Abstract
A syringe with a tube having an open proximal end and a sealed, truncated, distal end fluidly communicating via a stepped lumen. The syringe has a distal intravenous cannula; and a shaft supporting a distal, fluid sealing disc and a finger pad at opposite ends moveably disposed within said tube. The syringe features a syringe body which is economically thermoformed from an extruded tube.
Claims
1. A syringe comprising: a tube having an open proximal end and a sealed, truncated, distal end fluidly communicating via a stepped lumen; a distal intravenous cannula; and a shaft supporting a distal, fluid sealing disc and a finger pad at opposite ends moveably disposed within said tube.
2. A syringe as defined in claim 1 and further comprising: a flange on said open, proximal end.
3. A syringe as defined in claim 1 and further comprising: a tubular needle sheath having a sealed distal end and attachment openings about open, proximal end.
4. A syringe comprising: a tube having an open proximal end and an intermittent, truncated seal fluidly communicating via a stepped lumen; an integral, distal sheath providing cannular shielding or locking postures with opposing rotations; a distal intravenous cannula; and a shaft supporting a distal, fluid sealing disc and a finger pad at opposite ends, moveably disposed within said tube.
5. A syringe as defined in claim 3 and further comprising: said open, proximal end includes a flange.
6. A syringe comprising: a tube having an open proximal end and an intermittent, truncated seal fluidly communicating via a Luer plug; an integral, distal sheath providing a single thread flight on its surface engaging a tab of a Luer hub in the open position, and cannular shielding or locking postures with opposing rotations; and a shaft supporting a distal, fluid sealing disc and a finger pad at opposite ends, moveably disposed within said tube.
7. A syringe as defined in claim 6 and further comprising: said open, proximal end includes a flange.
8. A syringe comprising: a tube having an open proximal end and an intermittent, paraboloidal seal fluidly communicating via a Luer plug; an integral, distal sheath providing a single thread flight on its surface engaging a tab of a Luer hub in the open position, and cannular shielding or locking postures with opposing rotations; and a shaft supporting a distal, fluid sealing grommet and finger pad at opposite ends, moveably disposed within said tube.
9. A syringe as defined in claim 8 and further comprising: said open, proximal end includes a flange.
Description
DRAWINGS
[0017] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of a syringe body in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is an axonometric view of the thermoformed syringe of FIG. 1 with a sheath in place;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional, side view of the thermoformed syringe of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 4 is an axonometric view of a thermoformed syringe in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a side, axonometric view of a thermoformed sheath;
[0023] FIG. 6 is an axonometric view of a syringe's plunger;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a side view of the syringe plunger die-cut blank;
[0025] FIG. 8 is an axonometric view of a syringe in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention;
[0026] FIG. 9 is an axonometric view of the thermoformed syringe of FIG. 8 with a sheath in place;
[0027] FIG. 10 is an expanded, longitudinal cross-sectional, side view of the thermoformed syringe of FIG. 8;
[0028] FIG. 11 is a plan, axonometric view of a thermoformed syringe showing the die-cut sheath prior to thermoforming;
[0029] FIG. 12 is an axonometric view of a syringe with sheath in a needle protective posture;
[0030] FIG. 13 is an axonometric view of a syringe with sheath in a retracted posture;
[0031] FIG. 14 is a side, cross-sectional view of a syringe with sheath in a needle protective posture;
[0032] FIG. 15 is a side, cross-sectional view of a syringe with sheath in a retracted posture;
[0033] FIG. 16 is an axonometric view of a syringe plunger;
[0034] FIG. 17 is an enlarged, side detail view of a plunger sealing disc;
[0035] FIG. 18 is a bottom, axonometric view of a syringe with the luer-hubbed needle in place in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention;
[0036] FIG. 19 is a top, axonometric view of the thermoformed syringe of FIG. 18;
[0037] FIG. 20 is a longitudinal cross-sectional, side view of the thermoformed syringe of FIG. 18;
[0038] FIG. 21 is an axonometric view of a thermoformed syringe with a retracted sheath;
[0039] FIG. 22 is a side view of the thermoformed syringe;
[0040] FIG. 23 is an axonometric view of a syringe's plunger with grommet;
[0041] FIG. 24 is an axonometric view of the plunger's die-cut blank;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] Referring now particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, and initially to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, there will be seen an axonometric view of a thermoformed syringe 10 in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention. The syringe 10 in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 comprises a tubular body 11 having a flanged, proximal opening 18 and a truncated, thermally sealed distal end 20 with a fluid passageway 24 through the sealing flange 23 fluidly communicating with an axially aligned cannula 25 (needle); and an axially sliding plunger 30 with a barrel 14 sealing means to define a fluid chamber 15. The cannula 25 has one end 26 sufficiently sharp to pierce the patient's skin and the other end 27 blunt to receive the affixing adhesive 28. The proximal flange 19 is thermoformed encircling the proximal opening 18 of barrel 14 to maintain the circular nature of the barrel 14 and assist the holding of the syringe 10 during filling and administering an injection. The barrel 14 is thermoformed and distally sealed under slight, axial pressure over a mandrel using extruded tubing 12 to establish a uniform diameter 13 throughout its entire chamber 15 length and a smooth, truncated end wall 20. As a result of the end wall 20 compression when sealing, two elliptical selvages 22 are formed flanking the distal end wall 20. They become the positioning posts for the cannula's sheath 45. Now referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the plunger 30 is from die cut flat stock material 31 and consists of a shaft 32 with stiffening, folded sidewalls 33 and 34 supporting thermally rotated, integral seal disc 39 and finger pad disc 41. Sidewall 33 traverses the barrel diameter to guide the plunger's travels with edge 35 and fold 36 within barrel 14, and sidewall 34 stiffens and assists axial travel with contacting edge 37. As the sealing disc 39 is thermally rotated, its attachment/pivot points 38 to the shaft are thermally blended into the diameter of the circular sealing disc 39 establishing a uniform, circular liquid-tight seal 40. FIGS. 2 and 5 reveal the needle sheath 45 is a section of extruded tubing 46 with a diameter 47 sufficient to pass over the syringe body's 11 seal selvage 22. A thermal seal 50 closes the distal end 51 and partially wraps the sides 52 and has an open, flanged, proximal end 48. The proximal flange 49, like the barrel flange 19, maintains the circular nature and adds to the cylindrical rigidity of the sheath 45. The distal, partial, sidewall seal 52 reduces the sheath barrel's diameter 47 restricting its axial travel onto the syringe 10 protecting the cannula tip 26. Toward the proximal end 51 are two, opposing die-cut, T-shaped openings 54 to engage the flanged, selvage section 22 and flange 23 of the syringe barrel's distal seal 21 for securing the sheath's 45 position. To assemble, the sheath 45 is slightly compressed about the side-openings 54 to clear the body's sealing, selvage flange 22 as it's axially slid onto the syringe body 11 and then released to engage the selvage flange 23 for attachment. To remove, simply reverse the procedure.
[0043] FIG. 8 is an axonometric view and FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional, side view of another embodiment of a thermoformed syringe 110 with the body 111 having an integral, selectively rotating, cannula (needle) sheath 136. The syringe's tubular body 111 comprises barrel 114 with a flanged, proximal opening 118; a truncated, intermediary sealed, end wall 120 with a frustum passageway 124 distally accepting a cannula 125 with adhesive 129; and an integral, selectively rotating sheath 136 extending distally. At the open, proximal end 118 of barrel 114, a thermoformed, peripheral gripping flange 119 maintains the circular nature of the barrel 114 and assists the holding of the syringe 110 during filling and administering an injection. Thermoforming and sealing over a mandrel provide the tubular barrel 114 with a uniform diameter 113 and a smooth, truncated, end wall 120 with a stepped frustum, distal passageway 124 to provide visual, fluid communication between the fluid chamber 115 of the barrel 114 and a cannula 125. The cannula 125 has one end 126 sufficiently sharp to pierce the patient's skin and the other end 127 blunt to receive the affixing adhesive 129. FIGS. 11 and 12 show the remaining body length 136 distally beyond the frustum 124 is flattened, arcuately die-cut 156, and thermoformed slightly downward into a selectively rotating, trough sheath 136. FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 reveal its attachment sections are living hinges 130 providing selective posturing of the sheath 136 by a rotating interference between the proximal, central trough region 131 and the cannula base 132 due to arcuate cut 156. As the sheath 136 rotates, the interference causes a lengthening and distortion of the living hinges 130. Once over center, the living hinge geometries return, overpowering the hinge return memories. Along the sheath's sidewall 133 length, two detents 134 and 135 are formed in the sidewalls with a sufficient depth to engage the cannula 125 when the trough is formed providing selective sheath 136 rotation. FIGS. 16 and 17 display a plunger 137 in this embodiment which is injection molded in a manner to avoid a parting line traversing the liquid-tight ring seal interface 140. The entire sealing ring 139 remains in the B-side of the mold with the integral shaft 138 and finger pad 141 until tumbling out upon ejecting. The mold's parting line 142 occurs on the part profile above the interface 140 unaffecting its sealing engagement. The ring seal 139 becomes slightly compressed to overcome the resistance of the undercut in the mold's seal detail preventing a parting line 142. FIG. 9 shows this embodiment also features a shipping and handling, outer sheath 145. The sheath's tubular body 146 comprises barrel 157 with a flanged, proximal opening 148 and a truncated, sealed end wall 150. At the open, proximal end 148 of barrel 157, a thermoformed, peripheral gripping flange 149 maintains the circular nature of the barrel 157 and assists the side, die-cut openings 154 for the placement of the sheath 145. The outer sheath circumference 147 is sufficient to pass over the elliptical, seal selvage 122.
[0044] FIGS. 18, 19, and 20 disclose another embodiment of a thermoformed syringe 210 with the body 211 having an integral, selectively rotating, cannula (needle) sheath 250. The syringe's tubular body 211 comprises barrel 214 with a flanged, proximal opening 218; a paraboloidal, intermediary sealed, end wall 220 with a frustum passageway 224 distally accepting a luer 229-hubbed cannula 225; and an integral, selectively rotating sheath 250 extending distally. The end wall 220 may be either a symmetrical or an elliptical paraboloid. The frustum 224 is of sufficient length to provide visual, fluid communication between the fluid chamber 215 of the barrel 214 and a luer-hubbed cannula 225. FIGS. 21 and 22 reveal the trough sheath's 250 attachment sections are biased living hinges 231 providing selective posturing of the sheath 250. The opened sheath 250 provides a securing, single thread flight 252 on its surface 251 contacting a locking tab 230 of a luer hub 229. At the open, proximal end 218 of barrel 214, a thermoformed, peripheral gripping flange 219 maintains the circular nature of the barrel 214 and assists the holding of the syringe 210 during filling and administering an injection. FIGS. 23 and 24 also reveal the plunger 236 of this embodiment is die-cut from flat stock 237 and consists of a thermoformed V-shaped shaft 238 with members 239 and 240. Member 239 has distal cutouts 241 for engaging an elastomeric, sealing grommet 242 and a finger pad 245 thermally folded atop the shaft member 240 with a locking indent 244. The fold lines are 247 to create the V-shaped shaft 238 and 248 to form the finger pad 245. The grommet 242 must have the reverse geometry of the barrel's distal, end wall 220 for full content evacuation.
