FURAN SYRINGES AND BLOOD COLLECTION ITEMS

Abstract

A blood collection item comprises a furan resin selected from the group consisting of: poly (ethylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate) (PEF), poly (butylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate) (PBF), poly (trim ethylene furan dicarboxylate) (PTF), poly (propylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PPF), and poly (neopentyl 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PNF). The item may be a syringe having an injection-molded plunger and barrel, a blood collection tube, or a tube holder.

Claims

1. A blood collection item comprising a furan resin selected from the group consisting of: poly (ethylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate) (PEF), poly (butylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate) (PBF), poly (trim ethylene furan dicarboxylate) (PTF), poly (propylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PPF), and poly (neopentyl 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PNF).

2. The blood collection item of claim 1 wherein the blood collection item is injection-molded using the furan resin.

3. The blood collection item of claim 1 wherein the blood collection item is a syringe.

4. The blood collection item of claim 1 wherein the blood collection item is a component for a syringe and the component is injection-molded using the furan resin.

5. The blood collection item of claim 1 wherein the blood collection item is a plunger for a syringe.

6. The blood collection item of claim 1 wherein the blood collection item is a needle cap for a syringe.

7. The blood collection item of claim 1 wherein the blood collection item is a barrel for a syringe.

8. The blood collection item of claim 1 wherein the blood collection item is a barrel tip for a syringe.

9. The blood collection item of claim 1 wherein the blood collection item is a blood collection tube.

10. The blood collection item of claim 1 wherein the blood collection item is a vial for a blood collection tube.

11. The blood collection item of claim 1 wherein the blood collection item is a tube holder for a blood collection tube.

12. The blood collection item of claim 1 wherein the blood collection item is a blood collection tube formed by injection molding using the furan resin.

13. The blood collection item of claim 3, wherein the furan resin is PEF.

14. The blood collection item of claim 3, wherein the furan resin is PBF.

15. The blood collection item of claim 3, wherein the furan resin is PTF.

16. The blood collection item of claim 3, wherein the furan resin is PPF.

17. The blood collection item of claim 3, wherein the furan resin is PNF.

18. A syringe comprising: a furan-based resin that includes at least one of: poly (ethylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate) (PEF), poly (butylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate) (PBF), poly (trim ethylene furan dicarboxylate) (PTF), poly (propylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PPF), or poly (neopentyl 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PNF); an injection-molded barrel that includes the furan-based resin; and an injection-molded plunger that includes the furan-based resin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a syringe with attached needle according to the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of a needle and safety shield assembly according to the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of a needle and safety shield in extended position according to the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of a needle safety shield deployed with needle in the protective casing according to the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of the blood collecting items, namely a collection tube with stopper, tube holder with a needle.

[0013] FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment of a tube holder.

[0014] FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment of a blood collection tube with a stopper.

[0015] FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment of blood collection tube with a cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The preferred embodiment and other embodiments, which can be used in industry and include the best mode now known of carrying out the invention, are hereby described in detail with reference to the drawings. Further embodiments, features and advantages will become apparent from the ensuing description, or may be learned without undue experimentation. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, except where otherwise indicated. The following description of embodiments, even if phrased in terms of “the invention” or what the embodiment “is,” is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but describes the manner and process of making and using the invention. The coverage of this patent will be described in the claims. The order in which steps are listed in the claims does not necessarily indicate that the steps must be performed in that order.

[0017] The present invention generally relates to syringe, tube holder and blood collection tubes or vacutainers made from a plant based resin also known as furan-based polyesters.

[0018] Embodiments of the present invention may include a plant based furanpolyester, namely, poly (ethylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate) (PEF), poly (butylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate) (PBF), poly (trim ethylene furan dicarboxylate) (PTF), poly (propylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PPF), and poly (neopentyl 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PNF), to be used for sustainable single use medical items, such as syringes, tube holder and blood collection tubes also referred to as vacutainers.

[0019] In an embodiment, Furan moieties may have thermal stability characterized by a higher Tg and Tm. Furan moieties may include PNF, which has a low RAF fraction compared to poly (propylene 2,5- furandicarboxylate) [also called -furanoate] (PPF), ascribable to the two methyl side groups present in PNF glycol-sub-unit. PNF's mechanical characteristics, i.e., very high elastic modulus and brittle fracture, low resistance to environmental stress cracking, drop impact performance were found to be superior to those of PPF and PEF. Barrier properties to different gases, temperatures and relative humidity were evaluated. From the results obtained, PNF was showed to be a material with superior barrier performances, significantly superior with respect to PEF's ones. The furan moieties are not necessarily biodegradable, but may be recyclable. Because of these properties, and also because furan resins are plant based, compared to glass or plastic the furan syringes are considered far more sustainable. A syringe made from furan-based resin and polypropylene or glass could be recycled. The melting temperature for recycled plastic or polypropylene is 350 degrees F. and glass may be melted at 2900 degrees F. to recycle. Recycled furan requires 300 degrees to return back to resin, thus a more sustainable option compare to glass or marginally better than plastic, the latter are petroleum based and not plant based.

[0020] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a disposable syringe with a tubular needle cap and a flexible foldable needle safety shield, needle hub, tube holder and blood collection tubes made from plant derived sustainable furan resins, namely: poly (ethylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate) (PEF), poly (butylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate) (PBF), poly (trim ethylene furan dicarboxylate) (PTF), poly (propylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PPF), and poly (neopentyl 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PNF).

[0021] Embodiments may include a furan resin based syringe with attached needle and foldable and extendable protective safety shield assembly. Embodiments may include blood specimen collection tubes or vacutainers and tube holders. The parts of syringes and other blood collection items may be injection molded using the plant based furan resins. Embodiments of furan based syringes may be used for insulin administration, allergy or tuberculin testing or administration of other parental agents.

[0022] An embodiment of a syringe may have a plunger that fits tightly in a tubular barrel with a tip. The plunger may be pulled and pushed along inside a cylindrical tube, the barrel, allowing the syringe to take in and expel a liquid or gas through an orifice at the open end of the tube called the tip. The open end of the syringe or the tip may be fitted with a hypodermic needle. The tip may be of various shapes. A cone shape or threaded embodiment may allow for a needle or tubing to be attached, by simple pushing or screwing, the latter by circular twisting motion. This attachment may help direct the flow into and out of the barrel. The needle head is called a hub and an opening or aperture. Embodiments of furan based syringes may be used in the medical field to administer injections, insulin administration, skin tests such as allergy tests, and tuberculin testing. In non-medical field uses, non-sterile furan based syringes may be used to apply compounds such as glue or lubricant, and measure liquids.

[0023] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a general propose disposable single-use syringe 10 that may has a plunger 11 with a rubber tip 13, a cylindrical barrel 12, a hypodermic needle 17 and a needle cap 18. The barrel 12 has a tip 14. The needle 17 may have a hub 16 and opening or aperture 15.

[0024] FIG. 2 depicts needle and safety shield assembly 19, which may include a needle 17 and a shield assembly 20.

[0025] FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of a safety needle and shield assembly 19 without the needle in an extended position.

[0026] FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of a safety needle and shield assembly 19 with the needle in an extended position, which may accommodate the needle in a protective casing.

[0027] An embodiment of a syringe safety needle assembly 19 may include a syringe 10, fixed to a medical or hypodermic needle 17. An embodiment of a furan resin cap and a safety shield assembly 20 may attach to the syringe needle assembly 19, to help provide protection from a sharpened tip of the needle 17. The cap 18 may be removed before using the syringe needle assembly. After using the syringe needle assembly 19, the safety shield 20 may be deployed. The safety shield 19 may be foldable or may include a tubular assembly 18, thereby providing a safety sheath for the needle. This may help guard against problems associated with inadvertent needle sticks related to blood sampling, percutaneous medication injection and other medical procedures involving uses of medical needles.

[0028] Embodiments of the syringe and related parts 11, 12, 14, 16, and 18 may be injection molded using the furan resins.

[0029] FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of blood collection items collection tube 20, with vial 21 and rubber stopper 22, a tube holder 24 that has flange 23, and needle tip 25. A needle 26 is fitted o the needle tip 25.

[0030] FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment of a tube holder 24 with open distal end with flange 23 and the tapered proximal with needle tip 25. Embodiments of tube holder 24 may be injection molded using furan resins.

[0031] FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment of a blood collection tube or vacutainer 27, with vial 28, rubber stopper 29, and label 30. A space 31 may provide a vacuum to allow blood or fluid to flow during a venipuncture. Embodiments of vial 28 may be injection molded using furan resins.

[0032] FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment of a blood collection tube or vacutainer 27 with a cap 29 that acts like a rubber stopper.

[0033] Embodiments of blood collection items such as vial 28 and tube holder 24 may be injection molded using furan resins.