Abstract:
The present invention relates to a syringe system that allows rapid conversion between a needle/syringe system and a needleless/syringe system and in doing so allows an operator to move seamlessly between both systems, while minimizing needle stick risk. In this way, an operator may rapidly access medication bottles requiring a needle puncture and access needleless tubing systems requiring a needleless interface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of, Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/923,777, filed on Apr. 17, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a medical syringe for the withdrawal of medication from medication bottles and injection of medication into patients via medication tubing systems, and more particularly switching between a needle interface for withdrawal of medications from medication bottles and a needleless interface for injecting the medicine into a tubing system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Currently, certain medical treatments require caregivers to place themselves at risk of needle stick, because of the requirements of working with needles and patient bodily fluids. Recent technological improvements have been safety focused and have lessened this risk with the trend toward needleless tubing systems and procedures involving retractable needles in catheters. Existing systems, however, continue to require caregivers to use a needle to draw medication from medication bottles and then convert this needle/syringe system to a needleless system by removing the needle. In addition to the safety concerns, caregivers must locate and open two different packages, attach the needle to the syringe, draw up medication, remove the needle, then attach the syringe to the needleless tubing system and inject the medication, and occasionally repeat the process. 
         [0004]    One known system utilizes a plastic needle-like system that can both puncture a medication bottle and access tubing systems by a puncture of the tubing system hub. This system utilizes a sharp point, like standard needles, and must be pushed into the needleless port. Inherent in this action is the risk of missing the port and sticking yourself with the device. The avoidance of this risk is the primary driver for innovative products in safer needleless systems. Moreover, the puncture of needleless hubs with needles or pointed plastic pieces may result in the creation of a leak in the tubing system and allow backflow of fluid out of the punctured hub. 
         [0005]    Some of the newer syringe devices focus on minimizing needle sticks by having a blunt cannula attached to the syringe that is used to puncture the bottle. The cannula is removed after the medication is drawn up and a sharp needle is attached. This device does add a layer of additional protection, but is inefficient, because the cannula must be removed and a needle attached. 
         [0006]    A second problem with newer safety systems is their potential lack of intercompatibility. For example, a nurse may draw up the medication with one system for an intramuscular injection. If the physician changes her mind and orders the medication be given intravenously, the syringe holding the medicine may be incompatible with intravenous injection system. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention speeds the process, adds a layer of safety, and allows rapid conversion between a needle/syringe system and a needleless/syringe system, thus allowing an operator to move seamlessly between both systems while minimizing needle stick risk. In particular, the current invention provides for the insertion of the syringe into the needleless system with no exposed sharp point that may inadvertently lead to a skin puncture. 
         [0008]    The system allows for a collar or sheath with an attached fluid port to slide over the fixed needle at the end of the syringe and reversibly lock in an advanced position creating a functionally needleless adaptor for interfacing with the needleless tubing systems. The system also allows for retraction of the collar to expose the fixed needle at the end of the syringe for puncturing medication bottles. 
         [0009]    In use, the operator starts with the collar in a retracted position such that the needle is exposed, which allows the operator to puncture a medication bottle with the needle of the syringe. The operator then pulls back on the syringe plunger drawing medication through the needle and into the barrel of the syringe. When the correct amount of fluid has been drawn into the syringe barrel, the needle is withdrawn from the medication bottle. The operator then slides the collar forward and locks it in an advanced position that simultaneously covers the end of the needle and presents a needleless fluid port (e.g., a luer lock fitting) for interfacing with a tubing system. The operator can then connect the syringe to the needleless tubing system (e.g., by screwing the luer lock fitting to a corresponding fitting on the tubing system) and administer the medication by advancing the syringe plunger. 
         [0010]    In one aspect, the invention relates to a syringe system including a syringe barrel defining an interior space, a syringe plunger slidably disposed within the syringe barrel, a needle coupled to a distal end of the syringe barrel and in fluid communication with the interior space, a collar slidably disposed about the syringe barrel, and a fluid port disposed at a distal end of the collar. The collar can be coupled to the syringe barrel to prevent inadvertent disengagement therefrom. The fluid port is configured to interface with a needleless tubing system. 
         [0011]    In another aspect, the invention relates to a syringe system including a syringe barrel defining an interior space, a syringe plunger slidably disposed within the syringe barrel, a needle coupled to a distal end of the syringe barrel and in fluid communication with the interior space, a collar threadedly engaged with the syringe barrel, and a fluid port disposed at a distal end of the collar, the fluid port configured to interface with a needleless tubing system. The collar can be moved along the length of the syringe barrel by rotational movement thereof. 
         [0012]    In various embodiments of the foregoing aspects, the collar is configured to slide longitudinally along at least a portion of the syringe barrel. The collar can be secured in a first, retracted position exposing the needle and a second, advanced position encapsulating the needle. In the advanced position, the fluid port is presented for interfacing with the needleless tubing system. The fluid port can include threads and be secured to the needleless tubing system by a screw action (i.e., rotation of the port, collar, and/or syringe). In one embodiment, the fluid port is a luer lock type fitting, either male or female to suit the particular application. In addition, the collar can be locked in at least one of the first position and the second position, either reversibly or irreversibly. The syringe system can include a locking mechanism disposed on at least one of the syringe barrel and the collar for locking the collar in the first, retracted position and/or the second, advanced position. In one embodiment, the collar only locks in the advanced position. Additionally or alternatively, the collar can be locked in place by, for example, frictional engagement or with the use of an O-ring. 
         [0013]    In additional embodiments of the syringe system, the syringe barrel can include at least one slotted rail disposed on an outer surface of the syringe barrel and oriented longitudinally along a length of the syringe barrel and the collar can include at least one protuberance disposed on an inner surface of the collar for engaging the slotted rail. The collar is configured to slide along the syringe barrel via engagement of the protuberance and the slotted rail. In one embodiment, two longitudinal rails can be disposed on the syringe barrel on opposite sides thereof, e.g., 180 degrees apart on a cylindrically shaped syringe barrel. Alternatively, more that two rails can be included depending, for example, on the size of the syringe. In one embodiment, the longitudinal rail includes a transverse portion extending from a distal end of the longitudinal rail. The transverse portion of the slotted rail allows guided, rotational movement of the collar when in the second position. Alternatively or additionally, the longitudinal rail can include a transverse portion extending from a proximal end of the longitudinal rail to provide guided, rotational movement of the collar when in the first position. 
         [0014]    Furthermore, the locking mechanism can be disposed on the transverse portion of the rail and the collar engages the locking mechanism when rotated in the second position. In one embodiment, at least one of the transverse portions of the slotted rail includes a locking mechanism for securing the collar in at least one of the first position and the second position when the collar is rotated, such that the protuberance engages the locking mechanism. In another embodiment, the syringe system includes a second locking mechanism disposed near the proximal end of the longitudinal rail. The second locking mechanism configured to secure the collar in the first position. The locking mechanism in one embodiment can reversibly lock the collar in its position by frictional engagement between the protuberance and the rail. In another embodiment, the locking mechanism includes a projection that prevents the return rotational movement of the collar by blocking the protuberance. For example, the locking mechanism can be an inclined block that allows the protuberance to slide over the inclined surface, but is blocked by a vertical wall of the block when the operator attempts to rotate the collar into an unlocked position. 
         [0015]    In still further embodiments of the syringe system, the collar is guided between the first position and the second position by a thread disposed on an external diameter of the syringe barrel, for example as opposed to sliding on the rails. The fluid port can be configured for attachment of a secondary needle, for example, by threaded engagement. The secondary needle can provide a different needle configuration and/or size for a particular application and can be attached to the syringe in its extended position. In addition, the collar can be biased in at least one of the first position and the second position to prevent the inadvertent movement of the collar when in use. In one embodiment, the collar includes a spring mechanism for biasing the collar in the second position. For example, the spring mechanism can be a spring or other resilient member disposed within the collar between a distal end of the syringe barrel and a distal interior end of the collar, thereby biasing the collar in the second, advanced position. The collar can be forced back against the spring to the first, retracted position and locked in place. Such an arrangement will fail safe with the collar in the advanced position, thereby covering the needle. 
         [0016]    Moreover, the fluid port may conform to at least one of ISO standard 594-1 and 594-2. The collar can be removable from the syringe barrel and interchangeable with a second collar with an alternative fluid port. This arrangement allows the syringe assembly to be customized for the particular needleless tubing system to which it will interface. In one embodiment, the collar can be snap fit onto the syringe barrel and can be removed by flexing the collar such that the protuberance(s) are moved out of the slotted rail(s). Once the protuberances clear the slotted rail, the collar can be rotated and slid off of the syringe barrel. In another embodiment, a distal portion of the collar can include an internal channel for receiving at least a distal portion of the needle. The channel can be formed in the distal end of the collar or can include an additional cylindrical body formed coextensively with the collar and defining the channel running therethrough. The needle can be moved through the channel when the collar is retracted into the first position. The collar can further include an O-ring disposed in an annular groove formed in an internal surface of the channel. The O-ring provides a seal between an outer diameter of the needle and an inner diameter of the channel for the passage of a fluid between the syringe barrel and the needleless tubing system, without leakage. The seal facilitates generating a suction at the distal end of the collar when the collar is in the extended position and the syringe plunger is drawn back to draw fluid into the syringe barrel. Generally, the syringe plunger can be extended and retracted to draw in and dispense fluid, respectively, through the distal end of the collar through the fluid port between the syringe and the needleless system. In one embodiment, the friction between the O-ring and the needle will prevent or at least impede movement of the collar. Additionally, in an embodiment where the needle expands at its base, the increased interference fit between the outside diameter of the needle and the inside diameter of the O-ring will further secure the collar in place. 
         [0017]    In yet another embodiment of the syringe system, the syringe barrel has a generally circular cross-sectional shape and the collar has a generally elliptical internal cross-sectional shape, which provides for a slight interference between the outside diameter of the syringe barrel and the inside surface of the collar. This arrangement can provide sufficient surface tension between the collar and syringe barrel to prevent sliding movement between the collar and the syringe barrel. A light pressure can be applied to the collar to deform the internal cross-sectional shape of the collar from generally elliptical to generally circular and of a larger diameter than the outside diameter of the syringe barrel to enable slidable movement therebetween. For example, the operator applies a squeezing force to the collar with one hand to deform the collar and initiates sliding of the collar with the other hand, thereby sliding the collar along the syringe barrel between the first and second positions. When the force is removed, the collar returns to the generally elliptically shaped internal cross sectional shape which provides a partial interference fit with the outside diameter of the syringe barrel, which provides sufficient surface tension to prevent movement of the collar. 
         [0018]    These and other objects, along with advantages and features of the present invention herein disclosed, will become apparent through reference to the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the claims. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the features of the various embodiments described herein are not mutually exclusive and can exist in various combinations and permutations. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0019]    In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1A  is a schematic plan view of a syringe system in a retracted or needled position in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the syringe system including a syringe barrel, a plunger, a needle, and a sliding collar; 
           [0021]      FIG. 1B  is a schematic plan view of the syringe system of  FIG. 1A , with the collar and plunger removed; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a schematic plan view of the syringe assembly of  FIG. 1A  in partial cross-section, with the collar in an advanced position such that the needle is covered and a fluid port on the collar may engage a needleless system; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a schematic enlarged view of the fluid port portion of the collar of the syringe system of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4A  is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the collar of  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4B  is an enlarged schematic view of the distal end of the barrel of  FIGS. 1-3  rotated 90 degrees; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are schematic perspective views of a syringe system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a schematic exploded view of a syringe system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0028]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are schematic cross-sectional views of a syringe system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention with a spring that biases the collar and fluid port into an advanced position; 
           [0029]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are schematic cross-sectional views of a syringe system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention with a collar that may be directed over the needle by a side-arm to secure the collar in the advanced position; 
           [0030]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are schematic cross-sectional views of a syringe system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention with a threaded luer lock collar in a retracted position and in an advanced position; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  are schematic cross-sectional views of a syringe system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention with a deformable elliptical collar in a locked and an unlocked position; and 
           [0032]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  are schematic cross-sectional views of an alternative embodiment of the syringe system of  FIGS. 9A and 9B . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0033]    In the following, embodiments of a syringe system in accordance with the invention are further described with reference to a single application. It is, however, to be understood that the present invention can also be used for other types of syringe or needle systems. For example, in one embodiment, the syringe is a hypodermic syringe used with a hypodermic needle to inject liquid or gases into body tissues, or to remove liquid or gases from the body. 
         [0034]    It will, therefore, be understood that the present invention is directed to a syringe for administering different fluids, which overcomes the problems of the prior art. In particular, a syringe system in accordance with the present invention includes a unique collar with a fluid port that may reversibly lock in a position to expose a puncturing needle or advance to shield the needle and provide a connection for needleless attachment to tubing systems. Manufacture of the component parts of the syringe of the present invention does not involve complicated and expensive manufacturing techniques or precise control over the dimensions of the component parts of the device. 
         [0035]    Referring now to the drawings, in particular  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a disposable medical syringe system  1  in accordance with the invention includes a syringe barrel  10 , in the form of a hollow cylinder defining an interior space  40 . The system  1  further includes a plunger  20  inserted into a proximal end  11  of the syringe barrel  10 . The plunger  20  can be advanced into the barrel  10  such that a distal rubber portion  22  of the plunger  20  contacts an internal distal end  12  of the barrel  10 . The plunger  20  has a proximal handle  21  that is used by an operator to slide the plunger  20  through the interior space  40  of the barrel  10  from the proximal end  11  to the distal end  12  of the barrel  10 . The plunger  20  includes one or more sealing surfaces  23  that provide a water tight seal between the distal rubber portion  22  of the plunger  20  and the internal wall of the barrel  10 . 
         [0036]    The barrel  10  includes a generally centrally located opening  13  formed in the distal end  12  of the barrel  10  through which fluid or medication may be pushed or pulled by actuating the plunger  20  and creating forces (e.g., pressure and vacuum) within the interior space  40 , due to the watertight seal of the plunger  20  within the barrel  10 . A hollow needle  30  is coupled to the distal endpoint  14  of the barrel  10  and is in fluid communication with the opening  13  and the interior space  40 . The needle  30  has a proximal end  31  coupled to the distal endpoint  14  of the barrel  10  and a tapered distal end  32 . The tapered distal end  32  of the needle  30  has two side ports  33  that allow fluid transfer and are disposed on the tapered distal end  32  of the needle  30 . 
         [0037]    The volume of the interior space  40  is variable and defined as the space within the barrel  10  and distal to the rubber portion  22  of the plunger  20 . The volume of the space  40  can be varied by movement of the plunger  20 , for example, moving the plunger proximally toward the proximal end  11  enlarges the volume. Movement of the plunger  20  toward the distal end  12  via operator action at the handle  21  causes medication or fluid to be moved by the distal end  22  of the plunger  20  toward the distal needle tip  32 . For example, the fluid is driven through opening  13  and an internal channel  34  of the needle  30  out the needle&#39;s distal side ports  33 . 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the syringe system  1  includes at its distal end a collar  60  and a fluid port  50  disposed in the distal end of the collar  60 . In one embodiment, the fluid port  50  is a luer lock type fitting. The collar  60  is coupled to the syringe barrel  10 . In one embodiment, the luer lock  50  includes a longer internal cylinder  51  and a shorter wider surrounding cylinder  52 . The cylinders  51 ,  52  extend from a distal end  53  of the collar  60 , with the internal cylinder  51  extending beyond the surrounding cylinder  52  to a distal point  54 . The internal cylinder  51  has an inner diameter (ID 1 ) and an outer diameter (OD 1 ). The surrounding cylinder  52  extends to a distal end  56  and has an inner diameter (ID 2 ) and an outer diameter (OD 2 ). The second inner diameter (ID 2 ) of fluid port  50  includes an internal thread  57  molded therein. In one embodiment, the disposable medical syringe system  1  interfaces with a needleless tubing system via the circumferential thread  57 . 
         [0039]    The collar  60  surrounds and is coupled to at least a portion of barrel  10  near its distal end  14 . The collar  60  may slide back and forth along a portion of the barrel  10  such that when it is in the fully extended position (see  FIG. 2 ), the distal end  32  of the needle  30  is covered by the distal end  54  of the fluid port  50 . Alternatively or additionally, the collar  60  may be retracted over the barrel  10  as shown in  FIG. 1A , resulting in full exposure of the needle  30 . 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 1B , two slotted rails  15  are longitudinally disposed on an exterior surface of the barrel  10 ; however, more rails could be provided. In the embodiment shown, the two rails  15  are equally spaced about the circumference of the barrel  10 . Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4A , the collar  60  includes two protuberances or fingers  62  extending from an interior surface (ID 3 ) of the collar  60 . The protuberances  62  engage the slots  75  ( FIG. 4B ) in the rails  15 , thereby controlling the sliding motion of the collar  60  relative to the barrel  10  between the first, retracted position ( FIG. 1A ) and the second, extended position ( FIG. 2 ). The barrel  10  may include a transversely extending side rail  16  that extends along at least a portion of the circumference of the barrel  10 . The side rail  16  extends from a distal end of the slotted rail  15  and also is slotted for accommodating the protuberance  62 . When the collar  60  is advanced to the extended position, the collar  60  can be rotated such that the protuberances  62  slide within the transverse side rails  16 . By rotating the collar  60 , it can be locked in place to prevent it from sliding back into its retracted position. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4B , a locking mechanism  17  is disposed in the side rail  16  to prevent the protuberances  62  on the collar  60  from inadvertently rotating out of the side rails  16 . In one embodiment, the locking mechanism is a ramp or inclined block that permanently locks the collar  60  in its extended position. Alternatively, the locking mechanism can be thinned area of the slotted side rail  16  that provides for frictional resistance to the movement of the protuberance  62 . As shown in  FIG. 4B , the rail  15  includes a locking mechanism  19  in the form of a bump or thinned area of the rail which provides enough frictional resistance to prevent inadvertent sliding of the collar  60  from the retracted position. 
         [0041]    In one embodiment, again referring to  FIG. 4B , the collar may be reversibly locked in the retracted or extended position when the sliding collar thread pushes through an inclined angle  19 ,  17  on the barrel located at the proximal and/or distal portion of the slotted rails  15 ,  16 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 4A , the collar  60  includes a sealing component  61 . The sealing component  61  can be a rubber o-ring disposed in an annular groove  63  formed in the inside diameter (ID 1 ) of the fluid port. The sealing component  61  maintains a constant watertight seal between the internal diameter (ID 1 ) of the fluid port  50  and the outer diameter (OD 10 ) of the needle  30  through any movement of the collar  60  either proximally to expose the distal end  32  of needle  30  or distally to cover the distal end  32  of the needle  30  (see  FIG. 3 ). This results in the prevention of any fluid leakage between the needle  30  and the collar  60 . The system  1  may be attached to a needleless tubing system by the fluid port  50  and medication or other fluid may be injected from the interior space  40  through the needle  30  and out of the fluid port  50  and into the needleless tubing system. In one embodiment, the collar  60  includes an internal channel  79  passing through the distal end of the collar  60  and in which the groove  63  and O-ring  61  are disposed. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are perspective views of one embodiment of the invention from a user&#39;s vantage point. In  FIG. 5A , the collar is in the retracted position. In  FIG. 5B , the collar  60  is in the extended position. As shown, the collar  60  can include structure  77 , such as knurling or protuberances that aid in the movement of the collar  60 . 
         [0044]    Additional embodiments include the use of a spring  70  ( FIG. 6 ) that favors the uncoiled position  72  (biasing the collar into the advanced position as shown in  FIG. 7B ) over the coiled position  71  (i.e., the retracted position shown in  FIG. 7A ). The spring  70  can be secured against the internal surface of the distal end  53  of the collar  60  and the external surface of the distal end  12  of the barrel  10 . These surfaces can also include grooves for holding the spring  70  in place. 
         [0045]    Another embodiment allows for a side action luer lock collar attachment as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B . The side arm  80  is extended in position  81  and the collar  60  is held out to the side such that needle  30  can be used to draw up fluid. In  FIG. 8B , the collar  60  is slid over the needle  30  and the side arm  80  is moved into a shortened position  82 , such that the collar  60  covers the needle  30  and the luer lock can engage needleless tubing systems. The arm  80  can be a linkage or other mechanical assembly that can move the collar  60  between the two positions and may include structure for securing the collar  60  in at least one of the two positions, for example the advanced position on the syringe barrel  10 . 
         [0046]    In one embodiment ( FIGS. 9A and 9B ), the rails are replaced by a thread  90  running around the barrel and the collar has a protuberance  91  which may be locked in a retracted position ( FIG. 9A ) or the advanced position ( FIG. 9B ) by rotation of the collar around the barrel. The collar  60  may be locked in place by frictional forces between the thread  90  and protuberance  91 . 
         [0047]    In another embodiment ( FIGS. 10A and 10B ), the collar  60  has an elliptical or circular circumference in the retracted position (elliptical and locked in  FIG. 10A ) which is then deformed to the other shape (elliptical or circular) to move the collar into the advanced position (circular and slideable in  FIG. 10B ) to aid in reversibly holding the collar in the retracted or advanced position by the frictional engagement of the collar with the barrel. 
         [0048]    In yet another embodiment ( FIGS. 11A and 11B ), which is a variation of  FIGS. 9A and 9B , there is an additional external cylinder  110  that has an internal thread  111 , such that rotation of the cylinder  110  causes advancement of the collar  60  from the retracted position ( FIG. 11A ) to the advanced position ( FIG. 11B ) by the interface of the thread  111  with an external collar thread  112  and by the internal collar thread  90  interfacing with the protuberance  91 . 
         [0049]    The syringe system  1  may draw up medication from a medication bottle in a standard fashion with the collar  60  reversibly locked in its retracted position ( FIG. 1A ) and the operator pulling back on the proximal handle  21  of the plunger  20 . By this action, medication is drawn into the enlarging interior space  40 . Once this is complete, the collar  60  may be reversibly locked into its extended position as seen in  FIG. 2 , simultaneously covering the distal end  32  of the needle  30 , and maintaining a seal between the sealing component  61  and the needle  30 . After converting the system  1  from needled to needleless, the syringe system  1  may be easily attached to the needleless tubing system via, for example, the threads  57  on the fluid port  50 . The plunger  20  may be advanced to move the medication distally through the sealed system and out through the needle openings  33  into the needleless tubing system. 
         [0050]    The size and shape of the syringe and associated components will vary to suit a particular application and patient (e.g., adult or pediatric). The specific dimensions, capacities, configurations will be selected to suit a particular application. For example, the syringe can have a volumetric capacity of about 0.05 cc to about 100.0 cc, the needle can be from about 33 gauge to about 10 gauge, and the needleless interface can be a luer type fitting. 
         [0051]    Generally, the components of the syringe system can be manufactured by injection molding or by modifying an extruded tube. For example, extrusion can be used to provide a uniform polymeric tube, to which other components are attached. Insert molding can be used to provide the desired geometry of the components and openings in a component can then be created in the desired locations as a subsequent mechanical operation. Additional manufacturing techniques include blow molding, compression molding, transfer molding, and any other molding techniques. For example, single-shot or multi-shot injection molding. The various components of the syringe system can be assembled by snap fitting, bonding, and/or tongue and groove connection. 
         [0052]    The syringe and related components can be manufactured from glass or plastic and may be made of a biocompatible material, such as, for example, polyurethane, silicones, polyethylenes, nylons, polyesters and polyester elastomers, either with or without reinforcement. Stainless steel and titanium can also be used, for example, for the needle. In addition, the needle can be formed from a polymeric material or a combination of metal and polymeric materials, for example, the needle can be stainless steel with a polymer over-molded on to the needle. The needle can have a sharp or blunt tip. Also, the polymeric materials may be used in combination with other materials, for example, natural or synthetic rubber. Other suitable materials will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, the barrel of the syringe is made of plastic, has graduated marks indicating the volume of fluid in the syringe, and is substantially transparent. The syringe plunger or piston may be made of rubber, which provides a good seal between the piston and the barrel. 
         [0053]    Various examples of syringe systems and their manufacturing, material, and arrangement details can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,182,734; 5,817,065; 5,681,295; and 5,273,543, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
         [0054]    Having described certain embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments incorporating the concepts disclosed herein may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as only illustrative and not restrictive.