WO2023140391A1

WO2023140391A1 - Syringe with extension device

Info

Publication number: WO2023140391A1
Application number: PCT/KE2022/050002
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephen Otieno GWER; Aparna RAMANATHAN; Karl Heinz TONDO; Erin KOKSAL
Original assignee: Nyanza Reproductive Health Society
Priority date: 2022-01-18
Filing date: 2022-04-06
Publication date: 2023-07-27

Abstract

The present invention discloses a syringe, which is designed to extend the length of the syringe．The extension device comprises three parts: the plunger holder，the syringe holder and a screw, and the screw locks the two together. The device has a single component piece made from plastic or metal that attaches to the syringe body and the syringe plunger to extend the syringe length such that administration of a para-cervical block is possible using a standard-length needle．The said device is attached to a syringe to provide the additional length required to complete certain medical procedures，for example, the application of medication to a woman's cervix．Also the present invention discloses a method of assembling a syringe．

Description

PATENT DESCRIPTION

Syringe with Extension Device

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to syringe extensions, and in particular to a syringe with an extension device that is designed to extend the length of a syringe and provide the additional length required to complete certain medical procedures, for example, the application of medication to a woman’s cervix.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, many women must endure painful gynecologic procedures because there is no available device to administer pain medication that is long enough to navigate the woman’s vagina. A syringe is a tube with a nozzle and piston or bulb for sucking in and ejecting liquid in a thin stream, used for cleaning wounds or body cavities, or fitted with a hollow needle for injecting or withdrawing fluids. In the medical field, syringes are devices used to inject medication into or withdraw fluid from the body. A medical syringe consists of a needle attached to a hollow cylinder that is fitted with a sliding plunger. The downward movement of the plunger injects fluid; upward movement withdraws fluid. Medical syringes were once made of metal or glass and required cleaning and sterilization before they could be used again.

Today, most syringes used in medicine are plastic and disposable but most of them fail to reach certain target organs, tissues or fluid. Very long needles, called spinal needles, which are sometimes used in high-income areas, are very expensive and difficult to provide in lower-income settings. Additionally, each spinal needle can be used only once and must be replaced for every procedure.

To address this problem a novel device was created that extends the syringe from the back side, rather than using a long needle. This approach has never been utilized before and carries with it several benefits. For example, this device has enabled medical providers to give a woman pain relief medication during gynecologic procedures, which up until this point, has not been possible in many medical settings. Some prior art patents disclose technical inventions in the field of syringes. The syringe was invented in the year 1848. ^[1] Alexander Wood (1853) introduced the hollow needle to deliver opioids ^[2] and within a few years the syringe became a very valuable medical instrument to inject a number of drugs. In the early nineteenth century, handmade syringes of glass and metal were available at very high cost (approximately USS 50). The popularity of the syringe increased as it was used to inject penicillin. As the demand and use of the syringe increased, mass production of syringes led to a decrease in the price. Due to continuous development in technology between 1950 and 1960, the sterilizable glass syringe was replaced by the disposable syringe. ^[1]

In the recent past, a number of inventions regarding syringes have been disclosed. For instance, the US patent number US9028453B2 Cilag GmbH International dated 2008 discloses a reusable auto-injector. It describes an injection device comprised of a first sub-assembly. The first subassembly comprises a chamber for holding a fluid. The chamber comprises an inner surface and an exit aperture. The first sub-assembly comprises a stopper movably disposed within the chamber and having an outer surface substantially in contact with the inner surface about its perimeter. The first sub-assembly comprises an adapter adapted to transfer fluid into the chamber. But this invention is not the same as the one disclosed in this document since it lacks an extension device.

Another US Patent number US7682345B2 by Bayer Healthcare LLC dated 2000 discloses medical injector systems having an injector plunger that releasably engages a syringe hub upon retraction of the plunger. It claims a plunger for a syringe for use with a medical injector system, the syringe having a barrel and a hub slidingly engaging the barrel, the plunger comprising: an outer surface; an actuating member disposed at least partially within a longitudinal bore defined in the inside of the outer surface; a channel extending in a radial direction; and at least one retention member slidably disposed within the channel to retractably protrude from at least an inner surface to at least above the outer surface, wherein the at least one retention member terminates with an inwardly projection end formed as a curved contacting surface, wherein the retention member is adapted to releasably engage a substantially annular engaging portion on an inner surface of the hub upon retraction of the plunger to permit the hub to be selectively withdrawn along the barrel by the plunger. However, this invention lacks the extension being taught in the present invention.

Furthermore, the current syringes have the following disadvantages:

• The volume of syringe used limits the fluid dispensing volume,

• Excessive resistance may lead to the build-up of pressure and eventual failure of the syringe pump, and The flow rate during the transient period cannot be known without flow sensors (3).

There are no other devices of this nature available in the realm of syringe extension. Accordingly, there is dire need to avail a special device that enables reach of the target organ with ease. The present invention aims to solve the aforementioned problems.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a syringe that has a reusable extender device that is able to extend the syringe length.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a syringe with an extender device that is able to extend the syringe length. The said extender being reusable.

In one preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a syringe and device for extending syringe that is able to extend the length of a syringe. The syringe comprises a device which has three parts that can be fitted together, namely; the sub-assembly plunger holder, the syringe holder, and a screw that locks the two together. The said device has a single component piece made from plastic or metal that attaches to the syringe sub-assembly body and the syringe plunger to extend syringe length such that administration of a paracervical block is possible using a standard-length needle.

In another preferred embodiment, the said device is attached to a syringe to provide the additional length required to complete certain medical procedures, for example, the application of medication to a woman’s cervix. The syringe extension device (SED) is attached to the syringe so that it may become long enough for use in gynecologic procedures such as injecting into the woman’s cervix and uterus. This type of injection of numbing medicine is known as paracervical block that allows pain free procedures to the cervix and uterus.

In another preferred embodiment the said SED is reusable and has low-cost syringe extension device that is placed on the back of syringe during Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MV A) to provide the additional length required to administer a paracervical block. MVA is a way of surgically treating miscarriage when there is pregnancy tissue remaining within the womb. MVA procedures utilize a narrow tube to enter and empty the womb using aspiration (gentle suction). A standard 10 cc syringe that is widely available in Kenya at all health facility levels is attached to the SED and then used to administer the paracervical block. The MVA is then subsequently completed.

Yet in another embodiment, the said syringe extension device comprises three parts that can be fitted together: the sub-assembly plunger holder, the syringe holder, and a screw that locks the two together and has been designed to be compatible with use of any 10 cc syringe commonly available in a medical clinic in both urban and rural settings. It can accommodate the slight variance in shape found between the different brands of 10 cc syringe which are commercially available.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Figure 1 illustrates a side view of SED with components parts as described in the present invention.

Figure 2 shows different parts of SED sub-assembly body.

Figure 3 is a demonstration of different parts of SED sub-assembly plunger.

Figure 4 indicates different parts of SED sub-assembly thumb-press.

Figure 5 provides polycarbonate plastics material used in SED manufacturing.

Figure 6 provides stainless steel material used in SED manufacturing.

Figure 7 provides a schematic steps of manufacturing process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTON OF FIGURES

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the invention is provided below along with accompanying figures that illustrate the principles of the invention. The invention is described in connection with such embodiments, but the invention is not limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims and the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents.

Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. These details are provided for the purpose of example and the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the invention is not unnecessarily obscured.

In more detailed description, the present invention teaches of syringe with a novel syringe extension device (SED) that is designed to extend the syringe length. The said SED is reusable. The said syringe and SED was designed by Dr. Aparna Ramanathan, a gynaecologist, in collaboration with Mr. Karl Heinz-Tondo and Ms. Erin Koksal, both of whom are mechanical engineers. Based on feedback from a pilot study, the design has been further optimized by a team of engineers at TU Delft University in Amsterdam. It has a single component piece that attaches to the syringe body and the syringe plunger. This acts to extend syringe length such that administration of a paracervical block is possible using a standard-length needle. The SED device will be manufactured by Kijenzi Kenya Limited by 3D printing in Nairobi, Kenya, and is made from plastic or metal.

In one embodiment, the invention comprises a syringe with a device for extending syringe that is capable of extending the length of a syringe. SED comprises three sub-assembly parts that can be fitted together into a single component piece, namely; the sub-assembly body, sub-assembly plunger holder, the sub-assembly thumb-press. It also has a screw that locks the two together. This single component piece made from plastic or metal attaches to the syringe body and the syringe sub-assembly plunger to extend syringe length such that administration of a paracervical block is possible using a standard-length needle. The said device is attached to a syringe to provide the additional length required to complete certain medical procedures, for example, the application of medication to a woman’s cervix.

In another embodiment, the said invention provides a short 18- or 21 -gauge needle and 10 cc syringe (items which are readily available in even small remote clinical settings) are used to draw up the numbing medication to be used in the procedure. The SED is attached to the syringe so that it may become long enough for use in gynecologic procedures. The additional length is required to navigate the patient’s vagina, which is too long to be navigated by the readily available short needle and syringe. The numbing medicine can then be injected into the woman’s cervix and uterus. This type of injection of numbing medicine is known as paracervical block.

Paracervical block is the injection of a numbing medication to the cervix, thereby allowing pain free procedures to the cervix and uterus. This is akin to the injection on the gums prior to a dental procedure. Women benefit from injection of paracervical block for a number of gynecologic procedures including Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MV A), which is the emptying of the uterus of tissues and blood after a miscarriage. In another embodiment, the said SED component is a reusable, low-cost syringe extension device that is placed on the back of a 10-cc syringe during MVA to provide the additional length required to administer a paracervical block. These syringes are widely available in Kenya at all health facility levels. The syringe extension device is made of plastic or metal and can be sterilized in a similar manner to the Karman cannulas which are currently used for MVA, requiring no additional equipment at the health facilities where these procedures are being completed.

The expected cost of the device when produced at scale would be less than $5 per device with an expected life span similar to that of the Karman cannula. Use of this novel device instead of the spinal needle would be significantly cost-saving. The syringe with the extension device have the potential to expand access to pain relief for women requiring MVA and even other obstetric/gynecologic procedures including excision treatment of cervical pre-cancer, diagnostic uterine curettage biopsy for abnormal bleeding, intrauterine device insertion, and provision of pain medicine during labor and delivery.

The present syringe extension device (SED) attache to a 10ml medical syringe used for the provision of paracervical analgesia during manual vacuum aspiration (MVA). SED is designed and optimized to extend the length of the 10ml syringe to reach and administer anesthesia into the cervix during MVA procedures. This significantly reduces the dependency on expensive needles and makes use of the locally available 10ml syringe currently being used in the world.

The technical specifications of the present invention are designed to comprise;

• 10 ml syringe with syringe extension device (SED) to fit in the current international standards,

• parts that fit both circular and semi-circular syringe barrel flanges,

• components that are susceptible to cleaning, disinfection and sterilization, and

• adopted to be manufactured using 3D printing using either: o fuse deposition modelling, or o Selective laser sintering (SLS)

• manufactured even by injection moulding, or

• any other appropriate and cost-effective means.

Table 1 : SED Versions (Plastic and Metal) Comparison

Manufacturing Process

SED is manufactured in two material materials options, that is: a) Polycarbonate Plastics (15) - Polymers that has polycarbonate blend of Fig. 5. b) Stainless steel SS304 (16) as in Fig. 6. The SED is manufactured using 3D printing technology, fused deposition modeling (FDM) and selective laser sintering (SLS). 3D printing has been occurring locally in Kenya.

Table 2: Manufacturing Process

Table 3 : Polycarbonate Plastics SED Manufacturing Material Properties

Table 4: Molding Property of Stainless steel

Table 5: Mechanical Properties of Printed Testing Specimens

Table 6: Cleaning Methods

In another embodiment according to Fig. 1, the present invention illustrates a side view of SED with components parts comprising a sub-assembly body (1) with a protruding sub-assembly

Plunger (2) and a sub-assembly thumb-press (2) attached to the plunger (3).

In Fig. 2, the present invention avails different parts of SED body (1) consisting of sub-assembly plunger body insertion hole (4) in a body flange (5), plunger sliding path (6) hinged onto the body flange and syringe flange insertion slot (7) that is fixed next to the body tip (8). The said SED body of Fig. 1 further comprises syringe barrel insertion slot (9) and plunger stopper (10)

In Fig. 3, the invention provides different parts of SED sub-assembly plunger (2) sub-assembly thumb-press screw in connector (11) part on the sub-assembly plunger body (1) which is attached to left syringe plunger flange insertion slot (12A) and right syringe plunger flange insertion slot (12B).

Fig- 4 of the present invention provides different parts of SED sub-assembly thumb-press which comprises a thumb rest (13) at the end of thumb-press body (3) and thumb-press connection screw (14).

Whereas Fig. 5, the invention teaches of polycarbonate plastics material (15) used in SED manufacturing process, Fig. 6 provides stainless steel material used in SED manufacturing Yet in Fig. 7, the invention avails a schematic of steps of the manufacturing process as taught in the present invention.

While Fig. 1 illustrates the SED according to the first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, and Fig. 4 give the technical specification for each component piece: sub-assembly body, sub-assembly plunger, and sub-assembly thumb press.

To be precise in the first embodiment, the body (1) according to Fig. 2 comprises an insertion slot (9) for the 10-cc syringe where the syringe phalanges are inserted. The slot (9) is open to accommodate any phalange shape and varies in different brands of syringes. The cylindrical syringe barrel is designed to snap into the circular opening or slot (9). The SED tube is made to accommodate the syringe plunger (2) as it is withdrawn or compressed to give the injection. The operator places their fingers on the SED body finger holds to administer the injection. The SED sub-assembly body (1) is constructed either from plastic (15) or metal (16) as described in the materials section in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 2, the SED sub-assembly body (1) comprises of a syringe barrel insertion slot for a 10ml syringe to be inserted. The cylindrical syringe barrel is crafted to snap into the syringe barrel insertion slot (7). The SED sub-assembly body (1) also comprises of a syringe flange insertion slot where a 10ml syringe barrel flange can be firmly secured. Both insertion slots are open to accommodate any flange shape as per different brands of syringes. The syringe sliding path is meant to accommodate a 10ml syringe plunger (2) and guide the SED sub-assembly plunger to be able to withdraw or compress to give the injection.

The plunger stopper will be the end point of how far the SED plunger can compress the injection. The sub-assembly plunger body (1) insertion hole provides the space to insert the SED plunger which is connected to the sub-assembly thumb-press through a screw in mechanism. The operator will place their fingers on the SED body (1) flange to administer the injection. The SED subassembly body can be constructed either from plastic or metal as noted in the materials section in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6.

The SED sub-assembly plunger (2) includes a slot for the syringe plunger to slide into place (6). The sub-assembly thumb-press of the syringe is inserted into the said opening. The sub-assembly plunger (2) is locked into place in the body (1) by inserting the tubular portion of the plunger through the exit aperture in the body finger holds and screwing the SED thumb-press (3) into the opening at the base of the tubular portion of the sub-assembly plunger (2). The invention is crafted to enable the operators to place their thumb on the sub-assembly thumb-press (3) to advance the SED sub-assembly plunger (2) thereby also advancing the syringe plunger and administering the injection. The SED can be disassembled by unscrewing the thumb-press (3) and removing the subassembly plunger (2) from the sub-assembly body (1) by sliding the tubular portion of the plunger (6) out of the exit aperture (4) in the SED sub-assembly body finger holds.

The said disassembly is designed to facilitate cleaning and sterilization of the device after use. The SED sub-assembly plunger (2) and thumb-press (3) can be constructed either from plastic (15) or metal (16) as noted in the materials section in Fig.7 which comprises the SED manufacturing process. The SED can be manufactured utilizing either Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) or Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). FDM printers use a thermoplastic filament, which is heated to its melting point and then extruded, layer by layer, to create a three-dimensional SED object. SLS printers utilize stainless steel.

In another embodiment, the assembly process is taught as follows: the SED sub-assembly plunger includes a syringe plunger flange insertion slot for a 10ml syringe plunger flange to slide into place. A 10ml syringe plunger is locked into place in the SED sub-assembly body and slides up and own in the Plunger sliding path. SED sub-assembly plunger attached to SED sub-assembly body. This is done by inserting the SED sub-assembly plunger through the plunger body insertion hole 104 and screwing the SED sub-assembly thumb-press into the thumb-press screw in connector of the SED Plunger. The operator places their thumb on the thumb rest to advance the SED sub-assembly plunger thereby also advancing the syringe plunger and administering the injection.

In a similar embodiment, the SED can be disassembled by unscrewing the sub-assembly thumbpress connection screw from the thumb-press screw-in connector and removing the SED subassembly plunger from the SED sub-assembly body by sliding the plunger body out of the plunger body insertion hole. This disassembly will facilitate cleaning and sterilization of the device after use. SED sub-assembly plunger and SED sub-assembly thumb-press can be constructed either from plastic or metal as noted in the materials section in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 2, the invention gives the exact design specifications and part for the SED sub-assembly body. In Fig. 3, the invention gives the exact design specifications and parts for the SED sub- assembly plunger. In Fig. 4, the invention teaches of the exact design specifications and parts for the SED sub-assembly thumb-press.

In Fig. 5, the invention avails details the different designs of the SED in both polycarbonate blend plastic (15) and stainless steel (16). The difference in cost and sterilization methods is also described. The inexpensive plastic model will likely be used in low-income settings so that women of any socioeconomic status have access to pain medication injection during gynecologic procedures. The metal (16) option will be available as well and would most likely be used in high- income settings to provide cost savings over time and to reduce the medical waste created by disposable spinal needles. Both the metal and plastic versions (15) contain the same component pieces and function as described in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 5, the invention describes materials specifications for manufacture of the device and in Fig- 7, it describes the manufacturing process for each model.

A syringe extension device is comprised of three parts that can be fitted together: the plunger holder, the syringe holder, and a screw that locks the two together. When assembled, the device will attach to a standard available 10 cc syringe and 21 gauge needle which will contain the numbing medication to be injected. The syringe is slid into the SED sub-assembly body and plunger which will hold it in place, as shown in Fig 1. Once the syringe is in place the device subassembly plunger and sub-assembly thumb-press can be used to administer the injection. Once this is completed, the syringe can easily be slid out of the device.

The device can then be separated into three pieces by unscrewing the screw at the base of the thumb press. This will allow for easy sterilization and reuse. The SED has been designed to be compatible with use of any 10 cc syringe commonly available in a medical clinic in both urban and rural settings. It can accommodate the slight variance in shape found between the different brands of 10 cc syringe which are commercially available.

Providing this novel SED has at least three benefits over prior art.

The first is that it provides extension to the syringe to enable injection of pain medication into difficult to reach areas, such as the cervix and uterus. There is no other existing device that functions to extend the syringe. This novel device makes possible the administration of adequate pain medication to the millions of women who undergo gynecologic procedures every year and who currently do not have access.

The second is in drastic reduction of cost for the provision of numbing medicine for gynecologic procedures, thus making access to adequate pain medication possible for millions of women who currently do not have access due to cost. Even in countries where the prior art is commonly used, transition to the SED can reduce overall healthcare costs.

The third major benefit is in device reusability. Whereas the prior art of spinal needles is designed to be disposable and will need to be replaced for each subsequent procedure, the SED is designed to last over hundreds of uses. This is again cost saving while also reducing overall medical waste generated by the millions of gynecologic procedures performed every year.

Best Mode of Carrying the Invention

At its best, the present invention provides the SED sub-assembly plunger (2) that includes a syringe plunger flange insertion slot for a 10ml syringe plunger flange to slide into place according to Fig. 1. A 10ml syringe plunger is locked into place in the SED sub-assembly body (1) and slides up and own in the plunger sliding path (6) according to Fig. 2. SED plunger (2) is attached to SED sub-assembly body of Fig. 1 by inserting the SED sub-assembly plunger (2) through the plunger body insertion hole (4) and screwing the SED sub-assembly thumb-press into the thumb-press screw in connector (11) of the SED sub-assembly plunger as taught in Fig. 3. The operator places their thumb on the thumb rest (13) to advance the SED sub-assembly plunger thereby also advancing the syringe plunger and administering the injection as shown in Fig. 4.

In addition, the SED can be disassembled by unscrewing the thumb-press connection screw (14) from the thumb-press screw-in connector (11) and removing the SED plunger from the SED subassembly body (1) by sliding the plunger body on a plunger sliding path (6) out of the plunger body insertion hole (4) of Fig. 2. This disassembly facilitates cleaning and sterilization of the device after use. SED sub-assembly plunger (2) and SED sub-assembly thumb-press (3) are constructed either from plastic (15) as shown in Fig. 5 or from metal (16) as noted in the materials section in Fig. 6.

In Fig. 7, the invention avails a schematic steps of manufacturing process as taught in the present invention. In a nutshell, the present invention provides a novel SED that has at least two benefits over prior art. The said invention comprises a variety of advantages: The first is that it provides extension to the syringe to enable injection of pain medication into difficult to reach areas, such as the cervix and uterus. There is no other existing device that functions to extend the syringe. This novel device makes possible the administration of adequate pain medication to the millions of women who undergo gynecologic procedures every year and who currently do not have access.

The second is in drastic reduction of cost for the provision of numbing medicine for gynecologic procedures, thus making access to adequate pain medication possible for millions of women who currently do not have access due to cost. Even in countries where the prior art is commonly used, transition to the SED can reduce overall healthcare costs. The third major benefit is in device reusability. Whereas the prior art of spinal needles is designed to be disposable and will need to be replaced for each subsequent procedure, the SED is designed to last over hundreds of uses. This is again cost saving while also reducing overall medical waste generated by the millions of gynecologic procedures performed every year.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that, for this and other processes and methods disclosed herein, the functions performed in the processes and methods may be implemented in differing order. Furthermore, the outlined steps and operations are only provided as examples, and some of the steps and operations may be optional, combined into fewer steps and operations, or expanded into additional steps and operations without detracting from the essence of the disclosed embodiments.

Although embodiments of the present inventions have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the invention have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

The invention avails a syringe and SED that is applicable in syringe industry. The entire component has a number of advantages in that it is a reusable, low-cost, syringe extension device placed on the back of syringe during MVA to provide the additional length required to administer a paracervical block. The syringes utilized in the set up are widely available in Kenya at all health facility levels. The syringe extension device is cheap and locally available since it is made of plastic or metal and can be sterilized in a similar manner to the Karman cannulas which are currently used for MVA, requiring no additional equipment at the health facilities where these procedures are being completed. The expected cost of the device when produced at scale would be less than $5 per device with an expected life span similar to that of the Karman cannula. Use of this novel device instead of the spinal needle would be significantly cost-saving. The syringe extension device has the potential to expand access to pain relief for women requiring MVA and even other obstetric/gynecologic procedures including excision treatment of cervical pre-cancer, diagnostic uterine curettage biopsy for abnormal bleeding, intrauterine device insertion, and provision of pain medicine during labor and delivery.

REFERENCES

1. Drucker E, Alcabes PG, Marx PA. The injection century: Massive unsterile injections and the emergence of human pathogens. Lancet 2001; 358: 1989-92.

2. Brokensha G. The hollow needle: Inappropriate injection in practice. Aust Prescr 1999;22: 145-7

3. Jhuboo, N.; Rondelet, J.-C., Method and apparatus for determining pressure and detecting occlusions in a syringe pump. Patents: 1993. 4. US patent number US9028453B2 Cilag GmbH International dated 2008 discloses a reusable auto-injector.

5. US Patent number US7682345B2 by Bayer Healthcare LLC dated 2000 discloses medical injector systems having an injector plunger that releasably engages a syringe hub upon retraction of the plunger.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is;

1. A syringe, comprising a syringe extension device.

2. The syringe extension device of claim 1, wherein the extension device further comprises a plurality of sub-assembly as follows: a sub-assembly body designed as the main frame of the device, a sub-assembly plunger affixed to both the body and the thumb-press, and a sub-assembly thumb-press fixed to the plunger.

3. The syringe extension device of claim 2, wherein the sub-assembly body of the extension device further comprises a syringe barrel and flanges as well as an exit aperture through which the plunger is attached and finger holding means for the operator.

4. The syringe extension device of claim 2, wherein the sub-assembly plunger is affixed to both the body through the exit aperture and to the thumb-press to accommodate the syringe plunger.

5. The syringe extension device of claim 4, wherein the sub-assembly plunger is crafted to administer the injection through the syringe extension body.

6. The syringe extension device of claim 5, wherein the sub-assembly plunger is enabled to slide outward to accommodate drawing up of fluid into the syringe.

7. The syringe extension device of claim 6, wherein the drawn-up fluid into the syringe is a medication.

8. The syringe extension device of claim 2, wherein the sub-assembly thumb-press is designed to enable the operator to administer the injection.

9. The syringe extension device of claim 8, wherein the sub-assembly thumb-press is crafted to connect to the plunger to the body.

10. The syringe extension device of claim 9, wherein the sub-assembly thumb-press is crafted to affix the plunger in place to the body.

11. The syringe extension device of claim 2, wherein the extension device is fitted together by a plunger holder, syringe holder and a screw.

12. The syringe extension device of claim 11, wherein the screw is designed and placed on the device to lock the plunger holder and syringe holder together.

13. The syringe extension device of claim 2, wherein the said device is designed to extend the length of a syringe for purposes of facilitating administration of fluids through the syringe.

14. The syringe extension device of claim 2, wherein the device is made from plastic material The syringe extension device of claim 2, wherein the device is made of a metal. A method of assembling a plastic syringe with syringe extension device, which further comprises a sub-assembly body, sub-assembly plunger and sub-assembly thumb-press consisting of the following steps: a. improvising a syringe extension sub-assembly body into a syringe barrel insertion slot for a 10ml syringe to be inserted, b. introducing a cylindrical syringe barrel that is designed to snap into the syringe barrel insertion slot, c. adding to the body a syringe flange insertion slot where a 10 ml syringe barrel flange can be firmly secured, d. ensuring that both insertion slots are open to accommodate any flange shape depending on different brands of syringes, e. providing a syringe sliding path crafted to accommodate a 10ml syringe plunger and guiding the plunger to enable it to withdraw or be compressed to give the injection, f. inserting the plunger stopper at the end point or as far as the sub-assembly plunger can compress the injection, wherein the said plunger is manufactured by injection moulding, or by any other appropriate and cost-effective means, g. creating an insertion hole on the plunger body to provide space to insert the plunger which is connected to the thumb-press through a screw in mechanism, and h. enabling the operators to place their fingers on the sub-assembly body flange to administer the injection. The method of claim 16, wherein the said syringe extension device is made of metal.