Patent ID: 6183440
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A hypodermic syringe assembly useful for drawing, containing and delivering liquids comprising:a syringe with an elongate barrel defining an axis, said barrel having an inside surface, an open bore therethrough having an open proximal end and a distal end comprising a fitting;an elongate plunger having a proximal end and a distal end, said plunger being disposed within said barrel and sized for slidable movement within said open bore of said barrel thereby defining a chamber proximal to said distal end of said barrel within said barrel for drawing, containing and delivering liquids, said distal end of said plunger forming a substantially liquid tight seal with said inside surface of said barrel, said plunger having an elongate cavity therewithin having a closed proximal end and an open distal end; said open distal end of said plunger being closed by a selectively releasable closure and wherein said fitting at said distal end of said barrel has a passageway therethrough into said chamber of said barrel;a hub having a fitting conjugate to said fitting at said distal end of said barrel for attaching said hub to said barrel, said hub having a passageway therethrough communicative to said chamber in said barrel when said hub is attached to said barrel, said hub further including an elongate needle having a proximal end, a distal end and a fluid path therethrough, said needle being disposed through said passageway for slidable movement between a first position wherein said fluid path of said needle is in fluid communication with said chamber in said barrel and said distal end of said needle projects outwardly from said hub and a second position, said needle having a mount at said proximal end, said mount having a proximal end having a seal portion for forming a seal with said chamber at said distal end of said barrel when said needle is in said first position so that a movement of said plunger within said barrel can draw into and expel a liquid from said chamber through said fluid path of said needle;a spring disposed about said mount being biased to urge said slidable movement of said needle from said first position to said second position;a selectively releasable latch disposed in said hub to engage said mount and retain said mount and said needle in said first position, said latch being selectively releasable by a practitioner so that said spring urges said mount and said needle to move from said first position into said second position, said second position being substantially within said cavity in said plunger, thereby substantially protecting the medical practitioner from inadvertent contact with said needle once said latch is released and rendering said syringe and needle substantially non-reusable.