(19)
(11)EP 2 101 847 B1

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45)Mention of the grant of the patent:
09.01.2019 Bulletin 2019/02

(21)Application number: 07857214.6

(22)Date of filing:  14.11.2007
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A61M 5/32(2006.01)
(86)International application number:
PCT/EP2007/062322
(87)International publication number:
WO 2008/058987 (22.05.2008 Gazette  2008/21)

(54)

SYRINGE WITH RETRACTABLE NEEDLE

SPRITZE MIT EINZIEHBARER NADEL

SERINGUE AVEC AIGUILLE RÉTRACTABLE


(84)Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

(30)Priority: 15.11.2006 IT MI20062190

(43)Date of publication of application:
23.09.2009 Bulletin 2009/39

(73)Proprietors:
  • Amendola, Carlo
    96100 Siracusa (IT)
  • Palminteri, Gaetano
    96010 Priolo Gargallo (IT)

(72)Inventor:
  • CARBONE, Carmelo
    96012 Avola (IT)

(74)Representative: Savi, Massimiliano 
NOTARBARTOLO & GERVASI S.p.A. Corso di Porta Vittoria 9
20122 Milano
20122 Milano (IT)


(56)References cited: : 
EP-A- 1 092 443
WO-A-2005/004958
US-A- 5 407 431
US-A1- 2004 116 854
WO-A-2004/069315
US-A- 5 053 010
US-A- 6 099 500
US-A1- 2005 159 705
  
      
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    Field of the invention



    [0001] The present invention relates to a disposable syringe of the improved type.

    [0002] Problems have long been known which concern the countless cases of infection due to the exchange of traditional syringes, for instance among drug addicts, or due to accidents caused by the puncture by needles of syringes which have been incautiously left on the ground, and may thus spread very serious diseases such AIDS, hepatitis and other infectious diseases.

    Description of related art



    [0003] Disposable syringes of the traditional type do not solve this problem because the presence of the potentially contaminated and protruding needle still represents a danger in these terms.

    [0004] Some attempts to solve this problem by providing disposable syringes having a needle which is retractable within the syringe itself after use, are known. However, these known kinds of disposable syringes have a complex structure, which displays a high number of components and results being expensive and difficult to use.

    [0005] An example of state-of-the-art disposable syringe is described on US patent application US20050159705, disclosing a syringe assembly having a complicated mechanism for retracting the needle into the syringe barrel after use to prevent accidental needle sticks.

    [0006] Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to overcome all of the aforesaid drawbacks and provide a disposable syringe of the improved type, which has an automatically retractable needle, a simple structure, a low production cost, is easy to use and consists of a limited number of parts.

    Summary of the invention



    [0007] The object of the present invention as defined in claim 1 is a disposable syringe comprising: a syringe body, substantially comprising a hollow cylinder with a plunger inserted therein, the plunger being hollow and closed at the end portion which is external to the cylinder, and a first plug inserted in the plunger end portion which is internal to the cylinder; a needle body, substantially comprising a needle having a pre-loaded spring around the head and a second plug around the head of the needle, said spring determining the permanent introduction of said needle within said plunger after use.

    [0008] A specific object of the present invention is a disposable syringe as described in better detail in the dependent claims, which form an integral part of the present description.

    Brief description of the drawings



    [0009] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof (and of variants thereof) and from the accompanying drawings given by way of mere non-limitative explanation, in which:

    figure 1 shows a longitudinal section view of the ready-to-use disposable syringe which is the object of the present invention with the needle body inserted;

    figure 2 shows a longitudinal section view of the disposable syringe which is the object of the present invention with the needle retracted within the cylinder after use.

    figures 3.1 and 3.2 show a longitudinal section of a detailed exploded view of the two parts, respectively the needle body with a corresponding top view, and a syringe body with a corresponding bottom view, and with details of a type of connection.


    Detailed description of specific embodiments



    [0010] The same reference numbers and characters in the figures identify the same elements or components.

    [0011] With reference to the figures, the disposable syringe is essentially formed by two detachable parts:
    • a syringe body, essentially comprising a hollow cylinder 1 with a plunger 2 inserted therein, the plunger being hollow and closed at the end portion which is external to the cylinder, and a first plug 3 inserted in the plunger 2 end portion which is internal to the cylinder;
    • a needle body 4, substantially comprising a needle 5 having a pre-loaded spring 6 around the head 5' and a second plug 7 around the head of the needle.


    [0012] The first plug 3, made of a preformed rubber material, forms the seal of the plunger within the cylinder, and has an outer convex edge, and comprises a central semi-perforated part 8, at a central hole made in the plunger 2 end portion which is internal to the cylinder.

    [0013] The needle body 4 is provided with means for the introduction and securing within the cylinder of the syringe, which for instance may comprise a bayonet 9 with fins or flarings of the male/female type, or a screwing or snap-fitting system.

    [0014] The second plug 7, made of a preformed rubber material, has a concave edge facing towards the syringe body, the shape of which results being complementary to the convex shape of the first plug 3, and it comprises a central recess 7' to accommodate the head 5' of the needle 5.

    [0015] The head 5' is provided with a widened upper edge 5" which, before use, engages against a rubber pad 10 within the recess of the plug 7 at the concave edge. The spring 6 engages on a narrowing 11 which is on the side opposite to the recess of the plug 7 and facing towards the point of the needle. It may be noted that the spring is pre-loaded between the upper edge 5" of the head of the needle and the narrowing 11 before use.

    [0016] In use, the needle body is at first secured to the syringe body, and the syringe is ready for use.

    [0017] After the injection of pharmacological liquid has been completed, the two concave and convex plugs 7 and 3 will come into contact (fig. 2). In this position the internal edge of the plunger 2 will exert a pressure against the plug 7 leading the rubber pad 10 to widen (such a movement will also be possible in virtue of the two hollow areas 12 of the plug 7), the latter releasing the spring 6, which in turn will induce the head 5' of the needle 5 to pierce the previously perforated plug 3, and therefore permanently accommodate the entire needle within the plunger 2, together with the central semi-perforated part 8 of the plug 3.

    [0018] Variants to the non-limitative embodiment described are possible without however departing from the scope of protection of the present invention, comprising all of the equivalent embodiments for a person skilled in the art.

    [0019] The advantages resulting from the application of the present invention are apparent.

    [0020] The ability of the needle to automatically and permanently self-retract within the plunger allows first of all to obtain a safe solution, by protecting from the common risks of infection and from the spreading of severe diseases such as AIDS, HEPATITIS and other infectious diseases, thus clearly ensuring the public health also in higher-risk environments such as hospitals, parks, beaches, etc. Furthermore, it allows to reduce the pain of a patient upon injection.

    [0021] In this manner, the syringe may never again be used, thus allowing an extremely safe disposal, the potentially infectious part - consisting of the needle - being within the plunger.

    [0022] The material used to make such a syringe will be the same product which is used for the manufacturing of already commercially available syringes.

    [0023] The more significant elements of the disposable syringe according to the invention lead to a system which is simplified with respect to the similar traditional syringes and is innovative with respect to traditional disposable syringes, as they substantially consist of a plug and a spring, which are inserted in the needle body.

    [0024] Pharmaceutical companies may achieve further advantages by using the upper part (cylinder) already filled with the drug 13 (fig. 3.2). As the syringe is subdivided in two parts, the two parts only need to be connected by means of a bayonet connection for its use.

    [0025] The body (provided with the needle, the plug and the loaded spring) will be ready for use, immediately after having been inserted on the cylinder, thus ensuring the ease of use and the maximum safety.

    [0026] From the above description a person skilled in the art will be able to manufacture the object of the invention without introducing further constructive details.


    Claims

    1. A disposable syringe comprising:

    - a syringe body, substantially comprising a hollow cylinder (1) with a plunger (2) inserted therein, the plunger being hollow and closed at the end portion which is external to the cylinder, and a first plug (3) inserted in the plunger (2) end portion which is internal to the cylinder wherein said first plug (3) forms the seal of the plunger within the cylinder, and has an external convex edge, and comprises a central semi-perforated part (8), at a central hole obtained in the plunger end portion, which is internal to the cylinder;

    - a needle body (4), comprising a needle (5) provided with a head (5') having a pre-loaded spring (6) around said head (5') and a second plug (7) around the head of the needle, said spring (6) determining the permanent introduction of said needle (5, 5') within said plunger (2) after use, said syringe body and said needle body being detachable;

    - a central recess (7') in the second plug (7), to accommodate the head (5') of the needle (5), said head of the needle being provided with a widened upper edge (5");

    - a rubber pad (10) within the recess of the plug (7), said rubber pad engaging against said widened upper edge (5") before use of the syringe;

    - said first and second plugs (7, 3) coming into contact after use, so that the internal edge of the plunger (2) exerts a pressure against the plug (7) leading the rubber pad (10) to widen, the latter releasing the spring (6), which in turn induces the head (5') of the needle (5) to pierce the first plug (3), and therefore permanently accommodate the entire needle within the plunger.


     
    2. A disposable syringe according to claim 1, characterised in that said needle body (4) is provided with means for the insertion and securing within the cylinder of the syringe.
     
    3. A disposable syringe according to claim 2, characterised in that said means for the insertion and securing within the cylinder of the syringe comprises a bayonet (9) with fins or flarings of the male/female type, or a screwing or snap-fitting system.
     
    4. A disposable syringe according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said second plug (7) has a concave edge facing towards the syringe body, the shape of which results being complementary to the convex shape of said first plug (3), said widened upper edge (5") engaging against the rubber pad (10) within the recess of the plug (7) at the concave edge.
     
    5. A disposable syringe according to claim 4, comprising a narrowing (11) on the side opposite to the recess of said second plug (7) and facing towards the point of the needle, said spring (6) engaging on such a narrowing (11); said spring being preloaded between the upper edge (5") of the head of the needle and the narrowing (11) before use.
     
    6. A disposable syringe according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said central semi-perforated part (8) permanently accommodates within the plunger, after the piercing of the first plug (3), together with the entire needle.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Einwegspritze, umfassend:

    - einen Spritzenkörper, der im Wesentlichen aus einem hohlen Zylinder (1) mit einem darin eingeführten Kolben (2), wobei der Kolben hohl ist und an dem Endabschnitt, der sich außerhalb des Zylinders befindet, geschlossen ist, und einem ersten Stopfen (3) besteht, der in den Endabschnitt des Kolbens (2) eingeführt ist, welcher sich im Inneren des Zylinders befindet, wobei der erste Stopfen (3) die Dichtung des Kolbens innerhalb des Zylinders bildet und einen äußeren konvexen Rand aufweist, und einen mittigen halbperforierten Teil (8) an einem Mittelloch umfasst, das sich in dem Endabschnitt des Kolbens befindet, welcher sich im Inneren des Zylinders befindet;

    - einen Nadelkörper (4), umfassend eine Nadel (5), die mit einem Kopf (5') mit einer vorgespannten Feder (6) rund um den Kopf (5') und einem zweiten Stopfen (7) rund um den Kopf der Nadel bereitgestellt ist, wobei die Feder (6) das permanente Einführen der Nadel (5, 5') in den Kolben (2) nach dem Gebrauch bestimmt, wobei der Spritzenkörper und der Nadelkörper abnehmbar sind;

    - eine mittige Vertiefung (7') in dem zweiten Stopfen (7), um den Kopf (5') der Nadel (5) aufzunehmen, wobei der Kopf der Nadel mit einem erweiterten oberen Rand (5") bereitgestellt ist;

    - eine Gummiauflage (10) innerhalb der Vertiefung des Kolbens (7), wobei die Gummiauflage vor Gebrauch der Spritze auf den erweiterten oberen Rand (5") in Eingriff steht;

    - wobei der erste und der zweite Kolben (7, 3) nach Gebrauch in Kontakt kommen, so dass der innere Rand des Kolbens (2) Druck auf den Stopfen (7) ausübt, was dazu führt, dass sich die Gummiauflage (10) ausdehnt, wobei Letztere die Feder (6) freigibt, die wiederum auslöst, dass der Kopf (5') der Nadel (5) den ersten Stopfen (3) durchsticht und dadurch die gesamte Nadel permanent im Inneren des Kolbens aufnimmt.


     
    2. Einwegspritze nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Nadelkörper (4) mit Mittel zum Einführen und Sichern innerhalb des Zylinders der Spritze bereitgestellt ist.
     
    3. Einwegspritze nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Mittel zum Einführen und Sichern innerhalb des Zylinders der Spritze ein Bajonett (9) mit Lamellen oder Ausweitungen vom männlichen/weiblichen Typ oder ein Schraub- oder Einrast-Aufnahmesystem umfasst.
     
    4. Einwegspritze nach einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der zweite Stopfen (7) einen konkaven Rand aufweist, der dem Spritzenkörper zugewendet ist, deren Form schließlich komplementär zu der konvexen Form des ersten Stopfens (3) ist, wobei der erweiterte obere Rand (5"), der mit der Gummiauflage (10) innerhalb der Vertiefung des Stopfens (7) am konkaven Rand in Kontakt gerät.
     
    5. Einwegspritze nach Anspruch 4, umfassend eine Verengung (11) auf der Seite entgegengesetzt zu der Vertiefung des zweiten Stopfens (7) und die der Nadelspitze zugewendet ist, wobei die Feder (6) mit einer solchen Verengung (11) in Eingriff gerät; wobei die Feder vor dem Gebrauch zwischen dem oberen Rand (5") des Kopfes der Spritze und der Verengung (11) vorgespannt ist.
     
    6. Einwegspritze nach einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der mittige halbperforierte Teil (8) zusammen mit der gesamten Nadel nach dem Durchstechen des ersten Stopfens (3) permanent im Inneren des Kolbens aufgenommen ist.
     


    Revendications

    1. Seringue jetable comprenant :

    - un corps de seringue, comprenant essentiellement un cylindre creux (1) avec un piston (2) inséré à l'intérieur de celui-ci, le piston étant creux et fermé à la partie d'extrémité, laquelle est externe au cylindre, et un premier bouchon (3) inséré dans la partie d'extrémité du piston (2) laquelle est interne au cylindre, dans laquelle ledit premier bouchon (3) forme le joint du piston à l'intérieur du cylindre et a un bord convexe externe, et comprend une partie semi-perforée centrale (8), au niveau d'un trou central obtenu dans la partie d'extrémité du piston, laquelle est interne au cylindre ;

    - un corps d'aiguille (4), comprenant une aiguille (5) fournie d'une tête (5') ayant un ressort précontraint (6) autour de ladite tête (5') et un deuxième bouchon (7) autour de la tête de l'aiguille, ledit ressort (6) déterminant l'introduction permanente de ladite aiguille (5, 5') à l'intérieur dudit piston (2) après son utilisation, ledit corps de seringue et ledit corps d'aiguille étant démontables ;

    - un enfoncement central (7') dans le deuxième bouchon (7), pour loger la tête (5') de l'aiguille (5), ladite tête de l'aiguille étant fournie d'un bord supérieur élargi (5") ;

    - un tampon en caoutchouc (10) à l'intérieur du bouchon (7), ledit tampon en caoutchouc s'engageant contre ledit bord supérieur élargi (5") avant l'utilisation de la seringue ;

    - lesdits premier et deuxième bouchon (7, 3) entrant en contact après l'utilisation, de sorte que le bord interne du piston (2) exerce une pression contre le bouchon (7) qui conduit le tampon en caoutchouc (10) à s'élargir, ce dernier libérant le ressort (6), lequel, à son tour, induit la tête (5') de l'aiguille (5) à percer le premier bouchon (3), et ainsi à loger de façon permanente l'aiguille entière à l'intérieur du piston.


     
    2. Seringue jetable selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ledit corps de l'aiguille (4) est fourni des moyens d'insertion et de fixation à l'intérieur du cylindre de la seringue.
     
    3. Seringue jetable selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens d'insertion et de fixation à l'intérieur du cylindre de la seringue comprennent une baïonnette (9) avec des ailettes ou des rebords du type mâle/femelle, ou un système de vissage ou encliquetage.
     
    4. Seringue jetable selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que ledit deuxième bouchon (7) a un bord concave orienté face au corps de la seringue, la forme de celui-ci parvient à être complémentaire à la forme convexe dudit premier bouchon (3), ledit bord supérieur élargi (5") s'engageant contre le tampon en caoutchouc (10) à l'intérieur de l'enfoncement du bouchon (7) au niveau du bord concave.
     
    5. Seringue jetable selon la revendication 4, comprenant un rétrécissement (11) sur le côté opposé à l'enfoncement dudit deuxième bouchon (7) et orienté face à la pointe de la seringue, ledit ressort (6) s'engageant dans un tel rétrécissement (11) ; ledit ressort étant précontraint entre le bord supérieur (5") de la tête de l'aiguille et le rétrécissement (11) avant son utilisation.
     
    6. Seringue jetable selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que ladite partie semi-perforée centrale (8) est logée de façon permanente à l'intérieur du piston, après le perçage du premier bouchon (3), conjointement avec l'aiguille entière.
     




    Drawing














    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description