US2461481A - Hypodermic syringe - Google Patents

Description

Feb. s, 1949. z. M. ROEHR HYPODERMIC SYRINGE Filed May 26, 1944 2 Sheets-SheetV l d f M, Q 7. .h Mw. 2 @d R Wm A ovmv NYE MM .m E o f 9 mh A 1 o3 .5 v

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Feb. 8, 1949. z. M. RoEHR HYPODERMIC SYRINGE Filed May 26, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR A.

Zbzslaw Mloehr BY fwy LM ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 8, 1949 HYPODERMIC SYRINGE Zbislaw M. Roehr, New York, N. Y., assigner to The' Roberts Manufacturing Company,'New York, N. Y., a partnership4 v appucationMa'y ze, 1944,seria1No. 537,373

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a surgical syringe of simple and inexpensive construction, which is thoroughly proof against infection, and extraordinarily light and of small bulk, for enhanced convenience of manipulation.

A more specific object of the invention, :as in corporated in one embodiment is to provide a surgical syringe, to be discarded after a single use, and which incorporates the cartridge and the hypodermic needle in a preassembled unit, in which the needle is especially well protected against danger of infection, and in which the hermetic seal of the cartridge is interrupted only at the instant of use of the syringe.

Another more specific object ofthe invention as incorporated in another embodiment is a syringe suitable for repeated use, in which the hypodermic needle bearing cap maybe readily applied to the barrel with assurance of accurately centralized positioning of the needle,l and Vwith further assurance of maintaining the cap in position Without shift under the substantial thrust exerted in the use of the syringe.

A continuation-impart application Serial No. 782,058, was filed October 25, 194:7, relating to the blank from which the syringe is formed and to the needle bearing cap and retaining structure therefor.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown two or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the syringe.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section thereof, on a larger scale,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the metal which the syringe barrel is fashioned,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the blank of Fig, 3 in the process of being conformed into shape,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View of a syringe barrel showing an alternative plunger bearing,

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of another alternative plunger bearing,

Fig. I is a transverse cross-sectional detail view taken on line '1--1 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view ofv an alternative blank of arrangement of plunger mount in inactive position.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the syringe in active position, y

Fig. l0 is a View in longitudinal cross-section, showing an alternative form of syringe suitable for multiple or repeated use, l

Fig. l1 is a dropped perspective view of the syringe barrel and associated cartridge bearing cap of the embodiment of Fig. l0.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal cross-section on a larger scale indicating the re- 3 Claims. (ci. 12s- 218) lation ofthe parts under theejectionv thrustof the syringe,

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary View in longitudinal cross-section of a sanitary sealed syringe barrel I adapted for ready applicability of a. hypodermic needle bearing cap, and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary View of the cartridge in the embodiment of Fig. 13, also in longitudinal cross-section.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the syringe there shown is of the single use type incorporating a metal barrel l5 having longitudinal window openings l5, exposing to view the glass cartridge or ampoule VI'l contained therein. The upper end of the barrel provides a bearing or guide for the plunger I8 equipped with handle i9 by which the piston 20 in the upper end of the cartridge is depressed, to eject the anaesthetic or other'treating uid through the hypodermis lneedle 2l mounted in the ycap 22 on the free end of the barrel, and penetrating the closure 23 of the cartridge. The barrel has out-` standinghand grip portions 24 to be grasped by the 4fingers while pressure is exerted upon the plunger handle I9 by means of the thumb. The cap 22 has aprojecting hub 24, upon which is securely telescoped, desirably a pl'asticsleeve 25, which protects from contamination the exposed end ofthe needle 2 i. Y

The construction thus far described is more or less conventional and taken by itself is .not claimedv herein except in combination with the features now to be described.

The barrel of the syringe according to one fea'- ture of the present invention is made of the unit` ary blank 2l of sheet metal shown in Fig. 3 and desirably of brass, which may be less than .03'

inch thick. The blank is generally rectangular in form and has a median longitudinal slotv 28 providing .one window and longitudinal shallow lateral notches 29 and 3D which, when the device is rolled into a cylinder as suggested in Fig. 4, determine the diametrically opposite Window by the lateral edge to edge contact of the end portions of the blank. The blank is Vformed with a unitary circular median extension 3l at its upper end, which when turned over as in Fig. e forms a head or end of the barrel. The blank also has a unitary tongue 32 slightly spaced from the end and slit from the blank, preferably in alignment with the side walls of Window 28. Tongue 32 is also bent at right angles to extend parallel to therefrom as shown. These tongues are turned outward to extend in diametrically opposed direction, and are also longitudinally embossed as at 31 to form the stiff handgrip 2li, which is thus integral with the barrel, the slots 33 vacated by said linger grip tongues constituting additional windows for exposure of the cartridge to View.

The lower end of the blank 30 has a pair of short narrow transverse slots 3d into which snap the inturned lugs di) near the rim or the cap22 that mounts the hypodermic needle 2|. Desirably, the snap lock SS-to precludes removal of the cap from the barrel Without mutilation of Vone or both. If desired, the cap 22 could also be soldered onto the barrel. Desirably, the inner end of the needle 2l which is permanently affixed in the cap 22 as by soldering at 25 is embeddedk in the rubber plug 23, but does not penetrate'all the Way therethrough. The cartridge l1 in the assembled construction is spaced from the end Wall of the cap 22, preferably by washer 4| interposed between cap 22 and the plug 23. This washer may be a piece of spring metal reversely bent as shown, having ports through which the needle 2| extends and resiliently maintaining the desired spacing.

Manifestly the blank 3B may be longitudinally creased to provide a barrel of any desired regular polygonal cross-section, for instance, of square, hexagonal or octagonal shape, but the cylindrical form is generally to be preferred.

For use of the syringe, the protectivesleeve 26 is withdrawn and the point of the needle applied to the tissue to be injected and the syringe is grasped between the linger grips 24 and the plunger handle i9 and pressure is applied. The incompressible anaesthetic or other iiuid filling the cartridge I1 transmits the thrust from the handle I9 to force the cartridge I1 bodily forward for its rubber plug end 23 to advance against the resistance of the collapsible spring 4|, thereby to cause the inner protected embedded end of the needle 2| to penetrate through the rubber plug 23 and aord communication V:between the anaesthetic or other content ofthe cartridge and the delivery end or point of the needle.

The injection then proceeds in the usual manner and the syringe is discarded when the cartridge has been emptied. It will beunderstood, however, that the syringe lends itself, if desired, to discharge of less than the entire cartridge contents, the spring washer 6| in that event pushing the cartridge l1 back to the initial position shown in Fig. 2 after the pressure has been relieved from the plunger, so that the needle end becomes again embedded in the rubber plug 23, which eiectively reseals said needle so that a second or third application is possible until the content of the cartridge has been completely discharged, whereupon the syringe is to be discarded.

It will be understood that the elastic Washer 4| may be omitted or if desired, replaced by a washer of non-elastic or collapsible material, in which case, the advantages of the spring return operation last described will of course be lacking.

In Fig. is shown a modification in the plunger bearing. Here the syringe barrel I5' is devoid of the hinged bearing head and tongue shown in Fig. 3, but the blank after being rolled into the cylindrical barrel is embossed with two or more desirably peripheral grooves 5U and 5I. The rounded inner surfaces of these grooves constitute an effective bearing for the large caliber plunger rod I8'. Moreover, these grooves tend to add stiffness to the barrel at the region of plunger guide or bearing.

In still another embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the barrel 52 is provided near its upper end with three or more longitudinally embossed inwardly extending short ribs 53, the rounded inner surfaces of which engage the plunger |82 and serve'to guide the same.`

lIn the embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9, is shown an arrangement in which the plunger |83, is hingedly mounted with respect to the barrel |53, so that when not in use, its length may extend laterally of the barrel and the overall length of the completed unit is greatly reduced, for convenience in packaging and shipping.

Inthis embodiment the barrel is provided with a head and may be made or" a blank similar to that of Fig. 3. Hingedly attached by a pintle pin 55 to the edge of the head 55 is the end of one leg 51 of small U-shape bracket 58, the transverse cross-bar 59 of which accommodates the shank M33 ofthe plunger. Desirably, the nger grip 243 is aligned with said bracket 58 when the latter iS in outer position and has an end notch 60 therein snugly to accommodate the plunger shank, so that the latter when not in use is held parallel to and along the length of the barrel. When the device is to he med, the plunger handle .is simply turned outward about its hinge 55, so

that the end of leg tl of bracket 53 is brought into engagement Vwith the head 55 of thebarrel and the end of the plunger |83 is thereby brought into alignment with the central aperture 6,2 inthe head of the barrel. Obviously, the middle of the cross bar 5S, now in upper position forms a plung- .er bearing .or guide, auxiliary to that in the head 55 and for that reason the bearing tongue 32 provided in the embodiment of Fig. 3 may be and preferably is omitted.

`In the embodiment of Figs. 10 to 12 is shown a syringe for multiple use. The syringe barrel |54 may be made of construction substantially identical with that shown in Figs. 3 and 4, except that the lower end of the barrel is provided With a pair of bayonet slots each with a locking depression 63 at its inner end. The barrel also is desirably provided with short inturned tangs 61 which serve as stops for the inner end of the cartridge wall |14. The rubber plug 234 at the outer end of the cartridge is preferably provided with a thick flange 68 not less than inch thick, .vhich Vextends over the rim of the cartridge |14. The outer face oi the plug may have a deep depression 69 encompassed by rim SS. This depression eiTects a reduction in the thickness of rubber plug to be pierced by the needle, but does not detract from the security of the seal.

The cap 'Hl of the syringe has rigidly mounted, welded or soldered therein the axially extending hypoderinic needle 2 It. This cap is also provided with a pair of diametrically opposed inturned bayonet pins 1| preferably struck out of the metal thereof as shown, Desirably, also metal bridges 12 are struck out ci the cap between the skirt 13 and hub 1d thereof, to afford convenient linger grips. The cap rim 15 extends snugly over the barrel and is in a plane Well beyond theinner end 0f the needle 2F, so that in application, the cap rim becomes telesccped over the barrel end before the inner end of the needle touches the rubber plug 234. Accordingly, precisely accurate centering of the needle is denitely assured, so that in use of the syringe, no oblique thrusts apt to break the needle will be exerted. It will be seen that in the process of applying the cap to the barrel, the.

thrust of the needle in penetrating the rubber plug 234 and compressing the rim 68 is transmitted through the length of the cartridge against the back stops 61, as best shown in Fig. 10, so that complete penetration of the rubber plug is assured as would not be the case if the cartridge were free to be pushed back. After the cap has been screwed home in the bayonet slots 65, its bayonet pins 12 will be lodged in the locking depressions 63, and they are held there by the resilient expansion of previously compressed rubber rim 58.

In use of the syringe just described, the thrust of the plunger |84, is taken by the rubber plug 234, the ange 68 of which is compressed against the end wall of cap 19 by the rirn of the cartridge 114. The resilient thrust thus effected against the end cap 19 assures the maintenance of the bayonet pins 1i in the locking depressions 66, as best shown in Fig. 12, and thereby guards against possible loosening of the cap during the expulsion of the cartridge contents.

After injection, a fresh cartridge and a fresh cap and needle may be introduced for re-use of the barrel.

It will of course be understood that the embodiment of Figs. l to 12 as well as those of Figs. l to 9, may be incorporated in a more or less conventional syringe barrel, if desired, although thek metal blank construction is preferred, because it combines low cost, light weight with strength and complete effectiveness. It will also be understood that in the embodiment of Figs. 10 to 12, the plunger bearing construction may be in the form of the embodiment of Fig. or in that of Figs. 6 and 7 in lieu of that shown which is according to the disclosure of Figs. 3 and 4.

In various embodiments, the syringe is of small bulk and light Weight, so that it can be manipulated by the surgeon with greater ease and precision than the conventional bulky and heavy syringe. By reason of its small bulk, the syringe also is less terrifying to the dental patient.

In the embodiment of Figs. 13 and 14 is shown an antiseptic sealed barrel and cartridge assembly. This assemblage comprises the cartridge -115 lodged in the syringe barrel |55 and closed by a rubber plug 235 similar to that of the other embodiments. Upon the end of the rubber plug, is mounted a pressure adhesive removable tape 15 impregnated with sterilizing solution and having a tab 16 by which it may be readily stripped off.

The cartridge thus equipped is mounted in the syringe barrel 155 and protected and maintained in place therein by a cap 11 removably attached to the barrel by bayonet slots 65', said cap having in the end thereof a felt or cotton washer 19 saturated With suitable antiseptic and resting against the tape covered rubber stopper 235.

The cap and needle assembly to be applied to the barrel of Fig. 13, may be similar in every way to those shown in Fig. 11 and may be normally protected in a. sanitary envelope. Obviously, the protective cap 11 would be screwed on and discarded with its enclosed antiseptic impregnated washer 19, the pressure adhesive tape 15 stripped off the end of the rubber plug 235 and the hypodermic needle mounting cap would be applied to prepare the syringe for use.

While the barrel has been shown as shaped of a unitary piece of sheet metal, it could be similarly shaped of any suitable material, such as a 6 blank of plastic impregnated textile fabric, or it could be molded of any suitable material.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description Yor shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat-` ent of the United States is:

1. A surgical syringe comprising a barrel having a hypodermic needle bearing cap upon one end thereof, a plunger rod through the other end thereof, a cartridge in the barrel interposed be tween the plunger and the cap, said cartridge having a rubber plug normally spaced from said cap, the inner end ofthe needle being normally embedded in said rubber plug, whereby in the initial plunger operation the embedded needle end will penetrate through the entire thickness of the rubber plug.

2. A surgical syringe, comprising a barrel having a hypodermic needle bearing cap upon one end thereof, a plunger rod through the other end thereof, a cartridge in the barrel interposed between the plunger and the cap, said cartridge having a rubber plug normally spaced from said cap, a compressible metal member determining said spacing and the inner end of the needle being normally embedded in said rubber plug, whereby in the initial plunger operation the embedded needle end will penetrate through the entire thickness of the rubber plug. Y

3. A surgical syringe, comprising a barrel having a hypodermic needle'bearing cap upon one end thereof, a plunger rod through the other end thereof, a cartridge in the barrel interposed between the plunger and the cap, said cartridge having a rubber plug normally spaced from said cap, the inner end of the needle being normally embedded in said rubber plug, whereby in the initial plunger operation, the embedded needle end will penetrate through the entire thickness of the rubber plug, a resilient metal washer interposed between the cap and the plug and collapsed in the initial plunger operation, said washer serving to retract the needle and re-embed its end in the rubber plug, for utility where two or more injections are to be eected from a single cartridge.

ZBISLAW M. ROEHR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNTTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Y Date Re. 16,836 Cook Dec. 27, 1927 1,604,224 Friedman Oct. 26, 1926 1,747,243 Hoskins Feb. 18, 1930 1,752,384 Jamison Apr. 1, 1930 E 1,770,634 Smith July 15, 1930 1,971,687 Kratz Aug.,28, 1934 2,072,853 Baxter Mar. 9, 1937 2,121,123 Erikson et al June 21, 1938 2,221,739 Reiter Nov. 1,2, 1940 2,231,418 Trotter Feb. 11, 1941

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