Patent ID: 6425886
Filing Date: 2002-07-30
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
An apparatus for manufacturing a syringe including a tubular barrel having an open proximal end, a distal end with a fluid expelling passage defined therein, and a barrel chamber, a seal being disposed within said barrel chamber a predetermined distance away from said open proximal end in fluid-tight and axially-sliding engagement with said barrel chamber, said seal defining at least two diametrically enlarged portions at axially spaced apart portions on said seal so as to be respectively in abutment with the inner wall of said barrel chamber and a concave portion between adjacent diametrically enlarged portions of said at least two diametrically enlarged portions for defining a clearance relative to said inner wall of said barrel chamber, wherein lubricant film exists at interfaces between said at least two diametrically enlarged portions of said seal and said inner wall of said barrel chamber, and lubricant is filled in said clearance, said apparatus comprising:a barrel retaining unit for retaining said barrel of said syringe therein; a seal detent unit defining therein a through-hole having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of said seal for holding said seal at a detent position within said through-hole, a diametrically smaller tubular portion in which one open end of said through-hole is defined, said diametrically smaller tubular portion being capable of plunging into said barrel chamber via said open proximal end of said barrel and passing a predetermined distance away from said open proximal end of said barrel, and a passage in communication between said detent position of said through-hole and the outside of said seal detent unit for feeding lubricant from said outside to said seal held at said detent position of said through-hole; and a thrusting unit for forcing said seal held within said through-hole of said seal detent unit out of said through-hole via an opening of said diametrically smaller tubular portion of said seal detent unit; whereby said diametrically smaller tubular portion of said seal detent unit is plunged into said barrel chamber of said syringe, and then said seal with lubricant applied onto said at least two diametrically enlarged portions thereof and filled in said clearance via said passage is forced into said barrel chamber by said thrusting unit as said diametrically smaller tubular portion remains within said barrel chamber.