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Publication Number
US-10065753-B2
Publication Date
2018-09-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
Embodiments disclosed herein include needle-free syringe and cap assemblies and filling tub systems. One embodiment of filling tub system includes a filling tub having exterior walls and a floor. The floor is formed into a plurality of sockets configured to receive and support a plurality of cap and syringe body assemblies, with each cap and syringe assembly received in a separate socket. Furthermore, each socket is configured to receive and support a syringe and cap assembly with contact only between one or more surfaces of the socket and selected outer surfaces of the cap. Methods of pre-filling a quantity of needle-free syringes are also disclosed.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a needle-free syringe and filling tub system in which each syringe body includes a nozzle at a nozzle end and a plunger opening at a plunger end, the nozzle defining an opening from the exterior of the syringe body to an interior chamber and the plunger opening defining a second opening from the exterior of the syringe body to the interior chamber opposite the nozzle opening. A cap is engaged with the syringe body at the nozzle end, and the cap comprises an interior surface that forms a fluid tight seal with the syringe body at the nozzle opening while the cap also comprises an exterior surface.
The filling tub comprises exterior walls and a floor, and the floor is formed into a plurality of sockets configured to receive and support a plurality of cap and syringe body assemblies. The sockets engage each cap and syringe body assembly with contact only between one or more surfaces of the socket and the outer surface of the cap, while the floor is perforated by a plurality of lifting bolt holes extending from an exterior surface of the floor into the corresponding socket.
In a related system, the filling tub further includes a nest removably fit within the filling tub, the nest comprising a plurality of sockets that engage each cap and syringe body assembly with contact only between one or more surfaces of the socket and the outer surface of the cap. The floor of the filling tub and the nest are perforated by a plurality of lifting bolt holes extending from an exterior surface into the corresponding socket, enabling syringe body and cap assemblies to be lifted and removed from the sockets.
Claims Coverage
The document contains three independent claims (clm-00001, clm-00008, clm-00015). Across these claims, the inventive features focus on a needle-free syringe with a nozzle opening and an opposite plunger opening sealed by a cap, a filling tub and removable nest having sockets that engage cap-and-syringe assemblies with contact limited to socket surfaces and the cap outer surface, and perforated floors with lifting bolt holes that enable removal or ejection of assemblies from the sockets.
Needle-free syringe sealed at nozzle opening by a cap
A needle-free syringe and filling tub system comprising syringe bodies with a nozzle at a nozzle end defining an opening to an interior chamber and a plunger opening at a plunger end opposite the nozzle opening, and a cap engaged with the syringe body at the nozzle end, the cap comprising an interior surface which forms a fluid tight seal with the syringe body at the nozzle opening.
Filling tub with sockets engaging cap and syringe with contact only at socket-to-cap outer surface
A filling tub comprising exterior walls and a floor formed into a plurality of sockets configured to receive and support a plurality of cap and syringe body assemblies and to engage each cap and syringe body assembly with contact only between one or more surfaces of the socket and the outer surface of the cap.
Perforated floor with lifting bolt holes extending into corresponding sockets
The floor of the filling tub is perforated by a plurality of lifting bolt holes extending from an exterior surface of the floor into the corresponding socket.
Removably fit nest with sockets inside filling tub
A nest removably fit within the filling tub comprising a plurality of sockets to receive and support a plurality of cap and syringe body assemblies and to engage each cap and syringe body assembly with contact only between one or more surfaces of the socket and the outer surface of the cap.
Perforated floor and nest with lifting bolt holes aligned to sockets
The floor of the filling tub and the nest are perforated by a plurality of lifting bolt holes extending from an exterior surface of the floor into the corresponding socket of the nest.
Bolt-driven ejection from sockets
A method of filling and ejection in which syringe bodies and cap assemblies are engaged with sockets, the interior chamber is filled through the plunger opening, a plunger is inserted, and the syringe bodies are ejected from the sockets by pushing the cap away from the socket by causing a bolt to extend through the bolt hole.
Across the independent claims, the system and method center on needle-free syringe bodies having a nozzle opening and an opposite plunger opening, a cap forming a fluid tight seal at the nozzle opening, and a filling tub with sockets, and optionally a removable nest, that support and engage cap-and-syringe assemblies using contact only between socket surfaces and the cap outer surface. Removal or ejection is enabled by perforated floor and nest structures with lifting bolt holes extending into corresponding sockets, including bolt-driven pushing of the cap away from the socket.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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