Abstract:
A syringe injection aid apparatus comprises a body having a lower opening defined by an actuation collar, a syringe-interfacing plunger substantially slidably contained within the body, and a locking mechanism pivotally secured to the body. The locking mechanism is configured to prevent forward movement of the syringe-interfacing plunger when in a locked position and to enable forward movement of the syringe-interfacing plunger when in an unlocked position. The unlocked position is activated by external contact with the actuation collar.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to injection devices and, more particularly, to an injection aid device configured to interact with a syringe. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Numerous individuals are faced daily with the task of injecting themselves or others with medication. A typical injection scene finds the individual with a two-handed task of holding a vial of medication in one hand while trying to align a syringe, held in the other hand, with the vial. Once the needle of the syringe is injected into the vial, the individual must hold the syringe and vial in position while drawing back the plunger of the syringe to withdraw a specific dosage amount into the syringe. The individual must then position the syringe at a desired injection site then maintain that position and needle depth while simultaneously depressing the syringe plunger to deliver the medication. The multi-step process of delivering an injection requires significant manual dexterity. For those individuals lacking manual dexterity, the process can become very difficult and can present the individual with frustration and even safety issues due to, for example, the dropping and contamination of the syringe, unintended jabs with the needle, and, unfortunately, even the failure to deliver a medication that is needed to maintain health. As such, there is a need for an injection aid that can ensure confident and successful delivery of an injection time after time. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A syringe injection aid includes a body, a syringe-interfacing plunger slidably contained within the body, and a locking mechanism. The body has a lower opening defined by an actuation collar. The locking mechanism is pivotally secured to the body and has a locked and unlocked position. The locking mechanism is configured to prevent forward movement of the syringe-interfacing plunger when in a locked position and is configured to enable forward movement, i.e. towards an injection site, of the syringe-interfacing plunger when in an unlocked position. The unlocked position is activated by external contact with the activation collar. 
         [0004]    A syringe injection aid includes a containment means, a syringe-interfacing means slidably contained within the containment means and a locking means. The syringe-interfacing means is for interfacing with a syringe having a needle. The locking means is pivotally secured to the containment means and has a locked and unlocked position. The locking means is for preventing forward movement of the syringe-interfacing means when in a locked position and for enabling forward movement, i.e. towards an injection site, of the syringe-interfacing means when in an unlocked position. The actuation means is for unlocking the locking means upon being externally contacted. 
         [0005]    A syringe injection aid includes an outer shell, a plunger, and a tube support. The plunger is slidably contained by the outer shell and is configured to interface with a syringe; the plunger has an injection delivery position. The tube support is coupled to the outer shell and includes a pivotable locking arm and an actuation collar. Upon external actuation of the actuation collar the locking arm is moved into an unlocked position enabling the plunger to slide past the locking arm to the injection delivery position. Upon retreat from the injection delivery position, the plunger causes the locking arm to move into a locked position. 
         [0006]    An embodiment of a syringe injection aid includes a body, a plunger, and a mechanism. The body is configured to substantially confine a syringe having a syringe plunger, a syringe body, and a needle. The plunger is substantially, slidably contained within the body. The mechanism is configured to interface with a surface of the plunger. Upon the mechanism engaging the surface of the plunger, the mechanism also engages the syringe body to move the needle of the syringe a distance beyond the confines of the body. Upon the mechanism subsequently disengaging the surface of the plunger, the plunger engages the syringe plunger to move the syringe plunger toward the syringe body while maintaining the distance of the needle from the body. 
         [0007]    The mechanism may comprise a ratchet for engaging an interior, slatted surface of the plunger. The plunger may include a graspable element that is exterior of the body. The plunger may additionally be configured to activate a position lock and the body may additionally be configured to deactivate the position lock upon the body contacting the neck of a medication vial. The plunger may additionally be configured to draw the syringe plunger away from the syringe body. The body may additionally be configured to establish a dosage for the syringe. 
         [0008]    The above summary is not intended to describe each embodiment or every implementation. A more complete understanding will become apparent and appreciated by referring to the following detailed description and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded assembly view of a syringe injection aid according to various embodiments. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is side perspective of the outer shell of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a substantially assembled syringe injection aid relative to a syringe according to various embodiments. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a fully assembled syringe injection aid according to various embodiments. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an exploded assembly view of a syringe injection according to various embodiments. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6A  is an exploded assembly view of a syringe injection according to various embodiments. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6B  is a substantially assembled syringe injection aid of  FIG. 6A  relative to a syringe according to various embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    A syringe injection aid  100  of the present disclosure is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  and is configured to interface with a standard syringe  10 . The standard syringe, shown in  FIG. 3 , includes a needle  12 , a syringe body  14  presenting a lower neck  16 , side handles  20 , and a syringe plunger  22  with a plunger cap  23 . In utilizing the syringe injection aid  100  of the present disclosure, the user is provided with a multi-use device that enables one-handed injection as well as needle protection and needle depth control. 
         [0017]    As shown, the syringe injection aid  100  generally comprises an outer shell  102 , a side cap  104 , a plunger  106 , a tube support  108  and a gauge  110 . The outer shell  102 , most clearly seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , comprises a tubular configuration having a threaded upper portion  112  and a multi-slotted lower portion  113 . The threaded upper portion  112  includes a centrally positioned slot  114  extending the length thereof. An inner lip  116  of the slot  114  is provided with a notched surface  118  with movement along each notch indicating a specific dosage. The lower portion  113  of the outer shell  102  is configured to receive the plunger  106  and accommodate portions of the tube support  108 . Specifically, the lower portion  113  includes a centrally positioned slot  120 , substantially extending the length thereof, that has been configured to accept the standard syringe  10  and thus includes a widened opening  122  designed to accommodate the side handles  20  and the plunger  22  of the syringe  10 . The slot  120  is defined to either side by legs  124 . The lower portion  113  further includes side slots  126  that are defined on one side by legs  124  and on the other side by rear portion  128 . The rear portion  128  incorporates an indent  134  and a latch slot  130  into which a latch  192  is secureably and pivotally positioned The outer shell  102  is further defined by a side cap positioner  136  that extends outward from the lower portion  113  and is positioned intermediate the upper portion  112  and the lower portion  113 . The side cap positioner  136  is defined by a central opening  138  that establishes first and second side portions  139  of the side cap positioner  136 . 
         [0018]    The side cap  104  is configured to interface with slot  120  of the lower portion  113  of the outer shell  102  and to interface with a syringe  10  held within lower portion  113 . As such, the side cap  104  comprises an elongate body portion  140  having an exterior surface  142  and an interior surface  144 . The exterior surface  142  is provided with a raised positioning tab  146  and a removal tab  147 . The raised positioning tab  146  serves to centrally position the side cap  104  within the slot  120  and provides a snap fit to the first and second side portions  139  of the side cap positioner  136 . The removal tab  147  extends angularly away from the exterior surface  142  and functions as a graspable lever by which to pivot or remove the side cap from the outer shell  102 . The interior surface  144  of the side cap  104  is provided with upper and lower retention tabs  148  to assist in maintaining the position of an underlying syringe  10 ; the retention tabs  148  present curved forward faces to accommodate the curvature of the syringe body  14 . The interior surface  144  additionally includes a ratchet stop  150 . The interior surface  144  further includes a lower stabilizer  152  to stabilize the side cap  104  and assist in maintaining the side cap  104  in the slot  120 ; the lower stabilizer  152  also blocks access to the needle  12  of the syringe  10  when the needle  12  is in a retracted position. As such, the needle  12  is essentially confined within the syringe injection aid  100 . 
         [0019]    The plunger  106  is configured to be slidably received by the outer shell  102 . The plunger  106  includes an elongate, tubular stem portion  154 , an engagement flange  156 , and a top cap  158 . The tubular stem portion  154  includes side slot  157  which allows syringe  10  to slide by without engaging and a latch slot  159 . A central slot  160 , extending from the top cap  158  through the engagement flange  156 , is configured to be substantially aligned with the slot  120  of the outer shell  102 . The interior of the plunger  106  is provided with a slotted stop  162  proximate the top cap  158  and a slatted, interior rear surface  164 , illustrated with hidden, dashed lines, to provide an interfacing surface for a ratchet  166 . The ratchet  166  includes a ratchet body  168  and a catch  170 , for example, a spring steel catch, ratchet arms  167 , and an upper neck portion  169 . The ratchet  166  is configured to accommodate the tubular configuration of the plunger  106 . When the plunger  106  is received within the outer shell  102 , the engagement flange  156  operates to engage the outer shell  102 . In doing so, the engagement flange  156  utilizes a pair of outer arms  172 , which are configured to slide along the legs  124  of outer shell  102 , and a pair of intermediate arms  174 , which slidably engage side slots  126  of the outer shell  102  to maintain the desired operational orientation of the plunger  106  relative to the outer shell  102 . The engagement flange  156  additionally includes a curved receiving slot  176  that extends between intermediate arms  174 . 
         [0020]    The tube support  108  is configured to interface with the slidable plunger  106  and with the outer shell  102 . The tube support  108  includes a centrally positioned upper tab  178 , which is configured to engage the ratchet  166 , a central body portion  180 , and a lower tab  182  having a notched, arcuate face  184 . The central body portion  180  includes an elongate central cavity  186  substantially aligned with slots  120  and  160  and elongate side walls  188  over which the tubular stem portion  154  of the plunger  106  may slide. The central body portion  180  further includes a pair of lower arm extensions  190 . The tube support  108  is additionally configured to accommodate a latch trigger  194  through use of a latch/trigger receptor  195 , explained further below, as well as a tube support insert  196  having alignment tabs  193  and upper engagement edges  191 . 
         [0021]    The gauge  110  includes a lower stop portion  197 , an upper stop portion  198 , and an adjustment ring  199 . The lower stop portion  197  and upper stop portion  198  each incorporate a side wing  200  configuration with the side wing  200  of the lower stop portion  197  incorporating an indicator  201  that extends through slot  114  proximate notched surface  118  to indicate a selected dosage. The lower stop portion  197  and upper stop portion  198  are positioned to either side of the adjustment ring  199  and are connected there through by appropriate connection device, e.g., a screw. An end cap  202  may be provided to seal off the upper end of the outer shell  102 . 
         [0022]    To assemble the syringe injection aid  100 , it is generally desirable to first complete the support tube assembly  204 . However, it should be noted that, any assembly sequence resulting in the desired finished product is contemplated by the present disclosure. To begin the support tube assembly  204 , the latch/trigger receptor  195  is fitted with a spring (not shown) and the latch trigger  194 , for example, an elongate pin, is provided at each side of the spring. The tube support insert  196  is then slid into the tube support  108 . Note that the alignment tabs  193  of the tube support insert  196  are accommodated by the notched arcuate face  184  of the lower tab  182  of the tube support  108  and the upper engagement edges  191  of the tube support insert  196  actively engage the pair of lower arm extensions  190  of the tube support  108 . The tube support assembly  204  is now complete. 
         [0023]    In continuing the assembly of the syringe injection aid  100 , the tube support assembly  204  is incorporated into the plunger  106  to produce the plunger assembly  206 . First, the ratchet  166 , with the catch  170  already secured to the ratchet body  168 , may be placed within the tubular stem portion  154  proximate slotted stop  162  of the plunger  106 . Then central body portion  180  and upper tab  178  of the tube support are inserted into the tubular stem portion  154  of the plunger  106 . As the tube support  108  is slid into the plunger  106 , the lower tab  182  of the tube support  108  engages the curved receiving slot  176  of the engagement flange  156  and is slid there through until the arcuate face  184  of the lower tab  182  is flush with the engagement flange  156 . The plunger assembly  206  is now complete. 
         [0024]    Further assembly of the syringe injection aid  100  provides for incorporating the plunger assembly  206  into the outer shell  102  to establish the outer shell assembly  208 . First, the latch  192  is pivotally secured within the latch slot  130 . Then, the plunger assembly  206  is slid into the multi-slotted lower portion  113  of the outer shell  102 . In so doing, the centrally positioned slot  120  of the lower portion  113  of the outer shell  120  is substantially aligned with the central slot  160  of the plunger  106 , which is substantially aligned with the elongate central cavity  186  of the tube support  108 . Further the intermediate arms  174  of the plunger  106  are engaged with the side slots  126  of the outer shell  102 , the outer arms  172  of the plunger  106  are slidably positioned over the legs  124  of the outer shell  102 . The plunger assembly  206  is fixedly engaged with the outer shell by engaging the lower tab  182  of the tube support  108  to the indent  134  of the outer shell  102 . The engagement area at the indent  134  may be fused or glued to prevent separation of the plunger assembly  206  from the outer shell  102 . 
         [0025]    To complete the outer shell assembly  208 , the lower stop portion  197  of the gauge  110  is positioned within the upper portion  112  of the outer shell  102  with the indicator  201  of the lower stop portion  197  extending visibly through the centrally positioned slot  114 . The adjustment ring  199  is then threadably engaged to the threaded upper portion  113  of the outer shell  102 , the upper stop portion  198  of the gauge  110  is secured to the lower stop portion  197  of the gauge  110 , and the end cap  200  is secured to the upper portion  113  of the outer shell  102  to complete the outer shell assembly  208 . A complete assembly of the syringe injection aid  100  finds the side cap  104  pivotably secured to the first and second side portions  139  of the side cap positioner  136 . 
         [0026]    To use the assembled syringe injection aid  100 , a syringe  10 , with its safety cap (not shown) in place over the needle  12 , is placed within the syringe injection aid  100  such that the body  14  of the syringe  10  is substantially encompassed by the central body portion  180  of the tube support  108 . Note that widened opening  122  of the outer shell  102  is configured to accept the side handles  20  of the syringe  10  to accurately position the syringe  10  within the syringe injection aid  100 . At this point, the entire syringe  10 , including the safety cap covered needle  12  is substantially encompassed by the syringe injection aid  100  and the side cap  104  may be pivoted downward and snapped into a closed position to complete the enclosure of the syringe  10 . The upper and lower retention tabs  148  of the side cap press against the body  14  of the syringe  10  helping to maintain the position of the syringe  10 . 
         [0027]    With the empty syringe  10  loaded into the syringe injection aid  100 , the adjustment ring  199  of the gauge  110  may be dialed up or down the threaded upper portion  112  of the outer shell  102  to a desired dosage indication, as indicated by a scale on the syringe injection aid  100  and by the indicator  201  of the lower stop portion  197  of the gauge  110 . It should be noted that the components of the syringe injection aid  100  have been designed specific to a standard syringe, for example, a  100  unit B-D™ syringe, and thus the dosage indication on the syringe injection aid  100  has been calibrated such that operation of the syringe injection aid  100  will provide the user with the appropriate dosage. However, various embodiments of a syringe injection aid, as described herein, may be designed for any size/type syringe and the dosage indication may be calibrated accordingly. 
         [0028]    Next, the syringe injection aid  100  may be positioned in a vertical orientation such that the end cap  202  is upon a flat surface and the needle safety cap upon the syringe needle  12  is visible to the user at the open end of the syringe injection aid. Upon removing the needle safety cap from the needle  12 , the medication vial  15  may be placed upon the needle  12 . Note that the tube support insert  196  and the lower stabilizer  152  of the side cap  104  essentially establish a collar configuration that is configured to fit about the neck  17  of the vial  15  and thereby center the vial  15  on the needle  12  as well as prevent over insertion of the needle into the vial. This positioning by the syringe injection aid ensures that the syringe  10  can accurately draw from the vial  15  without introducing air into the syringe  10 . 
         [0029]    Engagement of the neck  17  of the vial  15  with the syringe injection aid  100  causes engagement with the latch trigger  194  which is pushed up to causing the latch  192  to pivot in toward to the central body portion  180  of the tube support  108 . Prior to this, the latch  192  extended outward from the latch slot  130  of the outer shell  102  in an orientation substantially perpendicular to the outer shell  102 . In the outward orientation, the latch  192  blocks the syringe-filling pulling movement of the plunger  106  until the neck  17  of the vial  15  has engaged the syringe injection aid  100 . Upon engagement, one may hold the syringe injection aid  100  and vial  15  with one hand and easily draw back the plunger  106  by grasping the engagement flange  156  to draw the medication from the vial  15  into the syringe  10 . The drawing of the plunger  106  also serves to draw the plunger  22  of the syringe  10  as slotted stop  162  of the plunger  106  engages the plunger cap  23 . The plunger  106  is drawn back until the top cap  158  of the plunger  106  contacts the lower stop portion  197  of the gauge  110 . 
         [0030]    The vial  15  may now be withdrawn from the syringe injection aid  100 . With the needle  12  of the syringe  10  still contained within the confines of the syringe injection aid  100 , the syringe injection aid  100  may then be positioned flatly against a desired injection site. Once in position, a single hand of the user may hold the syringe injection aid  100  and push the plunger  106  forward at which time the catch  170  of the ratchet  166  engages the slatted, interior back surface  164  of the plunger  106 , the ratchet arms  167  engage the side handles  20  to propel the syringe body  14  forward, and slotted stop  162  of the plunger  106 , which is already engaged with the plunger cap  23  of the syringe  10 , may propel the plunger  22  of the syringe  10  forward. 
         [0031]    The engagement of the ratchet arms  167  with the side handles  20  of the syringe  10  pushes the syringe body  14  forward for the length of the needle  12  of the syringe  10  as the ratchet body  168  slides along upper tab  178  of the tube support  108  until the ratchet body  166  contacts the central body portion  180  of the tube support  108 . At this point, the upper tab  178  of the tube support  108  contacts the catch  170  of the ratchet  166  causing the ratchet  166  to disengage from the slatted, interior back surface  164  of the plunger  106 . Any further forward movement by the ratchet  166  is stopped upon the ratchet  166  contacting the central body portion  180  of the tube support  108  which also stops any further forward movement of the syringe body  14 , thus establishing an injection depth for the syringe needle  12 . However, the plunger  106  continues forward pushing the plunger  22  of the syringe  10  forward to deliver the medication within the syringe  10  and complete the injection. As such, the syringe injection aid  100  operates to control the depth of penetration of the needle  12  while substantially simultaneously delivering the desired dosage of medication. 
         [0032]    After completion of the injection, the needle safety cap may be placed over the syringe needle  12  and used to push the syringe  10  inward until the entire syringe  10  is once again within the confines of the syringe injection aid  100 . Pushing the syringe  10  inward results in movement of the plunger  106  whereby the latch  192  is caused to pivot outward thereby locking the syringe injection aid  100  until another use of the syringe injection aid  100  is desired. Notably, throughout the placement of the syringe  10  within the syringe injection aid  100 , the loading of the syringe  10  with medication, the delivery of the injection, and the withdrawal of the needle  12 , the needle  12  may be kept within the confines of the syringe injection aid  100  preventing erroneous jabs or contamination of the needle  12 . Further, with the syringe injection aid  100  in the locked position, a user may draw the side cap  104  upward and remove the syringe  10  and put a new syringe  10  in place within the syringe injection aid readying it for another use. 
         [0033]    In an alternative embodiment, see  FIG. 5 , the ratchet  166  may be eliminated which also eliminates the need for the slatted interior surface rear surface  164  of the interior of the plunger  106 . Further, the upper tab  178  of the tube support  108 , whose purpose is to engage the ratchet  166 , may also be eliminated. Further, the ratchet stop  150  of the side cap  104  has been replaced with arms  151  that rest behind, i.e. towards the syringe plunger  22 , the side handles  20  of the syringe. Note that the tube support insert  196 , latch trigger  194 , spring, and latch  192  as well as gauge  110  are not shown in the illustration of  FIG. 5 , but should still be considered elements of the embodiment. In this configuration, the syringe plunger  22 , which is engaged with the plunger  106 , is used to move the body  14  of the syringe  10  forward, towards the injection site rather than the ratchet  166 . The tube support  108  acts as a stop to the side handles  20  of the body  14  of the syringe  10  to prevent further forward movement of the body  14 , which also serves to set the depth of needle  12  penetration at the injection site. 
         [0034]    Further alternative embodiments are illustrated in  FIGS. 6A-B , where  FIG. 6A  illustrates an exploded view of a syringe injection aid and  FIG. 6B  illustrates a substantially assembled syringe injection aid of  FIG. 6A  relative to a syringe. Here again, the ratchet  166  may be eliminated which also eliminates the need for the slatted interior surface rear surface  164  of the interior of the plunger  106 . Further, the upper tab  178  of the tube support  108 , whose purpose is to engage the ratchet  166 , may also be eliminated. It is replaced by tab  602  having an arcuate shape for engaging curved receiving slot  176 . Further, the ratchet stop  150  of the side cap  104  has been removed. Side cap  104  instead includes a slot  604  through the side cap  104  that is configured to fit a syringe retainer button  606 . Syringe retainer button  606  includes an extended portion  608 . The raised positioning tab  146  of  FIG. 1  is replaced with a dual-armed positioning tab  610  that is configured to receive the extended portion  608  between the arms. The syringe retainer button  606  rests against a syringe  10 , i.e. towards the syringe plunger  22 , the side handles  20  of the syringe, to retain and immobilize the body of the syringe  10  with respect to the syringe injection aid  100 . Note that the gauge  110  is not shown in the illustrations of  FIGS. 6A-B , but should still be considered elements of the embodiment. Also, reference numerals for parts consistent with those labeled in  FIGS. 1-4  are not repeated but should be considered the same or similar as shown in those figures. In this configuration, the syringe plunger  22 , which is engaged with the plunger  106 , is used to move the body  14  of the syringe  10  forward, towards the injection site rather than the ratchet  166 . The tube support  108  acts as a stop to the side handles  20  of the body  14  of the syringe  10  to prevent further forward movement of the body  14 , which also serves to set the depth of needle  12  penetration at the injection site. 
         [0035]    Systems, devices or methods disclosed herein may include one or more of the features structures, methods, or combination thereof described herein. For example, a device or method may be implemented to include one or more of the features and/or processes above. It is intended that such device or method need not include all of the features and/or processes described herein, but may be implemented to include selected features and/or processes that provide useful structures and/or functionality. For example, the disclosed embodiments may be used for both human and veterinary purposes. 
         [0036]    Various modifications and additions can be made to the disclosed embodiments discussed above. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by the particular embodiments described above, but should be defined only by the claims set forth below and equivalents thereof.