Abstract:
A syringe includes a barrel and a rotatable element on the barrel; for example at a proximal location along the length of the barrel. The rotatable element rotates at least partially around of the barrel. When a handle is associated with the rotatable element, the barrel may rotate as the handle his held substantially stationary or the handle may be rotated while the barrel and any peripheral device secured thereto remain substantially stationary. When handles are associated with a rotatable element that may be removed from a barrel, a barrel that is disassembled from the rotatable element may be replaced with another barrel of the same or a different configuration. Methods of using a syringe with a rotatable element on a barrel thereof are also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/853,817, filed Oct. 24, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein, in its entirety, by this reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to syringes and, more specifically, to syringes with circumferentially rotatable elements on the barrels thereof. The present invention also relates to infusion and/or aspiration systems that include syringes with rotatable elements, as well as to methods for using such syringes. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In one aspect, the present invention includes syringes with slip rings. An embodiment of such a syringe includes a syringe barrel with a ring or other rotatable element concentrically disposed about a section of the barrel. As an example, the rotatable element may be disposed at or near a proximal end of the barrel (i.e., the end into which a plunger is introduced. The rotatable element is configured to rotate relative to the barrel. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the rotatable element is captured within a groove that extends circumferentially around a section of the barrel. In other embodiments, one or more features that protrude (e.g., a lip, a series of aligned protrusions, etc.) circumferentially from the barrel of the syringe engage a groove formed in an inner surface of the rotatable element. 
         [0004]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a syringe barrel with a slip ring may used as part of a more complex syringe, such as a control syringe or a leveraged syringe (e.g., a syringe with leveraged handles). In a complex syringe of this type, the rotatable element may be secured to a handle, that is typically held during use of the syringe, while the barrel of the syringe is free to rotate relative to the orientation in which the handle is held. 
         [0005]    In a further aspect, an infusion or aspiration system that includes a syringe with a rotatable element and an infusion or aspiration element, such as a catheter, needle, or the like, secured to a distal end of the barrel. In use, the barrel may rotate relative to a handle that has been secured thereto (e.g., in coupling the barrel to a peripheral device, such as a catheter or needle), or the handle may rotate relative to the barrel (e.g., in use of the syringe while the barrel is coupled to a peripheral device). Such a feature eliminates the need for costly rotatable connections between the syringe barrel and the infusion or aspiration element. 
         [0006]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    In the drawings, which depict features of various aspects of the present invention: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of syringe according to the present invention, which includes a rotatable element around a portion of a syringe barrel; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side assembly view of the embodiment of the syringe shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective assembly view of the embodiment of the syringe shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side assembly view of another embodiment of syringe that incorporates teachings of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective assembly view of an embodiment of syringe with a circumferentially protruding guide for retaining a rotatable element; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment of syringe barrel with control syringe finger rings on a rotatable element; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a top view of an embodiment of syringe barrel with hinge elements protruding from a rotatable element; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a side view of a syringe with a member of pliers-grip handles coupled to the hinge elements shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  schematically illustrates a system including handles that are configured to be used with a variety of different barrel configurations; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view of a system including a syringe with a rotatable element around a syringe barrel and an infusion/aspiration element secured to a distal end of the syringe barrel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , an embodiment of syringe  10  with a barrel  20  and a rotatable element  40  that spins about a circumference of barrel  20  is depicted. Barrel  20  includes an outer wall  22  that defines a receptacle  24  that extends axially through barrel  20 . 
         [0019]    A main body  30  of barrel  20 , including a central portion of barrel  20 , has a substantially uniform outer diameter OD 30 . At its distal tip  26 , outer wall  22  tapers to a much smaller outer diameter, which may form a standard coupling element  28 , which may be coupled to an injection or aspiration needle (e.g., a hypodermic needle, biopsy needle, etc.), a catheter, or the like. A proximal end  32  of barrel  20  may also have a substantially uniform outer diameter OD 32  but, as shown, its outer diameter OD 32  may be smaller than outer diameter OD 30  of main body  30 , such that a proximal ridge  34  at a boundary between main body  30  and proximal end  32 . 
         [0020]    In the illustrated embodiment, proximal end  32  includes a distally located axle  36 , which may have a substantially smooth surface, and a proximally located retention feature  38 . As shown, retention feature  38  may comprise threads or other, similar engagement features that are configured to receive, engage, and retain a separate locking element  50 , an example of which is provided in further detail below. 
         [0021]    Rotatable element  40 , which may be annular in shape (i.e., ring-shaped), has a substantially constant inner diameter ID 40  that is slightly larger than the outer diameter OD 32  of proximal end  32  of barrel  20  but smaller than the outer diameter OD 30  of main body  30  of barrel  20 , allowing rotatable element  40  to be concentrically placed on proximal end  32 . More specifically, rotatable element  40  may be placed over axle  36 , adjacent to ledge  34 . An inner surface  42  of rotatable element  40  may be substantially smooth. Smoothness of one or both of inner surface  42  and axle  36  may facilitate the free rotation of rotatable element  40  at least partially around axle  36 . 
         [0022]    As noted, syringe  10  may also include a locking element  50 . Locking element  50  may have an inner surface  52  with an engagement feature  54  (e.g., the illustrated threads, etc.) that cooperates with a complementary engagement feature of retention feature  38  at proximal end  32  of barrel  20 . When locking element  50  is disposed on retention feature  38 , an outer surface of axle  36  is circumferentially recessed relative to outer surfaces of main body  30  of barrel  20  and locking element  50 ; i.e., a circumferential groove  56  (see  FIG. 7 ) is formed between main body  30  and locking element  50 . The dimensions (e.g., a depth) of the resulting groove  56  axially retain rotatable element  40  over axle  36 . 
         [0023]    As an alternative to embodiments that include locking elements  50  that are configured for assembly with a retention feature  38  of a barrel  20  of a syringe  10 , another embodiment of barrel  20 ′ may include a retention feature  38 ′, as shown in  FIG. 4 , may facilitate the assembly of a rotatable element  40  with barrel  20 ′, but prevent its removal from barrel  20 ′. For example, retention feature  38 ′ may include tabs  39 ′ that are configured and oriented to facilitate the placement of rotatable element  40  over axle  36 , but prevent rotatable element  40  from being removed from axle  36 ′. In a more specific embodiment, tabs  39 ′ may be oriented and configured to protrude somewhat from an outer surface of the remainder of retention feature  38 ′. When rotatable element  40  is positioned on retention feature  38 ′ and slid distally toward axle  36 ′, tabs  39 ′ may be pressed radially inward, allowing rotatable element  40  to slide thereover and onto axle  36 ′. Once rotatable element  40  has been positioned properly upon axle  36 ′, tabs  39 ′ resliently rebound to their relaxed state, in which they protrude radially from the surface of the remainder of retention feature  38 ′ and retain rotatable element  40  in place on axle  36 ′. 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of barrel  120 , which includes one or more protrusions  136  (e.g., a single fillet or ridge, a plurality of aligned protrusions, etc.) that extend circumferentially about a portion of barrel  120 . A rotatable element  140  that is configured for assembly with barrel  120  may have a somewhat annular shape and include a groove  142  for receiving protrusion(s)  136 . Groove  142  and protrusion(s) are configured to enable rotatable element  140  to rotate at least partially around barrel  120 . Protrusion(s)  136  may be configured to facilitate the assembly of rotatable element  140  with barrel  120  while preventing the disassembly of rotatable element  140  from barrel. Alternatively, rotatable element  140  may be configured (e.g., with appropriate positioned slots, a hinge and locking element, etc.) to facilitate its placement over and retention by protrusion(s)  136 . 
         [0025]    Turning now to  FIG. 6 , an embodiment of a control syringe  60  according to the present invention includes a barrel  20 ,  20 ′ and a rotatable element  40 ″ with finger loops  64  that protrude therefrom to form a handle  62 . Barrel  20 ,  20 ′ is particularly useful with a plunger  66  that includes a thumb loop  68  at its proximal end  69 . 
         [0026]    Another variation of rotatable element  40 ″′ is shown in  FIG. 7 . Rotatable element  40 ″′ includes means for coupling to a handle, such as the depicted hinge elements  70 . As depicted, hinge elements  70  may protrude from opposite sides of rotatable element  40 ″′. The axis of rotation of hinge elements  70  may intersect a central axis through rotatable element  40 ″′. With such an arrangement, when rotatable element  40 ″′ is in place over an axle  36  ( FIGS. 1 through 4 ) of a syringe barrel  20 ,  20 ′, the central axis through rotatable element  40 ″′ will substantially align with a central axis through the length of barrel  20 ,  20 ′. Thus, in such an arrangement, the axis of rotation of hinge elements  70  will also intersect the central axis through barrel  20 ,  20 ′. 
         [0027]    Hinge elements  70  of the variation of rotatable element  40 ″′ shown in  FIG. 7  may facilitate pivotal assembly of rotatable element  40 ″′ with a member  82  of syringe actuation handle  80 , such as that shown in  FIG. 8 . Member  82  of syringe actuation handle  80  is pivotally associated with another member  84  that is coupled to a syringe plunger  86 . Nonlimiting examples of such syringe actuation handles are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,041,084, in U.S. Patent Application Publication US-2006-0270996-A1, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/431,420, filed May 8, 2006, and in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/853,878, filed Oct. 24, 2006, the entire disclosure of each of which is, by this reference, hereby incorporated herein. 
         [0028]    As noted previously, in some embodiments, rotatable element  40 ″,  40 ″′ may be disassembled from barrel  20  (see, e.g., the embodiment of rotatable element  40  shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 ). In such embodiments, once a barrel  20  has been used, it may be removed from rotatable element  40 ″,  40 ″′, disposed of, and replaced with a different barrel  20   a . Thus, the handles (e.g., handle  62  ( FIG. 6 ) or handles  80  ( FIG. 8 )) that are associated with such a rotatable element  40 ″,  40 ″′ may be reused, which may reduce the expenses that have conventionally been incurred when many types of syringes, including, but not limited to, control and leveraged syringes, are used. 
         [0029]    By enabling barrel replacement, the use of a rotatable element of the present invention (e.g., rotatable element  40 ″,  40 ″′, etc.) in conjunction with reusable handles (e.g., handles  62 ,  80 , etc.) provide a modular system that may be used with syringe barrels  20 A,  20 B,  20 C,  20 D (which may, e.g., be configured as barrel  20 ,  20 ′, etc.) of a variety of different configurations, as shown in  FIG. 9 . By way of example only, barrels of a plurality of different volumes, of a plurality of different dimensions, that include a plurality of different optional features (e.g., no optional features, release valves, ports configured for connection to pressure gauges and other apparatus, inlet ports, etc.), or the like may be used with one reusable handle. Of course, differently configured syringe barrels that are configured for use with the same rotatable element may have commonly dimensioned features for engagement by the rotatable element, or may be used in combination with adapters that facilitate their use with the same rotatable element. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , in use, a rotatable element that incorporates teachings of the present invention (e.g., rotatable element  40 ,  40 ″,  40 ″′, etc.) allows for some movement of syringe handles (e.g., handle  62 , handle  80 , etc.) while the barrel (e.g., barrel  20 ,  20 ′, etc.) and a distally located peripheral device  90 , such as a catheter or needle, remains substantially stationary. Thus, a syringe according to the present invention eliminates the need for relatively complex and expensive rotatable fittings, or coupling elements, such as slip ring leur locks. 
         [0031]    In addition to being able to rotate about a barrel (e.g., barrel  20  or  20 ), a rotatable element (e.g., rotatable element  40 ,  40 ″,  40 ″′, etc.) that embodies teachings of the present invention enables the barrel to rotate as the rotatable element is held (e.g., by a handle  62 ,  80 , etc.) in a stationary or somewhat stationary (accounting for normal movement by a healthcare provider operating the handle) position. This feature may be useful for coupling a syringe of the present invention to a distally located peripheral device that is already in place in a subject&#39;s body. 
         [0032]    Although the foregoing description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention, but merely as providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments. Similarly, other embodiments of the invention may be devised which do not depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated and limited only by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the foregoing description. All additions, deletions and modifications to the invention as disclosed herein which fall within the meaning and scope of the claims are to be embraced thereby.