Title of Invention

A DISPOSABLE MEDICAL SYRINGE

Abstract

This invention provides a disposable medical syringe comprising an elongated hollow body provided with at its front end an integrally fitted needle or a nozzle for fitting a hypodermic needle, and a plunger capable of working within the said hollow body through the hind end of the latter, said hollow body and plunger being provided with digital gripping member towards their hind ends, characterized in that the assembled syringe is provided with a seal towards its hind ends, said seal being provided on to the said hollow body or on to the said plunger so as to restrict the movement of the plunger with respect to the said hollow body.

Full Text

This invention relates to a disposable medical syringe. Recycling of used disposable syringes has become a menace particularly in the developing and underdeveloped countries where proper disposal facilities and government control are inadequate. Miscreants collect used syringes, clean them and simply repack JM them in printed covers which are illegally secured. Such diseases spread as hepatitis B, AIDS and other pyogenic infections can be 9cfts:S(S through these recycled plastic syringes. As such any simple means whereby such recycling can be prevented has become an established topic l^kkkik for invention by present day inventors. Even so OCJSMMKKXK commercially viable solutions have not come forth as evidenced by the lack of such safe syringes in the market. The object of this invention is to propose a simple syringe which would prevent recycling if properly used, which is economical and differs only presterile slightly from the existing dJcsjists disposable :^mx±MX±tmx syringes. Inventors have generally focussed on making some alteration on the syringe after its first use so that the second user would be warned. But this would require government legislation to ensure that all first used syringes are altered in a specific manner. Both the government legislation and its compliance are hard to be achieved. The object of this invention is to propose a simple means whereby the first user of the syringe is compelled (without any law jtuficfflt enforcement)to make visible alteration in the syringe before its first use so that recycling is prevented. It is also another ob;3ect of this invention to provide an economical means for effecting this. The syringe should suffer only minimal altera¬tion so as not to interfere with its routine function. The invention achieves this by providing a seal for the syringe on the same lines as the existing seal for dry cells* i^G:Si3witxjsig±9 Accordingly this invention provides a disposable medical syringe comprising an elongated hollow body provided with at its front end an integrally fitted needle or a nozzle for fitting a hypodermic needle, and a plunger dimensioned to work within the said hollow body through the hind end of the latter, as|Jcdk said hollow body and plunger being provided with digital gripping members towards their hind ends, characterised in that the assembled syringe is StK provided with a seal fitted on to and stretching between a front fitted Rszxis cap for the syringe and the said hollow body or plunger or on to the said hollow body and/or ^loragKse the plunger towards the hind end of the syringe so as to restrict the movement xAxtkft of the said front cap or the plunger with respect to the said hollow body. The plunger of the disposable syringe has sealing means on one end which is slidably inserted into and in sealing relationship with the said hollow body to vary the interior volume of said body. In cases where a hypodermic m needle is provided along with the syringe in the same package, the needle may be fitted on the xafi said nozzle and a cap provided on the said needle^ the seal stretch¬ing between the said needle cap and the said hollow body or plunger of the syringe. The attachment of the seal to the said hollow body or plunger is usually made at or near the said digital gripping members as this is the part which readily lends itself for attach- seal ments. The IS^gE is usually integral with or provided with means for nondetachable fitting HMfaaxik on to the said front cap and the said digital KX gripping member (s) so that the seal has to be ksxJajcaksRtx broken before using the syringe. The seal usually has a band or cord shaped body. In cases where the seal is attach¬ed solely to the hollow body of the syringe, the seal attached to the said hollow body is dimensioned to enclose the hind end of the said fitted plunger nclii within the seal. A ring shaped front end of the seal is usually used for fitting on to the base of a needle cap. In some embodiments the band or cord shaped seal is integral at one of its xm ends with the said plunger or hollow body, nondetachable fitting being provided towards the other end. The usual means of KcraiKtatitkla nondetachable fitting comprises a resilient bulbous or ring shaped tip for the seal dimensioned to be introduced into and to resist separation from a corresponding hole or bulbous tip on the syringe body. The seal may be broken with a suitable tool. But it is ideal if the seal can be broken with the operator's fingers. So as to achieve this means are provided for breaking the seal easily solely with the operator's fingers. This usually comprises a tag and narrow portions on the body of the seal near the said tag. The seal holding on to the syringe after breaking the seal is a nuisance. So means are provided for detaching the seal from the syringe after breaking the seal« The syringe and seal are made of a synthetic material such as plastic and provided in a presterile package. The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings^ wherein: Fig,i: is the sectional elevation of UXQCSBH one embodiment of the xsis± syringe with the seal according to the invention; the seal being shown in side view; Kigx2 Fig.iA: is the end on view of the hollow body of the syringe viewed from the back of the syringe, the seal being shown in sectional view; Fig.-jB: is the end on view of the plunger of the syringe xti^^jii viewed from the back,the seal being shown in sectional view; Fig.iC: is the plan view of the seal employed in the syringe according to Fig.i; Fig.2: is the sectional elevation of another embodiment of a syringe with the seal according to the invention; Fig.2A: is the end on view of the plunger of the syringe according to Fig.2 viewed from the back; Fig.3: is the sectional elevation of another embodiment of a syringe with the seal according to the invention; Fig,3A: is the end on view of the plunger of the syringe according to Fig.3, viewed from the back; Fig.4: is the sectional elevation of another embodiment of a syringe with seal according to the invention; Fig.4A: is the end on view of the hollow body of the syringe according to JdaKxixxwddcoxKi Fig.4 viewed from the back; Fig.5: is the sectional elevation of another embodiment of a syringe with the seal according to the invention; Fig.5A: is the end on view of the hollow body of the syringe accord¬ing to i^kSLxkxxsxkisx Fig.5 viewed from the back; Fig.6: is the plan view of a syringe fitted with another embodi¬ment of the seal according to the invention; Fig.6A: is the end on view of the hollow body of the syringe shown in Fig.6 viewed from the back^ the seal being shown in sectional view; Fig.7: is the plan view of another syringe with needle and needle cap fitted with a seal according to the invention. As aknra shown in the figures the syringe according to the invention comprises an elongated hollow body B provided with at its front end an integrally fitted hypodermic needle with an optional cap E or a nozzle for fitting a hypodermic needle 0, and a plunger P dimensioned to work within the said hollow body, gripping said hollow body and plunger being provided with digital gipidtHg members G and H towards their hind ends. The assembled syringe is provided with a seal L stretching between a front fitted cap C or E for the syringe and the said digital gripping M«»faKKxXX members G or H - Figs.5 to 7. Alternatively the seal L is fitted gripping towards the hind end of the syringe on to the digital stkftuk^&x member G aaadk^^OKxHKxSltg and/or H - Figs.1 to 5A. The seal in most of the embodiments shown has a bulbous tip D and tag A and is provided with the narrow portions N near the tag. In the sectional elevations shown the syringe is shown in sectional view and the seal L in side view. In Figs. lA,iB,2A,3A, 4A,5A, and 6A, the body of the seal is athisKn: shown in sectional view remaining within holes on the digital gripping member. The plan view of the seal for the syringes shown in Figs. 2 and 5 has a shape similar to the one shown in Fig.lC, The end on view of the plunger (viewed from the back) shown in Fig.4 has a shape similar to the end on view of the hollow body shown in Fig,4A. The plunger P of the syringe has a resilient plunger tip member R at one end, a stem and the digital gripping awtaia: member H at the other end. The seal according to Fig,l is made of a resilient plastic. The bulbous tip D of the seal is introduced through jc holes on the digital gripping members H and G. The bulbous tip portion of the seal has a narrow tip and a wider base and is resilient and is dimensioned to resist separation when once introduced through the hole on G. The plunger P cannot be removed from the hollow body B of the syringe when the seal is in its place. Xgh When the tag A is twisted with the i fingers, the body of the seal remaining tightly within holes in the gripping members would resist rotation and the seal would break at the narrow portion N. The seal can now be K easily removed from the syringe by pulling on the bulbous tip D. The syringe is now ready for use. One possible defect of the seal according to Fig.1 is that the persons recycling the syringe may themselves refit another seal which they have manufactured on the old syringe and then market the product. This possibility is overcome in the syringes according to kkfi: Figs.2,3 and 4 where the integral seal has £crt(^»c«^ attachments on to the plunger P and/or on to the hollow body B. By tearing at the narrow portions shown the seal part can be detached from the syringe so as to result in an ordinary syringe. In t;he syringe according to ^*ig.5, the seal has attachments only to the gripping mm member G of the ksiiaca hollow body B of the syringe. The resilient seal is broken by twisting the tag A with the iJcsigSLk fingers and the seal removed from the syringe* The resulting syringe differs from existing syringes only in having two holes on the gripping member G. In the syringe according to Figs.6 and 7 the seal L has a iainat band or cord shaped body attach* ed integrally to the ixsackxH front cap C (Fig.6) or through a ring shaped front end I dimensioned to be fitted over the base of the needle cap E (Fig.7). This seal has a resilient bulbous tip D towards its hind end, the flattened tag A and the narrow portions N,N between the tag and the body of the seal. In Fig^gA the body of the seal is shown in sectional view remaining within a corresp¬onding hole on the digital g±9. gi^ipping member G, The resilient ka bulbous tip portion sttaOL of the seal has a narrow tip and a wider base and is dimensioned to resist separation when once introduced through the hole on G. The front cap C or E cannot be removed without breaking the seal. When the tag A is twisted with the fingers the seal would break at the two narrow portions N and *^» he bulbous tip D ack in the seal for the syringes shown in Figs.1 to 3 and 5 to 7 may be of the button type as shown in Fig,4. I claim: 1, A disposable medical syringe comprising an elongated hollow a nozzle for fitting a hypodermic needle, and a plunger dimensioned to work within the said hollow body through the hind end of the latter, said hollow body and plunger being provided with digital gripping iMjiMI^^ members towards their hind ends, characterised in that the assembled syringe is provided with a seal fitted on to and atxKiKki stretching between a front tikksct fitted cap for the syringe and the said hollow body or plunger or on to the said hollow body sasdcx and/or the plunger towards the hind end of the syringe so as to restrict the movement of the said front cap or the plunger with respect to the said hollow body. 2. The syringe as claimed in claim 1, wherein a hypodermic needle is provided on the said nozzle and a cap is fitted over the said hypodermic needle, the seal stretching between the said cap for the needle and the said hollow body or plunger of the syringe, 3* The syringe as claimed in claims 1 to 2, wherein said seal is fitted on to the said hollow body and/or the plunger at or near the said digital gripping members. 4o The syringe as claimed in claims 1 to 3, wherein said seal is integral with or nondetachably fitted on to the said front cap and the said digital gripping member(s). 5, The syringe as claimed in claims 1 to 4, wherein said seal has a band or cord shaped body. 6. The sac syringe as claimed in claims 1 to 5, wherein said seal attached to the said hollow body and provided towards the hind end of the syringe is dimensioned to enclose the hind end of the said fitted plunger within the seal. ?• The syringe as claimed in claims 1 to 5, wherein said means for fitting the seal on to the said front cap comprises a ring shaped front end of the seal dimensioned to be fitted over the said front cap. 8. The syringe-as claimed in claims 1 to 7, wherein said means for nondetachable fitting of the seal comprises a bulbous or ring shaped xxKuddts resilient tip for the seal dimensioned to be introduced into and to resist separation from a corresponding hole or bulbous tip on the syringe body. 9# The syringe as claimed in claims 1 to 8, wherein means are provided for breaking the seal with the operator's fingers. 10. The syringe as claimed in claims 1 to 9, wherein means are provided for detaching the seal from the syringe after breaking the seal. 11. The syringe as claimed in claims 1 to 10, wherein said seal is provided with a narrow portion(s) for tearing the seal. 12. The syringe as claimed in claims 1 to 11, wherein said seal has a flattened tag portion for tsajfcixg pulling or twisting. 13. The syringe as claimed in claim 12, wherein said narrow portions on the said seal are provided near the said tag. 14. The syringe as claimed in claims 1 to 13, wherein said syringe with seal is provided in a presterile package. 15. The syringe as claimed in claims 1 to 14, wherein said syringe and seal are made of a agrajduuti synthetic material such as plastic. 16. A syringe with seal substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

1010-mas-1999-abstract.pdf

1010-mas-1999-claims filed.pdf

1010-mas-1999-claims granted.pdf

1010-mas-1999-correspondnece-others.pdf

1010-mas-1999-correspondnece-po.pdf

1010-mas-1999-description(complete)filed.pdf

1010-mas-1999-description(complete)granted.pdf

1010-mas-1999-description(provisional).pdf

1010-mas-1999-drawings.pdf

1010-mas-1999-form 1.pdf

1010-mas-1999-form 3.pdf

1010-mas-1999-form 5.pdf

1010-mas-1999-other documents.pdf

abs-1010-mas-1999.jpg