Disposable safety syringe

Claim 2

Disposable safety syringe, containing a tubular syringe body with a needle-holder head integral to one of its axial end zones, wherefrom there axially extends a empty needle communicating, by means of a mounting bushing integral with said needle, with the cavity of the syringe body for the purpose of injecting liquids contained in said cavity, and further comprising a plunger, housed in said syringe body in a tight and axially-sliding fashion, and which can be slide-­driven by means of a shaft, extending with one of its end zones outside the syringe body through an aperture in said body provided at its axial end zone opposite to the needle-­holder head, characterized in that it comprises means for retaining the empty needle in the use position, the which means disengageably bind the bushing (for mounting the empty needle) to the needle-holder head, in which the bushing is itself inserted in such a way that it can be retracted in an axial direction; means for inseparable coupling between the empty needle and the abovementioned plunger, achieving said coupling at the end of the stage for injecting the liquid contained in the syringe body; means of disengaging these retaining means, thereby ensuring that the bushing for mounting the empty needle can be retracted, in an axial direction, from the needle-holder head upon completion of the stage for injecting the liquid contained in the syringe body, substantially in step with the action for inseparable coupling between the plunger and the bushing for mounting the empty needle; in addition to means for automatically returning the plunger to a position retracted in an axial direction inside the syringe body, acting upon cessation of the manual action exerted on the plunger upon completion of the stage for injecting the liquid contained in the syringe body, in such a way that, upon completion of the stage for injecting the liquid, the plunger is automatically retracted into the syringe body and, in a manner integral to and inseparable from the plunger, the empty needle and its mounting bushing are also automatically retracted into a safety position inside the syringe body, irrespective of the operator's intentions.

Claim 3

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 1, characterized in that the needle-holder head (12; 22; 32; 71; 113; 131; 152) is inserted onto the syringe body (11; 21; 31; 72; 111).

Claim 4

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the retaining means (18; 41; 63; 82; 93.3; 122) are integral to a capsule (14; 42; 62; 81; 93; 121), which houses, in a tight and axially retractable manner, the bushing (16; 61) for mounting the empty needle (17); in that the capsule is in turn tightly inserted and securely bound inside the needle-holder head (12; 92; 120.1) of the syringe (10; 40; 60; 80; 90; 120); and in that these retaining means act upon the bushing, in a manner disengageable therefrom, thus preventing the bushing from withdrawing in an axial direction.

Claim 5

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the retaining means (26; 36; 144; 151) are integral to the needle-holder head (22; 32; 142; 152), which houses, in a tight and axially retractable manner, the bushing (24; 34; 143; 153) for mounting the empty needle (25; 35) of the syringe (20; 30; 140; 150); and in that these retaining means act upon the bushing, in a manner disengageable therefrom, thus preventing the bushing from withdrawing in an axial direction.

Claim 6

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the retaining means (174.7) are carried by the bushing (174) for mounting the empty needle (175), which bushing is housed in a capsule (173) in a tight and axially retractable manner; in that the capsule is in its turn tightly inserted and securely bound into the needle-holder head (172) of the syringe (170); and in that the retaining means act upon the capsule, in a manner disengageable therefrom, thus preventing the withdrawal in an axial direction by this bushing for mounting the empty needle.

Claim 7

Disposable safety syringe acording to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the retaining means are carried by the bushing for mounting the empty needle; in that the bushing is housed, in a tight and axially retractable manner, in the needle-holder head for the syringe; and in that the retaining means act upon the needle-holder head, in a manner disengageable therefrom, thus preventing the withdrawal in an axial direction by the bushing for mounting the empty needle.

Claim 8

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 3, characterized in that the retaining means (18; 41; 63) comprise at least one retaining arm (18.1; 41.1; 63.1), extending from the capsule (14; 42; 62) and engaging the axial end zone of the bushing (16; 61) for mounting the empty needle (17) distal from said needle, thus keeping the bushing from withdrawing in an axial direction.

Claim 9

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 7, characterized in that the retaining means (18; 41; 63) comprise a pair of retaining arms (18.1; 41.1; 63.1) extending from the capsule (14; 42; 62) and forming a fork that can be engaged and elastically spread by the disengagement means (19; 65).

Claim 10

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that at least one retaining arm (18.1; 41.1) is provided with at least one retaining tooth (18.2; 41.2) engaged against the dorsal face (16.6) of the bushing (16).

Claim 11

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that at least one retaining arm (63.1) is provided with a retaining notch (63.2), in which there is engaged a corresponding annular projection (61.1) formed on the axial end zone of the bushing (61) distal from the empty needle (17).

Claim 12

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 3, characterized in that the retaining means (82; 93.3; 122) comprise at least one retaining tongue (82.1; 93.3; 122.1) extending from the capsule (81; 93; 121) towards the interior of said capsule and abutting, with its free end zone, against the dorsal wall (16.6) of the bushing (16), thus keeping the bushing from withdrawing in an axial direction.

Claim 13

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 4, characterized in that the retaining means (26; 36; 144; 151) comprise at least one retaining tooth (26.2; 36.1; 144.1; 151.2) integral to the needle-holder head (22; 32; 142; 152) and engaging the bushing (24; 34; 143; 153) for mounting the empty needle (25; 35), thus keeping the bushing from withdrawing in an axial direction.

Claim 14

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 4 or 12, characterized in that the retaining means (151) comprise at least one retaining arm (151.1, 151.3), extending from the needle-holder head (152) and engaging by one of its teeth (151.2) the axial end zone of the bushing (153) for mounting the empty needle (35) distal from the needle itself, thus keeping the bushing from withdrawing in an axial direction.

Claim 15

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 13, characterized in that the retaining means (151) comprise a pair of retaining arms (151.1, 151.3) extending from the needle-holder head (152) and forming a fork that can be engaged and elastically spread by the disengagement means (38).

Claim 16

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 4 or 12, characterized in that the retaining means (26) consist of a retaining ring (26.1), securely housed in a circumferential groove provided on the inner face of the needle-holder head (22) in a position directly upstream from the bushing (24), according to the direction of injection of the liquids in the syringe (20), and displaying a pair of diametrically opposed retaining teeth (26.2), and engaging the dorsal face (24.5) of the bushing (24) with their free end zone, the which bushing can be axially passed through said ring, once the retaining teeth (26.2) have been spread out towards the wall of the needle-holder head by the disengagement means (28).

Claim 17

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining means (167) comprise a retaining ring (166) arranged in the tubular body (161) of the syringe (160) in sliding contact with the wall thereof and distanced from the needle-holder head (162) of said syringe; in that the retaining ring is rendered integral to the bushing (164) for mounting the empty needle (165) by means of thin breaking-joint tongues (166.1); and in that the retaining means (167) further comprise at least one retaining projection (161.1), jutting out from the wall of the tubular body (161) into the space thereof and opposing the axial withdrawal of the ring (166) and hence of the bushing (164), the which bushing may be axially passed through this ring once the joint tongues (166.1) have been broken by the disengagement means (163.1).

Claim 18

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 1, 7-10, 12-14 or 15, characterized in that the disengagement means (19; 28; 38; 65) comprise a rigid annular collar (19.1; 28.1; 38.1; 65.1) extending from the frontal face (13.5; 27.2; 37.2) of the plunger (13; 27; 37; 64) opposite the bushing (16; 24; 34; 61) for mounting the empty needle, and capable of being easily engaged, by gradual axial forcing as a result of the axial advancement of this plunger, against at least one retaining tooth (18.2; 26.2; 36.1; 151.2), or respectively against at least one retaining arm (41.1; 63.1; 151.1, 151.3), in the manner of a spreader mechanism.

Claim 19

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 17, characterized in that as a result of the axial advancement of the plunger, the rigid annular collar (19.1; 28.1; 38.1) strikes, externally and for at least a portion of its axial length, the axial end zone of the bushing set against the plunger and which is extending into the capsule, or respectively into the syringe, out of contact with the wall thereof.

Claim 20

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 1, 7-14 or 15 and one or more of claims 7 to 15, characterized in that the disengagement means comprise a spreader ring (146), which is interposed, in the tubular body (141) of the syringe (140), between the plunger (145) and the bushing (143) for mounting the empty needle, and which is arranged to freely slide in contact with the wall of the tubular syringe body (141) in a manner integral with the plunger in order to be readily engaged, by gradual axial forcing as a result of the axial advancement of the plunger, against at least one retaining tooth (144.1), in the manner of a spreader mechanism; and that this spreader collar strikes, externally and for at least a portion of its axial length, the axial end zone (143.1) of the bushing (143) set against the plunger and which is extended into the syringe, or respectively into the capsule, out of contact with the wall thereof.

Claim 21

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 12, 17, 18 or 19, characterized in that, coinciding with at least one retaining tooth (144.1), the wall of the needle-holder head (142) is made significantly thinner by means of an external circumferential groove (141.1), the elastic pliability of which makes it easier to engage the disengagement means (146) against at least one retaining tooth (144.1).

Claim 22

Disposable safety syringe according to claims 1 or 11, characterized in that the disengagement means (19) comprise a rigid annular collar (19.1) extending from the frontal face (13.5) of the plunger (13) opposite the bushing (16) for mounting the empty needle, and capable of being readily engaged, by gradual axial forcing as a result of the axial advancement by the plunger, against at least one retaining tongue (82.1; 93.3; 122.1), penetrating into the capsule (81; 93; 121) in the manner of a spreader mechanism, until ultimately pushing back at least one tongue by elastic bending onto the peripheral outline of the capsule, with the collar striking, externally and for at least a portion of its axial length, the axial end zone of the bushing (16) set against the plunger, and that is extending into the capsule out of contact with the wall thereof.

Claim 23

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 16, characterized in that the disengagement means comprise a disengagement head (163.1) integral to the plunger (163) and set against the bushing (164), and that this disengagement head, as a result of the axial advancement of the plunger, is forced against the retaining ring (166), with which it interferes, thus causing the breakage of the tongues (166.1) for connecting the ring to the bushing (164).

Claim 24

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the bushing (174) comprises a tubular jacket (174.1) tightly housed in the capsule (173), or respectively in the needle-holder head, and in which there is arranged a needle-holder column (177) for mounting a empty needle (175), the which needle-holder column can slide axially, at odds with the elastic force of a return spring (179); in that at one of its axial ends, this column carries a handle (177.4) extending towards the plunger (178) and, at its other axial end zone, supporting the empty needle and near to the frontal aperture zone of this jacket (174.1), it carries an actuating head (177.6), displaying a substantially cylindrical section (177.7), spliced to a reduced-diameter support stem (177.5) by means of a section (177.9) conically tapering in a direction towards the handle (177.4); in that, in the proximity of the frontal aperture zone for the jacket (174.1), through holes (174.6) are formed on the jacket itself, at which through holes there is a circumferential groove (173.2) formed on the inner face of the capsule (173), or respectively a circumferential groove formed on the inner face of the needle-holder head; in that at these through holes (174.6) in the bushing (174), there are arranged pertinent retaining balls (174.7), resting against the lateral surface of the actuating head (177.6); and in that the return spring (179) normally maintains the needle-holder column (177) arranged in the jacket (174.1) with the cylindrical section (177.7) of its actuating head coinciding with these holes (174.6), thus causing the retaining balls (174.7) to partially protrude via these holes, and thus causing them to be engaged within the groove, which prevents the axial slipping of the bushing (174), until the plunger (178), in its advancement in an axial direction towards the bushing (174), engages the handle (177.4), causing matching axial sliding of the needle-holder column (177) with respect to the jacket (174.1), at odds with the elastic action of the return spring (179) and causing the actuating head (177.6) of this column to be arranged with its conically tapering section (177.9) coinciding with the holes (174.6) of the jacket (174.1), in such a way that the retaining balls (174.7) are positioned inside the jacket (174.1), thereby releasing the groove, which renders the bushing (174) axially retractable from the capsule (173), or respectively from the needle-­ holder head of the syringe.

Claim 25

Disposable safety syringe according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the inseparable coupling means comprise a coupling head (13.4; 27.1; 37.1) extending from the frontal face (13.5; 27.2; 37.2) of the plunger (13; 27; 37) turned towards the bushing (16; 24; 34), with this coupling head being shaped and arranged to inseparably join a coupling cavity (16.5; 24.4; 34.6) formed in the bushing and open with its aperture at the dorsal face (16.6; 34.7) of the bushing, turned towards the plunger.

Claim 26

Disposable safety syringe according to any one of the claims from 1 to 23, characterized in that the inseparable coupling means comprise a coupling head (51.1; 103) extending from the dorsal face (51.2; 101.1) of the bushing (51; 101) directed towards the plunger (52; 102), with this coupling head being shaped and arranged to inseparably join a coupling cavity (52.1; 104) formed in the plunger and open with its aperture at the frontal face (52.2; 102.1) of the same plunger, turned towards the bushing.

Claim 27

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that the coupling head and the coupling cavity are arranged according to the axis of the syringe.

Claim 28

Disposable safety syringe according to one of claims 24, 25 or 26, characterized in that the coupling cavity (16.5; 24.4; 34.6; 52.1) is substantially conical, and therein are formed multiple circumferential coupling grooves; and in that the coupling head (13.4; 27.1; 37.1; 51.1) is substantially trunk-conical, and displays multiple annular projections capable of inseparably engaging the grooves in the coupling cavity.

Claim 29

Disposable safety syringe according to one of claims 24, 25 or 26, characterized in that the coupling cavity (104) is substantially cylindrical, and displays at least one lock tooth (104.1) projecting from its lateral wall; and in that the coupling head (103) displays a nib (103.1) capable of penetrating into the cavity up to beyond at least one lock tooth (104.1), which, as a result of its elastic deformation, prevents the nib from being extracted after the nib has overshot the lock tooth.

Claim 30

Disposable safety syringe according to any claims from 1 to 23, characterized in that the inseparable coupling means comprise an axial coupling cavity (163.2; 178.1) formed on the frontal face, turned towards the bushing (164), of a disengagement head (163.1) integral to the plunger (178) and turned towards the bushing (174), and displaying an annular coupling band (163.3; 178.2) projecting towards the interior of the cavity at its free edge, and such means further comprise an annular coupling projection (164.4; 174.5) projecting from the bushing at its axial end zone (164.3) proximal to the plunger (163; 178), with this coupling cavity being shaped and arranged to join the axial end zone of the bushing, while the annular coupling band (163.3; 178.2) can be axially forced to override the bushing's annular projection (164.4; 174.5) by elastic release.

Claim 31

Disposable safety syringe according to any one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the inseparable coupling means comprise hook-like means integral to the plunger, or respectively to the bushing for mounting the empty needle, that may be inseparably thrust into a pierceable support, such as a facing rubber headpiece, integral to the bushing, or respectively to the plunger.

Claim 32

Disposable safety syringe according to any one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the inseparable coupling means comprise permanent magnet means integral to the plunger, or respectively to the bushing for mounting the empty needle, and cooperating with a plate made of ferromagnetic material integral to the bushing, or respectively to the plunger.

Claim 33

Disposable safety syringe according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that it displays a syringe body (111) bearing at one of its axial ends a threaded, cylindrical and tubular, standardized attachment (111.1), for engaging an added standardized needle-holder head (113) tightly and by means of screwing, or else for connecting up the syringe body with other devices to serve as an injector.

Claim 34

Disposable safety syringe according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that it comprises a plunger shaft (115) that may be disengaged from the plunger (112), and arranged through and slide-driven into a hole (114.2) in a base (114), engaged at the axial end of the syringe body (11) opposite to the axial end displaying the needle-holder head (113), with this base (114) preventing the plunger from being extracted from the syringe body, in such a way that this syringe body may also be used e.g. as a phial for injectable medications, or as a sterile laboratory test-tube.

Claim 35

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 2, characterized in that the needle-holder head displays a hollow syringe neck (131.2) out of axial alignment; and in that the bushing (132) for mounting the empty needle displays an axial end section (132.1) accommodating this empty needle, coupled into the neck of the syringe and out of axial alignment with the remaining portion of the same bushing (132.2, 132.3), which is coaxial with the body (31) of the syringe.

Claim 36

Disposable safety syringe according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the bushing (174) displays a trunk-conical beak having a free end (177.8) provided for the purpose of coupling a conventional empty needle and syringe needle-holder.

Claim 37

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 1, displaying a syringe body (91; 120.3) with an integral neck (92; 120.1) of the conventional type, characterized in that in this syringe body there are inserted a capsule (93; 121) having a cylindrical shell (93.1; 121.1) for housing a bushing (16) for mounting a empty needle (17) according to claims 3 and 11, in addition to disengagement means (19) according to claim 21; and in that at one of its axial ends, this capsule carries an integral tube (93.2; 121.1), through which there extends the empty needle (17), tightly engaged by forcing into the neck of the syringe (92; 120.1).

Claim 38

Disposable safety syringe according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the means for automatically returning the plunger are comprised of elastic means (10.1).

Claim 39

Disposable safety syringe according to claim 37, characterized in that these means for automatically returning the plunger comprise a helicoidal compression spring (10.1) interposed, in the manner of a return spring, coaxially to the plunger shaft, between the actuating foot thereof and a flange on the body of the syringe.

Claim 40

Disposable safety syringe according to of claims 37 or 38, characterized in that it comprises a rigid cap (10.2) for safety and protection, fitted onto that portion of the plunger shaft that extends beyond the body of the syringe, and removably anchored to the same syringe body, thus maintaining the plunger in an axially advanced position up to being in proximity of the bushing for mounting the empty needle, without contact with said bushing, thereby resulting in a preloading of these return means, which bring about the automatic axial retraction of the plunger and thus cause the liquid to be automatically sucked up into the syringe, as soon as the cap has been removed.