Haptic feedback and audible output syringe

• US 9,579,257 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2014
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anutra Medical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Anutra Medical Inc.
• Inventors: Davidian, Daniel K., Newnam, Scott G., Nichols, Eli B., Mosler, Theodore J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MEDWAY, SCOTT J
• Application Number:
  US14/298,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20150057638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2055 having gripping means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2075 for external venting
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/22 with means for metering the amount of fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/048 Anaesthetics see also A61M19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/75 with filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/001 Apparatus specially adapted for cleaning or sterilising syringes or needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1782 Devices aiding filling of syringes in situ combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents A61J1/2096, filling of medical containers in general B65B3/003
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2425 by compression of deformable ampoule or carpule wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2448 comprising means for injection of two or more media, e.g. by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3137 Specially designed finger grip means, e.g. for easy manipulation of the syringe rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31586 performed by rotationally moving or pivoted actuator, e.g. an injection lever or handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31591 Single dose, i.e. individually set dose administered only once from the same medicament reservoir, e.g. including single stroke limiting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31593 Multi-dose, i.e. individually set dose repeatedly administered from the same medicament reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/502 for blocking the piston

Abstract

A syringe fill system is described, which is useful for filling syringes for dental anesthetic applications. The system incorporates capability for “push-pull”, “pull-push”, “push-push”, and “pull-pull” modes of operation, for loading syringes with compositions comprising multiple fluid components. A syringe fillable by such syringe fill systems is described, providing haptic and audible feedback to a user, to aid in administering precise amounts of therapeutic compositions. Also disclosed are cassette assemblies for use in such syringe fill systems. Such cassette assemblies may be formed of plastic and elastomeric materials of construction, as disposable or single-use components of the syringe fill system.

Claims

1. A haptic and audible feedback syringe, comprising:

a barrel member defining an interior volume therein for receiving fluid for dispensing from the syringe in a dispensing operation, the interior volume being bounded by interior wall surface with an inwardly extending, circumferentially continuous protrusion element on the interior wall surface at a proximal portion of the barrel member; and

a plunger configured for slidable engagement in the interior volume of the barrel member, wherein the plunger comprises a central longitudinally extending plunger spine to which are secured top and bottom side rails, the top and bottom side rails forming with the spine recesses on either side of the spine in each of which is disposed an array of deformable flexible resilient finger elements secured to the spine and in sequential longitudinally spaced-apart arrangement along a length of the plunger, the finger elements extending outwardly, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the plunger;

wherein the protrusion element and finger elements are dimensionally sized and positioned in relation to one another so that advancement of the plunger in the barrel member interior volume from a retracted position successively engages the finger elements with the protrusion so that contact resistance is transmitted by the plunger to a syringe user as a haptic feedback in initial contact of the finger elements and protrusion, with elastic deformation of the finger elements by the protrusion during subsequent advancement of the plunger and production of an audible output upon disengagement of the finger elements from the protrusion during such advancement.

2. The syringe of claim 1, configured to transmit corresponding haptic feedback and audible output during retraction of the plunger from an advanced position in the barrel member.

3. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the array of deformable flexible resilient finger elements are longitudinally spaced apart from one another in series so that their spacing dimension defines a single dose of the fluid to be administered by the syringe.

4. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the deformable flexible resilient finger elements are formed of a material comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene, natural rubber, and polyurethane.

5. The syringe of claim 1, having a fluid fill volume in a range of from 2 to 20 mL.

6. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the deformable flexible resilient finger elements are integrally formed with the central plunger spine.

7. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the deformable flexible resilient finger elements are integrally molded with the central plunger spine and top and bottom side rails of the plunger.

8. The syringe of claim 1, wherein said audible output comprises a snap or clicking sound.

9. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the plunger comprises a thumb ring at its proximal end.

10. The syringe of claim 1, comprising finger grips on an exterior surface of the barrel.

11. The syringe of claim 1, comprising coupling structure at a distal end portion of the barrel, adapted for coupling with a syringe fill system, an injection needle, or a fluid flow circuit.

12. The syringe of claim 11, wherein said coupling structure comprises a luer lock structure.

13. The syringe of claim 1, partially pre-filled with material to be administered by the syringe.

14. The syringe of claim 13, wherein said material comprises solid form material.

15. The syringe of claim 14, wherein said solid form material comprises buffering agent.

16. A kit comprising a multiplicity of syringes, said syringes comprising one or more syringes according to claim 1.

17. The kit of claim 16, comprising material to be administered by the syringes.

18. The kit of claim 17, wherein said material comprises an anesthetic.

19. The kit of claim 17, wherein said material comprises a buffering agent.

20. A method of administering fluid to a subject in a therapeutic intervention, said method comprising at least partially filling a syringe according to claim 1 with a therapeutic fluid, and administering the therapeutic fluid to the subject from the syringe in a manner generating haptic feedback and audible output indicative of administered dose of the therapeutic fluid.

21. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom side rails comprise flat, generally planar form.

22. The syringe of claim 21, wherein the finger elements comprise flat, generally planar form, and are perpendicular to the top and bottom side rails.