Syringe assembly with plunger having a secondary dispensing reservoir
View Patent ↗A syringe assembly is disclosed which includes a syringe body defining a first fluid reservoir and a fluid outlet. A plunger assembly includes a plunger rod and a plunger. The plunger is supported on a distal end of the plunger rod and defines a second fluid reservoir. The plunger is movable within the syringe body from a retracted position to an advanced position to eject fluid from the first fluid reservoir. A piercing member is supported on a distal end of the plunger rod within the second fluid reservoir. The piercing member is movable to pierce the plunger to eject fluid from the second fluid reservoir when a predetermined force is applied to the plunger in the advanced position.
1. A syringe assembly comprising:
a syringe body defining a first fluid reservoir and a fluid outlet;
a plunger assembly including a plunger rod and a plunger, the plunger being supported on a distal end of the plunger rod and defining a second fluid reservoir, the plunger being movable within the syringe body from a retracted position to an advanced position to eject a first fluid from the first fluid reservoir; and
a piercing member supported on a distal end of the plunger rod within the second fluid reservoir, the piercing member being movable to pierce the plunger to subsequently eject a second fluid from the second fluid reservoir when a predetermined force is applied to the plunger in the advanced position of the plunger.
2. The syringe assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plunger includes at least one external annular groove and is collapsible upon application of the predetermined force.
3. The syringe assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the plunger includes a plurality of external annular grooves.
4. The syringe assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the plunger has a bellows-like construction.
5. The syringe assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the piercing member includes a piercing tip.
6. The syringe assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the piercing member includes at least one external groove and fluid in the second fluid reservoir flows along the at least one external groove to the fluid outlet.
7. The syringe assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one external groove includes a plurality of external grooves.
8. The syringe assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first fluid reservoir contains a first fluid and the second fluid reservoir contains a second fluid which is different from the first fluid.
9. The syringe assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the first fluid is a flush solution and the second fluid is an anti-microbial solution.
10. The syringe assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plunger rod includes a circular disc secured to the plunger.
11. The syringe assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the circular disc includes a frangible portion, the frangible portion defining a central secondary plunger, the secondary plunger being dimensioned to move within the second fluid reservoir to eject fluid from the second fluid reservoir.
12. The syringe assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the piercing member extends distally from a distal surface of the secondary plunger.
13. The syringe assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the frangible portion is constructed to break upon application of the predetermined force to the plunger.
14. The syringe assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined force is greater than the force required to initiate movement of the plunger.