US2872924A - Apparatus for mixing and administering medicines - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 10, 1959 A. B. SALISBURY, JR 2,872,924

APPARATUS FDR MIXING AND ADMINISTERING MEDICINES Filed July 23, 1956 United States Patent APPARATUS FOR MIXING AND ADMINISTERING MEDICINES Alvin B. Salisbury, Jr., Fair-born, Ohio, assignor to Ankh Laboratories, Inc., Fairborn, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 23, 1956, Serial No. 599,500

7 Claims. ('Cl. 128-216) This invention relates to apparatus for mixing and administering medicines of the type comprising two or more ingredients such as a liquid and a powder which are stored out of contact with each other but are mixed together preparatory to their application through a hypodermic needle.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the above character which, as compared with similar prior apparatus, is simpler, involves fewer manipulations, and reduces the likelihood of infection due to contact of the needle with unsterile surfaces.

A more detailed object is to store the ingredients in separate chambers or compartments which are brought into communication with each other through the hypodermic needle for the mixing operation while the needle remains covered to avoid contact with unsterile surfaces.

A further detailed object is to form one chamber as a part of the hypodermic syringe itself and the other chamber in an ampoule secured to a sheath for the needle in a novel manner to enable the two chambers to communicate with each other through the needle without removal of the latter from the sheath.

The invention also resides in the novel and simple construction of the sheath and the ampoule as integral parts of a single tubular member.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1, 2 and 3 are perspective views showing successive steps in the formation of a preferred ampoulesheath construction embodying the novel features of the present invention.

Figs. 4 and 5 are views of opposite ends of the sheath and the ampoule shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the completed ampoule and sheath with a syringe in a storage position preparatory to use, some points being broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 with the syringe in position for the mixing operation.

As illustrated in the drawings, the invention is particularly useful in the mixing and administering of medicines of the type comprising two ingredients 10 and 11 which are segregated from each other in separate chambers or compartments 12 and 13 prior to their use and are mixed together for final application through the hollow needle 14 of a hypodermic syringe 15. In accordance with the present invention, one of the chambers is a partof the syringe and the needle 14 thereof is utilized to establish communication between the chambers for mixing of the two ingredients. While the latter may comprise two liquids, they are shown in this instance as a liquid and a powder, the liquid being contained in thesyringe chamber 13 while the powder is disposed in the second chamber 12 which is a part of an ampoule 16.

Generally stated, the improved apparatus contemplates performance of the mixing and administering operations ingredients into contact with each other in the same chamber and the latter is agitated to effect the mixing. Where the liquid 11 is contained in the syringe chamber 13 as shown in Fig. 6, it is first expelled through the needle into the ampoule chamber 12 where the mixing takes place and the mixture is returned to the syringe chamber for the injection. In the case where the liquid is contained in the ampoule chamber initially as shown in Fig. 8, it is transferred through the needle and into the syringe chamber where it is mixed with the powder and remains until time for ejection.

After the mixture of the two ingredients 10 and 11 is located in the syringe chamber 13, the needle 14 is with- 'drawn from the ampoule chamber to break communication with the latter while remaining in communication with the interior of the syringe chamber. During the steps of establishing communicating between the chambers, transferring of the liquid through the needle, mixing, and withdrawing of the needle, the needle is covered and thereby maintained out of contact with unsterile surfaces. As an incident to its withdrawal from the ampoule chamber, the needle is uncovered and thus prepared for the final step of ejection of the mixture from the syringe chamber and through the needle.

The above steps are carried out simply by covering the needle 14 with a protective sheath 17 having one wall 18 in common with the ampoule chamber 12 and adapted to be punctured by the needle while the portion of the latter outside of the chamber remains substantially enclosed within and protected by the sheath. To simplify the construction of the sheath and the ampoule chamber, it is preferred to form the two as integrally'connected parts from a hollow tube 19 (Fig. l) of a suitable thermosensitive material such as a polyvinyl plastic adapted for bonding of opposed wall portions 19 of the tube together under the application of heat and pressure.

In the formation of the sheath 17 and the ampoule 16, the tube 19 is flattened and the opposed wall portions 19 are brought together under heat and pressure along a line extending substantially from one end of the tube to the other between the side edges of the tube to form a center seal 20 which divides the tube into a sheath section and an ampoule section as shown in Fig. 2. The sheath is tapered throughout its length and is closed at the smaller end, such closure being effected herein by a cross seal 21 between the center seal and the adjacent edge of the flattened tube. Another cross seal 22 extends from the center seal to the opposite edge of the tube to close one end of the ampoule section adjacent the open end of the sheath. The other end of the ampoule section is left open to receive the ingredient to be contained therein and then is closed by a cross seal 23 (Fig. 6), the portion of the original tube adjacent the open end of the sheath and beyond the cross seal 22 preferably being trimmed off as shown in Figs. 3, 6, and 7. That portion of the center seal 20 between the cross seals constitutes the wall 18 which is common to the sheath and the ampoule chamber and is pierced by the needle for communication between the chambers.

At its open end, the sheath telescopes over a neck por-' tion 24 of the syringe 15 supporting the needle 14 and projecting rigidly from a wall 25 defining the syringe chamber 13. In this instance, both the sheath and the Patented Feb. 10, 1959 3 neck portion are of circular cross section, the neck tapering at its outer end and fitting tightly in the open end of the sheath to seal the same. The chamber wall 25 preferably is molded integrally with the neck portion from a suitable thermosetting elastic resin such as polyethylene and, after the molding operation is cylindrical in shape with one end open. This end is closed by a heat seal 26. In this instance, the needle 14 is inserted in a passageway formed in the molding operation and is sealed within the neck portion by the application of heat and pressure after the insertion. While the inner end of the needle may be separated from the syringe chamber 13 by a puncturablc wall, it is shown herein as projecting into the chamber (Fig.6).

After the chambers 12 and 13 have been charged with the medicine ingredients 1% and 11 and closed under sterile conditions and while the needle 14, the interior of the sheath 17, and the neck portion 24 remain sterile, the neck is inserted in the sheath to close the latter. The parts remain in this condition until the ingredients are to be mixed. Then, the operator grasps the syringe along the neck with one hand and the exterior of the sheath 1? and the ampoule 16 with the other hand and pulls the same apart to withdraw the neck portion at least partially from the sheath. While the major portion of the needle remains enclosed by the sheath and thereby protected from contact with unsterile surfaces, the sharpened outer end of the needle is projected through the common wall 18 between the sheath and the ampoule chamber to establish communication between the chambers through the needle. The syringe chamber then is collapsed by squeezing the wall 25 to force the liquid 11 through the needle and into the ampoule chamber.

After both ingredients 1t and 11 are in the ampoule chamber 12, the operator, without changing the position of his hands, then shakes them to mix the ingredients. With this completed, the squeezing pressure on the syringe wall 25 is relieved to permit the wall to resume its original shape and create a vacuum drawing the mixture out of the ampoule chamber and into the syringe chamber 13. The sheath 17 and the ampoule 16 then are pulled away from the syringe to withdraw the needle from the common wall 18 and, as an incident thereto, to uncover the needle for insertion into the skin of the patient and ejection of the mixed ingredients from the syringe chamber by collapsing the wall 25 thereof.

It will-be apparent that, due to storage of one of the ingredients in the syringe chamber 13 with the needle 14 utilized to establish communication between the chambers for the mixing operations, the operator may retain his hands on the syringe and the ampoule and thereby perform such operations with few manipulations. With the sheath 17 secured to the ampoule 16, the needle 14 may be projected through the common wall 18 of the two while remaining protected throughout its length by the sheath. The likelihood of accidental intermixing of the ingredients due to external impacts on the exterior of either chamber during shipping and storage is small in the case of the modified construction because the common wall 18 separates the needle from the ampoule chamber. In the preferred construction shown in the drawings, such dangers are even less because the common wall is located along the side of the sheath away from the needle point. The preferred construction is also advantageous by virtue of the ease of its formation from the flattened tube 19 of heat scalable material. The syringe and the ampoule sheath being formed inexpensively of resinous material may be disposed of economically after a single use. In addition to the storage and mixing of segregated medicine ingredients, the novel apparatus described above may be used to administer liquid medicine which should be kept out of contact with the metal of the needle prior to use, the syringe chamber in this case being empty and the liquid being contained in the sealed ampoule during the storage period.

harassm- Iclaim as my invention: I V I l. The combination of, a syringe comprising a collapsible body of flexible material defining a fluid chamber and having a neck portion with a hollow needle supported in and extending outwardly beyond the neck portion, an elongated tubular sheath closed at one end and having its other end open, the open end of said sheath receiving and telescoping closely with said neck portion to enclose said needle within the sheath, and an ampoule of puncturable material connected integrally with and extending laterally from an intermediate portion of said sheath between said ends thereof and providing a fluid tight chamber, said intermediate portion of said sheath being puncturable by the projecting end of said needle for establishing communication between said chambers through the needle while the portion of the latter beyond said neck portion remains substantially covered by the sheath against contact with unsterile surfaces.

2. For use with a hypodermic syringe having a hollow needle and a medicine chamber, a flattened tube of heatsealable plastic material having opposed wall portions joined together by a generally straight seal puncturable by the syringe needle and extending longitudinally of the tube to divide the same into a sheath section and an ampoule section, one end of said sheath section being closed with the other end open to receive the syringe needle, and cross seals joining said wall portions together to close opposite ends of said ampoule section, the portion of said straight seal between said cross seals being puncturable by the syringe needle for communication of the chamber with the interior of the ampoule section through the needle while the latter remains covered in the sheath section.

3. For use with a hypodermic syringe having a hollow needle and a medicine chamber, a flattened hollow tube of heat-scalable plastic material having opposed wall portions connected by a generally straight heat seal puncturable by the syringe needle and extending longitudinally of the flattened tube to divide the latter into an ampoule section along a first side edge of the tube and a tapering sheath section along the other side edge, a seal joining said wall portions at the smaller end of the sheath section to close such end, a first cross seal between said wall sections extending transversely of said straight seal and from the latter to said first tube edge and closing one end of said ampoule section, the other end of said ampoule section adjacent said closed sheath end being open to receive a medicine and adapted for closure by a second cross seal between the opposed wall portions.

4. For use with a hypodermic syringe having a hollow needle, a flattened tube of heat scalable plastic material having opposed wall portions joined together along a generally straight heat seal puncturable by the syringe needle and extending longitudinally of the flattened tube to divide the latter into an ampoule section along one side edge of the tube and a tapered sheath section along the other side edge, said wall portions at the smaller end of said sheath section being joined together to close this end and, at the larger end being open to receive the syringe needle and one end of said ampoule section being closed with the other end open to receive a medicine and adapted for closure by a cross seal.

5. For use with a hypodermic syringe having a hollow needle, a flattened tube of flexible material having opposed wall portions joined together along a generally straight seal puncturable by the syringe needle and extending longitudinally of the flattened tube to divide the latter into an ampoule section along one side edge of the tube and a sheath section along the other side edge, said wall portions at one end of said sheath section being joined together to close this end and, at the other end, being open to receive the syringe needle and said ampoule section having one end closed and its other end open to receive a medicine and adapted for closure by a cross seal.

6. For use. with a syringe comprising a collapsible body of flexible material defining a fluid chamber and having a neck portion with a hollow needle supported in and extending outwardly beyond the neck portion, an elongated tubular sheath closed at one end and having its other end open to receive and telescope closely with said neck portion to enclose said needle within the sheath and an ampoule of puncturablc material connected integrally with and extending laterally from an intermediate portion of said sheath between said ends thereof and providing a fluid tight chamber, said intermediate portion of said sheath being puncturable by the projecting end of said needle for establishing communication between said chambers through the needle while the portion of the latter beyond said neck portion remains substantially covered by the sheath against contact with unsterile surfaces.

7. For use with a hypodermic syringe having a hollow needle, a flattened tube of flexible material having opposed wall portions joined together along a generally straight seal puncturable by the syringe needle and extending longitudinally of the flattened tube to divide the latter into an ampoule section along one side edge of the tube and a sheath section along the other side edge, said wall portions at one end of said sheath section being joined together to close this end and, at its other end, being open to receive the syringe needle and said ampoule section having at least one end closed and adapted, when the other end is closed, to form a fluid tight chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,666,434 Ogle Jan. 19, 1954 2,724,383 Lockhart Nov. 22, 1955

Images