GB2336541A

GB2336541A - Oral syringe sheath

Info

Publication number: GB2336541A
Application number: GB9808355A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ross Jeremy Simpson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-04-22
Filing date: 1998-04-22
Publication date: 1999-10-27
Also published as: GB9808355D0

Abstract

A sheath 2 comprising an internal chamber 4 adapted to receive an oral syringe, an inlet 8 for inserting the syringe into the chamber and an outlet 12 communicating with the chamber and adapted to receive an outlet of an oral syringe housed in the said chamber. The exterior of the sheath is shaped so as to present an attractive appearance to the infant user. The exterior of the sheath may also include additional components to alter the shape thereof so as to render the shape more attractive to the infant user.

Description

2336541 1 A SHEATH The present invention relates to a sheath for use with

an oral medicine syringe. Conventional oral syringes generally comprise a central storage chamber, an outlet nozzle and a plunger fitted with a liquid seal at the leading end. A flange is typically found at the trailing end of the storage chamber so as to provide purchase for the fingers of the user between the end of the plunger and the syringe body during use. Such devices are generally used as a replacement for the traditional tea-spoon delivery and have greatest utility in the delivery of oral medicine to young infants. The outlet end of the syringe is generally placed in the infant's mouth and the medicine delivered in the conventional manner by depressing the plunger.

However, the design of the syringe is generally unattractive to young children and, furthermore, is generally similar infeatures to an injection syringe which is even less attractive to an infant user. It is one of the objects of the present invention to overcome this problem.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a sheath comprising an internal chamber adapted to receive an oral syringe, an inlet for inserting the syringe into the said chamber and an outlet communicating with the said chamber and adapted to receive an outlet of an oral syringe housed in the said chamber.

Preferably, the exterior of the sheath is shaped so as to present an attractive appearance to the infant user. The exterior of the sheath may also include additional components to alter the shape thereof so as to render the shape more attractive to the infant user.

Preferably, the exterior of the sheath includes a decorative design such as coloured patterns to further attract the infant user.

Preferably, the sheath outlet is adapted to be close fitting with an oral syringe delivery nozzle. Preferably, the internal chamber is adapted to be close fitting with the exterior of the barrel of an oral syringe. Preferably, both the internal chamber and the outlet are adapted to be a snug-fig with their respective oral syringe part but are easily removable therefrom by an adult assistant after use.

The syringe sheath may be made of any suitable material known to the skilled man. Preferably, the sheath is made from an injection mouldable plastic material.

In one embodiment the sheath may take the exterior form of a toy rocket.

Preferably, the sheath is sterilisable and comprises non-toxic and nonhazardous components.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an oral 20 medicine syringe being fitted with a sheath in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an oral medicine syringe comprising an internal storage chamber, a delivery/loading plunger and a delivery outlet, wherein the exterior of the syringe is shaped so as to present an attractive appearance to an infant user. Preferably, the exterior of the syringe may include additional components to alter the exterior shape thereof so as to render the shape more attractive to the infant user.

Preferably, the exterior of the syringe includes a decorative design such as coloured patterns to further attract the infant user.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- figure la shows a plan elevation of a sheath invention; in accordance with the present figure lb shows a sectional side elevation along line A -A' of figure la; figure lc shows a side elevation of the sheath depicted in figure la; and figure 2 shows a conventional oral syringe for use with the present invention.

Referring to figure 1, a sheath 2 comprises a central hollow chamber 4 defined by cylindrical wall 6 which is open at the inlet 8 and partially closes at the outlet end into a dome 10 with a centrally disposed aperture 12.

The sheath 2 is shaped so as to present the form of a toy rocket and, accordingly, is fitted with four equally spaced quadrant shaped wings 14 projecting normal to the surface of the cylinder in such a manner that one flat edge of the quadrant is flush with the surface of the cylinder and the second flat edge is at right angles thereto and in a plane with the base or outlet 8 of 25 the cylinder.

Referring to figure 2, a conventional oral syringe fitted with an inlet 16, nozzle outlet 18, cylindrical storage chamber 20, reciprocating plunger 22 and liquid seal 24 is displayed. The outlet 12 of the sheath 2 is designed to be close fitting with the outlet nozzle 18 of the oral syringe and, similarly, the internal chamber 4 is designed to be close fitting with the external surface of the storage chamber 20 of the oral syringe. The length of the central chamber 4 of the sheath 2 is designed so that as the outlet nozzle 18 projects through the outlet aperture 12 of the sheath, the purchase flange 26 forming a projecting rim at the syringe inlet 16 abuts the inlet 8 of the sheath 2.

Referring to figure 1(c), the exterior of the sheath 2 is shown with a plurality 10 of differently coloured sections (shown by patching) and illustrates the manner in which the sheath can be made multi-coloured and attractive to the infant.

It will be understood that the rocket and multi-coloured design shown is merely by way of example and that other external designs both in terms of shape and decorative colour pattern are possible.

In use, the syringe is loaded with the prescribed amount of medicine, inserted into the sheath until the projecting flange rim of the syringe abuts the base of the sheath and administered to the infant. Alternatively, the syringe may be placed inside the sheath first and loaded with medicine subsequently through the outlet nozzle 18 which protrudes through aperture 12. After use, the syringe and sheath may be separated for cleaning, sterilising and reusing.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), andlor all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

1.

Claims

A sheath comprising an internal chamber adapted to receive an oral syringe, an inlet for inserting the syringe into the said chamber and an outlet communicating with the said chamber and adapted to receive an outlet of an oral syringe housed in the said chamber.
A sheath according to claim 1, wherein the exterior of the sheath is shaped so as to present an attractive appearance to the infant user.
3. A sheath according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the exterior of the sheath includes additional components to alter the shape thereof so as to render the shape more attractive to the infant user.

is
4. A sheath according to any preceding claim, wherein the exterior of the sheath includes a decorative design such as coloured patterns to further attract the infant user.
A sheath according to any preceding claim, wherein the sheath outlet is adapted to be close fitting with an oral syringe delivery nozzle.
6. A sheath according to any preceding claim, wherein the internal chamber is adapted to be close fitting with the exterior of the barrel of an oral synnge.
7. A sheath according to any preceding claim, wherein both the internal chamber and the outlet are adapted to be a snug-fig with their respective oral syringe part but are easily removable therefrom by an adult assistant after use.
8. A sheath according to any preceding claim, wherein the sheath may take the exterior form of a toy rocket.
An oral medicine syringe being fitted with a sheath in accordance with any preceding claim.
10. An oral medicine syringe comprising an internal storage chamber, a deliverylloading plunger and a delivery outlet, wherein the exterior of the syringe is shaped so as to present an attractive appearance to an infant user.
11. A syringe in accordance with claim 10, wherein the exterior of the syringe may include additional components to alter the exterior shape thereof so as to render the shape more attractive to the infant user.
12. A syringe according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the exterior of the syringe includes a decorative design such as coloured patterns to further attract the infant user.
13. A syringe as hereinbefore described with reference to figure 1 and 2.