Wet-dry syringe

Claim 1

A wet-dry syringe for combining and mixing a liquid and a solid medicament or at least two dissimilar liquid medicaments prior to the application thereof to a patient comprises, in combination: (a) an enlongated cylindrically-shaped vial having outwardly extending lip portions proximate each end thereof and a pair of identical vial seals disposed within said cylinder, said vial seals being in intimate frictional contact with the internal walls of said vial and slidable therealong, said vial seals being adapted to retain a first liquid or said solid medicament therebetween; (b) cap means adapted to be received on each end of said vial to maintain its sterility; (c) elongated cylindrically-shaped piston rod means; said piston rod means being hollow and including; (i) a first piston rod seal disposed proximate one end thereof, said first piston rod seal being in intimate frictional contact with the internal walls of said piston rod means and slidable therealong; (ii) a second piston rod seal being disposed proximate the other end of said piston rod means in a fixed position, said first and said second piston rod seals being adapted to retain a second liquid medicament therebetween; (iii) hollow needle means disposed proximate said second piston rod seal, said piston rod means being adapted to be received into said vial for contact with one of said pair of vial seals and when urged into contact with said vial seal causing said hollow needle means to provide a fluid flow path for communication of said second liquid medicament with said solid medicament or said liquid medicament disposed within said vial; and (d) second needle means having one end adapted to be inserted into a patient and the other end thereof adapted to pierce the other of said pair of vial seals and communicate with said mixed medicaments disposed within said vial, said piston rod means causing said mixed medicaments to be discharged through said second needle means when urged in the direction thereof.

Claim 9

The method of combining and mixing a liquid and a solid medicament or at least two dissimilar liquid medicaments prior to the application thereof to a patient comprises, the steps of: (a) providing a vial having identical end seals with a solid or liquid disposed between said seals by a vacuum process; (b) providing a hollow piston rod having a liquid medicament disposed therein between a fixed and a movable end seal; (c) providing a hollow piercing means proximate said fixed piston rod seal; (d) engaging one of said vial seals with said piston rod with said piercing means disposed therebetween; (e) applying pressure between said piston rod and said vial for said piercing means to puncture said fixed piston rod seal; (f) drawing said piston rod away from said vial and moving said vial seal proximate one end of said vial, said hollow piercing means providing a fluid flow path between said vial medicament and said piston rod medicament, said piston rod medicament entering said vial because of said pressure differential generated therebetween; (g) connecting a needle assembly means having a seal piercing means on one end and a patient piercing means on the other end to said vial; (h) puncturing said remaining vial seal with said needle assembly means; and (i) applying pressure to said piston rod in the direction of said vial to cause said combined medicament to leave said needle assembly means into said patient.

Claim 10

The method of combining and mixing a liquid and a solid medicament or at least two dissimilar liquid medicaments prior to the application thereof to a patient comprises, the steps of: (a) providing a vial having identical end seals with a solid or liquid disposed between said seals by a vacuum process; (b) providing a hollow piston rod having a liquid medicament disposed therein between a fixed and a movable end seal; (c) providing a hollow piercing means proximate said fixed piston rod seal; (d) engaging one of said vial seals with said piston rod with said piercing means disposed therebetween; (e) applying pressure between said piston rod and said vial for said piercing means to puncture said fixed piston rod seal; (f) drawing said piston rod away from said vial and moving said vial seal proximate one end of said vial, said hollow piercing means providing a fluid flow path between said vial medicament and said piston rod medicament, said piston rod medicament entering said vial because of said pressure differential generated therebetween; (g) connecting a needle assembly means having a seal piercing means on one end and a patient piercing means on the other end to said vial; (h) puncturing said remaining vial seal with said needle assembly means; and (i) applying pressure to said piston rod in the direction of said vial to cause said combined medicament to leave said needle assembly means into said patient.