Angiographic syringe and connector for joining a catheter thereto

An angiographic syringe and a connector for effecting the connection of a catheter to the syringe is disclosed. The connector is a tubular member that engages the syringe at the discharge end and removably engages a suitable end member of a catheter. In the preferred embodiment, the connector is a hollow single-piece structure with tabs at one end for engaging the discharge end of the syringe. A track in the discharge end permits purely rotational movement of the connector about the syringe and eliminates any translational movement thereon. The other end of the connector employs an inner thread to engage the corresponding end of the catheter. Rotational movement of the connector about the discharge end of the syringe draws the catheter into tight engagement therewith, eliminating any rotational movement of either the syringe or catheter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to syringes utilized for introducing fluids into the 
body of a human or an animal, and more particularly to a syringe 
incorporating a connector which facilitates the interconnection of the 
syringe with a catheter for rapid and secure interconnection thereof. 
2. Background of the Prior Art 
In the course of angiographic procedures involving the introduction of 
radiopaque substances into blood vessels and the like in order to permit 
diagnostic evaluation of the condition thereof, the radiopaque substance 
is provided within a syringe and is introduced into the blood stream of 
the patient in a controlled manner through a catheter which interconnects 
the vascular system with the syringe. In normal use, the catheter is 
inserted into the proper blood vessel and the opposite end thereof is 
connected to the syringe containing the radiopaque substance, the 
interconnection being accomplished by a threaded connector having means to 
engage the end of the catheter and an internal thread to engage the 
discharge opening of the syringe. The connector serves to secure the 
interconnection in order to preclude separation when pressure is applied 
to cause the radiopaque substance to flow through the syringe discharge 
opening and into the catheter for subsequent entry into a blood vessel. 
Typically, the catheter has a suitably formed end, opposite the end which 
is introduced into the blood vessel, and the connector includes a slotted 
engaging portion into which the catheter end is radially inserted until it 
is in axial alignment with the connector, whereupon the syringe is 
threadly engaged with the other end of the connector to effect the 
connection. Both the catheter end and the syringe discharge opening 
include cooperatively engageable means to provide a fluid-tight 
interconnection therebetween, the latter being most often effected by use 
of a luer taper wherein the catheter end includes an internal luer taper 
and the syringe discharge opening includes a complementary external luer 
taper which engages the catheter end and is secured thereto by means of 
the connector. 
The prior art connectors, however, are inconvenient and cumbersome to use 
in that a relatively large number of rotations of the connector are 
required in order to effect engagement between the catheter end and the 
syringe discharge opening. Even if relatively coarse threads are provided, 
excessive twisting still is required to effect sealing engagement. 
Additionally, the interconnection normally is accomplished by rotating 
either the catheter end or the syringe, thereby resulting in an 
undesirable condition in that the catheter, having once been inserted into 
the patient, could not be rotated. Further, it is difficult to rotate the 
syringe because it is held in an angiographic apparatus for controlled 
injection of the fluid. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an interconnection 
means between a syringe and a catheter whereby rapid connection 
therebetween can be effected. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide an interconnection 
between a syringe and catheter wherein the interconnection is effected in 
such a manner that the parts thereof are interengaged in fluid-tight 
relationship. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an 
interconnection between a syringe and catheter, wherein the connector 
rotates rather than translates on the discharge extension of the syringe. 
Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a 
syringe is provided and is connectable with a catheter. The syringe 
includes an elongated tubular body, an intermediate portion and a 
discharge extension having a discharge outlet at one end and a piston 
slidably positioned in the tubular body in fluid-tight relationship 
therewith to control the discharge of fluid through the discharge outlet. 
The discharge extension of the syringe includes engagement means for 
permitting engagement of a connector. The connector includes first 
attachment means cooperable with the engagement means for attaching the 
connector to the syringe discharge extension in axial engagement with the 
outlet therein, and second attachment means for cooperatively engaging 
with a catheter end. The first attachment means is axially spaced from the 
second attachment means, the former including tabs for engaging with a 
track in the discharge extension and the latter preferably including a 
multiple start thread to permit rapid interengagement of the catheter end 
with the connector member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a syringe-catheter assembly, 
designated generally by the numeral 10, which utilizes the syringe 12 and 
connector 14 of the present invention. 
The syringe 12 comprises an elongated tubular body 20 and a coaxial 
discharge extension 38, connected by an intermediate portion 24. The 
tubular body 20 has a circular, outwardly extending flange 50 on one end, 
as well as a piston 52 slideably positioned within the tubular body 20. 
Piston 52 is designed to permit fluid contained within syringe 12 to be 
dispensed therefrom in a desired quantity and at a desired rate. A 
suitable rod 54, or the like, can be attached to piston 52 to facilitate 
axial movement thereof. 
Intermediate portion 24 of syringe 12 is in the shape of a funnel and 
comprises two sections, a hollow cone 24a and a tapered neck 24b. 
Extending axially from the tapered neck 24b is discharge extension 38 
which comprises several portions 38a, 38b, 38c, 38d, and 38e and 
terminates in discharge outlet 22. Discharge extension 38 serves as a 
guide means and provides an attachment point for the connector 14. The 
configuration of the nozzle portion 38e of discharge extension 38 
corresponds with generally accepted taper lengths and angles as described 
in ASA Standard Z-1955 so as to be mateable with conventional catheters 
16. Inner passageway 28 within extension 38 can be generally cylindrical, 
and provides communication between discharge outlet 22 and the interior of 
tubular body 20. 
Engaged with the nozzle portion 38e of discharge extension 38 and enclosing 
discharge outlet 22 is an end member 26 of a tubular catheter 16, the 
opposite end of which (not shown) is adapted to be inserted into a blood 
vessel of a patient. Surrounding the discharge extension 38 and end member 
26 of catheter 16 is a connector 14 in accordance with the present 
invention. 
FIG. 3 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the syringe 12 of the present 
invention. In this embodiment, discharge extension 38 comprises notched 
portion 38b, guide portion 38c and nozzle 38e. As in the preferred 
embodiment, tapered neck 24b extends to the beginning of discharge 
extension 38; but, unlike the preferred embodiment, tapered neck 24b ends 
at notched portion 38b where track 48 is located. With both first step 38a 
and extender portion 38d being eliminated, the remaining portions 38b, 
38c and 38e function as in the preferred embodiment. In both embodiments, 
syringe 12 preferably is formed from a relatively rigid, translucent 
plastic material. 
Referring once again to FIG. 2, catheter end member 26 is seen to include 
coaxial extension 32, the inner surface 34 of which is formed in a 
standard luer taper in order to provide a complementary mating surface 
with the tapered outer surface of nozzle portion 38e. At the end of 
coaxial extension 32 are a pair of oppositely disposed, outwardly 
extending edges 36 to faciliate engagement with connector 14. 
Connector 14, which surrounds the interconnection between catheter end 
member 26 and nozzle portion 38e is shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 to have a 
generally hollow tubular body, which, as is clearly shown in FIG. 2, is of 
integral one-piece construction. Positioned internally on the first 
connector end 40 and integrally formed therewith is attachment means 
comprising first and second tabs 46 and 46a, disposed opposite one 
another, which engage track 48 on notched portion 38b of syringe discharge 
extension 38. Adjacent tabs 46 and 46a are connector windows 56, 56a which 
run across intermediate portion 44 of connector 14 and simply comprise 
openings in intermediate portion 44. As such, windows 56, 56a function to 
make intermediate portion 44 more plyable, thereby allowing tabs 46, 46a 
to pass over guide extension 38c more easily and facilitating the handling 
and use of connector 14. 
The second end 42 of connector 14 is smaller in diameter than the remainder 
of the body (which comprises first end 40 and intermediate portion 44) of 
connector 14 and extends around part of nozzle portion 38e of discharge 
extension 38, nozzle portion 38e protruding through end opening 58 of 
connector 14. Positioned internally on second connector end 42 and 
integrally formed therewith is attachment means comprising a multiple 
start thread 30 which engages with outwardly extending edges 36 of 
catheter coaxial extension 32. 
In operation, and referring now to the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, 
connector 14 is slipped into place on syringe 12 by pushing connector 14 
over discharge extension 38 in the direction of tapered neck 24b. In the 
preferred embodiment, tabs 46, 46a will brush across the surface of 
extender portion 38d being gradually pushed apart as connector 14 passes 
over the conical guide portion 38c of discharge extension 38. When tabs 
46, 46a reach notched portion 38b, they will snap into place in track 48, 
the first end 40 of connector 14 extending over first step 38a of 
discharge extension 38. Connector 14 is similarly attached to the syringe 
shown in FIG. 3. Thus, tabs 46, 46a will be pushed apart as connector 14 
passes over guide portion 38c, finally snapping into place in track 48. 
Once in this position, connector 14 may be rotated about discharge 
extension 38 while avoiding any translational movement thereon. 
After the syringe-connector assembly is complete, catheter 16 may be 
engaged with syringe 12 as follows. First, coaxial extension 32 of 
catheter end member 26 is slipped over nozzle portion 38e of discharge 
extension 38 to the point where outwardly extending edges 36 of catheter 
16 engage with the inner threads 30 of connector 14. Connector 14 is then 
rotated clockwise in the direction of arrow R, tabs 46 and 46a rotating 
solely within the track 48 of notched portion 38b, thereby causing 
outwardly extending edge 36 of coaxial extension 32 to become threadly 
engaged with inner threads 30 of connector 14. This movement draws 
catheter end member 26 axially along nozzle 38e in a direction toward 
syringe 12 so as to provide a sealed engagement between the tapered inner 
surface 34 of the coaxial extension 32 and the corresponding tapered 
surface of the nozzle portion 38e of the discharge extension 38. It should 
be noted that the lengths of each of the respective tapers must be 
sufficiently long so that syringe discharge outlet 22 does not bottom 
against catheter end member 26 before the inner and outer tapered surfaces 
com into tight engagement. 
By utilizing this arrangement, rotation of either syringe 12 or catheter 16 
is eliminated, thereby providing an element of ease in the use of the 
angiographic injector and eliminating what previously has been a 
troublesome shortcoming of prior art connectors. 
Although a particular embodiment of the present invention has been 
illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art 
that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from 
the spirit and scope of the present invention. It therefore is the intent 
to encompass within the appended claims all such changes and modifications 
that fall within the scope of the present invention.