Granted Patent B2

US 12,214,367 · App. 18/174,475 · Granted Feb 4, 2025

Inventors: John Baeten (Muskego, WI); Alexander D. Johnson (Mount Pleasant, WI)

Assignee: Inter-Med, Inc.

B05B1/10B65D83/0022

Abstract

Claims (29)

1. A removable applicator configured to be secured to a syringe for directing materials to be dispensed from the syringe, the applicator comprising:

a hub comprising a lower surface and an upper surface, wherein the upper surface includes an aperture, the hub further including at least one proximal frustoconical-shape feature configured to be inserted into a syringe nozzle to frictionally engage an interior wall of the syringe nozzle, wherein a frictional engagement of the at least one proximal frustoconical-shape feature and the interior wall forms a fluid tight seal; and

an applicator tip extending distally from the aperture of the hub,

wherein the hub and the applicator tip cooperate to define a fluid passage therethrough, the fluid passage being configured to minimize fluid volume between the lower surface of the hub and a lower half of the applicator tip,

wherein the lower surface includes a lower opening of the fluid passage such that a diameter of the fluid passage between the lower opening and the aperture continuously decreases as the fluid passage extends axially upward from the lower opening and to the aperture to encourage the materials to be dispersed from the syringe downward towards the syringe, and

wherein the applicator tip is in direct engagement with or extends axially downward into the aperture of the hub such that the fluid passageway between the lower opening and at least the lower half of the applicator tip is unobstructed.

2. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein the at least one proximal frustoconical-shape feature tapers between 30° and 80°.

3. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the fluid passage is selected from straight, tapered, and stepped so that the fluid passage minimizes the fluid volume.

4. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein a length of the frictional engagement between the at least one proximal frustoconical-shape feature and the interior wall is between 0.5 mm and 10 mm.

5. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein the hub is injection molded from one or more of the following materials: polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyamide, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polylactic acid, polystyrene, and polytetrafluoroethylene.

6. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein the applicator tip extends distally from the hub and has a diameter between 16 gauge and 33 gauge.

7. The applicator of claim 1 , where the applicator tip extends distally from the hub and comprises at least a metal cannula and a polyimide cannula.

8. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein the hub and applicator tip comprise a single injection molded polymeric material.

9. A dental material kit comprising the applicator of claim 1 .

10. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein engagement with the syringe arises solely from the frictional engagement between the at least one proximal frustoconical-shape feature and the syringe nozzle interior wall.

11. The applicator of claim 1 , further comprising a body with luer lock threads configured to engage with a syringe's luer-equipped apron.

12. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one proximal frustoconical-shape features are between 3 mm and 10 mm in length.

13. The applicator of claim 1 configured to interface with 6% luer taper syringes.

14. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein the frictional engagement arises solely from a frictional engagement force between the at least one proximal frustoconical-shape feature and the syringe nozzle interior wall being at least 5N.

15. A syringe assembly configured for dispensing a material, the syringe assembly comprising:

a barrel defining an open end and a distal nozzle opposite the open end, the distal nozzle including an interior wall;

a plunger disposed at least partially within the open end and including a bung sealingly engaged between the plunger and the barrel;

a removable applicator including a hub disposed at least partially within the nozzle, wherein the hub comprises a lower surface and an upper surface, the upper surface includes an aperture, and the hub further includes at least one proximal frustoconical-shape feature configured to be inserted into the distal nozzle, wherein the at least one proximal frustoconical-shape feature is compressed by and against the interior wall of the distal nozzle such that a frictional engagement of the at least one proximal frustoconical-shape feature and the interior wall forms a fluid tight seal, the applicator further including an applicator tip extending distally from the aperture of the hub, wherein the hub and the applicator tip cooperate to define a fluid passage therethrough, the fluid passage being configured to minimize fluid volume between the lower surface of the hub and a lower half of the applicator tip,

wherein the frictional engagement arises solely from a frictional engagement force between the at least one proximal frustoconical-shape feature and the interior wall being at least 5N.

16. The syringe assembly of claim 15 , wherein the at least one proximal frustoconical-shape feature tapers between 30° and 80°.

17. The syringe assembly of claim 15 , wherein a shape of the hub's fluid passage is selected from straight, tapered, and stepped so that the fluid passage minimizes the fluid volume.

18. The syringe assembly of claim 15 , wherein the applicator tip extends distally from the hub and has a diameter between 16 gauge and 33 gauge.

19. The syringe assembly of claim 15 , where the applicator tip extends distally from the hub and comprises at least a metal cannula and a polyimide cannula.

20. The syringe assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a body with luer lock threads configured to engage in a syringe's luer-equipped apron.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (75)