Assembly and system for connecting a closure to a syringe

Abstract

An assembly for closing the discharge nozzle of a syringe which is pre-filled with a drug or medication. A syringe in combination with a connecting structure removably maintain and support the closure in an operative orientation, which facilitates the rotational attachment of the syringe and the closure when the closure is in mating engagement with the connecting structure. A subsequent removal of the syringe and connected closure from the container or other type of connecting structure is thereby facilitated. The need for an individual to directly handle or touch the closure during its attachment to the syringe is restricted or eliminated. The closure assembly preferably also includes a tamper evident structure which reduces the chances of tampering with the syringe in order to access its contents.

Description

[0001]The present application is a continuation application of a previously filed and currently pending U.S. patent application having Ser. No. 13 / 457,314 which was filed on Apr. 26, 2012 and is set to issue as U.S. Pat. No. 9,199,749 on Dec. 1, 2015, which in turn, claims priority to an earlier U.S. Provisional patent application having Ser. No. 61 / 566,444 filed on Dec. 2, 2011, as well as to another earlier and prior filed U.S. Provisional patent application, namely, that having Ser. No. 61 / 479,198 filed on Apr. 26, 2011, the contents of which are all incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention is directed to an assembly for closing the discharge port of a syringe, after the syringe has been filled with a medicine to be administered to a patient, with a closure thereof structured to eliminate or at least significantly reduce the need for an individual to directly handle or touch the clos...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a closure for a syringe that includes an end cap member and a syringe cap that can be rotated onto the syringe. The closure is designed to prevent fluid from flowing out of the syringe nozzle when it is attached to the syringe. The closure also includes a tamper-evident assembly to indicate if the syringe has been opened. The connector on the closure is designed to be connected to the closed end of the closure, and the connection is secure and easy to make without needing any adjustment of the closure. This helps to ensure the safety and integrity of the syringe and its contents.

Problems solved by technology

Clearly, a number of safety issues are associated with giving injections.

This, in turn, increases the chance for the syringe to become contaminated, by exposure to bacteria, germs, etc., which could possibly then be introduced into a patient's body tissues, and which could potentially lead to infection, presenting in turn, dangerous and possibly fatal effects on the patient.

Also, and especially in the case of a very expensive drug or an addictive drug, such as but not limited to morphine, there is some danger that a pre-loaded syringe will be tampered with by a person seeking to improperly gain access to the drug, whether to use it himself, or to try to sell it illegally.

A resulting danger also exists in that if an unauthorized person were actually to access to the prescribed medicine, he or she might inappropriately substitute saline solution or some other unauthorized substance in the syringe in an effort to avoid detection.

By way of example only, if saline solution were substituted for a dose of morphine, this could have extremely serious consequences.

Thus, the growing use of syringes which are pre-loaded with a drug presents another problem in that it is important to know if the sealed and / or pre-loaded syringe has, or has not, been tampered with and exposed to contamination or might otherwise have been compromised.

In addition, interactions between drugs and medications given to a patient incorrectly can have serious and deadly consequences.

Moreover, some drugs can have harmful effects in large doses.

This reduces errors on injection by nurses or physicians who may be in a stressful or time-sensitive situation and may not have the luxury of verifying the correct medication or measuring out a dose, particularly small doses, from a source vial.

Some drugs and medications, even those which are essential for treating life-threatening diseases, are currently in drastically short supply, due to several factors.

For example, during the manufacturing process of some medications, it can occur and has happened for whole batches to become contaminated, such as by bacteria or other microorganisms that could cause infection upon injection, thereby rendering quantities of medications unusable, which in turn, reduces the overall stock of available medications.

In addition, manufacturing capacity issues, such the availability and increased cost of raw materials and transportation, as well as lower profit margins, are contributing factors that also result in reduced quantities of medications being produced, and therefore, available to patients.

This also circumvents the theft of drugs by “accidental” taking of excess medication, such as to siphon some off for personal use or another non-prescribed purpose, which has unfortunately been known to occur.

Despite attempts in the past to prevent unauthorized access to syringe(s) pre-loaded with a drug or medication, it is understood that some problems continue to exist in this field of art.

Such problems include the ability to manufacture syringes, and / or accessories therefor, in an inexpensive and yet effective manner.

Other problems exist relative to the number of people that might handle pre-filled syringes, which in turn, poses a challenge to maintaining the sterility of the syringes and / or accessories, whether during storage at the manufacturing facility, during the transport thereof from such a facility to a hospital or other medical facility, and then to a nursing station and ultimately, to a patient care area.

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