SYRINGE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING PRESSURIZED STERILE AIR

A syringe assembly includes a barrel defining a chamber therein, pressurized sterile air in the chamber, a plunger including a piston slidable in the chamber in a sealing relation to displace a fluid in the chamber, a seal configured to retain the pressurized sterile fluid in the chamber between the piston of the plunger and the seal when the plunger is stationary, and a needle assembly extending distally from the barrel and in fluid communication with the chamber of the barrel.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The disclosure relates to a syringe, and, more particularly, to a syringe assembly including pressurized sterile air.

Background of Related Art

Airborne diseases spread easily in close quarters and are spread through a variety of paths including person to person, contact through open wounds, or through injection/insertion of medical devices. The pathogens may remain suspended in the air on dust particles or respiratory and water droplets. For example, hospitals, medical clinics, doctor's offices, and nursing homes are susceptible to transmission of airborne pathogens. In particular, operating rooms pose high risk for airborne transmission of pathogens. However, sterilizing such areas may be challenging. While UV-C equipment, disinfecting chemicals, safety measures, a myriad of other protocols are routinely used, the risk of infection through airborne pathogens remains high.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the disclosure, a syringe assembly includes a barrel defining a chamber therein, pressurized sterile air in the chamber, a plunger including a piston slidable in the chamber in a sealing relation to displace a fluid in the chamber, a seal configured to retain the pressurized sterile fluid in the chamber between the piston of the plunger and the seal when the plunger is stationary, and a needle assembly extending distally from the barrel and in fluid communication with the chamber of the barrel.

In an aspect, the seal may form an opening to receive a fluid therethrough, when the plunger is displaced.

In another aspect, the barrel may further include a luer lock connector operatively couplable to the needle assembly.

In yet another aspect, axial displacement of the plunger in a distal direction may cause the pressurized sterile air to exit through the seal and the needle assembly.

In still yet another aspect, axial displacement of the plunger in a proximal direction may cause suction to receive a fluid in the chamber.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a kit includes a syringe assembly and a vessel. The syringe assembly includes a barrel defining a chamber therein, pressurized sterile air in the chamber, a plunger including a piston slidable in the chamber in a sealing relation to displace a fluid in the chamber, a seal configured to retain the pressurized sterile air in the chamber between the piston of the plunger and the seal when the plunger is stationary, and a needle assembly extending distally from the barrel and in fluid communication with the chamber of the barrel. The vessel includes a body defining a chamber and a needle port configured to receive the needle assembly of the syringe in a sealing relation and sterile air disposed in the chamber of the body.

In an aspect, the body of the vessel may be collapsible.

In another aspect, the body may be formed of a plastic bag.

In yet another aspect, the needle port of the body may be a self-sealing seal.

In still yet another aspect, the self-sealing seal may be formed of a thermoplastic elastomer.

In an aspect, the vessel may be a single-use device.

In another aspect, the vessel may be a pressurized vessel.

In yet another aspect, the body of the vessel may be rigid.

In still yet another aspect, the body of the vessel may further include a fill port configured to be coupled to a sterile air supply.

In an aspect, the body of the vessel may further include a piston assembly including a spring and a seal coupled to the spring such that when the vessel is pressurized the spring may be compressed, and as the sterile air is released from the chamber of the vessel, the spring may be decompressed to displace the seal to facilitate release of the sterile air from the chamber of the vessel.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the disclosure, a kit includes a syringe assembly, a vessel, and a vial. The syringe assembly includes a barrel defining a chamber therein, pressurized sterile air in the chamber, a plunger including a piston slidable in the chamber in a sealing relation to displace the fluid in the chamber, a seal configured to retain the pressurized sterile air in the chamber between the piston of the plunger and the seal when the plunger is stationary, and a needle assembly extending distally from the barrel and in fluid communication with the chamber of the barrel. The vessel includes a body defining a chamber and a self-sealing seal configured to receive the needle assembly of the syringe in a sealing relation and a volume of sterile air disposed in the chamber of the body. The vial includes a body including medication therein and a self-sealing seal to retain the medication in the body. The self-sealing seal is configured to receive the needle assembly of the syringe to receive the pressurized sterile air from the chamber of the syringe assembly.

In an aspect, the vessel may be a single-use device.

In another aspect, the needle assembly may include a hub configured to engage a portion of the barrel of the syringe assembly, a needle shaft extending from the hub, and a bevel configured to penetrate through tissue.

In yet another aspect, the self-sealing seal of the body of the vessel may be configured to receive the bevel of the needle assembly in a sealing relation.

In still yet another aspect, the body of the vessel may be formed of a collapsible material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed syringe assembly is described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. As used herein, the term “distal,” as is conventional, will refer to that portion of the device or component thereof which is farther from the user, while the term “proximal” will refer to that portion of the device or component thereof which is closer to the user. As used herein, the terms parallel and perpendicular are understood to include relative configurations that are substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular up to about + or −10 degrees from true parallel and true perpendicular. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the disclosure in unnecessary detail.

With reference toFIG. 1, a syringe assembly in accordance with the disclosure is generally designated as10. The syringe assembly10may be utilized to administer a medication “M” in a vial500to a patient. In order to facilitate transfer of the medication “M” of the vial500to the syringe assembly10, pressurized sterile air109is supplied to the vial500, which, in turn, pressurizes the vial500. In contrast to a conventional syringe which draws the surrounding ambient air of, e.g., operating room, that may contain pathogens, the syringe assembly10is provided with a volume of pressurized sterile air109, as will be described below. In this manner, the risk of supplying contaminated ambient air causing, e.g., airborne diseases, to pressurize the vial500and ultimately to a patient is eliminated. In this manner, a safer delivery of medication to the patient is effected, thereby reducing the risk of transmission of pathogens.

With continued reference toFIG. 1, the syringe assembly10includes a barrel100, a needle assembly200, and a plunger300. The barrel100defines a chamber110configured to receive a fluid therein. The barrel100includes a proximal portion102including a collar120and a distal portion104including a luer lock108configured to support the needle assembly200. The plunger300includes a flat edge302, a shaft304extending from the flat edge302, and a piston306supported on a distal end of the shaft304. The piston306engages an inner surface112of the chamber110in a sealing relation. The chamber110includes a seal116in a distal portion of the chamber110. The seal116is configured to retain the sterile air109in the chamber110when the plunger300is stationary. However, the seal116forms an opening when the plunger is displaced to receive a fluid therethrough. For example, the seal116may be formed of a thermoplastic elastomer. Further, the chamber110is pre-equipped with pressurized sterilize air109that is used to pressurize the vial500. The sterile air109is pressurized in the chamber110to facilitate transfer of the sterile air109to the vial500. Further, the syringe assembly10may be configured as a single-use device.

The needle assembly200includes a hub202configured to engage the luer lock108of the barrel100, a needle shaft204extending distally from the hub202, and a bevel206at a distal end of the needle shaft204to facilitate insertion into tissue and delivery of the medication “M”.

Under such a configuration, the pressurized sterile air109may be transferred to the vial500through inserting the bevel206into the vial500through a self-sealing seal505of the vial500and pushing the plunger300in the direction of an arrow “D”. The piston306forces the sterile air109to be displaced through the seal116and the needle assembly200and into the vial500. The self-sealing seal505retains the sterile air109in the vial500and pressurizes the vial500. At this time, the medication “M” in the vial500now pressurized with the sterile air109may be transferred to the chamber110of the syringe assembly10through displacement of the plunger300in the direction of an arrow “P”. The syringe assembly10is now loaded with the medication “M” to be administered to a patient in a conventional manner.

While the syringe assembly10may be a single-use device, it is contemplated that the syringe assembly10may be sterilized for reuse or refilled during or after a surgical procedure. With reference toFIG. 2, the syringe assembly10may be used in conjunction with a collapsible vessel1000containing the sterile air109to refill the chamber110of the syringe assembly10with pressurized sterile air109. In particular, the collapsible vessel1000may include a body1010formed of a collapsible material such as, e.g., a plastic bag. The body1010includes a chamber1100containing the pressurized sterile air109. In addition, the body1010further includes a self-sealing seal1200to retain the pressurized sterile air109therein. In use, the plunger300(FIG. 1) is placed in a distal-most position such that the piston306of the plunger300is disposed adjacent the seal116(FIG. 1). At this time, the bevel206(FIG. 1) of the needle assembly200is inserted into the chamber1100through the self-sealing seal1200and the plunger300of the syringe assembly10is displaced in the direction of the arrow “P” to draw the pressurized sterile air109from the collapsible vessel1000to the chamber110of the syringe assembly10. Thereafter, the pressurized sterile air109may be supplied to the vial500in a manner described hereinabove. It is contemplated that the collapsible vessel1000may be a single-use device.

With reference toFIG. 3, there is illustrated a reusable vessel2000formed of a resilient material to withstand, e.g., sterilization thereof. For example, a body2010of the reusable vessel2000may be formed of a medical grade metal. The body2010defines a chamber2100configured to retain the pressurized sterile air109. In addition, the body2010includes a self-sealing seal2200and a fill port2300. The self-sealing seal2200is formed of, e.g., thermoplastic elastomer. The self-sealing seal2200is configured to receive the bevel206(FIG. 1) and the needle shaft204in a sealing relation. The fill port2300is in fluid communication with a sterile air supply70to refill the chamber2100with the sterile air109. The use of reusable vessel2000is substantially similar to the use of the collapsible vessel1000.

FIG. 4illustrates another vessel3000configured to retain the pressurized sterile air109for use with the syringe assembly10(FIG. 1). In particular, the vessel3000includes a body3010defining a chamber3100configured to retain the pressurized sterile air109. The body3010further includes a piston assembly3300including a seal3350such as, e.g., a gasket seal, and a spring3400coupled to the seal3350such that when the chamber3100is pressurized with the sterile air109, the spring3400is in compression. However, as the sterile air109is transferred to the chamber110(FIG. 1) of the syringe assembly10, the spring3400decompresses and urges the gasket seal3350to displace the sterile air109out of the chamber3100through the needle assembly200(FIG. 1) of the syringe assembly10inserted through the self-sealing seal3200. The use of the vessel3000is substantially similar to the vessels described hereinabove, and thus, will not be described herein.

With reference toFIG. 5, there is illustrated an intravenous injection system4000for use with the syringe assembly10(FIG. 1). The intravenous injection system4000includes a spike4010attachable to an intravenous fluid container (not shown), a drip chamber4020, a flow rate restrictor4030, a time flow indicator4040, a filter4050, a medication administration port4060of a catheter (not shown) attached to a patient, and a tubing4100interconnecting the above components to provide supply of continuous or intermittent fluid from the intravenous fluid container to the patient. The intravenous fluid container may include a rigid housing containing a fluid therein. In order to facilitate transfer of the fluid from the intravenous fluid container, the intravenous fluid container may be pressurized with the pressurized sterile air109in the syringe assembly10. In this manner, the risk of supplying contaminated ambient air causing, e.g., airborne diseases, to pressurize the intravenous fluid container and ultimately to a patient is eliminated. Further, in order to inject the medication “M” to the patient, the vial500(FIG. 1) may be pressurized with the sterile air109in the syringe assembly10and thereafter the medication “M” may be transferred to the chamber110of the syringe assembly10. Thereafter, the medication “M” is supplied to the medication administration port4060by inserting the bevel206(FIG. 1) of the needle assembly200thereinto. In this manner, the medication “M” is injected into the patient through the medication administration port4060of the catheter attachable to the patient.

With reference toFIG. 6, there is illustrated an intravenous injection system5000for use with the syringe assembly10(FIG. 1). The intravenous injection system5000includes a spike5010attachable to an intravenous fluid container (not shown), a drip chamber5020, a medication administration port5030, a flow rate restrictor5040, a time flow indicator5050, a filter5060, a catheter5070attachable to a patient, and a tubing5100interconnecting the above components to provide supply of continuous or intermittent fluid from the intravenous fluid container to the patient. As described above, the intravenous fluid container may include a rigid housing containing a fluid therein. In order to facilitate transfer of the fluid from the intravenous fluid container, the intravenous fluid container may be pressurized with the pressurized sterile air109in the syringe assembly10. In this manner, the risk of supplying contaminated ambient air causing, e.g., airborne diseases, to pressurize the intravenous fluid container and ultimately to a patient is eliminated. Further, in order to inject the medication “M” to the patient, the vial500(FIG. 1) may be pressurized with the sterile air109in the syringe assembly10and thereafter the medication “M” may be transferred to the chamber110of the syringe assembly10. Thereafter, the medication “M” is supplied to the medication administration port5030by inserting the bevel206(FIG. 1) of the needle assembly200thereinto. In this manner, the medication “M” is injected into the patient through the medication administration port5030.

With reference toFIG. 7, there is illustrated an intravenous injection system6000for use with the syringe assembly10(FIG. 1). The intravenous injection system6000includes a spike6010attachable to an intravenous fluid container (not shown), a drip chamber6020, a medication administration port6030attached to the drip chamber6020to enable infusion of the medication “M” into the drip chamber6020, a flow rate restrictor6040, a time flow indicator6050, a filter6060, a catheter6070attachable to a patient, and a tubing6100interconnecting the above components to supply continuous or intermittent fluid from the intravenous fluid container to the patient. As described above, the intravenous fluid container may include a rigid housing containing a fluid therein. In order to facilitate transfer of the fluid from the intravenous fluid container, the intravenous fluid container may be pressurized with the pressurized sterile air109in the syringe assembly10. In this manner, the risk of supplying contaminated ambient air causing, e.g., airborne diseases, to pressurize the intravenous fluid container and ultimately to a patient is eliminated. Further, in order to inject the medication “M” to the patient, the vial500(FIG. 1) may be pressurized with the sterile air109in the syringe assembly10and thereafter the medication “M” may be transferred to the chamber110of the syringe assembly10. Thereafter, the medication “M” is supplied to the medication administration port6030by inserting the bevel206(FIG. 1) of the needle assembly200thereinto. In this manner, the medication “M” is injected into the patient through the medication administration port6030.

It is further contemplated that the medication “M” may be supplied upstream or downstream of the medication administration ports4060,5030,6030shown hereinabove.

Any of the components described herein may be fabricated from either metals, plastics, resins, composites, or the like taking into consideration strength, durability, wearability, weight, resistance to corrosion, ease of manufacturing, cost of manufacturing, and the like. It should be understood that various aspects disclosed herein may be combined in different combinations than the combinations specifically presented in the description and accompanying drawings. It should also be understood that, depending on the example, certain acts or events of any of the processes or methods described herein may be performed in a different sequence, may be added, merged, or left out altogether (e.g., all described acts or events may not be necessary to carry out the techniques).

It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the disclosed tie down strap assembly. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.