A reduced profile syringe assembly is provided that includes an overall profile that is substantially similar to a profile of a syringe barrel. The syringe assembly includes a plunger rod that is significantly disposed within the syringe barrel when filled for use, with the plunger rod adapted to be retracted from the syringe barrel during dispensing of contents of the syringe barrel.

A reduced profile syringe assembly is provided that includes an overall profile that is substantially similar to a profile of a syringe barrel. The syringe assembly includes a plunger rod that is significantly disposed within the syringe barrel when filled for use, with the plunger rod adapted to be retracted from the syringe barrel during dispensing of contents of the syringe barrel.

Disclosed are plunger assemblies including various convertible plungers and methods of making the same. Each plunger assembly is configured for disposition within a barrel of a medical container, e.g., a syringe, and displaced within the barrel from an engagement position to a release position. The engagement position is configured to provide a compression seal between a storage sealing section of the plunger and an inner wall of the syringe barrel. In the release position, the compression seal is reduced or eliminated. Also disclosed are methods for making convertible plungers and assembling them into syringes, e.g., pre-filled syringes.

Implementations of an applicator syringe are provided. In some implementations, the applicator syringe may be configured to dispense a lubricant from a dispensing needle thereof. In some implementations, the applicator syringe may be configured so that the plunger shaft and the dispensing needle are removable when not in use. In some implementations, when the applicator syringe has been disassembled, the dispensing needle may be stored within the barrel of the applicator syringe and the plunger shaft secured about the exterior of the barrel. In some implementations, the applicator syringe may comprise a barrel having a finger flange, a plunger positioned within the interior chamber of the barrel, a plunger shaft configured to urge the plunger forward, a dispensing needle that can be removably secured to the front end of the barrel, a removable cap, and a barrel plug.

An auto-injector assembly comprises a medicament container defining a substantially cylindrical chamber containing a liquid medicament. A proximal end of the chamber is closed by a piston and a distal end of the chamber is closed by a seal spanning an opening. A biasing means, such as a spring, is coupled to the piston and acts to bias the piston towards the seal, thereby pressurizing the liquid medicament. The assembly also comprises a hypodermic needle and a removable needle cap for maintaining the hypodermic needle in sterile conditions until use. A means for establishes fluid communication between the chamber and the hypodermic needle such that the pressurized liquid medicament is automatically delivered through the hypodermic needle when communication has been established.

Two embodiments of a normally closed asymmetric tapered fitting valve are disclosed. Each tapered fitting valve comprises a single molded incompressible, but supple part and a skeletal support whereby the tapered fitting valve is opened by insertion into a correspondingly sized female tapered fitting. Use of the valve specifically targets use with medical luer fittings, but is not limited thereto. The preferred embodiment of an actuator portion of the valve has dimensions which are identical those of a female tapered fitting into which the valve is inserted to open. The valve opens by compressing a slit which is disposed along a major axis of the asymmetric valve as it is advanced through a tapered circular duct. The valve has back-to-back closure features which maintain the valve closed when not inserted. A stand-alone male adapter comprising the tapered fitting valve is disclosed. Also, a syringe barrel comprising a skeletal support structure for a securely affixed valve to thereby provide a syringe barrel with an integrally affixed male adapter is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to an injection device for injecting a pharmaceutical liquid drug containing a preservative. The injection device comprises a housing (1) supporting a cartridge (20) having an interior chamber (21) holding the pharmaceutical preservative containing liquid drug to be injected, and a needle cannula (10) having a front part (11) and a back part (12), which back part (12) is adapted to be in liquid communication with the interior chamber (21) of the cartridge (20). The injection device is further provided with a telescopic needle covering shield (30) which distally is provided with a reservoir (31) which holds a liquid containing the same preservatives as in the pharmaceutical preservative containing liquid drug contained in the interior chamber of the cartridge.

The telescopic needle covering shield (30) is telescopic movable in relation to the needle cannula (10) by a first resilient member between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the tip (13) of the front part (11) of the needle cannula (10) is maintained inside the reservoir (31), and in the second position, the tip (13) of the front part (11) of the needle cannula (10) is located outside the reservoir (31) and distally to the reservoir (31). The tip (13) of the needle cannula (10) is thus cleaned by the preservatives in the reservoir (31) between subsequent injections.

A pre-filled drug delivery device, comprising a housing, a drug container within the housing and containing a drug; a plunger held within the drug container, movement of the plunger within the drug container being operative to dispense the drug from the drug container through an outlet; and a drive mechanism within the housing including a stored energy source and a plunger rod held in locked position against the stored energy source prior to activation of the device, wherein on activation of the device the stored energy source moves the plunger rod such that the plunger rod moves the plunger within the housing wherein the plunger rod comprises a longitudinal shaft formed from sheet metal, wherein the sheet metal defines a plane, and wherein the sheet metal is deformed so that the longitudinal shaft comprises an out-of-plane engagement surface, the out-of-plane engagement surface configured to engage a retaining surface on the housing or on a component of the drive mechanism, to hold the plunger rod in the locked position.

A syringe includes a plunger having a plunger tube with proximal and distal ends, a center tube with a center passage that extends within the plunger tube, and a balloon disposed over the center tube and sealingly fixed to at least one of the center tube and the plunger tube. The syringe also includes a barrel having a barrel tube having proximal and distal ends and an interior configured to accept a portion of the plunger, a tip fixedly coupled to the proximal end of the barrel tube, a post fixedly attached to the tip and extending within the barrel tube toward the distal end, the tip configured to partially extend into the center passage of the plunger, and a gas passage extending from a proximal end of the tip to the distal end of the post.

The present invention relates to an injection device for injecting a pharmaceutical liquid drug containing a preservative. The injection device comprises a housing (1) supporting a cartridge (20) having an interior chamber (21) holding the pharmaceutical preservative containing liquid drug to be injected, and a needle cannula (10) having a front part (11) and a back part (12), which back part (12) is adapted to be in liquid communication with the interior chamber (21) of the cartridge (20). The injection device is further provided with a telescopic needle covering shield (30) which distally is provided with a reservoir (31) which holds a liquid containing the same preservatives as in the pharmaceutical preservative containing liquid drug contained in the interior chamber of the cartridge. The telescopic needle covering shield (30) is telescopic movable in relation to the needle cannula (10) by a first resilient member between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the tip (13) of the front part (11) of the needle cannula (10) is maintained inside the reservoir (31), and in the second position, the tip (13) of the front part (11) of the needle cannula (10) is located outside the reservoir (31) and distally to the reservoir (31). The tip (13) of the needle cannula (10) is thus cleaned by the preservatives in the reservoir (31) between subsequent injections.