Syringe having a spring action plunger rod

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10960130-B2
Application number	US-201715421828-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2017
Priority date	Sep 30, 2011
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

A syringe assembly including a syringe barrel defining a chamber having a stopper therein is disclosed. The syringe assembly includes a plunger rod associated with the stopper, the plunger rod includes an outer sleeve having a distal end interconnected to the stopper and a sidewall portion defining an opening therein. The plunder rod also includes an inner sleeve disposed within the outer sleeve including a longitudinally extending track in alignment with the opening in the outer sleeve. The inner sleeve is adapted for telescopic movement with respect to the outer sleeve. The plunger rod also includes a spring mounted in association with the inner sleeve. The syringe assembly further includes a holding mechanism associated with the plunger rod and configured for cooperation with the inner and outer sleeves. Relative movement between the inner and outer sleeves causes the plunger rod to transition from a collapsed position to an extended position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A packaging assembly for use with a pre-filled syringe assembly having a spring releasable plunger rod, wherein the spring releasable plunger rod includes a compressed pre-use position and an expanded ready-to-use position, the packaging assembly configured for containing the syringe assembly in the pre-use position, the packaging assembly comprising:
a cap configured for covering the plunger rod and a plunger rod thumb press, with the plunger rod in the compressed pre-use position; and
a cover comprising a first portion surrounding a syringe barrel and a tip cap, the tip cap including a plug for sealing an outlet opening of the syringe barrel, and a second portion surrounding a syringe barrel flange of the syringe assembly,
wherein the cap comprises a rigid member configured to prevent the application of a distally directed force on the plunger rod thumb press and plunger rod and to maintain the spring releasable plunger rod in the compressed pre-use position,
the cover is capable of being removed from the tip cap and plug such that the tip cap and plug remain secured to the syringe barrel, and
the first portion of the cover is removable while the second portion of the cover remains around the syringe barrel flange of the syringe assembly.

2. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the syringe barrel has a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending between the first end and the second end defining a chamber, further comprising a stopper disposed within the chamber of the syringe barrel.

3. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plunger rod is associated with a stopper, the plunger rod comprising:
an outer sleeve having a distal end interconnected to the stopper, the outer sleeve comprising a sidewall portion defining an opening therein;
an inner sleeve disposed within the outer sleeve, the inner sleeve including a longitudinally extending track, at least a portion of the track being in alignment with the opening in the outer sleeve, wherein the inner sleeve is adapted for telescopic movement with respect to the outer sleeve; and
a spring mounted in association with the inner sleeve.

4. The packaging assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a holding mechanism arranged on the outer sleeve and configured to cooperate with the track in the inner sleeve, wherein the holding mechanism holds the plunger rod in a pre-use position wherein the spring is held in a compressed position and relative movement between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve causes the spring to be released from the compressed position and the plunger rod to transition from the collapsed pre-use position to an extended ready-to-use position.

5. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the packaging assembly has a longitudinal length that is less than a longitudinal length of the syringe barrel and spring releasable plunger rod in the expanded ready-to-use position such that the packaging assembly has a smaller packaging footprint allowing for reduced storage space.

6. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the cover comprises a cup shaped member having an end wall and a sidewall, said end wall comprising a substantially planar inner surface extending across a diameter of the end wall, said cover defining an open portion configured for receiving the tip cap and plug.

7. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein a tamper-indicating label extends over both a portion of the first portion of the cover and a portion of the second portion of the cover.

8. The packaging assembly of claim 7 , wherein the tamper-indicating label includes a frangible portion and removal of the frangible portion enables removal of the first portion of the cover.

9. A packaging assembly for use with a pre-filled syringe assembly having a spring releasable plunger rod, said packaging assembly comprising:
a tear tab positioned about a portion of the plunger rod at a location between a plunger rod thumb press and a syringe barrel flange, the tear tab abutting both the plunger rod thumb press and the syringe barrel flange to prevent distal movement of the spring releasable plunger rod and inadvertent release of the spring releasable plunger rod; and
a cover comprising a first portion surrounding a syringe barrel and a tip cap, the tip cap including a plug for sealing an outlet opening of the syringe barrel,
and a second portion surrounding the syringe barrel flange of the syringe assembly,
wherein the tear tab is positioned external to the cover and the plunger rod thumb press is exposed,
the cover is capable of being removed from the tip cap and plug such that the tip cap and plug remain secured to the syringe barrel, and
the first portion of the cover is removable while the second portion of the cover remains around the syringe barrel flange of the syringe assembly.

10. The packaging assembly of claim 9 , wherein the tear tab includes a grasping portion to assist in removal of the tear tab from about the plunger rod and the cover comprises a frangible portion to assist in its removal from about the syringe barrel and tip cap.

11. The packaging assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first portion of the cover comprises a cup shaped member having an end wall and a sidewall, said end wall comprising a substantially planar inner surface extending across a diameter of the end wall, said cover defining an open portion configured for receiving the tip cap and plug.

12. The packaging assembly of claim 11 , wherein a tamper-indicating label extends over both a portion of the first portion of the cover and a portion of the second portion of the cover.

13. The packaging assembly of claim 12 , wherein the tamper-indicating label includes a frangible portion and removal of the frangible portion enables removal of the first portion of the cover.

14. The packaging assembly of claim 9 , wherein the syringe barrel has a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending between the first end and the second end defining a chamber, and a stopper disposed within the chamber of the syringe barrel.

15. The packaging assembly of claim 14 , wherein the plunger rod is associated with the stopper, and further comprises:
an outer sleeve having a distal end interconnected to the stopper, the outer sleeve comprising a sidewall portion defining an opening therein;
an inner sleeve disposed within the outer sleeve, the inner sleeve including a longitudinally extending track, at least a portion of the track being in alignment with the opening in the outer sleeve, wherein the inner sleeve is adapted for telescopic movement with respect to the outer sleeve; and
a spring mounted in association with the inner sleeve.

16. The packaging assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a holding mechanism arranged on the outer sleeve and configured to cooperate with the track in the inner sleeve, wherein the holding mechanism holds the plunger rod in a pre-use position wherein the spring is held in a compressed position and relative movement between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve causes the spring to be released from the compressed position and the plunger rod to transition from the collapsed pre-use position to an extended ready-to-use position.

Assignees

• Becton Dickinson France Sas

Inventors

• Schiff David Robert
• Turpault Mathieu Dominic
• Gatta Antonio
• Coleman John Depler

Classifications

• A61M5/31511 Primary

  Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod (A61M5/5066 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61M2005/31518

  designed to reduce the overall size of an injection device, e.g. using flexible or pivotally connected chain-like rod members · CPC title

• A61M5/3202

  Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps (A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001) · CPC title

• A61M5/002 Primary

  Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics (needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001) · CPC title

• A61M5/3135

  characterised by constructional features of the proximal end · CPC title