Characteristics of syringe for angiography

Abstract

To provider a syringe for angiography that can be engaged with an injector easily, allows a syringe filling state to be visually recognized easily, allows characteristic evaluation to be performed, and has improved its function by reducing adhesion of a contrast medium and an impact of fluid dropping.SOLUTION: There is provided a syringe including: a proximal end, a distal end, and a cylindrical side wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the distal end including a conical distal end wall and a fluid nozzle at a distal end of the conical distal end wall; a cylindrical load support wall extending in an axial direction from the cylindrical side wall beyond a proximal end of the conical distal end wall; and a plurality of radial ribs arranged along the circumference of the conical distal end wall, the longitudinal axis line of the plurality of radial ribs extending in a radially inward direction toward the fluid nozzle from the cylindrical load support wall over at least part of the conical distal end wall.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 706,340, filed on Aug. 11, 2020, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 073,519, filed on Sep. 2, 2020, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0002] This disclosure generally relates to features associated with angiographic syringes. The features described provide strength at the distal end, help prevent fluid leakage from the tip, improve operability, and improve the visualization process.

Background Art

[0003] Syringe injection systems are one of the medical devices that have been used in medical imaging procedures for many years. Many such syringes are manually operated by being operably connected to an inner plunger and advancing a plunger extension to pressurize the fluid within the syringe. However, in many medical injection procedures, precise control and / or high pressure that cannot be achieved with manual syringe operation may be used. Therefore, several syringes and electric injectors for use in medical procedures such as angiography (CV), computed tomography (CT), and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMR) / magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been developed. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,383,858 discloses both front - loading syringes and electric injectors with and without pressure jackets, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this specification.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

[0005] In certain fluid injectors, such as high-pressure fluid injectors, including a pressure jacket that surrounds the syringe body to prevent breakage in situations where the syringe expansion and / or injection pressure is high, loading the syringe into the fluid injector may include multiple steps to properly engage the syringe with the fluid injector and the pressure jacket. For example, some pressure jackets cover most of the distal end of the syringe, preventing breakage of the distal end in situations where the injection pressure is high. This can complicate loading the syringe into the pressure jacket and subsequent engagement with the fluid injector. Similarly, if a pressure jacket is provided around the barrel and distal end of the syringe, it becomes difficult to visualize the syringe and its contents to confirm, for example, that the syringe is filled with fluid and that there are no air bubbles in the fluid.

[0006] Once the syringe is engaged with the fluid injector, to fill the syringe with contrast fluid or saline, the user typically connects a fill tube or spike to the forward nozzle or outlet of the syringe while fluidly connecting the other end of the tube / spike to a bottle or bag of contrast agent, saline, or other fluid. The plunger of the syringe is retracted (usually by the injector piston) to draw fluid into the syringe until the syringe is filled with the desired amount. After the syringe is filled, the fill tube is removed from the syringe tip. In many cases, small amounts of other fluids such as contrast agent or saline contained in the fill tube may drip therefrom onto the floor or the injector. Fluid dripping can occur in multiple patient situations, where the first portion of the syringe and tube can be used over multiple injection procedures while the second portion is discarded after single use and replaced with a new single-use portion prior to subsequent injection procedures. Such droplets can contaminate and soil various injector components, drip onto the floor posing a danger to the examination assistant and patient, and / or contaminate various surfaces within the fluid injection room and thus should be minimized and avoided.

[0007] After the syringe is filled with fluid, a connector tube or priming tube is connected to the outlet of the syringe and the syringe and connector tube are primed (usually by advancing the plunger within the syringe) to remove air from the syringe and connector tube (i.e., to prevent air from being injected into the patient). Such techniques can be effective in removing air from the tube connected to the syringe but are not desirable for discharging fluid from the end of the tube. In many cases, the fluid discharged from the end of the tube contaminates, drips, or leaks from various connections onto the floor. This is particularly undesirable when handling contrast agent, as the medium has a tendency to move everywhere, such as onto surfaces touched by the operator after air has been removed from the tube, due to its extremely high adhesiveness.

[0008] In some applications, a direct vent spike is disposed at the upper portion of the syringe. Using this vent spike, a bottle of contrast fluid or saline solution delivered to a patient is punctured. In such applications, when the bottle and spike are removed from the syringe, there is a risk that the fluid remaining in the spike will leak and drip onto the syringe tip.

[0009] There is a need for a syringe for use in an imaging procedure using a contrast agent that can be easily engaged with an injector, easily visually recognized and characterized in a syringe filled state, and that reduces the effects of contrast agent adhesion and fluid dripping to improve its function.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] The present disclosure provides a syringe suitable for use in electromechanical fluid injection in imaging procedures using contrast agents such as computed tomography (CT), angiography (CV), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including features that reduce the effects of fluid dripping and further including other features that improve syringe function, as described herein.

[0011] According to an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, the syringe includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a cylindrical sidewall extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the distal end including a conical distal end wall and a fluid nozzle at the distal end of the conical distal end wall, the proximal end, the distal end, and the cylindrical sidewall, a cylindrical load support wall extending axially from the cylindrical sidewall beyond the proximal end of the conical distal end wall, and a plurality of radial ribs disposed along the periphery of the conical distal end wall, the longitudinal axes of the plurality of radial ribs extending radially inwardly from the cylindrical load support wall toward the fluid nozzle over at least a portion of the conical distal end wall.

[0012] According to an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, the plurality of radial ribs may define a plurality of fluid retention grooves between each pair of adjacent radial ribs, and the plurality of fluid retention grooves are configured to retain a volume of fluid by capillary adhesion when the syringe rotates from a first upward position to a second downward position. The plurality of fluid retention grooves may be configured to retain a volume of fluid in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 milliliters. The volume of fluid retained by the plurality of fluid retention grooves may be at least partially determined by the distance between each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs, the height of each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs, and the distance that each pair of radial ribs extends distally from the conical distal end wall radially inward. The plurality of radial ribs can increase the load strength of the conical distal end wall. The plurality of radial ribs can increase the load strength of the cylindrical load support wall. At least one of the plurality of radial ribs may extend inwardly from the cylindrical load support wall to the conical distal end wall at a different radial distance than the remaining radial ribs of the plurality of radial ribs. The cylindrical load support wall may be configured to hold the syringe within the pressure jacket during the pressure injection procedure by abutting against the holding surface of the holding arm of the fluid injector. The cylindrical load support wall may extend axially from the cylindrical side wall of the syringe at an angle of 1 to 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the syringe. The distal surface of the cylindrical load support wall may be radially inclined from a more proximal inner portion to a more distal outer portion with respect to the longitudinal axis of the syringe. The angle of the distal surface of the cylindrical load support wall may be configured to prevent fluid from flowing into the space between the cylindrical side wall of the syringe and the pressure jacket in which the syringe is disposed. The angle of the distal surface of the cylindrical load support wall may be configured to increase the radially inward force on the holding arm of the fluid injector. At least one of the cylindrical load support wall and the plurality of radial ribs can enhance the refractive halo effect at the distal portion of the conical distal end wall by electromagnetic radiation emitted from at least one electromagnetic radiation source within the piston head or plunger head of the fluid injector.A neck portion may be connected to the fluid nozzle at the distal end of the syringe. The neck portion includes a fluid passage, and the fluid passage has a plurality of fluid turning ribs that extend at least partially radially inward from the inner surface of the neck portion into the interior of the fluid passage. The plurality of fluid turning ribs may be configured to turn the fluid flowing through the neck portion into the syringe such that the fluid flows along the inner surfaces of the conical distal end wall and the cylindrical side wall of the syringe. The plurality of fluid turning ribs may be configured to minimize the amount of air bubbles in the fluid within the syringe. The amount of air bubbles in the fluid within the syringe can be minimized by the fluid flowing along the inner surfaces of the distal end wall and the cylindrical side wall of the syringe. At least a portion of the plurality of fluid turning ribs may have different shapes. At least a portion of the plurality of flow turning ribs may extend different distances from the inner surface into the fluid passage. The plurality of radial ribs may extend along the conical distal end wall at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the syringe such that the distance between each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs decreases from the cylindrical load bearing wall to the fluid nozzle.

[0013] According to an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, the syringe includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a cylindrical side wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The distal end includes a conical distal end wall and a fluid nozzle at the distal end of the conical distal end wall. The syringe may include the proximal end, the distal end, and the cylindrical side wall, a plurality of fluid turning ribs extending inwardly from the inner surface of the fluid nozzle, and a plurality of radial ribs disposed along the periphery of the conical distal end wall. The longitudinal axis of the plurality of radial ribs extends radially inward from the cylindrical load bearing wall towards the fluid nozzle over at least a portion of the conical distal end wall.

[0014] According to an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, the cylindrical load-bearing wall may extend axially from the cylindrical side wall beyond the proximal end of the conical distal end wall. The plurality of radial ribs may define a plurality of fluid retention grooves between each pair of adjacent radial ribs, and the plurality of fluid retention grooves are configured to retain a volume of fluid by capillary adhesion when the syringe rotates from a first upward position to a second downward position. The plurality of fluid retention grooves may be configured to retain a fluid having a volume in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 milliliters. The volume of fluid retained by the plurality of fluid retention grooves may be at least partially determined by the distance between each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs, the height of each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs, and the distance that each pair of radial ribs extends distally from the conical distal end wall radially inward.

[0015] According to an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, the syringe includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a cylindrical side wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the distal end including a conical distal end wall and a fluid nozzle at the distal end of the conical distal end wall, and a plurality of fluid turning ribs extending inwardly from the inner surface of the fluid nozzle, the plurality of fluid turning ribs enhancing a refraction halo effect at the distal portion of the conical distal end wall by electromagnetic radiation emitted from at least one electromagnetic radiation source within a piston head or a plunger head of a fluid injector.

[0016] According to an illustrative and non - limiting embodiment, the cylindrical load - supporting wall may extend axially from the cylindrical side wall beyond the proximal end of the conical distal end wall. A plurality of radial ribs may be disposed along the periphery of the conical distal end wall, and the longitudinal axes of the plurality of radial ribs extend radially inward from the cylindrical load - supporting wall toward the fluid nozzle over at least a portion of the conical distal end wall. The plurality of radial ribs may define a plurality of fluid - holding grooves between each pair of adjacent radial ribs, and the plurality of fluid - holding grooves are configured to hold a volume of fluid by capillary adhesion when the syringe rotates from a first upward position to a second downward position. The plurality of fluid - holding grooves may be configured to hold a fluid having a volume in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 milliliters. The volume of fluid held by the plurality of fluid - holding grooves may be at least partially determined by the distance between each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs, the height of each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs, and the distance that each pair of the radial ribs extends distally radially inward from the conical distal end wall.

[0017] In one aspect, a syringe having improved features is provided in accordance with the following clauses.

[0018] Clause 1: A syringe comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a cylindrical side wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the distal end includes a conical distal end wall and a fluid nozzle at the distal end of the conical distal end wall; a cylindrical load - supporting wall extending axially from the cylindrical side wall beyond the proximal end of the conical distal end wall; and a plurality of radial ribs disposed along the periphery of the conical distal end wall, wherein the longitudinal axes of the plurality of radial ribs extend radially inward from the cylindrical load - supporting wall toward the fluid nozzle over at least a portion of the conical distal end wall.

[0019] Clause 2: The syringe according to Clause 1, wherein the plurality of radial ribs define a plurality of fluid - holding grooves between each pair of adjacent radial ribs, and the plurality of fluid - holding grooves are configured to hold a volume of fluid by capillary adhesion when the syringe rotates from a first upward position to a second downward position.

[0020] Clause 3: The syringe according to clause 2, wherein the plurality of fluid holding grooves are configured to hold a fluid having a volume in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 milliliters.

[0021] Clause 4: The syringe according to clause 2, wherein the volume of the fluid held by the plurality of fluid holding grooves is at least partially determined by the distance between each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs, the height of each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs, and the distance that each pair of the radial ribs extends distally from the conical distal end wall radially inward.

[0022] Clause 5: The syringe according to any one of clauses 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of radial ribs enhance the load strength of the conical distal end wall.

[0023] Clause 6: The syringe according to any one of clauses 1 to 5, wherein the plurality of radial ribs enhance the load strength of the cylindrical load support wall.

[0024] Clause 7: The syringe according to any one of clauses 1 to 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of radial ribs extends inwardly from the cylindrical load support wall to the conical distal end wall at a different radial distance from the remaining radial ribs of the plurality of radial ribs.

[0025] Clause 8: The syringe according to any one of clauses 1 to 7, wherein the cylindrical load support wall is configured to hold the syringe within the pressure jacket during the pressure injection procedure by abutting against the holding surface of the holding arm of the fluid injector.

[0026] Clause 9: The syringe according to any one of clauses 1 to 8, wherein the cylindrical load support wall extends axially from the cylindrical side wall of the syringe at an angle of 1 to 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the syringe.

[0027] Clause 10: The syringe according to any one of clauses 1 to 9, wherein the distal surface of the cylindrical load support wall is radially inclined from a more proximal inner portion to a more distal outer portion with respect to the longitudinal axis of the syringe.

[0028] Clause 11: The syringe according to clause 10, wherein the angle of the distal surface of the cylindrical load-bearing wall is configured to prevent fluid from flowing between the cylindrical side wall of the syringe and the pressure jacket in which the syringe is disposed.

[0029] Clause 12: The syringe according to clause 10 or 11, wherein the angle of the distal surface of the cylindrical load-bearing wall is configured to increase the radially inward force on the holding arm of the fluid injector.

[0030] Clause 13: The syringe according to any one of clauses 1 to 12, wherein at least one of the cylindrical load-bearing wall and the plurality of radial ribs enhances the refractive halo effect in the distal portion of the conical distal end wall by electromagnetic radiation emitted from at least one electromagnetic radiation source in the piston head or plunger head of the fluid injector.

[0031] Clause 14: The syringe according to any one of clauses 1 to 13, further comprising a neck portion connected to the fluid nozzle at the distal end of the syringe, the neck portion including a fluid passage having a plurality of fluid turning ribs that extend at least partially radially inwardly from the inner surface of the neck portion into the interior of the fluid passage.

[0032] Clause 15: The syringe according to clause 14, wherein the plurality of fluid turning ribs are configured to turn the fluid flowing through the neck portion into the syringe such that the fluid flows along the inner surfaces of the conical distal end wall and the cylindrical side wall of the syringe.

[0033] Clause 16: The syringe according to clause 14 or 15, wherein the plurality of fluid turning ribs are configured to minimize the amount of air bubbles in the fluid within the syringe.

[0034] Clause 17: The syringe according to clause 16, wherein the amount of air bubbles in the fluid within the syringe is minimized by the fluid flowing along the inner surfaces of the distal end wall and the cylindrical side wall of the syringe.

[0035] Clause 18: The syringe according to any one of Clauses 14 to 17, wherein at least a part of the plurality of fluid turning ribs has different shapes.

[0036] Clause 19: The syringe according to any one of Clauses 14 to 18, wherein at least a part of the plurality of flow turning ribs extends into the fluid passage from the inner surface by different distances.

[0037] Clause 20: The syringe according to any one of Clauses 1 to 19, wherein a plurality of radial ribs extend along the conical distal end wall at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the syringe such that the distance between each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs decreases from the cylindrical load-bearing wall to the fluid nozzle.

[0038] Clause 21: A proximal end, a distal end, and a cylindrical side wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the distal end including a conical distal end wall and a fluid nozzle at the distal end of the conical distal end wall, the proximal end, the distal end, and the cylindrical side wall, a plurality of fluid turning ribs extending inwardly from the inner surface of the fluid nozzle, and a plurality of radial ribs arranged along the periphery of the conical distal end wall, the longitudinal axes of the plurality of radial ribs extending radially inwardly from the cylindrical load-bearing wall toward the fluid nozzle over at least a part of the conical distal end wall, the plurality of radial ribs.

[0039] Clause 22: The syringe according to Clause 21, further comprising a cylindrical load-bearing wall axially extending from the cylindrical side wall beyond the proximal end of the conical distal end wall.

[0040] Clause 23: The syringe according to Clause 21 or 22, wherein the plurality of radial ribs define a plurality of fluid holding grooves between each pair of adjacent radial ribs, and the plurality of fluid holding grooves are configured to hold a certain volume of fluid by capillary adhesion when the syringe rotates from a first upward position to a second downward position.

[0041] Clause 24: The syringe according to Clause 23, wherein the plurality of fluid holding grooves are configured to hold a fluid having a volume in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 milliliters.

[0042] Clause 25: The syringe according to clause 23, wherein the volume of the fluid held by the plurality of fluid holding grooves is at least partially determined by the distance between each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs, the height of each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs, and the distance that each pair of the radial ribs extends distally from the conical distal end wall radially inward.

[0043] Clause 26: A syringe comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a cylindrical side wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the distal end includes a conical distal end wall and a fluid nozzle at the distal end of the conical distal end wall, and a plurality of fluid turning ribs extending inwardly from the inner surface of the fluid nozzle, the plurality of fluid turning ribs enhancing a refractive halo effect at the distal portion of the conical distal end wall by electromagnetic radiation emitted from at least one electromagnetic radiation source within a piston head or a plunger head of a fluid injector.

[0044] Clause 27: The syringe according to clause 26, further comprising a cylindrical load support wall axially extending from the cylindrical side wall beyond the proximal end of the conical distal end wall.

[0045] Clause 28: The syringe according to clause 26 or 27, further comprising a plurality of radial ribs arranged along the periphery of the conical distal end wall, wherein longitudinal axes of the plurality of radial ribs extend radially inward from the cylindrical load support wall toward the fluid nozzle over at least a portion of the conical distal end wall.

[0046] Clause 29: The syringe according to clause 28, wherein the plurality of radial ribs define a plurality of fluid holding grooves between each adjacent pair of the radial ribs, and the plurality of fluid holding grooves are configured to hold a certain volume of fluid by capillary adhesion when the syringe rotates from a first upward position to a second downward position.

[0047] Clause 30: The syringe according to clause 29, wherein the plurality of fluid holding grooves are configured to hold a fluid having a volume in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 milliliters.

[0048] Clause 31: The syringe according to clause 29, wherein the volume of the fluid held by the plurality of fluid holding grooves is at least partially determined by the distance between each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs, the height of each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs, and the distance that each pair of the radial ribs extends distally from the conical distal end wall radially inward.

[0049] Since the above is a summary, it may include simplification, generalization, inclusion, and / or omission of details. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that this summary is merely illustrative and is by no means intended to be limiting. The devices, and / or methods, and / or other aspects, features, and advantages of the other subject matters described herein will become apparent from the disclosure described herein. In addition to the above exemplary aspects and features, further aspects and features will become apparent by referring to the drawings and the following detailed description.

[0050] The novel features described herein are set forth in detail in the appended claims. However, such features can be better understood with reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, both as to the construction and the method of operation.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0051]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7A

Figure 7B

Figure 8

Figure 9

[0052] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. The exemplary features shown and described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not intended to be limiting. Other features may be utilized and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the subject matter presented herein.

[0053] Prior to discussing in detail various aspects of the syringe assembly and its various features, it should be noted that the various aspects disclosed herein are not limited in their application or use to the details of the construction and arrangement of the components shown in the accompanying drawings and description. Rather, the disclosed apparatus may be arranged or incorporated within other apparatuses, their variations, and modifications, and may be implemented or executed in various ways. Accordingly, the aspects of the syringe and syringe features disclosed herein are exemplary in nature and are not intended to limit their scope or application. Also, unless otherwise indicated, the terms and expressions used herein are selected for the purpose of explaining various aspects of the syringe and syringe features for the convenience of the reader and are not intended to limit their scope. Further, it should be understood that any one or more of the components, their expressions, and / or examples of the syringe and syringe features may be combined with any one or more of the other components, their expressions, and / or examples thereof without limitation.

[0054] Also, in the following description, it should be understood that terms such as front, rear, inner, outer, upper, and lower are for convenience only and should not be construed as limiting terms. As used herein, the term "proximal" when used to describe a part of the syringe generally refers to the part of the syringe closer to the injector, and the term "distal" when used to describe a part of the syringe generally refers to the part of the syringe closer to the patient (i.e., the nozzle end of the syringe). The terms used herein are not intended to be limiting insofar as the devices or parts thereof described herein can be attached or utilized in other orientations. Various aspects of the syringe and syringe features will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0055] The present disclosure relates to syringe designs for use in motorized fluid injectors used in medical imaging procedures. According to various embodiments, a medical imaging procedure may include the injection of a contrast agent or contrast medium that emphasizes certain features within a medical image. A process known as medical imaging using a contrast agent typically involves injecting the contrast agent using a suitable flushing agent such as saline before or during the imaging process. Motorized fluid injectors are used to control the injection of fluids and are typically designed to hold and eject one or more syringes for holding and ejecting a contrast agent, a flushing fluid, and other medical fluids administered before or during an imaging procedure. For example, U.S. Patent Nos. 5,383,858, 6,652,489, 7,563,249, 8,945,051, 9,173,995, and 10,507,319 disclose front-loading syringes and motorized injectors in examples with and without pressure jackets, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Medical imaging procedures using common contrast agents include computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET, SPECT), and angiography (CV). Due to viscosity and the need to deliver large amounts of contrast agent over a short period of time via small-diameter tubing sets and / or catheters to provide a "tight bolus", specific injection procedures can be performed at high injection pressures such as up to 300 psi for CT and MRI and up to 1200 psi for CV procedures. The injector may be configured to inject or eject a fluid medium contained in a first syringe, a second syringe, and / or additional syringes in a controlled manner such that it can be used in medical procedures such as angiography, CT, PET, and NMR / MRI.

[0056] During the injection process, among a number of problems, for example, difficulties or delays in loading the syringe into the pressure jacket, deformation or breakage of the syringe due to high injection pressure, or detachment of the syringe from the fluid injector, dripping of contrast agent or saline that may contaminate one or more surfaces of the syringe components or injector components, air intake into the syringe and potential air injection into the patient, delay in filling speed due to bubble formation, invisibility of the syringe contents, etc., there may be many potential problems that should be avoided or must be avoided. The syringe and features described herein reduce or prevent one or more of these problems.

[0057] According to a first embodiment, the present disclosure provides a syringe 2 that may include a proximal end 4, a distal end 6, and a cylindrical side wall 8 extending between the proximal end 4 and the distal end 6. The distal end 6 may include a fluid nozzle 10 at the distal end 12 of the conical distal end wall 14, as shown in FIGS. 1-3. In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the syringe 2 may include an embodiment of a tube clip or spike clip 16 as described in International Application PCT / US2021 / 018523, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In other embodiments, the syringe may include a luer-type connector (not shown) or other connector mechanism for connecting the syringe to a tube set and / or spike.

[0058] According to certain embodiments, the syringe 2 may include a cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 that extends distally from the cylindrical sidewall 8 beyond the proximal end 20 of the conical distal wall 14. The cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 may project along the longitudinal axis L and may abut against the inner proximal surface 100 of one or more retaining elements 102 at the distal ends of one or more retaining arms 103 (see FIGS. 7A and 7B) to hold the syringe 2 within the pressure jacket, keep the syringe 2 engaged with the fluid injector, and provide a distal surface 22 configured to support loads associated with the delivery of pressurized fluid (e.g., the loads generated by the motor of the fluid injector when pressurizing the fluid using an electric piston). For example, in a CT injection protocol, the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 may be configured to support a load of at least 300 psi. According to other embodiments during a CV injection protocol, the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 may be configured to support loads associated with the high pressures of angiographic injections. For example, in certain angiographic injections, the fluid within the syringe 2 may be pressurized up to 1200 psi. High pressures may be required to deliver viscous contrast agents or low-viscosity saline typically via small-diameter catheters associated with CV injection procedures. When the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 abuts against the inner wall at the distal end of the pressure jacket, the load from the syringe 2 is transmitted to one or more retaining elements 102 at the distal ends of one or more retaining arms 103 and ultimately to the frame mechanism of the fluid injector. The cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 may be continuous or discontinuous along the outer periphery of the distal end 6 of the syringe 2. In certain embodiments, the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 is continuous along the outer periphery of the distal end 6 of the syringe 2.

[0059] In certain embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 extends from the cylindrical sidewall 8 such that the distal outer diameter of the load-bearing wall 18 is greater than the outer diameter of the cylindrical sidewall 8 and flares outwardly toward the distal end. According to certain embodiments, the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 may flare outwardly at an angle of 1° to 30° with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the syringe 2. The flared cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 may enable the syringe 2 to be easily installed into the pressure jacket 104 and may also enable the syringe 2 and the corresponding plunger to engage with the piston of the fluid injector. Specifically stated, the flare surface 19 extends from the outer surface of the cylindrical sidewall 8 to the distal surface 22 of the load-bearing wall 18. For example, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, when the syringe descends into the pressure jacket beyond one or more retaining elements 102, the flared cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 can press one or more retaining elements 102 and the corresponding retaining arms 103 outwardly. When the user applies a certain amount of downward force (e.g., the fluid injector and the pressure jacket assembly may be in a vertical position with the open end of the pressure jacket facing vertically upward), the downward force may be such that one or more retaining elements 102 are moved outwardly against the biasing restoring force. Once the distalmost end of the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 presses beyond the inner proximal surface 100 of one or more retaining elements 102, the biasing restoring force may pull one or more retaining elements 102 back to their initial positions, and when the syringe 2 and the plunger are placed under load by the piston of the fluid injector, the inner proximal surface 100 of one or more retaining elements 102 abuts against the distal inclined surface of the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 at the initial position. Thus, the inspector can load the syringe 2 into the injector by simply applying a downward force to the syringe 2 until it is fitted into the pressure jacket assembly. In certain embodiments, to indicate that the syringe is correctly loaded, an audible indication such as a click or snap sound may occur when one or more retaining elements close in a snap fashion. Closing in a snap fashion may also visually indicate to the inspector that the syringe is correctly loaded.Removal of the syringe 2 can be affected by the inspector manually or by the motor of the injector moving one or more retaining elements 102 and corresponding retaining arms 103 outward. Appropriate embodiments of the retaining arm mechanism are described in International Application PCT / US2020 / 049885, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0060] In various embodiments, the outer diameter of the flared cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 abuts tightly against the pressure jacket 104 and / or the side walls of one or more retaining elements 102, thereby substantially preventing leakage medical fluids such as contrast agent or saline from flowing into the space between the cylindrical side wall 8 of the syringe 2 and the pressure jacket 104 (see FIG. 7A). In certain embodiments, due to the pressurization of the syringe 2 and the associated compliance resulting from the expansion of the side wall 8 and distal end wall 14 of the syringe 2 under pressure, the cylindrical side wall 8 of the syringe 2 adheres more firmly to the pressure jacket 104 and / or one or more retaining elements 102, and the sealing performance by the interaction can be further enhanced. According to various embodiments, an elastomeric coating or elastomeric material is applied to the inner proximal surface 100 of one or more retaining elements 102 and / or the distal surface 22 of the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18, so that a liquid-tight seal may be formed between them when the syringe abuts tightly against one or more retaining elements 102.

[0061] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the distal end 6 of the syringe 2 may further include a plurality of radial ribs 24 disposed along the periphery of the conical distal end wall 14. The plurality of radial ribs 24 extend inwardly toward the fluid nozzle 10 from the inner edge of the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 over at least a portion of the conical distal end wall 14. In certain embodiments, the radial ribs 24 may be provided with different lengths along the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18. In other embodiments, the plurality of radial ribs may extend slightly spaced apart along the conical distal end wall 14, for example, extending spaced apart by less than 1.5 cm. When shorter radial ribs 24 are used, it may be easier for the user to more easily identify one or more air bubbles within the syringe 2, because, for example, when the fluid injector is in an upright vertical position and the one or more air bubbles rise toward the distal end of the conical end wall 14 due to the natural buoyancy of the one or more air bubbles, the radial ribs 24 do not significantly obstruct the user's view into the syringe 2. According to various embodiments, the plurality of radial ribs 24 define a plurality of fluid retention grooves 26 therebetween. Each fluid retention groove 26 may be disposed between each pair of adjacent radial ribs 24. The plurality of fluid retention grooves 26 may be configured to retain a certain volume of fluid previously dripped from the fluid nozzle 10. For example, when the syringe 2 rotates from a first vertically upward position to a second inclined downward position, the fluid within the fluid retention groove 26 is retained within the fluid retention groove 26. Due to capillary adhesion (also known as capillary action) and surface tension of the fluid, the volume of fluid can be retained within the plurality of fluid retention grooves 26 against gravity. Further, the plurality of radial ribs 24 can abut against the inner wall of the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 to further retain the fluid. For example, in certain embodiments, the syringe 2 may be filled with a fluid such as a contrast agent, saline solution, or other medical fluid with the injector head and the distal end 6 of the one or more syringes 2 disposed in an upright position, for example, to facilitate filling the fluid through a spike and / or to control and visualize the amount of air taken into the syringe 2 during the injection process.In certain embodiments, a small amount of fluid may exude or drip from the fluid nozzle 10 of the syringe 2 when the spike or fluid pathway is removed after filling or purging, during filling or purging through the spike or fluid pathway, or when switching between the fluid filling pathway and the fluid delivery pathway.

[0062] In many conventional fluid injection procedures, after the injection process in an upright configuration, for example, to raise any air that may remain in the syringe 2 to the proximal end 4 of the syringe 2 by buoyancy, thereby reliably reducing the risk of air injection or embolism, the injector head may be rotated so that the distal end 6 of one or more syringes 2 slopes downward. In conventional syringe designs, the dropped volume of fluid may run down the outer surface of the syringe and may adhere to or contaminate various surfaces of the fluid injector. In certain examples, a small amount of fluid may drip from the syringe onto the floor, posing a danger to the technician and patient and / or contaminating various surfaces within the fluid injection room. Additionally, since many contrast agents are sticky and viscous solutions, an adhesive film may accumulate on the floor and other surfaces, posing a safety hazard and further increasing the potential for unnecessary contact with the contrast agent or other medical fluids, which may require additional cleaning.

[0063] According to various embodiments, the plurality of fluid retention grooves 26 may be configured to retain the volume of fluid dripped from the fluid nozzle 10, for example, by capillary adhesion or capillary action between adjacent radial ribs 24. As shown in FIG. 4, the gap widths between adjacent radial ribs 24 may be referred to as d1, d2, d3, and in some embodiments, the gap widths are constant such that d1 = d2 = d3, and in other embodiments, the gap widths are variable such that d1 ≠ d2 ≠ d3. For the latter embodiment, the gap widths may be such that d1 < d2 < d3, or d1 > d2 > d3, or the appropriate gap widths are not limited to these and may be determined in some other way. In various embodiments, since the adjacent radial ribs 24 are arranged radially, the gap width may increase as it radially separates from the longitudinal central axis L of the syringe 2. Alternatively, the gap width may remain constant by increasing the width of the radial ribs 24 as it radially separates from the central axis. According to various embodiments, the distance between two adjacent radial ribs 24 that define the gap (i.e., "d") associated with the fluid retention groove 26 may be in the range of 0.01 inches to 0.25 inches. Further details regarding capillary action are described in International Publication No. WO 2017 / 091636, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0064] According to certain embodiments, the plurality of fluid retention grooves 26 can hold a fluid with a maximum flow rate in the range of 0.1 mL to 0.8 mL when the syringe 2 rotates from the first upward position to the second inclined downward position. In other embodiments, the maximum flow rate of the fluid may be adjusted by changing the height of the plurality of radial ribs and / or the distance between adjacent radial ribs. In certain embodiments, the capillary capacity of the fluid held by adjacent radial ribs 24 is at least partially determined by the distance between each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs 24, the height of each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs 24, and the distance that each adjacent pair of radial ribs 24 extends distally radially inward along the conical distal end wall 14. That is, the volume of the fluid may be determined by one or more of the distance between adjacent pairs of radial ribs 24, the depth of the fluid retention groove 26 between adjacent pairs of radial ribs 24, or the length of adjacent pairs of radial ribs 24 or the length of the associated fluid retention groove 26.

[0065] At least a portion of the plurality of radial ribs 24 extends across the conical distal end wall 14 at different distances from the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18. For example, in FIG. 4, the plurality of radial ribs 24 may extend from the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 of the syringe 2 across a portion of the conical distal end wall 14. In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, the plurality of radial ribs 24 may extend from the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 of the syringe 2 to the conical distal end wall 14 and toward the fluid nozzle 10 of the syringe 2.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 5, the plurality of radial ribs 24 may extend at different distances from the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18, and some of the radial ribs 24 may have different heights compared to others of the radial ribs 24 (see FIG. 5). As seen in these figures, in various embodiments, the plurality of radial ribs 24 form a liquid reservoir at the distal end 6 of the syringe 2 by abutting against the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 of the syringe 2, and the liquid reservoir helps to direct the medical fluid into the fluid retention groove 26 and, as a fluid retention wall, provides an additional volume for holding the fluid within the liquid reservoir having the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18.

[0067] In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, the plurality of ribs 24 may be annular and may be arranged concentrically along the conical distal end wall 14. The concentric annular ribs 28 may be arranged from the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 of the syringe 2 towards the fluid nozzle 10.

[0068] In various embodiments including the syringe 2 shown in FIGS. 1-6, the plurality of radial ribs 24 and / or the plurality of annular ribs 28 can increase the load-bearing strength of the conical distal end wall 14. For example, the plurality of radial ribs 24 or annular ribs 28 can increase the thickness of the conical distal end wall 14 where the radial ribs 24 or annular ribs 28 are located, thereby increasing the strength of the conical distal end wall 14. In various embodiments, the increased wall strength can withstand the increase in compliance of the conical distal end wall 14 during the pressurized fluid injection procedure and can also assist in limiting the increase. According to various embodiments, the need for pressure jacket reinforcement in the conical distal end wall 14 can be reduced by increasing the thickness of the conical distal end wall 14 where the radial ribs 24 or annular ribs 28 are located. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the pressure jacket 104 may be substantially cylindrical and may abut against the syringe holding element 102, and the conical distal end wall 14 of the syringe 2 may be able to withstand a high injection pressure (up to 1200 psi) without being reinforced by the pressure jacket 104 and / or the syringe holding element 102. Thereby, for example, the user can easily visualize the conical distal end wall 14 to confirm the filling status of the fluid volume and the presence or absence of one or more air bubbles in the syringe 2.

[0069] In a specific embodiment, the plurality of radial ribs 24 can enhance the load strength of the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18. For example, the plurality of radial ribs 24 are in contact with and connected to the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18. Thereby, the load strength of the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 can be enhanced, for example, by enhancing the hoop strength of the wall. Further, by connecting the plurality of radial ribs 24 and the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18, when a pressure load is applied to the syringe 2, the load strength of the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 can be enhanced by preventing the cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 from deforming or curving inward or outward.

[0070] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the proximal end 4 of the syringe 2 may have a diameter D1 that is wider than the diameter D2 of the remaining portion of the cylindrical side wall 8. In this embodiment, the "operating region" 7 of the syringe 2 where the plunger 106 is pressed through the fluid passage of the cylindrical side wall 8 may have a diameter D2 that is smaller compared to the diameter D1 of the "plunger receiving region" 5 at the proximal end 4. According to this embodiment, the plunger receiving region 5 is the region of the syringe where the plunger is placed during manufacturing and storage, and the wider diameter D1 prevents the outer periphery of the rubber cover of the plunger from being compressed during shipping and storage. Thereby, when the plunger moves from the wider diameter D1 of the receiving region 5 to the narrower diameter D2 of the operating region 7 of the syringe 2, a liquid-tight seal between the syringe side wall 8 and the rubber cover of the plunger can be reliably obtained. In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the fluid injector holding the syringe 2 can measure the force applied to the piston motor in relation to passing the plunger 106 through the fluid passage of the syringe 2, specifically, the additional force required to move the plunger 106 from the wider diameter D1 of the receiving region 5 to the narrower diameter D2 of the operating region 7 of the syringe 2. The fluid injector can measure the size of the syringe 2 used within the fluid injector based on the force applied to the piston by the fluid injector. For example, in a longer syringe 2 that holds 200 mL of fluid, the piston can push the plunger through the proximal end 4 of the syringe 2 from the plunger receiving region 5 having a diameter D1 to the operating region 7 having a diameter D2. Since D1 is larger than D2, the force required to pass the piston through the proximal end 4 of the syringe 2 is less than the force required to pass through the operating region 7 of the syringe 2. Therefore, the fluid injector may calibrate the piston position when the plunger 106 is pushed into the operating region 7 of the syringe 2 based on a change in the force applied to the piston when moving from the receiving region 5 with a diameter D1 at the proximal end 4 to the operating region 7 with a diameter D2.In the case of a longer and larger-capacity syringe having a wider operating region 7, the change in the force applied to the piston occurs at a predetermined piston position according to the proximity of the proximal end 4 of the syringe 2 to the injector head, while in the case of a shorter and smaller-capacity syringe (e.g., 100 mL or 50 mL) having a narrower operating region 7 disposed more distally within the pressure jacket (i.e., when the distal end 6 of the syringe 2 abuts against the syringe holding element 102), the change in the force applied to the piston will occur at a predetermined piston position when the piston extends further along the piston passage, which corresponds to the fact that the proximal end 4 of the syringe 2 and the plunger are more distantly separated from the injector head in the initial position.

[0071] By the fluid injector recording the position at which a change occurs in the force applied to the piston by moving the plunger from the receiving region 5 to the operating region 7, the injector can measure the length, and thus the volume, of the syringe loaded in the pressure jacket and make various adjustments to any injection procedure set according to the information. Further, if the fluid injector confirms that there is no change in the piston force or that there is a deviation from the position where a change in the force is expected to occur, the fluid injector can stop the fluid injection procedure and notify the inspection technician that an error has occurred. For example, if the syringe has been inadvertently reused, the plunger is likely not in the initial receiving region 5, and since the position where the change in the force occurs is not the expected position, the fluid injector can notify the inspection technician to prevent inadvertent syringe reuse. Similarly, for example, during shipment, if the plunger has inadvertently moved into the operating region 7, the fluid injector can confirm that there is no change in the force and prevent the use of the syringe that may be damaged (e.g., when the fluid seal between the plunger and the syringe sidewall may be impaired).

[0072] In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 7A, the cylindrical load support wall 18 may have a distal surface 22 configured to abut and contact the proximal surface 100 of the syringe holding element 102 of the syringe holding arm 103 of the fluid injector. According to certain embodiments, the distal surface 22 of the cylindrical load support wall 18 may be radially inclined such that the inner peripheral edge of the distal surface 22 is proximal along the longitudinal axis relative to the outer peripheral edge of the distal surface 22. According to this embodiment, the corresponding proximal surface 100 of the syringe holding element 102 is radially inclined at substantially the same azimuth complementary to the radial angle of the distal surface 22 of the cylindrical load support wall 18. According to various embodiments, the angle of the distal surface 22 may be in the range of 1° to 89°, and in certain embodiments may be in the range of 1° to 30°, with the angle of the corresponding proximal surface 100 being complementary. Thus, when the syringe 2 is under load during the delivery process, when the radially inclined distal surface 22 of the cylindrical load support wall 18 abuts the radially inclined corresponding proximal surface 100 of the syringe holding element 102, the two surfaces 22 and 100 interact when the pressurized syringe 2 is urged distally along the longitudinal axis L, thereby establishing a holding force on the holding arm 103 that urges the holding arm 103 radially inward to maintain the closed configuration. Therefore, the force holding the syringe 2 within the pressure jacket 104 and the holding mechanism of the fluid injector increases during the pressurized delivery of the fluid during the contrast agent injection procedure. In one non-limiting example, when the syringe 2 is inserted into the fluid injector, the cylindrical load support wall 18 may be configured to move the holding arm 103 outward to release the holding arm 103 so that the syringe 2 can move into the fluid injector. After the syringe 2 has passed through the syringe holding element 102, the holding arms 103 may be configured to move closer to each other and inward to hold the syringe 2 within the fluid injector.

[0073] As disclosed herein and incorporated herein by reference, and as described in U.S. Patent No. 10,420,902, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, whether a small amount of air (up to a maximum of 5% of the total volume of the syringe) is present within syringe 2 can be visualized by the presence or absence of halo illumination 40a at the conical distal end 6 of syringe 2. For example, electromagnetic radiation may be reflected / refracted from a colored surface or may be shown (from a light source within the piston head) through a translucent or transparent plunger cap. When syringe 2 is completely filled with a liquid fluid, electromagnetic radiation is refracted / reflected with respect to syringe sidewall 8 and conical distal end wall 14, showing a refractive halo effect in the form of halo illumination 40a occurring near the outer periphery of the distal portion of conical distal end 6 of syringe 2. In the presence of a small amount of air (e.g., up to 5 mL or more), halo illumination 40a is not observed. This provides a method for an inspection technician to visually determine whether air is present within syringe 2 and perform a purge / priming operation to remove the air and prevent air injection into the patient. In certain embodiments, the visualization process may also be performed by an injector when equipped with a suitable camera and associated software. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, at least one of cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 or a plurality of radial ribs 24 can increase the amount of electromagnetic radiation refracted at distal end 6 of syringe 2 when syringe 2 is filled with fluid. For example, the plurality of radial ribs 24 can function similar to a Fresnel lens, increasing the reflection / refraction of electromagnetic radiation to generate a higher-intensity halo illumination near the outer periphery of the distal portion of conical distal end 6 of syringe 2. In other embodiments, electromagnetic radiation can also be reflected from the conical distal end and illuminate a halo 40b, for example, near a plurality of radial ribs 24, near at least a portion of cylindrical load-bearing wall 18. In certain embodiments, electromagnetic radiation may be emitted from at least one electromagnetic radiation source within the piston head of a fluid injector. In other embodiments, electromagnetic radiation may be reflected from at least a portion of the surface of plunger 106 of syringe 2.

[0074] In certain embodiments, the syringe 2 of the present disclosure may include one or more features that improve the flow of fluid into and out of the syringe 2 during a fluid injection process and a fluid delivery process. According to various embodiments, the syringe 2 may comprise a neck portion connected to a fluid nozzle 10 at the distal end 6 of the syringe 2. The neck portion may include a diameter that is larger than that of a conventional syringe, such as to include a connector element as described, for example, in International Application PCT / US2021 / 018523. The neck portion of the syringe 2 may include a fluid passageway having a plurality of fluid turning ribs 30 that extend at least partially radially inwardly from the inner surface of the neck portion into the interior of the fluid passageway, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0075] According to various embodiments, the plurality of fluid turning ribs 30 may redirect the fluid flowing through the fluid nozzle 10 during the injection procedure so that the fluid flows along the inner surfaces of the conical distal end wall 14 and the cylindrical side wall 8 of the syringe 2. In certain embodiments, the plurality of fluid turning ribs 30 may include ribs that extend radially inwardly at different distances (compare rib 30 and rib 31 in FIG. 4) and / or extend at different lengths along the longitudinal axis L of the fluid nozzle 10. Although not intended to be limited by any interpretation, the redirection of the fluid flow through the syringe fluid nozzle 10 is believed to be the result of the Coandă effect, where the fluid turning ribs 30 cause the fluid to adhere to the inner side walls of the conical distal end wall 14 and the cylindrical side wall 8 of the syringe 2. For example, capillary adhesion of the fluid to the walls of the fluid turning ribs 30 causes the fluid to be held against the inner side walls of the neck portion by surface tension and may further continue into the inner side walls of the conical distal end wall 14 and the cylindrical side wall 8. Instead of flowing into the syringe without contacting the inner side walls, if the fluid is caused to flow down along the inner side walls of the syringe, the number of air bubbles generated in the fluid during the injection procedure is reduced. In contrast, in a conventional syringe without the fluid turning ribs 30, the fluid may flow down / drip in the center of the syringe fluid nozzle 10 and then drip onto the plunger 106 to form air bubbles in the fluid. These air bubbles may adhere to the plunger 106 and the side wall surface and are typically difficult to remove during the priming procedure. The resulting air bubbles can increase the risk of air embolism by a small amount of air injection, especially in angiography procedures. As described above, especially in high-pressure CV imaging procedures, air bubble formation in the syringe and / or fluid passage must be avoided to prevent air embolism. According to these embodiments, the fluid turning ribs 30 minimize the amount of air bubbles in the fluid within the syringe 2. Previous studies have shown that a fluid diverter in the center of the flow path through the nozzle reduces air bubble formation during filling. See, for example, WO 2017 / 0914643, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.The described fluid turning ribs 30 provide a similar effect without the need for a fluid diverting mechanism within the flow path, and as a result, simplify the manufacture and injection molding of the syringe 2. The amount of air bubbles in the fluid within the filled syringe 2 can be minimized by the fluid flowing along the inner surfaces of the distal end wall 14 and the cylindrical side wall 8 of the syringe 2, rather than dripping / flowing directly from the syringe fluid nozzle 10 onto the plunger surface. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the fluid turning ribs 30 can also identify whether air bubbles are present within the syringe 2 by enhancing the outer peripheral halo illumination effect described herein. As observed with the plurality of radial ribs 24, the fluid turning ribs 30 can spread the incident electromagnetic radiation and further reflect and refract it, increasing the luminance of the halo illumination observed near the outer periphery of the distal portion of the conical distal end 6 of the syringe 2. In certain embodiments, at least some of the plurality of fluid turning ribs 30 may have different cross-sectional shapes. In other embodiments, at least some of the plurality of fluid turning ribs 30 may extend different distances from the inner surface of the fluid nozzle 10 into the distal portion of the conical distal end 6 of the syringe 2.

[0076] According to various embodiments, the plurality of fluid turning ribs 30 can also increase the filling rate, potentially due to, for example, an increase in the laminar flow of the fluid into the syringe 2 as the fluid passes through the fluid turning ribs 30. As a result, the syringe can be filled more quickly than a conventional syringe, so the time taken between procedures can be substantially reduced. Further, since the formation of air bubbles during filling is reduced, the filling rate can be increased, resulting in a reduction in the prime volume and a reduction in the waste liquid generated as the prime volume increases.

[0077] According to various embodiments, the features described herein can enhance the ease of injection molding of the syringe 2. For example, the syringe 2 may be formed from medical plastics such as PET, polycarbonate, polyethylene, and their blends, and may also be formed into the syringe shape by an injection molding process. During injection molding, problems may occur due to these features, such as the need to process undercuts due to these features when removing the article from the mold. Additionally, certain features may require expensive mold configurations specific to these features that can still result in a high defect rate. According to various embodiments of the syringe 2 and the features described therein, the configuration of the plurality of radial ribs 24, fluid turning ribs 30, and cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 can eliminate the need to process undercuts from the injection molding mold for injection molding the syringe 2.

[0078] A plurality of beneficial features regarding the syringe 2 are described in this disclosure. Combinations of the described features may be incorporated into the syringe in a state required by the intended use of the syringe and the characteristics of the fluid injector. For example, the syringe may include at least one of these features and may optionally include various other features described herein. For example, according to one embodiment, the syringe may include a plurality of radial ribs 24 along the periphery of the conical distal end wall 14 described herein and a cylindrical load-bearing wall 18, but may not include a plurality of fluid turning ribs 30. For example, according to one embodiment, the syringe may include a plurality of radial ribs 24 along the periphery of the conical distal end wall 14 described herein, a cylindrical load-bearing wall 18, and a plurality of fluid turning ribs 30. For example, according to one embodiment, the syringe may include a cylindrical load-bearing wall 18 and a plurality of fluid turning ribs 30 described herein, but may not include a plurality of radial ribs 24. Therefore, the various embodiments detailed herein and shown in the accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the features incorporated into this syringe in any way.

[0079] Although various aspects and features of the syringe assembly are described in connection with syringes for medical electric injectors, the syringe assemblies and various features described herein may also be incorporated into hand-held syringes that deliver fluid at low injection pressures. For example, in many medical settings where fluid is injected by a hand-held syringe, a physician may aspirate fluid into the syringe from a corresponding fluid container, such as a vial, and then hold the syringe in a vertical position and press on the plunger assembly to deliver a small amount of fluid along with any air contained within the syringe to prime or purge the syringe. Since the ejected fluid drips on the side of the needle and syringe body, it may expose the physician to the medical fluid. The syringe assemblies and various features described herein may be utilized on a hand-held syringe to prevent the fluid from dripping and contacting the physician or dripping onto a surface, whether it is during the dripping of the fluid ejected during the priming process or during the dripping of the fluid during the injection process. A hand-held syringe with various embodiments and various features of the syringe assembly is within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0080] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure relates to other medical devices comprising the syringe assemblies and various features described herein. For example, any medical device that delivers fluid that may include a small amount of fluid leakage or dripping from the fluid opening to its surface can benefit from the fluid wicking flange of the present disclosure. Examples of such medical devices include, but are not limited to, catheters (such as the distal end or the portion disposed immediately outside the patient's body), tubing sets, intravenous lines, tube connectors and tube clips, shunts, fluid manifolds, valves, suction tubes, surgical instruments, fluid pump outputs, etc., and may all be modified to include the various features described herein.

[0081] It is worth pointing out that referring to "one aspect" or "an aspect" means that the specific features, structures, or characteristics described in relation to that aspect are included in at least one aspect. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one aspect" or "in an aspect" at various places throughout this specification does not necessarily mean that all are referring to the same aspect. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable way in one or more aspects.

[0082] One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the components (e.g., operations), devices, objects, and accompanying descriptions described herein are used as examples for clarity of concepts, and various configuration changes are contemplated. Thus, as used herein, the specific examples and accompanying descriptions that are given are intended to represent their more general classifications. Typically, when using any particular example, it is intended to represent that classification and should not be construed as limiting by excluding specific components (e.g., operations), devices, and objects.

[0083] In using any plural and / or singular terms herein, one of ordinary skill in the art can convert from plural to singular and / or from singular to plural as appropriate for the context and / or application. Various singular / plural substitutions are not explicitly set forth herein for brevity.

[0084] The subject matter described in this specification may refer to different components that are included within or connected to other different components. It should be understood that the architectures so shown are merely illustrative, and that many other architectures that achieve the same functionality may actually be implemented. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components that achieves the same functionality is effectively "associated" so that the desired functionality is achieved. Thus, any two components of this specification combined to achieve a particular functionality may be considered to be "associated with" each other regardless of the architecture or intermediate components, so that the desired functionality is achieved. Similarly, any two components so associated may also be considered to be "operably connected" or "operably coupled" to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components that can be so associated may also be considered to be "operably couplable" to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples of being operably couplable include, but are not limited to, components that are physically mating and / or physically interacting, and / or wirelessly interacting and / or wirelessly interacting, and / or logically interacting and / or logically interacting components.

[0085] Some aspects may be described using the terms "coupled" and "connected" along with their derivatives. It should be understood that these terms are not intended to be synonyms of each other. For example, some aspects may be described using the term "connected" to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. In another example, some aspects may be described using the term "coupled" to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. However, the term "coupled" may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but still cooperate or interact with each other.

[0086] In some examples, one or more components may be referred to herein as being "configured to", "operative", "adapted". One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that "configured to" can typically include components in an active state, and / or components in a non-active state, and / or components in a standby state, unless otherwise required by the context.

[0087] Certain aspects of the subject matter described in this specification have been shown and described, but based on the disclosure herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the subject matter described herein and its broader aspects, and thus it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the appended claims are intended to cover all such changes and modifications within the scope of the subject matter described herein. Generally, the terms used in this specification, particularly in the appended claims (e.g., the body of the appended claims), are intended to be open terms (e.g., the term "including" should be construed as "including but not limited to", the term "having" should be construed as "having at least", and the term "include" should be construed as "include but not limited to"). It will be understood by those skilled in the art that if an intention to introduce a specific number of claim listings is intended, such intention will be explicitly stated in the claims, and if there is no such listing, it will be further understood by those skilled in the art that there is no such intention. For example, for purposes of illustration, the following appended claims may include the use of introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim listings.However, the use of such terms should not be construed to mean that the introduction of a claim listing by the indefinite article "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim listing to a claim containing only one such listing even when the same claim contains the introductory phrase "one or more" or "at least one" and an indefinite article such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and / or "an" should typically be construed to mean "at least one" or "one or more"), and the same applies to the use of definite articles used to introduce claim listings.

[0088] In addition, even if the introduction of a specific number of claim recitations is explicitly recited, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that such a recitation should typically be construed to mean at least the recited number (e.g., listing “two recitations” as such without other qualifying language typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Further, when a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, such a construction is generally assumed to mean that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand the phrase (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” includes, but is not limited to, a system having only A, only B, only C, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and / or A, B, and C together, etc.). Further, when a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, such a construction is generally assumed to mean that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand the phrase (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” includes, but is not limited to, a system having only A, only B, only C, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and / or A, B, and C together, etc.). Whether in the specification, the claims, or the drawings, it will be further understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that disjunctive words and / or phrases that typically present two or more alternative terms should be understood to contemplate the possibility of including one of the terms, any of the terms, or both terms, unless the context indicates otherwise. For example, the phrase “A or B” is understood to include the possibility of being “A” or “B” or “A and B”.

[0089] In summary, many advantages resulting from using the concepts described herein are set forth. The foregoing disclosure is presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications or variations are possible in light of the above disclosure. The claims presented along with this specification are intended to define the overall scope of this disclosure.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0090] 2 Pressure syringe 4 Proximal end 5 Plunger receiving area 6 Conical distal end 7 Syringe operating area 8 Cylindrical side wall, syringe side wall 10 Syringe fluid nozzle 12 Distal end 14 Conical distal end wall 16 Tube clip or spike clip 18 Cylindrical load support wall 19 Flare surface 20 Proximal end 22 Distal surface 24 Radial rib 26 Fluid retaining groove 28 Annular rib 30 Fluid turning rib 31 Fluid turning rib 40a Halo illumination 40b Halo 100 Inner proximal surface 102 Syringe holding element 103 Syringe holding arm 104 Pressure jacket 106 Plunger D1 Diameter D2 Diameter d1 Gap width d2 Gap width d3 Gap width L Longitudinal axis (longitudinal central axis)

Claims

1. a proximal end, a distal end, and a cylindrical sidewall extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the distal end including a conical distal end wall and a fluid nozzle at a distal end of the conical distal end wall; a cylindrical load bearing wall extending axially from the cylindrical side wall beyond the proximal end of the conical distal end wall; a plurality of radial ribs disposed along a periphery of the conical distal end wall, the longitudinal axes of the radial ribs extending radially inward from the cylindrical load bearing wall toward the fluid nozzle across at least a portion of the conical distal end wall; A syringe comprising:

2. 2. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the plurality of radial ribs define a plurality of fluid retaining grooves between each pair of adjacent radial ribs, the plurality of fluid retaining grooves configured to retain a volume of fluid by capillary adhesion when the syringe is rotated from a first upward position to a second downward position.

3. The syringe of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of fluid retaining grooves are configured to hold a volume of fluid in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 milliliters.

4. 3. The syringe of claim 2, wherein the volume of fluid held by the plurality of fluid retaining grooves is determined at least in part from the distance between adjacent pairs of the plurality of radial ribs, the height of each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs, and the distance each pair of radial ribs extends radially inwardly distally from the conical distal end wall.

5. The syringe of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of radial ribs increase the load strength of the conical distal end wall.

6. 6. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the plurality of radial ribs increase the load strength of the cylindrical load-bearing wall.

7. 7. The syringe of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of radial ribs extends inwardly from the cylindrical load-bearing wall across the conical distal end wall a different radial distance than the remaining radial ribs of the plurality of radial ribs.

8. 8. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical load-bearing wall is configured to abut against a retaining surface of a retaining arm of a fluid injector to retain the syringe within a pressure jacket during a pressure injection procedure.

9. 9. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical load-bearing wall extends axially from the cylindrical side wall of the syringe at an angle of between 1 degree and 30 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the syringe.

10. 10. The syringe of claim 1, wherein a distal surface of the cylindrical load-bearing wall is radially tapered from a more proximal inner portion to a more distal outer portion relative to a longitudinal axis of the syringe.

11. 11. The syringe of claim 10, wherein the angle of the distal surface of the cylindrical load-bearing wall is configured to prevent fluid from flowing between a cylindrical side wall of the syringe and a pressure jacket in which the syringe is disposed.

12. 12. The syringe of claim 10 or 11, wherein the angle of the distal face of the cylindrical load bearing wall is configured to provide a large radially inward force against a retaining arm of a fluid injector.

13. 13. The syringe of claim 1, wherein at least one of the cylindrical load-bearing wall and the plurality of radial ribs enhances a refractive halo effect at a distal portion of the conical distal end wall due to electromagnetic radiation emitted from at least one electromagnetic radiation source within a piston or plunger head of a fluid injector.

14. 14. The syringe of claim 1, further comprising a neck connected to the fluid nozzle at a distal end of the syringe, the neck including a fluid passage having a plurality of fluid diverting ribs extending at least partially radially inward from an inner surface of the neck into the interior of the fluid passage.

15. 15. The syringe of claim 14, wherein the plurality of fluid diverting ribs are configured to divert fluid flowing through the neck portion into the syringe such that the fluid flows along an inner surface of the conical distal end wall and the cylindrical side wall of the syringe.

16. 16. The syringe of claim 14 or 15, wherein the plurality of fluid diverting ribs are configured to minimize the amount of air bubbles in a fluid within the syringe.

17. 17. The syringe of claim 16, wherein the amount of air bubbles in a fluid within the syringe is minimized by the fluid flowing along the inner surface of a distal end wall and a cylindrical side wall of the syringe.

18. 18. The syringe of claim 14, wherein at least some of the plurality of fluid diverting ribs have different shapes.

19. 19. The syringe of claim 14, wherein at least some of the plurality of fluid diverting ribs extend different distances from the inner surface into the fluid passage.

20. 20. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the plurality of radial ribs extend along the conical distal end wall at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the syringe such that the distance between each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs gradually decreases from the cylindrical load-bearing wall to the fluid nozzle.

21. a proximal end, a distal end, and a cylindrical sidewall extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the distal end including a conical distal end wall and a fluid nozzle at a distal end of the conical distal end wall; a plurality of fluid diverting ribs extending inwardly from an interior surface of the fluid nozzle; a plurality of radial ribs disposed along a periphery of the conical distal end wall, the longitudinal axes of the plurality of radial ribs extending radially inwardly from the cylindrical load bearing wall toward the fluid nozzle across at least a portion of the conical distal end wall; A syringe comprising:

22. 22. The syringe of claim 21, further comprising a cylindrical load-bearing wall extending axially from said cylindrical side wall beyond a proximal end of said conical distal end wall.

23. 23. The syringe of claim 21 or 22, wherein the plurality of radial ribs define a plurality of fluid retaining grooves between each pair of adjacent radial ribs, the plurality of fluid retaining grooves configured to retain a volume of fluid by capillary adhesion when the syringe is rotated from a first upward position to a second downward position.

24. 24. The syringe of claim 23, wherein the plurality of fluid retaining grooves are configured to hold a volume of the fluid in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 milliliters.

25. 24. The syringe of claim 23, wherein the volume of fluid held by the plurality of fluid retaining grooves is determined at least in part from the distance between adjacent pairs of the plurality of radial ribs, the height of each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs, and the distance each pair of radial ribs extends radially inwardly distally from the conical distal end wall.

26. a proximal end, a distal end, and a cylindrical sidewall extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the distal end including a conical distal end wall and a fluid nozzle at a distal end of the conical distal end wall; a plurality of fluid diverting ribs extending inwardly from an interior surface of the fluid nozzle; In a syringe comprising: The syringe, wherein the plurality of fluid redirecting ribs enhance a refractive halo effect at a distal portion of the conical distal end wall due to electromagnetic radiation emitted from at least one electromagnetic radiation source within a piston head or plunger head of the fluid injector.

27. 27. The syringe of claim 26, further comprising a cylindrical load-bearing wall extending axially from said cylindrical side wall beyond a proximal end of said conical distal end wall.

28. 28. The syringe of claim 26 or 27, further comprising a plurality of radial ribs disposed along a periphery of the conical distal end wall, the longitudinal axes of the plurality of radial ribs extending radially inward from the cylindrical load bearing wall toward the fluid nozzle across at least a portion of the conical distal end wall.

29. 29. The syringe of claim 28, wherein the plurality of radial ribs define a plurality of fluid retaining grooves between each pair of adjacent radial ribs, the plurality of fluid retaining grooves configured to retain a volume of fluid by capillary adhesion when the syringe is rotated from a first upward position to a second downward position.

30. 30. The syringe of claim 29, wherein the plurality of fluid retaining grooves are configured to hold a volume of fluid in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 milliliters.

31. 30. The syringe of claim 29, wherein the volume of fluid held by the plurality of fluid retaining grooves is determined at least in part from the distance between adjacent pairs of the plurality of radial ribs, the height of each adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs, and the distance each pair of radial ribs extends radially inwardly distally from the conical distal end wall.

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