Abstract:
A multi-dose injection syringe includes a syringe body for containing a medicine and a plunger moveable within the syringe body, from an injection start position, to eject medicine therefrom, the syringe further including a scale provided on one of the syringe body and the plunger, the scale providing a time ordered sequence of indicia and being configurable to align any one of the indicia with the injection start position, at least part of the syringe body being transparent such that the plunger&#39;s degree of progression through the syringe body, with respect to the time ordered sequence of indicia, is externally visible.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]    The present invention relates to syringes that are capable of administering multiple doses. In particular the present invention relates to a multi-dose syringe that comprises a scale with a configurable time ordered sequence of indicia. 
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    Pre-filled syringes that are capable of providing multiple doses are well known. They are commonly used when a person requires a regular dose of injectable medicine, for example a daily insulin injection. Syringes are marked, usually with dosage information, such that the user is able to determine the volume of medicine that has been injected. For users that require regular injections, it is not always easy to remember whether the dose for a given time period has been received. The dosage markings on the syringe typically only provide an indication of volume of medicine remaining. The user is therefore required to keep a track of when the last dose was taken in order to avoid too many doses being administered in any given time period. This is particularly problematic if the user has trouble with short-term memory, or if several people are required to administer injections to the same patient and each is possibly unaware of when a dose was last administered. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]    According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a multi-dose injection syringe comprising a syringe body for containing a medicine and a plunger moveable within the syringe body, from an injection start position, to eject medicine therefrom, the syringe further comprising a scale provided on one of the syringe body and the plunger, the scale providing a time ordered sequence of indicia and being configurable to align any one of the indicia with said injection start position, at least part of the syringe body being transparent such that the plunger&#39;s degree of progression through the syringe body, with respect to the time ordered sequence of indicia, is externally visible. 
         [0004]    The scale may comprise a rotatable sleeve positioned around the outside of the syringe body, the rotatable sleeve defining a window, and a number of time ordered sequences of indicia with different starting points being located on the syringe body. The scale being such that configuration may be performed by rotating the rotatable sleeve to align the window with the time ordered sequence of indicia with the required start point. 
         [0005]    The scale may comprise a number of superposed removable labels located on the outside surface of the syringe body, each superposed label comprising a time ordered sequence of indicia with a different starting point. The scale being such that configuration may be performed by peeling off one or more of the superposed removable labels, such that the top label that remains attached to the syringe body shows the time ordered sequence of indicia with the required start point. 
         [0006]    The scale may comprise a removable and replaceable cover that is separable into sections located around the syringe body, the cover containing the time ordered sequence of indicia. The scale being such that configuration may be performed by removing the cover from the syringe body, splitting the cover into sections at a point above the desired starting point of the time ordered sequence of indicia, and replacing the cover with the sections in a different order, such that the time ordered sequence of indicia starts at the desired starting point. The removable and replaceable cover may comprise weakening score lines above potential starting points of the time ordered sequence of indicia. 
         [0007]    The scale may comprise a number of time ordered sequences of indicia with different starting points located on a shaped neck portion of the plunger, and a window provided in the syringe body such that one of the indicia can be viewed through the window during use of the syringe. The scale being such that configuration may be performed by selecting the time ordered sequence of indicia with the desired starting point, and lining it up with the window in the syringe prior to pressing the plunger into the syringe body. A complementary shaped opening in the syringe body may stop the shaped neck portion of the plunger from being rotated once it has been pressed into the syringe body. 
         [0008]    The scale may comprise a number of strips removably attached along the length of the syringe body, each strip covering a time ordered sequence of indicia with different starting points located on the syringe body. The scale being such that configuration may be performed by removing the strip covering the desired time ordered sequence of indicia. 
         [0009]    The scale may comprise a number of sleeves, each one provided with a time ordered sequence of indicia with different starting points. The scale being such that configuration may be performed by selecting one of the number of sleeves that contains the time ordered sequence of indicia with the desired starting point, and sliding the sleeve over the syringe body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a syringe body according to a first embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show a syringe body according to a second embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  shows a number of superposable labels as used in the second embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 6 and 8  show a syringe body according to a third embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  show a removable and replaceable clip as used in the third embodiment of  FIGS. 6 and 8 ; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show a syringe according to a fourth embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  shows apart of the syringe of  FIGS. 9 and 10 ; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 12 and 13  show a syringe body according to a fifth embodiment; and 
           [0018]      FIGS. 14 and 15  show a syringe body according to a sixth embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    As discussed above, users that use multiple dose pre-filled syringes to inject themselves or others with regular doses of medicine are required to keep track of the injection histories and requirements. 
         [0020]    A multiple dose (“multi-dose”) syringe will now be described, with reference to the accompanying figures, that comprises a scale with a configurable time ordered sequence of indicia that can present useful information to a person using the syringe regarding when a dose was last administered. The scale is formed as part of the syringe, and is configurable so as to allow the user to choose a correct starting time from the options provided within the time ordered sequence of indicia. The body of the syringe is transparent, or at least has a transparent window, such that the progress of the plunger through the body can be seen with respect to the scale provided. 
         [0021]    The embodiments described herein and shown in the figures describe multi-dose syringes for daily injections. The time ordered sequence of indicia therefore comprises the days of the week. However, other time frames may be selected—for example, a medicine provided in a multi-dose syringe that is to be administered twice a day may have the days of the week with separate “am” and “pm” periods for each day of the week. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a syringe  1  comprising a syringe body  2  for containing the medicine (or a cartridge which contains the medicine), a first end  3  for connection with a hypodermic needle, and a second end  4  suitable for receiving a plunger (not shown) for pushing the medicine contained within the syringe body through the first end connected to a hypodermic needle. A rotatable sleeve  5  is provided around the body  2 . The sleeve  5  defines a window  6 , such that an area of the outside surface of the body  2  can be seen through the sleeve, and one of a number of areas can be selected by rotating the sleeve. The area of the outside of the surface of the syringe body  2  that is shown through the window  6  in  FIG. 1  contains a sequence of indicia (or “markings”) that display the days of the week, starting with Monday. As a first dose is administered, the plunger will pass the Monday indication mark, and will be positioned such that it indicates that Tuesday&#39;s dose is the next one to be administered. This allows the user, or any other person, to refer to the syringe to determine if another dose is due to be administered or not. Not every course of medication will start on a Monday, so it is necessary for the user to be able to select an appropriate starting point for the markings that are provided on the syringe. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows the syringe body of  FIG. 1  with the rotatable sleeve removed. It can be seen that the outer surface of the body  2  has a number of selectable options for which time-relevant dosage information is to be displayed through the window in the sleeve. For example, the next selectable option to the right of the one shown in  FIG. 1  has a starting point of Tuesday, rather than Monday. Around the outside surface of the body  2 , there are seven selectable options, each one providing a sequence of indicia with a different day of the week as its starting point. Once the user has selected the sequence that is required, there may be provided a means to lock the sleeve in place, such that it does not get accidentally rotated once the course of medicine has been started. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  shows an alternative embodiment of the invention. The syringe body  2  is provided with a number of labels  10  superposed on top of each other. The top label shows the days of the week starting with Monday. Each label  10  is provided with a tab  11  that projects out of one side of the label in such a way that none of the tabs overlap with the tab of another label. The tabs  11  correspond with the markings on the top label, such that if a user selects the tab positioned next to a specific day, and removes the label to which that tab is attached (and therefore also all labels positioned on top of that label), the label that remains on the syringe body as the new top label has markings on it that show the days of the week with the day that was indicated next to the tab that was chosen as its starting point. For example, if the tab indicated by arrow T in  FIG. 3  is chosen and used to peel off the upper labels, the label underneath (which becomes the new top label) will show the days of the week starting with Wednesday, as shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 5  shows the labels that are placed on top of each other, separated out. The non-superposable tabs for each label can clearly be seen in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 6  shows a further embodiment of the invention. The syringe body  2  is provided with a clip-on cover  15  that comprises a number of sections  16  each of which has a marking on corresponding to a day of the week. In between the sections  16 , the clip-on cover  15  is provided with an area of weakness  17 , for example a weakening score line, such that the clip cover can be easily broken into two or more pieces, with each piece containing one or more of the sections  16 .  FIG. 7  shows a clip-on cover  15  that has been separated from the syringe body, and which has been broken into two pieces, D and E, at the dotted line S. The first piece D contains four sections  16  that contain markings for Monday to Thursday, and the second piece E contains 3 sections containing markings for Friday to Sunday. Now that these two pieces have been separated, the user can switch their positions as shown by arrow M, and replace them onto the syringe body in the desired order, such as shown in  FIG. 8 . In  FIG. 8 , the piece E containing three sections has been replaced above the second piece D. The sequence of indicia now starts with Friday at the top of the syringe instead of Monday. The clip can be separated between any of the sections, and so the user is able to configure the scale to put the required starting point (e.g. day of the week) at the top of the syringe. 
         [0026]    A fourth embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . An end cap  19  is provided over the end of the syringe body that is suitable for receiving a plunger. The cap  19  defines a shaped opening  20  through which the plunger  21  is received. The neck  22  of the plunger has a complimentary shape such that it can fit through the opening in the end of the syringe body, but once inside the syringe body the plunger cannot be rotated. The faces provided on the neck  22  of the plunger contain the sequence of indicia. Each face provides a sequence of indicia with a different starting point. A window in the end cap  19  aligns with one of the faces, and allows one marking to be viewed by the user. As can be seen in  FIG. 10 , the end of the plunger that is inserted into the syringe body has a portion of reduced diameter  25 . This portion of reduced diameter  25 , when positioned at the shaped opening  20 , allows the plunger to be rotated such that the face that contains the sequence of indicia with the desired starting point can be selected. Arrow A in  FIG. 9  shows the selection of the desired plunger face. The correct face is selected when it is aligned with the window  23  in the end cap  19 . Once it has been aligned correctly, the plunger is pressed into the syringe body, as shown by arrow B, such that the shaped neck of the plunger above the portion of reduced diameter is inserted through the complimentarily shaped opening  20 . This locks the plunger such that is can no longer be rotated. The end cap  19  and a part of the shaped neck  22  of the plunger can be seen more clearly in  FIG. 11 . The shaped neck of the plunger  22  has seven faces (the cross section of the plunger neck is a regular heptagon), which allows for seven different selectable options for markings, as similarly provided in the other embodiments of the invention. 
         [0027]      FIG. 12  shows a fifth embodiment of the invention. The outside of the syringe body  2  is provided with a number of peelable strips  30  along its length. Each peelable strip  30  is provided with a tab  31  that enables the user to select one of the strips and peel it off the syringe body. Each of the tabs  31  in  FIG. 12 , indicate a day of the week—this corresponds to the starting point for the sequence of indicia that will be selected by peeling of the strip  30  connected to that tab  31 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the strip  32 , which has a tab indicating “MON” (for Monday), has been peeled off and removed from the syringe body. The outer surface  33  of the syringe body  2  that was previously hidden from view by the strip  32  can now be seen. The days of the week markings, starting with Monday, are provided on the area of the outer surface  33  that has been revealed. 
         [0028]    A sixth embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , a plain syringe body  2  is provided with a number of transparent sleeves  35 , each of which contain sequences of indicia with different starting points. Three sleeves  35  are shown in  FIG. 14 , but any number of sleeves can be provided according to the requirements of the syringe use. The sleeve that contains the sequence of indicia with the deired starting point is selected and slid into place around the plain syringe body. The sleeve can be made to have a close fit with the syringe body  2 , such that once it is in position around the syringe body, it is held in place by frictional force between the two. Alternatively, the syringe body may comprise a means for locking the sleeve in place. 
         [0029]    In a further alternative, a syringe as illustrated in  FIG. 2  could be used together with a plunger that can rotate within the body to select the correct sequence. The plunger contains a rib extending axially along its length which can engage one of a number of grooves or tracks on the inside of the syringe body so that, once the plunger has been rotated to align with the correct sequence of indicia, it is pressed into the syringe body such that the rib engages with the corresponding groove or track and cannot be rotated further. 
         [0030]    It will be appreciated to the person of skill in the art that various modifications may be made to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.