Patent ID: 6287279
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A universal safety syringe having a cylinder, a center axis of the cylinder, a projecting member attached to an end of the cylinder and defining a recess, a plunger inserted within the cylinder and moveable along the center axis, a cannula base inserted within the recess, a cannula mounted on the cannula base and a protective cap for covering the cannula, the cannula base and the projecting member, the improvement comprising:(a) a first undercut formed proximal to a top portion of the projecting member recess prohibiting the cannula base from being unintentionally removed during removal of the syringe from an insertion destination,(b) a second undercut formed proximal to a bottom portion of the projecting member recess prohibiting the cannula base from being unintentionally pushed into the cylinder during insertion of the syringe into the insertion destination,(c) a mushroom-shaped plunger head capable of entering cavity formed in the cannula base, the plunger having a lower portion for resting against a third undercut once the plunger head has entered the cavity,(d) the projecting member having a conical shape,(e) the protective cap having a first, second and third section, the first section having a greater diameter about a mid-section than the second section and having a conical shape, the second section having a greater diameter than the third section, the first section covering the conical-shaped projecting member, the second section covering the cannula base and the third section covering the cannula,(f) a first stop member of the cannula base,(g) a second stop member of the protective cap, the first and second stop members juxtaposed when the protective cap is completely inserted over the cannula,(h) an expansion section attached below the mushroom-shaped plunger head for widening a lower portion of the projecting member and permitting the cannula base to fall inwardly within the cylinder by the force of gravity,(i) a plurality of lugs located proximal to an actuating end of the plunger, the plurality of lugs capable of expanding outwardly when the plunger is pulled in a direction away from the cannula, but preventing any inward movement of the plunger prior to pulling the plunger away from the cannula, and(j) a plurality of lug supports for retaining the plurality of lugs in a fixed position essentially along the cylinder center axis prior to the syringe being filled with a liquid.