Detachable plunger rod syringe

• US 8,038,656 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kpr U.S., LLC (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sampson, Eric, Lloyd, Ronald, Morefield, Ellen
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta; Bhisma
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, LARRY ROSS
• Application Number:
  US11/862,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20080082055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,482 Days
• Field of Search: 604/110, 604/118, 604/218, 604/228, 604/229
• US Class Current: 604/228
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31515 Connection of piston with piston rod

Abstract

A plunger rod assembly for use with a syringe barrel is provided and includes a plunger rod slidably disposable within the syringe barrel, wherein the plunger rod includes a hub extending distally from a distal end thereof and at least two tabs extending outwardly therefrom. The syringe further includes a plug configured for slidable disposition in the syringe barrel and configured for selective connection to the plunger rod via a bayonet-type engagement. The plug includes a base wall having at least two resilient fingers supported on a first side thereof, wherein each resilient finger is configured to snap-fit engage a respective tab of the plunger rod during connection of the plug to the plunger rod; and a plunger tip supported on a second side of the base wall, opposite the first side, and being configured to form a substantially fluid tight seal with an inner surface of the syringe barrel.

Claims

1. A syringe, comprising:

a syringe barrel having a distal end, a proximal end and defining a cavity therebetween;

a plunger rod slidably disposed within the cavity of the syringe barrel, the plunger rod including a plunger shaft having a non-depressible hub extending distally from a distal end thereof, the hub includes at least two non-movable spaced apart tabs with respect to the non-depressible hub, the two non-movable spaced apart tabs integrally formed and extending outwardly from a non-distal end of the hub and a spacer disposed at a distal end of the hub, the at least two spaced apart tabs being spaced a distance from the spacer; and

a plug configured for slidable disposition in the cavity of the syringe barrel and configured for selective, detachable, and rotatable connection to the at least two spaced apart tabs of the hub, the plug including;

a base wall having at least two spaced apart uprights extending from diametrically opposing sections of a first side thereof, wherein each upright includes a resilient finger formed therein, each resilient finger is configured to snap-fit engage a respective tab of the plunger rod during connection of the plug to the plunger rod, wherein the at least two spaced apart uprights fully receive the hub, the at least two spaced apart tabs and the spacer therebetween; and

a plunger tip supported on a second side of the base wall, opposite the first side, and being configured to form a substantially fluid tight seal with an inner surface of the cavity of the syringe barrel

wherein during connection of the plug to the plunger rod, and after insertion into the syringe barrel, the at least two spaced apart resilient fingers contacting an inner surface of the syringe barrel thereby limiting a radially outward deflection thereof.

2. The syringe according to claim 1, wherein each resilient finger includes a shoulder extending inwardly therefrom.

3. The syringe according to claim 2, wherein each shoulder includes a sloping distal surface.

4. The syringe according to claim 2, wherein each shoulder includes a substantially orthogonal surface formed therein for inhibiting a respective tab of the plunger rod from moving therebeyond, whereby disconnection of the plug from the plunger rod is prevented.

5. The syringe according to claim 4, wherein each resilient finger defines a recess formed in an inner surface thereof and defining the substantially orthogonal surface.

6. The syringe according to claim 4, wherein at least one tab includes a stop member configured to engage the substantially orthogonal surface of a respective resilient finger.

7. The syringe according to claim 1, wherein the tabs of the plunger rod are diametrically opposed from one another.

8. The syringe according to claim 1, wherein tabs of the plunger rod extend substantially radially outward from the hub.

9. The syringe according to claim 1, wherein the tabs and the hub of the plunger rod define a substantially planar distal surface.

10. The syringe according to claim 1, wherein at least one upright includes a stop extending from an inner surface thereof for preventing movement of the tabs of the plunger rod as the plunger rod is rotated with respect to the plug.

11. The syringe according to claim 1, wherein the plunger tip is formed of an elastomeric material.

12. The syringe according to claim 1, wherein the base wall and the uprights of the plug are formed from polypropylene.

13. The syringe according to claim 1, wherein the plug is connected to the distal end of the plunger rod in a bayonet-type connection.

14. A plunger rod assembly for use with a syringe barrel, comprising:

a plunger rod slidably disposable within the syringe barrel, the plunger rod including a hub extending distally from a distal end thereof and at least two spaced apart tabs extending outwardly therefrom and a spacer disposed at a distal end of the hub, the at least two spaced apart tabs being spaced a distance from the spacer; and

a plug configured for slidable disposition in the syringe barrel and configured for selective connection to the plunger rod via a bayonet-type engagement, the plug including;

a base wall having at least two spaced apart resilient fingers supported on a first side thereof, wherein each resilient finger is configured to snap-fit engage a respective tab of the plunger rod during connection of the plug to the plunger rod; and

a plunger tip supported on a second side of the base wall, opposite the first side, and being configured to form a substantially fluid tight seal with an inner surface of the syringe barrel;

wherein the at least two spaced apart tabs are dimensioned for approximation in a linear direction when axially aligned and for disposition between the at least two spaced apart resilient fingers during connection of the plunger rod to the plug;

wherein in a first orientation, a longitudinal axis extending through the spaced apart tabs is aligned with an axis extending between the spaced apart resilient fingers and in a second orientation, the longitudinal axis extending through the spaced apart tabs is radially offset relative to the axis extending between the spaced apart resilient fingers; and

wherein during connection of the plug to the plunger rod, while the plug is disposed in the syringe barrel, the at least two spaced apart resilient fingers are bound by an inner surface of the syringe barrel thereby limiting a radially outward deflection thereof.

15. The plunger rod assembly according to claim 14, wherein each resilient finger includes a shoulder extending inwardly therefrom.

16. The plunger rod assembly according to claim 15, wherein each shoulder includes a substantially orthogonal surface formed therein for inhibiting a respective tab of the plunger rod from moving therebeyond, whereby disconnection of the plug from the plunger rod is prevented.

17. The plunger rod assembly according to claim 16, wherein each resilient finger defines a recess formed in an inner surface thereof and defining the substantially orthogonal surface.

18. The plunger rod assembly according to claim 16, wherein at least one tab includes a stop member configured to engage the substantially orthogonal surface of a respective resilient finger.

19. The plunger rod assembly according to claim 14, wherein at least one upright includes a stop extending from an inner surface thereof for preventing movement of the tabs of the plunger rod as the plunger rod is rotated with respect to the plug.

20. The plunger rod assembly according to claim 14, wherein the hub is a non-depressible hub including the at least two non-movable spaced apart tabs being integrally formed at a distal end of the non-depressible hub.

21. A syringe, comprising:

a syringe barrel having a distal end, a proximal end and defining a cavity therebetween;

a plunger rod slidably disposable within the cavity of the syringe barrel, the plunger rod including a plunger shaft having a hub extending distally from a distal end thereof, the hub includes a pair of spaced apart tabs extending outwardly therefrom; and

a plug configured for slidable disposition in the cavity of the syringe barrel and configured for selective connection to the distal end the plunger rod via a bayonet-type engagement, the plug including;

a base wall having at least two spaced apart resilient fingers supported on a first side thereof, wherein each upright includes a resilient finger formed therein, each resilient finger is configured to snap-fit engage a respective tab of the plunger rod as the plunger rod is rotated with respect to the plug when the pair of spaced apart tabs are in registration with the respective resilient fingers; and

a plunger tip supported on a second side of the base wall, opposite the first side, and being configured to form at least a substantially fluid tight seal with an inner surface of the cavity of the syringe barrel;

wherein the plunger rod is configured to rotate in a first direction relative to the plug until the spaced apart tabs of the plunger rod engage a stop and establish a connection therebetween, and wherein the plunger rod is configured to rotate in a second direction relative to the plug to disconnect the plunger rod from the plug;

wherein in a first orientation, a longitudinal axis extending through the pair of spaced apart tabs is aligned with an axis extending between the spaced apart uprights and in a second orientation, the longitudinal axis extending through the pair of spaced apart tabs is radially offset relative to the axis extending between the spaced apart uprights; and

wherein during connection of the plug to the plunger rod, while the plug is disposed in the syringe barrel, the at least two spaced apart resilient fingers are bound by an inner surface of the syringe barrel thereby limiting a radially outward deflection thereof.