US2871856A

US2871856A - Hypodermic syringe

Info

Publication number: US2871856A
Application number: US532656A
Authority: US
Inventors: Steiner Maurice
Original assignee: Astra AB
Current assignee: AstraZeneca AB
Priority date: 1954-10-27
Filing date: 1955-09-06
Publication date: 1959-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 1976-02-03
Also published as: DK87314C; CH336552A; GB789029A

Description

Feb- 3 1959 v M. STI-:INER v 2,871,856

1 HYPonERMIc SYRINGE Filed sept. 6, 1955 2 Sheets sheet l Feb. 3, 1959 M. sTElNl-:R

HYPODERMIC SYRINGE Filed Sept.` 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 5

Fig. 6'

2,871,856 'Patented Feb.` 3, 1959 are HYPODERMIC SYRINGE Maurice Steiner, Paris, France,

Astra, Apotekarnes Kemiska Pally Application September 6, 1955, Serial No. 532,656 `Claims priority, application Germany October 27, 1954 8 Claims. (Cl. 12S- 216) assignor to Aktiebolaget Fabriker, a Swedish com- The invention relates to an' improved hypodermic syringe.

It is the object of the invention in its broadest aspects to provide a syringe that can be kept for long time in a state ready for immediate use and may then be used without the need of sterilization. Such 4a syringe is particularly useful for emergency cases in the civilian or the military elds and may, for instance, constitute a part of an emergency box for factoriesmining works, autocars, sanitary stations etc. and may also be stored in hospitals for catastrophic incidents causing a greater number of victims. The syringe may also be kept innational reserve such as for atomic bomb attacks or similar incidents. The syringe and particularly a special embodiment thereof may with advantage be a part of the equipment` of the individual soldier in the military forces. For this and other military application it is the object of the invention to provide a syringe that is sturdy and can be used for injection with a simple grip and by the patient himself or any other personnot skilled in the medical `lield.

For complying with these requirements, which `are quite conflicting, the syringe of the invention has a number of particularfeatures whichV should preferably .be employed in combination althoughneach of them isalseful separately without departure from the scope of the invention.

The syringe according to the invention consists of four main parts: a tubular body and, and housed therein, a longitudinally movable plunger, a separate collapsible receptacle of plastic material, and aninjection-needle provided with a holder to which it is secured. The receptacle shall contain the liquid to beinjected and has a front.

endwhich is puncturableby `the rear end of said needle or possibly a separate puncturing point secured to the needle holder. Either the receptacle or the needle holder, with the needle fitted therein, or both must` be longitudinally movable in the tubular `body so as to bring :about a puncturing of said front end of the receptacle and establish communication between the interior of thereceptacle and the channel ofthe `injection needle when the injection isto be made. The injection is carried out by the pressure exerted by the plunger whenr moved forwardly as by hand or by the force of a spring or the like.

The invention 'will now be described more in detail with reference to some embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood, however, that the scope of the invention is not limited bythese examples.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a longitudinal section of an automatic syringe according to the invention in the loaded state as ready for use and Fig.` 2 is a similar section of the same syringe after use. Figs. 3 and 4 are end views of the syringe as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively. Figs. 5 to 8 illustrate in the same way as Figs. l to 4 another type of an automatic syringe.

Two automatic embodiments of the syringe will.now be described which vcan be operated by the patient himp self or any person not familiar with the correct handling lil of a hypodermic syringe.

.In Figs. 1-4 a syringe is illustrated which'has to `be operated with two hands. The syringecomprises attubular A.body 1 Vwhich consists of twohollow cylinders 51 and-52 secured to each other by a bayonet coupling 53 inalgnment so as to form a single tube. A wall 54 haying a central opening 55 closes the rear-end of -tube vS11-and forms a shoulder in the cylinder 51-and a frontwall 57 closes the front end of tube 52. AV sleeve -58 is secured to the wall 57 at the centre thereof to -form a guide for piece.

the needle which will be explainedhereinbelow. The wall and guide may be made as by -pressing in a Asingle At the central spot 59 of the-wall \57v.in axial alignment with-thehole of the sleeve 58` the wall material is so weak as to be easily punctured by the needle at the occasion of injection.

In the rear, portion of the tubular .body plunger 19 is slidably mounted.` A` transversal slot 61 is made in the front side of the plunger andfa stern 62 extends rearwardly fromthe plunger so as to project outside the rear .wall 54. Therearrnost portion ofthestem extending outside .wall 54 has a portion of reduced diameter, Vso

that Vajshoulder 63 will be formed,V A helical .spring v67 is placed in its energetic compressedcondition about lthe stem 62 so as to be supported at its`front end by ajsupf porting surface on plunger `19-and at its` rear end bywall 5a. A washer 65, see also Fig. 4, having a central hole t @6fm the end of. stem 62, is placed incontact with wall 54.V The .washer has two lugs 68 extending oppesitely .intov the hole 66 and -a superficial groove 69 extending `.along a .diameteng Theportion ofthe stem `62 extending through thewall-54 has` also two `lugs' 71 which project ,The pin has an 77. `In order that washer 65 shall not outwardly in opposite directions. The-lugs 68 andf71 are sopositioned .that in one relative position of the washer V.and thestern as. shown in Figs. 11 and 3 lugs 71coincide withand `are outside lugs 68 so that.` the latter willi-pre- -Nent the lugs 71.from entering the tubular bodyand thus loclethe plunger. standing under the vload of the spring f77. .The lugs occupyy only so great a circumferential. portion of hole 66 and the stem end, respectively, as to; permit lugs 7l to pass through hole 66 when the washer 165. is

turned a quarter of a revolution, whereby the plunger is released for forward movement under the` actionjofspring be .turned by misltakeand for safetys. sake a; pin .72 is `passed througha hole in the end oflstem 62 -in alignment with groove 69. `eye 73..in which aribbon -74-.can be secured.

Ay receptacle 5 of, theAV accordion typeis positioned in front of plunger 19. and-.a transversal rib 81 at vtherear end of the receptacle is engaged bythe slot 61 more or lesssnugly.. The front-portion 82 of the .receptacle tapers slightly forwardly and the frontend of portion'82l is closed by a wall 15 of aA thickness making it feasible to vpuncture it by the rear.; end of the needle as fwill be ex- 4.plained later.` .A needle yholder 11 is slidably tted in the `front portion-.52 in` rather close proximity tothe front end of ,receptacle 5. The .holder 11 has aV .recess 12 shaped to engage the conical front end 82 of the receptacle and a cylindric recess 84.v at the front side in order-to take upthefsleeve Svfhen the holder is in its foremostposition. An= injection needle 14 is rigidly secured .to the holder 11 at the center .thereof so as to projecta short distance :rearwardly into therecess 12. The main portion ofthe needle projects forwardly andthe tip-thereof rests in the sleeve 58 when the holder is in-its rearmost; position, at which there isla small clearancebetween the rear point of needle 14 and the front wall y15101:' the receptacle.

When `the syringe is to be used pin 72 is first 'pulled out. This can take place automatically if, for instance, the

syringe is kept in a pocket and ribbon 74 is secured to the pocket or generally if the ribbon is fixed to some stationary member at the place where the syringe is kept. The pin 72 will then be pulled out when the syringe is removed from the pocket or keeping place. The syringe is then placed with its front end on the spot of the body where the injection is to be made and held firmly against the body with the one hand. Washer 65 is then turned a quarter of a revolution whereby stem 62 and plunger 19 are released and pressed forwardly with great force by spring 77. Receptacle will thereby be moved forwardly until the front wall abuts the rear point of the needle 14. Upon further movement the needle holder will also be moved forwardly and the needle be brought into contact with spot 59 of the front wall 57. It is probable that at this moment the rear end of the needle 14 will have punctured wall 1S and liquid from receptacle 5 will have entered the channel of needle 14. The conical end 82 will engage the walls of recess 12 and the pressure within the receptacle will seal it against the needle holder. Upon still further movement needle 14 will puncture wall 57 and enter into the iiesh of the patient to be injected. All this will happen quickly and it is diicult to tell exactly when the puncturing of the walls occurs.

In case the spring fails to operate it is nevertheless possible to use the syringe in case of emergency. The front portion 52 is then separated from the rear portion 51 by opening the coupling 53 and push the receptacle 5 forwardly by pressing it with a linger or a pencil or a similar thing as a substitute for plunger 19. The coupling should therefore be located at the rear side of the needle holder and near the receptacle.

In cases where an injection must be made within a few seconds and particularly if the operator can with advantage only use one of his hands, the syringe just described will be quite or very difficult to operate. Figs. 5-8 illustrate a further embodiment of the present syringe, which can be manipulated with only `one hand. The general structure of this syringe agrees with that illustrated in Figs. 1-4, the main difference being the mode of releasing the plunger. consists of a rear tube 51 and a front tube 52, in this case screwed to each other. The rear tube 51 tapers rearwardly to form a cone S8 and is provided with an inner tube 89 extending forwardly from the rear end coaxially with tube 51 to form an annular space 91 between tube 89 and tube 51. In the tubular body 1 so formed plunger 19 with the rearwardly extending stem 62, receptacle 5 and needle holder 11 carrying needle 14 are arranged as in Fig. l, spring 77 being housed in the annular space 91 and the tip of needle resting in sleeve 58. Instead of providing a puncturable point in the front wall 57 as shown in Fig. l there is a hole in the wall right through in alignment with sleeve 58 in the present embodiment. This hole is sealed by a special cover 97 on the outer surface of the wall.

Stem 62 is locked in the position illustrated by a special locking arrangement comprising a sleeve 93 slidably mounted on tube 51 and having at its rearmost end somewhat liexible tongues 94 extending inwardly so as to rest i on the edge of the conical end S8 of tube 51. The stem 62 protrudes rearwardly from said conical end 88 and has just outside the edge of end 8S a circumferential groove 95, into which the tongues 94 penetrate. The tip 96 of the stem 62 will thus serve as a shoulder resting upon the inner ends of the tongues 94. A safety pin 72 is passed through a hole in the stem 62 just outside the groove 95 but it is in the first hand the tongues 94 that hold the stem in the loaded position illustrated. The pin 72 has an eye 73 to which ribbon 74 is secured. This ribbon may be attached to the inside of a pocket or any other place where the syringe is kept for emergency cases.

In operating this syringe the patient grasps the syringe about the sleeve 93 and pulls the syringe from the place of Stora-ge whereby pin 72 is automatically pulled out. He

Also in this case the tubular body .4 now strikes the syringe with the front wall 57 against thc spot of the body where injection shall be made. When the top of the syringe strikes the body the sleeve 93 will continue a short distance sliding on tube 51. Thereby the tongues 94 will be pulled out from their engagement with the tip 96 of the stem which latter is thus released so that spring 77 can force plunger 19 forwardly' so as to carry out the injection procedure as described above. Fig. 6 illustrates the syringe after use and shows clearly receptacle 5 in its collapsed state. In case the spring should fail to function the front portion 52 can be unscrewed from the rear portion 51 and the injection be carried out by pressing the receptacle 5 as described above. The seam between the

portions

51 and 52 shall be near the place where receptacle 5 is housed.

In all the embodiments referred to hereinabove all parts but for the needle 14 can be 'and are preferably made of artilicia-l resin. The syringe can thus be made from relatively cheap material and can be thrown away after use. It is also an advantage that such material allows for a neat appearance and that the syringe can be made transparent.

As will be clearly understood the automatic syringes described can have all their vital parts in well sterilized condition as the interior of the tubular body is well closed.

In the above description reference has been made to an injection needle projecting partly forwardly and partly rearwardly of the needle holder. It will be understood, however, that the needle can consist of two separate parts one of which is litted in the needle holder projecting rearwardly therefrom. The frontal needle part, the actual injection needle, may then be secured to the syringe in front of the needle holder and means for communication between the needles be arranged between the two needle parts.

What is claimed is:

l. A hypodermic syringe comprising a tubular body, a rst end wall at least partially closing the rear end of said tubular body, a second end wall closing the other end of said tubular body and having at least a central portion which is perforatable by a hypodermic needle, a needle holder slidably mounted within the end of said tubular body adjacent said second end wall, an injection needle carried by said needle holder, said needle extending both forwardly and rearwardly from said holder and having puncturing points on both ends; extensible spring means positioned within said tubular body in the end thereof adjacent said first end wall, means for locking said spring means in compressed position, a compressible ampoule adapted to contain injectable liquid positioned within said tubular body between said spring means and said needle holder, and means for releasing said locking means, whereby said spring means applies pressure to said ampoule which in turn applies pressure to said needle holder resulting in the perforation of said second end wall by one end of said needle, the perforation of said ampoule by the other end of said needle and the compression of said ampoule and the discharge of the injectable liquid through said needle.

2. A hypodermic syringe as defined in claim l in which said compressible ampoule is accordion-shaped.

3. A hypodermic syringe as defined in claim l in which said second end wall has a needle guiding sleeve extending rearwardly therefrom and surrounding said perforatable central portion thereof.

4. A hypodermic syringe as defined in claim 3 in which the front end `0f said needle holder has a socket adapted to receive said needle guiding sleeve.

5. A hypodermic syringe as defined in claim l in which the front end of said ampoule is frusto conical and the rear surface of said needle holder contains a frusto conical recess adapted to receive the frusto conical from end of said ampoule.

6. A hypodermic syringe as defined in claim l in which said means for locking said spring means comprises ampoule, said ampoule having a transverse rib on the rearv end thereof and said plunge".- having a transverse slot in the front surface thereof adapted to receive said rib.

7. A hypodermic needle as defined in claim 1 in which said rst end wall is provided with an opening and in which said means for locking said spring means comprises a plunger positioned between said spring means and said ampoule, a stern extending rearwardly from said plunger, and means for securing said stem with respect to said irst end Wall.

8. A hypodermic syringe as delined in claim 7 in which said tubular body comprises a cylindrical portion and a tapered rear end portion and in which the means for locking said spring means comprises a sleeve slidable on the cylindrical portion of said tubular body and extending over said tapered end, said sleeve having inwardly projecting tongues adjacent its rear end extending into en- 6 gagement with the smallest portion of said tapered end and shoulders on said stem adapted to engage said tongues, whereby when said sleeve is moved forwardly said tongues are deected against said tapered rear end and said plunger is released.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 159,192 Leiter Ian. 26, 1875 1,921,034 LaMarche Aug. 8, 1933 2,309,502 Douglas Ian. 26, 1943 2,627,856 Waterman Feb. 10, 1953 2,642,064 Lawshe June 16, 1953 2,752,918 Uytenbogaart July 3, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,103,541 France May 25, 1955