Systems and methods for administering medication

• US 9,901,686 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2013
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ucb Biopharma Sprl (UCB SA)
• Original Assignee: Ucb Biopharma Sprl (UCB SA)
• Inventors: Morgan, Darrell P., Lee, Alex, Formosa, Dan, Vordenberg, Steven, Vicari, Joern, Freitag, Eric, Kontorvich, Boris
• Primary Examiner(s): OSINSKI, BRADLEY JAMES
• Application Number:
  US14/052,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20140257192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3139 Finger grips not integrally formed with the syringe barrel, e.g. using adapter with finger grips
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/585 having magnification means, e.g. magnifying glasses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/586 Ergonomic details therefor, e.g. specific ergonomics for left or right-handed users
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3134 characterised by constructional features of the distal end, i.e. end closest to the tip of the needle cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3137 Specially designed finger grip means, e.g. for easy manipulation of the syringe rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3202 Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3204 Needle cap remover, i.e. devices to dislodge protection cover from needle or needle hub, e.g. deshielding devices

Abstract

The syringe systems disclosed herein provide in part devices for allowing patients with compromised joint strength to more easily administer medicine. Certain exemplary syringe embodiments include a handle forming a handgrip, a syringe barrel that magnifies the dosage marks located on an inner barrel, and a tip cap slidably engageable with the syringe barrel for shielding a needle.

Claims

1. A syringe comprising:

a handle having a first flange and a second flange forming a handgrip;

a first arc forming a bottom surface of the first flange contoured to correspond to a radius of an arc formed by a user'"'"'s fingers;

a second arc forming a bottom surface of the second flange contoured to correspond to a radius of an arc formed by the user'"'"'s fingers and shaped flatter than the first arc;

a syringe barrel having an outer barrel and an inner barrel, the inner barrel having a needle mounted at a distal end of the inner barrel, the outer barrel being shaped to receive the inner barrel; and

a tip cap releasably engageable with a distal end of the syringe barrel for shielding the needle comprising;

an outer cap;

an inner cap; and

a connector shaped to fit within and engage the outer cap and engage the inner cap and having a plurality of first legs spaced symmetrically away from one another, each first leg having a plurality of internally facing barbs pointing toward a distal region of the connector and adapted to engage a proximal region of the inner cap, wherein each of the plurality of internally facing barbs is disposed at an angle with respect to the plurality of first legs, the connector having a plurality of second legs spaced symmetrically away from one another, each second leg having a plurality of externally facing barb tips located at an end of a respective second leg and adapted to engage a distal region of the outer cap,

wherein the outer barrel includes a first recess and a second recess shaped to receive the tip cap.

2. A syringe system comprising:

a handle having a first flange and a second flange forming a handgrip arranged for a single-handed operation;

a first open arc forming a bottom surface of the first flange contoured to correspond to a radius of an arc formed by a user'"'"'s fingers;

a second open arc forming a bottom surface of the second flange contoured to correspond to a radius of an arc formed by the user'"'"'s fingers and shaped flatter than the first open arc; and

a syringe barrel having an outer barrel and an inner barrel and extending distally from the handgrip, the inner barrel having dosage marks and a needle mounted at a distal end, the outer barrel shaped to receive the inner barrel and having an elliptical cross section to magnify the dosage marks located on the inner barrel,

wherein the outer barrel includes a first recess and a second recess shaped to receive a tip cap.

3. The syringe of claim 2, wherein the handle includes a top cover and a handle body, the top cover having a plurality of pegs adapted to mate with a set of corresponding depressions formed on the handle body.

4. The syringe of claim 3, wherein the top cover includes an aperture for receiving a syringe plunger.

5. The syringe of claim 3, wherein the handle body includes an aperture for receiving a syringe plunger.

6. The syringe of claim 3, wherein the handle body includes a syringe positioning pocket having a flat side.

7. The syringe of claim 6, wherein the inner barrel includes a flange having a flat side adapted to align with the corresponding flat side formed on the handle body.

8. The syringe of claim 7, wherein aligning the flange within the syringe positioning pocket orients the dosage marks at one end of a major axis of the syringe barrel.

9. The syringe of claim 8, wherein the major axis of the syringe barrel is longer than a minor axis of the syringe barrel.

10. A syringe comprising:

a syringe barrel having an outer barrel and an inner barrel, the inner barrel having dosage marks and a needle mounted at a distal end, the outer barrel shaped to receive the inner barrel and having an elliptical cross section to magnify the dosage marks located on the inner barrel; and

a tip cap slidably engageable with a distal end of the syringe barrel for shielding the needle comprising;

an outer cap;

an inner cap; and

a connector shaped to fit within and engage the outer cap and engage the inner cap and having a plurality of first legs spaced symmetrically away from one another, each first leg having a plurality of internally facing barbs pointing toward a distal region of the connector and adapted to engage a proximal region of the inner cap, wherein each of the plurality of internally facing barbs is disposed at an angle with respect to the plurality of first legs, the connector having a plurality of second legs spaced symmetrically away from one another, each second leg having a plurality of externally facing barb tips located at an end of a respective second leg and adapted to engage a distal region of the outer cap,

wherein the outer barrel includes a first recess and a second recess shaped to receive the tip cap.

11. A drug delivery system comprising:

a syringe barrel having an outer barrel and an inner barrel, the inner barrel having dosage marks and a needle mounted at a distal end, the outer barrel shaped to receive the inner barrel and having an elliptical cross section to magnify the dosage marks located on the inner barrel;

wherein the inner barrel is adapted to receive a drug having a viscosity more than about 65 centipoise; and

a tip cap slidably engageable with a distal end of the syringe barrel for shielding the needle comprising;

an outer cap;

an inner cap; and

a connector shaped to fit within and engage the outer cap and engage the inner cap and having a plurality of first legs spaced symmetrically away from one another, each first leg having a plurality of internally facing barbs pointing toward a distal region of the connector and adapted to engage a proximal region of the inner cap, wherein each of the plurality of internally facing barbs is disposed at an angle with respect to the plurality of first legs, the connector having a plurality of second legs spaced symmetrically away from one another, each second leg having a plurality of externally facing barb tips located at an end of a respective second leg and adapted to engage a distal region of the outer cap,

wherein the outer barrel includes a first recess and a second recess shaped to receive the tip cap.

12. The drug delivery system of claim 11, wherein the viscosity of drug is between about 65 centipoise to about 120 centipoise.

13. The drug delivery system of claim 11, wherein the viscosity of drug is between about 75 centipoise to about 100 centipoise.