Syringe for retaining and mixing first and second substances
Inventors
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-10653837-B2
Publication Date
2020-05-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a syringe for retaining and/or mixing two substances which have been retained separately inside the syringe. In particular the present disclosure relates to a syringe for 1) retaining a dry composition in a vacuum, and 2) mixing the dry composition with an aqueous medium to form a flowable substance. One embodiment relates to a syringe for mixing first and second substances comprising a barrel comprising a vacuum chamber for holding a first substance, a plunger incorporating a reservoir chamber for holding a second substance and configured to be axially displaced in the vacuum chamber, and a valve for controlling and/or establishing a fluid connection between the vacuum chamber and the reservoir chamber.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a self-mixing syringe that stores a first substance under vacuum in a barrel vacuum chamber and stores a second substance in a reservoir chamber incorporated in a hollow axially slidable plunger. A valve separates the vacuum chamber in the barrel and the reservoir chamber inside the plunger, and the valve is configured to control and/or establish a fluid connection between the vacuum chamber and the reservoir chamber. The syringe includes a sealable and/or closable distal outlet to retain vacuum.
In a first configuration corresponding to a first locked axial position of the plunger inside the barrel, the first substance is retained under vacuum in the vacuum chamber such that the first configuration is a storage condition of the syringe. In a second configuration, when the plunger is unlocked, the vacuum in the vacuum chamber draws the plunger in a distal axial direction such that the valve is engaged to provide a fluid passageway between the reservoir chamber and the vacuum chamber, thereby enabling mixing of the first and second substances without external manual force.
The described syringe further supports vacuum-based preparation and storage behaviors, including vacuum bypass channels allowing freeze-drying/lyophilisation while vacuum is established, and then sealing for storage. The disclosed use includes vacuum-expanded freeze-dried pastes that reconstitute spontaneously with aqueous media, with example substances including thrombin-containing vacuum-expanded freeze-dried paste that reconstitutes in aqueous media.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers one inventive concept: a syringe that retains a first substance under vacuum in a barrel vacuum chamber during a locked storage condition and, upon unlocking and distal axial movement of a plunger, engages a valve to establish a fluid passageway between the vacuum chamber and a reservoir chamber holding a second substance. Dependent claims add specific valve behaviors and structural details of a plug and vacuum bypass channels.
Vacuum-stored first substance with sealable distal outlet and barrel vacuum chamber
A barrel comprising a sealable and/or closable distal outlet and a vacuum chamber for holding a first substance under vacuum.
Axially displaceable hollow plunger with integrated reservoir chamber for second substance
A plunger for sealable engagement inside the barrel and configured to be axially displaced in relation to the vacuum chamber, the plunger incorporating a reservoir chamber for holding a second substance.
Valve separating vacuum chamber and reservoir chamber to control fluid connection
A valve separating the vacuum chamber inside the barrel and the reservoir chamber inside the plunger, the valve configured for controlling and/or establishing a fluid connection between the vacuum chamber and the reservoir chamber.
Locked storage condition with first configuration retaining first substance under vacuum
The syringe configured such that, in a first configuration corresponding to a first locked axial position of the plunger inside the barrel, the first substance is retained under vacuum in the vacuum chamber such that said first configuration is a storage condition of the syringe.
Unlocked second configuration where vacuum draws plunger to engage valve and create fluid passageway
The syringe configured such that, in a second configuration the plunger is unlocked and the vacuum in the vacuum chamber draws the plunger in a distal axial direction such that the valve is engaged to provide a fluid passageway between the reservoir chamber and the vacuum chamber.
The core coverage centers on the combination of a barrel vacuum chamber and a locked storage plunger position that retains a first substance under vacuum, together with valve-controlled fluid passageway establishment between the vacuum chamber and a plunger reservoir chamber when the plunger is unlocked and drawn distally by vacuum.
Stated Advantages
Reduced mixing time.
Improved sterility/consistency.
Patient safety.
Suitability for drug lyophilizates and infusion reconstitution.
Documented Applications
Use of vacuum-expanded freeze-dried pastes that reconstitute spontaneously with aqueous media, including an example of thrombin-containing vacuum-expanded freeze-dried paste reconstituting with aqueous media.
Infusion reconstitution for drug lyophilizates.
Interested in licensing this patent?