Syringe with flat indicia display surface
A medical syringe having a barrel with a substantially cylindrical, longitudinally extending fluid chamber, a needle retraction cavity substantially coextensive in length with the fluid chamber and disposed adjacent and parallel to the fluid chamber, and at least one substantially flat, outwardly facing display area configured to receive and display an array of volumetric measuring indicia in alignment with and proximal to the fluid chamber.
1. A syringe for medical use, comprising:
a barrel comprising (1) a proximal end, (2) a distal end, (3) a fluid chamber comprising a cylindrical sidewall, (4) a needle retraction cavity disposed parallel to, longitudinally coextensive with, and laterally offset and separated from the fluid chamber by a first portion of the cylindrical sidewall that provides the needle retraction cavity with a non-circular cross-section, and (5) an outer wall comprising a substantially flat indicia display portion;
a plunger configured to slidably engage with an interior surface of the cylindrical sidewall of the fluid chamber; and
a frontal attachment disposed at the proximal end of the barrel and comprising a retractable needle;
wherein the barrel is unitarily molded as one piece;
wherein the frontal attachment is configured to be slidably engageable with the proximal end of the barrel in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the fluid chamber to move the retractable needle from a first position aligned with the fluid chamber prior to retraction of the retractable needle to a second position aligned with the needle retraction cavity to initiate retraction of the retractable needle upon actuation of the frontal attachment;
wherein the substantially flat indicia display portion is contiguous with and extends laterally in a single direction from a second portion of the cylindrical sidewall of the fluid chamber; and
wherein an array of indicia comprising a volumetric dosage scale is disposed on the substantially flat indicia display portion.
2. The syringe of claim 1 , wherein the substantially flat indicia display portion comprises two oppositely facing indicia display surfaces, with each indicia display surface being contiguous with and extending laterally in the single direction from the second portion of the cylindrical sidewall of the fluid chamber and forming at least a portion of an external wall of the needle retraction cavity;
wherein the volumetric dosage scale is applied to each indicia display surface and longitudinally aligned and coextensive in length with the fluid chamber.
3. The syringe of claim 1 , wherein the plunger is coaxially aligned with the retractable needle when in the first position.
4. The syringe of claim 1 , wherein the outer wall of the barrel further comprises the second portion of the cylindrical sidewall and a sidewall of the needle retraction cavity.
5. The syringe of claim 1 , further comprising a removable needle cover, wherein the removable needle cover further comprises a locking member.
6. The syringe of claim 5 , wherein the locking member is a locking arm extending into the needle retraction cavity.
7. The syringe of claim 1 , further comprising a selectively removable plunger cap.
8. The syringe of claim 1 , as configured for usable fluid volumes of 1 ml or less.
9. The syringe of claim 1 , wherein the substantially flat indicia display portion is offset laterally towards the needle retraction cavity.
10. The syringe of claim 1 , wherein the substantially flat indicia display portion is offset laterally from the longitudinal axis of the fluid chamber.
11. The syringe of claim 1 , wherein the needle retraction cavity comprises at least one flat sidewall.
12. The syringe of claim 1 , wherein the needle retraction cavity comprises an inwardly curved sidewall and wherein the inwardly curved sidewall is the first portion of the cylindrical sidewall of the fluid chamber.
13. The syringe of claim 12 , wherein the needle retraction cavity comprises at least one flat sidewall coupled to the inwardly curved sidewall and wherein each of the at least one flat sidewall and the inwardly curved sidewall formed by the first portion of the cylindrical sidewall of the fluid chamber provide the needle retraction cavity with the non-circular cross-section.
14. The syringe of claim 1 , wherein the substantially flat indicia display portion extends laterally from an end of the second portion of the cylindrical sidewall toward the needle retraction cavity and wherein the end is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the fluid chamber.
15. The syringe of claim 1 , wherein the substantially flat indicia display portion extends laterally beyond the first portion of the cylindrical sidewall and at least partially across a portion of each of the fluid chamber and the needle retraction cavity.
16. A medical syringe, comprising:
a one-piece barrel comprising a cylindrical fluid chamber, a non-cylindrical needle retraction cavity laterally spaced apart from and sharing a common interior wall with the cylindrical fluid chamber, and a flat indicia display extending across the common interior wall and over at least a portion of the cylindrical fluid chamber and at least a portion of the non-cylindrical needle retraction cavity;
a needle that projects forwardly from the one-piece barrel when in an injection position communicating with the cylindrical fluid chamber to establish a coaxially aligned fluid flow path between the cylindrical fluid chamber and the needle; and
a retraction actuator disposed at a forward end of the one-piece barrel and comprising an arm that extends laterally beyond an outer edge of the one-piece barrel, the retraction actuator slidably engageable with the barrel to initiate retraction of the needle into the needle retraction cavity upon application of pressure on a distal end of the arm; and
wherein the flat indicia display does not extend over the distal end of the arm.
17. The medical syringe of claim 16 , further comprising a frontal attachment slidably engaging a distal end of the one-piece barrel in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical fluid chamber, the frontal attachment being selectively repositionable by a user to interrupt the coaxially aligned fluid flow path following an injection and to move the needle into alignment with the needle retraction cavity.
18. The medical syringe of claim 16 , wherein the flat indicia display further comprises an array of indicia comprising a volumetric dosage scale.
19. A medical syringe, comprising:
a one-piece barrel comprising (1) an upper wall, (2) a lower wall, (3) a first curved sidewall, (4) a second sidewall, (5) a curved inner wall in direct contact with the upper wall and the lower wall, (6) a cylindrical fluid chamber partially formed by the first curved sidewall and the curved inner wall, and (7) a needle retraction cavity formed by a portion of the upper wall, a portion of the lower wall, the second sidewall, and the curved inner wall, wherein the curved inner wall separates the cylindrical fluid chamber from the needle retraction cavity to provide the cylindrical fluid chamber with a circular cross-sectional shape and provide the needle retraction cavity with a non-circular cross-sectional shape;
a needle projecting forwardly from the one-piece barrel in coaxial alignment with the cylindrical fluid chamber;
a volumetric scale at least partially disposed on a substantially flat surface, wherein the substantially flat surface is longitudinally coextensive with and contiguous to each of the first curved sidewall and the second sidewall, overlies a portion of the cylindrical fluid chamber to permit direct viewing by a user of a medicinal fluid drawn into the cylindrical fluid chamber through the needle, and overlies a portion of the needle retraction cavity to allow viewing of the needle after retraction of the needle, wherein at least one of the upper wall and the lower wall comprises the substantially flat surface.
20. A medical syringe useful for administering an injection of medicinal fluid, comprising:
a transparent one-piece barrel comprising (1) an inwardly facing curved wall defining at least a first portion of a cylindrical fluid chamber and at least a first portion of a needle retraction cavity to provide the needle retraction cavity with a non-circular cross-sectional shape, (2) an outwardly facing wall section unitarily molded together with the inwardly facing wall, the outwardly facing wall section comprising a substantially flat portion that extends laterally across the inwardly facing wall and overlies in direct contact with at least a second portion of the cylindrical fluid chamber and at least a second portion of the needle retraction cavity, and (3) a volumetric scale comprising numeric indicia;
a plunger handle with a plunger seal slidably engaging the inwardly facing wall; and
a forwardly projecting needle coaxially aligned with the cylindrical fluid chamber to establish a coaxially aligned fluid flow path between the cylindrical fluid chamber and the forwardly projecting needle;
wherein at least a portion of the volumetric scale is disposed on the substantially flat portion to allow a user of the medical syringe to view the plunger seal and to view a medicinal fluid drawn into any portion of the cylindrical fluid chamber directly through the inwardly facing wall defining the cylindrical fluid chamber.
21. The medical syringe of claim 20 , wherein the needle retraction cavity is parallel to, offset laterally from, and longitudinally coextensive with the cylindrical fluid chamber, wherein the needle retraction cavity comprises an open distal end configured to receive the forwardly projecting needle following an injection.
22. The medical syringe of claim 21 , further comprising a frontal attachment slidably engaging a distal end of the one-piece barrel in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical fluid chamber, the frontal attachment comprising a tubular needle support member configured to support the forwardly projecting needle in rearwardly biased, coaxial alignment with the cylindrical fluid chamber prior to and during use of the medical syringe for administering an injection.
23. The medical syringe of claim 22 , wherein the frontal attachment is selectively repositionable laterally relative to the one-piece barrel following an injection to align the rearwardly biased, forwardly projecting needle with the open distal end of the needle retraction cavity to initiate retraction of the forwardly projecting needle into the needle retraction cavity of the one-piece barrel.
24. The medical syringe of claim 20 , wherein the substantially flat portion comprises a first flat indicia display surface, the medical syringe further comprising a second flat indicia display surface oppositely facing from the first flat indicia display surface, with the first flat indicia display surface facing outwardly from a first side of the cylindrical fluid chamber of the transparent one-piece barrel and the second flat indicia display surface facing outwardly from a second side of the cylindrical fluid chamber of the transparent one-piece barrel that is opposite from the first side.
25. The medical syringe of claim 21 , wherein the substantially flat portion comprises a first flat indicia display surface, the medical syringe further comprising a second flat indicia display surface oppositely facing from the first flat indicia display surface, with the first flat indicia display surface facing outwardly from a first side of the needle retraction cavity and the second flat indicia display surface facing outwardly from a second side of the needle retraction cavity that is opposite from the first side.
26. A barrel for a medical syringe, the barrel comprising:
a fluid chamber having an interior surface that is circular in cross-section;
a needle retraction cavity having (1) an interior surface that is non-circular in cross-section, (2) a first substantially flat sidewall, (3) a second substantially flat sidewall, and (4) an interior curved sidewall, wherein the interior curved sidewall is common to the fluid chamber, is curved inwardly towards the needle retraction cavity, and separates the fluid chamber from the needle retraction cavity to at least partially form the interior surface of the needle retraction cavity that is non-circular in cross-section;
an outer wall comprising the first substantially flat sidewall, the second substantially flat sidewall, and a curved wall that forms an outer surface of a part of the fluid chamber, wherein each of the first substantially flat sidewall and the second substantially flat sidewall extends laterally over a portion of each of the fluid chamber and the needle retraction cavity and across the interior curved sidewall, and wherein each of the first substantially flat sidewall and the second substantially flat sidewall is contiguous with the curved wall; and
at least one indicia display disposed on the first substantially flat sidewall; and
a needle retraction actuator slidably engaged with the barrel and configured to reposition a retractable needle from a first position in which the retractable needle is aligned with the fluid chamber to a second position in which the retractable needle is aligned with the needle retraction cavity to initiate retraction of the retractable needle into the needle retraction cavity.
27. The medical syringe of claim 26 , comprising a first indicia display and a second indicia display;
wherein the first indicia display is disposed on a first substantially flat portion of the outer wall;
wherein the second indicia display is disposed on a second substantially flat portion of the outer wall; and
wherein the first substantially flat portion of the outer wall is oppositely facing from the second substantially flat portion of the outer wall.
28. The medical syringe of claim 26 , further comprising a volumetric scale disposed on the at least one indicia display, wherein at least part of the volumetric scale overlies a part of the fluid chamber.
29. The barrel of claim 26 , wherein the outer wall comprises a curved wall, a substantially flat upper wall, a substantially flat lower wall, and a fourth wall substantially opposite the curved wall;
wherein the at least one indicia display is disposed on the substantially flat upper wall or the substantially flat lower wall or both;
wherein the curved wall forms part of the fluid chamber; and
wherein the fourth wall forms part of the needle retraction cavity.
30. The barrel of claim 29 , wherein a first portion of the substantially flat upper wall and a first portion of the substantially flat lower wall form the first substantially flat sidewall and the second substantially flat sidewall of the needle retraction cavity.
31. The barrel of claim 29 , wherein a second portion of the substantially flat upper wall and a second portion of the substantially flat lower wall are disposed in contact with portions of the fluid chamber.
32. The barrel of claim 26 , wherein the needle retraction cavity is longitudinally coextensive with the fluid chamber.
33. The barrel of claim 26 , wherein each of the first substantially flat sidewall and the second substantially flat sidewall of the outer wall is continuous with and extends laterally from the curved wall.
34. The barrel of claim 33 , wherein each of the first substantially flat sidewall and the second substantially flat sidewall of the outer wall extends laterally in a single direction relative to the curved wall.
35. The barrel of claim 34 , wherein the single direction is in a direction of curvature of the curved wall.
36. The barrel of claim 34 , wherein the curved wall forms part of the fluid chamber.
37. The barrel of claim 36 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one indicia display is disposed on the curved wall and wherein the at least one indicia display comprises a volumetric scale.
38. The barrel of claim 26 , wherein the at least one indicia display is wider than the fluid chamber and longitudinally contiguous with the fluid chamber.
39. The barrel of claim 26 , wherein the at least one indicia display is not wider than a width of the fluid chamber and the needle retraction cavity combined.
40. A medical syringe, comprising:
a barrel comprising a substantially flat outer wall that overlies at least portion of a cylindrical fluid chamber having a circular cross-section and a needle retraction chamber having a non-circular cross-section that is defined at least partially by a common wall shared between the cylindrical fluid chamber and the needle retraction chamber;
a needle retraction actuator slidably engaged with the barrel and configured to reposition a retractable needle from a first position in which the retractable needle is aligned with the cylindrical fluid chamber to a second position in which the retractable needle is aligned with the needle retraction chamber to initiate retraction of the retractable needle into the needle retraction chamber; and
a volumetric scale disposed on the substantially flat outer wall;
wherein the barrel is unitarily molded as a single piece;
wherein the barrel and volumetric scale are configured to allow a user to directly view a fluid within the cylindrical fluid chamber through the substantially flat outer wall and to simultaneously view the fluid and the volumetric scale; and
wherein the cylindrical fluid chamber is configured for a useable fluid volume of 1 mL or less.
41. A medical syringe, comprising:
a barrel comprising a curved surface and a substantially flat surface that is contiguous with the curved surface and extends laterally from an end of the curved surface at least partially across each of a cylindrical fluid chamber and a needle retraction chamber that are divided by a common curved interior wall that intersects the substantially flat surface and provides the cylindrical fluid chamber with a circular cross-section and the needle retraction chamber with a non-circular cross-section;
a volumetric scale disposed on the substantially flat surface; and
a needle retraction actuator slidably engaged with the barrel and configured to reposition a retractable needle from a first position in which the retractable needle is aligned with the cylindrical fluid chamber to a second position in which the retractable needle is aligned with the needle retraction chamber to initiate retraction of the retractable needle into the needle retraction chamber.