Single use syringe with breakaway plunger

Details Single use syringe with breakaway plunger Single use syringe with breakaway plunger

1999-12-28

2001-07-31

Yasko, John D. (Department: 3763)

Surgery

Means for introducing or removing material from body for...

Treating material introduced into or removed from body...

C604S218000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06267749

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a single use syringe device and more specifically to a syringe device having a plunger which breaks if an attempt is made to reuse the syringe.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The increasing awareness of the importance of sterility in hypodermic devices has led to the development of disposable syringes. The initial sterility of these devices, coupled with their low cost, has led to their widespread use in preference to reusable devices requiring sterilization before reuse. But this widespread use of disposable syringes has created problems. By their economic nature, inexpensive devices, utilized in high numbers, tend to make inventory controls on new and used devices difficult and prone to breakdown. It is not uncommon for syringes, along with the attached needles, to find their way into unauthorized hands. Once control is lost, these devices may be reused without sterilization.
Reuse of hypodermic syringes, intended for a single use only, is an important factor in the transfer of contagious diseases and facilitation of drug abuse. Intravenous drug users who routinely share and reuse syringes are a high risk group with respect to HIV and the hepatitis virus. Easy access to the devices further facilitates illegal drug use. In addition, the effects of repeated uses of syringe products may be responsible for the spread of many other diseases.
One solution to these problems is to develop syringes which functionally self-destruct after a single application. While the availability of non-reusable syringes will not necessarily stop illegal drug use, it can prevent sharing of contaminated hypodermic syringes and thus help reduce the spread of diseases.
Many approaches have been made to prevent and limit reuse. Initially, syringe designs incorporated features facilitating an explicit destructive act. Thus, by the application of force, the syringe became inoperable. Other designs included special structures to lock the device in a position preventing reuse. Some designs utilized locks incorporated in the barrel section of the syringe, requiring full extension to engage the device. Other designs require the syringe to be prefilled, and do not allow filling of the syringe in the conventional manner. Additional designs required multiple parts and careful assembly. Further, many of these designs relate to syringes which can be rendered inoperable after a single use, rather than syringes which are automatically rendered inoperable by the act of using the syringe a first time. Thus, the safety features may be easily defeated by an unscrupulous user who wishes to reuse the syringe.
The ideal syringe design would incorporate a locking mechanism that would allow conventional use of the syringe (e.g., normal filling operations). In addition, the design would be simple to operate, not requiring any special training. The design should be able to utilize standard hypodermic needles. The design should be inexpensive and reliable and should encourage the full and complete elimination of valuable medication. Finally, the design should automatically render the syringe inoperable for a second use after it is used in a conventional manner on its first use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, a syringe is provided that comprises a plunger which is adapted to be locked in place when it is fully compressed. The plunger comprises a frangible section which has a breaking strength less than the holding strength of the locking structure. Thus, if an attempt is made to withdraw the plunger and resuse the syringe after the plunger has been fully compressed, the plunger will break, rather than withdrawing from the syringe barrel. The locking mechanism may comprise a detent at the distal end of the plunger and a locking ring at the distal end of the barrel. The barrel may include a fitting (e.g., a Luer fitting) for attaching a hypodermic needle, and the syringe may be designed to completely expel any fluid upon fully compressing the plunger.


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