Patent ID: 6368307
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A front-loading injector for supporting a syringe having a fluid cavity containing body, a forward end having a nozzle extending therefrom, and radially outwardly extending support structure on the rearward end of the body and for driving a plunger in the syringe forwardly through the body in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the syringe to inject fluid from a cavity within the body of the syringe and out of the nozzle of the syringe, comprising:an injector housing having a front with an opening therein and an injection ram in the housing and extendable along an axis of the ram through the opening and beyond the front of the housing to drive a plunger in a syringe mounted to said housing and through the cavity in the body thereof; and locking structure within the opening including elements that are moveable radially to and from an axis through the opening between a retracted position sufficiently spaced from the axis through the opening to permit passage of outwardly extending support structure on the rearward end of the syringe when inserted rearwardly into or removed forwardly from the opening and a locking position in which the elements hold the syringe immediately forward of and against the support structure on the rearward end thereof to thereby lock the syringe to the injector with its longitudinal axis substantially coincident with the axis through the opening with the body of the syringe extending freely beyond and away from the injector, forward of the front of the housing and forward of the moveable elements of the locking structure with the forward end of the body and the nozzle remote from the locking structure.