Temper-resistant protective capping device for filled syringes

A tamper-resistant filled syringe protective capping device which comprises a one-piece molded product, comprising a base section having a portion thereof provided with a female luer port, a sterility protector, and two side portions which at their furthest ends are provided with complementary locking structure so that when a filled syringe is inserted into the luer port at the base section of the unit, the two side portions can be folded therearound and locked into position to form a tamper-evident container for maintaining a filled syringe in tamper-proof condition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to devices for capping and protecting 
syringes filled with liquid medication for later use with patients. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
A common problem with known protective devices for filled syringes is that 
they generally are designed for either capping the syringe or for 
packaging the capped syringe in a tamper-resistant package, but not for 
both. 
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,720,969 is a device having a peelable seal 
which can be used to facilitate the release of the filled syringe from the 
particular container formation. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,955,705 discloses a transparent container adapted to hold a 
syringe and needle assembly. However, in this patent, cradle means (see 
reference numeral 23) are formed on the base section and hold the syringe 
and needle in position and the cap assembly is then positioned over the 
base and locked into position. The manner of use of this particular 
container is entirely different from that of the present invention, and 
the overall device is not nearly as simple in structure or use as that of 
the present invention. 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,043,334 and 4,286,591 are devices that cap or close off 
the tip of a filled syringe, but do not provide a tamper-resistant 
enclosure. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the present invention is to provide a sterile protective 
container for receiving a filled syringe therewithin and which will 
provide complete protection therefor until it is desired to use same. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an easily used 
protective device of one-piece construction wherein the hinge portions of 
the device are formed as so-called "living hinges" from the material from 
which the device is made. Also, fastening structure which comprise 
complementary portions on the respective free ends of the container 
maintain it in closed protective position until the time of desired use. 
A further object of this invention is to provide a one-piece body member 
having a central female-luer therewith for receiving a filled syringe, a 
pair of containers affixed on either end of said central body member and 
connected by hinge means thereto, and complementary clasp means provided 
at the free ends of the container portions for secure engagement and 
retention of the device in closed position. 
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a protective 
container device having closure and securement structure associated 
therewith,which structure can be readily engaged by the fingers of a user, 
and torn in such a manner as to quickly release the cover from a filled 
syringe therewithin for immediate use. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-contained, 
sterile syringe cap with tamper evident seal. 
The present invention has a number of new and important features. The 
device comprises a one-piece molded product, including a base section 
having a portion thereof provided with a luer port, and two side portions 
which at their furthest ends are provided with locking structure so that 
when a filled syringe is inserted into the luer taper at the base of the 
unit, the two side portions can be folded therearound and locked into 
position to form a tamper-proof container for maintaining a filled syringe 
in tamper-proof condition. 
These together with other objects and advantages which will become 
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation 
as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to 
the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals 
refer to like parts throughout.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 indicates in 
general the device of the present invention. As shown, a filled syringe 12 
having indicia 14 inscribed along the side thereof and a plunger portion 
13 with head 15 is mounted by the tip 16 in a base section of the 
protective device. 
The base section 22 of the device has a pair of upstanding cylinders 24 and 
26 integral therewith. As best seen in FIG. 1, these cylinders 24 and 26 
are concentric and the inner cylinder 26 (FIG. 3) provides a female luer 
taper on the inner surface 27 thereof. This is for reception of the male 
luer tapered tip 16 of the syringe device 12. Normally, a relatively snug 
fit is provided for. 
On either side of the base section 22 are attached box-like elongated 
longitudinal containers 30 and 40. Living hinge sections 37 and 47, 
composed of the same material as the overall device is molded from, allow 
the box-like containers 30 and 40 to lay flat as depicted in FIG. 1, and 
then be easily opened and closed as indicated by the double headed arrows 
in FIG. 1. 
The box-like container 30 has a closed end 32 associated therewith with an 
extension portion 34 extending therefrom. On the outer surface of the end 
32 is provided a tapered ridge 36. The purpose of this ridge 36 is to 
complement and engage with the sawtooth ridge 46 on the end 52 of the 
other box-like longitudinal cover container 40. The extension portion 34 
on the end 32 of the first container 30 is somewhat narrower than the end 
52 of the second container 40. Furthermore, indentations or grooves 44 are 
provided at either side of where the end 52 connects to the outer 
longitudinal mid-surface of container 40. The grooves 44, together with a 
slot 42,provide a ready tear portion 152. So that portion 152 can be 
easily torn open, a traverse tab 62 is provided. The tab 62 preferably 
also has ribs 64 thereon for increased friction when gripped by the 
fingers of a user. 
As best seen in FIG. 3, an inwardly extending flange 53 parallel to the end 
portion 52 traverses the inside end of the container 40. Also, when the 
two cover container portions are closed, as in FIG. 2, the latch structure 
ridges 36, 46 and 56, due to the tapered leading surfaces thereof, snap 
together, and then because of the straight backsides of these ridges, lock 
together. 
A lip 132 on the end 32 also abuts the tab 62 when the device is closed. 
Abutment flanges 131, 133 and 141, 143 provide limit stops for, 
respectively, a MONOJECT or a B-D syringe. Extensions 145, 147 with the 
flanges 141, 143 complement the shortened sides of the flanges 131, 133. 
FIG. 4 shows in end elevation how the cylinders 24 and 26 are 
concentrically mounted on the base section 22. The outer cylinder 24 
provides a sealing surface for the attachment of a peelable, bacterial 
barrier BB (see FIG. 3) that is sterilizable by EtO gas or radiation. This 
material is readily available in the form of surgical draft paper or 
Dupont's Tyvek .RTM. packaging material. 
As can be easily visualized from viewing the drawing figures, the 
protective cover device of the present invention performs a complete 
protective container unit for enclosing a filled syringe, and thus will 
prevent any contamination thereof. However, when it is desired to obtain 
and use the filled syringe, by merely gripping the extension 62 at the one 
end of the device, the catch structure 52 can be easily torn off of the 
end of the device, thus rendering future use of the container impossible, 
and thus forming a one-time only protective structure. 
However, if it is desired that the container be used for more than one 
application, the slot 42 can be made smaller, or even eliminated 
completely, as well as the grooves 44 being omitted, and thus the unit 
would be usable for multi-purpose uses. While such use is envisioned, the 
primary purpose of the device is for a protective container for filled 
syringes usable one time only. 
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the 
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily 
occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the 
invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and 
accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted 
to, falling within the scope of the invention.