Self-orienting syringe and syringe interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10512720-B2
Application number	US-201514953867-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2015
Priority date	Oct 28, 2014
Publication date	Dec 24, 2019
Grant date	Dec 24, 2019

Abstract

A syringe includes a barrel having a distal end, a proximal end, and a sidewall extending therebetween along a longitudinal axis. At least one engagement member protrudes from a terminal portion of the sidewall in a proximal direction along the longitudinal axis. The at least one engagement member tapers axially in a direction from the distal end toward the proximal end. The at least one engagement member is configured for engagement with a locking mechanism of a fluid injector to releasably lock the syringe with the fluid injector. A taper of the at least one engagement member is configured to rotationally guide the syringe into alignment with the locking mechanism and axially eject the syringe upon rotation of the syringe. The locking mechanism operatively engages the at least one engagement member regardless of an orientation of the syringe about the longitudinal axis relative to the injector.

First claim

We claim:

1. A syringe comprising:
a barrel having a distal end, a proximal end, and a sidewall extending substantially circumferentially between the distal end and the proximal end along a longitudinal axis; and
at least one engagement member protruding beyond a terminal end of the barrel in a proximal direction along the longitudinal axis and is continuous in a same curved plane with an outer surface of the sidewall of the barrel, the at least one engagement member tapering axially in a direction from the distal end toward the proximal end,
wherein the at least one engagement member is configured for engagement with a locking mechanism of a fluid injector to releasably position the syringe with a syringe port of the fluid injector, wherein the locking mechanism has a plurality of interacting surfaces, and
wherein a taper of the at least one engagement member slides along at least one tapered surface of the plurality of interacting surfaces to axially eject the syringe upon rotation of the syringe.

2. The syringe of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of engagement members extend about at least a portion of a circumference of the terminal end.

3. The syringe of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of engagement members are spaced apart evenly about the circumference of the terminal end.

4. The syringe of claim 1 , wherein the at least one engagement member has a wave form or sinusoidal form.

5. The syringe of claim 1 , wherein the at least one engagement member has a pointed proximal tip with at least one tapered surface that extends from the pointed proximal tip in a distal direction along the longitudinal axis to the terminal end of the barrel.

6. The syringe of claim 5 , wherein the pointed proximal tip of the at least one engagement member has a sharp or rounded point.

7. The syringe of claim 5 , wherein the at least one tapered surface is angled relative to a direction of the longitudinal axis.

8. The syringe of claim 5 , wherein the at least one tapered surface is linear or curvilinear.

9. The syringe of claim 5 , wherein the at least one tapered surface is continuous or discontinuous.

10. The syringe of claim 1 , wherein the at least one engagement member further comprises a second taper.

11. The syringe of claim 10 , wherein one of the taper and the second taper of the at least one engagement member rotationally guides the syringe into alignment with the locking mechanism.

12. The syringe of claim 1 , further comprising a flange protruding radially outwardly from the outer surface of the sidewall relative to the longitudinal axis and distally of the at least one engagement member, wherein the flange is configured for engaging with the locking mechanism of the fluid injector to releasably lock the syringe with the syringe port of the fluid injector.

13. The syringe of claim 12 , wherein the flange extends around at least a portion of the outer surface of the sidewall.

14. A syringe comprising:
a barrel having a distal end, a proximal end, and a sidewall extending substantially circumferentially between the distal end and the proximal end along a longitudinal axis;
a plurality of engagement members protruding beyond and extending about at least a portion of a circumference of a terminal end of the barrel in a proximal direction along the longitudinal axis and are continuous in a same curved plane with an outer surface of the sidewall of the barrel, the plurality of engagement members each tapering axially in a direction from the distal end toward the proximal end; and
a flange extending around at least a portion of the outer surface of the sidewall, the flange protruding radially outwardly from the outer surface of the sidewall relative to the longitudinal axis and distally of the plurality of engagement members, wherein the flange is configured for engaging with a locking mechanism of a fluid injector to releasably lock the syringe with a syringe port of the fluid injector,
wherein the plurality of engagement members are configured for engagement with a locking mechanism of a fluid injector to releasably position the syringe with the syringe port of the fluid injector, wherein the locking mechanism has a plurality of interacting surfaces, and
wherein a taper of each of the plurality of engagement members slide along a tapered surface of each of the plurality of interacting surfaces to axially eject the syringe upon rotation of the syringe.

15. The syringe of claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of engagement members comprise a second taper.

16. The syringe of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the taper and the second taper of the plurality of engagement members interacts with at least one tapered surface of the locking mechanism to axially eject the syringe from the locking mechanism upon rotation of the syringe.

17. The syringe of claim 16 , wherein one of the taper and the second taper of the plurality of engagement members rotationally guide the syringe into alignment with the locking mechanism.

18. A fluid injection apparatus, comprising:
at least one syringe comprising a barrel with a distal end, a proximal end, and a sidewall extending substantially circumferentially between the distal end and the proximal end along a longitudinal axis, the barrel having a plurality of engagement members protruding beyond a terminal end of the barrel in a proximal direction along the longitudinal axis and are continuous in a same curved plane with an outer surface of the sidewall of the barrel and a flange extending around at least a portion of the outer surface of the sidewall, wherein the plurality of engagement members each tapering axially in a direction from the distal end toward the proximal end and the flange protrudes radially outwardly from the outer surface of the sidewall relative to the longitudinal axis;
an injector comprising an injector housing defining at least one syringe port for receiving the at least one syringe; and
a locking mechanism associated with the at least one syringe port for securing the at least one syringe within the at least one syringe port, the locking mechanism configured for engaging the flange and the plurality of engagement members of the syringe to releasably position and lock the at least one syringe within the at least one syringe port, wherein the locking mechanism has a plurality of interacting surfaces,
wherein a taper of each of the plurality of engagement members slide along a tapered surface of each of the plurality of interacting surfaces to axially eject the syringe upon rotation of the syringe.

19. The fluid injection apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises:
a lock/release ring comprising one or more syringe engagement members having a complementary shape for engaging with one or more of the plurality of engagement members when the at least one syringe is inserted into the at least one syringe port, the lock/release ring being rotatable relative to the housing with a rotation of the at least one syringe about the longitudinal axis,
wherein rotation of the lock/release ring disengages the locking mechanism from the flange on the at least one syringe, allowing the at least one syringe to axially eject from the at least one syringe port.

20. The fluid injection apparatus of claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of engagement members further comprise a second taper, wherein one of the taper and the second taper of the plurality of engagement members rotationally guide the at least one syringe into alignment with

Assignees

• Bayer Healthcare Llc

Inventors

• Cowan Kevin P
• Tucker Barry L
• Uber Iii Arthur E
• Rhinehart Edward J
• Neill James R
• Williams Glen P
• Spohn Michael A

Classifications

• A61M2205/6063

  Optical identification systems · CPC title

• A61M5/14566

  with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump · CPC title

• A61M5/14546 Primary

  Front-loading type injectors · CPC title

• A61M2205/19

  Constructional features of carpules, syringes or blisters · CPC title

• A61M5/007

  for contrast media · CPC title