Spring driven adjustable oral syringe

• US 8,449,499 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2011
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MacLean
• Original Assignee: MacLean
• Inventors: MacLean, Rebecca
• Primary Examiner(s): FLICK, JASON E
• Application Number:
  US13/280,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20120101477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 604/135
• US Class Current: 604/135
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3148 Means for causing or aiding aspiration or plunger retraction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3155 by rotational movement of dose setting member, e.g. during setting or filling of a syringe
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31553 without axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein generally describe a medication delivery system. The medication delivery system includes a barrel, a plunger assembly, a dosage selection device, and a force producing element. The plunger assembly is disposed within the barrel. The force producing element can force the plunger assembly from the barrel. The user can select one or two or more dosages with a dosage selection device. The user selects the dosage; then the medication delivery system delivers the same dosage repeatedly. Further, with the force producing element, the user need only depress the plunger assembly into the barrel and does not need to extract the plunger assembly. This allows the user to use only one hand with the medication delivery system.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a dose of medication, the method comprising:

compressing a plunger assembly into a barrel assembly, wherein the plunger assembly includes a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end;

rotating the plunger assembly within the barrel assembly to select a dosage by viewing visual indicia indicative of the dosage;

inserting the barrel assembly into a fluid;

releasing the plunger assembly such that a force producing element produces a force on the plunger assembly;

the force producing element extracting the plunger assembly from the barrel assembly until a radial rib contacts a detent on a barrel cap assembly, wherein the radial rib is disposed between two or more lengthwise ribs;

wherein the radial rib is disposed in at least one portion of a circumference of the shaft, but not extending along a full circumference of the shaft; and

wherein the radial rib is disposed lengthwise on the shaft between the distal end and the proximal end of the shaft to provide a predetermined volume of the fluid in the barrel assembly when the radial rib contacts the barrel cap assembly; and

siphoning the fluid into the barrel assembly as the plunger assembly is extracted.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein compressing the plunger assembly includes pushing a plunger cap toward the barrel assembly to compress the force producing element.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein compressing the plunger assembly includes compressing the plunger assembly into the barrel assembly until an indention, formed within the two or more lengthwise ribs, is in line with the detent.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein rotating the plunger assembly includes rotating the two or more lengthwise ribs within the barrel assembly by rotating the detent by at least one indention formed within the two or more lengthwise ribs.