SELF-CENTERING SYRINGE ASSEMBLY AND CENTERING SYRINGE PLUNGER GUIDE
A centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) includes a guide body ( 141 ) including a proximal end ( 142 ) and a distal end ( 149 ), a coupling bore ( 143 ) extending partially into the guide body ( 141 ) from the proximal end ( 142 ), a precision guide bore ( 144 ) extending partially into the guide body ( 141 ) from the coupling bore ( 143 ), with the precision guide bore ( 144 ) adapted to fit over a barrel precision diameter of a syringe barrel and hold the centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) in a predetermined substantially coaxial alignment with the syringe barrel, and a guide plunger bore ( 145 ) extending completely from the precision guide bore ( 144 ) to the distal end ( 149 ) of the guide body ( 141 ). The guide plunger bore ( 145 ) is adapted to receive a syringe plunger and is configured to substantially center the syringe plunger in a plunger bore of the syringe barrel.
1 . A centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ), comprising:
a guide body ( 141 ) including a proximal end ( 142 ) and a distal end ( 149 );
a coupling bore ( 143 ) extending partially into the guide body ( 141 ) from the proximal end ( 142 );
a precision guide bore ( 144 ) extending partially into the guide body ( 141 ) from the coupling bore ( 143 ), with the precision guide bore ( 144 ) adapted to fit over a barrel precision diameter of a syringe barrel and hold the centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) in a predetermined substantially coaxial alignment with the syringe barrel; and
a guide plunger bore ( 145 ) extending completely from the precision guide bore ( 144 ) to the distal end ( 149 ) of the guide body ( 141 ), with the guide plunger bore ( 145 ) being adapted to receive a syringe plunger and is configured to substantially center the syringe plunger in a plunger bore of the syringe barrel.
2 . The centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) of claim 1 , wherein the centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) is formed of a material having predetermined wear characteristics.
3 . The centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) of claim 1 , wherein the centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) is formed of a plastic material.
4 . The centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) of claim 1 , wherein the centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) is formed of a bearing-grade plastic material.
5 . The centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) of claim 1 , with the guide body ( 141 ) further including a guide textured region ( 154 ) on an external circumferential surface.
6 . The centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) of claim 1 , wherein the precision guide bore ( 144 ) holds the centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) in a predetermined substantially coaxial alignment with a plunger bore ( 105 ) of the syringe barrel ( 104 ).
7 . The centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) of claim 1 , wherein the precision guide bore ( 144 ) holds the centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) in a predetermined substantially coaxial alignment with a plunger bore ( 105 ) of the syringe barrel ( 104 ) and wherein the guide plunger bore ( 145 ) is smaller than the plunger bore ( 105 ).
8 . The centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) of claim 1 , with the centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) including a corresponding guide coupling feature ( 146 ) in the coupling bore ( 143 ).
9 . The centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) of claim 1 , wherein the precision guide bore ( 144 ) of the centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) is adapted to fit over the barrel precision diameter of the syringe barrel with a predetermined clearance.
10 . The centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) of claim 1 , wherein the coupling bore ( 143 ), the precision guide bore ( 144 ), and the guide plunger bore ( 145 ) are substantially coaxial.
11 . The centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) of claim 1 , wherein the coupling bore ( 143 ), the precision guide bore ( 144 ), and the guide plunger bore ( 145 ) are substantially coaxial and further are substantially coaxial with a guide body axis BB.
12 . A self-centering syringe assembly ( 100 ) including a centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ), with the self-centering syringe assembly ( 100 ) comprising:
a syringe barrel ( 104 ) including a plunger bore ( 105 ) and a barrel precision diameter ( 108 ) formed on one end of the syringe barrel ( 104 );
a coupling sleeve ( 120 ) configured to fit over and be affixed to the barrel precision diameter ( 108 ) of the syringe barrel ( 104 ); and
a centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) configured to be affixed to the coupling sleeve ( 120 ), with the centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) comprising:
a guide body ( 141 ) including a proximal end ( 142 ) and a distal end ( 149 );
a coupling bore ( 143 ) extending partially into the guide body ( 141 ) from the proximal end ( 142 );
a precision guide bore ( 144 ) extending partially into the guide body ( 141 ) from the coupling bore ( 143 ), with the precision guide bore ( 144 ) being configured to fit over a barrel precision diameter ( 108 ) of a syringe barrel ( 104 ) and hold the centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) in a predetermined substantially coaxial alignment with the syringe barrel ( 104 ); and
a guide plunger bore ( 145 ) extending completely from the precision guide bore ( 144 ) to the distal end ( 149 ) of the guide body ( 141 ), with the guide plunger bore ( 145 ) being configured to receive a syringe plunger ( 114 ) and configured to substantially center the syringe plunger ( 114 ) in the plunger bore ( 105 ) of the syringe barrel ( 104 ).
13 . The self-centering syringe assembly ( 100 ) of claim 12 , wherein the centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) is formed of a material having predetermined wear characteristics.
14 . The self-centering syringe assembly ( 100 ) of claim 12 , wherein the centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) is formed of a plastic material.
15 . The self-centering syringe assembly ( 100 ) of claim 12 , wherein the centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) is formed of a bearing-grade plastic material.
16 . The self-centering syringe assembly ( 100 ) of claim 12 , with the guide body ( 141 ) further including a guide textured region ( 154 ) on an external circumferential surface.
17 . The self-centering syringe assembly ( 100 ) of claim 12 , wherein the precision guide bore ( 144 ) holds the centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) in a predetermined substantially coaxial alignment with a plunger bore ( 105 ) of the syringe barrel ( 104 ).
18 . The self-centering syringe assembly ( 100 ) of claim 12 , wherein the precision guide bore ( 144 ) holds the centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) in a predetermined substantially coaxial alignment with a plunger bore ( 105 ) of the syringe barrel ( 104 ) and wherein the guide plunger bore ( 145 ) is smaller than the plunger bore ( 105 ).
19 . The self-centering syringe assembly ( 100 ) of claim 12 , with the coupling sleeve ( 120 ) including a sleeve coupling feature ( 126 ) and with the centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) including a corresponding guide coupling feature ( 146 ) in the coupling bore ( 143 ).
20 . The self-centering syringe assembly ( 100 ) of claim 12 , wherein the precision guide bore ( 144 ) of the centering syringe plunger guide ( 140 ) is configured to fit over the barrel precision diameter ( 108 ) of the syringe barrel ( 104 ) with a predetermined clearance.
21 . The self-centering syringe assembly ( 100 ) of claim 12 , wherein the coupling bore ( 143 ), the precision guide bore ( 144 ), and the guide plunger bore ( 145 ) are substantially coaxial.
22 . The self-centering syringe assembly ( 100 ) of claim 12 , wherein the coupling bore ( 143 ), the precision guide bore ( 144 ), and the guide plunger bore ( 145 ) are substantially coaxial and further are substantially coaxial with a guide body axis BB.