Hypodermic syringe body structure

Abstract

A hypodermic syringe body structure including a plastic barrel open at one end and having an integral sleeve extending inwards from its other end, a separately formed plastic inner tubular member is arranged within the barrel and connected therewith so that at least a portion thereof is within the sleeve, one of the barrel and tubular member having an integral tubular extension projecting outwards of the other end of the barrel and which extension includes a frangible portion and a hub for receiving a cannula. One of inner tubular member and the sleeve has a connector means thereon for connection with the connector on the stopper of a liquid medicament container, and a piercing spike for piercing the stopper is connected to one of the tubular member or connector so that the syringe body structure can be connected with a liquid medicament container to constitute a complete hypodermic syringe with the tubular extension and associated cannula being broken off after a single use.

Parent Case Text

This is a division, of application Ser. No. 171,624, filed Aug. 13, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,768,474.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the hypodermic syringe or medicament injector of the type which embodies a syringe body for association with a medicament container in such a manner that the medicament can be expelled through a cannula or needle associated with the syringe body.

Arrangements of this type are generally known, as exemplified by the disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. to R. W. Ogle 3,376,866 and 3,378,008, dated Apr. 9, 1968 and Apr. 16, 1968, respectively.

In each of those known arrangements, the container for the liquid medicament is to be so associated in use with a cannula carrying syringe body as to act as the expeller for the liquid.

In this art, the aspect of destroying the components after a single dosage is becoming more important than ever with the present day increases in contamination and infection possibilities and also to prevent any of the components being utilized for other than the originally intended purpose.

Further, the production of hypodermic syringe and vial or medicament container components on a large scale production basis, particularly from organic plastic materials, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, present certain problems as regards molding the various necessary structural features which enter into the assembly of and positioning of the cannula within the syringe body and relative to the plunger of the medicament container. In addition, the destruction capability of the cannula carrying syringe body gives rise to certain problems that can be more readily overcome during manufacture if proper considerations are given thereto.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a constructional arrangement of a syringe body which includes destructible aspects to limit usage to a single dosage and which also includes features facilitating large scale production on an economical basis as well as providing proper and accurate assembly of a cannula and piercing spike relative to a syringe body and relative to the plunger of a medicament container.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

In the invention, there is provided a syringe body that includes a barrel forming tubular portion, an inner tubular portion that is to be operatively associated with a plunger or stopper of a liquid medicament container, and which is effectively integral with the barrel forming portion, a tubular component that projects beyond the base of the barrel that embodies a weakened portion effected during manufacture that permits ready separation of such tubular component from the barrel after a single dosage, a hollow piercing spike for cooperation with a plunger or stopper of a medicament container and means to mount a recipient needle relative to such tubular component.

The arrangement can be such that the tubular component embodying the weakened portion is formed simultaneously during molding with either the outer barrel forming portion, the inner tubular portion, or as a separately molded tubular member. Further, a liquid transfer tube can be separate from or integral with the inner tubular portion or the separately molded tubular member, the piercing spike can be integral with the transfer tube or the inner tubular portion, and the transfer tube and piercing spike can be integrally formed in a single molding. Also, the tubular component that projects beyond the barrel can be formed to internally receive a fixed recipient needle, or constitute a luer taper having effectively externally integrally related therewith a luer lock adapter structure to receive replaceable needles.

Further, in the invention there is no patient piercing cannula or needle that extends substantially throughout the barrel and also outwardly of the barrel a substantial extent. With prior art arrangements, the destruction capability is diminished since a stainless steel needle as used in the art has to be severed or broken off. Also, in one aspect of the invention, a plastic transfer tube is provided with an integral piercing spike so that the barrel and any component still associated therewith can be effectively incinerated after the outer frangible or weakened area connection of the tubular portion that projects beyond the barrel and has the recipient metal needle associated therewith has been broken off.

Another feature of the invention consists in the provision of a relatively short inwardly extending centering boss or guide sleeve at the base of the barrel for receiving the inner tubular portion that carries means at its outer end for cooperative connection with the stopper or plunger of a medicament container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further and more specific features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an assembled and integrally connected syringe body structure and one that embodies a fixed recipient needle;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are fragmentary longitudinal sectional views illustrating modifications of the relationship of components shown in FIG. 1 in which the inner tubular member is formed with a needle receiving socket;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrating the tubular extensions from the barrel and inner tubular member shaped to receive a removable needle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The basic form of the invention, FIG. 1, includes a barrel D, and an inner tubular structure E that combines the liquid transfer tube, the connector for the stopper of a medicament container and the piercing spike in a single component.

Thus, the barrel D includes a wall portion 201, finger engaging extensions 202 at one end thereof, a base 203 at the other end and a guide sleeve 204 extending inwardly of the base. Stiffening ribs extend between the base and guide sleeve. Projecting externally of the base is an extension 205 that is shaped to provide a socket for a cannula or needle. The extension includes an inner frangible portion 206 of reduced wall thickness and defined between the outer surface 207 of the base and an internal shoulder 208 on the extension. The needle receiving socket 209 includes the epoxy resin receiving pocket 210 and an inner tubular extension 211 to accommodate a length of the needle 212. An external snap ring 213 is formed on the extension to cooperate with an internal groove 214 on a cap or shell structure 215 which confines the needle and resin.

The inner tubular structure E includes an intermediate portion 216 having external strengthening ribs 217 thereon and an end portion 218 that fits within the guide sleeve portion 204 and has a reduced rim defined by a shoulder 219 that fits within the bore through the base 203 of the barrel. The other end portion of the tubular structure combines a connector sleeve 220 having internal threads 221 thereon and a piercing spike 222 having a solid anti-coring point 223.

In assembly, the separately molded barrel D and tubular structure E are interfitted after a needle has been epoxy resin bonded in the socket. Thereafter they are effectively integrally united by sonic welding utilizing a bead or porjections formed on either shoulder 219 or the adjacent base surface and a bead on the interior of guide sleeve portion 204.

The last described arrangement contemplates a fixed recipient needle. While this form has such needle carried by the barrel, modifications provide the needle carrying socket on the inner tubular structure. Thus, as in FIG. 2, the base 203' of the barrel F has an internal guide sleeve 204' extending inwardly of the barrel radially outwards of the bore through the base. The internal tubular structure G is shaped to provide a shoulder 219' for sealing and integrally uniting with the barrel gase 203', a frangible portion 230 between shoulders 231 and 232 and a needle socket 209'.

In another form where a fixed recipient needle is utilized, FIG. 3, the barrel or holder H is provided with an internally stepped guide sleeve 300 that includes an inner surface portion 301 of polygonal, preferably hexagonal, internal shape that accommodates a stepped plastic tubular inner sleeve I having a complementary polygonally shaped external surface portion 302 and which further includes an extension 303 that projects through and beyond the base of the barrel and which, during molding, is provided with a frangible intermediate portion 304. The outer end of this tubular structure is shaped to constitute a socket 305 for a fixed recipient needle. In the arrangements shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a cap such as shown at 215, FIG. 1, is utilized.

It is likewise believed clear that the structures shown in the last described form can be further modified so that the tubular portion extending outwardly of the frangible portion, regardless of whether such frangible portion is embodied with the outer body or barrel or an inner tubular member that passes through the guide sleeve and barrel, is molded to constitute a luer taper and has a shoulder to which is bonded a luer lock adapter, see FIGS. 4 and 5.

In one of these last described forms, FIG. 4, the luer taper 400, the shoulder 401 for receiving a luer lock adapter 402 and an intermediate frangible portion 403 are molded integrally with the barrel J, whereas in still another form, FIG. 5, the luer taper 500, intermediate frangible portion 503 and associated luer lock adapter receiving shoulder 501 for an adapter 502, are provided on the inner tubular structure, the opposite end of which is shaped to provide the threaded connecting portion and piercing spike as in FIG. 1.

Actually, the form of the invention that embodies the simplest approach is that which consists of only two members; namely, the barrel having a short internal guide sleeve and an inner tubular structure that combines the internally threaded connecting socket and piercing spike, regardless of whether the extension beyond the base of the barrel is incorporated with either the barrel or the inner tubular structure, or whether such extension is shaped to provide a needle socket or to constitute a luer taper to receive a luer lock adapter. In addition, the invention contemplates the provision of energy directing beads or pointed projections on any surface extending laterally of the axis of the barrel, regardless of whether they are on outer or inner elements so that when the several components, after initial and separate molding from compatible plastics, are assembled and exposed to sonic welding apparatus, the effective integral bonding and sealing of the parts to one another can be accomplished.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A hypodermic syringe body structure for association with a liquid medicament container of the type including a pierceable stopper having a connector thereon, said body structure comprising a molded plastic barrel member having an open end, a base opposite said open end having an aperture therethrough and an integral guide sleeve surrounding the aperture in the base and extending axially inwardly of said base a distance that is relatively short in relation to the axial extent of said barrel member, a one-piece molded plastic inner tubular member having a hollow interior and at least a portion thereof fitting within said guide sleeve and an end portion having a connector for coupling engagement with a stopper of such a medicament container, said end portion terminating at least approximately in the plane of the open end of said barrel and comprising an enlarged, internally threaded, integrally formed plastic portion of said inner tubular member, a hollow, plastic, stopper piercing spike coaxially disposed within said enlarged internally threaded portion integrally formed of the plastic of the tubular member and in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the inner tubular member, one of said barrel member and inner tubular member having an integral tubular extension projecting outwardly of the aperture in said base, said tubular extension being in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the inner tubular member, said tubular extension having a frangible portion outwards of said base of said barrel member, means operatively connected with said tubular extension outwards of said frangible portion for receiving an end portion of a cannula, said barrel member and inner tubular member having mutual facing bonding surfaces, and means effectively bonding said barrel member and tubular member together.

2. A hypodermic syringe body structure as claimed in claim 1 and circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending stiffening ribs integral with said barrel member and extending between said base of said barrel member and said guide sleeve.

3. A hypodermic syringe body structure as claimed in claim 2 and circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending stiffening ribs integral with said inner tubular member, projecting radially outwards thereof and disposed thereon for at least a substantial extent thereof between said guide sleeve and enlarged internally threaded portion.

4. A hypodermic syringe body structure as claimed in claim 1 and said tubular extension projecting outwardly of said base of said barrel member being integral with said barrel member.

5. A hypodermic syringe body structure as claimed in claim 4 and in which the means operatively connected with said projecting tubular extension for receiving a cannula, comprises an integral internal cannula accommodating tubular portion disposed inwardly of the end of said extension, the bore of said tubular extension being enlarged outwardly of said cannula accommodating tubular sleeve to define a pocket for accommodating a bonding material in surrounding relation with respect to a cannula inserted within said last-mentioned portion, and means connected to said tubular extension to confine a cannula and bonding material in said pocket.

6. A hypodermic syringe body structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said tubular extension projecting outwardly of said base of said barrel member is an integral extension of said barrel member and includes a portion shaped as a luer taper and further having a supporting surface for receiving and connection with a luer lock adapter.

7. A hypodermic syringe body structure as claimed in claim 1 and said tubular extension projecting outwardly of said base of said barrel member being integral with said tubular member.

8. A hypodermic syringe body structure as claimed in claim 7 and in which the means operatively connected with said projecting tubular extension for receiving a cannula comprising an integral internal cannula accommodating tubular portion disposed inwardly of the end of said extension, the bore of said tubular extension being enlarged outwardly of said cannula accommodating tubular portion to define a pocket for accommodating a bonding material in surrounding relation with respect to a cannula inserted within said last-mentioned portion, and means connected to said tubular extension to confine a cannula and bonding material in said pocket.

9. A hypodermic syringe body structure as claimed in claim 7 and said guide sleeve and inner tubular member having facing, cooperating inner and outer surface portions of complementary polygonal cross section.

10. A hypodermic syringe body structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said tubular extension projecting outwardly of said base of said barrel member comprises an integral extension of said tubular member and includes a portion shaped as a luer taper and further having a supporting surface for receiving and connection with a luer lock adapter.