Patent ID: 7563249

Claim:
A syringe comprising: a body comprising a distal end and a proximal end and a center section therebetween, the distal end comprising an injection section including a conical portion that extends and tapers from the center section to an injection neck forming a discharge outlet and the proximal end comprising a radial expansion section having a reduced wall thickness such that an inner diameter of the radial expansion section is larger than an inner diameter of the center section and the outer diameter of the radial expansion section is smaller than an outer diameter of the center section, wherein an outer surface of the body at the radial expansion section is tapered or stepped inward toward a central axis of the body and an inner surface of the body at the radial expansion section is tapered or stepped outward away from the central axis of the body to form the reduced wall thickness; a plunger movably disposed in the body and comprising a coupling end with a pair of coupling members defining a slot therebetween, the plunger being substantially seated in the radial expansion section in a pre-use state of the syringe; and an alignment flange formed on the conical portion and extending the distance between the center section and the injection neck, the alignment flange being generally rectangular in shape and defining an internal hollow area therein in fluid communication with the interior of the body, the internal hollow area of the alignment flange being adapted to collect air bubbles therein that are present within the interior of the body; wherein the slot defined between the coupling members on the plunger is substantially aligned with the alignment flange formed on the conical portion such that the alignment flange provides an indication of the orientation of the slot, and further wherein the radial expansion section accommodates outward expansion of the body induced by the plunger; wherein the proximal end further comprises an outward extending lip extending around the circumference thereof, and wherein the outward extending lip has an outer diameter no greater than an outer diameter of the center section.