Applicator for semisolid medications

• US 5,531,703 A
• Filed: 10/26/1994
• Issued: 07/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schering-Plough Healthcare Products Incorporated (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Schering-Plough Healthcare Products Incorporated (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Skwarek, Gary M., Morfit, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): VANOVER, PERRY
• Application Number:
  US08/325,380
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 604/187, 604/218, 604/192, 604/228, 604/193, 604/229, 604/219-220, 604/11, 604/15, 604/54-55, 604/57, 604/59, 604/60, 222/386
• US Class Current: 604/187
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3123 having air entrapping or venting means, e.g. purging channels in pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/31506 formed as a single piece, e.g. moulded
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence

Abstract

An applicator 10 includes a barrel 12 for containing a semisolid medicinal, the barrel including a large diameter cylindrical section 16, a small diameter cylindrical section 18 and an annular sloped transition section 20 that connects the large diameter cylindrical section and the small diameter cylindrical section, the sections being coaxial with each other, the small diameter cylindrical section including an inner surface defining an internal cavity for containing the medicinal, a first end 30 with a first opening 32 and equiangularly spaced, axially aligned evacuation channels 28 in the inner surface for venting air out of the barrel when the internal cavity is filled with the medicinal, and the large diameter cylindrical section includes a second opposite end with a second opening 24; a rubber plunger 58 for pushing the medicinal through the first opening, the plunger being slidably positioned in sealing contact with the inner surface of the small diameter cylindrical section; a plunger rod 86 connected with the plunger and contained within the barrel; a removable cap 40 for sealingly closing off the first opening and for applying a pushing force to the plunger rod when the cap is removed from the sealing relationship with the barrel in order to slidably move the plunger in the small diameter cylindrical section of the barrel to expel the medicinal from the first opening; and a connection assembly 36 for removably connecting the cap to the barrel such that the cap sealingly closes off the first opening. The applicator is useful for introducing medicinals into body cavities.

Claims

1. An applicator for introducing a semisolid medicinal into a body cavity, comprising:

a) barrel means for containing the medicinal, said barrel means including;

i) an inner surface defining an internal cavity for containing the medicinal,

ii) a first end with a first opening in communication with said internal cavity,

iii) a second opposite end with a second opening in communication with said internal cavity, and

iv) evacuation channel means for venting air out of said barrel means when said internal cavity is filled with said medicinal, said evacuation channel means being formed on said inner surface;

b) plunger means for pushing said medicinal through said first opening, said plunger means being slidably positioned in said barrel means in sealing contact with the inner surface thereof;

c) removable cap means for sealingly closing off said first opening and for applying a pushing force to said plunger means when said cap means is removed from said sealing relationship with said barrel means in order to slidably move said plunger means in said barrel means to expel said medicinal from said first opening, said cap means including an open end; and

d) connection means for removably connecting said cap means to said barrel means such that said cap means sealingly closes off said first opening.

2. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said barrel means includes a large diameter cylindrical section, a small diameter cylindrical section and an annular sloped transition section that connects said large diameter cylindrical section and said small diameter cylindrical section, said large diameter cylindrical section, said small diameter cylindrical section and said annular sloped transition section being formed coaxially with each other.

3. The applicator according to claim 2, wherein said small diameter cylindrical section includes:

a) a portion of said inner surface,

b) said evacuation channel means for venting air out of said small diameter cylindrical section when said internal cavity is filled with said medicinal, said evacuation channel means being formed on said portion of said inner surface of said small diameter cylindrical section, and

c) said first end with said first opening.

4. The applicator according to claim 3, wherein said evacuation channel means includes a plurality of elongated axially extending evacuation channels formed in said portion of the inner surface of said small diameter cylindrical section.

5. The applicator according to claim 4, wherein said evacuation channels are equiangularly arranged around said small diameter cylindrical section.

6. The applicator according to claim 3, wherein said evacuation channel means has a first end positioned at approximately a junction between said small diameter cylindrical section and said transition section, and extends in a direction toward said first opening in said small diameter cylindrical section.

7. The applicator according to claim 2, wherein said large diameter cylindrical section includes:

a) said second opposite end,

b) an outer surface, and

c) finger holding means on said outer surface for restraining said barrel means during an operation when said medicinal is expelled from said first opening of said barrel means.

8. The applicator according to claim 1, further including plunger rod means, connected with said plunger means, for engaging with said cap means so that said cap means can apply a pushing force to said plunger means, through said plunger rod means, when said cap means is removed from said sealing relationship with said barrel means, in order to slidably move said plunger means in said barrel means to expel said medicinal from said first opening.

9. The applicator according to claim 8, wherein said plunger rod means includes a main body, tip means for connecting said plunger means thereto and cap restraint means for engaging with said cap means when said cap means is removed from said sealing connection with said barrel means.

10. The applicator according to claim 9, wherein said plunger rod means includes lower disc means connected to one end of said main body, and said cap restraint means has an outer diameter less than the outer diameter of said lower disc means, to provide an annular engaging surface on said lower disc means for engagement by said open end of said cap means.

11. The applicator according to claim 10, wherein said cap restraint means has a cruciform shape.

12. The applicator according to claim 10, wherein

said barrel means includes a large diameter cylindrical section, a small diameter cylindrical section and an annular sloped transition section that connects said large diameter cylindrical section and said small diameter cylindrical section, said large diameter cylindrical section, said small diameter cylindrical section and said annular sloped transition section being formed coaxially with each other, said large diameter cylindrical section includes said second opposite end with said second opening, a portion of said inner surface, and retention bead means for engaging with said lower disc means to retain said plunger rod means in said large diameter cylindrical section, said retention bead means being formed on said portion of the inner surface of said large diameter cylindrical section in spaced relation from the second opposite end thereof.

13. The applicator according to claim 10, wherein said barrel means includes a large diameter cylindrical section, a small diameter cylindrical section and an annular sloped transition section that connects said large diameter cylindrical section and said small diameter cylindrical section, said large diameter cylindrical section, said small diameter cylindrical section and said annular sloped transition section being formed coaxially with each other, said plunger means being slidably positioned in said small diameter cylindrical section of said barrel means in sealing contact with the inner surface thereat, at least a portion of said main body being movable in said small diameter cylindrical section, and said lower disc means and said cap restraint means being movable only in said large diameter cylindrical section.

14. The applicator according to claim 9, wherein said plunger means includes a lower end and an internal cavity open at said lower end thereof for receiving said tip means of said plunger rod means therein, to secure said plunger means to said plunger rod means.

15. The applicator according to claim 8, wherein said plunger means and said plunger rod means are positioned in said barrel means at all times.

16. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said connection means includes:

a) an inner boss connected with said first end of said barrel means and extending within said barrel means, said inner boss having an annular wall defining an inner bore in axial alignment with said first opening, and internal threads in the annular wall; and

b) an internal boss connected with said cap means and having external thread means for threaded engagement with the internal threads of said inner boss of said barrel means, to removably connect said cap means to said barrel means.

17. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said cap means includes a generally cylindrical main body having opposite ends, with said one open end and an opposite end which is closed by a closure wall, said closure wall having indent means for receiving a finger of a person during an expelling operation when said medicinal is pushed out of said first opening of said barrel means.

18. The applicator according to claim 17, wherein said indent means has a part-spherical configuration.

19. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said plunger means includes a cylindrical section and a frusto-conical section connected therewith, said cylindrical section including a plurality of annular bead means for providing a seal between said plunger means and the inner surface of said barrel means, while permitting sliding movement of said plunger means in said barrel means.

20. An applicator for introducing a semisold medicinal into a body cavity comprising:

a) barrel means for containing the medicinal, said barrel means including;

i) an inner surface defining an internal cavity for containing the medicinal,

i) a first end with a first opening in communication with said internal cavity, and

iii) a second opposite end with a second opening in communication with said internal cavity,

b) plunger means for pushing said medicinal through said first opening, said plunger means being slidably positioned in said barrel means in sealing contact with the inner surface thereof, said plunger means including;

i) a cylindrical section,

ii) annular sealing flange means for sealing said plunger means against the inner surface of said barrel means, and

iii) securing means for securing said annular sealing flange means in surrounding and spaced relation to said cylindrical section;

c) removable cap means for sealingly closing off said first opening, for applying an axial pushing force to said plunger means when said cap means is removed from said sealing relationship with said barrel means in order to slidably move said plunger means in said barrel means to expel said medicinal from said first opening, and for applying an outwardly radial pressing force on said annular sealing flange means to press said annular sealing flange means into sealing contact with the inner surface of said barrel means, said cap means fitting between said cylindrical section and said annular sealing flange means to apply said radial pressing force on said annular sealing flange means; and

d) connection means for removably connecting said cap means to said barrel means such that said cap means sealingly closes off said first opening.

21. The applicator according to claim 20, wherein said barrel means includes a large diameter cylindrical section, a small diameter cylindrical section and an annular sloped transition section that connects said large diameter cylindrical section and said small diameter cylindrical section, said large diameter cylindrical section, said small diameter cylindrical sect, ion and said annular sloped transition section being formed coaxially with each other, and said plunger means is slidably positioned in said large diameter cylindrical section of said barrel means in sealing contact with the inner surface thereat.

22. The applicator according to claim 21, wherein said plunger means includes a frusto-conical section connected with said cylindrical section of said plunger means, and said annular sealing flange means includes a plurality of annular bead means for providing a seal between said plunger means and the inner surface of the large diameter cylindrical section of said barrel means, while permitting sliding movement of said plunger means in said large diameter cylindrical section of the barrel means.

23. The applicator according to claim 21, wherein said large diameter cylindrical section includes a portion of said inner surface and said second opposite end;

and further including retention bead means for engaging with said annular sealing flange means to retain said plunger means in said large diameter cylindrical section, said retention bead means being formed on said portion of the inner surface of said large diameter cylindrical section in spaced relation from the second opposite end thereof.

24. An applicator for introducing a semisolid medicinal into a body cavity comprising:

a) barrel means for containing the medicinal, said barrel means including;

i) an inner surface defining an internal cavity for containing the medicinal,

ii) a first end with a first opening in communication with said internal cavity, and

iii) a second opposite end with a second opening in communication with said internal cavity,

b) plunger means for pushing said medicinal through said first opening, said plunger means being slidably positioned in said barrel means in sealing contact with the inner surface thereof, said plunger means including;

i) a cylindrical section,

ii) annular sealing flange means for sealing said plunger means against the inner surface of said barrel means, and

iii) rib means for securing said annular sealing flange means in surrounding and spaced relation to said cylindrical section and for substantially preventing inward radial deformation of said annular sealing flange means when said medicinal is expelled from said barrel means;

c) removable cap means for sealingly closing off said first opening and for applying an axial pushing force to said plunger means when said cap means is removed from said sealing relationship with said barrel means in order to slidably move said plunger means in said barrel means to expel said medicinal from said first opening; and

d) connection means for removably connecting said cap means to said barrel means such that said cap means sealingly closes off said first opening.

25. The applicator according to claim 24, wherein said barrel means includes a large diameter cylindrical section, a small diameter cylindrical section and an annular sloped transition section that connects said large diameter cylindrical section and said small diameter cylindrical section, said large diameter cylindrical section, said small diameter cylindrical section and said annular sloped transition section being formed coaxially with each other, and said plunger means is slidably positioned in said large diameter cylindrical section of said barrel means in sealing contact with the inner surface thereat.

26. The applicator according to claim 25, wherein said plunger means includes a frusto-conical section connected with said cylindrical section of said plunger means, and said annular sealing flange means includes a plurality of annular bead means for providing a seal between said plunger means and the inner surface of the large diameter cylindrical section of said barrel means, while permitting sliding movement of said plunger means in the large diameter cylindrical section of said barrel means.

27. The applicator according to claim 25, wherein said large diameter cylindrical section includes a portion of said inner surface and said second opposite end;

and further including retention bead means for engaging with said annular sealing flange means to retain said plunger means in said large diameter cylindrical section, said retention bead means being formed on said portion of the inner surface of said large diameter cylindrical section in spaced relation from the second opposite end thereof.

28. The applicator according to claim 24, wherein said rib means includes a plurality of equiangularly spaced and radially directed ribs connected between said cylindrical section and said annular sealing flange means.