Syringe systems and methods for multi-stage fluid delivery

1. A syringe-based method for delivering fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a housing, the housing having an open proximal end and a distal end defining an inner volume, the housing including;

(a) a seal, the seal being sized to close the open proximal end of the housing such that the inner volume of the housing remains sterile until the seal is removed;

(b) a port, the port being positioned at about the distal end of the housing, wherein the port is configured to be coupled to a lumen-defining device for delivery of fluid to a patient;

(c) an abutment, the abutment being substantially disk-shaped and monolithically formed with the housing in a unitary, one-piece construction;

(d) a cylinder, the cylinder extending distally from the abutment to the distal end of the housing, wherein the cylinder defines a lumen that is fluidically coupled with the port;

(e) a first annular band; and

(f) a second annular band;

providing a plunger assembly, the plunger assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the plunger assembly including;

(a) a plunger seal, the plunger seal being positioned within the housing, proximal to the first annular band, wherein the plunger seal defines a channel;

(b) a valve, the valve being a one-way check valve, wherein the valve is seated within at least a portion of the channel, and wherein the valve has a threaded proximal portion; and

(c) a cannula, the cannula extending distally from the plunger seal, wherein the cannula is monolithically formed with the plunger seal in a unitary, one-piece construction;

providing a first fluid reservoir, the first fluid reservoir being defined at least partially by the housing, the abutment, and the plunger seal, wherein the first fluid reservoir retains a first amount of a first type of fluid;

providing an actuator mechanism including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the actuator mechanism configured to be retained at least partially within the inner volume defined by the housing after the seal is removed, wherein the actuator mechanism is movable relative to the housing, the actuator mechanism including;

(a) syringe body having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the syringe body having a syringe port, wherein the syringe port is fluidically coupleable to the threaded proximal portion of the valve; and

(b) a plunger having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the plunger is moveable within the syringe body from a proximal position to a distal position; and

(c) providing a second fluid reservoir, the second fluid reservoir being defined at least partially by the syringe body and the plunger, wherein the second fluid reservoir is fluidically coupled with the syringe port and retains a second amount of a second type of fluid; and

transitioning the actuator mechanism from a first configuration in which a first portion of the first amount in the first fluid reservoir is delivered through the port, to a second configuration in which the second amount of the second type of fluid in the second fluid reservoir is delivered through the port; and

transitioning the actuator mechanism from the second configuration to a third configuration in which a second portion of the first amount in the first fluid reservoir is delivered through the port.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first type of fluid retained by the first fluid reservoir is saline.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first amount of the first type of fluid is from about 10 ml to about 20 ml of saline.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second type of fluid retained by the second fluid reservoir is a medicine.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the medicine is epinephrine.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the medicine is adenosine.

7. A syringe-based method for delivering fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a housing, the housing having an open proximal end and a distal end defining an inner volume, the housing including;

(a) a port, the port being positioned at about the distal end of the housing;

(b) an abutment, the abutment being monolithically formed with the housing in a unitary, one-piece construction;

(c) a lumen, the lumen extending distally from the abutment to the distal end of the housing, wherein the lumen is fluidically coupled with the port;

providing a plunger assembly, the plunger assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the plunger assembly including;

(a) a plunger seal, wherein the plunger seal defines a channel, the plunger seal being moveable distally relative to the housing;

(b) a valve, wherein the valve is coupled with the channel of the plunger seal;

(c) a cannula, the cannula extending distally from the plunger seal, wherein the cannula is fluidically coupled with the valve;

providing a first fluid reservoir, the first fluid reservoir being defined at least partially by the housing, the abutment, and the plunger seal, wherein the first fluid reservoir contains a first amount of a first type of fluid;

providing an actuator mechanism including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the actuator mechanism configured to be retained at least partially within the inner volume defined by the housing, wherein the actuator mechanism is movable relative to the housing, the actuator mechanism including;

(a) a syringe body having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the syringe body having a syringe port, wherein the syringe port is fluidically coupleable to the valve;

(b) a plunger having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the plunger is moveable within the syringe body from a proximal position to a distal position; and

(c) a second fluid reservoir, the second fluid reservoir being defined at least partially by the syringe body and the plunger, wherein the second fluid reservoir is fluidically coupled with the syringe port and retains a second amount of a second type of fluid; and

transitioning the actuator mechanism from a first configuration in which a first portion of the first amount in the first fluid reservoir is delivered through the port, to a second configuration in which the second amount of the second type of fluid in the second fluid reservoir is delivered through the port; and

transitioning the actuator mechanism from the second configuration to a third configuration in which a second portion of the first amount in the first fluid reservoir is delivered through the port.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first type of fluid retained by the first fluid reservoir is saline.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first amount of the first type of fluid is from about 10 ml to about 20 ml of saline.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second type of fluid retained by the second fluid reservoir is a medicine.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the medicine is epinephrine.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the medicine is adenosine.

13. A syringe-based method for delivering fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a housing, the housing having an open proximal end and a distal end defining an inner volume, the housing comprising;

(a) a port, the port being positioned at about the distal end of the housing;

(b) an abutment, the abutment being coupled with the housing;

(c) a lumen, the lumen extending distally from the abutment to the distal end of the housing, wherein the lumen is fluidically coupled with the port;

providing a plunger assembly, the plunger assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the plunger assembly comprising;

(a) a plunger seal, wherein the plunger seal defines a channel, the plunger seal being moveable distally relative to the housing;

(b) a valve, wherein the valve is coupled with the channel of the plunger seal;

(c) a cannula, the cannula extending distally from the plunger seal, wherein the cannula is fluidically coupled with the valve;

providing a first fluid reservoir, the first fluid reservoir being defined at least partially by the housing, the abutment, and the plunger seal, wherein the first fluid reservoir contains a first type of fluid;

providing a syringe including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the syringe configured to be retained at least partially within the inner volume defined by the housing, wherein the syringe is movable relative to the housing, the syringe comprising;

(a) a syringe body having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the syringe body having a syringe port, wherein the syringe port is fluidically coupleable to the valve;

(b) a plunger having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the plunger is moveable within the syringe body from a proximal position to a distal position; and

(c) a second fluid reservoir, the second fluid reservoir being defined at least partially by the syringe body and the plunger, wherein the second fluid reservoir is fluidically coupled with the syringe port and retains a second type of fluid; and

transitioning from a first configuration in which a first portion of the first type of fluid in the first fluid reservoir is delivered through the port, to a second configuration in which the second type of fluid in the second fluid reservoir is delivered through the port; and

transitioning from the second configuration to a third configuration in which a second portion of the first type of fluid in the first fluid reservoir is delivered through the port.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first type of fluid retained by the first fluid reservoir is saline.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first fluid reservoir contains from about 10 ml to about 20 ml of saline.

16. The method of claim 15 , where the first portion of the first type of fluid is from about 5 ml to about 10 ml of saline and the second portion of the first type of fluid is from about 5 ml to about 10 ml of saline.

17. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second type of fluid retained by the second fluid reservoir is a medicine.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the medicine is epinephrine.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the medicine is adenosine.

20. The method of claim 13 , further comprising a locking mechanism to selectively couple the plunger seal and the housing.