Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7175609?dq=6,373,753
Timestamp: 2015-01-30 16:07:37
Document Index: 442963724

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 507', 'art 507', 'art 506', 'art 507', 'art 507', 'art 507', 'art 506', 'art 506', 'art 507', 'art 506', 'art 507', 'art 507', 'art 507', 'art 609']

Patent US7175609 - Syringe and method of using - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsSyringes and methods of using are described which protect the syringe barrel cavity from contaminants. A first syringe is formed with a corrugated sheath which encloses the plunger and space between the rearward end face surface of the syringe barrel handle member and the forward face of the plunger...http://www.google.com/patents/US7175609?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7175609 - Syringe and method of usingAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7175609 B1Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/949,016Publication dateFeb 13, 2007Filing dateSep 24, 2004Priority dateJan 24, 2002Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS6830564, US7077826, US7842017, US7988676, US20030139706Publication number10949016, 949016, US 7175609 B1, US 7175609B1, US-B1-7175609, US7175609 B1, US7175609B1InventorsRobin Scott GrayOriginal AssigneeRobin Scott GrayExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (20), Referenced by (6), Classifications (14), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSyringe and method of usingUS 7175609 B1Abstract Syringes and methods of using are described which protect the syringe barrel cavity from contaminants. A first syringe is formed with a corrugated sheath which encloses the plunger and space between the rearward end face surface of the syringe barrel handle member and the forward face of the plunger handle member. A second syringe is formed with a syringe barrel having a straight segment and a corrugated segment having the forward face of the plunger handle member molded to the rearward terminus of the corrugated segment of the syringe barrel. A third syringe is formed from mating syringe barrel and plunger member walls. The walls of the mating syringe barrel and plunger member are concentric and slide relative to each other while maintaining an enclosure around the plunger shaft. A fourth syringe is formed from inner and outer concentric syringe barrel walls mating with the walls of a plunger member. The mating walls are concentric and slide relative to each other while maintaining an enclosure around the plunger shaft. A fifth syringe is formed with an end cap contaminant shield having an extension wall that is mated with the rearward end opening of the syringe barrel cavity. Alternatively, the end cap contaminant shield can be provided with a flat design without the extending wall and is bonded or molded to the rearward end terminus of the syringe barrel. The end cap contaminant shield designs are provided with an opening defining the shape of the cross-section of the plunger shaft.
a) a hollow syringe barrel comprising a non-corrugated segment and a corrugated segment;
b) a plunger member; and
c) said plunger member comprising a plunger shaft, a plunger shaft handle member, and a piston; wherein said plunger shaft handle member is contiguously joined to said hollow syringe barrel and said plunger shaft.
2. The syringe of claim 1, wherein said plunger shaft is entirely enclosed by said corrugated segment and said non-corrugated segment of said hollow syringe barrel.
3. The syringe of claim 1, wherein said hollow syringe barrel comprises a handle member externally attached to the non-corrugated segment of said hollow syringe barrel.
4. The syringe of claim 1, wherein said hollow syringe barrel is capable of being lengthened and shortened.
5. The syringe of claim 1, wherein said syringe is colored or tinted.
6. The syringe of claim 1, wherein said syringe comprises a brace means.
a) a hollow syringe barrel comprising a non-corrugated segment and a corrugated segment, wherein said hollow syringe barrel is a continuous piece;
b) a plunger member;
c) said plunger member comprising a plunger shaft and piston; said piston comprising a piston head, wherein materials that enter or exit said hollow syringe barrel remain forward of said piston head; and
d) said hollow syringe barrel enclosing and encircling said plunger shaft.
8. The syringe of claim 7, wherein said syringe is colored or tinted.
9. The syringe of claim 7, wherein said hollow syringe barrel is contiguously joined to a plunger shaft handle member.
10. The syringe of claim 7, wherein said hollow syringe barrel is capable of being elongated and compressed along the longitudinal axis of said hollow syringe barrel.
11. The syringe of claim 7, wherein said syringe comprises a brace means.
12. The syringe of claim 7, wherein said plunger shaft remains entirely housed within said syringe barrel during operation and non-operation.
13. The syringe of claim 7, wherein said hollow syringe barrel comprises a handle member externally attached to the non-corrugated segment of said hollow syringe barrel.
a) a hollow syringe barrel capable of being lengthened and shortened;
c) said plunger member comprising a plunger shaft entirely housed within said hollow syringe barrel; said plunger shaft having a rear terminus centrally located and normal to the forward face surface of a plunger shaft handle member, said forward face surface of said plunger shaft handle member contiguously joined to said hollow syringe barrel; and
d) said plunger shaft comprising a piston; said piston comprising a piston head, wherein materials that enter or exit said hollow syringe barrel physically contact only said piston head and the inner walls of said hollow syringe barrel.
15. The syringe of claim 14, wherein said hollow syringe barrel comprises a corrugated segment and a non-corrugated segment.
16. The syringe of claim 15, wherein said corrugated segment of said hollow syringe barrel is capable of being longitudinally elongated and is longitudinally compressed.
17. The syringe of claim 15, wherein said hollow syringe barrel comprises a handle member externally attached to the non-corrugated segment of said hollow syringe barrel.
18. The syringe of claim 14, wherein said syringe comprises a brace means.
19. The syringe of claim 14, wherein said syringe is colored or tinted.
a) a single piece hollow syringe barrel comprising a syringe barrel cavity;
c) said plunger member comprising a plunger shaft and piston, said piston comprising a piston head, and said piston head comprising a piston rim; wherein, said piston rim maintains contact, and forms a seal, with internal cavity walls of said syringe barrel during advancement and withdrawal of said plunger member along said syringe barrel cavity; and
d) the entire length of said plunger shaft and said piston remaining entirely enclosed within said single piece hollow syringe barrel during said advancement and said withdrawal of said plunger member.
This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/057,519 filed on Jan. 24, 2002. U.S. Pat. No. 6,830,564 B2.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Syringes are used by medical personnel to withdraw blood from patients, inject intravenous medications into patients, inject intramuscular medications into patients, prepare irrigation solutions, prepare dialysis fluids, prepare intravenous pushes, prepare bolus fluids, prepare intravenous fluids for parenteral injection, and prepare oral dose medications. Personnel trained to prepare solutions, pushes, or other fluids for injection prepare the solutions within a laminar flow hood or a vertical flow hood using aseptic technique. The hood provides a work area which reduces the probability of contaminants being introduced into the intravenous admixtures or other solutions during their preparation. Vertical flow hoods and biohazard hoods additionally reduce the probability of escape of biohazard materials being used from the work area and hood. The intravenous fluids, admixtures, and other solutions are prepared by placing a bag or bottle of fluid for injection, along with a needle, syringe, and the injectable medication, into the delineated work area in the hood. The medication is drawn from an ampoule or vial, for example, into the syringe using a needle and is then injected into the bag of intravenous fluid for injection. The fluid for injection can be a push bag, minibag, large volume parenteral, lipids or fat emulsion, etc. The bag or bottle of fluid for injection, apart from its therapeutic value, functions as a vehicle for delivering the medication, electrolytes, or other additives to the patient intravenously.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a new and improved syringe for use in withdrawing blood from patients, injecting intravenous medications into patients, preparing pre-filled syringes with medications for injection, preparing irrigation solutions, preparing dialysis fluids, preparing intravenous pushes, preparing bolus fluids, preparing intravenous fluids, preparing large volume parenterals for intravenous injection, preparing oral dose medications, and preparing medications requiring chemotherapy drugs, acids, or radioactive pharmaceuticals, etc.
In a first embodiment of this invention, it is an object to provide a new and improved syringe having a corrugated sheath, cover, or shield concentrically enveloping a plunger shaft. The forward end terminus of the corrugated sheath, cover, or shield is attached or molded to the rearward end face surface of the syringe barrel handle member which is formed, or molded, on the rearward end terminus of the syringe barrel. The rearward end terminus of the corrugated sheath, cover, or shield is attached by molding, fusing, adhesives, ultrasonic bonding or welding, thermal bonding, etc., to the forward face surface of a plunger handle member which is also centrally molded, or formed on the rearward end terminus of the plunger shaft. The rearward end terminus of the plunger shaft is centrally molded to the forward face surface of the plunger handle member with the forward end and body of the plunger shaft extending and movably fitted into the cavity, fluid reservoir, or hollow portion of the syringe barrel. The syringe barrel is formed with two open ends at opposite ends of the syringe bore or cavity�one end having a larger diameter opening than the opposite end. The larger diameter opening is located at the rearward end terminus of the syringe barrel. The smaller diameter opening is located at the forward end terminus of the syringe barrel and has a reduced diameter neck at the entrance/exit port. The corrugated sheath, cover, or shield encloses and surrounds the rearward end portion of the plunger shaft extending between the syringe barrel handle member and the plunger handle member. The sheath encloses and surrounds that portion of the longitudinal axis of the plunger shaft located and housed within the central cavity or hollow of the corrugated sheath and between the barrel handle and plunger shaft handle when the corrugated sheath is in a compressed state and in a lengthened state. Thus, the plunger shaft and rearward end syringe barrel opening are closed off from and not exposed to the outside environment. The plunger shaft is withdrawn from the syringe barrel cavity or hollow by grasping the syringe barrel outer surface with one hand and the plunger shaft handle member and/or corrugated sheath outer surface with the other hand and pulling the plunger shaft handle member and/or corrugated sheath such that the plunger shaft emerges from the hollow or cavity of the syringe barrel through the rearward end opening of the syringe barrel. The peaks and walls of the corrugations, pleats, or folds in the sheath are caused to separate along the longitudinal axis of the sheath thereby lengthening the sheath along its longitudinal axis. The plunger shaft remains centrally located within the hollow of the corrugated sheath as the plunger shaft emerges from the cavity and rearward end opening of the syringe barrel. As the corrugations or folds in the sheath separate, the corrugated sheath lengthens enabling the plunger shaft to be withdrawn from the hollow or cavity of the syringe barrel. The corrugated sheath lengthens concentrically around and along the plunger shaft. That is, the corrugated sheath lengthens and encloses a greater length of the plunger shaft as the plunger shaft is further withdrawn from the syringe barrel hollow. The sheath remains in the lengthened or elongated position until a force is applied longitudinally to the plunger shaft to compress or collapse the folds or corrugations of the sheath together. That is, it is not necessary for an individual to hold the withdrawn plunger or lengthened corrugated sheath such that it remains in its lengthened state. The corrugated sheath is designed and manufactured such that it does not automatically recoil. A force must be applied along the longitudinal axis of the syringe plunger shaft and corrugated sheath to cause the ends of the elongated corrugated walls of the sheath to be moved toward each other such that the corrugated sheath shortens. When the walls of the corrugated sheath are forced together, the sheath shortens. Shortening of the corrugated sheath is performed by pressing or applying a force to the plunger member such that the forward end face surface of the plunger handle member advances toward the rearward end opening of the syringe barrel to cause the sheath to shorten and the plunger shaft and piston to slide along the longitudinal axis of the syringe barrel cavity toward the syringe entrance/exit port such that medication in the syringe barrel cavity is ejected from the syringe through the entrance/exit port. The piston rim slidably engages and maintains a tight seal with the internal wall surfaces of the syringe barrel cavity as the piston advances. The liquid medication in the cavity remains forward of the piston head during advancement of the plunger and piston such that the medication in the syringe barrel cavity is ejected from the syringe cavity through the entrance/exit port or forward end opening. An advantage of using the corrugated sheath is the protection provided by the sheath to the plunger shaft and the internal cavity wall surfaces in that contaminants deposited onto the external wall surfaces of the corrugated sheath or syringe barrel will not jeopardize the sterility of the inner cavity of the syringe barrel because the contaminants cannot penetrate the corrugated sheath or syringe barrel. Additionally, the corrugated sheath is designed to elongate only to a length that enables the piston rim to be aligned with the maximum increment reading on the syringe barrel wall which functions to prevent separation of the plunger from the rearward end opening of the syringe barrel.
In a third embodiment of the instant invention, it is an object to provide a new and improved syringe having mating concentric plunger member and syringe barrel walls. The plunger member has a cylindrical wall having an open end and a closed end. The closed end of the plunger member has a flat bottom floor structure that forms a hollow cup shape with the plunger member cylindrical walls. It is noted that other shapes other than a flat shape can be provided to the bottom floor structure. The flat bottom floor structure has forward and rearward face surfaces. The flat bottom floor structure can be molded continuous with the plunger member cylindrical walls. The inside diameter of the plunger member is constant along its length. The forward face surface of the flat bottom floor structure has centrally molded thereto the terminus end of a plunger shaft. The plunger shaft is concentrically surrounded by the internal wall surfaces of the plunger member along its longitudinal length. The plunger shaft extends normal from the forward face surface of the flat bottom floor structure along the length of the internal wall surfaces of the plunger member which concentrically surround and enclose or house the plunger shaft. The plunger shaft has a piston mounted, fused, molded, or attached to its forward end terminus. The rim of the piston coincides with the terminus of the plunger member walls at their open end. The syringe barrel is formed with two open ends at opposite ends of the syringe bore or cavity�one end having a larger diameter opening than the opposite end. The larger diameter opening is located at the rearward end terminus of the syringe barrel. The smaller diameter opening is located at the forward end terminus of the syringe barrel and has a reduced diameter neck at the entrance/exit port. The syringe barrel has an outside wall diameter less than the inside wall diameter of the plunger member along its entire length. The inside diameter of the syringe barrel is slightly less than the diameter of the rim portion of the piston. The piston is attached to the forward end terminus of the plunger shaft by mounting, fusing, molding, adhesives, ultrasonic bonding or welding, thermal bonding, etc, such that a tight seal is formed therebetween. The rim portion of the plunger piston mates with and forms a seal with the internal wall surfaces of the bore or cavity of the syringe barrel. The internal and external wall surfaces of the syringe barrel taper at its forward end forming the reduced diameter neck having the smaller diameter opening and an entrance/exit port through which fluid medications and/or other solutions enter and exit the cavity of the syringe barrel. The external wall surface of the reduced diameter neck forms a mating surface for the hub of a needle. At a point rearward of the reduced diameter neck and forward end opening of the syringe barrel, a handle member can be provided on the external syringe barrel wall for assisting the user in sliding of the plunger member relative to the syringe barrel.
An added feature for the third embodiment is to provide a first sealing ring to the inner wall surface of the plunger member at or near its open end terminus. A second sealing ring is formed on the external wall surface of the syringe barrel at or near its large diameter terminus. The sealing rings traverse the entire circumference or perimeter of the surface to which they are formed. The sealing rings are preferably formed of a flexible material and extend from their surface origin a distance less than or equal to the distance to the opposing surface. The sealing rings can have any desired cross-sectional shape such as triangular, square, circular, etc. The sealing rings provide several benefits and advantages. First, the sealing rings seal the glide space existing between the internal wall surface of the plunger member and the external wall surface of the syringe barrel. This discourages entry of contaminants such as dirt, dust, microorganisms, and pathogens, and any other type of contaminant carried by the air, hands, fingers, gloves, etc., that may become deposited onto the external surfaces of the syringe barrel from entering the syringe and becoming deposited on the internal walls of the syringe cavity or in the medication in the syringe barrel. Second, the sealing rings function to prevent accidental separation of the plunger member from the syringe barrel through abutment of the sealing rings as the walls of the plunger are moved relative to the walls of the syringe barrel. Third, the sealing rings function as a dam or barrier to medications or other fluids that leak from the syringe cavity and collect or accumulate in the cup of the plunger member due to piston failure.
In a fourth embodiment of the instant invention, it is an object to provide a new and improved syringe having concentric syringe barrels and a plunger member. The plunger member has a wall having an open end and a closed end. The closed end of the plunger member has a flat bottom floor structure that forms a hollow cup shape with the plunger member cylindrical walls. It is noted that other shapes other than a flat shape can be provided to the bottom floor structure. The flat bottom floor structure has forward end and rearward end face surfaces. The flat bottom floor structure can be molded continuous with the walls of the plunger member. The inside diameter of the plunger member walls is constant along their length. The forward end face surface of the flat bottom floor structure has centrally molded thereto the terminus end of a plunger shaft. The plunger shaft can also be molded continuous with the flat bottom floor structure. The plunger shaft is centrally located within and surrounded by the internal wall surfaces of the plunger member. The plunger shaft extends centrally and normal from the forward face surface of the flat bottom floor structure along the length of the plunger member walls. The walls of the plunger member extend normal from the plane of the forward end face surface of the flat bottom floor structure and concentrically surround the plunger shaft. The plunger shaft has a piston attached by mounting, fusing, molding, adhesives, ultrasonic bonding or welding, thermal bonding, etc to its forward end terminus. The rim of the plunger piston coincides with the terminus of the walls of the plunger member at its open end. The concentric syringe barrel is formed with inner and outer syringe barrels. An inner concentric syringe barrel is formed with two open ends located at opposite ends of the inner concentric syringe barrel cavity�one end having a larger diameter opening than the opposite end. The larger diameter opening is located at the rearward end terminus of the inner concentric syringe barrel. The smaller diameter opening is located at the forward end terminus of the concentric syringe barrel and has a reduced diameter neck at the entrance/exit port. The inner syringe barrel has an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the plunger member walls along the entire length of the inner syringe barrel. The inside diameter of the inner syringe barrel is slightly less than the diameter of the rim portion of the plunger piston which is attached by mounting, fusing, molding, adhesives, ultrasonic bonding or welding, thermal bonding, etc., to the forward end terminus of the plunger shaft. The rim portion of the plunger piston mates with and forms a seal with the internal wall surfaces of the bore or cavity of the inner syringe barrel. The internal and external wall surfaces of the inner syringe barrel taper at their forward ends forming the reduced diameter neck having the smaller diameter opening and an entrance/exit port through which fluid medications and other solutions or fluids enter and exit the cavity of the inner syringe barrel. The external wall surface of the reduced diameter neck forms a mating surface for the hub of a needle. An outer syringe barrel concentrically encircles the inner syringe barrel forming concentric syringe barrels. The internal wall surfaces of the outer syringe barrel are in face-to-face relationship with the external wall surfaces of the inner syringe barrel and are separated by a distance which forms a second cavity or space between the inner syringe barrel wall and the outer syringe barrel wall. This second cavity or space is open at its rearward end and closed at its forward end forming a cup shape. The open end receives the walls of the plunger member. This second cavity or space functions as a glide space for the walls of the plunger member. At a point located at the terminus of the opening on the external wall surface of the outer syringe barrel, a handle member can be provided for assisting the user in sliding the plunger member relative to the inner and outer syringe barrels.
The plunger member is mated with the concentric syringe barrel member by movably fitting the plunger piston, located at the forward end terminus of the plunger shaft, into the central cavity, fluid reservoir, or bore formed by the inner syringe barrel walls. As the piston and plunger shaft are slid into the central cavity of the inner syringe barrel, the internal wall surfaces of the plunger member form a face-to-face relationship with the external wall surfaces of the inner syringe barrel. Also, the external wall surfaces of the plunger member form a face-to-face relationship with the internal wall surfaces of the outer syringe barrel. The plunger shaft and piston slide into the full length of the central cavity of the inner syringe barrel such that the head of the piston abuts the tapered internal walls of the inner syringe barrel. The contour of the head of the piston matches and follows the contours of the tapered internal walls of the inner syringe barrel to form a seal at the passageway of the entrance/exit port. The terminus surfaces of the larger diameter opening of the inner syringe barrel can abut with the inner face surface of the flat bottom floor structure of the plunger member. In operation, the walls of the concentric syringe barrels concentrically surround the plunger member walls. Medication is drawn up from a vial or ampoule, for example, by first introducing the needle, attached to the external walls of the reduced diameter neck of the entrance/exit port, into the vial or ampoule containing the medication. Next, the longitudinal wall surfaces of the plunger member are concentrically slid within the glide space existing between and along the length of the external wall surface of the inner syringe barrel and the internal wall surface of the outer syringe barrel. Simultaneously, as the plunger member wall is slid within the glide space along the length of the external wall surface of the inner syringe barrel and the inner wall surface of the outer syringe barrel, the piston attached at the forward end terminus of the plunger shaft slidably engages and maintains a tight seal with the internal wall surfaces of the inner syringe barrel cavity while moving along the inner syringe barrel cavity and away from the internal tapered walls of the inner syringe barrel. This causes the air column in the bore or cavity located behind the piston and along the plunger shaft to be pushed out of the cavity creating a vacuum in the space located between the forward end of the piston head and the tapered internal wall surfaces of the inner syringe barrel. The vacuum causes the liquid medication in the vial or ampoule to be drawn into the inner syringe barrel cavity through the needle and the entrance/exit port passageway. The needle is then removed from the medication vial or ampoule and positioned in the needle port of an appropriate bag or bottle of intravenous solution. The liquid medication can then be injected into the bag or bottle of intravenous solution by applying pressure to the rearward face surface of the flat bottom floor structure. This pressure causes the longitudinal length of the plunger shaft and the plunger piston to advance along the cavity of the inner barrel of the syringe toward the tapered internal wall surfaces of the inner barrel syringe cavity. The piston rim slidably engages and maintains a tight seal with the internal wall surfaces of the inner syringe barrel cavity as the piston advances. The liquid medication remains forward of the piston head during advancement of the plunger and piston. The liquid medication is ejected out of the entrance/exit port of the syringe cavity of the inner barrel as the plunger is advanced. An advantage of using a syringe having concentric inner and outer syringe barrels which mate concentrically with a plunger member is the protection provided to the plunger shaft and the internal cavity wall surfaces of the syringe in that contaminants deposited onto the external wall surfaces of the plunger member or syringe barrel will not jeopardize the sterility of the cavity of the inner syringe barrel because the design discourages entry of contaminants into the inner syringe barrel cavity.
In a fifth embodiment of the instant invention, it is an object to provide a new and improved syringe having a contaminant shield positioned at the rearward end opening of the syringe barrel. The contaminant shield is formed on the rearward end syringe barrel inner wall surface using a semi-rigid and flexible material. The contaminant shield projects perpendicularly from the circumference or perimeter of the syringe barrel inner wall surfaces into the syringe barrel cavity and surrounds and abuts the surfaces and walls of the ribs which form the spine of the plunger shaft. The contaminant shield can be formed from a single material or a mixture of materials which will provide a semi-rigid and flexible characteristic to the shield. To facilitate attachment of the contaminant shield to the inner wall surface of the syringe barrel cavity, a dovetail groove, or similar locking groove, can be formed in the surface of the syringe barrel inner wall along the circumference or perimeter at or near the rearward end opening of the syringe barrel. During the molding process, the dovetail groove receives and anchors the material used to form the contaminant shield. The contaminant shield has a forward end face surface facing the cavity of the syringe barrel and a rearward end face surface facing the plunger handle member.
Alternatively, the shield can be formed of two parts. The first part is formed of a material providing a rigid or hard characteristic or quality to the contaminant shield. The first part can be formed of the same material and molded continuous with the circumference of the inner wall surface of the syringe barrel at or near the rearward end opening of the syringe barrel. The first part, when formed, projects into the syringe barrel cavity perpendicularly from the circumference or perimeter of the inner wall surface of the syringe barrel. The first part has a forward face surface and a rearward face surface. The first part has centrally formed therethrough an opening having the shape of the cross-section of the plunger shaft used in conjunction with the syringe barrel. If the contaminant shield is formed separately, or with a different material than that used to form the syringe barrel cavity, then a dovetail groove, or similar locking groove, can be formed on the inner wall surface of the syringe barrel along the circumference or perimeter of the syringe barrel inner wall surface at or near the rearward end opening of the syringe barrel. During the molding process, the dovetail groove receives and anchors the material used to form the first part of the contaminant cover shield.
The second part of the contaminant shield is formed from a soft, flexible material that has a bendable characteristic. The second part is formed within the cross-sectional opening on the periphery of the first part. The second part projects from the periphery or edges of the first part and into the cross-sectional opening. The second part terminates as a flexible lip, edge, or periphery that defines the plunger shaft cross-sectional opening. During operation or use, the lip, edge, or periphery of the second part is in contact with the surfaces of the plunger shaft which fits within the cross-sectional opening and traverses the opening as the plunger shaft exits and enters the syringe barrel cavity. The second part is formed on the cross-sectional periphery of the first part. This can be accomplished by providing the external surface of the first part, at its edge or periphery, with a dovetailed shape, or other surface shapes such as slits or holes, which would provide a locking function to the cross-sectional periphery of the first part during its forming operation to which the second part can be formed about. Alternatively, a dovetailed groove or similar locking groove can be provided at and within the cross-sectional periphery or edge of the first part to receive and anchor the material used to form the second part of the contaminant shield. The rearward end terminus of the plunger shaft is centrally molded to the forward face surface of a plunger handle member with the body of the plunger shaft extending through the cross-sectional opening formed in the contaminant shield. The forward end terminus of the plunger shaft has a piston that is attached or formed thereto by mounting, fusing, molding, adhesives, ultrasonic bonding or welding, thermal bonding, etc, and, along with the plunger shaft, is movably fitted into the cavity, fluid reservoir, or hollow portion of the syringe barrel. The syringe barrel is formed with two open ends located at opposite ends of the syringe cavity. The rearward end of the syringe barrel has a plunger shaft cross-sectional opening as described above and the forward end terminus has a small diameter opening. The small diameter opening has a reduced diameter neck at the entrance/exit port. In operation, the plunger shaft is withdrawn from the syringe barrel cavity by grasping the outer syringe barrel surface with one hand and the plunger shaft handle member with the other hand and pulling the plunger shaft handle member such that the plunger shaft emerges from the hollow or cavity of the syringe barrel through the rearward end plunger shaft cross-sectional opening formed in the contaminant shield exposing the plunger shaft to the external environment. During withdrawal, the piston at the forward end terminus of the plunger shaft slidably engages and maintains a tight seal with the internal wall surfaces of the syringe barrel cavity while moving along the syringe barrel cavity and away from the internal tapered walls of the syringe barrel located at the forward end of the syringe barrel. This causes the air column in the bore or cavity behind the piston head and along the plunger shaft to be expelled or pushed out of the syringe cavity through the plunger shaft cross-sectional opening creating a vacuum in the space located between the forward end of the piston head and the internal tapered wall surfaces of the syringe barrel. The plunger shaft remains in a withdrawn position until a force is applied along the longitudinal axis of the plunger shaft in a direction toward the forward end terminus of the plunger shaft to cause the plunger shaft to pass through the plunger shaft cross-sectional opening formed in the contaminant shield and cause the plunger shaft and piston to advance along the longitudinal axis of the syringe barrel cavity toward the tapered internal wall surfaces and entrance/exit port of the syringe barrel. The inside diameter of the syringe barrel is slightly less than the diameter of the rim portion of the piston such that the piston rim slidably engages and maintains a tight seal with the internal wall surfaces of the syringe barrel cavity as the piston advances to maintain liquid medication or other fluid in the cavity forward of the piston head during advancement of the plunger and piston such that the medication or other liquid in the syringe barrel cavity is ejected from the syringe cavity through the entrance/exit port or forward end opening. As the plunger shaft and piston advance along the internal wall surfaces of the syringe barrel cavity, the semi-rigid flexible material or the flexible second part, depending on which contaminant shield design is used, contacts the surfaces of the plunger shaft while it is advanced through the plunger shaft cross-section of the contaminant shield providing a wiping and sweeping action to the surfaces of the plunger shaft in a direction away from the forward end terminus of the plunger shaft as the plunger shaft and piston are caused to traverse the syringe cavity toward the forward end terminus of the syringe barrel thereby aiding in preventing entry of contaminants into the syringe barrel cavity. The sweeping and wiping action functions to push contaminants such as dirt, dust, microorganisms, and pathogens, and any other type of contaminant carried by the air, hands, fingers, gloves, etc, that is subsequently deposited onto the exposed portion of the plunger shaft, in a direction away from the forward end of the plunger shaft and ultimately from entering the syringe barrel cavity by way of the plunger shaft. The contaminant shield also functions to prevent deposition of dirt, lint, viral components, bacteria, germs, dust, microorganisms, pathogens, paper fibers, and any other type of contaminant carried by the air, hands, fingers, gloves, etc., from falling into the rearward end opening of the syringe barrel and becoming deposited onto the internal surfaces of the syringe barrel cavity. The contaminant shield of the instant invention provides protection to the plunger shaft and the internal cavity wall surfaces of the syringe barrel in that contaminants deposited onto the outer surfaces of the contaminant covers will not jeopardize the sterility of the inner cavity of the syringe barrel holding the medication or other fluid because the contaminants cannot penetrate the walls of the contaminant guard or shield.
FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the syringe of FIG. 5 with the plunger member displaced from its original position having been moved along the glide space located between the external wall surface of the syringe barrel and the internal wall surface of the plunger member. The piston and plunger are shown displaced from their original positions having been moved down the syringe barrel cavity and away from the tapered internal walls of the syringe barrel cavity in cooperation with the plunger member displacement.
FIG. 10A is a view down the longitudinal axis of the syringe of FIG. 9 as viewed from the cross-section taken along 10�10 showing the semi-rigid, flexible material encircling the ribs of the plunger shaft.
FIG. 10B is a view down the longitudinal axis of the syringe of FIG. 9 as viewed from the cross-section taken along 10�10 showing the rigid or hard first part with the second part attached to its periphery or edge.
FIG. 13B is a view of an end cap contaminant shield member of the fifth embodiment without the extending wall surface as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13A. The contaminant shield member is formed of a first part with an opening, the opening having the shape of the cross-section of the plunger member. A second part is molded to the periphery of the first part at the cross-sectional opening.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The following descriptions are presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments described, but to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.
For the purpose of describing how to use the syringes of each of the following embodiments, all of the embodiments will be described in accordance with the invention by making reference only to drawing liquid medication into the syringe and ejecting it out of the syringe. It is noted, however, that the syringes of the instant embodiments are compatible with performing other tasks requiring the use of a syringe, such as: withdrawing blood from patients, performing irrigations, injecting intravenous medications into patients, preparing irrigation solutions, preparing dialysis fluids, preparing intravenous pushes, preparing bolus fluids, preparing intravenous fluids for parenteral injection, drawing up oral medications for oral dispensing, prepacking or prefilling the syringe with medication or other fluids for oral or intravenous or intramuscular or subcutaneous uses, etc.
A new and improved syringe of the instant invention, as shown by FIG. 1, illustrates a syringe 100 formed of a cylindrical syringe barrel 101 and a cylindrical plunger shaft 103 having ribs. It is noted, however, that ribs are not required and the plunger shaft 103 can have any desired shape for its external surfaces such as cylindrical, square, triangular, etc. The syringe barrel 101 has external wall surfaces 101EW, internal wall surfaces 101IW, and a syringe cavity 102 in which a plunger shaft 103 and a plunger piston 104P, attached to the forward end terminus of the plunger shaft 103, are positioned. The head 104HP of the plunger piston 104P is in contact with the tapered forward end internal walls 101TIW of the syringe barrel 101. The tapered forward end walls 101TIW of the syringe barrel 101 taper to form a reduced diameter neck 101RDN with forward end opening 101FO at the forward end terminus of the syringe barrel 101. The tapered forward end external walls 101TEW of the reduced diameter neck 101RDN mate with the hub 105H of a needle 105 through frictional engagement. A circumferential wall can be formed around the external walls of the reduced diameter neck 101RDN. Threads or grooves are formed on the inside surfaces of the encircling circumferential wall such that the hub 105H of the needle 105 can be rotated or twisted on the threads or grooves and locked onto the tapered external wall surfaces 101TEW of the reduced diameter neck 101RDN and within the circumferential wall. Alternatively, threads or grooves can be formed on the tapered external wall surfaces 101TEW and on the inner wall surfaces of the hub 105H. The rearward end terminus 101RT of the walls 101W of the syringe barrel 101 is molded to the forward face surface 106FF of a syringe barrel handle member 106. The syringe barrel handle member 106 can be formed continuously with the syringe barrel walls 101W during the syringe barrel molding process or added in a separate molding step. Molded to the rearward face surface 106RF of the syringe barrel handle member 106, is a forward end terminus 107FT of a corrugated sheath 107. The rearward end terminus surface 107RT of the corrugated sheath 107 is molded to the forward face surface 108FF of a plunger handle member 108. The corrugated sheath, cover, or shield 107 concentrically envelops the rearward end portion of the plunger shaft 103RP when the plunger shaft 103 and piston 104P are fully inserted into the syringe barrel, as shown in FIG. 1. The forward end terminus 107FT of the corrugated sheath, cover, or shield 107 is attached by molding, fusing, adhesives, ultrasonic bonding or welding, thermal bonding, etc., to the rearward face surface 106RF of the syringe barrel handle member 106 which is formed or molded on the rearward end terminus 101 RT of the walls 101W of the syringe barrel 101. The rearward end terminus 107RT of the corrugated sheath, cover, or shield 107 is attached by molding, fusing, adhesives, ultrasonic bonding or welding, thermal bonding, etc., to the forward face surface 108FF of the plunger handle member 108 which is molded, or formed, on the rearward end terminus 103RT of the plunger shaft 103. The rearward end terminus 103RT of the plunger shaft 103 is centrally molded and normal to the forward face surface 108FF of the plunger handle member 108. The forward end of the body of the plunger shaft 103 extends into the syringe cavity or hollow portion 102 of the syringe barrel 101. The corrugated sheath, cover, or shield 107 encloses and surrounds the rearward end portion 103RP of the plunger shaft 103 along the longitudinal axis of the portion of the plunger shaft 103 extending between the syringe barrel handle member 106 and the plunger handle member 108. The sheath 107 houses, encloses, or surrounds the portion of the plunger shaft 103 within the central cavity or hollow 107C of the corrugated sheath 107 when the corrugated sheath 107 is in a compressed state and in a lengthened state. The plunger shaft 103 is withdrawn from the syringe barrel cavity or hollow 102 by grasping the external walls of the syringe barrel 101EW with one hand and the plunger shaft handle member 108 and/or the outer surface of the corrugated sheath 107EW with the other hand and pulling the plunger shaft handle member 108 and/or corrugated sheath 107 such that the longitudinal length of the plunger shaft 103 traverses the cavity or hollow 102 of the syringe barrel 101 and progressively emerges from the rearward end opening 101RO of the syringe barrel 101. The peaks 107P and walls 107W of the pleats, corrugations, or folds in the sheath 107 are caused to separate along the longitudinal axis of the sheath 107 thereby lengthening the sheath 107 along its longitudinal axis. The plunger shaft 103 remains centrally located within the hollow or cavity 107C of the corrugated sheath 107 as the plunger shaft 103 emerges from the cavity 102 and rearward end opening 101RO of the syringe barrel 101. As the corrugations or folds separate, the corrugated sheath 107 lengthens enabling the plunger shaft 103 to be withdrawn from the hollow or cavity 102 of the syringe barrel 101, as depicted in FIG. 2. The corrugated sheath 107 lengthens and encloses a greater length of the plunger shaft 103 as the plunger shaft 103 is further withdrawn from the syringe barrel hollow 102. As the plunger shaft 103 is withdrawn from the syringe barrel hollow 102, a space 101S is formed between the piston head 104HP of the plunger piston 104P and the tapered internal walls 101TIW of the syringe barrel 101. The sheath 107 remains in the lengthened or elongated position until a force is used to compress or collapse the walls 107W of the folds or corrugations of the sheath 107 together. That is, it is not necessary for an individual to hold the withdrawn plunger 103 or lengthened corrugated sheath 107 such that it remains in its withdrawn and lengthened state, respectively. The corrugated sheath 107 is designed and manufactured such that it does not automatically recoil to its compressed or shortened state after being elongated. A force must be applied along the longitudinal axis of the syringe to cause the elongated corrugated walls 107W to be moved toward each other such that the corrugated sheath 107 compresses and shortens. When the walls 107W of the corrugated sheath 107 are forced together, the sheath 107 shortens. Shortening of the corrugated sheath 107 can be performed by applying pressure to the rearward end face surface 108RF of the plunger handle member 108 in the direction toward the rearward end opening 101RO of the syringe barrel 101 to cause the sheath to shorten and the plunger shaft 103 and the piston 104P to traverse the syringe barrel cavity 102 toward the tapered internal wall 101TIW surfaces of the syringe cavity 102 and the syringe entrance/exit port 101EP or forward end opening 101FO. The piston rim 104PR slidably engages and maintains a tight seal with the internal wall surfaces 101IW of the syringe barrel cavity 102 as the piston 104P advances. Liquid medication in the cavity 102 remains forward of the piston head 104HP during advancement of the plunger 103 and piston 104P such that the medication in the syringe barrel cavity 102 is ejected from the syringe cavity 102 through the entrance/exit port 101EP or forward end opening 101FO. An advantage of using the corrugated sheath 107 is the protection provided by the sheath 107 to the plunger shaft 103 and the internal cavity wall surfaces 101W of the syringe barrel 101 in that contaminants deposited onto the external wall surface 107EW of the corrugated sheath 107 or the external wall surface 101EW of the syringe barrel 101 will not jeopardize the sterility of the inner cavity 102 of the syringe barrel 101 because the contaminants cannot penetrate the walls of the corrugated sheath 107 or the syringe barrel 101. It is also noted that the peaks, pleats, valleys, and walls of the corrugations can have any desired shape such as curved, triangular, square, etc, so long as the desired mechanical functioning of the corrugated sheath as set forth above is not compromised.
A second embodiment of the instant invention, as shown by FIG. 3, illustrates a new and improved syringe 200 formed of a cylindrical syringe barrel 201 and a cylindrical plunger member 205. The syringe barrel 201 is formed with a straight segment 202 and a corrugated segment 203. The straight segment 202 is located on the forward end section of the syringe barrel 201 and the corrugated segment 203 is located at the rearward end section of the syringe barrel 201. The rearward end terminus 201 RT of the syringe barrel 201 is molded to the forward face surface 204FF of a plunger handle member 204. The rearward end terminus 205RT of the plunger shaft 205 is centrally molded to the forward face surface 204FF of the plunger handle member 204. A rearward end portion 205PP of the plunger shaft body 205 is enclosed or surrounded by the corrugated segment 203 of the syringe barrel 201. The syringe barrel 201 has a forward open end 201FO and a rearward closed end 201RC. The rearward closed end 201RC is closed by the plunger shaft handle member 204 which is molded to the rearward end terminus 201RT of the syringe barrel 201. The open end 201FO is located at the forward end terminus 201FT of the syringe barrel 201. The forward end of the syringe barrel 201 tapers to a reduced diameter neck 201RDN at the entrance/exit port 201EP and forms a mating surface for the hub 208H of a needle 208. A forward end portion 205FP of the plunger shaft body 205, and a plunger piston 205P located at the forward end terminus 205FT of the plunger shaft 205, is enclosed or surrounded by the straight segment 202 of the syringe barrel 201. The plunger piston 205P and plunger shaft body 205 are caused to traverse the syringe barrel cavity or hollow 207 by grasping the syringe barrel external wall surface 201EW along the straight segment 202 with one hand and the plunger shaft handle member 204 and/or corrugated segment 203 with the other hand and pulling the plunger shaft handle member 204 and/or corrugated segment 203 such that the rearward end terminus 205RT of the plunger shaft 205 and the forward face surface 204FF of the handle member 204 moves away from the straight segment 202 of the syringe barrel 201 causing lengthening of the syringe barrel 201 and elongation of the corrugated segment 203, as shown in FIG. 4. Simultaneously, the plunger piston rim 205PR slidably engages the internal wall surfaces 201IW of the straight segment 202 of the syringe barrel 201 as it traverses the cavity or hollow 207 of the syringe barrel 201. In order to assist the user in lengthening of the syringe 200, a syringe barrel handle member (not shown) can be molded to the external surface of the syringe barrel wall surface 201EW along the straight segment 202. The syringe barrel handle member (not shown) can be used as a wall for leverage to assist the user in lengthening or shortening the syringe barrel 201 while pulling or pushing the plunger shaft handle member 204. The syringe barrel handle member can take any desired shape such as flat wall or plate, curved, or finger grip design, as examples. The peaks or pleats 203P, valleys 203V, and walls 203W of the corrugations, pleats, or folds in the corrugated segment 203 of the syringe barrel 201 are caused to separate along the longitudinal axis of the syringe barrel 201 as the plunger handle member 204 is pulled thereby lengthening the syringe barrel 201 along its longitudinal axis, as shown in FIG. 4. At least a portion of the plunger shaft 205 remains centrally located within, and the rim 205PR of the piston 205P remains in contact with, the internal wall surfaces 201IW of the hollow or cavity 207 of the syringe barrel straight segment 202 during elongation or lengthening of the syringe barrel 201. The rearward end terminus 205RT of the plunger shaft 205 and the syringe barrel rearward end terminus 201RT of the corrugated segment 203 remain molded to the forward end face surface 204FF of the plunger handle member 204. As the corrugations or folds of the corrugated segment 203 are caused to separate, the corrugated segment 203 of the syringe barrel 201 lengthens causing the forward portion of the plunger shaft 205FP to traverse the straight segment 202 of the syringe barrel cavity 207, and the plunger piston 205P attached to the forward end terminus 205FT of the plunger shaft 205 to slide along the straight segment 202 of the syringe barrel cavity 207 in the direction of the corrugated segment 203. This is because the rearward end terminus 205RT of the plunger shaft 205 is centrally molded to the forward face surface 204FF of the plunger handle member 204 which moves in a direction away from the straight segment 202 of the syringe barrel 201 during lengthening causing the plunger 205 and piston 205P to traverse the syringe barrel cavity 207 toward the corrugated segment 203. The plunger piston 205P is in contact and forms a seal with the internal cavity walls 201IW of the syringe barrel 201. The corrugated segment 203 encloses or encircles a greater length of the plunger shaft body 205 as the plunger is drawn further along the syringe barrel hollow or cavity 207, as shown in FIG. 4. The corrugated segment 203 remains in the lengthened or elongated state until a force is used to compress or collapse together the folds or corrugations of the corrugated segment 203, which shortens the syringe barrel 201. That is, it is not necessary for the individual pulling the plunger handle member 204 and lengthening the corrugated segment 203 to hold the plunger handle member 204 or corrugated segment 203 such that the corrugated segment 203 remains in its lengthened position or elongated state. The corrugated segment 203 is designed and manufactured such that it does not automatically recoil from an elongated position. An axial force must be applied to the syringe barrel 201 to cause the corrugated walls of the elongated corrugated segment 203 to move toward each other or together such that the syringe barrel 201 shortens along its longitudinal axis. As the walls of the corrugated segment 203 are forced together, the syringe barrel 201 shortens. Shortening of the corrugated segment 203 is performed by pressing the rearward end face surface 204RF of the plunger shaft handle member 204 along the longitudinal axis of the syringe barrel 201 to cause the corrugated segment 203 to shorten and the plunger piston 205P to slide along the internal cavity walls 201IW of the syringe barrel cavity 207 toward the forward end terminus 201FT and toward the syringe barrel entrance/exit port 201EP such that medication in the syringe barrel cavity 207 is ejected from the syringe 200 through the entrance/exit port 201EP or forward end opening 201FO.
In operation, medication is drawn up from a vial or ampoule, for example, by first introducing the needle 208, which is attached to the reduced diameter neck 201RDN of the entrance/exit port 201EP, into the vial or ampoule containing the medication. Next, the corrugations or folds of the corrugated segment 203 of the syringe barrel 201 are caused to separate by pulling the plunger handle member 204. This also causes the plunger shaft 205 and piston 205P to traverse the syringe barrel cavity 207 along the straight segment 202 and away from the tapered internal walls 201TIW of the syringe barrel cavity 207 and toward the corrugated segment 203. As the plunger piston 205P traverses the syringe barrel cavity 207, the plunger piston rim 205PR slidably engages and maintains a tight seal with the internal wall surfaces 201IW of the syringe barrel cavity 207. This causes the air column in the bore or cavity 207 located behind the plunger piston 205P and adjacent the body of the plunger shaft 205 to be pushed into the elongated corrugated segment 203 of the syringe barrel 201. A vacuum is created in the space located between the forward end of the piston head 205HP and the tapered internal wall surface 201TIW of the syringe barrel 201 as the piston head 205HP is pulled away from the tapered internal walls 201TIW. The vacuum created causes the liquid medication in the vial to be drawn into the syringe barrel cavity 207 through the needle 208, which is frictionally attached to the outer walls of the reduced diameter neck 201RDN, and the entrance/exit port 201EP. The needle 208 is then removed from the medication vial and positioned in the needle port of an appropriate bag or bottle of intravenous solution. The liquid medication is then injected into the bag or bottle of intravenous solution. The reduced diameter neck 201RDN is manufactured or molded to operate with any existing line of hypodermic needles, tubing, or caps or closures.
An advantage of using the syringe 200 having a corrugated segment 203 and a straight segment 202 is the protection provided to the plunger shaft 205 and the internal cavity wall surfaces 201IW in that contaminants deposited onto the external wall surfaces of the syringe barrel 201EW will not jeopardize the sterility of the inner cavity 207 of the syringe barrel 201 because the contaminants cannot penetrate the walls 201W of the syringe barrel 201. It is also noted that the peaks, pleats, valleys, and walls of the corrugations of the corrugated segment 203 can have any desired shape such as curved, triangular, square, etc, so long as the desired mechanical functioning of the corrugated segment as set forth above is not compromised.
A third embodiment of the instant invention, as shown by FIGS. 5, 6A and 6B, illustrates a new and improved syringe 300 formed of a cylindrical syringe barrel 301 and a cylindrical plunger member 302. The syringe barrel 301 and the plunger member 302 have mating concentric plunger member and syringe barrel walls 302W and 301W, respectively. The plunger member 302 has a wall 302W having an open-end 3020E and a closed end 302CE. The closed end 302CE of the plunger member 302 has a flat bottom floor structure 304 forming a cup-shaped inner cavity. The flat bottom floor structure 304 has forward and rearward face surfaces 304FF and 304RF, respectively. The flat bottom floor structure 304 can be molded continuous with the plunger member cylindrical walls 302W. The inside diameter of the plunger member 302 is constant along its length. The forward face surface 304FF of the flat bottom floor structure 304 has molded thereto the rearward end terminus 305RT of a plunger shaft 305. The plunger shaft 305 is concentrically surrounded by the internal face wall surfaces 302IW of the plunger member 302 along its longitudinal length. The plunger shaft 305 extends centrally from the forward face surface 304FF of the flat bottom floor structure 304 along the length of the internal face wall surfaces 302IW of the plunger member 302 which concentrically surround, enclose, or house the plunger shaft 305. The plunger shaft 305 has a piston 305P attached to its forward end terminus 305FT by mounting, fusing, molding, adhesives, ultrasonic bonding or welding, thermal bonding, etc. The position of the piston rim 305PR of the piston head 305HP coincides with the open end terminus 302OT of the plunger member wall 302W. The syringe barrel 301 is formed with two open ends at opposite ends of the syringe bore or cavity 301C�one having a smaller forward end diameter opening 301FO. The rearward end larger diameter opening 301RO is located at the rearward end terminus 301RT of the syringe barrel 301. The smaller forward end diameter opening 301FO has a reduced diameter neck 301RDN at the entrance/exit port 301EP. The forward end smaller diameter opening 301FO is located at the forward end terminus 301FT of the syringe barrel 301. The syringe barrel 301 has an outside wall diameter less than the inside wall diameter of the plunger member 302 along the entire length of the syringe barrel 301. The inside diameter of the syringe barrel 301 is slightly less than the diameter of the piston rim portion 305PR of the plunger piston 305P attached by mounting, fusing, molding, adhesives, ultrasonic bonding or welding, thermal bonding, etc., at the forward end terminus 305FT of the plunger shaft 305. The piston rim portion 305PR of the plunger piston 305P mates with and forms a seal with the internal wall surfaces 301IW of the bore or cavity 301C of the syringe barrel 301. The internal and external wall surfaces 301IW and 301EW of the syringe barrel 301 taper at the syringe barrel forward end forming the reduced diameter neck 301RDN having the smaller diameter forward end opening 301FO and an entrance/exit port 301EP through which fluid medications and other solutions or fluids enter and exit the cavity 301C of the syringe barrel 301. The external wall surface 301EW of the reduced diameter neck 301RDN forms a mating surface for the hub 307H of a needle 307. At a point rearward to the forward end small diameter opening 301FO of the syringe barrel 301, a handle member 301H is provided for assisting the user in sliding of the plunger member 302 relative to the syringe barrel 301.
The plunger member 302 is mated with the syringe barrel 301 by fitting the plunger piston 305P located at the forward end terminus of the plunger shaft 305FT into the central cavity or bore 301C of the syringe barrel 301. As the piston 305P and plunger shaft 305 are slid into the central cavity 301C of the syringe barrel 301, the internal wall surfaces 302IW of the plunger member 302 form a face-to-face relationship with the external wall surfaces 301EW of the syringe barrel 301. The full length of the plunger shaft 305 and piston 305P slide into the full length of the central cavity 301C of the syringe barrel 301 such that the head of the piston 305HP abuts the tapered internal walls 301TIW of the syringe barrel 301. The contour of the piston head 305HP of the piston 305P matches and follows the contours of the tapered internal wall 301TIW of the syringe barrel 301 to form a seal at the forward end opening 301FO which is the entrance/exit port 301EP. The terminus surfaces 301RT of the rearward larger diameter opening 301RO can abut with the forward face surface 304FF of the flat bottom floor structure 304 of the plunger member 302. In operation the plunger member wall 302W concentrically surrounds the syringe barrel wall 301W. Medication or other fluid is drawn up from a vial or ampoule, for example, by first introducing the needle 307, which is attached to the external walls of the reduced diameter neck 301RDN, into the vial containing the medication. Next, the internal wall surface of the plunger member 302IW is concentrically slid alongside the length of the external wall surface of the syringe barrel 301EW while maintaining a concentric glide space GS between the internal wall surface 302IW of the plunger member 302 and the external wall surface 301EW of the syringe barrel 301. Simultaneously, the piston rim 305PR of the plunger piston 305P, which is attached at the forward end terminus of the plunger shaft 305FT, slidably engages and maintains a tight seal with the internal wall surfaces 301IW of the syringe barrel cavity 301C while moving along the syringe barrel cavity 301C and away from the tapered internal walls 301TIW of the syringe barrel 301, as shown in FIG. 6A. This causes the air column in the bore or cavity 301C located behind the plunger piston 305P and adjacent the plunger shaft 305 to be expelled or pushed out of the cavity 301C. A vacuum is created in the space located between the forward end of the piston head 305HP and the tapered internal wall surfaces 301TIW of the syringe barrel 301. The vacuum causes the liquid medication or other fluid in the vial or ampoule to be drawn into the syringe barrel cavity 301C through the needle 307, hub 307H, and entrance/exit port 301EP. The needle 307 is then removed from the medication vial or ampoule and positioned in the needle port of an appropriate bag or bottle of intravenous solution. By applying pressure to the rearward face surface of the flat bottom floor structure 304RF, the liquid medication can then be injected into the bag or bottle of intravenous solution. This pressure causes the longitudinal length of the plunger shaft 305 and the plunger piston 305P to advance along the syringe barrel cavity 301C toward the tapered internal wall surfaces 301TIW of the syringe cavity 301C. The piston rim 305PR slidably engages and maintains a tight seal with the internal wall surfaces 301IW of the syringe cavity 301C as the piston 305P advances. The liquid medication remains forward of the piston head 305HP during advancement of the plunger 305 and piston 305P.
An added feature for the third embodiment, as shown by FIG. 6B, is to provide a first sealing ring 302SR projecting perpendicularly from the inner wall surface 302IW of the plunger member 302 at or near the open end terminus 302OT of its open end 302OE. The sealing ring 302SR is a continuous ring that follows the complete circumference of the internal wall 302IW of the plunger member 302. A second sealing ring 301SR is formed projecting perpendicularly from on the external wall surface 301EW of the syringe barrel 301 at or near its rearward end large diameter opening 301RO. The sealing rings 301SR and 302SR provide several advantages. When the walls 302W of the plunger member 302 are concentrically mated with the walls 301W of the syringe barrel 301, the sealing rings 302SR and 301SR project or extend into the glide space GS. First, the sealing rings 301SR and 302SR seal the glide space GS existing between the internal wall surface 302IW of the plunger member 302 and the external wall surface 301EW of the syringe barrel 301. This discourages entry of contaminants such as dirt, dust, microorganism, and pathogens carried by the air, hands, fingers, gloves, etc., from becoming deposited onto the internal surfaces 301IW of the syringe barrel cavity 301C. Second, the sealing rings 302SR and 301SR function to prevent accidental separation of the plunger member 302 from the syringe barrel 301 through abutment of the sealing rings 301SR and 302SR as the walls of the plunger member 302W are moved relative to the walls of the syringe barrel 301W. Third, the sealing rings 301SR and 302SR function as a dam or barrier to fluids that collect or accumulate in the cup of the inner cavity 302C of the plunger member 302 due to piston failure.
A fourth embodiment of the instant invention, as shown by FIGS. 7, 8A and 8B, illustrates a new and improved syringe 400 formed of cylindrical concentric syringe barrels 401OB and 401IB and a cylindrical plunger member 402. The plunger member 402 has a wall 402W with a forward open-end 402FO and a rearward closed end 402RC. The rearward closed end 402RC of the plunger member 402 has a flat bottom floor structure 403 forming a cup. It is noted that other shapes can be used for the bottom floor structure; and thus, the shapes are not restricted to flat. The flat bottom floor structure 403 has forward end and rearward end face surfaces 403FF and 403RF, respectively. The flat bottom floor structure 403 can be molded continuous with the walls of the plunger member 402W. The inside diameter of the plunger member walls 402W is constant along the length of the plunger member 402. The forward end face surface 403FF of the flat bottom floor structure 403 has molded thereto the rearward end terminus 404RT of a plunger shaft 404. The plunger shaft can also be molded continuous the flat bottom floor structure 403. The plunger shaft 404 is centrally located within and surrounded by the internal face surfaces of the walls 402IW of the plunger member 402 which extend normal from the forward end face 403FF of the flat bottom floor structure 403. The plunger shaft 404 extends centrally and normal from the forward end face surface 403FF of the flat bottom floor structure 403 along the length of the internal wall face surfaces 402IW of the plunger member 402. The walls 402W of the plunger member 402 concentrically surround the plunger shaft 404. The plunger shaft 404 has a piston 404P attached to its forward end terminus 404FT by mounting, fusing, molding, adhesives, ultrasonic bonding or welding, thermal bonding, etc. The position of the piston rim 404PR of the plunger piston 404P coincides with the forward end terminus 402FT of the wall of the plunger member 402W at its forward open end 402FO. An inner concentric syringe barrel 401EB is formed with two open ends located at opposite ends of the inner concentric syringe barrel cavity 401C�the rearward end opening 401RO having a larger diameter opening than the forward end opening 401FO. The rearward end larger diameter opening 401RO is located at the rearward end terminus 401RT of the inner concentric syringe barrel 401IB. The forward end smaller diameter opening 401FO is located at the forward end terminus 401FT of the concentric syringe barrel 401OB and 401IB which has a reduced diameter neck 401RDN at the entrance/exit port 401EP. The concentric syringe barrel is formed with inner and outer syringe barrels 401IB and 401OB, respectively. The inner syringe barrel 401EB has an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the plunger member walls 402W along the entire length of the inner syringe barrel 401IB. The inside diameter of the inner syringe barrel 401IB is slightly less than the diameter of the rim portion 404PR of the plunger piston 404P attached by mounting, fusing, molding, adhesives, ultrasonic bonding or welding, thermal bonding, etc., at the forward end terminus 404FT of the plunger shaft 404. The piston rim portion 404PR of the plunger piston 404P mates with and forms a seal with the inner barrel internal wall surfaces 401IBIW of the bore or cavity 401C of the inner syringe barrel 401IB. The internal and external wall surfaces of the inner syringe barrel 401IBIW and 401IBEW, respectively, taper at their forward ends forming the reduced diameter neck 401RDN having the forward end smaller diameter opening 401FO and an entrance/exit port 401EP through which fluid medications and other solutions or fluids enter and exit the cavity 401C. The external wall surface of the reduced diameter neck 401RDN forms a mating surface for the hub 405H of a needle 405. The outer syringe barrel 401OB concentrically encircles the inner syringe barrel 401IB forming concentric syringe barrels. The internal wall surfaces 401OBIW of the outer syringe barrel 401OB are in face-to-face relationship with the external wall surfaces 401IBEW of the inner syringe barrel 401IB and are separated by a distance which forms a second cavity or glide space 406/GS between the wall of the inner syringe barrel 401IB and the wall of the outer syringe barrel 401OB. This second cavity or space 406/GS is open at its rearward end 406R and closed at its forward end 406F forming a cup shape. The rearward open end 406R receives the walls 402W of the plunger member 402. This second cavity or space 406/GS functions as a glide space for the walls 402W of the plunger member 402. At a point located on the external wall surface 401OBEW of the outer syringe barrel 401OB, a handle member 401H is provided for assisting the user in sliding the plunger member 402 relative to the inner and outer syringe barrels 401EB and 401OB, respectively.
In a fifth embodiment of the instant invention, it is an object to provide a new and improved syringe having a contaminant shield positioned at or near the rearward end opening of the syringe barrel. FIG. 9 shows a longitudinal cross-section of the syringe of the fifth embodiment of the instant invention. FIGS. 10A and 10B are views along the longitudinal axis of the syringe of FIG. 9 as viewed from a cross-section taken along the line 10�10. The contaminant shield 520 is formed on the rearward end section of the syringe barrel inner wall surfaces 502IW of syringe barrel 502 with a semi-rigid and flexible material and projects perpendicularly from the circumference or perimeter of the syringe barrel inner wall surfaces 502IW into the syringe barrel cavity 502C and surrounds and abuts the surfaces and walls of the ribs 501R which form the spine of the plunger shaft 501. The contaminant shield 520 can be formed from a single material or a mixture of materials which will provide a semi-rigid and flexible characteristic to the shield walls 508. The shield walls have centrally formed therethrough an opening having the shape of the cross-section of the plunger shaft 501 used in conjunction with syringe 500. To facilitate attachment or molding of the contaminant shield walls 508 to the inner wall surface 502IW of the syringe barrel cavity 502C, a dovetail groove 504DT, or similar locking groove, can be formed on the surface of the inner wall 502IW, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, along the circumference or perimeter of the syringe cavity 502C at or near the rearward end opening 502RO of the syringe barrel 502. During the molding process, the dovetail groove 504DT formed in the inner wall surface 502IW of the syringe cavity 502C receives and anchors the material used to form the contaminant shield walls 508. The contaminant shield walls 508 have a forward end face surface 508FF facing into the syringe cavity 502C of the syringe barrel 502 and a rearward end face surface 508RF facing the plunger handle member 504. It is noted that the plunger shaft 501 can have any cross-sectional shape desired; such as cylindrical, ribs, triangular, square, etc. Accordingly, the periphery 508P of the opening formed in the contaminant shield walls 508 of contaminant shield 520 defines the cross-sectional shape of the plunger shaft 501.
The second part 507 of the contaminant shield 510 is formed from a soft, flexible material that has a bendable characteristic. The second part 507 is formed within the cross-sectional opening and on the periphery of the first part 506. The second part 507 projects from the periphery 506P or edges of the first part and into the cross-sectional opening. The second part terminates as a flexible lip, edge, or periphery 507P that defines the cross-sectional opening. During operation or use, the lip, edge, or periphery 507P of the second part 507 is in contact with the surfaces of the ribs 501R of the plunger shaft 501 which fits within the cross-sectional opening and traverses the opening as the plunger shaft 501 exits and enters the syringe barrel cavity 502C. The second part 507 is formed on the cross-sectional periphery of the first part 506P as by providing a dovetailed shape, or other surface shape which provides a locking function, to the cross-sectional periphery 506P of the first part 506 during its forming operation to which the second part 507 can be subsequently formed about. This can be accomplished by providing the external surface of the first part at its edge or periphery with a dovetailed shape, or other surface shape such as slits or holes which would provide a locking mechanism or function to the cross-sectional periphery of the first part during its forming operation to which the second part can be formed about. Alternatively, a dovetailed groove, or similar locking groove, can be provided at and within the cross-sectional periphery 506P or edge of the first part 506 to receive and anchor the material used to form the second part 507 of the contaminant shield 510. The rearward end terminus 501RT of the plunger shaft 501 is centrally molded to the forward face surface 504FF of a plunger handle member 504 with the body of the plunger shaft 501 extending through the cross-sectional opening formed in the contaminant shield 510. The forward end terminus 501FT of the plunger shaft 501 has a piston 501P attached or formed thereto by mounting, fusing, molding, adhesives, ultrasonic bonding or welding, thermal bonding, etc., and, along with the plunger shaft, is movably fitted into the cavity, fluid reservoir, or hollow portion 502C of the syringe barrel 502. The syringe barrel 502 is formed with two open ends 502RO and 502FO located at opposite ends of the syringe cavity 502C. The rearward end of the syringe barrel 502 has a plunger shaft cross-sectional opening as described above and the forward end terminus of the syringe barrel 502 has a small diameter opening 502FO. The small diameter opening 502FO has a reduced diameter neck 502RDN having tapered internal walls forming the entrance/exit port for the syringe cavity 502C. The needle hub 505H of a needle 505 is attached to the reduced diameter neck 502RDN of the syringe 500. In operation, the plunger shaft 501 is withdrawn from the syringe barrel cavity 502C by grasping the outer syringe barrel surface 502OW with one hand and the plunger shaft handle member 504 with the other hand and pulling the plunger shaft handle member 504 such that the plunger shaft 501 emerges from the hollow or cavity 502C of the syringe barrel 502 through the rearward end plunger shaft cross-sectional opening formed in the contaminant shield 510 or 520 exposing the plunger shaft 501 to the external environment. During withdrawal, the piston 501P at the forward end terminus 501FT of the plunger shaft 501 slidably engages and maintains a tight seal with the internal wall surfaces 502IW of the syringe barrel cavity 502C while moving along the syringe barrel cavity 502C and away from the tapered internal walls 502TIW of the syringe barrel 502. This causes the air column in the syringe bore or cavity 502C behind the piston 501P and adjacent the plunger shaft 501 to be expelled or pushed out of the syringe cavity 502C through the plunger shaft cross-sectional opening creating a vacuum in the space located between the forward end of the piston head 501HP and the internal tapered wall surfaces 502TIW of the syringe barrel 502. The plunger shaft 501 remains in a withdrawn position until a force is applied along the longitudinal axis of the plunger shaft 501 in a direction toward the forward end terminus 501FT of the plunger shaft 501 to cause the plunger shaft 501 to pass through the plunger shaft cross-sectional opening formed in the contaminant shield 510 or 520 and cause the plunger shaft 501 and piston 501P to advance along the longitudinal axis of the syringe barrel cavity 502C toward the tapered internal wall surfaces 502TIW and entrance/exit port of the reduced diameter neck 502RDN of the syringe barrel 502. The inside diameter of the syringe barrel 502 is slightly less than the diameter of the rim portion 501PR of the piston 501P such that the piston rim 501PR slidably engages and maintains a tight seal with the internal wall surfaces 502IW of the syringe barrel cavity 502C as the piston 501P advances to maintain liquid medication or other fluid in the cavity 502C forward of the piston head 501HP during advancement of the plunger 501 and piston 501P such that the medication or other liquid in the syringe barrel cavity 502C is ejected from the syringe cavity 502C through the entrance/exit port or located at the forward end opening 502FO. As the plunger shaft 501 and piston 501P advance along the internal wall surfaces 502IW of the syringe barrel cavity 502C, the semi-rigid flexible material 508 or the flexible second part 507, depending on which contaminant shield 510 or 520 design is used, contacts the rib surfaces 501R of the plunger shaft 501 while it is advanced through the plunger shaft cross-section of the contaminant shield 510 or 520 providing a wiping and sweeping action to the rib surfaces 501R of the plunger shaft 501 in a direction away from the forward end terminus 501FT of the plunger shaft 501 as the plunger shaft 501 and piston 501P are caused to traverse the syringe cavity 502C toward the forward end terminus of the syringe barrel 502 thereby aiding in preventing entry of contaminants into the syringe barrel cavity 502C. The sweeping and wiping action functions to push contaminants such as dirt, dust, microorganisms, and pathogens, and any other types of contaminant carried by the air, hands, fingers, gloves, etc, that are deposited onto the exposed portion of the plunger shaft 501, in a direction away from the forward end of the plunger shaft 501FT and ultimately restricting them from entering the syringe barrel cavity 502C by way of the plunger shaft 501. The contaminant shield 510 or 520 also functions to prevent deposition of dirt, lint, viral components, bacteria, germs, dust, microorganisms, pathogens, paper fibers, and any other type of contaminant carried by the air, hands, fingers, gloves, etc., from falling into the rearward end opening 502RO of the syringe barrel 502 and becoming deposited onto the internal wall surfaces 502IW of the syringe barrel cavity 502C. The contaminant shield 510 or 520 of the instant invention provides protection to the plunger shaft 501 and the internal cavity wall surfaces 502IW of the syringe barrel 502 in that contaminants deposited onto the outer surfaces 508RF and 506RF or the environmentally exposed surfaces of the second part 507 of the contaminant shield 510 or 520 will not jeopardize the sterility of the inner cavity 502C of the syringe barrel 502 holding the medication, solution, or other fluids, etc., because the contaminants cannot penetrate rearward face surfaces 506RF or 508RF of the contaminant shields 510 and 520, respectively. It is noted that the handle member 503 of syringe barrel 530 can also be provided with an extension forming a tab, knob, or handle 503T that functions as a wall for leverage to assist the user in drawing the plunger shaft 501 from the syringe cavity 502C.
As an alternative to forming or molding the contaminant shield 510 and 520 onto the inner wall surface 502IW of the syringe barrel 502, the contaminant shield 620, as shown in FIG. 12, can be formed separately from the syringe barrel 600 and attached in a separate operation. Syringe barrel 600 has an outer wall surface 602OW and an inner wall surface 602IW. For example, the contaminant shield 620 could be formed with a male wall 607 extending perpendicularly from the forward face surface 606FF of the contaminant shield 620 with the outer surface of the male wall 607 having threads and/or grooves 608T which mate with threads and/or grooves 605TG, formed on the inner wall surfaces 602IW at or near the rearward end opening 602RO of the syringe barrel 600, by screwing, turning, twisting, or rotating the threaded and/or grooved end cap contaminant shield 620 with the threads and/or grooves 605TG on the syringe barrel 600 inner wall surface 602IW. The contaminant shield also has a rearward end face 606RF that faces the forward face surface 612 of plunger handle member 630. As an alternative, the threads and/or grooves can be formed in the extending male walls 607 of the end cap contaminant shield 620 and the threads and/or grooves 608T formed on the inner wall surfaces 602IW at the rearward end opening 602RO of the syringe barrel 600. FIG. 12 shows the plunger shaft 604PS positioned within the syringe barrel cavity 602C. The piston 604P is attached by mounting, fusing, molding, adhesives, ultrasonic bonding or welding, thermal bonding, etc., on the forward end terminus of the plunger shaft 604FT. The piston 604P has a rim 604R and a piston head 604HP. The plunger shaft 604PS has plunger shaft ribs 604PSR. The rearward terminus 604RT of the plunger shaft 604PS extends out of the rearward opening 602RO of the syringe barrel cavity 602C. One method of manufacture includes separately molding the end cap contaminant shield 620, syringe barrel 600, plunger handle member 630, and plunger shaft 604PS and piston 604P. The next steps involve assembling the syringe components. The rearward terminus 604RT of the plunger shaft 604PS is threaded through the cavity or hollow formed by the walls 607 extending from the forward face surface 606FF of the end cap contaminant shield 620 and then through the cross-sectional opening 610CSO. Upon threading of the plunger shaft 604PS through the cross-sectional opening 610CSO, the periphery of the flexible second part 609 contacts the rib surfaces 604PSR of the plunger shaft 604PS. The next step involves attachment of the plunger handle member 630 to the rear terminus 604RT of the plunger shaft 604PS. Alternatively, the plunger handle member 630 can be formed and molded directly to the rearward terminus 604RT of the plunger shaft 604PS following the threading operation such that the forward face 612 of the plunger handle member 630 is facing the rearward face surface 606RF of the end cap contaminant shield 620. The rearward face surface 611 of the plunger handle member 630 faces away from the rearward face surface 606RF of the end cap contaminant shield 620 after molding or attachment of the plunger handle member 630 to the rearward end terminus 604RT of the plunger shaft 604PS. Next, the piston 604P is attached to the plunger shaft 604PS. Alternatively, the piston 604P can be formed or molded to the plunger shaft 604PS forward end terminus 604FT prior to the threading operation or after the threading operation. Also, the piston attachment operation can occur prior to attachment of the plunger handle member 630 to the rearward terminus 604RT of the plunger shaft 604PS. Next, the plunger shaft 604PS and attached piston 604P are inserted into the syringe cavity 602C. The end cap contaminant shield 620 can then be slid along the plunger shaft 604PS such that the threads and/or grooves 608T mate with the threads and/or grooves 605TG of the syringe barrel 600 inner wall 602IW. The piston 604P, plunger shaft 604PS, end cap contaminant shield 620, and plunger handle member 630, are rotated, screwed, twisted, or turned in a clockwise direction to mate the threads and/or grooves 608T with the threads and/or grooves 605TG and cause the end cap contaminant shield 620 to be inserted into the rearward end opening 602RO of the syringe barrel 600. However, rotation of all components may not be necessary depending on the cross-section of the plunger shaft, i.e., cylindrical. A sealant or gasket material can be provided on the forward face surface 606FF of the end cap contaminant shield 620 which mates with the rear terminus 602RT surface to enhance the seal between the rear terminus wall 602RT of the syringe barrel 600 and the forward face surface 606FF of the end cap contaminant shield 620. A further alternative for attachment of the plunger shaft handle member 630 includes attaching by mounting, fusing, molding, adhesives, ultrasonic bonding or welding, thermal bonding, etc., the plunger shaft handle member 630 to the plunger shaft rear terminus 604RT following insertion, thread mating, and attachment of the end cap contaminant shield 620 to the syringe barrel 600. It is noted that the end cap contaminant shield 620 can also be provided with an extension forming a tab, knob, or handle 606 that functions as a wall for leverage to assist the user in drawing the plunger shaft 604PS from the syringe cavity 602C.
Further modifications, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, include providing contaminant shields 640 and 650. End cap contaminant shield 640 is shown having walls 607 extending perpendicularly from the forward face surface 606FF such that the outer surface of the extended walls 607 mates with the inner wall surfaces 602IW of the syringe barrel 600 at the rearward end opening 602RO through frictional fitting, snap fitting, locking, or any combination thereof. End cap contaminant shield 640 has a lip or flange 613 extending perpendicularly from the wall 607 to facilitate fitting of the end cap contaminant shield 640 into the rearward end opening 602RO. The flange 613 mates with a complementary groove formed on the inner wall surface 602IW of the syringe barrel cavity 602C. The contaminant shield member 650 of FIG. 13B is a contaminant shield structure having all of the components of end cap contaminant shield structure 620 except for the extending walls 607 and threads and/or grooves 608T. The contaminant shield member 650 has a forward face surface 606FF and a rearward face surface 606RF. After molding of the contaminant shield 650, the forward face surface 606FF is bound or attached to the rearward end terminus 602RT of syringe barrel 600 by mounting, fusing, molding, adhesives, ultrasonic bonding or welding, thermal bonding, etc. The contaminant shield member 650 is formed of a first part material 606, which can be the same or different from the material used to form the syringe 600, and a second part material 609 having a flexible characteristic. The second part material 609 is molded to the periphery of the opening formed in the contaminant shield walls 606RF and 606FF to form a cross-sectional opening 610CSO having the cross-sectional shape of the plunger shaft 604PS. The contaminant shield member 650 is threaded over the plunger shaft 604PS prior to attachment by molding, bonding as by adhesives, ultrasonic bonding or welding, thermal bonding, etc., of the forward face surface 606FF of contaminant shield member 650 to the rearward end terminus 602RT of syringe barrel 600. The plunger handle member 630 can be molded, formed, or attached to the rearward end terminus 604RT of the plunger shaft 604PS prior to or following attachment or bonding of contaminant shield member 650 to the rearward end terminus 602RT.
CONCLUSION Accordingly, the reader will see that the syringes of the instant invention can be used for accomplishing many tasks requiring the use of a syringe. Because of the design of the syringes of the instant invention, entry of contaminants such as dirt, dust, microorganisms, pathogens, and any other type of contaminants, carried by air, hands, fingers, gloves, etc., which may become deposited onto the internal surfaces of the syringe barrel cavity, is discouraged. Additionally, using the syringes of the instant invention provides protection to the plunger shaft and the internal cavity wall surfaces in that contaminants deposited onto the external wall surfaces of the syringe barrel will not jeopardize the sterility of the inner cavity of the syringe barrel holding the medication, solutions, etc., or other fluid because the contaminants cannot penetrate the walls of the syringe barrel, the seals, the corrugated sheath, or the shield walls. The syringes of the instant invention can be disposable or be reusable following an acceptable sterilization process.
The design and features of the syringes of the instant invention can be used with any volume syringe, i.e. 0.5 ml, 1 ml, 5 ml, 10 ml, 20 ml, 30 ml, 50 ml, 60 ml, etc., and any type needle, i.e., subcutaneous, filter, vented, intravenous, etc., and any size gauge needle, i.e., 18 G, 19 G, 21 G, etc. and transfer sets, tubing, etc.
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