A Syringe For Storing And Dispensing A Material

Abstract

A syringe for storing and dispensing a first and a second component of a material. The syringe has a first chamber containing the first component and a second chamber containing the second component. The syringe further has an empty blank chamber that spaces the first and second chamber from each other.

Claims

1. A syringe for storing and dispensing a first and a second component of a material, comprising a first chamber containing the first component and a second chamber containing the second component, wherein the syringe further comprises an empty blank chamber that spaces the first and second chamber from each other, wherein the syringe further comprises a cartridge front wall the closes a front end of each of the blank chamber and the first and second chamber, wherein the first chamber has a first dispensing outlet and the second chamber has a second dispensing outlet, wherein the first and second dispensing outlet each extend through the cartridge front wall, and wherein the blank chamber does not comprise a dispensing outlet.

2. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the blank chamber and the first and second chamber each extend straight and parallel to a longitudinal axis.

3. The syringe of claim 2, wherein the first and second chamber have a first and second chamber length, respectively, in a dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the first and second chamber each extend at a uniform cross-section along the first and second length, respectively.

4. The syringe of claim 3, wherein the blank chamber extends at least over the longer of or both of the first and second chamber length.

5-6. (canceled)

7. The syringe of claim 1, wherein a first piston is received within the first chamber and closes a rear end of the first chamber, and wherein a second piston is received within the second chamber and closes a rear end of the second chamber.

8. The syringe of claim 7, having a first plunger arranged adjacent the rear end of the first chamber and a second plunger arranged adjacent the rear end of the second chamber, wherein the first plunger is connected to the first piston and the second plunger is connected to the second piston.

9. The syringe of claim 7, wherein the rear end of the blank chamber is open.

10. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the first chamber is formed by a circumferential first chamber wall and the second chamber is formed by a circumferential second chamber wall, and wherein the syringe further comprises a first connecting wall connecting the first and second chamber wall and a second connecting wall also connecting the first and second chamber wall, wherein the blank chamber is formed between the first chamber wall, the second chamber wall, the first connecting wall and the second connecting wall.

11. The syringe of claim 10, wherein the first and second connecting wall extend tangentially from the first chamber wall and tangentially from the second chamber wall.

12. The syringe of claim 11, wherein the first and second connecting wall each have an outer planar surface.

13. The syringe of claim 11, wherein the first and second connecting wall each have an outer surface that corresponds to a cylinder segment.

14. The syringe of claim 13, wherein the first and second connecting wall in combination with a portion of the first chamber wall and a portion of the second chamber wall, forms a cylindrical outer cartridge surface.

15. The syringe of claim 1, comprising two empty blank chambers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a syringe according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the syringe shown in FIG. 1;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge of a syringe according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0026] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a further cartridge of a syringe according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0027] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a further cartridge of a syringe according to a further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary syringe 1 of the invention. The syringe 1 has a cartridge 10 in which a material in the form of a first and a second flowable component can be stored separated from each other. The syringe 1 is configured for expelling the first and second component. Therefore, the syringe 1 comprises a plunger arrangement 11 that has a first and a second plunger 12, 13. The first and second plunger 12, 13 are (partially) received within a first and a second chamber 14, 15, respectively. In particular, a front end 16 of the first plunger 12 is received within the first chamber 14, and a front end 17 of the second plunger 13 is received within the second chamber 15. The front end 16 of the first plunger 12 and the front end 17 of the second plunger 13 in combination form a front end (16, 17) of the plunger arrangement 11. For expelling the first and second component, the plunger arrangement 11 (and thus the first and second plunger 12, 13) are pushed forward in a direction toward a front end 18 of the syringe 1. In the example the syringe 1 at a front end 25 of the cartridge 10 has a receptacle 19 to which a static mixer (see 30 in FIG. 2) can be attached. The first and second component, expelled from the first and second chamber 14, 15, are guided through the static mixer where they are merged and mixed as they flow through the static mixer.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2 the first chamber 14 has a first dispensing outlet 14a and the second chamber 15 has a second dispensing outlet 15a. The first and second dispensing outlet 14a, 15a extend through a cartridge front wall 28. The first and second dispensing outlet 14a, 15a are connectable to an inlet 31 (or inlets) of the static mixer 30.

[0030] The material (not shown) present in the first and second chamber 14, 15 is preferably a hardenable dental material. The first and second component (stored in the first and second chamber 14, 15, respectively) are flowable and are composed so as to harden or otherwise increase viscosity (typically by chemical reaction) once they are mixed.

[0031] The front end 16 of the first plunger 12 and the front end 17 of the second plunger 13 form a first and a second seal 16a, 17a, respectively. The first and second seal 16a, 17a, seal the first and second chamber 14, 15, respectively. In an initial situation in which the cartridge 10 is filled with the first and second component the first and second seal 16a, 17a seal a rear end 26 of the cartridge 10. In the embodiment, the first and second seal 16a, 17a each form a conical lip seal. Such a conical lip seal typically provides for an increased sealing effect in response to an increased pressure during advancing the material or component.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the cartridge 10. The cartridge 10 forms the first and the second chamber 14, 15 (see also FIGS. 2 and 3). The first chamber 14 is formed by a circumferential first chamber wall 20 and the second chamber 12 is formed by a circumferential second chamber wall 21. In other words, the first and second chamber 14, 15 are formed by circumferentially closed and side-by-side arranged barrels that are not in direct contact with each other.

[0033] The cartridge 10 further comprises a first connecting wall 22 that connects the first and second chamber wall 20, 21 with each other. Furthermore, the cartridge 10 comprises a second connecting wall 23 connecting the first and second chamber wall 20, 21 with each other. Thus, the barrels (or the first and second chamber wall 20, 21) are only indirectly connected to each other and are otherwise spaced from each other.

[0034] A blank chamber 24 is formed between the first chamber wall 20, the second chamber wall 21, the first connecting wall 22 and the second connecting wall 23. The blank chamber 24 spaces the first and second chamber 14, 15 (and the first and second chamber wall 20, 21) from each other. The blank chamber 24 further is empty, meaning the blank chamber 24 does not contain any material or component thereof that is to be dispensed from the syringe 1.

[0035] The first and second chamber wall 20, 21 and the first and second connecting wall 22, 23 in combination provide the cartridge 10 with an outer cartridge surface 27. The outer cartridge surface 27 is thus composed of:

[0036] a first outer cartridge surface portion 27a (provided by the first chamber wall 20),

[0037] a second outer cartridge surface portion 27b (provided by the second chamber wall 21),

[0038] a third outer cartridge surface portion 27c (provided by the first connecting wall 22) and

[0039] a fourth outer cartridge surface portion 27d (provided by the second connecting wall 23).

[0040] The first and the fourth outer surface portion 27a, 27d transition into each other based on the same tangent on the first and fourth outer surface portion 27a, 27d. Further, the fourth and the second outer surface portion 27d, 27b transition into each other based on the same tangent on the fourth and second outer surface portion 27d, 27b. The second and the third outer surface portion 27b, 27c transition into each other based on the same tangent on the second and third outer surface portion 27b, 27c. And the third and the first outer surface portion 27c, 27a transition into each other based on the same tangent on the third and first outer surface portion 27c, 27a. Accordingly, the outer cartridge surface 27 is free of sharp transitions, cavities, grooves or edges. This facilitates the cleaning by wiping off the outer cartridge surface 27 with a disinfectant because bacteria are hindered in hiding or being trapped in areas that cannot be easily accessed. In the example the outer cartridge surface 27 extends straight and at a racetrack-shaped cross-section.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows an alternative cross-section of the cartridge 10. Again, the cartridge 10 forms the first and the second chamber 14, 15 (see also FIGS. 2, 3 and 4). The first and second chamber 14, 15 are formed by a circumferential first and second chamber wall 20, 12, respectively. In other words, the first and second chamber 14, 15 are formed by circumferentially closed and side-by-side arranged barrels that are not in direct contact with each other.

[0042] The cartridge 10 further comprises a first connecting wall 22 that connects the first and second chamber wall 20, 21 with each other. Furthermore, the cartridge 10 comprises a second connecting wall 23 connecting the first and second chamber wall 20, 21 with each other.

[0043] A blank chamber 24 is formed between the first chamber wall 20, the second chamber wall 21, the first connecting wall 22 and the second connecting wall 23. The blank chamber 24 spaces the first and second chamber 14, 15 (and the first and second chamber wall 20, 21) from each other. The blank chamber 24 further is empty, meaning the blank chamber 24 does not contain any material or component thereof that is to be dispensed from the syringe 1. However, if desired the blank chamber might be used for storing other items, e.g. an instruction of use or mixing equipment (e.g. static mixer).

[0044] The first and second chamber wall 20, 21 and the first and second connecting wall 22, 23 in combination provide the cartridge 10 with an outer cartridge surface 27. The outer cartridge surface 27 is thus composed of:

[0045] a first outer cartridge surface portion 27a (provided by the first chamber wall 20),

[0046] a second outer cartridge surface portion 27b (provided by the second chamber wall 21),

[0047] a third outer cartridge surface portion 27c (provided by the first connecting wall 22) and

[0048] a fourth outer cartridge surface portion 27d (provided by the second connecting wall 23).

[0049] The first and the fourth outer surface portion 27a, 27d transition into each other based on the same tangent on the first and fourth outer surface portion 27a, 27d. Further, the fourth and the second outer surface portion 27d, 27b transition into each other based on the same tangent on the fourth and second outer surface portion 27d, 27b. The second and the third outer surface portion 27b, 27c transition into each other based on the same tangent on the second and third outer surface portion 27b, 27c. And the third and the first outer surface portion 27c, 27a transition into each other based on the same tangent on the third and first outer surface portion 27c, 27a. Accordingly, the outer cartridge surface 27 is free of sharp transitions, cavities, grooves or edges. In the example the outer cartridge surface 27 is cylindrical.

[0050] Alternative embodiments of these devices could be made with the two inner barrels in direct but tangential contact with each other. The separating wall between them would be the additive thickness of each barrel wall. This would form a syringe with 4 parallel chambers: two side-by-side cylindrical chambers containing paste or other flowable material, which separate two empty chambers whose cross sections are circular horn triangles.

[0051] In another embodiment the syringe further comprises a plurality of empty blank chambers that provide spaces between portions of the first and second chamber from each other. In yet another embodiment the empty blank chambers comprise a circular triangle cross-sectional shape (see FIG. 5).