Injector providing evidence of opening
By designing the interference fit of the first groove and locking element in the syringe adapter section, the difficulty of syringe unpacking detection is solved, and the sterility and integrity of the syringe contents and equipment is achieved, providing simple unpacking evidence.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202420132138.6
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-01-23
- Filing Date
- 2024-01-19
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-21
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-01-19
AI Technical Summary
The prior art is used to detect that there is difficulty in unsealing the syringe and it is difficult to maintain the sterility of the syringe contents and the syringe itself.
A syringe is designed including an adapter section having an outer wall and an inner wall forming a first groove, the inner wall including a barrel thread, the outer wall includes a first protrusion, the first protrusion is in contact with the second protrusion of the locking element, forming an interference fit, the rotation of the cover overcomes the interference fit, moves the cover upward, removes the cover, and prevents the locking element from being moved away from the groove by contacting the first protrusion and the second protrusion.
The unpacking detection process is simplified by providing evidence of unpacking by the presence of locking elements in the grooves, ensuring the sterility of the syringe and the integrity of the contents.
Smart Images

Figure CN222641037U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to syringes that provide tamper evidence, and more particularly, to a syringe that includes an adapter section having an outer wall and an inner wall that form a first groove, wherein the inner wall is threadably engaged with a cap, and the outer wall includes a first protrusion that contacts a second protrusion of a locking element that resides in the first groove, wherein the locking element and the cap form an interference fit, and removal of the cap causes the cap to overcome the interference fit and move upward, thereby removing the cap, and wherein the locking element is prevented from being removed from the first groove due to contact between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, and wherein the presence of the locking element in the first groove after the cap is removed provides tamper evidence. Background Art
[0002] Conventional hypodermic syringes are used in conjunction with vials of medication or fluid, wherein the user draws the fluid from the vial into the syringe before injecting and delivering the fluid to the patient. For example, the fluid may be a medication, saline, or a component of a medical treatment that is designed to be mixed with another component before administration to the patient.
[0003] Syringe can also be packaged as pre-filled device, wherein syringe is pre-filled with fluid before being packaged and delivered to end user (such as clinician, nurse or other health care provider).Importantly, the contents of syringe are retained in syringe before administration, and the contents keep sterile and unadulterated before its desired administration.Equally important, health care provider and patient can determine whether any unsealing to syringe or its contained material has occurred.However, the prior art for detecting unsealing is loaded down with trivial details and is difficult to use, and may be invalid in maintaining the sterility of syringe contents and syringe itself. Utility Model Content
[0004] In one or more embodiments, a syringe providing tamper evidence is disclosed. The syringe includes a syringe barrel having a chamber containing a fluid. The syringe also includes an adapter section formed on the syringe barrel, wherein the adapter section includes an outer wall and an inner wall forming a first groove. The inner wall includes a barrel thread, and the outer wall includes a first protrusion, wherein the adapter section further includes a fluid passage that can be fluidically connected to the chamber. The syringe further includes a movable plunger having a plunger flange, and the plunger flange moves forward in the chamber to reduce the volume of the chamber so that the fluid is forced to leave the fluid passage. In addition, a cap having a cap thread is threadedly engaged with the barrel thread to removably attach the cap to the adapter section, wherein the cap seals the fluid passage, and wherein the cap further includes a second groove. The syringe also includes a locking element, the locking element having a side wall, the side wall including a second protrusion, wherein the locking element is accommodated by the first groove, and wherein the locking element is removably attached to the cap by an interference fit between the side wall and the second groove. In addition, rotation of the cover causes the cover to move upward to overcome the interference fit between the cover and the locking element, thereby removing the cover from the adapter section, wherein the locking element is prevented from moving away from the first groove due to contact between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, and wherein the presence of the locking element in the first groove after the cover is removed provides evidence of tampering.
[0005] A method for detecting the tampering of a syringe is also disclosed. The method includes providing a syringe barrel having a chamber for containing a fluid and providing an adapter section on the syringe barrel, the adapter section including an outer wall and an inner wall forming a first groove, wherein the inner wall includes a barrel thread and the outer wall includes a first protrusion, and the adapter section further includes a fluid passage that can be fluidly connected to the chamber. The method also includes providing a movable plunger with a plunger flange, the plunger flange moves forward in the chamber to reduce the volume of the chamber so that the fluid is forced to leave the fluid passage, and providing a cap with a cap thread, the cap is threadedly engaged with the barrel thread to removably attach the cap to the adapter section, wherein the cap seals the fluid passage, and wherein the cap further includes a second groove. In addition, the method includes providing a locking element with a side wall, the side wall including a second protrusion, wherein the locking element is received by the first groove and an interference fit is formed between the side wall and the second groove to removably attach the cap. The method further includes providing upward movement of the cover to overcome the interference fit between the cover and the locking element, thereby removing the cover from the adapter section, providing contact between the first protrusion and the second protrusion during the upward movement of the cover, and preventing the locking element from moving away from the first groove due to the contact between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, wherein the presence of the locking element in the first groove after the cover is removed provides evidence of tampering.
[0006] In one embodiment, the locking element is annular.
[0007] In one or more embodiments, the first protrusion and the second protrusion are wedge-shaped.
[0008] In one embodiment, the adapter section is transparent to enhance visibility of the locking element.
[0009] In one or more embodiments, the outer wall of the adapter section is made of an elastic material.
[0010] In one or more embodiments, the cap includes a shoulder section between an upwardly extending grip section and a downwardly extending attachment section, wherein the shoulder section includes the second groove and the attachment section includes the cap threads.
[0011] In one or more embodiments, the cap threads are configured as external threads formed on the attachment section.
[0012] In one or more embodiments, the barrel threads are configured as internal threads formed on the inner wall of the adapter segment.
[0013] In one embodiment, the cover includes an inner wall defining a cavity sealing the fluid passageway.
[0014] In one or more embodiments, the fluid is a medication, saline, or a component of a medical treatment that is designed to be mixed with another component prior to administration to a patient.
[0015] In one or more embodiments, the depth of the first groove is greater than the height of the locking element so that the locking element does not extend beyond the first groove to prevent the locking element from being reinserted back into the first groove after the cover is removed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Figure 1 A tamper-evident syringe according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.
[0017] Figure 2 is a side view of a tamper-evident cover assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0018] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cover.
[0019] Figure 4 is a side view of the annular locking element.
[0020] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a syringe adapter section.
[0021] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cover assembled to the adapter section.
[0022] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 7 and depicts the shoulder section of the cover, the locking element, the first groove, the first and second protrusions, and the adapter section.
[0023] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the cover after separation from the locking element.
[0024] Fig. 9 yes Figure 8 An inverted view of the separated cover and locking element is shown.
[0025] Fig.10 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a cover.
[0026] Fig.11 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of an adapter section.
[0027] Fig.12 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a tamper-evident cover assembly.
[0028] Fig.13 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a tamper-evident cover assembly.
[0029] Fig.14 yes Fig.13 1 is an enlarged view of the balloon portion 14 of the present invention and depicts selected fin and rod elements of an alternative embodiment.
[0030] Fig.15 The ring element of an alternative embodiment is shown after being disconnected from the rod element.
[0031] Fig.16 Shown is the replacement cap after removal from the adapter section and the severed annular element on the syringe barrel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] Before describing several exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the details of construction or processing steps set forth in the following description. The present disclosure is capable of other embodiments or can be practiced or carried out in various ways.
[0033] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a multi-layer disinfection device for disinfecting a female medical connector. The device includes an inner shell and an outer shell that can be threadably engaged. In particular, the inner shell includes a flange and a first inner thread that engages a first outer thread of a medical connector. The device also includes an outer shell having a second inner thread formed on an outer surface of the shell, the second inner thread engaging with a second outer thread of the inner shell. The outer shell also includes an absorbent material having a disinfectant or antimicrobial agent. Rotation of the outer shell provides frictional engagement between the absorbent material and the medical connector and moves the outer shell toward the inner shell. The second inner thread and the second outer thread are configured to provide sufficient scrubbing time and scrubbing rotation by the absorbent material to disinfect the medical connector. In one or more embodiments, the outer shell further includes at least one elastic snap element that moves to an extended position after contacting the flange to indicate that the disinfection of the medical connector is complete.
[0034] With respect to terms used in this disclosure, the following definitions are provided.
[0035] As used herein, the use of “a”, “an” and “the” includes both the singular and the plural.
[0036] As used herein, the term "Luer connector" refers to a connecting collar that is a standard way to attach syringes, catheters, collared needles, IV tubing, etc. to each other. A Luer connector consists of male and female interlocking tubes that are also slightly tapered so that even a simple press / twist fit can be better held together. Luer connectors may optionally include an additional threaded outer rim to make them more secure. The male end of a Luer connector is typically associated with a flush syringe and is capable of interlocking and connecting to a female end located on a vascular access device (VAD). The Luer connector includes a distal end, a proximal end, an irregularly shaped outer wall, and a shaped central channel for fluid communication from the chamber of the syringe's barrel to the hub of the VAD. The Luer connector also has a distal channel that releasably attaches the Luer connector to the hub of the VAD, and a proximal channel that releasably attaches the Luer connector to the syringe's barrel.
[0037] Figure 1 A syringe 100 is shown positioned on a central axis 142 and having a syringe 102, the syringe 102 including an inner surface 104 defining an interior chamber 106 for containing a fluid. For example, the fluid may be a drug, saline, or a component of a medical treatment designed to be mixed with another component prior to administration to a patient. The syringe 102 includes an open end 108 and a syringe flange 110 located at a first end 112 of the syringe 102. A second end 114 of the syringe 102 opposite the first end 112 includes a syringe adapter section 140 having an extended syringe tip 116. The syringe tip 116 includes a fluid passage 118 that enables fluid communication between the chamber 106 and a needle or other dispensing device that is removably attached to the adapter section 140. The adapter section 140 includes an outer wall 120 and may include a luer connector to enable a medical device or apparatus to be removably attached to the adapter section 140. In one embodiment, the syringe 102 is substantially transparent.
[0038] The syringe 100 further includes a movable plunger 124 having a first portion 126 extending into the chamber 106 and a second portion 128 extending from the chamber 106 via the open end 108 of the barrel 102. The plunger 124 includes a first sealing flange 130 that seals against the inner surface 104 of the barrel 102. The plunger 124 may also include a second sealing flange 131 proximate the open end 108 to enhance the seal against the inner surface 104.
[0039] The second portion 128 includes a plunger flange 132, which facilitates the user to grip the plunger 124 so that the plunger 124 can move inwardly and outwardly relative to the syringe 102. In one or more embodiments, the chamber 106 can be pre-filled with fluid before being packaged and shipped to an end user (such as a clinician, nurse or other health care provider). In addition, the syringe 102 may include markings, such as scales 135, which provide an indication of the level or amount of fluid contained in the syringe 102. In operation, the fluid is dispensed from the chamber 106 by applying a force to the plunger flange 132 to move the plunger 124 forward in the chamber 106, thereby causing the volume of the chamber 106 to decrease and causing the fluid to be forced into and out of the syringe tip 116.
[0040] refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 A side view of a tamper-evident cap assembly 134 of a syringe 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The cap assembly 134 includes a cap 136 disposed on a central axis 142, a locking element 138, and an adapter section 140 (including a fluid passage 118). The cap 136 includes a shoulder section 144 located between an upwardly extending gripping section 146 and a downwardly extending attachment section 148. The locking element 138 is located between the shoulder section 144 and the adapter section 140 (see also Figure 6 ). According to the present disclosure, the locking element 138 is used to indicate that the cover 136 was previously removed, as will be described. The gripping section 146 includes a plurality of raised ribs 150 to facilitate the user to grip the cover 136 when rotating the cover 136.
[0041] refer to Figure 3 , a cross-sectional view of the cap 136 is shown. The shoulder section 144 includes a first circumferential groove 152 that accommodates the locking element 138. The attachment section 148 includes an inner wall 154 that defines a cavity 156 that accommodates a portion of the syringe tip 116. The attachment section 148 also includes an outer surface 158 having an outer thread 160 that mates with the inner thread 122 of the adapter section 140 (see Figure 5 ) threaded engagement. The inner wall 154 of the cap 136 seals the syringe tip 116 and thus isolates or closes the syringe tip 116 and a portion of the fluid passage 118 from the environment so that they remain sterile and unadulterated prior to the desired administration. This enables the syringe 100 to be pre-filled, stored and / or transported with a predetermined amount of fluid disposed within the chamber 106.
[0042] refer to Figure 4 , Figure 41 shows a side view of the locking element 138. In one or more embodiments, the locking element 138 has an annular or ring-shaped region 164 and includes a sidewall 166. The thickness 168 of the sidewall 166 and the width 170 of the first groove 152 (see Figure 3 ) is sized so that when the side wall 166 is inserted into the first groove 152 to removably attach the locking element 138 in the first groove 152 by friction, an interference fit is formed between the first groove 152 and the side wall 166. The lower portion of the side wall 166 includes at least one first protrusion 172 that extends outward from the outer surface 162 of the side wall 166. In one or more embodiments, the first protrusion 172 includes a first wide section 174 and a first tapered section 176 located at the lower portion of the side wall 166 to form a substantially first wedge shape (see Figure 7 ).
[0043] refer to Figure 5 , a cross-sectional view of the adapter segment 140 is shown. The adapter segment 140 includes an inner wall 180 that is spaced apart from the outer wall 120 to form a second circumferential groove 178. The inner wall 180 includes an internal thread 122 that is threadedly engaged with the external thread 160. The inner surface 185 of the outer wall 120 includes at least one second protrusion 184 (see also Figure 7 ), which extends outward from the outer wall 120 toward the locking element 138. In one or more embodiments, the second protrusion 184 includes a second wide section 186 and a second tapered section 188 at an upper portion of the outer wall 120 to form a substantially second wedge-shaped shape. In addition, the outer wall 120 and the second protrusion 184 are made of an elastic material. Alternatively, the first protrusion 172 of the locking element 138 is located on the inner surface of the side wall 166, and the second protrusion 184 is located on the outer surface of the inner wall 180.
[0044] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cover 136 assembled to the adapter section 140 . Figure 7 yes Figure 6 1, and depicts the shoulder section 144 of the cap 136, the locking element 138, the first groove 152, the first protrusion 172, the second protrusion 184, and the adapter section 140. In order to removably attach the cap 136 to the locking element 138, the side wall 166 of the locking element 138 is inserted into the first groove 152 to form an interference fit, which is configured to enable the cap 136 to be removably attached to the locking element 138. In addition, the interference fit provides sufficient strength to withstand vibrations during transportation of the syringe 100, so that the performance of the locking element 138 is not affected.
[0045] The cover 136 is then removably attached to the adapter segment 140 by rotating or twisting the cover 136 in a first direction to threadably engage the external threads 160 and the internal threads 122. This causes the cover 136 to move downward and causes the first protrusion 172 to move downward toward the second protrusion 184. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the first protrusion 172 is configured to contact or interfere with the second protrusion 184. Prior to contact between the first protrusion 172 and the second protrusion 184, the second protrusion 184 is in a non-deflected position (i.e., a first position). The continued downward movement of the cover 136 as the cover 136 rotates causes the first protrusion 172 to engage with the second protrusion 184. This in turn causes the outer wall 120 and the second protrusion 184 to move outwardly relative to the central axis 142 to a deflected position that provides clearance for the first protrusion 172 relative to the second protrusion 184. As the cover 136 moves further downward, the first protrusion 172 moves downward past the second protrusion 184 until the first protrusion 172 and the second protrusion 184 are no longer engaged. When this occurs, the second protrusion 184 and the outer wall 120 return or snap back to the first position. In the first position, the first protrusion 172 is again configured to interfere with the second protrusion 184 so that the first protrusion 172 abuts the second protrusion 184 to block or prevent the locking element 138 from moving upward due to the contact between the first protrusion 172 and the second protrusion 184.
[0046] To access the adapter section 140, the healthcare provider unscrews the cover 136 by rotating the cover 136 in a second direction opposite to the first direction, thereby moving the cover 136 upward. Due to the contact between the first protrusion 172 and the second protrusion 184, the upward movement of the locking element 138 is prevented. Therefore, when the cover 136 moves upward, the locking element 138 is retained in the second groove 178. The upward movement of the cover 136 also generates an upward force that overcomes the friction force generated by the interference fit between the first groove 152 and the sidewall 166, thereby removing or separating the cover 136 from the locking element 138 while the locking element 138 is retained in the second groove 178 of the adapter section 140 due to the contact between the first protrusion 172 and the second protrusion 184.
[0047] According to the present disclosure, a syringe 100 including a locking element 138 but without a cap 136 in an adapter section 140 indicates that unsealing of the syringe 100 or the cap 136 has previously occurred. Therefore, the sterility of the syringe 100 and its contents cannot be verified. For example, a syringe 100 including a locking element 138 but without a cap 136 may indicate that the cap 136 was previously removed by a previous user and that the syringe 100 has been used. In one or more embodiments, the adapter section 140 is substantially transparent to facilitate visibility of the locking element 138. Additionally, the locking element 138 may be a bright color or have markings to provide additional visibility when located in the adapter section 140.
[0048] refer to Figure 8 , shows a cross-sectional view of the cover 136 after separation from the locking element 138. When this occurs, the locking element 138 falls to the bottom of the second groove 178 due to gravity. In accordance with the present disclosure, the depth 190 of the second groove 178 is sized to be greater than the height 192 of the locking element 138 so that the locking element 138 is within the second groove 178 and does not extend beyond the second groove 178. Since the locking element 138 is within the second groove 178, the locking element 138 cannot approach or contact the cover 136. This prevents the locking element 138 from being reinserted into the first groove 152 of the cover 136 if the user attempts to reassemble the cover assembly 134. Fig. 9 yes Figure 8 An inverted view of the separated cover 136 and locking element 138 is shown. The user's attempt to invert the cover 136 and locking element 138 to reinsert the locking element 138 into the first groove 152 was also unsuccessful. In particular, due to the depth of the groove, the locking element 138 was pushed upward in the second groove 178 and therefore could not generate the force required for an interference fit. In addition, the weight of the locking element itself was insufficient to generate the force required for an interference fit.
[0049] refer to Fig.10 , Fig.10 1 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of a cap 200 according to the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the cap 200 includes a plurality of spaced apart rod elements 202 located between the shoulder section 144 and the annular element 204. A first end 206 of each rod element 202 is attached to the periphery of the shoulder section 144. The annular element 204 is attached to a second end 208 of each rod element 202 opposite the first end 206. Fig.11 , Fig.11 A side view of an alternative embodiment of the adapter section 210 is shown. The outer wall 120 (see Figure 1) includes a plurality of spaced apart protrusions or fin elements 212 located on the upper periphery of the outer wall 120. Each fin element 212 is configured to contact an associated rod element 202. According to the present disclosure, the annular element 204 is used to indicate that the cover 200 has been previously removed. In this embodiment, the inner surface 205 of the outer wall 120 includes an internal thread 122 (see Fig.12 ).
[0050] refer to Fig.12 and Fig.13 , Fig.12 and Fig.13 A cross-sectional view and a side view of an alternative embodiment of a tamper-evident cap assembly 214 are shown, respectively. The external threads 160 of the attachment section 148 are threadedly engaged with the internal threads 122 of the outer wall 120. The inner wall 154 of the cap 200 seals the syringe tip 116, and thus isolates or closes the syringe tip 116 and a portion of the fluid passage 118 from the environment, so that they remain sterile and unadulterated before the desired administration. This enables the syringe 100 to be pre-filled, stored and / or transported with a predetermined amount of fluid disposed in the chamber 106.
[0051] refer to Fig.14 , Fig.14 Shows Fig.13 , which depicts selected flaps 212 and rod elements 202. Each flap element 212 is located between a pair of rod elements 202. Each rod element 202 is frangible and is configured to break upon contact with the flap element 212. To access the adapter section 210, the healthcare provider unscrews or rotates the cover 200. Rotation of the cover 200 causes corresponding rotation of the rod elements 202, so that each rod element 202 contacts an associated fixed flap element 212. Further rotation of the cover 200 causes each flap element 212 to break off the associated rod element 202, thereby disconnecting the annular element 204 from each rod element 202. In one or more embodiments, each flap element 212 includes a ramp 220 that strikes the associated rod element 202 to facilitate severing the rod element 202. Reference Fig.15 , the ring element 204 is shown disconnected from the rod element 202 after the fin element 212 contacts and disconnects the rod element 202 (see arrow 216).
[0052] Fig.16The cap 200 is shown removed from the adapter section 210 and the broken ring element 204 on the barrel 102 of the syringe 100. When the rod element 202 breaks, the ring element 204 falls onto the barrel 102 by gravity (see arrow 218). According to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, the presence of the ring element 204 on the barrel 102 of the syringe 100 indicates that a previous tampering of the syringe 100 or the cap 200 has occurred. Therefore, the sterility of the syringe 100 and its contents cannot be verified.
[0053] In one or more embodiments, a method for detecting the tampering of a syringe is also disclosed, the method comprising: providing a syringe barrel having a chamber for containing a fluid; providing an adapter section on the syringe barrel, the adapter section comprising an outer wall and an inner wall forming a first groove, wherein the inner wall comprises a barrel thread, and the outer wall comprises a first protrusion, the adapter section further comprising a fluid passage capable of being in fluid communication with the chamber; providing a movable plunger having a plunger flange, the plunger flange moving forward in the chamber to reduce the volume of the chamber so that the fluid is forced to leave the fluid passage; providing a cap having a cap thread, the cap being threadably engaged with the barrel thread to removably attach the cap to the adapter section, wherein the cap seals The fluid passage, and wherein the cover further includes a second groove; and providing a locking element having a side wall, the side wall including a second protrusion, wherein the locking element is accommodated by the first groove; forming an interference fit between the side wall and the second groove to removably attach the cover; providing upward movement of the cover to overcome the interference fit between the cover and the locking element, thereby removing the cover from the adapter section; providing contact between the first protrusion and the second protrusion during the upward movement of the cover; and preventing the locking element from being removed from the first groove due to the contact between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, wherein the presence of the locking member in the first groove after the cover is removed provides tamper evidence.
[0054] References throughout the specification to "one embodiment," "certain embodiments," "one or more embodiments," or "an embodiment" mean that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearance of phrases such as "in one or more embodiments," "in certain embodiments," "in an embodiment," or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
[0055] Although the disclosure herein has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the methods and apparatus of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure is intended to include modifications and variations within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A syringe providing tamper evidence, characterized in that: The syringe comprises: a syringe barrel having a chamber for containing a fluid; an adapter section formed on the syringe barrel, the adapter section comprising an outer wall and an inner wall forming a first recess, wherein the inner wall comprises barrel threads and the outer wall comprises a first protrusion, the adapter section further comprising a fluid passageway capable of fluid communication with the chamber; a movable plunger having a plunger flange that moves forward within the chamber to reduce the volume of the chamber so that the fluid is forced out of the fluid passage; a cap having cap threads that threadably engage the barrel threads to removably attach the cap to the adapter segment, wherein the cap seals the fluid passageway, and wherein the cap further comprises a second groove; and a locking element having a side wall including a second protrusion, wherein the locking element is received by the first recess, and wherein the locking element is removably attached to the cover by an interference fit between the side wall and the second recess, wherein rotation of the cover causes the cover to move upwardly to overcome the interference fit between the cover and the locking element, thereby removing the cover from the adapter section, and wherein the locking element is prevented from being removed from the first groove due to contact between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, wherein the presence of the locking element in the first groove after the cover is removed provides tamper evidence.
2. The syringe according to claim 1, characterized in that The locking element is annular.
3. The syringe according to claim 1, characterized in that The first protrusion and the second protrusion are wedge-shaped.
4. The syringe according to claim 1, characterized in that The adapter section is transparent to enhance visibility of the locking element.
5. The syringe according to claim 1, characterized in that The outer wall of the adapter section is made of an elastic material.
6. The syringe according to claim 1, characterized in that The cap includes a shoulder section between an upwardly extending grip section and a downwardly extending attachment section, wherein the shoulder section includes the second groove and the attachment section includes the cap threads.
7. The syringe according to claim 6, characterized in that The cap thread is configured as an external thread formed on the attachment section.
8. The syringe according to claim 1, characterized in that The barrel thread is configured as an internal thread formed on the inner wall of the adapter section.
9. The syringe according to claim 1, characterized in that The cover includes an inner wall defining a cavity that seals the fluid passageway.
10. A syringe providing tamper evidence, characterized in that: The syringe comprises: a syringe barrel having a chamber for containing a fluid; an adapter section formed on the syringe barrel, the adapter section comprising an outer wall and an inner wall forming a first recess, wherein the inner wall comprises barrel threads and the outer wall comprises a first protrusion, the adapter section further comprising a fluid passageway capable of fluid communication with the chamber; a movable plunger having a plunger flange that moves forward within the chamber to reduce the volume of the chamber so that the fluid is forced out of the fluid passage; a cap having cap threads that threadably engage the barrel threads to removably attach the cap to the adapter segment, wherein the cap seals the fluid passageway, and wherein the cap further comprises a second groove; and a locking element having a side wall including a second protrusion, wherein the locking element is received by the first recess, and wherein the locking element is removably attached to the cover by an interference fit between the side wall and the second recess, wherein rotation of the cover causes the cover to move upwardly to overcome the interference fit between the cover and the locking element, thereby removing the cover from the adapter section, and wherein the locking element is prevented from being removed from the first recess due to contact between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, wherein the presence of the locking element in the first recess after the cover is removed provides tamper evidence; and The depth of the first groove is greater than the height of the locking element, so that the locking element does not extend beyond the first groove to prevent the locking element from being reinserted back into the first groove after the cover is removed.
11. The syringe according to claim 10, characterized in that The locking element is annular.
12. The syringe according to claim 10, characterized in that The first protrusion and the second protrusion are wedge-shaped.
13. The syringe according to claim 10, characterized in that The adapter section is transparent to enhance visibility of the locking element.
14. The syringe according to claim 10, characterized in that The outer wall of the adapter section is made of an elastic material.
15. The syringe according to claim 10, characterized in that The cap includes a shoulder section between an upwardly extending grip section and a downwardly extending attachment section, wherein the shoulder section includes the second groove and the attachment section includes the cap threads.
16. The syringe according to claim 15, characterized in that The cap thread is configured as an external thread formed on the attachment section.
17. The syringe according to claim 10, characterized in that The barrel thread is configured as an internal thread formed on the inner wall of the adapter section.