Disposable Syringe Plunger Plug Prevents Retraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Re-use of syringes poses health concerns due to disease transmission and inefficient use of medicament, as existing syringes do not effectively prevent re-use and utilize the contents fully.
Innovation Solution
Design of a one-use syringe with a near-zero or zero dead volume, featuring a barrel and plunger configuration with a snorkel and plunger plug that ensures complete fluid expulsion without retraction, preventing re-use by physically inhibiting reverse movement through a larger plunger plug and axial-tension limiting joints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional syringe design is used, then the syringe can be reused, but this causes health concerns due to disease transmission and inefficient use of medicament
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a disposable syringe system where the entire syringe assembly is intended for single use and then discarded. This eliminates the risk of disease transmission from reuse while ensuring complete disposal of potentially contaminated components. The syringe is designed with no user-serviceable parts, making it truly disposable rather than reusable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by designing the syringe to prevent reuse through structural features rather than relying on user discipline or complex locking mechanisms. The plunger assembly is designed to break or become inoperable after a single ejection cycle, making reuse physically impossible rather than just discouraged.
2Quantity of substance
If a conventional syringe design is used, then the plunger can be retracted to draw fluid back, but this results in dead volume and incomplete utilization of medicament contents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the syringe to perform the ejection function completely in one direction without requiring reversal. The plunger is configured to eject all fluid contents forward through the needle hub, and the system is designed so that no fluid remains in the barrel or channels after ejection. This preliminary complete ejection action eliminates dead volume without requiring any retraction or reversal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the ability to retract and reuse from the syringe design, focusing solely on the forward ejection function. By removing the retraction capability, the design eliminates dead volume and ensures complete medicament delivery, while still maintaining ease of operation for the intended single-use ejection function.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the plunger is designed to allow reverse movement for fluid retraction, then operation flexibility is maintained, but complete fluid expulsion and prevention of re-use cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional bidirectional plunger design by making the plunger unidirectional only. The plunger can move forward to eject fluid but cannot be reversed to draw fluid back. This is achieved through structural features such as a plunger tip that breaks or becomes blocked after forward movement, ensuring complete fluid expulsion while preventing reuse.
Solution Approach 2:
The plunger is designed as a single-use component that is discarded after one ejection cycle. The plunger tip or sealing mechanism is configured to fail or become inoperable after forward movement, ensuring that no fluid can be drawn back and preventing any loss of substance from incomplete expulsion or contamination from reuse.
Data Source
AI summary
An improved system and method for a syringe capable of reducing re-usage and limiting wasted contents. The syringe has a plunger with a plunger plug that extends beyond the barrel of the syringe when the contents are fully dispensed and prevents the plunger from being drawn backward. The plunger may also consist of a two-piece design that separates upon exceeding a predetermined force when attempting to draw the plunger backward after use.