.

10. The syringe interface of claim 9 wherein upon rotation of the plunger relative to the piston interface, the flexible capture members are flexed outwardly by contact of the radially inward extending flanges of the flexible capture member with the sloped surfaces until the radially inward extending flanges can pass forward of the connecting flanges of the piston interface, thereby enabling detachment of the plunger from the plunger interface.

11. The syringe interface of claim 1 further including:

an injector interface operatively disposed at the reward end of the syringe interface;

indicators disposed on a rearward end of the injector interface.

12. An adapter for connecting a first syringe to an injector comprising an injector syringe interface adapted to connect a second syringe to the injector, the first syringe comprising an elongated main body, a plunger movably disposed within the main body, at least a first set of generally opposing, radially outward projecting mounting flanges, and at least a second set of generally opposing, radially outward projecting mounting flanges, the first set of mounting flanges being offset from the second set of mounting flanges, the adapter comprising:

an injector interface adapted to connect the adapter to the injector syringe interface; and

a syringe interface adapted to connect the first syringe to the adaptor, the syringe interface comprising;

a first set of generally opposed slots adapted to receive therethrough the first set of mounting flanges;

a second set of generally opposed slots adapted to receive therethrough the second set of mounting flanges, the first set of slots being offset from the second set of slots;

a first set of generally opposed retaining flanges adapted to releasably engage the first set of mounting flanges;

a second set of generally opposed retaining flanges adapted to releasably engage the second set of mounting flanges when the syringe is rotated within the syringe interface to bring the first set of mounting flanges into general alignment with the first set of retaining flanges and the second set of mounting flanges into general alignment with the second set of retaining flanges; and

a syringe verification mechanism comprising;

at least one extension disposed within at least one slot of the first set of slots and axially forward of the second set of generally opposed retaining flanges; and

at least a first flange abutment member in operative connection with the at least one extension, the first flange abutment member being positioned to prevent engagement of the second set of mounting flanges with the second set of retaining flanges unless the at least one extension interacts with at least one of the flanges of the first set of mounting flanges,

wherein the first flange abutment member comprises a first contact member slidably disposed in an axial direction within the at least one slot of the first set of slots,

wherein the syringe verification mechanism further comprises a second contact member slidably disposed in an axial direction within the other slot of the first set of slots,

wherein the first contact member and the second contact member project forward from an annular member that is slidably disposed within the syringe interface.

13. The adapter of claim 12 wherein the injector interface includes indicators adapted to cooperate with a light source and sensors.

14. A injector system comprising:

a first syringe comprising;

a main body;

a plunger slidably disposed within the main body;

a first set of generally opposing, radially outward projecting mounting flanges; and

a second set of generally opposing, radially outward projecting mounting flanges, the first set of mounting flanges being offset from the second set of mounting flanges;

an injector comprising a drive member adapted to impart force to the syringe plunger; and

a syringe interface adapted to connect the first syringe to the injector, the syringe interface comprising;

a first set of generally opposed slots adapted to receive therethrough the first set mounting flanges;

a second set of generally opposed slots adapted to receive therethrough the second set of mounting flanges, the first set of slots being offset from the second set of slots;

a first set of generally opposed retaining flanges adapted to releasably engage the first set of mounting flanges;

a second set of generally opposed retaining flanges adapted to releasably engage the second set of mounting flanges when the syringe is rotated within the syringe interface to bring the first set of mounting flanges into general alignment with the first set of retaining flanges and the second set of mounting flanges into general alignment with the second set of retaining flanges; and

a syringe verification mechanism comprising;

at least one extension disposed within at least one slot of the first set of slots and axially forward of the second set of generally opposed retaining flanges; and

at least a first flange abutment member in operative connection with the at least one extension, the first flange abutment member being positioned to prevent engagement of the second set of mounting flanges with the second set of retaining flanges unless the at least one extension interacts with at least one of the flanges of the first set of mounting flanges,

wherein the first flange abutment member comprises a first contact member slidably disposed in an axial direction within the at least one slot of the first set of slots,

wherein the syringe verification mechanism further comprises a second contact member slidably disposed in an axial direction within the other slot of the first set of slots,

wherein the first contact member and the second contact member project forward from an annular member that is slidably disposed within the syringe interface.

15. The injector system of claim 14 further including:

an injector interface operatively disposed at the reward end of the syringe interface;

indicators disposed on a rearward end of the injector interface.