Precision low-dose, low-waste syringes and ergonomic attachments therefor
Inventors
Joseph, John H. • Bui, Minh • Peterson, Rod
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12673165-B2
Publication Date
2026-07-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
Syringe attachments and syringes have particular suitability to the precision dispensing of small amounts of high viscosity materials, such as dermal fillers. An attachment may include a main body having an assist feature that includes a wheel and pinion gears on each side of the wheel which engage respective racks on the syringe body. A mechanical advantage may be provided to the user as the wheel is rotated relative to the syringe body and racks. Syringes and attachments may include precision position indicators viewed from multiple positions to enable a user to determine plunger position and the amount of dispensed contents with precision. An alternative configuration attachment may be slidably secured to a syringe to permit a user to operation the syringe from a lateral position using sliding movement of the thumb and fingers of one hand, for example. This configuration may be particularly suitable for self-administered insulin injections.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention relates to precision low-dose, low-waste syringes with ergonomic syringe attachments for controlled delivery of very small increments of high-viscosity materials. It addresses precision and waste reduction by providing syringe and attachment structures that cooperate to improve the accuracy of plunger positioning and incremental dispensing.
A core concept is an attachment with a plunger engaging end and a guide end that is kept aligned with a syringe body having an axially extending flat upper surface. The attachment includes a receptacle adapted to receive a plunger thumb pad and a thumb actuated portion positioned so that, during grasping, a user's thumb engages the attachment to move it relative to the syringe body.
The attachment further includes opposed retaining edges and guiding projections arranged to slidingly engage opposing sides of the flat upper surface to guide the attachment and maintain alignment as it moves. In combination with syringe configurations that include specified total syringe volume and barrel gradations, the system enables incremental, dose-related plunger movement while also providing user feedback, such as a tactile indicator that generates a tactile event during attachment movement.
Documented syringe/needle interface features further support low-waste operation by evacuating lumen dead space at full plunger insertion, reducing residual waste. The disclosure also includes alternative attachment configurations, including slide-style and positive engagement designs, as well as optical enhancements that enable reading the plunger position and fine gradations from top and lateral views.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides three independent claims. Across these claims, inventive coverage centers on a guided, thumb-actuated syringe attachment that aligns to an axially extending flat surface, includes a receptacle for a plunger thumb pad, and maintains relative motion alignment while enabling incremental dispensing tied to syringe gradations and specified syringe volume.
Guided thumb-actuated syringe attachment with plunger receptacle
An attachment having a plunger engaging end adapted to engage the plunger and include a receptacle adapted to receive the plunger thumb pad, and a guide end adapted to guide the main body along the syringe body, where a pair of opposed retaining edges in the guide end engage opposing sides of an axially extending flat upper surface to keep the attachment aligned, and a thumb actuated portion is positioned to be engaged by a user's thumb during grasping while guiding projections located beneath the thumb actuated portion slidingly engage opposing sides of the flat upper surface.
Thumb-actuated syringe operation system with retaining edges and guiding projections
A system for operating a syringe using an attachment adapted to be moved relative to the syringe body, where the attachment includes a plunger engaging end with a receptacle for receiving the plunger thumb pad and a guide end with a pair of opposed retaining edges that engage opposing sides of a flat surface of the syringe barrel to guide the attachment and keep it aligned during relative movement, and where the attachment further includes a thumb actuated portion positioned for engagement by the user's thumb and a pair of guiding projections arranged to slidingly engage opposing sides of the flat surface beneath the thumb actuated portion.
Syringe system with specified total volume and gradations enabling incremental dosing
A system comprising a syringe having a syringe barrel with an internal lumen providing a total syringe volume of about 0.50 ml and having 50 gradations on the syringe barrel, together with an attachment having a plunger engaging end adapted to engage the plunger and a guide end with opposed retaining edges adapted to engage opposing sides of a flat surface of the syringe barrel to keep the attachment aligned, where the attachment includes a receptacle for receiving the plunger thumb pad, a thumb actuated portion positioned for engagement by the user's thumb during grasping, and guiding projections located beneath the thumb actuated portion and arranged to slidingly engage opposing sides of the flat surface of the syringe body.
Overall claim coverage centers on attachment-guided, thumb-actuated operation using opposed retaining edges and guiding projections that slidingly engage an axially extending flat surface, coupled with plunger thumb pad receptacle engagement. A further independent claim specifies syringe total volume and barrel gradations, grounding dose-related incremental dispensing to the stated syringe configuration.
Stated Advantages
Improves precision for controlled delivery of very small increments of material.
Supports low-waste operation by evacuating lumen dead space at full plunger insertion, reducing residual waste.
Provides user feedback, including a tactile indicator generating a tactile event during attachment movement.
Enables reading plunger position and fine gradations using optical enhancements.
Documented Applications
Self-administered insulin use is described in connection with a laterally operated slide attachment for one-hand operation, including extremities context.
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