Pre-Filled Plunger System and Method
An apparatus for delivering a fluid involving a syringe body, a needle, a guard, a biasing element, and a plunger is described. In some versions, the plunger may comprise a pre-filled cartridge. The pre-filled cartridge itself may therefore act as a plunger. In some versions, the needle may be in communication with the syringe body. The pre-filled cartridge may be operable to distally advance within the syringe body. During the advancement of the pre-filled cartridge, a fluid in the pre-filled cartridge may be released and the guard may be distally extended to cover at least a portion of the needle.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
(a) a syringe body comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a central axis extending therethrough, the syringe body defining a syringe lumen extending through the syringe body;
(b) a needle in communication with the syringe body, the needle having a proximal end, a distal end, and a needle lumen extending therethrough, wherein the needle is positioned within the syringe body and the distal end of the needle projects distally from the distal end of the syringe body;
(c) a guard in communication with the syringe body, wherein the guard is configured to translate from a retracted position to an extended position, wherein the guard covers the distal end of the needle in the extended position;
(d) a biasing element in communication with the guard, the biasing element being operable to distally bias the guard towards the extended position; and
(e) a plunger in communication with the syringe body, the plunger being a pre-filled cartridge operable to hold a fluid therein, wherein the pre-filled cartridge is configured to be distally advanced to passively release the guard.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a stopper, the stopper configured to fit within the pre-filled cartridge of the plunger.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the proximal end of the needle is configured to pierce the stopper.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the needle lumen is operable to be selectively in communication with the pre-filled cartridge.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the biasing element comprises a spring.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the guard is configured to distally lock once the guard covers a distal portion of the needle.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pre-filled cartridge is configured to passively release the guard by actuating a flexible hinge.
8 . An apparatus comprising:
(a) a syringe body defining a lumen formed therein, the syringe body having a proximal opening, a distal opening, and an axis extending therethrough;
(b) a needle in communication with the syringe body, the needle having a proximal end, a distal end, and a needle lumen extending therethrough, the needle lumen and the axis of the lumen of the syringe body being coaxial;
(c) a guard in communication with the syringe body, the guard being configured to have a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the guard in the retracted position is configured to have at least a portion of the guard extending proximately into the syringe body, wherein the guard in the extended position is configured to have at least a portion of the guard extending distally from the distal opening of the syringe body;
(d) a plunger in communication with the syringe body, the plunger comprising a cartridge, the cartridge being operable to hold a fluid therein, the plunger being configured to be inserted into the proximal opening of the syringe body and is configured to be axially advance within the syringe body; and
(e) a spring in communication with the guard, the spring being configured to distally bias the guard from the retracted position to the extended position.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the spring is positioned coaxially with the syringe body.
10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the needle lumen is configured to be in communication with the cartridge.
11 . The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a stopper positioned within the plunger, wherein the stopper is configured to remain stationary as the plunger advances distally within the syringe body.
12 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the guard is cylindrical in shape.
13 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the guard is coaxially aligned with the syringe body.
14 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the guard is configured to lock in the extended position.
15 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the guard in the extended position is configured to cover the needle such that the distal end of the needle is not exposed.
16 . An apparatus comprising:
(a) a syringe body comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending through the syringe body between the proximal end and the distal end;
(b) a guard, the guard configured to translate axially within the lumen of the syringe body;
(c) a pre-filled cartridge configured to axially translate within the lumen of the syringe body, the pre-filled cartridge being configured to function as a plunger, wherein axial translation of the pre-filled cartridge releases the guard for axial translation;
(d) a needle connected to the syringe body, the needle being configured to facilitate fluid delivery from the pre-filled cartridge; and
(e) a distally biasing element in communication with the syringe body, the distally biasing element being configured to distally bias the guard.
17 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the distally biasing element comprises an axially oriented spring abutting at least a portion of the guard.
18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the pre-filled cartridge further comprises a distal bung, the distal bung being configured to remain stationary as the pre-filled cartridge is axially advanced, thereby urging a fluid out of the pre-filled cartridge.
19 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the guard is configured to translate distally upon release by the pre-filled cartridge.
20 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the pre-filled cartridge comprises a fluid medicament contained therein.