Patent ID: 6171286
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A syringe plunger adapted for use in a glass syringe barrel for administering epidural anesthesia, the plunger having a first or forward member and a second or rearward member;the first member comprising a hollow glass tip defining a chamber having a closed leading end and an open trailing end, the glass tip being characterized as adapted to provide a very close tolerance fit within a glass syringe barrel and as exhibiting substantially no frictional interference as the leading end of the glass tip is advanced within the glass barrel of the syringe;the second member having leading and trailing ends; andmeans for flexibly securing the leading end of the second member within the chamber of the first member so that the rearward first member is free to flex at the point of attachment in response to lateral forces applied to the second member as it is advanced within the glass barrel during use, the plunger thereby being characterized as being self-aligning as the plunger is advanced within the syringe barrel, thereby preventing the lateral forces so applied to the plunger during use from moving the glass tip of the plunger out of axial alignment with the axis of the barrel, thereby to cause binding or dragging of the plunger within the barrel.