WO2009124407A1

WO2009124407A1 - Connectable double syringe

Info

Publication number: WO2009124407A1
Application number: PCT/CH2009/000110
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wilhelm A. Keller
Original assignee: Medmix Systems Ag
Priority date: 2008-04-10
Filing date: 2009-04-01
Publication date: 2009-10-15

Abstract

The connectable double syringe comprises single syringe housings and connecting means for assembling the housings into a double syringe. The syringe housings (15, 16) are each part of an isolated syringe (2, 3), and the connecting means consist of a holder (6) having two receiving segments (19, 20) which comprise coding means (24) such that only a syringe (2, 3) with corresponding coding means (25) is attachable thereto. Such a connected double syringe provides a large amount of flexibility with respect to the contents and the materials of the individual syringes and to their handling and a high application safety, and is inexpensive to produce.

Description

Connectable Double Syringe

The present invention relates to a connectable double syringe or double cartridge having individual housings and connecting means for assembling the housings into a double syringe or cartridge, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Double syringes or double cartridges of this kind are known in the art from WO-2007/098624 to the applicant of the present invention. In the first exemplary embodiment, the housings have means for interconnecting them, in the second exemplary embodiment, the housings are inserted in a double receiving tray, and in the third exemplary embodiment, one of the housings has a receiving tray in which the second housing is insertable. All these exemplary embodiments have in common that the connecting means are provided on the housings or the latter are adapted to receive the housings, and in all exemplary embodiments, the individual pistons are actuated by a double plunger.

While these two-part double syringes already ensure a certain amount of flexibility with respect to the choice of materials of the individual housings and in view of different components of the content and their different handling during filling, sterilization, and storage, it is the object of the present invention to provide a double syringe or double cartridge that allows achieving a higher degree of flexibility with respect to its application and a high amount of unmistakability with regard to the dissimilar components, as well as a simplified manufacture. This is accomplished by the double syringe or cartridge according to claim 1. Further advantages and applications are defined in the dependent claims . The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to drawings of an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an assembled double syringe of the invention, and

Fig. 2 shows the double syringe of Fig. 1 in an exploded view.

In the description, the term "double syringe" also stands for a double cartridge. Double syringe 1 comprises two single syringes 2 and 3 as well as a mixing assembly 4 provided with a snap-on coupling 5. Instead of a mixing assembly, a spray assembly or an application accessory may alternatively be attached. Other coupling methods than the described one are also possible.

The two single syringes are assembled into a double syringe by a holder 6, and in Fig. 2 it is seen that respective outlets 7 and 8 of the individual syringes are sealable by respective closures 9 and 10. Furthermore, the syringes comprise respective plunger rods 11 and 13 with respective pistons 12 and 14. Syringe housings 15 and 16 are further provided with respective retaining flanges 17 and 18.

The cross-section of holder 6 is composed of two receiving segments 19 and 20 whose wrap angle is slightly greater than half the circumference of the respective syringe housing and whose open edges 21 have snap ledges 22 on their inner sides which engage in corresponding snap grooves 23 in syringe housings 15 and 16. In order to ensure that only the syringes intended therefor can be assembled, the two receiving segments are coded in that they are provided with coding notches 24, coding notches 24A and 24B on receiving segment 19 having unequal lengths, as seen in Fig. 2, and furthermore differing from the two coding notches 24C and 24D on receiving segment 20, which may have equal lengths among themselves. Coding ridges 25A and 25B on syringe housing 15 and 25C and 25D on syringe housing 16 correspond to these coding notches 24.

Both the length and shape and the number of coding ridges and coding notches may vary and may be greater than two, the coding ridges being utilizable for distinguishing the respective components in the syringes. Furthermore, the coding means on the holder and on the syringe housings may alternatively be inverted.

For an increased stability of the double syringe it is advisable also to connect the two plungers, for which purpose, according to Fig. 2, finger rest 26 of plunger rod 11 has a circular groove 27 in which a hook 28 on finger rest 29 of plunger rod 13 is engageable, as seen in Fig. 1. Individual plungers are required if a substance is to be drawn into one of the individual syringes. For certain applications, however, it is also possible to use a double plunger instead of the two connected single plungers.

If larger syringes or cartridges are used, the assembled double cartridge is actuated by a dispensing appliance, and in this case it is useful to provide the assembled retaining flanges 17 and 18 with coding means in order to ensure a correctly positioned insertion of the double syringe or double cartridge into the dispensing appliance.

On its outlet side, the syringe housing has a visual coding element 30 for an aligned attachment both of the closure and of the mixing assembly or of another application accessory. To this end, closure 9 or 10 is also provided with a visual coding means 31, or the mixing assembly or application accessory with a visual coding element 32.

The operation and the arrangement of the coupling area for a snap-on coupling of the double syringe, of the mixer and analogously of the closures on a double syringe is disclosed in more detail particularly in WO-2007/109915 to the applicant of the present invention. To this end, respective snap openings 33 and 34 on the mixer or on the closure engage retaining elements 35 on the outlets of the individual syringes.

Alternatively, it is also possible instead of the snap-on coupling to choose another fastening method, e.g. of the bayonet type, as disclosed e.g. in WO-2007/098624 that has been mentioned in the introduction, or another coupling method.

Claims

1. Connectable double syringe or double cartridge having single housings and connecting means for assembling the housings into a double syringe or cartridge, characterized in that the housings (15, 16) are part of isolated syringes (2, 3) or cartridges and the connecting means comprise a holder (6) having two receiving segments (19, 20), the receiving segments comprising such coding means (24) that only a particular syringe (2, 3) or cartridge with corresponding coding means (25) is attachable thereto.

2. Connectable double syringe or double cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the coding means on the receiving segment (19, 20) are coding notches (24) and the coding means on the syringe or cartridge housing (15, 16) are coding ridges (25) .

3. Connectable double syringe or double cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that the shape, length, and depth/width of the coding notches (24A-D) and of the corresponding coding ridges (25A-D) are equal to or different from each other.

4. Connectable double syringe or double cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the individual plunger rods (11, 13) have means (27, 28) for interconnecting them at their ends opposite the outlets (7, 8) .

5. Connectable double syringe or double cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the wrap angle of the receiving segments (19, 20) is greater than half the circumference of the corresponding housings.

6. Connectable double syringe or double cartridge according to claim 5, characterized in that the open edges (21) of the receiving segments each have a respective snap ledge (22) on their inner sides, each snap ledge engaging in a corresponding snap groove (23) in the housing (15, 16) .

7. Connectable double syringe or double cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the coupling areas of the double syringe or double cartridge and of the accessories (4, 9, 10) are in the form of snap couplings where snap openings (33, 34) on the mixing assembly or on the application accessory (4) or on the closures (9, 10) engage respective snap elements (35) on the outlets of the individual syringes or cartridges.

8. Connectable double syringe or double cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the double syringe or double cartridge and the accessories (4, 9, 10) have visual coding means (30, 31, 32) .

9. Connectable double syringe or double cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it has a retaining flange (17, 18) comprising coding means that correspond to coding means on a dispensing appliance.