Abstract:
Finger control handles for conventional syringes are disclosed. The finger control handles may be configured to be assembled with a hand-held syringe, to be secured in place on a proximal portion of the barrel of the syringe and, when secured in place, to rotate freely about a circumference of the proximal portion of the barrel of the syringe. Systems that include the finger control handles and a hand-held syringe that is configured to capture the finger control handles are also disclosed, as are various methods of use, including methods for assembling the finger control handles with the syringe and methods for connecting the syringe to an elongated medical instrument, such as a catheter.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    A claim for the benefit of priority to the Sep. 25, 2014, filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/055,041, titled SYRINGE WITH ROTATABLE HANDLE AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS (“the &#39;041 Provisional Application”), is hereby made pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e). The entire disclosure of the &#39;041 Provisional Application is incorporated herein by this reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates generally to finger control handles that are configured to be assembled with standard syringes, to syringes that are configured to receive finger control handles syringes and to systems that include a finger control handle and a syringe that will receive the finger control handle. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a finger control handle that is configured to receive the barrel of a syringe and, while in place on the barrel of the syringe, to rotate freely about a circumference of the barrel. Methods for assembling a finger control handle with the barrel of a syringe are also disclosed, as are methods for using syringes with rotatable finger control handles. 
       RELATED ART 
       [0003]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , an existing finger control handle  10 , which includes finger loops  15  and  16 , is configured to be assembled with the barrel  52  of a conventional syringe  50  (e.g., a 5 mL syringe, etc.) to enhance an individual&#39;s ability to control the syringe during use. In addition to a pair of finger loops  15  and  16 , such a finger control handle  10  includes body  12  between the finger loops  15  and  16 , with a channel  13  extending through the body  12 . The channel  13 , which is configured to receive the barrel  52  of the conventional syringe  50 , may have an inner diameter that will receive an outer diameter of the barrel  52 , but tight tolerances enable the inner surface of the channel  13  to engage the outer surface of the barrel  52  by way of an interference fit as the finger control handle  10  is slid (see  FIG. 3 ) onto a proximal location  53  on the outer surface of the barrel  52  (as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). Once the finger control handle  10  is in place on a proximal location  53  of the barrel  52 , it may be secured in place by the interference fit, by a snap fit (e.g. as inwardly, or centrally, protruding tabs  14  on the body  12  engage an outwardly, or radially, protruding flange  54  at a proximal end of the barrel  50 , as seen in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , etc.) and/or by way of a bond (e.g., an adhesive bond, an ultrasonic weld, etc.). In any event, an orientation of the finger control handle  10  is fixed relative to an orientation of the barrel  52  of the conventional syringe  50  when the finger control handle  10  has been properly installed on the barrel  52 ; the finger control handle  10  will not rotate around the barrel  52 . 
         [0004]    When releasable means, such as an interference fit and/or tabs  54  are used to secure the finger control handle  10  to the barrel  52  of a conventional syringe  50 , the finger control handle  10  may be removed from the barrel  52  by sliding the finger control handle  10  in a distal direction along the length of the barrel  52 . Thus, the application of a distal force to the finger control handle  10  could easily dislodge the finger control handle  10  and enable the finger control handle  10  to move distally along the barrel  52 . A distal force may be applied to the finger loop handle  10  when the conventional syringe  50  is used to aspirate, which would undesirably cause the finger loop handle  10  to disengage the barrel  52 . 
         [0005]    When a syringe with a handle (e.g., a finger control handle  10 , integral finger loops, etc.) that has a fixed orientation relative to a circumference of a barrel of the syringe is used in conjunction with a catheter or another elongated medical instrument, the handle may impede a physician&#39;s or other healthcare worker&#39;s ability to couple the syringe to the catheter or other elongated instrument. For example, as the physician rotates the barrel of the syringe to couple it to the catheter, the handle may repeatedly hit the physician&#39;s hand, or the presence of the handle may require the physician to adjust the way he or she holds the syringe (often to a more uncomfortable position) as he or she couples the syringe to the catheter. 
         [0006]    In addition, when a syringe with a handle that has a circumferentially fixed orientation relative to a barrel of the syringe is laid upon a flat surface, such as a table or tray, the handle may not lie flat against the surface, which may decrease the stability with which syringe is supported by the surface. When a syringe is not stably supported by a surface upon which it rests, it is more likely to be knocked off of the surface and, thus, contaminated, which may undesirably increase the complexity of a medical procedure in which the syringe is to be used or in which the syringe is used. 
         [0007]    If a physician wants to be able to rotate a syringe with a handle having a circumferentially fixed orientation while using the syringe in connection with a catheter or another elongated medical instrument, the physician may use a rotatable luer lock connector to secure the syringe to the catheter. As many physicians will appreciate, the use of rotatable luer lock connectors is undesirable, as their multi-piece construction increases the likelihood that air may be introduced into the syringe and/or the catheter and, thus, into the body of a patient. In some circumstances, the introduction of air into a patient&#39;s body can be fatal. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    Finger control handles for a syringe may be configured to be assembled with a syringe that is hand-held and that is configured to be operated manually, or by hand. Such a finger control handle may also be referred to herein more simply as “handles” and as a “finger loop collar.” The finger control handle may rotate freely around, or about, a circumference of the barrel of the syringe. In this regard, the finger control handle may reside upon a proximal portion of the barrel in a manner that aligns the handle coaxially with the barrel and that enables the handle to rotate around, or about, a circumference of the barrel. 
         [0009]    The barrel of a syringe with which a finger control element according to this disclosure may be used may include a collar that protrudes beyond a primary circumference of the proximal portion of the barrel to retain a proximal side of the finger control handle, as well as one or more distal retention elements for retaining a distal side of the finger control handle. A distal retention element may comprise a tapered, or ramped, feature that tapers outwardly in a proximal direction and, at its proximal side, defines a distal boundary of the proximal portion of the barrel. The taper may be configured to enable assembly of a finger control handle with the barrel as the finger control handle is placed over a distal end of the barrel and forced toward a proximal end of the barrel, while the distal boundary prevents distal movement of the finger control handle after the finger control handle has been assembled with the barrel. Such a distal retention feature may extend around the entire circumference of the barrel, or it may include one or more sections that extend partially around the circumference of the barrel. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the finger control handle may include flexible tabs that are configured to facilitate the introduction of the finger control handle over the distal retention feature of the barrel and, when the finger control handle is in place on a proximal portion of the barrel, to abut against the distal boundary defined by the distal retention feature(s) to prevent distal movement of the finger control handle off of the proximal portion of the barrel. 
         [0011]    When the finger control handle is installed on the proximal portion of the barrel, the distal retention element(s) and a collar on a proximal side of the proximal portion of the barrel may limit longitudinal movement of the finger control handle and, therefore, may prevent removal of the finger control handle from the proximal portion of the barrel. In some embodiments, the distal retention element(s) of the barrel may hold the finger control handle in place on the proximal portion of the barrel while the syringe is used to generate a reduced pressure (e.g., a partial vacuum, etc.) or aspirate a sample, while the collar of the barrel may hold the finger control handle in place on the proximal portion of the barrel while the syringe is used to generate increased pressure or for injection or infusion. 
         [0012]    Relative configurations of features of the finger control handle and the barrel that are associated with one another may enable the finger control handle to rotate freely about the proximal portion of the barrel. In a specific embodiment, a channel through the body of the finger control handle and the proximal portion of the barrel may have cylindrical shapes. A clearance between the outer diameter (OD) of the proximal portion of the barrel and the inner diameter (ID) of the channel through the body of the finger control handle may enable rotation of the finger control handle about the circumference of the barrel (e.g., coaxial rotation, about longitudinal axes through the channel and the barrel). In various embodiments, the difference between the ID of the channel and the OD of the proximal portion of the barrel may be about 0.010 inch or greater. The ability of the finger control handle to rotate freely about the proximal portion of the barrel of a syringe may enable a variety of functions, as disclosed in further detail hereinafter. 
         [0013]    Other aspects, as well as features and advantages of various aspects, of the disclosed subject matter 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 
         [0014]    In the drawings, 
           [0015]      FIGS. 1-5  illustrate features of an existing finger control handle and a conventional syringe with which the existing finger control handle is configured to be assembled; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  provides an assembly view of an embodiment of a system according to this disclosure, which system includes a hand-held, hand-operated syringe with a barrel and a plunger, as well as a finger control handle that is configured to be assembled with the barrel of the syringe and to rotate about a circumference of the barrel, coaxially with the barrel; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a barrel of a hand-held, hand-operated syringe, showing a ramped, or tapered, distal retention element for longitudinally retaining a distal side of a finger control handle at a proximal position on the barrel of the syringe and a circumferential collar for retaining a proximal side of the finger control handle at the proximal position on the barrel; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 8A ,  8 B and  8 C provide various perspectives of the body of an embodiment of a finger control handle according to this disclosure, showing accommodation elements that facilitate assembly of the finger control handle with the barrel of a syringe, as well as retention of the distal side of the finger control handle at the proximal position on the barrel; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  illustrates an embodiment of the manner in which the embodiment of distal retention elements of the barrel shown in  FIG. 7  of the embodiment of accommodation elements of the finger control handle shown in  FIGS. 8A-8C  interact with each other to facilitate assembly of the finger control handle with the barrel and retention of the finger control handle at the proximal position of the barrel; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  provides a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of finger control handle on a proximal portion of the barrel of a syringe, as well as a portion of the plunger of the syringe inserted into the barrel; and 
           [0021]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  provide perspective views of a hand-held, hand-operated syringe to which a finger control handle has been assembled. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the elements of an embodiment of a system  100  for injecting fluids into the body of a subject and/or aspirating fluids from the body of a subject are illustrated. As shown, the system  100  includes a syringe  150  and a finger control handle  110 . 
         [0023]    The syringe  150  includes a barrel  152  and a plunger  170 , with the plunger  170  being insertable into (distally) and removable from (proximally) the barrel  152 . In specific, but non-limiting embodiments, the overall length of the barrel  152  of such a syringe  150  may be about 110 mm to about 140 mm. A proximal portion  153  of the barrel  152 , which may be configured to receive and longitudinally retain the finger control handle  110 , may have a length of about 30 mm. The distance a distal tip of the plunger  170  of the syringe  150  may move back and forth along the length of the barrel  152 , or the stroke length of the syringe  150 , may be about 55 mm to about 70 mm. 
         [0024]    The syringe  150  may be configured to be held by an individual&#39;s hand (i.e., it may be hand-held) and operated with the individual&#39;s hand (i.e., hand-operated). More specifically, a collar  154  at a proximal end of the barrel  152  of the syringe  150  may have a larger circumference than the primary circumference of a remainder of the barrel  152 . In some embodiments (such as that shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , but not the embodiment illustrated by  FIG. 6 ), the collar  154  may be configured to receive two of the individual&#39;s fingers (e.g., his or her index and middle fingers, etc.). A proximal end  174  of the plunger  170  may be configured to receive the individual&#39;s thumb. In some embodiments, the proximal end  174  of the plunger  170  may be enlarged to enable an individual to press down on it (in a distal direction) with his or her thumb (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 1-5 ). In other embodiments, such as that depicted by  FIG. 6 , the proximal end  174  of the plunger  170  may comprise a thumb loop, which may facilitating both pushing (in a distal direction) and pulling (in a proximal direction) the plunger  170  respectively into and out of the barrel  152  of the syringe  150 . An embodiment of syringe  150  that includes a barrel  152  and a plunger  170  that are configured for manual operation may be used without a finger control handle  110 , or a finger control handle  110  may be assembled with the barrel  152  to provide greater control and, in some embodiments to better enable aspiration of fluids with the syringe  150 . 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, such as that depicted by  FIG. 7 , the barrel  152  of the syringe  150  may lack a collar  154  that may be grasped by an individual&#39;s fingers. In such an embodiment, the barrel  152  (and, thus, the syringe  150 ) may be configured specifically for use with a finger control handle  110 ; i.e., the barrel  152  may not function without the finger control handle  110 . 
         [0026]    The finger control handle  110  is configured to be positioned on the barrel  152  of the syringe  150 . More specifically, the finger control handle  110  includes a body  112  with a channel  113  that extends therethrough. The channel  113  is configured to receive a distal end  155  of the barrel  152  of the syringe  150 , and a majority of the length of the barrel  152 . As the body  112  of the finger control handle  110  and, thus, a remainder of the finger control handle  110  are slid proximally onto the barrel  152 , the body  112  may slide over one or more distal retention elements  157  that protrude from a circumference of the barrel  152 . 
         [0027]    As shown by  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the barrel  152  may include two relatively small, discrete distal retention elements  157  that are diametrically opposed to one another. As another option, more than two discrete distal retention elements may be positioned at different radial positions around the circumference of the barrel  152 . In other embodiments, a distal retention element  157  may extend farther around or even completely around the circumference of the barrel  152 . A distal retention element  157  may comprise a tapered, or ramped, feature that tapers outwardly in a proximal direction and, at its proximal side, defines a distal boundary of the proximal portion  153  of the barrel  152 . In the depicted embodiment, from its proximal side  157   p  to its distal side  157   d,  each distal retention element  157  tapers outwardly from a primary circumference of the barrel  152 . As such, the distal retention element  157  includes an abutment  158  its distal side  157   d.  This configuration may facilitate placement of the body  112  on a proximal portion  153  of the barrel  152 , while retaining a distal side  112   d  of the body  112  and preventing the body  112  and the finger control handle  110  from unintentionally sliding distally off of the proximal portion  153  of the barrel  152 , as illustrated by  FIG. 9 . 
         [0028]    A proximal side  112   p  of the body  112  may be held on the proximal portion  153  of the barrel  152  by collar  154  at the proximal end of the barrel  152 , as illustrated by  FIG. 10 . In some embodiments, the collar  154  may comprise an integral part of the barrel  152 . In other embodiments, the collar  154  may be configured to snap into place on the proximal end of the barrel  152 . 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, with the possible exception of the distal side  112   d  and the proximal side  112   p  of the body  112 , both of which comprise edges that are configured to be positioned against and to move relative to corresponding features (e.g., the abutment(s)  158  of the distal retention element(s)  157  of the barrel  152 ; a distal side of the collar  154  at the proximal end of the barrel  152 ; etc.), no feature of the finger control handle  110  engages any feature of the barrel  152  of the syringe  150 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 8A-8C  and  9  show an additional feature that may be included in some embodiments of the body  112  of a finger control handle  110 . In particular,  FIGS. 8A-8C  show that, in embodiments where the barrel  152  of a syringe  150  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) with which the finger control handle  110  is to be assembled includes one or more discrete distal retention elements  157  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ), the body  112  may include a tab  117  that is positioned to accommodate each distal retention element  157 . Each tab  117  is configured to accommodate a corresponding distal retention element  157  as the body  112  of the finger control handle  110  slides proximally onto the barrel  152  of the syringe  150 . As illustrated, each tab  117  may be defined by a pair of longitudinal cuts  118  that extend from the distal side  112   d  of the body  112  to an intermediate location along the length of the body  112 . Such a tab  117  may be configured (along with the material from which the body  112  is formed) to give way as it slides over a corresponding distal retention element  157  and to resiliently return to its original position after it has slid over the corresponding distal retention element  157 . Once the tab  117  returns to its original position, its distal edge, along a distal side  112   d  of the remainder of the body  112 , may prevent the body  112  and the finger control handle  110  from unintentionally sliding distally along the length of the barrel  152 . Optionally, each tab  117  may include a protrusion  119  that faces inwardly, or centrally (i.e., into the channel  113  through the body  112 ) to further prevent unintentional distal sliding of the finger control handle  110  along the length of the barrel  152 . 
         [0031]    In addition, as should be apparent from  FIGS. 8A-8C  and  9 , each tab  117  may enable the finger control handle  110  to be intentionally removed from the barrel  152  of a syringe  150  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ). For example, each tab  117  may be aligned with a corresponding distal retention element  157  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) on the barrel  152  and pulled (radially) outward to enable the body  112  of the finger control handle  110  to slide distally off of the proximal portion  153  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) of the barrel  152 ). Such a configuration may be useful in embodiments where the finger control handle  110  is intended to be reused. 
         [0032]    Turning now to  FIGS. 6 and 8C , in addition to the body  112 , the finger control handle  110  may include a pair of finger loops  115  and  116  protruding from opposite sides of the body  112 . Accordingly, the finger control handle  110  may also be referred to herein as a “finger loop collar.” Each finger loop  115 ,  116  may be configured to receive an individuals&#39; finger (e.g., his or her index finger and middle finger, etc.). 
         [0033]    In various embodiments, the outer diameter (OD) of each finger loop  115 ,  116  may be about 25 mm to about 40 mm, while the inner diameter (ID), or opening size, of each finger loop  115 ,  116  may be about 20 mm to about 30 mm. The dimensions of the thumb loop, if any, at the proximal end  174  of the plunger  170  ( FIG. 6 ) may be the same size or slightly larger than the corresponding dimensions of each finger loop  115 ,  116 . Of course, other configurations of handles and plungers may also be used in connection with the barrel of a syringe according to this disclosure. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  provide perspective views of a hand-held, hand-operated syringe  150  to which a finger control handle  110  has been assembled. 
         [0035]    When the finger control handle  110  is installed on the barrel  152  of a syringe  150 , relative configurations of features of the finger control handle  110  and the barrel  152  may enable the finger control handle  110  to rotate freely about the proximal portion  153  of the barrel  152 . In a specific embodiment, the channel  113  through the body  112  of the finger control handle  110  and the proximal portion  153  of the barrel  152  may have cylindrical shapes. A clearance between the outer diameter (OD) of the proximal portion  153  of the barrel  152  and the inner diameter (ID) of the channel  113  through the body  112  of the finger control handle  110  may enable rotation of the finger control handle  110  about the circumference of the barrel  152  (e.g., coaxial rotation, about longitudinal axes through the channel  113  and the barrel  152 ). In various embodiments, the difference between the ID of the channel  113  and the OD of the proximal portion  153  of the barrel  152  may be about 0.010 inch or greater. 
         [0036]    A syringe that includes a finger control handle  110  that rotates freely about the barrel  152  of a syringe  150  may enable a physician or another healthcare provider to move his or her hand while handling the syringe  150 , without transferring the rotational movement to a catheter  200  or another elongated medical instrument that has been secured to the syringe  150 . As a result, a syringe  150  with a freely rotating finger control handle  110  may eliminate the need for rotating luer lock connectors, along with the cost and the potentially devastating consequences (e.g., introducing of air into the catheter, etc.) associated with use of rotating luer lock connectors. 
         [0037]    In addition, free rotation of a finger control handle  110  around the barrel  152  of a syringe  150  will enable a physician or another healthcare provider to secure the barrel  153  to a fixed luer lock connector at a proximal end of a catheter  200  or another elongated medical instrument without rotating the catheter  200  or other elongated medical instrument, and without the requiring the physician or other healthcare provider to avoid the finger control handle  110  while rotating the barrel  152  of the syringe  150 . Free rotation of the finger control handle  110  around the barrel  152  also enables the physician or other healthcare provider to place the finer control handle  110  in a comfortable orientation regardless of the initial orientations of the barrel  152  and the catheter  200  or other elongated medical instrument relative to one another, and enables the physician to move his or her hand intentionally or inadvertently without rotating the barrel  152  or the catheter  200  or other elongated medical instrument during a procedure. 
         [0038]    In addition, a finger control handle  110  that rotates freely around a barrel  152  of a syringe  150  enables the finger control handle  110  to rest flat, and stably, upon a surface (e.g., a table, a tray, etc.) on which a physician or another healthcare provider places the syringe  150 , regardless of the rotational orientation of the barrel  152  relative to a catheter  200  or other elongated medical instrument, and regardless of the rotational orientation of the barrel  152  to the surface. 
         [0039]    Although the preceding disclosure provides many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of any of the ensuing claims. Other embodiments may be devised which do not depart from the scopes of the claims. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. The scope of each claim is, therefore, indicated and limited only by its plain language and the full scope of available legal equivalents to its elements.