Surgery – Means for introducing or removing material from body for... – Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-01
2001-11-27
Seidel, Richard K. (Department: 3763)
Surgery
Means for introducing or removing material from body for...
Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
C604S131000, C604S151000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322535
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to medical syringes, and more particularly to prefillable syringes and injectors for use therewith.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A number of injector-actuated syringes and powered injectors for use in medical procedures such as angiography, computer tomography and NMR/MRI, have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,736 discloses an apparatus for injecting fluid into the vascular system of a human being or an animal. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,980 discloses an angiographic injector and syringe wherein the drive member of the injector can be connected to, or disconnected from, the syringe plunger at any point along the travel path of the plunger via a releasable mechanism requiring rotation of the syringe plunger relative to the piston.
Numerous advances have been made in the area of injector-actuated syringes and powered injectors for use therewith. Nonetheless, newly developed and developing medical procedures constantly test the limits of current injector systems. For example, some procedures require the use of high pressures but also require physiochemical properties of the syringe (for example chemical and biochemical compatibility with the liquid injection medium) that make attainment of high, pressures difficult.
It is, therefore, very desirable to develop new syringes and injectors usable in a wide variety of medical procedures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides injector-actuated syringes and injectors for use therewith that enable and/or facilitate a variety of medical procedures involving the injection of a liquid medium. In several embodiments, the present syringes and injectors enable the use of current syringe fabrication materials at higher pressures than previously attainable or the use of other fabrication materials not previously usable with high pressure-syringe and injector designs.
For example, the present invention provides generally a front-loading syringe comprising an elongated cylindrical main body and a releasable mounting mechanism. Known front-loading syringes with readily releasable mounting mechanisms are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,858. The releasable mounting mechanism of the present invention comprises at least one mounting flange connected to a rear portion of the cylindrical main body and enables releasable mounting of the syringe in a desired position relative to a front wall of an injector housing. The mounting flange preferably encompasses an arcuate length equal to at least approximately one half (that is, approximately 180°) of the circumference of the rear portion of the cylindrical main body. It is understood that the mounting flange can encompass an arcuate length greater than 360° of the circumference of the rear portion of the cylindrical main body.
The releasable mounting mechanism preferably comprises more than one mounting flange. For example, the releasable mounting mechanism may comprise at least two radially projecting mounting flanges that encompass collectively an arcuate length equal to at least approximately 180° of the circumference of rear portion of the cylindrical main body. In one embodiment, the releasable mounting mechanism comprises at least a first pair and a second pair of radially projecting mounting flanges. The first pair of the mounting flanges is preferably positioned at a first axial location, and the second pair of the mounting flanges is preferably positioned at a second axial location. As set forth above, these four mounting flanges encompass collectively an arcuate length equal to at least approximately 180° of the circumference of rear portion of the cylindrical main body. It is understood that these four mounting flanges can encompass collectively an arcuate length greater than 360° of the circumference of rear portion of the cylindrical main body. Preferably, the mounting flanges of each pair of mounting flanges are positioned to be opposing (that is, positioned symmetrically with respect to each other about the axis of the cylindrical main body) to assist in eliminating uneven loading forces and torque imparted on the syringe when the injector drive member is activated.
The first pair of mounting flanges and the second pair of mounting flanges may be in general alignment. In another embodiment, the first pair of mounting flanges are offset from the second pair of mounting flanges. Preferably, the first pair of mounting flanges are offset from the second pair of mounting flanges by approximately 90°. Offsetting of the pairs of mounting flanges assists in evenly distributing forces over the entire circumference of the syringe.
The present invention also provides injectors for use with the above syringes. In general, the injectors comprise a housing having a front wall, a cooperating retainer and a powered drive member. The cooperating retainer comprises at least one slot for receiving therethrough the at least one cooperating mounting flange on the syringe. The cooperating retainer further comprises at least one retaining flange to releasably engage the at least one cooperating mounting flange over substantially the entire arcuate length of the cooperating mounting flange when the syringe is inserted into and rotated within the cooperating retainer. The syringe is thereby releasably mountable in a desired position relative to the front wall of the injector housing.
In cases in which the syringe comprises at least two mounting flanges, the cooperating retainer preferably comprises at least two slots for receiving therethrough the at least two cooperating mounting flanges on the syringe. The cooperating retainer further comprises at least two retaining flanges to releasably engage the at least two cooperating mounting flange over substantially the entire arcuate length of the cooperating mounting flanges.
In cases in which the syringe comprises multiple pairs of mounting flanges positioned at different axial positions on the syringe, but in general alignment, the cooperating retainer may comprise two slots for receiving therethrough the multiple pairs of mounting flanges on the syringe. The cooperating retainer further comprises at least one retaining flange to releasably engage each cooperating mounting flange. For example, in the case of a syringe comprising two pairs of cooperating mounting flanges, the retainer preferably comprises a first pair of retaining flanges positioned at a first axial location on the cooperating retainer to engage the first pair of opposing mounting flanges and a second pair of retaining flanges positioned at a second axial location on the cooperating retainer to engage the second pair of opposing mounting flanges.
In cases in which the syringe comprises more than two mounting flanges having offset positions on the syringe, the retainer preferably has more than two slots to receive the mounting flanges. In one embodiment described above, for example, the syringe comprises a first pair of opposing mounting flanges positioned at a first axial location on the syringe and a second pair of opposing mounting flanges being positioned at a second axial location on the syringe, the first pair of opposing mounting flanges being offset from the second pair of opposing mounting flanges by approximately 90°. For releasable mounting of such a syringe, the cooperating retainer comprises four slots (two pairs of slots offset by approximately 90°) for receiving therethrough the at least four cooperating mounting flanges on the syringe. The cooperating retainer further comprising at least four retaining flanges to releasably engage the four cooperating mounting flanges. A first pair of retaining flanges is positioned at a first axial location on the cooperating retainer to engage the first pair of mounting flanges, and a second pair of retaining flanges being positioned at a second axial location on the cooperating retainer to engage the second pair of mounting flanges. The first pair of retaining flanges are offset from the second pair of retaining flanges by approximately 90°.
The presen
Hitchins Mark W.
Masarik Robert J.
Rhinehart Edward J.
Bradley Gregory L.
Medrad Inc.
Seidel Richard K.
Thanh Loan H.
LandOfFree
Prefillable syringes and injectors for use therewith does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Prefillable syringes and injectors for use therewith, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Prefillable syringes and injectors for use therewith will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2580643