FR2693909A1 - Elongated syringe body - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an elongated syringe body designed to facilitate easy reading of the volume of fluid it contains. The body (20) comprises a wall (32) which defines a cylindrical chamber and which is made in one piece with a graduated wall (36) on which are printed scale graduations (40) and marks (42). . The width of this graduated wall is greater than the diameter of the cylindrical wall (32) to facilitate reading of the graduations and marks. Area of application: hypodermic syringes, etc.

Description

The present invention relates to a hypodermic syringe assembly, and more

  particularly a syringe body having a structure which improves the visualization of the volume measurement marks on the syringe body. A typical hypodermic syringe of the prior art comprises a cylindrical body having an open proximal end, a distal end and, between them, a fluid receiving chamber The distal end of the body of the syringe comprises a syringe tip through which extends a passage communicating with the chamber A

  tubular needle 18 is attached to the tip of the syringe.

  The open proximal end of the syringe body slidably receives a plug or plunger to flush fluid from the chamber through both the passage and the tubular needle. The stopper is engaged with a stem.

  Rigid diver to facilitate its maneuver.

  The amount of fluid to be injected into the patient's body is often very critical and the dosages must be accurately adjusted. Therefore, the prior art syringe barrel is made of a transparent material which carries a graduated scale clearly marked. on one side. Scale graduations include equidistant circumferential lines Alphanumeric markers

  are printed circumferentially on selected lines.

  The user of a prior art syringe determines the volume of medication inside the syringe by visually aligning the interface between the drug and the end

  distal to the stopper with the graduations of the scale

  circumferentially on the side of the body

  scaling can be used while a fluid is drawn into the body of the syringe by the depression generated by a movement of the cap towards the distal end

  As a variant, it is possible to use the graduates

  scale measurements to check the dosage of a syringe

previously filled.

  The graduated scale of the prior art marked on the side of a cylindrical syringe body is usually suitable for

  However, many syringes of the prior art are specifically provided for low doses and therefore include a syringe body having an outside diameter of about or less. 6.4 mm Circumferentially printed scale graduations on the side of a small diameter syringe barrel are often too small to read easily A larger circumferential extent on the outer surface of the cylindrical syringe barrel The small diameter of the prior art can be used to allow larger numbers. However, large scale markers can be rolled up to almost 1800 times.

  along the circumference of a small diameter body.

  The user of such a small diameter syringe body, bearing large scale markers, must therefore rotate the syringe about its longitudinal axis to

read the numbers completely.

  Difficulties in reading scale graduations on a prior art syringe can be a particular problem for elderly patients who might otherwise be administering low doses of certain drugs, such as insulin. Elderly patients often have poor Therefore, older patients may not have adequate manual dexterity and coordination to slowly rotate the body of the syringe while reading scale markers. of large size wrapping around a large part of the body of

the syringe.

  An attempt to solve the problems associated with reading small scale graduations is presented in

  U.S. Patent No. 2,586,581, in particular

  In particular, this patent has a magnifying accessory that can be attached to the body of a syringe or thermometer to optically enlarge small scale graduations.

  This magnifying accessory must be fitted before filling the syringe and administering the medication and must be removed after injection. The accessory makes the syringe more difficult to use. The subject of the invention is a syringe body having opposed proximal and distal ends and a generally cylindrical chamber extending therebetween. The body further has an outer side defined, in part, by a graduated surface on which graduations are printed. The graduated surface may extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical chamber and over the entire length of the body where the scale graduations are necessary. The graduated surface defines a width, as measured transversely to the axis of the chamber, which is large enough to allow the scale graduations and markings to be presented in a conveniently readable dimension The width of the graduated surface is preferably equal to or greater than the diameter of the chamber in An advantageous embodiment, as explained hereinafter in more detail, has a graduated surface. lane which extends substantially over the entire length of the body Graduations

  scale and printed alphanumeric markers trans-

  salty on the elongated graduated surface can be read easily and completely without turning the body

  around the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical chamber.

  The outer and flat graduated surface may be part of a planar graduated wall extending parallel to the axis of the chamber. In a preferred embodiment, as will be explained in more detail below, the body of the syringe may comprise a chamber wall globally

  cylindrical and a globally flat graduated wall

  tangent to the wall of the chamber. The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of non-limiting examples and in which: FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a syringe of the prior art; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the syringe body according to the invention; Figure 3 is a top plan view of the syringe body of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3; and FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a variant

embodiment of the invention.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a hypodermic syringe assembly 10 of the prior art includes a cylindrical body 12 having an open proximal end 14, a distal end 16, and a fluid receiving chamber 17. The distal end of the body of the syringe comprises a distal tip 19 traversed by a passage (not shown) in fluid communication with the chamber A tubular needle 18 is fixed to the tip 19 of the syringe The tubular needle is traversed by a light in fluid communication with the passage The distal end 11 of the needle

  tube is tapered to facilitate the injection of a

  The open proximal end 14 of the body of the syringe is adapted to receive a plug or piston. The plug is slidably positioned to seal to fluids within the body and is adapted for snap with a plunger rod 13 to facilitate its operation The plunger rod is accessible from outside the proximal end of the body and is adapted to move the stopper or piston along the body to force a fluid to enter the room and exit through the passage and the

  light of the needle. For the purposes of the description of the invention,

  the term "distal end" refers to the end of the body of the syringe farthest from the person holding the syringe and closest to the tip of the syringe needle, while the term "extremity" proximal "

  refers to the end of the body of the syringe closest to

  the person holding the syringe and farthest from the body part of the syringe for receiving a needle. A syringe body according to the invention is generally identified by numeral 20 in FIGS. 2 to 4. The syringe body 20 has an open proximal end 22 and a distal end 24. A syringe tip 26 extends from the end. distal 24 of the body of the syringe and is traversed by a passage 28 of fluid A flange 30 of generally oblong shape projects outwardly of the body 20 of the syringe near the proximal end 22 The flange 30 has a small dimension or height A and a large dimension or width B as shown in FIG. 4 The width B is chosen so as to allow the strap 30 to be grasped by the fingers of a person forming part of the medical personnel

  or patients using the body of the syringe.

  The body portions of the syringe between the flange 30 and the distal end 24 are characterized by a generally cylindrical chamber wall 32 defining a cylindrical fluid receiving chamber 34 in the body of the syringe. The cylindrical chamber 34 extends from the open proximal end 22 of the body of the syringe and

  communicates with the passage 28 of fluid The cylindrical chamber

  that 34 receives a plunger (not shown) in fluid-tight sliding engagement A plunger sliding movement in the cylindrical chamber 34 of the syringe body either draws fluid through the passage 28 into the interior of the chamber, or expels fluid since the

room through the passage.

  The cylindrical wall 32 of the chamber of the syringe body 20 defines an outside diameter C The features of the invention, without this being limiting, are more useful for small diameter syringe bodies such as syringe having an outer diameter of about 6.4 mm or less As previously indicated, scale graduations can not be conveniently placed on small diameter syringe cylindrical bodies. The syringe barrel shown in FIGS. 2-4 resolves this

  problem by having an elongate graduated wall 36 sensi-

  The ladder wall 36 is advantageously of plane shape. The graduated wall 36 extends from the flange 30 close to the proximal end of the cylindrical chamber and advantageously in one piece with it. 22 of the body of the syringe

  to the distal end 24 of this body.

  The graduated wall 36 is provided with a flat outer surface or graduated surface 38 having scale graduations 40 and markers 42 printed thereon, but not necessary, that the graduated wall is placed concentrically with respect to the cylindrical chamber. The graduated surface may be flat, convex or concave, with a generally planar shape being preferred. If the graduated surface is convex or concave, it must have a radius of curvature greater than the radius of the body. The scale graduations 40 and the markers 42 extend. transversely to the elongated graduated wall 36

  as shown most clearly in FIG. 2 The graduated wall 36 defines a width D which is advantageously

  Although not necessarily equal to or greater than the outside diameter C of the wall 32 of the cylindrical chamber Therefore, the graduated wall 36, which has the graduated surface 38, provides sufficient space to print the scale graduations 40 and the marks 42. in one dimension that can be easily read by a service person

  medical devices or by a patient using the body of the syringe.

  For example, an advantageous width D for the graduated wall 36 is about 2.3 to 17 mm.

  The graduated wall 36 is also and advantageously approximately parallel to the major axis of the overall flange.

  The width D of the graduated wall 36 is smaller than the large width B of the oblong flange 30 to ensure that the medical service person or patient using the body 20 of the syringe has sufficient room to take with his or her fingers. during the injection process, portions of the flange 30 on each side of the

graduated wall 36.

  It is advantageous that the graduated wall and the fluid retaining chamber are formed in one piece of transparent thermoplastic material. In embodiments comprising a flange, it is advantageous that the graduated wall, the fluid retaining chamber and the flange

  are formed of a single piece of thermoplastic material.

  With reference to FIG. 5, this illustrates a

  variant embodiment of the syringe body according to the invention

  In this embodiment, the structure of the body of the syringe is substantially similar to that of the syringe body of Figures 2 to 4, except the shape of the cross section of the chamber wall. The variant of the syringe body 50 comprises a proximal body flange 52 and a distal end (not shown)

  between the body flange and the distal end are characterized

  The wall of the chamber has a graduated surface 55 having a width E which is defined by a chamber wall 51 defining a cylindrical chamber 53 for receiving fluid.

  greater than the outside diameter F of the wall of the chamber.

  As a result, the graduated surface provides sufficient space to print scale graduations and markers so that they can be read more easily than if scaling scales and markers were printed on the scale.

  outer diameter F of the wall of the chamber.

  In summary, there is provided a syringe body having opposite proximal and distal ends. The proximal end is open and defines a cylindrical chamber for receiving a plunger The distal end defines a tip through which extends a fluid passage communicating with the cylindrical chamber The body of the syringe has a peculiarity of a graduated surface generally planar extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the syringe barrel The graduated wall has an outer surface on which are printed scale graduations and markers The width of the graduated surface is selected to allow the printing of a scale and easily readable markings, transversely across

the graduated wall.

  It goes without saying that many modifications can be made to the described syringe body and

  shown without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (6)

  An elongate syringe body, characterized in that it comprises a distal end (24), an open proximal end (22) and a generally cylindrical chamber wall (32) therebetween, said wall defining a cylindrical chamber (34) of receiving fluid and a longitudinal axis, a graduated wall (36) aligned axially and tangentially to the chamber wall and graduations (40)   scale on said graduated wall.   2 syringe body according to claim 1, characterized in that the graduated wall is substantially planar. Syringe body according to Claim 1, characterized in that the wall of the chamber and the wall   graduated are made in one piece.   Syringe body according to Claim 1, characterized in that the wall of the cylindrical chamber   defines an outside diameter of less than about 6.4 mm.   Syringe body according to claim 1, characterized in that the graduated wall defines a width (D) extending transversely to said longitudinal axis, said width of the graduated wall being approximately   equal to the diameter (C) of said wall of the cylindrical chamber   than. Syringe body according to claim 5, characterized in that the width of the graduated wall is more   large than the diameter of the wall of the chamber.   7 syringe body according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a generally oblong flange (30) substantially adjacent to the proximal end   of the body and extending transversely to the chamber.   Syringe body according to claim 7,   characterized in that the flange comprises a major axis defined   a large dimension (B) in width of the oblong flange   the major axis of the flange being generally parallel to the flat graduated wall.   Syringe body according to Claim 7, characterized in that the graduated wall extends from the flange   to the distal end of the body of the syringe.