Self-packaged hypodermic syringe

Claim 2

A self-packaged hypodermic syringe, comprising an elongated tubular body having means providing a continuous bore that is open at a rear end and substantially closed at the other end, said closed end including an axially outwardly extending neck having means providing a relatively reduced elongated bore, first removable means closing the open end of the reduced bore means, piston means having a position spaced a predetermined distance from the closed end of said body and having guided support in the continuous bore means, said piston means including a stem extending rearwardly beyond the open end of the continuous bore means to at least the extent of said predetermined distance and including a flange of radial extent exceeding that of the continuous bore means, an elongated needle having its forward end positioned within the reduced bore means, piloting means positioned by the continuous bore means and forwardly of the piston means for centrally supporting the rearward end of said needle, second removable means including a frangible portion peripherally continuously connected to said flange and body at the rear end of the continuous bore means and effectively encapsulating the rearwardly projecting end of said stem, whereby upon removing said first and second removable means, said stem may be actuated to axially drive said piston and needle to a forward position in which said needle projects beyond the neck of said body, in readiness for use.

Claim 3

A self-packaged hypodermic syringe, comprising an elongated tubular body having continuous bore means that is open at a rear end and substantially closed at the other end; said closed end having means providing a relatively reduced central elongated bore closed near an end thereof, an elongated needle adapted to be centrally and slidably supported by and within said bore means, a piston movably guided within said continuous bore means and positioned rearwardly of the needle and having a stem projecting rearwardly beyond the rear end of said continuous bore means, said stem including a radially outwardly extending peripheral flange at its rearwardly projecting end, and a hermetically sealed enveloping enclosure for the rear end of said stem and peripherally continuously connecting said flange to said body; said body and said envelope being of a plastic material for which, at a sufficiently thin section and for a predetermined gaMma-radiation exposure, the stress necessary to effect rupture at the thin section will be reduced, such exposure being adequate to achieve desired sterilization within said body; said body being formed with a first such localized thin section near the closed end of the reduced bore means, said envelope having a circumferentially extending localized groove establishing a second such thin section, and the remainder of the body being formed with a material thickness which exceeds that at either of said thin sections; whereby upon subjection of said syringe to such predetermined gamma-radiation exposure, the syringe and its contents will be sterilized and the stress necessary to effect rupture at the thin sections will have been reduced.

Claim 4

A self-packaged hypodermic syringe, comprising an elongated tubular body having continuous bore means that is open at a rear end and substantially closed at the other end; said closed end having means providing a relatively reduced central elongated bore closed near an end thereof, an elongated needle adapted to be centrally and slidably supported by and within said bore means, a piston movably guided within said continuous bore means and positioned rearwardly of the needle and having a stem projecting rearwardly beyond the rear end of said continuous bore means, said stem including a radially outwardly extending peripheral flange at its rearwardly projecting end, and a hermetically sealed enveloping enclosure for the rear end of said stem and peripherally continuously connecting said flange to said body; said body and said envelope being of a plastic material for which, at a sufficiently thin section and for a predetermined gaMma-radiation exposure, the stress necessary to effect rupture at the thin section will be reduced, such exposure being adequate to achieve desired sterilization within said body; said body being formed with a first such localized thin section near the closed end of the reduced bore means, said envelope having a circumferentially extending localized groove establishing a second such thin section, and the remainder of the body being formed with a material thickness which exceeds that at either of said thin sections; whereby upon subjection of said syringe to such predetermined gamma-radiation exposure, the syringe and its contents will be sterilized and the stress necessary to effect rupture at the thin sections will have been reduced.

Claim 5

The syringe of claim 1, in which said first-mentioned removable means comprises a frangible diaphragm closing the reduced bore means.

Claim 6

The syringe of claim 1, in which said neck includes means providing a counterbore intermediate the continuous bore means and the reduced bore means, and in which said piloting means for said needle includes an axially elongated hub supporting said needle and engageable in said counterbore means when in full-forward position.

Claim 7

The syringe of claim 4, in which further central supporting means for said needle is in slidable contact with said continuous bore means and in which said body and said further central supporting means include interlocking means positioned for engagement at a full-forward position of said central supporting means adjacent said neck.

Claim 8

The syringe of claim 5, in which said interlocking means includes an elongated ramp detent formed radially inwardly in the continuous bore means near the forward end thereof, said ramp terminating in a locking shoulder.

Claim 9

The syringe of claim 6, in which said ramp detent is one of a plurality of like detents formed at angularly spaced locations in the continuous bore means.

Claim 10

The syringe of claim 2, in which said circumferentially extending groove is at substantially one radial-plane location.