Patent ID: 8790302

Claim:
A syringe assembly, comprising: a syringe barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end, a distal end, and an outlet disposed adjacent the distal end in fluid communication with the chamber; a plunger assembly disposed at least partially within the syringe barrel, comprising an elongate plunger rod having a proximal end, a distal end, a locking flange formed thereon between the proximal and distal ends, and a plunger head, the plunger rod being engageable with the plunger head such that the plunger rod is adapted to move the plunger head within the chamber of the syringe barrel through an injection cycle; and a flange lock disposed at the open proximal end of the barrel, wherein the plunger rod has a cylindrical shape defining a cylindrical outer surface extending from the distal end of the plunger rod to the proximal end of the plunger rod and the locking flange is formed on the outer surface of the plunger rod, wherein the flange lock is integral with the open proximal end of the syringe barrel, wherein during the injection cycle, the flange lock engages the locking flange of the plunger rod so as to retain the plunger head at or near a bottomed out position abutting the distal end of the syringe barrel and to prevent removal of the plunger rod from the syringe barrel, and wherein the flange lock is configured to slidingly engage the cylindrical outer surface of the plunger rod during the injection cycle prior to engaging the locking flange of the plunger rod.