SYRINGE WITH FLOW CONTROL VALVES AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

• US 20110224642A1
• Filed: 03/12/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Control Medical Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Control Medical Technology LLC
• Inventors: Fojtik, Shawn P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,992,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0283 with vacuum aspiration, e.g. caused by retractable plunger or by connected syringe A61B10/025, A61B10/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0258 Marrow samples
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/67 Containers incorporating a piston-type member to create suction, e.g. syringes cupping glasses A61M1/08; with a flexible member creating suction A61M1/68
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3112 Incorporating self-aspirating means, e.g. to provide flashback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3114 Filling or refilling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3115 spring-assisted
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3128 Incorporating one-way valves, e.g. pressure-relief or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/204 connected to external reservoirs for multiple refilling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention includes syringes with valves. The valves control communication between the interior of a barrel of the syringe and the exterior of the barrel. In syringes that include two valves, the valves may be oriented opposite one another, such that one of the valves may enable fluid to flow into the interior of the barrel of the syringe while preventing fluid from flowing in the opposite direction, while the other valve may enable fluid to flow out of the interior of the barrel while preventing fluid from flowing in the opposite direction. Alternatively, a syringe may include a single valve, which is carried at or near a distal end of its plunger. Methods for using such syringes, including, but not limited to, manual pulsed aspiration methods and manual pulsed delivery methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An aspiration syringe, comprising:

a barrel for receiving fluid;

a plunger insertable into the barrel, the plunger configured to be drawn proximally through the barrel to draw fluid into the barrel;

a first valve associated with a distal end of the barrel, the first valve being configured to permit the fluid to flow proximally into the barrel and to prevent the fluid from flowing distally out of or away from the aspiration syringe; and

a second valve associated with an interior the barrel, the second valve being configured to enable fluid to exit the barrel or a system of which the barrel is a part.

2. The aspiration syringe of claim 1, wherein the first valve communicates with a port extending through the barrel, near the distal end of the barrel.

3. The aspiration syringe of claim 1, wherein the first valve is secured to the barrel, near the distal end of the barrel.

4. The aspiration syringe of claim 1, wherein the first valve is associated with a member configured to be removably secured to the distal end of the barrel.

5. The aspiration syringe of claim 1, wherein the second valve communicates with a distal end of the plunger.

6. The aspiration syringe of claim 5, wherein the second valve communicates with the interior of the barrel through a port extending through the distal end of the plunger.

7. The aspiration syringe of claim 6, wherein the second valve is secured to a proximal side of the distal end of the plunger.

8. The aspiration syringe of claim 1, further comprising:

a first connection element associated with the first valve, the first connection element being configured to establish communication between a source exterior to the barrel and an interior of the barrel.

9. The aspiration syringe of claim 1, further comprising:

a second connection element associated with the second valve, the second connection element being configured to establish communication between an interior of the barrel and a receptacle exterior to the barrel.

10. The aspiration syringe of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second valves comprises a one-way valve.

11. The aspiration syringe of claim 10, wherein the first valve comprises a switch type valve.

12. The aspiration syringe of claim 1, wherein the first valve comprises a switch type valve.

13. A system for aspirating fluid, comprising:

a distal communication element including;

a distal end; and

a proximal end; and

a syringe, including;

a barrel for receiving fluid, the barrel including a distal end configured to communicate with the proximal end of the distal communication element;

a plunger insertable into a proximal end of the barrel, the plunger configured to be drawn proximally through the barrel to generate a vacuum within the barrel; and

a pair of valves associated with the barrel,

a first valve of the pair of valves configured to enable fluid to flow proximally and to prevent fluid from flowing distally; and

a second valve of the pair of valves configured to enable fluid to permit fluid to flow.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a proximal communication element for receiving fluid from the second valve.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the syringe further includes:

a spring for urging the plunger proximally through the barrel.

16. A plunger for a syringe, comprising:

an elongate element configured for insertion into and withdrawal from an interior of a barrel of the syringe, the elongate element including a distal end and a proximal end;

an actuator at a proximal end of the elongate element;

a distal member at the distal end of the elongate element, the distal member configured to force matter distally out of or draw matter proximally into the interior of the barrel of the syringe;

an access port extending through the distal member to enable communication between the interior of the barrel of the syringe and a location exterior to the syringe; and

a valve in communication with the access port.

17. The plunger of claim 16, further comprising:

a sealing element associated with the distal member for sealing against a surface of the interior of the barrel of the syringe.

18. The plunger of claim 17, wherein the sealing element enables the formation of a substantial vacuum within at least a portion of the interior of the barrel.

19. The plunger of claim 16, wherein the valve comprises a one-way valve.

20. A method for manually aspirating fluid, comprising:

placing a distal end of a distal communication element at a location from which fluid is to be aspirated;

coupling a proximal end of the distal communication element to a distal end of a manually operated syringe;

drawing a plunger of the syringe proximally out of a barrel of the manually operated syringe to draw fluid proximally through the distal communication element; and

forcing the plunger of the manually operated syringe distally back into the barrel of the syringe to cause the fluid to exit the barrel without causing fluid to move distally through the distal communication element.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

repeating the drawing and forcing at least once to aspirate in a pulsed manner.

22. A syringe, comprising:

a barrel for receiving fluid;

a plunger insertable into the barrel, the plunger configured to be drawn proximally through the barrel to draw fluid into the barrel;

a first valve associated with a distal end of the barrel, the first valve being configured to control the flow of fluid through a distal opening of the barrel; and

a second valve associated with an interior the barrel, the second valve being configured to control fluid flow relative to the interior of the barrel in an opposite direction from the first valve.

23. The syringe of claim 22, wherein:

the first valve is configured to enable fluid to flow out of the barrel through the distal opening while preventing fluid from flowing into the barrel through the distal opening; and

the second valve is configured to enable fluid to flow into the barrel at a second location while preventing fluid from flowing into the barrel at the second location.

24. The syringe of claim 23, wherein the second valve is carried by the barrel.

25. The syringe of claim 23, wherein the second valve is carried by the plunger.

26. The syringe of claim 25, wherein the second valve is located at or directly adjacent to a distal end of the plunger.

27. A method for manually delivering fluid, comprising:

placing a distal end of a distal communication element at a location to which fluid is to be delivered;

placing a first end of a proximal communication element in communication with a source of fluid;

coupling a proximal end of the distal communication element to a distal end of a manually operated syringe;

coupling a second end of the proximal communication element to a valve that communicates with a barrel of the manually operated syringe;

drawing a plunger of the syringe proximally out of a barrel of the manually operated syringe to draw fluid into the barrel from the source of fluid; and

forcing the plunger of the manually operated syringe distally back into the barrel of the manually operated syringe to cause fluid to flow distally into the distal communication element without causing fluid to flow back through the valve toward the source.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

repeating the drawing and forcing at least once to deliver the fluid in a pulsed manner.

29. A syringe, comprising:

a barrel for receiving fluid;

a plunger insertable into the barrel, the plunger configured to be drawn proximally through the barrel to draw fluid into the barrel; and

a valve at a distal end of the plunger, the valve communicating with an interior of the barrel, the valve being configure to enable fluid to exit the barrel while preventing fluid from entering the barrel at the same location.

30. The syringe of claim 29, further comprising:

another valve in direct flow communication with a distal opening of the barrel, the another valve configured to enable fluid to enter the barrel.

31. A method for purging air from a syringe, comprising:

providing a syringe including a barrel containing fluid and air;

orienting the syringe with a distal end of the barrel pointed generally downward such that air within the barrel is located above the fluid within the barrel;

forcing a plunger of the syringe distally into the barrel to cause the air within the barrel to exit the barrel through a valve located at or directly adjacent to a distal end of the plunger.