Self-orienting syringe and syringe interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11577022-B2
Application number	US-201916713335-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2019
Priority date	Oct 28, 2014
Publication date	Feb 14, 2023
Grant date	Feb 14, 2023

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 fluid injector, comprising:
an injector housing defining at least one syringe port for receiving at least one syringe; and
a locking mechanism associated with the at least one syringe port for securing at least one syringe within the at least one syringe port, the locking mechanism configured for engaging a retention flange around at least a portion of an outer circumference near the proximal end of the at least one syringe and a plurality of engagement members at the proximal end of the syringe to releasably position and lock the at least one syringe within the at least one syringe port,
wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a lock/release ring comprising one or more syringe engagement members having a complementary tapered 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 retention flange on the syringe, allowing the at least one syringe to axially eject from the at least one syringe port, and
wherein a taper of each of the plurality of engagement members axially ejects the syringe upon rotation of the syringe.

2. The fluid injector of claim 1 , wherein the one or more syringe engagement members comprise a second taper, wherein at least one of the taper of the plurality of engagement members and the second taper rotationally guide the syringe into alignment with the locking mechanism.

3. The fluid injector of claim 2 , wherein the lock/release ring is rotatable relative to the injector housing with rotation of the at least one syringe about a longitudinal axis.

4. The fluid injector of claim 3 , wherein the one or more syringe engagement members and the plurality of engagement members engage so that rotation of the at least one syringe about the longitudinal axis results in rotation of the lock/release ring.

5. The fluid injector of claim 4 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises at least one deflectable retaining element configured to interact with the retention flange to releasably retain the syringe within the locking mechanism.

6. The fluid injector of claim 5 , wherein the at least one deflectable retaining element comprises at least one elastically resilient member connected at one end to at least a portion of the at least of deflectable retaining element, wherein the at least one elastically resilient member urges the at least one deflectable retaining element in a radially inward direction.

7. The fluid injector of claim 5 , wherein the at least one deflectable retaining element has a locking lip that is angled relative to a longitudinal axis such that movement of the at least one syringe in a proximal direction causes the at least one deflectable retaining element to move in a radially outward direction.

8. The fluid injector of claim 5 , wherein rotation of the lock/release ring from a first position to a second, rotated position causes the at least one deflectable retaining element to move in a radially outward direction.

9. The fluid injector of claim 8 , wherein concurrent with the at least one deflectable retaining element moving in the radially outward direction, movement of the taper of the plurality of engagement members relative to the second taper axially ejects the syringe from the locking mechanism.

10. The fluid injector of claim 8 , wherein the lock/release ring comprises a second elastically resilient member that rotates the lock/release ring back to the first position.

11. The fluid injector of claim 10 , wherein rotation of the lock/release ring back to the first position provides a lateral force to the at least one syringe to further move the taper of the plurality of engagement members relative to the second taper to axially eject the syringe from the locking mechanism.

12. A syringe locking mechanism for a fluid injector, the locking mechanism comprising:
a lock/release ring comprising one or more syringe engagement members having a complementary shape for engaging with one or more of a plurality of engagement members when a syringe is inserted into a syringe port of the fluid injector, the lock/release ring being rotatable relative to a housing of the fluid injector with a rotation of the syringe about a longitudinal axis;
at least one deflectable retaining element configured to interact with a retention flange around at least a portion of an outer circumference near the proximal end of the at least one syringe to releasably retain the syringe within the locking mechanism, wherein the at least one deflectable retaining element has a locking lip that is angled relative to the longitudinal axis such that movement of the at least one syringe in a proximal direction causes the at least one deflectable retaining element to move in a radially outward direction; and
at least one elastically resilient member connected at one end to at least a portion of the at least of deflectable retaining element and at a second end to at least a portion of the fluid injector, wherein the at least one elastically resilient member urges the at least one deflectable retaining element in a radially inward direction.

Assignees

• Bayer Healthcare Llc

Inventors

• Cowan Kevin
• Tucker Barry
• Uber Iii Arthur
• Rhinehart Edward
• Neill James
• Williams Glen
• Spohn Michael

Classifications

• A61M5/007

  for contrast media · 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

• A61M2205/6063

  Optical identification systems · CPC title

• A61M2005/14573

  with a replaceable reservoir for quick connection/disconnection with a driving system · CPC title