Medical syringe for reducing drug waste
The problem of drug waste in existing medical syringes is solved by installing a bumper rod at the distal end of the syringe plunger and advancing through the luer terminal lumen to distribute residual drugs.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202420663714.X
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-04-03
- Filing Date
- 2024-04-02
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-15
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-04-02
AI Technical Summary
Existing medical syringes have residual drug fluid after administration, resulting in waste of drugs, especially the drugs left in the syringe tips, needle hubs and needle cavity are difficult to completely clear.
By installing the impact rod at the distal end of the syringe plunger, the impact rod can be inserted into the luer terminal cavity, advancing through the cavity to dispense residual medication, thereby reducing drug waste.
Effectively reduces drug waste and ensures a more complete drug dose, especially in applications where multiple doses of drugs are distributed from syringes.
Smart Images
Figure CN222752379U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to medical syringes that maximize utilization of medication fluid within the syringe and reduce medication waste. Background Art
[0002] After a drug dose is administered, known medical syringes leave residual drug fluid in their Luer syringe tip, needle hub and needle lumen. Most of the residual drug is retained in the so-called "dead space" within the syringe tip and needle hub. It is desirable to reduce drug waste by clearing the "dead space" during drug administration.
[0003] FIG. 1 depicts a known prior art 1 ml dose capacity medical syringe 10 having a syringe barrel 12 and a syringe Luer tip 16 at the distal end 14 of the barrel. The Luer tip defines a tip lumen 18 that is in fluid communication with a medicament chamber defined within the syringe barrel 12. A translatable syringe plunger 20 is coupled to a syringe stopper 22. A distal tip 24 of the syringe stopper is oriented to interface with the distal end 14 of the syringe barrel 12 and the lumen 18 of the Luer tip 16. A needle hub 26 is coupled to the syringe Luer tip 16. The needle hub 26 holds a needle ferrule 28 oriented opposite and in fluid communication with the tip lumen 18. The needle ferrule 28 retains a hollow syringe needle 30, with a needle lumen 32 in fluid communication with the ferrule 28, the Luer tip lumen 18, and the syringe lumen.
[0004] Since the distal tip 24 of the syringe stopper 22 is oriented to engage the distal end 14 and lumen 18 of the Luer tip 16, the syringe 10 has dispensed all the drug previously retained in the syringe barrel 12. However, the residual drug remains in three dead space areas beyond the distal tip 24 of the syringe stopper, as shown by the cross marks in FIG. 1. That is, the needle hub dead space 34, the needle lumen dead space 36, and the Luer tip lumen dead space 38. In the 1 ml capacity syringe 10, the volume of the needle lumen dead space is relatively small, about 0.005 ml, the volume of the needle hub dead space 34 is relatively large, about 0.030 ml, and the volume of the Luer tip dead space 38 is the largest, about 0.033 ml. The combined dead space in the 1 ml dosage capacity syringe 12 is about 0.068 ml, accounting for about 6.8% of the drug dosage. In order to administer a full 1 ml dose of drug using syringe 12, 1.068 ml of drug must be drawn into the syringe to compensate for the 6.8% drug waste. Utility Model Content
[0005] The medical syringe of the present disclosure reduces drug waste by dispensing residual drug left in the Luer tip of the syringe barrel. A striker coupled to the distal tip of the syringe plunger passes through the lumen within the Luer tip of the syringe barrel to dispense the residual drug from the tip. In some embodiments, the syringe can also dispense drug remaining in the syringe needle ferrule, such as residual drug in the needle ferrule. In clinical applications where multiple doses of drugs, such as vaccines, are dispensed from a syringe, embodiments of the medical syringe of the present disclosure dispense a more complete last remaining dose, which includes a large amount of fluid remaining in the Luer tip and the needle hub.
[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a drug syringe, which includes a syringe barrel, an inner side wall, a proximal open end, a distal end, and a syringe cavity defined within the inner side wall and the distal end of the syringe barrel. The distal end of the syringe barrel has a barrel Luer tip. The barrel Luer tip defines a distal outlet and an inner cavity extending therethrough. The distal inner cavity establishes fluid communication between the syringe cavity and the distal outlet and has a cross-sectional area. The syringe has a plunger with a plunger shaft. The distal end of the plunger shaft is inserted into the syringe cavity and can translate within the syringe cavity. The striker has a proximal end rigidly coupled to the distal end of the plunger shaft, and an axial centerline of the striker that is coaxial with the axial centerline of the syringe. The striker can be inserted into the Luer tip inner cavity to at least reach the distal outlet. The distal end of the striker defines a sawtooth, and its sawtooth tip has a distal side. The cross-sectional area of the sawtooth is perpendicular to the axial centerline of the Luer tip inner cavity and is smaller than the corresponding cross-sectional area of the distal inner cavity. The syringe stop is slidably coupled to the striker through a center hole, the center hole surrounds the outer circumferential surface of the striker and is offset and in fluid-tight abutment contact with the outer circumferential surface of the striker. The syringe stop has a distal axial end oriented opposite to the distal end of the syringe barrel, which together with the barrel defines the distal and proximal axial boundaries of the syringe cavity therebetween. The proximal end of the stop is in an opposite orientation to the distal end of the plunger shaft, and the outer circumferential surface of the syringe stop is in fluid-tight abutment contact with the inner side wall of the syringe barrel. The syringe stop is oriented in an initial axial position on the striker, and its center hole is in offset contact with the serrations during initial insertion of the plunger into the syringe barrel and during delivery or withdrawal of fluid to the syringe cavity. When the syringe plunger is fully advanced into the syringe barrel, the syringe stopper is translated along the striker to a final axial position, the distal axial end of the syringe stopper abuts against the distal end of the syringe barrel, and the serrations of the striker are captured in the lumen of the Luer tip, with the serration tip at least axially aligned with the outlet of the Luer tip. Thus, the residual drug in the lumen is dispensed, providing a more complete dose of the drug.
[0007] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a drug syringe having a syringe barrel having an axial centerline, an inner sidewall surrounding the axial centerline, a proximal open end, a distal end, and a syringe cavity, which is defined within the inner sidewall and distal end of the syringe barrel. The syringe barrel has a barrel Luer tip on the distal end of the syringe barrel, the barrel Luer tip defining a distal outlet and an inner cavity extending therethrough, the inner cavity being coaxial with the axial centerline of the syringe. The distal inner cavity fluid is connected between the syringe cavity and the distal outlet and has a cross-sectional area measured perpendicular to the axial centerline of the syringe barrel. The syringe includes a plunger having a plunger shaft, which is coaxial with the axial centerline of the syringe barrel, and the distal end of the plunger shaft is inserted into the syringe cavity and can translate within the syringe cavity. The plunger shaft has at least one spacer ring protruding radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the plunger shaft proximal to the distal end of the shaft for maintaining coaxial alignment of the plunger and the inner sidewall of the syringe barrel. The striker has a proximal end rigidly coupled to the distal end of the plunger shaft, coaxial with the axial centerline of the syringe. The striker is insertable into the lumen of the Luer tip at least to the distal outlet. The striker has serrations with a serrated tip on its distal end. The serrated tip has a distal side that protrudes axially from the lumen outlet when the syringe plunger is fully advanced into the syringe barrel. The serrations have a primary projection and at least one secondary projection that protrudes radially outward relative to the centerline of the syringe barrel, the primary projection having a cross-sectional area measured perpendicular to the axial centerline of the syringe, the primary projection having a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the corresponding cross-sectional area of the distal lumen, and at least one secondary projection having a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the primary projection. A syringe stopper is slidably coupled to the striker, the syringe stopper having a central hole that surrounds and is offset from, and in fluid-tight abutment contact with, the outer circumferential surface of the striker. The central bore of the syringe stopper defines a radially outwardly projecting groove for capturing the primary projection therein and defines an additional groove for capturing the corresponding secondary projection therein, the central bore of the syringe stopper having a distal axial end oriented opposite to the distal end of the syringe barrel, which defines the distal and proximal axial boundaries of the syringe cavity therebetween with the syringe barrel. The proximal end of the stopper is in an opposite orientation to the distal end of the plunger shaft, and the outer circumferential surface of the syringe stopper is in fluid-tight abutment contact with the inner side wall of the syringe barrel. The syringe stopper is oriented in an initial axial position on the striker, and the respective grooves of its central bore are in offset contact with the corresponding projections of the serrations during the initial insertion of the plunger into the syringe barrel and during the delivery of fluid to or the withdrawal of fluid from the syringe cavity. When the syringe plunger is fully advanced into the syringe barrel, the syringe stopper is translated along the striker to a final axial position, and the distal axial end of the syringe stopper is in abutment contact with the distal end of the syringe barrel. In this final position, the striker serrations are captured within the lumen of the Luer tip, the serration tip is axially aligned with the outlet of the Luer tip, and the distal end of the serration tip protrudes axially from the lumen outlet.
[0008] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for dispensing a drug remaining in the lumen of a Luer tip of a medical syringe. A syringe for performing an embodiment of this method has a syringe barrel with a Luer tip. The Luer tip has a distal outlet and a lumen extending therethrough. A plunger is oriented in the syringe barrel in fluid communication with the distal outlet. The plunger has a plunger shaft and a striker having a proximal end rigidly coupled to the distal end of the plunger shaft. Saw teeth on the distal tip of the striker can be inserted through the Luer tip lumen to at least the distal outlet. A syringe stopper is slidably coupled to the striker through a central hole that surrounds the striker and is biased and in fluid-tight abutment contact with the striker. The syringe stopper is oriented in an initial axial position on the striker with its central hole in offset contact with the serrations. A needle hub is coupled to the Luer tip. The hub has a cup-shaped needle ferrule that faces the outlet of the Luer tip and is in fluid communication with the Luer tip, and a hollow needle is coupled to the needle ferrule and in fluid communication with the needle ferrule. When using this method, at least one dose of the drug is drawn into the syringe without translating the stopper from the initial position. If the withdrawal of the drug is not completed before, the needle hub is coupled to the Luer tip. The at least one dose of the drug is dispensed using the syringe by advancing the plunger with sufficient pressure to bring the stopper into abutting contact with the lumen of the Luer tip and translate, aligning the serrated tip axially with the outlet, thereby dispensing the drug remaining in the lumen.
[0009] The present disclosure provides a method for dispensing a drug remaining in the lumen of a Luer tip of a medical syringe, the method comprising:
[0010] A medical syringe is provided, which has: a syringe barrel, the syringe barrel having a barrel Luer tip having a distal outlet and an inner cavity extending therethrough; a plunger, which is oriented in the syringe barrel and is in fluid communication with the distal outlet, the plunger having a plunger shaft and a striker, the striker having a proximal end rigidly coupled to the distal end of the plunger shaft; serrations on the distal tip of the striker, the serrations being insertable through the Luer tip inner cavity to at least the distal outlet; a syringe stopper, the syringe stopper being slidably coupled to the striker through a central hole, the central hole surrounding the striker and being biased in fluid-tight abutment contact with the striker, the syringe stopper being oriented in an initial axial position on the striker with its central hole biased in contact with the serrations; a needle hub, which is coupled to the Luer tip, the hub having a cup-shaped needle ferrule, the needle ferrule facing the outlet of the Luer tip and in fluid communication with the Luer tip; and a hollow needle, which is coupled to the needle ferrule and in fluid communication with the needle ferrule;
[0011] drawing at least one dose of medicament into the syringe without translating the stopper away from its initial position;
[0012] coupling the needle hub to the Luer tip if not completed prior to the aspiration of the drug; and
[0013] The at least one dose of the medicament is dispensed by advancing the plunger with sufficient pressure to bring the stopper into abutting contact with the striker serrations and translate the striker serrations through the lumen of the luer tip such that the serrated tip is axially aligned with the outlet, thereby dispensing the medicament remaining in the lumen.
[0014] The method further includes dispensing the at least one dose of the medicament by advancing the plunger with sufficient pressure to bring the stopper into abutting contact with the striker serrations and translate the striker serrations through the lumen of the luer tip such that the serrated tip is within the needle ferrule, thereby dispensing the medicament retained within the needle ferrule and the lumen.
[0015] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a medical syringe comprising:
[0016] a syringe barrel having an inner sidewall, a proximal open end, a distal end, a syringe cavity defined within the inner sidewall and the distal end of the syringe barrel, and a barrel Luer tip at the distal end of the syringe barrel, the barrel Luer tip defining a distal outlet and a lumen therethrough, the lumen defining a lumen axial centerline, the distal lumen establishing fluid communication between the syringe cavity and the distal outlet and having a cross-sectional area measured perpendicular to the lumen axial centerline;
[0017] a plunger having a plunger shaft, the distal end of the plunger shaft being inserted into the syringe cavity and translatably movable within the syringe cavity;
[0018] a striker having a proximal end rigidly coupled to the distal end of the plunger shaft and a striker axial centerline coaxial with the lumen axial centerline, the striker being insertable into the lumen of the Luer tip to at least the tip outlet;
[0019] a distal end of the ram defining serrations with a serrated tip having a distal surface, the serrations having a cross-sectional area measured perpendicular to an axial centerline of the lumen that is less than a corresponding cross-sectional area of the tip lumen; and
[0020] a syringe stopper slidably coupled to the striker, the syringe stopper having a central bore surrounding an outer circumferential surface of the striker and biased in fluid-tight abutting contact with the outer circumferential surface, the syringe stopper having a distal axial end oriented opposite to the distal end of the syringe barrel so as to define distal and proximal axial boundaries of the syringe cavity therebetween, the proximal end of the syringe stopper being in an opposite orientation to the distal end of the plunger shaft, and the outer circumferential surface of the syringe stopper being in fluid-tight abutting contact with the inner sidewall of the syringe barrel;
[0021] The syringe stopper is oriented at an initial axial position on the ram and the central bore of the syringe stopper is in biased contact with the serrations upon initial insertion of the plunger into the syringe barrel and during delivery or withdrawal of fluid into or out of the syringe cavity; and
[0022] When the syringe plunger is fully advanced into the syringe barrel, the syringe stop is translated along the ram to a final axial position, and the distal axial end of the syringe stop is in abutment contact with the distal end of the syringe barrel, and the ram serrations are captured within the inner cavity of the Luer tip, wherein the serrated tip is at least axially aligned with the outlet of the Luer tip.
[0023] The syringe also includes a serrated tip defining at least one tab projecting radially outwardly relative to an axial centerline of the ram.
[0024] The syringe further includes the central bore of the syringe stopper defining at least one radially outwardly projecting recess for capturing the at least one projection of the serrated tip therein when the syringe stopper is in its initial axial position.
[0025] The syringe further includes the serrated tip defining a major projection and at least one minor projection, the minor projection having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the major projection.
[0026] The syringe also includes the center hole of the syringe stopper defining a radially outwardly protruding groove and an additional groove, wherein when the syringe stopper is in its initial axial position, the radially outwardly protruding groove is used to capture the primary protrusion therein and the additional groove is used to capture the corresponding secondary protrusion therein.
[0027] The syringe also includes the serrated tip defining a distal surface that projects axially from the lumen outlet when the syringe plunger is fully advanced into the syringe barrel.
[0028] The syringe further includes an outer circumferential surface of the plunger shaft defining at least one radially outwardly protruding spacer ring for maintaining coaxial alignment between the plunger and the inner sidewall of the syringe barrel.
[0029] The syringe further includes the at least one spacer ring oriented proximal to the distal end of the plunger shaft.
[0030] The advancing force on the plunger shaft required to translate the syringe stop from its initial axial position to its final axial position is greater than the force required to translate the syringe stop before its distal end comes into abutting contact with the distal end of the syringe barrel during aspiration or dispensing of fluid into or from the syringe cavity.
[0031] The syringe also includes a needle hub coupled to the barrel Luer tip having a cupped needle ferrule oriented opposite the outlet of the Luer tip, the serrated tip of the ram being oriented in the needle ferrule when the syringe plunger is fully advanced into the syringe barrel.
[0032] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a medical syringe comprising:
[0033] A syringe barrel having an axial centerline, an inner sidewall surrounding the axial centerline, a proximal open end, a distal end, and a syringe cavity defined within the inner sidewall and the distal end of the syringe barrel, a barrel Luer tip at the distal end of the syringe barrel, the barrel Luer tip defining a distal outlet and a lumen therethrough, the lumen being coaxial with the syringe axial centerline, the distal lumen being in fluid communication between the syringe cavity and the distal outlet and having a cross-sectional area measured perpendicular to the axial centerline of the syringe barrel;
[0034] a plunger having a plunger shaft coaxial with the axial centerline of the syringe barrel, the distal end of the plunger shaft being inserted into and translatably movable within the syringe cavity, at least one spacer ring projecting radially outwardly from an outer circumferential surface of the plunger shaft proximal to the distal end of the shaft for maintaining coaxial alignment of the plunger and the inner sidewall of the syringe barrel;
[0035] a striker having a proximal end rigidly coupled to the distal end of the plunger shaft, coaxial with the axial centerline of the syringe and insertable into the luer tip lumen to at least the distal outlet; a serration having a serrated tip on the distal end of the striker, the serration tip having a distal surface that projects axially from the lumen outlet when the syringe plunger is fully advanced into the syringe barrel, the serration having a primary projection and at least one secondary projection that projects radially outwardly relative to the centerline of the syringe barrel, the primary projection having a cross-sectional area measured perpendicular to the axial centerline of the syringe, the primary projection having a cross-sectional area that is smaller than a corresponding cross-sectional area of the distal lumen, and the at least one secondary projection having a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the primary projection; and
[0036] a syringe stopper slidably coupled to the striker, the syringe stopper having a central bore surrounding an outer circumferential surface of the striker and biased in fluid-tight abutting contact with the outer circumferential surface, the central bore of the syringe stopper defining a radially outwardly projecting recess for capturing the primary projection therein, and the central bore defining an additional recess for capturing a corresponding secondary projection therein, the syringe stopper having a distal axial end oriented opposite to the distal end of the syringe barrel so as to define a distal axial boundary and a proximal axial boundary of the syringe cavity therebetween, the syringe stopper having a proximal end oriented opposite to the distal end of the plunger shaft, and the outer circumferential surface of the syringe stopper in fluid-tight abutting contact with the inner sidewall of the syringe barrel;
[0037] The syringe stopper is oriented at an initial axial position on the ram such that corresponding grooves of its central bore are in biased contact with corresponding projections of the serrations upon initial insertion of the plunger into the syringe barrel and during delivery or withdrawal of fluid into or out of the syringe cavity; and
[0038] When the syringe plunger is fully advanced into the syringe barrel, the syringe stop translates along the ram to a final axial position, wherein the distal axial end of the syringe stop is in abutting contact with the distal end of the syringe barrel and the ram serrations are captured within the lumen of the Luer tip, wherein the serration tip is axially aligned with the outlet of the Luer tip and the distal surface of the serration tip protrudes axially from the lumen outlet.
[0039] The advancing force on the plunger shaft required to translate the syringe stop from its initial axial position to its final axial position is greater than the force required to translate the syringe stop before its distal end comes into abutting contact with the distal end of the syringe barrel during aspiration or dispensing of fluid into or from the syringe cavity.
[0040] The syringe also includes a needle hub coupled to the barrel Luer tip, having a cup-shaped needle ferrule oriented opposite the outlet of the Luer tip, and the axial face of the serrated tip of the ram is oriented in the needle ferrule when the syringe plunger is fully advanced into the syringe barrel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0041] The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0042] FIG1 is an axial, cross-sectional view of a prior art syringe coupled to a needle hub;
[0043] Figure 1A is Figure 1 Prior Art An enlarged view of the needle hub and Luer tip of a syringe;
[0044] Figure 2 is an axial, cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a syringe of the present disclosure coupled to a needle hub, showing a syringe plunger, a ram of the syringe plunger, and a plunger stopper in a partially advanced position within a syringe barrel;
[0045] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 an axial cross-sectional view of a syringe of with the plunger and plunger rod further advanced such that the plunger stop is in abutting contact with the distal end of the syringe barrel and the lumen of its Luer tip;
[0046] Figure 3A yes Figure 3 An enlarged view of the plunger stop and striker of the syringe;
[0047] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 An axial cross-sectional view of a syringe of , the plunger is fully advanced so that the plunger ram is fully advanced into the lumen of the Luer tip;
[0048] Figure 4A yes Figure 4 An enlarged view of the needle hub, Luer tip, and the advanced plunger portion of the syringe;
[0049] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 a cross-sectional view of a syringe; and
[0050] Figure 5A yes Figure 5A magnified view of the plunger and serrations of a syringe.
[0051] To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. The figures are not drawn to scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0052] The medical syringe manufactured according to various aspects of the present disclosure removes the drug in the dead corner of the Luer tip by installing a ramrod on the distal end of the syringe plunger, thereby reducing drug waste. When the plunger is fully advanced in the syringe barrel, the ramrod advances through the lumen in the Luer tip of the syringe barrel and discharges the residual drug from the tip. In some embodiments, the syringe ramrod is also displaced by the drug in the needle hub, such as the drug in the needle ferrule.
[0053] Various aspects of the present disclosure also relate to a method for dispensing a drug remaining in the lumen of a Luer tip of a medical syringe, the method being achieved by advancing a striker on the distal end of a syringe plunger through the lumen in the Luer tip of a syringe barrel. In some embodiments, a medical syringe for dispensing a residual drug has a syringe barrel having a cylindrical Luer tip with a distal outlet and a lumen passing therethrough. A plunger oriented in the syringe barrel is in communication with the distal outlet. The plunger has a plunger shaft and a striker, the proximal end of the striker being rigidly coupled to the distal end of the plunger shaft. The serrations on the distal end of the striker can be inserted through the Luer tip lumen into at least the distal outlet. A syringe stopper is slidably coupled to the striker through a center hole, the center hole surrounding the striker and being biased, fluid-tightly abutting against the striker. Initially, the syringe stopper is oriented to an initial axial position on the striker, with its center hole in biased contact with the serrations of the striker. The needle hub is coupled to the Luer tip. The hub has a cup-shaped needle ferrule facing the outlet of the Luer tip and in fluid communication therewith, and the hollow needle is coupled to and in fluid communication with the needle ferrule.
[0054] In practicing an embodiment of the residual drug dispensing method, at least one dose of drug is drawn into the syringe without translating the stopper from its initial position, contacting the serrations of the ram. If this is not done before drawing the drug, the needle hub is coupled to the Luer tip. At least one dose of drug is dispensed from the syringe by advancing the plunger with sufficient pressure to abut the contact stopper and translate the serrations of the ram through the lumen of the Luer tip, thereby axially aligning the serration tip with the outlet; this dispenses the residual drug remaining in the lumen.
[0055] In this disclosure, the convention is followed that the distal end of the device is the end closest to the patient and the proximal end of the device is the end away from the patient and closest to the practitioner.
[0056] With respect to the terms used in this disclosure, the following definitions are provided. As used herein, the use of "a," "an," and "the" includes both the singular and the plural. As used herein, the term "catheter-related bloodstream infection" or "CRBSI" refers to any infection caused by the presence of a catheter or IV line.
[0057] As used herein, the term "Luer connector" refers to the following connecting ring: it is a standard way to connect syringes, catheters, trocars, infusion tubes, etc. to each other. The Luer connector consists of an external thread and an internal thread interlocking tube, which is slightly tapered to better fit together even with a simple press / twist fit. The Luer connector can optionally include an additional threaded outer edge to make it more secure. The external threaded end of the Luer connector is commonly associated with flush syringes and can interlock and connect with the internal threaded end located on a vascular access device (VAD). The Luer connector also has a distal channel and a proximal channel, and the distal channel can releasably attach the Luer connector to the hub of the VAD and the proximal channel can releasably attach the Luer connector to the syringe barrel.
[0058] As used herein, ISO80369-7:2016 defines the specifications of a standard Luer connector, which includes a 6% taper between the distal end and the proximal end. The external thread standard Luer connector increases from the open distal end to the proximal end. The internal thread standard Luer connector decreases from the open proximal end to the distal end. According to ISO80369-7:2016, the outer cross-sectional diameter of the external thread standard Luer connector is measured at 0.75mm from the tip to be between 3.970mm and 4.072mm. The length of the external thread standard Luer cone is between 7.500mm and 10.500mm. The outer cross-sectional diameter measured at 7.500mm from the distal end of the tip is between 4.376mm and 4.476mm. As used herein, the phrases "external thread standard Luer connector" and "internal thread standard Luer connector" shall refer to connectors with the sizes described in ISO80369-7, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0059] It is easy for technicians in the relevant fields to understand that although descriptive terms such as "tip", "hub", "thread", "protrusion / insertion", "tab", "ramp", "wall", "top", "side", "bottom", etc. are used in this specification to facilitate understanding, it is not intended to limit any components that can be used in combination or alone to realize various aspects of the embodiments of the utility model.
[0060] As used herein, "axial centerline" is a linear axis through the longest dimension of a medical syringe component, such as the inner cavity of a syringe barrel, a syringe plunger, or the lumen of a Luer tip of a syringe. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the axial centerline is laterally offset from the central axis of the component. For example, the Luer tip lumen, striker, and plunger of a coaxially aligned syringe barrel are laterally offset from the central axis of the syringe barrel. Although embodiments of the syringes of the present disclosure are described as having a cylindrical, coaxial cross-section, in other embodiments, the components have other cross-sections, such as triangular, rectangular, and / or asymmetric cross-sections.
[0061] Before describing several exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the structural details or process steps described below. The present disclosure is capable of other embodiments and can be practiced or carried out in a variety of ways.
[0062] The matters illustrated in this description are intended to provide exemplary embodiments that help to fully understand the present disclosure. Therefore, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. In addition, for the sake of clarity and simplicity, descriptions of well-known functions and structures have been omitted.
[0063] Figure 2-Figure 5A Exemplary implementations of embodiments of the present disclosure are described. Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the syringe 40 includes a syringe barrel 42, a plunger 44 that is translatable within the syringe barrel, a needle hub 46, a hollow needle 48 coupled to the needle hub, and a syringe stop 50 coupled to the plunger 44. The syringe 40 and the syringe barrel 42 define an axial centerline that is coaxial with the centerlines of each of the plunger 44, the needle hub 46, the needle 48, and the stop 50. The syringe barrel 42 has a gripping tab 52 on its open proximal end. The distal end 54 of the syringe barrel 42 incorporates a cylindrical Luer tip 56, and an internal Luer tip lumen 58 extending therethrough is coaxial with the axial centerline of the syringe 40. As shown in FIG. Figure 4A As shown, the distal lumen 58 has a cylindrical profile with a diameter D1, and a cross-sectional area measured perpendicular to the axial centerline of the syringe 40. Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, the distal lumen 58 terminates in a distal distal outlet 59. The syringe barrel 42 has an inner sidewall 60 which, together with its distal end 54 and stopper 50, defines a barrel cavity 62. The distal lumen 58 establishes fluid communication between its distal outlet 59 and the syringe cavity 62.
[0064] refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3A and Figure 5A, the plunger 44 has a plunger shaft 64, whose centerline is coaxial with the axial centerline of the syringe 40 and the syringe barrel 42. The proximal end of the plunger shaft 64 defines a finger-like protrusion 66. At least one spacer ring 68 projects radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the plunger shaft 64 for maintaining the coaxial alignment of the plunger shaft and the inner sidewall 60 of the syringe barrel 42. At least one spacer ring 68 is oriented proximal to the distal end 70 of the plunger shaft 64.
[0065] The striker 72 has a proximal end rigidly coupled to the distal end 70 of the plunger shaft 64 and is coaxial with the axial centerline of the plunger shaft 64 and can be inserted into the luer tip lumen 58 to at least the distal outlet 59. In some embodiments, the striker 72 cannot be fully inserted into the distal outlet 59. The distal end of the striker 72 defines serrations 74 and has a serrated tip 76 and a distal side 78 facing the lumen 58 of the luer tip 56. Figure 4 and Figure 4A As shown, the serration tip 76 has an axial length L1 selected such that a distal surface 78 of the serration tip 76 protrudes axially from the lumen outlet 59 when the syringe plunger 44 is fully advanced into the syringe barrel.
[0066] refer to Figure 4A and Figure 5A The sawtooth 74 has a main protrusion 80 and at least one secondary protrusion 82 that protrude radially outward relative to the axial centerline of the striker 72 or the axial centerline of the syringe barrel. Figure 4A and Figure 5A In the exemplary non-limiting embodiment shown, the serrations 74 have a primary protrusion 80 and three secondary protrusions 82 that protrude radially outward relative to the axial centerline of the push rod 72 or the axial centerline of the syringe barrel. Although the Luer tip lumen 58, the striker rod 72, and the protrusions 80, 82 have matching, complementary cylindrical profiles and cross-sections, in other embodiments, they have other complementary cross-sections, such as square, triangular, elliptical, or asymmetric cross-sections. The primary protrusion 80 has a diameter D2, whose cross-sectional area is measured perpendicular to the axial centerline of the striker rod 72, and the diameter D2 is smaller than the diameter D1 of the complementary, corresponding cross-sectional area of the distal lumen 58. The gap between the complementary diameters D1 and D2 is selected so that the striker rod 72 will not get stuck in the distal lumen 58, but can still expel fluid out of the lumen. Figure 5A In the embodiment of the present invention, the diameter D3 and cross-sectional area of the secondary projection 82 are smaller than those of the primary projection 80 to prevent the striker 72 from bending in the tip lumen 58 and not getting stuck therein. The diameter of the serrated tip 76 is D4.
[0067] refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 3AThe syringe stopper 50 has a distal axial end 84 facing and oriented opposite to the barrel distal end 54, a proximal end 86 facing the distal axial end 70 of the plunger shaft 64, and an outer circumferential surface 88 in fluid-tight abutting contact with the inner sidewall 60 of the syringe barrel 42. The inner sidewall 60 of the barrel and its distal end 54 and the distal axial end 84 of the syringe stopper 50 define a barrel cavity 62, the volume of which varies with the axial position of the syringe stopper 50 and the plunger 44 to which it is coupled within the syringe barrel 42. The syringe stopper 50 is made of a pliable material (e.g., an elastomer) and is slidably coupled to the striker 72 through an inner bore or center hole 90 that surrounds the outer circumferential surface of the striker and is biased to be in fluid-tight abutting contact with the outer circumferential surface of the striker. The center hole 90 defines an inner groove 92 that protrudes radially outward for capturing the primary and secondary projections 80 and 80 therein.
[0068] like Figure 2 As shown, when the plunger 44 is initially inserted into the syringe barrel 42, and during the aspiration or delivery of fluid into or from the syringe lumen 62, the syringe stopper 50 is oriented to be located in an initial axial position on the ram 72 of the serrations 74, with each groove 92 of the central hole 90 in biased contact with the corresponding protrusions 80, 82 of the serrations 74. In some embodiments, multiple doses of a drug are delivered with the same syringe 40 by replacing a new needle hub 46 and its attached needle 48. Now referring to Figure 3 and Figure 3A , the syringe stopper 50 remains engaged with the serrations 74 during advancement of the plunger 44 during drug delivery until the distal axial end 84 of the syringe stopper is in abutting contact with the distal end 54 of the syringe barrel 42. The axial force applied to the plunger 44 required to retract or advance the coupled plunger stopper 50 within the syringe barrel 42 in order to aspirate or deliver fluid medication is less than the shear axial force required to separate the mating contact of the stopper groove 92 and the serration protrusions 80, 82.
[0069] exist Figure 3 In the embodiment of the present invention, after the syringe plunger 44 is fully advanced into the syringe barrel 42, wherein the distal axial end 84 of the syringe stopper 50 is in abutting contact with the distal end 54 of the syringe barrel 42, residual drug remains in the lumen 58 of the syringe luer tip 56, the needle hub 46 and the needle 48, as in the example of the prior art syringe 10 of Figure 1. The syringe 40 of the present disclosure reduces drug waste and provides a complete drug dose to the patient by enabling the medical provider to advance the ram 72 through the luer tip lumen 58 to expel the residual drug.
[0070] exist Figure 4 and Figure 4AIn the embodiment of the present invention, after the syringe stopper 50 is translated to the final axial position along the striker 72, the axial distal end 84 of the syringe stopper 50 is in abutment contact with the distal end 54 of the syringe barrel 42, and additional axial shear force is applied to the plunger 44. The additional axial force pushes the striker 72 into the lumen 58 of the Luer tip 56 by separating the striker 72 from the groove 92 of the stopper. After shear separation, this additional applied axial force pushes the serrations 74 through the outlet 59 of the Luer tip 56. The distal surface 78 of the serration tip 76 protrudes into the cup-shaped needle ferrule 94 of the needle hub 46, so that the distal surface of the serration tip 78 is close to the lumen 96 of the needle 48. The fully advanced striker 72 moves the residual fluid drug out of the lumen 58 of the syringe tip 56 and partially moves the drug out of the remaining dead space 98 of the needle ferrule 94. Relatively little drug remains in the needle clamp dead space 98, and an even smaller amount of drug remains in the dead space 100 of the needle lumen.
[0071] The following non-limiting examples illustrate the principle of reducing drug residue in a syringe according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. Compared to the known syringe 10 of comparable capacity (wasting approximately 0.068 ml of drug), the 1 ml dosage capacity embodiment of the syringe 50 significantly reduces drug dead angles and drug waste. The ram 72 of the syringe 50 dispenses all of the drug from the Luer tip lumen 58 and reduces the needle hub dead angle 98 to approximately 0.01 ml; the needle lumen dead angle 100 is maintained at 0.005 ml. Compared to the 0.068 ml of drug wasted in the embodiment of the syringe 10 of comparable capacity in the prior art, the total wasted drug remaining in the syringe 50 embodiment is reduced to approximately 0.015 ml: a reduction of approximately 78% of drug waste.
[0072] The syringe embodiments disclosed herein are made of pharmaceutical grade materials known to those skilled in the art. In certain embodiments, the barrel, plunger and shaft described are made of polypropylene polymers. The seal is made of fiber-filled polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymers. The stopper is made of polyisoprene polymers.
[0073] References to "one embodiment", "certain embodiments", "various embodiments", "one or more embodiments" or "embodiments" in this specification refer to specific features, structures, materials or characteristics associated with the embodiments that are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the appearance of phrases such as "in one or more embodiments", "in certain embodiments", "in various embodiments", "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places in this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment of the present disclosure. In addition, specific features, structures, materials or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
[0074] Although the present disclosure is described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood that these embodiments are only used to illustrate the principles and applications of the present disclosure. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made to the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure is intended to include modifications and changes within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A medical syringe, characterized in that: It includes: a syringe barrel having an inner sidewall, a proximal open end, a distal end, a syringe cavity defined within the inner sidewall and the distal end of the syringe barrel, and a barrel Luer tip at the distal end of the syringe barrel, the barrel Luer tip defining a distal outlet and a lumen therethrough, the lumen defining a lumen axial centerline, the distal lumen establishing fluid communication between the syringe cavity and the distal outlet and having a cross-sectional area measured perpendicular to the lumen axial centerline; a plunger having a plunger shaft, the distal end of the plunger shaft being inserted into the syringe cavity and translatably movable within the syringe cavity; a striker having a proximal end rigidly coupled to the distal end of the plunger shaft and a striker axial centerline coaxial with the lumen axial centerline, the striker being insertable into the lumen of the Luer tip to at least the tip outlet; a distal end of the ram defining serrations with a serrated tip having a distal surface, the serrations having a cross-sectional area measured perpendicular to an axial centerline of the lumen that is less than a corresponding cross-sectional area of the tip lumen; and a syringe stopper slidably coupled to the striker, the syringe stopper having a central bore surrounding an outer circumferential surface of the striker and biased in fluid-tight abutting contact with the outer circumferential surface, the syringe stopper having a distal axial end oriented opposite to the distal end of the syringe barrel so as to define distal and proximal axial boundaries of the syringe cavity therebetween, the proximal end of the syringe stopper being in an opposite orientation to the distal end of the plunger shaft, and the outer circumferential surface of the syringe stopper being in fluid-tight abutting contact with the inner sidewall of the syringe barrel; The syringe stopper is oriented at an initial axial position on the ram and the central bore of the syringe stopper is in biased contact with the serrations upon initial insertion of the plunger into the syringe barrel and during delivery or withdrawal of fluid into or out of the syringe cavity; and When the plunger is fully advanced into the syringe barrel, the syringe stop is translated along the ram to a final axial position, and the distal axial end of the syringe stop is in abutting contact with the distal end of the syringe barrel, and the ram serrations are captured within the lumen of the Luer tip, wherein the serrated tip is at least axially aligned with the outlet of the Luer tip.
2. The syringe according to claim 1, characterized in that It also includes a serrated tip defining at least one projection projecting radially outwardly relative to an axial centerline of the striker bar.
3. The syringe according to claim 2, characterized in that It also includes the central bore of the syringe stopper defining at least one radially outwardly projecting groove for capturing the at least one projection of the serration tip therein when the syringe stopper is in its initial axial position.
4. The syringe according to claim 2, characterized in that It also includes that the sawtooth tip defines a main bump and at least one secondary bump, and the cross-sectional area of the secondary bump is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the main bump.
5. The syringe according to claim 4, characterized in that It also includes the central hole of the syringe stopper defining a radially outwardly protruding groove and an additional groove, wherein when the syringe stopper is in its initial axial position, the radially outwardly protruding groove is used to capture the primary protrusion therein and the additional groove is used to capture the corresponding secondary protrusion therein.
6. The syringe according to claim 2, characterized in that It also includes the serrated tip defining a distal surface that projects axially from the lumen outlet when the syringe plunger is fully advanced into the syringe barrel.
7. The syringe according to claim 1, characterized in that It also includes an outer circumferential surface of the plunger shaft defining at least one radially outwardly protruding spacer ring for maintaining the coaxial alignment of the plunger and the inner side wall of the syringe barrel.
8. The syringe according to claim 7, characterized in that It also includes the at least one spacer ring being oriented proximal to the distal end of the plunger shaft.
9. The syringe according to claim 1, characterized in that The advancing force on the plunger shaft required to translate the syringe stop from its initial axial position to its final axial position is greater than the force required to translate the syringe stop before its distal end comes into abutting contact with the distal end of the syringe barrel during aspiration or dispensing of fluid into or from the syringe cavity.
10. The syringe according to claim 1, characterized in that It also includes a needle hub coupled to the barrel Luer tip having a cupped needle ferrule oriented opposite the outlet of the Luer tip, the serrated tip of the ram being oriented in the needle ferrule when the syringe plunger is fully advanced into the syringe barrel.
11. A medical syringe, characterized in that: It includes: A syringe barrel having an axial centerline, an inner sidewall surrounding the axial centerline, a proximal open end, a distal end, and a syringe cavity defined within the inner sidewall and the distal end of the syringe barrel, a barrel Luer tip at the distal end of the syringe barrel, the barrel Luer tip defining a distal outlet and a lumen therethrough, the lumen being coaxial with the syringe axial centerline, the distal lumen being in fluid communication between the syringe cavity and the distal outlet and having a cross-sectional area measured perpendicular to the axial centerline of the syringe barrel; a plunger having a plunger shaft coaxial with the axial centerline of the syringe barrel, the distal end of the plunger shaft being inserted into and translatably movable within the syringe cavity, at least one spacer ring projecting radially outwardly from an outer circumferential surface of the plunger shaft proximal to the distal end of the shaft for maintaining coaxial alignment of the plunger and the inner sidewall of the syringe barrel; a striker having a proximal end rigidly coupled to the distal end of the plunger shaft, coaxial with the axial centerline of the syringe and insertable into the luer tip lumen to at least the distal outlet; a serration having a serrated tip on the distal end of the striker, the serration tip having a distal surface that projects axially from the lumen outlet when the syringe plunger is fully advanced into the syringe barrel, the serration having a primary projection and at least one secondary projection that projects radially outwardly relative to the centerline of the syringe barrel, the primary projection having a cross-sectional area measured perpendicular to the axial centerline of the syringe, the primary projection having a cross-sectional area that is smaller than a corresponding cross-sectional area of the distal lumen, and the at least one secondary projection having a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the primary projection; as well as a syringe stopper slidably coupled to the striker, the syringe stopper having a central bore surrounding an outer circumferential surface of the striker and biased in fluid-tight abutting contact with the outer circumferential surface, the central bore of the syringe stopper defining a radially outwardly projecting recess for capturing the primary projection therein, and the central bore defining an additional recess for capturing a corresponding secondary projection therein, the syringe stopper having a distal axial end oriented opposite to the distal end of the syringe barrel so as to define a distal axial boundary and a proximal axial boundary of the syringe cavity therebetween, the syringe stopper having a proximal end oriented opposite to the distal end of the plunger shaft, and the outer circumferential surface of the syringe stopper in fluid-tight abutting contact with the inner sidewall of the syringe barrel; The syringe stopper is oriented at an initial axial position on the ram such that corresponding grooves of its central bore are in biased contact with corresponding projections of the serrations upon initial insertion of the plunger into the syringe barrel and during delivery or withdrawal of fluid into or out of the syringe cavity; and When the syringe plunger is fully advanced into the syringe barrel, the syringe stop translates along the ram to a final axial position, wherein the distal axial end of the syringe stop is in abutting contact with the distal end of the syringe barrel and the ram serrations are captured within the lumen of the Luer tip, wherein the serration tip is axially aligned with the outlet of the Luer tip and the distal surface of the serration tip protrudes axially from the lumen outlet.
12. The syringe according to claim 11, characterized in that The advancing force on the plunger shaft required to translate the syringe stop from its initial axial position to its final axial position is greater than the force required to translate the syringe stop before its distal end comes into abutting contact with the distal end of the syringe barrel during aspiration or dispensing of fluid into or from the syringe cavity.
13. The syringe according to claim 11, characterized in that It also includes a needle hub coupled to the barrel Luer tip, having a cup-shaped needle ferrule oriented opposite the outlet of the Luer tip, and the axial face of the serrated tip of the ram is oriented in the needle ferrule when the syringe plunger is fully advanced into the syringe barrel.