Syringe Assembly with Inverse Delivery

• US 20110046604A1
• Filed: 08/19/2010
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton Dickinson France (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Becton Dickinson France (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Quinn, Michael, Schiller, Eric, Felsovalyi, Flora
• Granted Patent: US 9,352,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3121 via the proximal end of a syringe, i.e. syringe end opposite to needle cannula mounting end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3123 having air entrapping or venting means, e.g. purging channels in pistons
• 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 2005/31516 reducing dead-space in the syringe barrel after delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/31518 designed to reduce the overall size of an injection device, e.g. using flexible or pivotally connected chain-like rod members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/19 having more than one chamber , e.g. including a manifold coupling two parallelly aligned syringes through separate channels to a common discharge assembly surgical glue applicators A61B17/00491
• 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 5/3135 characterised by constructional features of the proximal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3137 Specially designed finger grip means, e.g. for easy manipulation of the syringe rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3148 Means for causing or aiding aspiration or plunger retraction
• 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 5/31515 Connection of piston with piston rod

Abstract

A reduced profile syringe assembly is provided that includes an overall profile that is substantially similar to the profile of the syringe barrel. The syringe assembly includes a plunger rod that is significantly disposed within the syringe barrel when filled for use, with the plunger rod adapted to be retracted from the syringe barrel during dispensing of the contents of the syringe barrel.

Claims

1. A syringe assembly, comprising:

a syringe barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end, and a distal end having an opening therethrough;

a plunger assembly disposed at least partially within the syringe barrel, the plunger assembly comprising an elongate plunger rod and a plunger head disposed on the plunger rod and slidably disposed within the syringe barrel, the plunger head separating the chamber of the syringe barrel into a proximal chamber adjacent the proximal end and a distal chamber adjacent the distal end; and

a conduit extending between the proximal chamber and the opening at the distal end of the syringe barrel,

wherein the syringe is adapted to contain a fluid in the proximal chamber,

wherein the fluid contained within the proximal chamber is adapted to be expelled through the conduit and out of the opening at the distal end of the syringe barrel upon movement of the plunger head toward the proximal end of the syringe barrel, and

wherein movement of the plunger head toward the proximal end of the syringe barrel occurs based on conventional operation of expelling fluid from a conventional syringe with a squeezing movement between a thumb and forefinger.

2. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein the plunger assembly further comprises an actuator portion at least partially extending externally outside of the syringe barrel and adapted to effect movement of the plunger head within the syringe barrel.

3. The syringe assembly of claim 2, wherein the actuator portion is interconnected with the plunger head.

4. The syringe assembly of claim 3, wherein the actuator portion is interconnected with the plunger head through an opening in a sidewall of the syringe barrel.

5. The syringe assembly of claim 3, wherein the actuator portion is interconnected with the plunger head through the open proximal end of the syringe barrel.

6. The syringe assembly of claim 5, wherein the plunger assembly further comprises an external arm extending from the actuator portion externally along the syringe barrel.

7. The syringe assembly of claim 6, wherein the plunger rod comprises an elongate portion which is interconnected with the external arm.

8. The syringe assembly of claim 7, further comprising a connecting arm extending between the external arm and the elongate portion of the plunger rod.

9. The syringe assembly of claim 5, wherein the plunger assembly further comprises an external arm extending externally along the syringe barrel between the actuator portion and a connector arm, wherein the connector arm extends between the external arm and an elongate portion of the plunger rod, and wherein the elongate portion extends between the connector arm and the plunger head.

10. The syringe assembly of claim 2, wherein the actuator portion comprises a perimetrical flange collar comprising at least one flange.

11. The syringe assembly of claim 2, wherein the actuator portion comprises at least two flanges each configured to receive a forefinger of a user of the syringe assembly.

12. The syringe assembly of claim 1, further comprising a closure adapted to close the open proximal end of the syringe barrel.

13. The syringe assembly of claim 12, wherein the closure comprises an elongated neck portion configured to fit against the inside surface of the syringe barrel with an interference fit.

14. The syringe assembly of claim 12, wherein the closure comprises a finger pad portion comprising a tactile surface disposed on an external surface thereof.

15. The syringe assembly of claim 14, wherein the finger pad portion extends externally of the syringe barrel in a radial direction.

16. The syringe assembly of claim 1, wherein the conduit extends across the plunger head between the proximal chamber and the opening at the distal end of the syringe barrel.

17. The syringe assembly of claim 16, wherein the proximal chamber has a distal end defined by the plunger head and a proximal end defined by an angled surface.

18. The syringe assembly of claim 17, wherein the a proximal end of the plunger head has an angled profile adapted for cooperating engagement with the angled surface defining the proximal end of the proximal chamber.

19. The syringe assembly of claim 17, wherein the angled surface at the proximal end of the proximal chamber defines a recess and an inlet into the conduit is positioned in the recess.

20. The syringe assembly of claim 17, wherein the angled surface is disposed on a closure adapted to close the open proximal end of the syringe barrel.

21. The syringe assembly of claim 16, wherein the conduit comprises a first end, a second end, and a fluid channel extending between the first end and the second end.

22. The syringe assembly of claim 21, wherein the first end of the conduit is positioned within the opening in the distal end of the syringe barrel.

23. The syringe assembly of claim 21, wherein the second end of the conduit extends within the proximal chamber.

24. The syringe assembly of claim 23, wherein an angled surface disposed at the proximal end of the proximal chamber defines a recess, and wherein the second end of the conduit is positioned in the recess.

25. The syringe assembly of claim 16, wherein the conduit comprises a tubing having a first end positioned adjacent the opening at the distal end of the syringe barrel and a second end fixed with respect to the plunger head.

26. The syringe assembly of claim 25, wherein the second end of the tubing is directly adjacent a proximal end of the plunger head.

27. The syringe assembly of claim 25, wherein the tubing is a flexible tubing contained in the distal chamber and adapted to expand upon movement of the plunger head.

28. The syringe assembly of claim 25, wherein the tubing is in the form of a wound coil contained in the distal chamber and adapted to extend upon movement of the plunger head.

29. The syringe assembly of claim 16, wherein the conduit is radially centered with respect to a general elongated axis of the syringe barrel.

30. The syringe assembly of claim 1, further comprising an opening through a wall of the syringe barrel extending into the distal chamber adapted to provide air flow into the distal chamber upon movement of the plunger head toward the proximal end of the syringe barrel.

31. The syringe assembly of claim 1, further comprising a barrier adapted to encompass a portion of the plunger rod which extends externally of the syringe barrel upon movement of the plunger head toward the proximal end of the syringe barrel.

32. The syringe assembly of claim 31, wherein the barrier is an expandable bellows.

33. The syringe assembly of claim 2, wherein an external surface of the syringe barrel comprises notches or protrusions at predetermined increments adapted to interact with a corresponding flap extending from an interior perimeter of the actuator portion to provide an indication of movement of the plunger head within the syringe barrel.

34. A syringe assembly, comprising:

a syringe barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, a proximal end, and a distal end having an opening therethrough;

a plunger assembly comprising a plunger head slidably disposed within the syringe barrel, the plunger head separating the chamber of the syringe barrel into a proximal chamber adjacent the proximal end and a distal chamber adjacent the distal end;

a thumb pad portion adjacent the proximal end of the syringe barrel for accommodating a thumb of a user; and

at least one finger flange extending externally of the syringe barrel for accommodating at least one forefinger of a user, the at least one finger flange adapted to effect movement of the plunger head within the syringe barrel,

wherein squeezing movement between a user'"'"'s thumb on the thumb pad portion and a user'"'"'s forefinger on the at least one finger flange effects movement of the plunger head toward the proximal end of the syringe barrel.

35. A pre-filled syringe assembly, comprising:

a syringe barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, a proximal end, and a distal end having an opening therethrough;

a plunger assembly comprising an elongate plunger rod substantially disposed within the syringe barrel and a plunger head disposed on the plunger rod and slidably disposed within the syringe barrel, the plunger head separating the chamber of the syringe barrel into a proximal chamber adjacent the proximal end and a distal chamber adjacent the distal end; and

a conduit extending across the plunger head between the proximal chamber and the opening at the distal end of the syringe barrel,

wherein a fluid is contained in the proximal chamber.

36. The pre-filled syringe assembly in claim 35, wherein the plunger assembly further comprises an actuator portion which at least partially extends externally outside of the syringe barrel.

37. The pre-filled syringe assembly in claim 36, wherein the actuator portion is interconnected with the plunger head.

38. A method of delivering a fluid, comprising:

providing a syringe assembly comprising;

a syringe barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, a proximal end, and a distal end having an opening therethrough;

a plunger assembly comprising an elongate plunger rod and a plunger head disposed on the plunger rod and slidably disposed within the syringe barrel, the plunger head separating the chamber of the syringe barrel into a proximal chamber adjacent the proximal end and a distal chamber adjacent the distal end, wherein a fluid is contained in the proximal chamber, the plunger assembly further comprising an actuator portion at least partially extending externally outside of the syringe barrel; and

a conduit extending between the proximal chamber and the opening at the distal end of the syringe barrel;

positioning a thumb on the syringe assembly at a position proximate to the proximal end of the syringe barrel, and at least one forefinger on the actuator portion; and

applying a squeezing motion to move the at least one forefinger and the thumb toward each other, thereby moving the actuator portion toward the proximal end of the syringe barrel and effecting movement of the plunger head toward the proximal end of the syringe barrel to expel fluid contained in the proximal chamber through the conduit and out of the syringe barrel through the opening in the distal end.