Syringe

Abstract

A syringe includes a hollow body, a piston and a seal. The hollow body has a surrounding hollow body surface and forms a passage therein. An axis is formed in an axial longitudinal direction of the hollow body and the passage has a rear body opening and a front body opening arranged opposite to one another in the longitudinal direction. A first needle seat is formed at the front body opening, in which a needle cannula is arranged and relative to which the needle cannula is movable along the axis. The piston is arranged in the hollow body and is movable in the passage along the axis. The seal is able to be cancelled such that a receiving chamber and a supply space of the syringe are in flow communication in a release position.

Claims

1. A syringe comprising: a hollow body having a surrounding hollow body surface and forming a passage therein, an axis being formed in an axial longitudinal direction of the hollow body and the passage having a rear body opening and a front body opening, which are arranged opposite to one another in the axial longitudinal direction, a first needle seat being formed at the front body opening, the first needle seat having a needle cannula arranged therein, the needle cannula being movable along the axis relative to the first needle seat; a piston arranged in the hollow body and being movable in the passage along the axis, the piston comprising a front piston opening, a rear piston end and a surrounding intermediate wall arranged between the front piston opening and the rear piston end and which forms a receiving chamber for receiving at least one fluid; and an intermediate piece arranged in the receiving chamber and being movable along the axis, a first sealing region sealing the receiving chamber in a storage position acting between the intermediate wall and the intermediate piece, a second needle seat and a supply space being formed in the intermediate piece, with the second needle seat and the supply space being in flow communication, the piston, the hollow body and the intermediate piece being movable into a release position by a coaxial relative movement starting from the storage position, and a seal being disposed in the storage position between the supply space and the receiving chamber, the seal being able to be cancelled by the coaxial relative movement of the piston relative to the hollow body such that the receiving chamber and the supply space are in flow communication in the release position.

2. The syringe in accordance with claim 1, wherein the intermediate piece comprises an outer element and an inner element and the inner element is movable axially relative to the outer element to cancel the seal.

3. The syringe in accordance with claim 2, wherein the inner element comprises an abutment for the outer element.

4. The syringe in accordance with claim 3, wherein the inner element is arranged such that an axial movement of the inner element relative to the outer element is bounded by the abutment in the direction of the rear body end.

5. The syringe in accordance with claim 2, wherein the seal is formed between the inner element and the outer element.

6. The syringe in accordance with claim 2, wherein the inner element forms a further hollow body, and the piston is arranged movable in the further hollow body.

7. The syringe in accordance with claim 2, wherein the inner element comprises the second needle seat.

8. The syringe in accordance with claim 1, wherein the receiving chamber is divided by a separating element into a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber being disposed between the second chamber and the intermediate piece.

9. The syringe in accordance with claim 8, wherein a second sealing region is formed and arranged in the storage position between the intermediate wall and the separating element such that the second chamber and the supply space do not have any flow communication.

10. The syringe in accordance with claim 8, wherein the separating element is a film.

11. The syringe in accordance with claim 8, wherein the intermediate piece is formed as a mandrel in the direction of the rear body opening to break open the separating element.

12. The syringe in accordance with claim 8, wherein the separating element is a plug and is arranged movable along the axis in the receiving chamber.

13. The syringe in accordance with claim 8, wherein the second chamber and the supply space are in flow communication in a flushing position.

14. The syringe in accordance with claim 1, wherein the intermediate piece is configured in one part and is movable axially relative to the piston for cancelling the seal.

15. The syringe in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a spring having a restoring force, and the piston is movable against the restoring force of the spring in the direction of the front body opening of the hollow body, the spring being arranged in the passage.

16. The syringe in accordance with claim 1, wherein the receiving chamber contains at least one fluid in a first chamber of the receiving chamber and a flushing solution in a second chamber of the receiving chamber.

17. The syringe in accordance with claim 16, wherein the at least one fluid is a liquid containing at least one medicine to be dispensed.

18. The syringe in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a device configured to automatically laterally pivot or deflect the intermediate piece disposed in an end position.

19. The syringe in accordance with claim 18, wherein the device is configured to act between a rear end of the receiving chamber and the intermediate piece.

20. The syringe in accordance with claim 18, wherein the device comprises at least one sloping surface or defines at least one inclined plane.

21. A method comprising: operating a syringe in accordance with claim 1 for discharging a fluid already contained in the receiving chamber without drawing in the fluid.

22. The method in accordance with claim 21, wherein the fluid is a liquid and the liquid contains at least one medicine to be dispensed, the liquid being discharged from a first chamber of the receiving chamber in a first phase and subsequently a flushing solution is discharged from a second chamber of the receiving chamber in a second phase.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a syringe in accordance with the invention in a storage position;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the first embodiment in the release position;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the first embodiment in an end position after discharging the first fluid and the second fluid;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the first embodiment in a draw-in position;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment in the storage position;

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a third embodiment in the storage position;

(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment in the storage position; and

(9) FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a fifth embodiment in the storage position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(10) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a syringe 1 in accordance with the invention in a storage position. The syringe 1 comprises a hollow body 2, a piston 3 and an intermediate piece 4. The hollow body has a surrounding hollow body surface 21 and a passage 22 therein. The hollow body 21 has a circular base surface and forms a cylindrical passage 22. An axis A is formed in an axial longitudinal direction of the hollow body 2. The passage 22 moreover has a rear body opening 23 and a front body opening 24 which are arranged opposite one another in the longitudinal direction.

(11) A first tubular needle seat 25 is formed at the front body opening 24 so that the front body opening 24 is closed except for a needle seat opening in the first needle seat 25. A needle cannula 26 is arranged in the first needle seat 25 and is movable relative to the first needle seat 25 along the axis A.

(12) The piston 3 is arranged in the hollow body 2 and is movable in the passage 22 along the axis A. The piston 3 further comprises a front piston opening 31, which is arranged in the direction of the front body opening 24, and a rear, closed piston end 32. The front piston opening 31 and the rear piston end 32 are arranged opposite one another along the axis A in the longitudinal direction.

(13) A surrounding intermediate wall 33, which forms a receiving chamber 34 for receiving fluid, is arranged between the front piston opening 31 and the rear piston end 32. The receiving chamber 34 is divided by a separating element 35 into a first chamber 36 and into a second chamber 37. The separating element 35 is formed as a film. The chambers 36, 37 can each receive a fluid, with a first fluid being arranged in the first chamber 36 and a second fluid being arranged in the second chamber 37. In the storage position, the film separates the second chamber 37 from the first chamber 36 and thus from a supply space 42 formed in the intermediate piece 4 such that they do not have any flow communication.

(14) The first fluid can in this respect, for example, be a medicine to be dispensed and the second fluid can be a flushing solution.

(15) The intermediate piece 4 is movably arranged in the passage 22 along the axis A. A second needle seat 41 is formed in the intermediate piece 4, with the needle cannula 26 being firmly held in the second needle seat 41. The intermediate piece 4 is in two parts and comprises an outer element 45 and an inner element 44, wherein the second needle seat 41 is formed at the inner element 44. The inner element 44 further comprises an abutment 46 for the outer element 45, the abutment being formed as a peripheral shoulder. The abutment 46 is arranged in the direction of the front body opening 24 and acts as a stopper for the outer element 45 which can therefore stop a movement of the outer element 45. In addition, the inner element 44 is formed in the direction of the rear body opening 23 as a mandrel 48 to break open the separating element 35. The intermediate piece 4 furthermore has the supply space 42 which is formed in the intermediate piece 4 and which can in particular be of conical design. The second needle seat 41 and the supply space 42 are in flow communication so that the first fluid and the second fluid can flow via the supply space 42 into the needle cannula 26 when seals acting in the storage position are deactivated.

(16) The piston 3, the hollow body 2 and the intermediate piece 4 are movable by m a coaxial relative movement starting from a storage position into a release position. In the storage position present in FIG. 1, a first sealing region 43 is formed between the intermediate wall 33 and the outer element 45 of the intermediate piece 4 and a second sealing region forming further seals 47, 47a is formed between the inner and outer elements 44, 45, wherein, viewed in the axial direction, a seal 47 is disposed in front of the supply space 42 and a seal 47a is disposed behind the supply space 42. The first sealing region 43 comprises a groove at the intermediate wall 33 of the receiving chamber 34 and a dimple at the intermediate piece 4 or at the outer element 45. The second sealing region 47, 47a in each case comprises a further groove at the outer element 45 and a dimple at the inner element 44.

(17) The first sealing region 43 prevents fluid from being able to flow out of the receiving chamber 34 into the passage 22 of the hollow body 2. The second sealing region prevents fluid from being able to flow into the supply space 42 by the seal 47 in the storage position, on the one hand, and from fluid being able to flow through between the inner element 44 and the outer element 45 into the passage 22 of the hollow body 2 by the seal 47a, on the other hand. The receiving chamber 34 and the supply space 42 are thus not in flow communication in the storage position. Neither the first fluid nor the second fluid therefore flow from the receiving chamber 34 into the supply space 42.

(18) The receiving chamber 34 is bounded at the rear end by a sloping surface 55 which cooperates with the rear end of the intermediate piece 4, which will be looked at in more detail in the following in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4.

(19) A schematic representation of the first embodiment in the release position is shown in FIG. 2. The release position corresponds to an activated position, i.e. the piston 3 has been moved along the axis A in the passage 22 in the direction of the front body opening 24 by a coaxial movement by a force transmission, for example by pressure onto the rear piston end 32. In this respect, a holding device 27 is provided in the form of a peripheral, inwardly projecting rib which holds the piston 3 at the hollow body surface 21 in that a friction force is generated which has to be overcome by the force transmission.

(20) In the release position, the inner element 44 has been moved along the axis A in the direction of the front body opening 24 and is arranged at the first needle seat 25. In this respect, the inner element 44 lies on the first needle seat 25 and the first and second needle seats 25, 41 together form an approximately continuous needle seat. In this respect, the needle cannula 26, which is arranged in the storage position completely in the first and second needle seats 25, 41 and in the hollow body 2, has been moved along the axis A through the front body opening 24 out of the hollow body 2 and is located partly outside the hollow body 2. The outer element 45 has likewise been moved along the axis A in the direction of the front body opening 24 and is arranged at the abutment 46, whereby the sealing effect of the seal 47 of the second sealing region has been deactivated so that, in the release position, the first chamber 36 of the receiving chamber 34 and the supply space 42 are in flow communication.

(21) In the release position, the first fluid can flow from the first chamber 36 through the supply space 42 into the inner element 44 or into a needle seat opening formed therein and can then flow into the needle cannula 26.

(22) On the subsequent transition into a flushing position (not shown) after emptying the first chamber 36, the mandrel 48 pierces the film, whereupon the second chamber 37 and the supply space 42 are in flow communication and a flushing procedure can be carried out by discharging the second fluid, that is by emptying the second chamber 37, through the needle cannula 26.

(23) FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the first embodiment after discharging the first fluid and the second fluid. In this end position, the piston 3 contacts the intermediate piece 4 with the slope 55 formed at the rear end of the receiving chamber 34 while interposing the pierced film 35. The piston 3 is arranged approximately completely in the passage 22 of the hollow body 2, with a further movement of the piston 3 being prevented along the axis A in the direction of the front body opening 24. The separating element 35 has been broken open by the mandrel 48 and the second fluid has flowed from the second chamber 37 (FIG. 2) via the supply space 42 into the needle cannula 26. A recess into which the mandrel 48 projects is disposed in an axial direction to the rear beyond the slope 55.

(24) The slope 55 endeavors to locate the intermediate piece 4 together with the inner element 44 and the needle cannula 26 in a slanted position, which is, however, not possible in the position in accordance with FIG. 3 since the needle cannula 26 is still located in the first needle seat 25 and can thus not be deflected or pivoted.

(25) FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of the first embodiment in a draw-in position. In the draw-in position, the piston 3 has been withdrawn approximately completely out of the passage 22 of the hollow body 2, with the front piston opening 31 being arranged in the passage 22. The needle cannula 26 is held firmly at the intermediate piece 4 via the inner element 44 at the second needle seat 41 such that the needle cannula 26 is taken along on the backward movement of the piston 3. In this respect, the needle cannula 26 is completely pulled into the passage 22 and out of the first needle seat 25 and is thus released. The intermediate piece 4, pre-biased into a corresponding sloping position due to the slope 55, can adopt the sloping position by this release of the needle cannula 26 and can consequently locate the needle cannula 26 in a slanted position which can thus not accidentally or randomly thread back into the first needle seat 25 and is consequently so-to-say captured in the hollow body 2. The needle cannula 26 or the syringe 1 can therefore not be reused and there is no risk of injury.

(26) FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a syringe in accordance with the invention in the storage position. The design of the syringe 1 in this respect has a number of common features with the syringe 1 from FIGS. 1 to 4 so that substantially the differences will be looked at.

(27) The intermediate piece 4 is arranged, analog to FIGS. 1 to 4, movably in the passage 22 along the axis A. A second needle seat 41 is formed in the intermediate piece 4, with the needle cannula 26 being firmly held in the second needle seat 41. The intermediate piece 4 is in one part, unlike the embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 1 to 4. The single-part intermediate piece 4 has a supply space 42 which is formed in the intermediate piece 4. In the storage position shown in FIG. 5, the first sealing region 43a is formed between the intermediate wall 33 and the intermediate piece 4 and forms a first seal at the rear side of the supply space 42. A second seal 43b is arranged at the front side of the supply space 42. The seal formed by the first sealing region 43a comprises a groove at the intermediate wall 33 of the receiving chamber 34 and a dimple at the intermediate piece 4. The first sealing region 43a prevents fluid from being able to flow into the supply space 42 in the storage position, whereas the second seal 43b prevents fluid from being able to flow from the supply space 42 into the passage 22 of the hollow body 2. The receiving chamber 34 and the supply space 42 are thus not in flow communication in the storage position, i.e. neither the first fluid nor the second fluid flows from the receiving chamber 34 into the supply space 42.

(28) In the storage position, the piston 3 is held by a holding device 27 and can only be moved by a force transmission. In an active position, not shown, the piston 3 is held by an activating device 28 and can only be moved into the release position by a force transmission. The needle cannula 26 is moved out in the active position. The separating element 35 only shown schematically here is broken open in this second embodiment by a sharp peripheral edge 49 of the intermediate piece 4. A slope can be provided in accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 or another means or device can be provided for pivoting or deflecting the needle cannula 26.

(29) FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a third embodiment of a syringe in accordance with the invention in the storage position. The design of the syringe 1 in this respect has a number of common features with the syringe 1 from FIGS. 1 to 4 so that substantially the differences will be looked at. The two-part intermediate piece 4 is movably arranged in the passage 22 along the axis A. A second needle seat 41 is formed in the intermediate piece 4, with the needle cannula 26 being firmly held in the second needle seat 41. A sharp peripheral edge 49 for breaking open the separating element 35 is formed at the outer element 45, in the direction of the rear piston end 32. The edge 49 does not have a peripherally constant height, but rather defines a plane 55 which is inclined with respect to the axis A and which, analog to the sloping surface 55 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, ensures a slanted position of the needle cannula 26 in the draw-in position.

(30) FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of a syringe in accordance with the invention in the storage position. The design of the syringe 1 substantially corresponds to the syringe 1 from FIGS. 1 to 4 so that substantially the differences will be looked at. The intermediate piece 4 is in two parts, with the inner element 44 being configured such that the second needle seat 41 is hollow cylindrical and has two different outer diameters and so forms the abutment 46 for the outer element 45. In addition, the inner element 44 is formed as a further hollow body 5 in which the piston 3 is arranged. The inner element 44, which is configured in one piece overall, consequently comprises the radially inwardly disposed needle seat 41 and an outer part which defines the hollow body 5, which is arranged concentrically to the needle seat 41 and which receives the piston 3. The inner element 44 has no mandrel 48.

(31) The further hollow body 5 is arranged in the passage 22 of the hollow body 2. The coaxial relative movement of the piston 3 thus takes place along the axis A in the further hollow body 5 of the inner element 44 which in turn moves along the axis A in the hollow body 2.

(32) The separating element 35 is configured as a plug and is arranged in the receiving chamber 34 movably along the axis A. The separating element 35 can be displaced by the outer element 45 of the intermediate piece 4 to empty the second chamber 37. Provision can alternatively be made that the separating element 35, which is e.g. formed as a film, is broken open by the outer element 45, in particular by a sharp edge formed at the outer element 45.

(33) In addition, a sealing region 51 which acts in the storage position or the release position is configured and arranged between the intermediate wall 33 and the separating element 35 such that the second chamber 37 and the supply space 42 do not have any flow communication, just as the second chamber 37 and the first chamber 36 have no flow communication. The sealing region 51 comprises a groove in the intermediate wall 33 and a dimple complementary thereto in the separating element 35. In the flushing position, the sealing region 51 is deactivated and the second chamber 37 and the supply space 42 are in flow communication.

(34) FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a fifth embodiment of a syringe 1 in accordance with the invention in the storage position. The design of the syringe 1 substantially corresponds to the syringe 1 from FIGS. 1 to 4 so that substantially the differences will be looked at. To ensure that, on the transition into the draw-in position, the needle cannula 26 is drawn completely into the passage 22, a spring 52 is arranged in the passage 22 against whose restoring force the piston 3 has to be pressed to the front, starting from the storage position. The spring 52 consequently effects or assists the transition into the draw-in position in accordance with the proper use of the syringe 1.