Abstract:
Disclosed are pre-filled syringes equipped with an improved plunger and a plunger rod, characterized by a leak-proof seal and easy sliding property.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to pre-filled syringes for administering various fluids into a patient, more particularly, the invention relates to plastic syringes for injecting liquid pharmaceutical/biological agents, such as diagnostic imaging agents into a patient. 
     2. Reported Development 
     Various syringes for taking body fluid samples or administering fluid medicaments to a patient are known. Such syringes generally include a cylindrical syringe barrel, a hypodermic needle engaged with the syringe barrel, and a plunger within the syringe barrel which, when a force is exerted axially by an operator, create a suction force drawing body fluids into the barrel, or delivers fluid medicament through the hypodermic needle. The purpose of the plunger is to provide an air tight seal between itself and the syringe barrel so that movement of the plunger up and down the barrel will allow liquid, blood or other fluids to be drawn into or forced out of the syringe through the distal end. 
     Syringes used for such purposes include glass syringes, in which the cylindrical barrel is made of glass and the plunger is a ground glass rod which closely fits within the cylindrical barrel. In order to eliminate leakage and at the same time reduce resistance to an acceptable level, close tolerances are necessary between the barrel and the plunger along with the use of a lubricant. These glass syringes suffer from a number of disadvantages including that: they are expensive since they require close tolerances; they cannot be easily mass produced since the plungers often cannot be interchanged with one another and have to be individually fit with the barrel during the grinding process by the manufacturer; and they are susceptible to breakage. 
     To obviate these problems syringes were proposed and/or made by using glass and plastic barrels with plastic or elastomeric plungers. In order to prevent leakage around the plunger, the plunger is made with one or more ribs which are slightly larger in diameter in the uncompressed state than the inside of the barrel which upon placement within the barrel are compressed and deformed against the wall of the barrel and thereby form a seal. The quality and strength of the seal depend on the elastomeric properties of the material used to make the plunger and the ratio of the respective diameters of the plunger and the inside of the barrel. To obtain a good leak-proof seal, a relatively large compressive force must be exerted on the elastomeric plunger by the syringe barrel. This quality of seal, however, makes the movement of the plunger within the barrel difficult requiring excessive force on the part of the operator to move the plunger. This drawback is even more pronounced with pre-filled syringes which are maintained, ready to use, in storage. During this shelf-life the plunger tends to bind with the barrel. To remedy the problem the prior art used lubricants to reduce friction and drag between the plunger and the inside of the syringe barrel. One of the commonly used lubricants for this purpose is silicone oil. The use of such lubricants is, however, undesirable, since the lubricants tend to disperse and/or dissolve in parenteral formulations thereby contaminating the formulations. Such potential adulteration is, of course, undesirable and attempts were made to avoid the use of lubricants and still provide a leakage-proof syringe with easily slideable plunger. Such attempts included the use of various plunger configurations including one or more ribs thereon projecting forwardly or rearwardly in the barrel to reduce the frictional drag between the plunger and the barrel. Another approach was, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,646, to laminate the elastomeric plunger with a film of tetrafluoroethylene, ethylenetetrafluoroethylene or ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene resin. 
     While liquid tightness and sliding property have somewhat improved with these attempts as regards to syringes intended for taking body fluid samples or injecting medicaments from stored vials, the problem of inadequate sliding property in pre-filled syringes stored for extended time periods still remain unsolved. 
     It is a main object of the present invention to provide a pre-filled syringe and a pre-filled cartridge which will overcome the above-described inadequate sliding property while maintaining a tight, leak-proof seal between the plunger and the wall of the syringe barrel. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a self-aspirating syringe and cartridge. 
     In medical practice, hypodermic injections are sometimes administered subcutaneously, intramuscularly or intravenously, depending upon the particular medication to be administered. In all cases, it is essential that the practitioner know with certainty, prior to injection of the medication whether the hypodermic needle tip is located in a major blood vessel, such as a vein, or in subcutaneous tissue. Use of an aspirating syringe in which a negative pressure can be generated in the syringe affords a means of making such determination. Thus the appearance of blood in the syringe upon generation of the negative pressure would indicate location of the needle tip in a major blood vessel, while the lack of appearance of blood would indicate location of the tip in subcutaneous tissue. Depending upon the type of injection intended, the injection can then either proceed directly or if appropriate, the tip can be withdrawn and relocated. 
     Aspirating syringes are generally of two types, namely, they are either manually or automatically aspirated. In the manually aspirated type the plunger is retracted for a short distance within the barrel of the syringe. This retraction lowers the pressure within the syringe which leaves fluids at the needle tip which is then observable within the barrel of the syringe. From solid tissues no fluids will be drawn into the barrel. In the manually aspirated syringes the injection necessitates the use of both hands, one to hold the barrel, and the other to exert pressure in a rearward direction on the plunger. Such manually actuatable aspirating of syringes have the disadvantage that their proper use depends on very large measure on the degree of skill of the person administering the injections. 
     Aspiration in syringes of the automatic or self-aspirating type is effected by first inducing a positive pressure in a medicament-containing portion of the syringe. On release of the force inducing the positive pressure, a corresponding negative pressure in the syringe is generated thus giving rise to the aspirating effect. The present invention relates to the self-aspirating type syringes. 
     Ideally a self-aspirating hypodermic syringe should be: relatively simple in construction so as to minimize the cost of production; relatively simple to operate; capable of manipulation with one hand; adaptable to multiple self-aspirating actions; capable of expelling trapped air from the syringe prior to insertion of the needle into the injection site and prior to initiation of the self-aspirating action without either precluding self-aspirating action at a later time in the operation sequence of the syringe or otherwise rendering it inoperative. 
     The self-aspirating syringes provided by the present invention mimic, automatically, the slight rearward piston displacement withdrawal action of manually operable syringes, thus generating the slight negative pressure in the syringes essential for aspiration. The syringes of the present invention therefore obviate the disadvantage inherent in prior art syringes of the manual type, since the aspirating action is generated automatically which requires no special skill on the part of the practitioner. 
     These and other desirable objects will be explained as the description proceeds. 
     The invention will be described in reference to a pre-filled syringe; however, it is to be understood that a pre-filled cartridge, having essentially the same shape and other characteristics as a pre-filled syringe, is also intended to be described and covered by the appended claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a syringe which is designed to be pre-filled and stored ready for injection. The syringe comprises: 
     (a) a barrel having an inner surface defining a cylindrical chamber for retaining an injectable fluid therein; a distal end terminating in a tapered tip to which an injection needle can be attached; and a proximal end for receiving a plunger; 
     (b) a cup-shaped plunger slideably mounted in said barrel and positioned within the barrel to provide a seal with the inner surface of the barrel, said plunger comprising: 
     (1) a distal convex face which is to interface with the injectable fluid contained in the barrel; 
     (2) a proximal fiat or concave face essentially parallel with the distal convex face; 
     (3) outside wall contiguous with the distal convex face having thereon: distal ring, proximal ring and center ring extending radially outwardly and forming a slideable seal with the inner surface of the barrel; 
     (4) inside wall having female threads; 
     (5) bottom rim which together with the inside wall defines a circular opening in the cup-shaped plunger through which a plunger rod can be inserted for engagement; and 
     (c) a plunger rod having distal and proximal ends, for engaging the plunger comprising: 
     (1) a plunger rod tip, located at the distal end of the plunger rod, having a semi-circular shape with convex face projecting in the direction of the plunger, the diameter of which is substantially smaller than the diameter of the plunger, and is designed to contact the proximal flat or concave inside face of the plunger at the center portion thereof; 
     (2) neck portion, contiguous with the plunger rod tip, designed to receive a slideable cylinder; 
     (3) slideable cylinder, positioned around the neck portion, comprising: an inside wall and an outside wall, the inside wall defines a cylinder the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the plunger rod tip so as to prevent the slideable cylinder slipping off of the neck portion, the outside wall having male threads for engagement of female threads of the plunger when the plunger rod is inserted into the plunger for operation of the syringe. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled syringe containing a plunger and plunger rod, according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a longitudinal fragmentary cross-section of the syringe, plunger, and plunger rod equipped with a slideable cylinder taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 with plunger and plunger rod inserted in the syringe; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section of the plunger rod of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section of the plunger rod and plunger of FIG. 1 without plunger rod interfacing plunger; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section of the plunger rod and plunger of FIG. 1 in a dynamic representation of the circumferential reduction produced when interfacing takes place between the plunger rod and plunger upon exerting force on the plunger when commencing an injection; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the plunger rod and slidable cylinder of FIG. 1 when plunger rod is partially inserted in slidable cylinder; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the plunger rod and slidable cylinder of FIG. 1 when plunger rod is completely inserted in slidable cylinder; 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the plunger and slidable cylinder of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the plunger and plunger rod of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the plunger rod with the slideable cylinder removed; 
     FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the slideable cylinder having male thread means; 
     FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the slideable cylinder of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is a longitudinal fragmentary cross section of a typical prior art syringe, plunger and plunger rod; and 
     FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section of the prior art plunger and plunger rod of FIG. 13. 
     
         ______________________________________LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS USED______________________________________Syringe (generally designated)                        10Barrel                       20Inside wall of barrel        21Plunger                      30Plunger rod                  50Tapered tip of barrel at distal end                        22Bore through tip of barrel   23Proximal end of barrel       24Finger hub of barrel         26Distal end of plunger rod    52Proximal end of plunger rod  60Handle of plunger rod        62Convex face of plunger       32Flat or concave face of plunger                        34Outside wall of plunger      36Inside wall of plunger       38Bottom rim of plunger        39Distal ring (on outside wall of plunger)                        40Proximal ring (on outside wall of plunger)                        41Center ring (on outside wall of plunger)                        42Female threads (of plunger on inside wall)                        43Plunger rod tip              64Neck portion of plunger rod  66Slideable cylinder           68Outside wall of slideable cylinder                        74Inside wall of slideable cylinder                        72Male threads (on outside wall of slideable cylinder)                        70______________________________________ 
    
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a syringe generally designated 10 comprising: a barrel 20 having inside wall 21, a distal end terminating in a tapered tip 22 which has bore 23 therethrough, and a proximal end 24 to receive plunger 30; plunger 30 slideably positioned in barrel 20; and plunger rod 50 is attachable to plunger 30. Disposed about the periphery of proximal end 24 of the barrel 20 is finger hub 26 which facilitates holding barrel 20 during operation of plunger 30 by exerting a force on plunger rod 50. Plunger rod 50, having distal end 52 and proximal end 60 comprises handle 62 to facilitate exertion of force on plunger 30 by plunger rod 50 during operation of the syringe. 
     Syringe barrel 20 is made of an inert gas impermeable material including glass, however, it is preferably made of a substantially transparent material that is somewhat more flexible than glass, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrenes, acrylic and methacrylic polymers. 
     Plunger 30 is made of a compressible, elastomeric material, such as polyisoprene rubber. Plunger rod 50 is made essentially of the same material as the barrel. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, plunger 30 is slideably received in barrel 20 and is moved axially in the barrel by a manual force exerted on plunger rod 50 which is engageable with plunger 30. Plunger 30 in its relaxed state resembles an inverted cup having: a distal outside convex face 32; a proximal flat or concave inside face 34 essentially parallel with distal convex face 32; outside wall 36 contiguous with distal convex outside face 32; inside wall 38 contiguous with said flat or concave inside face 34; and bottom rim 39 which defines the circular opening in the cup shaped plunger 30. Distal convex face 32 of plunger 30 is to interface with a fluid contained in barrel 20. 
     Outside wall 36 of plunger 30 comprises: distal ring 40, proximal ring 41, and center ring 42, which are elastically deformable and extend radially outwardly from outside wall 36 and have, when taken together with plunger 30, a minimal diameter slightly in excess of the largest diameter of the working section of barrel 20. The rings form a sealing but slideable engagement with inside wall 21 of barrel 20. 
     Inside wall 38 of plunger 30 comprises female threads 43 to receive male threads 70 of plunger rod 50. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12, plunger rod 50 comprises: handle 62 located at proximal end 60 thereof to facilitate exertion of manual force thereon by an operator; plunger rod tip 64 having a semi-circular shape with convex face projecting in the direction of plunger and the diameter of which is substantially smaller than the diameter of the plunger, located at the distal end 52 of plunger rod 50, extending axially forwardly from distal end 52 of plunger rod 50 and is adapted to contact the proximal flat or concave inside face 34 at the center portion of plunger 30 upon exertion of pressure on plunger 30; neck portion 66 of plunger rod 50 located between plunger rod tip 64 and distal end 52 of plunger rod 50 is adapted to receive slideable cylinder 68 which comprises outside wall 74 and inside wall 72. Outside wall 74 has male threads 70 to engage female threads 43 of plunger 30. Inside wall 72 defines a cylinder the diameter of which is somewhat smaller than the diameter of plunger rod tip 64 so as to prevent slideable cylinder 68 slipping off the neck portion 66 of plunger rod 50. 
     The operation of the pre-filled syringe of the present invention is as follows. 
     Plunger 30 is inserted into barrel 20 of syringe 10 at the proximal end 24 thereof past finger hub 26 so that barrel 20 may be placed pointing vertically upward with its distal end on a flat surface, such as a filling line, without interference from plunger 30. Barrel 20 is filled with the desired liquid, such as a medicament or a diagnostic imaging medium, by way of bore 23 through tapered tip 22 and capped. The liquid could be pre-sterilized in bulk and filled into the syringe barrel using aseptic technique or the prefilled filled syringe may be sterilized by autoclaving or other means at this point. 
     An alternate filling procedure is to cap the tapered tip 22 and fill the medication from the proximal end of barrel 20. Plunger 30 is then inserted into barrel 20 after filling syringe 10. 
     The pre-filled, sterilized syringe is then packaged separately from a hypodermic needle to be assembled just prior to use. Preparatory for injection, the hypodermic needle is fitted onto the tapered distal end 22 of barrel 20. Slideable cylinder 68 at the distal end of plunger rod 50 is threaded into plunger 30 and tightened to achieve a snug engagement. The practitioner then gains entry into the desired mammalian site, such as a blood vessel, using conventional venipuncture technique. At this point of the procedure the plunger rod 50 and plunger 30 are in a static engagement. As shown in FIG. 4, female threads 43 of plunger 30 engage male threads 70 of slideable cylinder 68, but plunger tip 64 does not contact flat or concave face 34 of plunger 30 and does not exert pressure thereon. 
     When the operator exerts a relatively slight pressure on plunger rod 50 in a vertical upward direction, the following circumferential deformation of the plunger takes place as shown in FIG. 5: convex face 32 of plunger 30 is extended upward for distance &#34;a&#34; while distal ring 40, proximal ring 41 and center ring 42 are pulled inward by elastic tension forces for distance &#34;b&#34;, &#34;c&#34; and &#34;d&#34; respectively. As illustrated, distance &#34;a&#34; is the largest, followed by distances &#34;b&#34;, &#34;c &#34; and &#34;d&#34;. This circumferential deformation of the plunger expels head gas from the syringe, i.e. aspirates the syringe. Upon releasing the pressure applied on plunger rod 50, plunger 30 returns to its static position thereby creating a vacuum in barrel 20 and drawing body fluid from the patient indicating that the desired site had been entered and the injection may commence. The operator then, again, exerts pressure on plunger rod 50 which results in the same circumferential deformation of plunger 30 as described with respect to aspirating the syringe. Referring to proximal ring 41, distal ring 40 and center ring 42, it is clear that the force they now exert on the inside wall 21 of barrel 20 is reduced in direct proportion to the distance &#34;b&#34;, &#34;d&#34; and &#34;d&#34; created by the circumferential deformation. As a result, the plunger moves relatively easily in the barrel allowing convenient delivery of the liquid into the injection site. This advantage of the present invention is even more pronounced when the pre-filled syringe is kept in storage for extended time periods during which time the plunger tends to seize in the barrel and the interfacial force between the plunger and the inside wall of the barrel is extremely difficult to break in the axial direction. In the syringe of the present invention the force exerted on the plunger pulls the distal, proximal and center rings inwardly and greatly reduces the interfacial force between the plunger and the inside wall of the barrel. 
     It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the syringe of the instant invention possess all the attributes of an ideal syringe for both aspiration and injection as enumerated above. That is, the syringe is simple in construction, thus minimizing the cost of production; it is simple to operate; it is capable of manipulation with one hand; it is capable of multiple self-aspirating actions with each cartridge; and it is capable of expelling air trapped within the cartridge either prior to initiation of the self-aspirating action or at any time during the sequence of actions necessary for injection of the syringe content without, on the one hand, precluding self-aspirating action at any point in the sequence or, on the other, rendering the self-aspirating action inoperative. 
     Prior art syringes having generally similar constructions to the present invention are illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 wherein corresponding parts are designated with the same numerals with primes (&#39;) thereon. 
     While convex outside face 32&#39; is present, there is no concave inside face 34&#39; in plunger 30&#39;, i.e. the inside face 34&#39; of plunger 30 is flat. Plunger rod tip 64&#39; does not exist, but instead, the plunger rod face, which communicates with inside non-convex face 34&#39;, is flat. In operation of the prior art syringe, the force exerted on plunger 30&#39; by plunger rod 50&#39; through plunger rod tip 64&#39; will not result in a circumferential reduction of rings 40&#39;, 41&#39; and 42&#39; and, consequently, will not result in the reduction of syringing force that is necessary to complete the injection. The illustrated prior art syringe also lacks selfaspirating capability since upon exertion of force on plunger rod 50&#39;, convex face 32&#39; of plunger 30&#39; will not deform, and upon releasing the force, will not regain its static configuration. 
     Having thus described the invention and the advantages thereof, it is considered that the invention is to be broadly construed and limited only by the following claims.