Syringe having a collapsible plunger rod

摘要

A syringe assembly includes a syringe barrel having an exterior surface, an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end, a distal end, and an outlet disposed adjacent the distal end in fluid communication with the chamber; and a plunger assembly disposed at least partially within the syringe barrel. The plunger assembly includes an elongated plunger rod and a plunger head. The elongated plunger rod is associated with the plunger head to move the plunger head within the chamber of the syringe barrel through an injection cycle. The plunger rod is adapted to move from a collapsed position extending alongside the exterior surface of the syringe barrel to an extended position engaging the plunger head to move the plunger head through the injection cycle.

主权项

1. A method of actuating a syringe assembly, comprising the steps of:
providing the syringe assembly, comprising:
a syringe barrel having an exterior surface, an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end, a distal end, and an outlet disposed adjacent the distal end in fluid communication with the chamber; anda plunger assembly disposed at least partially within the syringe barrel, the plunger assembly including a plunger head and an elongated plunger rod having a first end and a second end, the elongated plunger rod being associated with the plunger head to move the plunger head within the chamber of the syringe barrel through an injection cycle,wherein the syringe barrel further includes at least one slot defined in the exterior surface between the open proximal end and the distal end and the plunger rod extends through the at least one slot and alongside at least a portion of the exterior surface of the syringe barrel in a collapsed position, said plunger rod being adapted to slidably move with respect to the syringe barrel; slidably withdrawing the plunger rod from the collapsed position to an extended position wherein at least a portion of the plunger rod remains in contact with the syringe assembly during transition from the collapsed position to the extended position; engaging the second end of the plunger rod with the plunger head to lock the plunger rod into engagement with the plunger head; and advancing the plunger assembly within the chamber of the syringe barrel so that the plunger head slides within the chamber with respect to the syringe barrel in a distal direction.