Patent Publication Number: US-2019167911-A1

Title: Quick-connect syringe and needle system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/594,501, filed on Dec. 4, 2017, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to syringe and needle systems, and more particularly, to a quick-connect syringe and needle system comprising a mechanism to quickly and easily connect a needle assembly to a syringe. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is important in many surgical procedures to utilize a needle and syringe system to inject various medical materials or compounds into a patient. Typical compounds may include saline solutions, anesthetics, anti-coagulants, anti-biotics, etc. Often, multiple injections are required during a single treatment or procedure. 
     Syringes are typically hollow and can accept the various compounds directly, either as loose fluid or in breakable or pierceable containers, or by inserting the attached needle into a container holding the compound and drawing it up into the syringe with a typical piston/plunger arrangement. When multiple injections are required, it is often desirable or even necessary to utilize a new and sterilized needle to avoid complications or issues such as, for example, cross-contamination, infection, etc. Additionally, once the needle is removed from the syringe, the syringe may need to be sterilized prior to reuse. 
     Typically, removal of an existing used needle or needle assembly from a syringe requires unthreading the needle or needle assembly from the syringe by turning or twisting it in at least one 360° rotation to separate the threads which connect the needle assembly to the syringe. This can be a time consuming and inconvenient task during the heat of a surgery. 
     Many times, due to stress or other undesired factors, the person in charge of exchanging the used needle for a new sterilized needle will attempt to simply and forcibly pull the needle assembly and syringe apart or try to twist or pry off the needle assembly for faster removal. Unfortunately, this can cause the person to get pricked by the needle and risk infection, as well as damage the syringe making it necessary to get an entire new syringe and needle assembly. 
     Accordingly, there is an established need for a time-saving syringe and needle assembly or system that solves at least one of the aforementioned problems. For example, a syringe and needle assembly is desired which allows a surgeon or attendant to quickly, safely and conveniently remove the needle assembly from the syringe, connect the needle assembly to the syringe, or replace the needle assembly provided on the syringe. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a quick-connect syringe and needle system that is capable of quickly and easily exchanging a needle assembly with a syringe by a simple turn motion and without having to bend or break off the needle assembly from the syringe. The quick-connect syringe and needle system can include a syringe, an intermediate adapter connectable to the syringe, and a needle assembly having a needle body and a needle extending through the needle body. The needle body and the intermediate adapter together form a quick-connect mechanism for releasable engagement therebetween. The quick-connect mechanism can include one or more slots, and more preferably a pair of diametrically opposed L-shaped slots, formed in a rear portion of the needle body and a corresponding one or more, and preferably a pair of diametrically opposed, projections extending from a front or locking body portion of the intermediate adapter. The projections are received in releasable locking engagement within the slots to quickly and easily connect the needle assembly with the intermediate adapter and syringe with a simple turn of the needle assembly relative to the intermediate adapter, the turn preferably being of approximately 90 degrees. The quick-connect syringe and needle system can be applied to various dental and/or medical syringes, such as, but not limited to, metallic dental syringes configured to receive a needle assembly and extract an anesthetic or other product from a carpule, or plastic medical syringes. 
     In a first implementation of the invention, a quick-connect syringe and needle system comprises a syringe, a needle assembly and an intermediate adapter. The needle assembly includes a needle assembly body and a needle affixed to the needle assembly body. The needle assembly body has a rear portion defining at least one slot. The intermediate adapter, in turn, is engageable with the syringe to secure the intermediate adapter to the syringe, and includes at least one projection releasably engageable with the at least one slot in the rear portion of the needle assembly body to disconnectably secure the intermediate adapter to the needle assembly. The quick-connect and needle system is configured to adopt an assembled configuration in which the intermediate adapter is secured to the syringe. Furthermore, in the assembled configuration, the intermediate adapter is disconnectably secured to the needle assembly by engagement of the at least one projection of the intermediate adapter with the at least one slot of the rear portion of the needle assembly body of the needle assembly. 
     In a second aspect, the rear portion of the needle assembly body can include a slotted sleeve which fits over a front portion of the intermediate adapter when the quick-connect and needle system is arranged in the assembled configuration. 
     In another aspect, the at least one slot can be defined through the slotted sleeve. 
     In another aspect, the at least one slot can be L-shaped. 
     In another aspect, the L-shaped slot can include a first slot segment having an open end, and a second slot segment extending from the first slot segment and including a closed end. 
     In yet another aspect, the first slot segment of the L-shaped slot can be parallel to a longitudinal axis of the needle assembly. 
     In another aspect, the second slot segment of the L-shaped can be circumferential about the longitudinal axis. 
     In another aspect, the at least one projection of the intermediate adapter can include two projections and the at least one slot defined in the rear portion of the needle assembly body can include two slots. The two projections can be configured to engage with the two slots. 
     In another aspect, the two projections can be diametrically opposed to each other, and the two slots can also be diametrically opposed to one another. 
     In another aspect, the intermediate adapter can be engageable with the syringe in a disconnectable manner. 
     In yet another aspect, the intermediate adapter can include a threaded portion disconnectably threadable to a forward threaded portion of the syringe. 
     In another aspect, the intermediate adapter can include a through bore. When the quick-connect and needle system is arranged in the assembled configuration, the needle of the needle assembly can extend through the through bore of the intermediate adapter and into the syringe. 
     In another aspect, the intermediate adapter may include a radially-protruding collar configured to rest on a front face of the syringe. 
     In another aspect, the intermediate adapter may comprise an outer wall disposed circumferentially about a longitudinal axis of the intermediate adapter. The outer wall can have an outer texture or shape facilitating manual application of a torque on the outer wall and needle assembly to rotate the needle assembly and intermediate adapter relative to one another for engaging the at least one projection of the intermediate adapter with the at least one slot of the rear portion of the needle assembly body of the needle assembly. 
     In yet another aspect, when the quick-connect and needle system is arranged in the assembled configuration, the outer wall of the intermediate adapter can be disposed radially outward of the rear portion of the needle assembly body. 
     These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  presents a top front isometric view of a quick-connect syringe and needle system in accordance with a first illustrative implementation of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  presents a bottom side isometric view, with parts separated, of the quick-connect syringe and needle system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  presents a cross-sectional, front elevation view of the quick-connect syringe and needle system of  FIG. 1  with a needle assembly and intermediate adapter of the quick-connect syringe and needle system in a first state; 
         FIG. 4  presents a cross-sectional, front elevation view of the quick-connect syringe and needle system of  FIG. 1  with the needle assembly and intermediate adapter in a second state; 
         FIG. 5  presents a top front isometric view of a syringe and the intermediate adapter of the quick-connect syringe and needle system of  FIG. 1  prior to assembly; 
         FIG. 6  presents a partial, top front isometric view of the needle assembly of the quick-connect syringe and needle system of  FIG. 1  prior to being connected to the assembled intermediate adapter and syringe; 
         FIG. 7  presents a partial, top front isometric view with the needle assembly of the quick-connect syringe and needle system of  FIG. 1  in a first state, as it is being connected to the intermediate adapter; 
         FIG. 8  presents a partial, top front isometric view with the needle assembly of the quick-connect syringe and needle system of  FIG. 1  in a second state, fully connected to the intermediate adapter; 
         FIG. 9  presents a top front isometric view of a quick-connect syringe and needle system in accordance with a second illustrative implementation of the present invention, wherein the system is shown in an assembled configuration; 
         FIG. 10  presents an exploded, top front isometric view of the quick-connect syringe and needle system of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  presents a top side isometric view of the quick-connect syringe and needle system of  FIG. 9 , with the intermediate adapter shown connected to the needle assembly; 
         FIG. 12  presents a top front isometric view of the quick-connect syringe and needle system of  FIG. 9 , with the intermediate adapter shown connected to the syringe; 
         FIG. 13  presents a top front isometric view of the quick-connect syringe and needle system of  FIG. 9 , with the intermediate adapter and needle assembly body shown connected to the syringe and the cap removed from the needle assembly body; and 
         FIG. 14  presents a cross-sectional, side elevation view of the quick-connect syringe and needle system of  FIG. 9  shown in the assembled configuration. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     Shown throughout the figures, the present invention is directed toward a quick and easy mechanism for attaching a needle assembly to a syringe utilizing an intermediate adapter that is threaded to the syringe and includes a pair of projections to releasably engage corresponding slots formed on the needle assembly. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a quick-connect syringe and needle system  100  is illustrated in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, configured as a multi-component needle system. As shown, the quick-connect syringe and needle system  100  generally includes a needle assembly  110 , a hollow syringe  112  and an intermediate adapter  114  for quickly and easily attaching and removing the needle assembly  110  from the hollow syringe  112 . It should be noted that the hollow syringe  112  may be provided with a piston and plunger assembly (not shown) as is commonly known in the art to draw into and eject compounds from the syringe  112  towards and through the needle assembly  110 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the needle assembly  110  includes a hollow needle  116  and a needle assembly body  118 . The needle  116  extends through, and is secured within, a through bore  120  formed through the needle assembly body  118  (see also  FIG. 3 ). The needle assembly body  118  includes a finned and tapered forward portion  122 , a rear portion or slotted rear sleeve  124  and a radially-protruding flange or collar  126  positioned between the forward portion  122  and the slotted rear sleeve  124 . The slotted rear sleeve  124  includes one or more L-shaped slots  128 , and more preferably a pair of L-shaped slots  128 , which, together with the intermediate adapter  114 , form part of a quick-connect mechanism  130  for quickly and easily attaching and removing the needle assembly  110  from the syringe  112 . Preferably, the pair of L-shaped slots  128  are diametrically opposed to each other through the slotted rear sleeve  124 . 
     The syringe  112  generally includes a hollow syringe body  132  having a pair of finger grasping flanges  134  adjacent an open rear end  136  of the syringe body  132 . The syringe body also has an open front end  138  for receipt of the intermediate adapter  114  as described in more detail hereinbelow. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-4 , the intermediate adapter  114  includes a rear or threaded body portion  140  which forms a part of a body  142  of the intermediate adapter  114 . The body  142  of the intermediate adapter  114  additionally includes a radially-protruding flange or collar  144  and a front or locking body portion  146  extending frontward from the collar  144 . A through bore  148  extends through the body  142  of the intermediate adapter  114  for passage of the needle  116  therethrough and into the syringe body  132 . One or more, and preferably a pair of, projections  150  are formed on and extend radially outwardly from the locking body portion  146  and are provided to engage the corresponding L-shaped slots  128  formed in the slotted rear sleeve  124  of the needle assembly  110 . The projections  150  are preferably diametrically opposed to each other around the locking body portion  146  and may be cylindrical, rectangular, nub like or semi-circular, etc., as long as the shape allows them to navigate the L-shaped slots  128  as will be described hereinafter. The locking body portion  146  and projections  150 , along with the slotted rear sleeve  124  of the needle assembly  110 , together form the aforementioned quick-connect mechanism  130 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , the syringe  112  includes a hollow interior  152 . As best shown in  FIG. 3 , in order to attach the intermediate adapter  114  to the syringe  112 , the syringe  112  is formed with an interior thread  154  in a recessed portion  156  of the syringe adjacent the open front end  138  of the syringe  112 . A partition  158  is formed in the syringe  112  between the recessed portion  156  and the hollow interior  152  and includes a through hole  160  for passage of the needle into the hollow interior  152 . 
     In order to ensure a complete seal between the intermediate adapter  114  and the needle assembly body  118  about the needle  116 , a seal  162  can be provided in a recess  164  formed in a rear end face  166  of the tapered forward portion  122  of the needle assembly body  118  and in a recess  168  formed in a front end face  170  of the locking body portion  146  of the intermediate adapter  114 . 
     The disclosed components of the quick-connect syringe and needle system  100  may be formed from a variety of preferably bio-compatible materials commonly used in the art. For example, the needle  116  may be formed from a stainless steel while the needle assembly body  118  may be formed from a polymeric material. The syringe  112  and the intermediate adapter, in whole or in part, may also be formed from a metallic, polymeric or combination of metallic and polymeric materials, glass and combinations thereof, for instance and without limitation. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3-8 , and initially with regard to  FIG. 5 , the assembly of the quick-connect syringe and needle system  100 , incorporating the quick-connect mechanism  130 , will now be described. Initially, the intermediate adapter  114  is positioned adjacent the open front end  138  of the syringe  112 . The intermediate adapter  114  is then moved longitudinally, i.e. in direction of arrow A, such that the threaded body portion  140  of the intermediate adapter  114  engages the interior thread  154  in the open front end  138  of the syringe  112 . Thereafter, the intermediate adapter  114  is rotated counter-clockwise (in this embodiment) in the direction of arrow B to thread or screw the intermediate adapter  114  into secure connection with the interior thread  154  of the syringe  112 . The threaded body portion  140  of the intermediate adapter  114  is continued to be threaded into the interior thread  154  of the syringe  112  until the collar  144  of the intermediate adapter  114  firmly seats against a front face  172  of the syringe  112 , thus reaching a seated, assembled position shown in  FIG. 6 . This assembled position formed by the syringe  112  and intermediate adapter  114  places them in condition for receipt of the needle assembly  110  in quick-connect fashion. 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 6 , in order to attach the needle assembly  110  to the assembled syringe  112  and intermediate adapter  114 , the needle assembly  110  is advanced toward the intermediate adapter  114  in the direction of arrow C, i.e. longitudinally, such that a rear end  174  of the needle  116  enters the recess  168  formed in the locking body portion  146  of the intermediate adapter  114  and enters the through bore  148  formed through the intermediate adapter  114 . The needle assembly  110  continues to be advanced toward the intermediate adapter  114  until the rear end  174  of the needle  116  passes into the hollow interior  152  of the syringe body  132  ( FIG. 4 ). As noted above, at this point, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the rear end face  166  of tapered forward portion  122  is flush with the front end face  170  of the intermediate adapter  114 . 
     As the needle assembly  110  is moved in the direction of arrow C, the projections  150  on the locking body portion  146  of the intermediate adapter  114  are aligned with and enter the L-shaped slots  128  formed in the slotted rear sleeve  124  of the needle assembly body  118 . The L-shaped slots  128  include a first slot segment  176  open at a rear end  180  of the slotted rear sleeve  124  and a second slot segment  178  extending from an upper end  182  of the first slot segment  176  and at an angle with the first slot segment  176 . The first slot segment  176  is preferably parallel to a longitudinal axis  102  of the quick-connect syringe and needle system  100  while the second slot segment  178  is transverse, and preferably perpendicular, to the longitudinal axis  102 . 
     The quick-connect mechanism  130  is operated by aligning the projections  150  on the intermediate adapter  114  with the first slot segments  176  on the needle assembly  110  and moving the needle assembly  110  and the assembled syringe  112  and intermediate adapter  114  together such that the projections  150  enter the first slot segments  176 . As noted, the first slot segments  176  are open at the rear end  180  of the slotted rear sleeve  124 . The needle assembly  110  is then continued to be pressed together with the intermediate adapter  114  in the direction of arrow C moving the projections  150  longitudinally up through the first slot segments  176  until the projections  150  reach the upper end  182  of the first slot segments  176  and are aligned with the second slot segment  178  in a first state as best shown in  FIG. 7  (see also  FIG. 3 ). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , once the projections  150  have reached the first state in the upper end  182  of the first slot segments  176 , the operation of the quick-connect mechanism  130  is completed by rotating the needle assembly  110  counter-clockwise in the direction of arrow D ( FIG. 7 ) to move the projections  150  through the second slot segments  178  until the projections  150  reach closed ends  184  of the second slot segments  178  and thus achieve a second state, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 4 . This completes the operation of the quick-connect mechanism  130  to easily and releasably secure the needle assembly  110  to the syringe  112  via the intermediate adapter  114 . Preferably, the second slot segments  178  have a length which requires the user to rotate the needle assembly  110  ninety degrees relative to the intermediate adapter  114  in order to move the projections  150  from the upper end  182  of the first slot segment  176  to the closed end  184  of the second slot segment  178 . This provides an extremely simple and intuitive, yet robust and secure, locking mechanism. 
     In order to remove the needle assembly  110  from the syringe  112 , the above process is reversed moving the projections  150  on the locking body portion  146  of the intermediate adapter  114  back through the second slot segments  178  and first slot segments  176  of the L-shaped slots  128  in the slotted rear sleeve  124  of the needle assembly body  118  to allow the needle assembly  110  to be pulled free of the syringe  112 . Thereafter, a new needle assembly  110  may be chosen and attached the syringe  112  by use of the disclosed quick-connect mechanism  130 . 
     Thus, the disclosed quick-connect syringe and needle system  100  provides a quick and easy device and method of exchanging a needle on a syringe without having to break the needle during the exchange. The system can be applied to various dental and/or medical syringes, such as metallic dental syringes configured to receive a needle assembly and extract an anesthetic or other product from a carpule, or plastic medical syringes, for instance and without limitation. 
     The illustrations of  FIGS. 9-14  show a quick-connect syringe and needle system  200  in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the invention. Like features of the quick-connect syringe and needle system  200  and the quick-connect syringe and needle system  100  ( FIGS. 1-8 ) are numbered the same except preceded by the numeral ‘2’. As shown for instance in the assembled configuration view of  FIG. 9 , similarly to the previous embodiment, the quick-connect syringe and needle system  200  of the present embodiment comprises a needle assembly  210 , a syringe  212  (only partially illustrated), and an intermediate adapter  214  configured to facilitate a quick connection of the needle assembly  210  to the syringe  212 . The needle assembly  210 , syringe  212  and intermediate adapter  214  are formed and mounted along a longitudinal axis  202 . 
     As best shown in the exploded view of  FIG. 10 , the needle assembly  210  includes a needle assembly body  218  and a needle  216  affixed to the needle assembly body  218 . The needle assembly body  218  comprises a forward portion  222  and a rear portion  224 . Furthermore, the needle assembly  210  of the present embodiment includes a cap  288  which is detachably mountable on the forward portion  222  of the needle assembly body  218 , as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , which shows the cap  288  mounted to the forward portion  222 , and  FIG. 13 , which shows the cap  288  separated from the forward portion  222 . As further shown in  FIG. 10 , the rear portion  224  of the needle assembly body  218  is formed as a slotted sleeve shaped and sized to fit over the front portion  246  of the intermediate adapter  214  when the quick-connect and needle system  200  is arranged in the assembled configuration. At least one slot  228  is defined through the slotted sleeve or rear portion  224 . For instance and without limitation, two diametrically opposed slots  228  can be formed in the rear portion  224 . The slots  228  can be L-shaped, comprising a first slot segment  276  having an open end at a rear end  280  of the rear portion  224  of the needle assembly body  218 , and a second slot segment  278  extending from the first slot segment  276  and including a closed end  284 . The first slot segment  276  of the L-shaped slot  228  can be parallel to the longitudinal axis  202 , while the second slot segment  278  of the L-shaped slot  228  can be circumferential or arc-shaped about a center defined by the longitudinal axis  202 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 10 , also similarly to the previous embodiment, the intermediate adapter  214  has a front portion  246  configured to connect to the needle assembly  210 . Specifically, the front portion  246  includes at least one projection  250 , such as two diametrically opposed projections  250 , releasably engageable with the slot or slots  228  in the rear portion  224  of the needle assembly body  218  to disconnectably secure the intermediate adapter  214  to the needle assembly  210 . Also similarly to the previous embodiment, the intermediate adapter  214  is engageable with the syringe  212 ; however, in the present embodiment, it is the front portion  246  that is disconnectably engageable with the syringe  212  to secure the intermediate adapter  214  to the syringe  212 . Specifically, the front portion  246  of the body  242  of the intermediate adapter  214  includes an internal or female threaded portion  296  ( FIG. 14 ) which threads to a forward, male threaded portion  298  of the syringe  212 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 10 , the intermediate adapter  214  additionally includes a radially-protruding collar  244  extending from the front portion  246 , and an outer wall  290  disposed circumferentially about the longitudinal axis  202  of the intermediate adapter  214  in a spaced-apart relationship with the front portion  246 . The outer wall  290  has an outer rugosity or texture  292  configured to provide a relatively high friction between the outer wall  290  and a user&#39;s fingers to facilitate manual application of a torque on the outer wall  290  and needle assembly  210  to rotate the needle assembly  210  and intermediate adapter  214  relative to one another. Thus, the user can grasp the outer wall  290  and easily rotate the needle assembly  210  and intermediate adapter  214  relative to one another to engage the one or more projections  250  of the front portion  246  of the intermediate adapter  214  with the one or more slots  228  of the rear portion  224  of the needle assembly body  218 , as indicated by circular arrow E in the perspective view of  FIG. 11 . 
     The quick-connect and needle system  200  of the present embodiment is configured to adopt an assembled configuration, shown in  FIGS. 9 and 14 . In the assembled configuration, the intermediate adapter  214  is secured to the syringe  212  by engagement of the front portion  246  of the intermediate adapter  214  with the syringe  212 ; more preferably, the intermediate adapter  214  is disconnectably secured to the syringe  212  by the threading of the forward, male threaded portion  298  of the syringe  212  into the female threaded portion  296  of the front portion  246  of the intermediate adapter  214 . Also in this assembled configuration, the intermediate adapter  214  is disconnectably secured to the needle assembly  210  by engagement of the one or more projections  250  of the front portion  246  of the intermediate adapter  214  with the corresponding one or more slots  228  of the rear portion  224  of the needle assembly body  218  of the needle assembly  210 . Furthermore, as best shown in  FIG. 14 , in the assembled configuration, the needle  216  extends through a through bore  248  of the intermediate adapter  214  and into the syringe  212 , and the radially-protruding collar  244  of the intermediate adapter  214  rests on a front face  272  of the syringe  212 . Furthermore, in the assembled configuration, the outer wall  290  of the intermediate adapter  214  is disposed radially outward of the rear portion  224  of the needle assembly body  218 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Furthermore, it is understood that any of the features presented in the embodiments may be integrated into any of the other embodiments unless explicitly stated otherwise. The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.