Locking Hinges for Syringe Handles, Syringes Including Locking Hinges, and Associated Methods

Abstract

A hinge that is configured to lock two pivotally connect members of a handle for a syringe together includes at least one end for engaging and rotating with a first member of the handle. The hinge also includes a locking element within the second member of the handle. The locking element is configured to engage or be engaged by a locking feature within the second member of the handle, with the locking feature configured to limit or prevent rotation of the hinge. By restricting rotation of the hinge in this manner, the at least one end of the hinge likewise restricts pivotal movement of the first member of the handle. Methods of limiting movement of the members of a handle of a syringe are also disclosed.

1 . A locking hinge for pivotally connecting first and second members of a handle of a syringe, comprising: 
 an elongate hinge element including: 
 a first end configured to engage a first side of a second member of a syringe handle; and  
 a second end configured to engage a second side of the second member, engagement by at least one of the first and second ends configured to rotate the elongate hinge element as the second member is pivoted relative to a first member of the syringe handle; and  
   a locking element protruding from a central location of the elongate hinge element and configured to engage a locking feature within the first member of the handle as the locking hinge is slid along its axis of rotation from an unlocked position to a locked position, the locking member configured to prevent rotation of the elongate hinge element relative to the first handle and at least one of the first and second ends of the elongate hinge element configured to prevent pivoting of the second handle relative to the locking hinge when the locking hinge is in the locked position.    
   
   
       2 . The locking hinge of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first end and the second end of the elongate hinge element has a non-circular shape.  
   
   
       3 . The locking hinge of  claim 2 , wherein both the first end and the second end of the of the elongate hinge element has a non-circular shape.  
   
   
       4 . The locking hinge of  claim 1 , wherein the locking element comprises a gear protruding from and arranged concentrically with the elongate hinge element.  
   
   
       5 . The locking hinge of  claim 5 , wherein the gear protrudes from an entire periphery of the elongate hinge element.  
   
   
       6 . The locking hinge of  claim 5 , wherein the gear protrudes from a portion of a periphery of the elongate hinge element.  
   
   
       7 . The locking hinge of  claim 5 , wherein the locking feature comprises a ratchet arm.  
   
   
       8 . The locking hinge of  claim 1 , comprising: 
 a worm gear positioned adjacent to the locking element, the worm gear configured to engage a worm of a microadjustment handle associated with the handle of the syringe.    
   
   
       9 . The locking hinge of  claim 8 , wherein the locking element that protrudes from the hinge element comprises the worm gear and the worm comprises the locking feature within the first member of the handle.  
   
   
       10 . The locking hinge of  claim 8 , wherein the worm gear is located adjacent to the locking element.  
   
   
       11 . The locking hinge of  claim 1 , wherein the locking element that protrudes from the hinge element comprises an internally threaded element, the locking feature within the first member of the handle comprises an externally threaded microadjustment element, and the hinge element slides so that threads of the internally threaded element selectively engage or disengage threads of the externally threaded microadjustment element.  
   
   
       12 . Handles comprising: 
 a first member including: 
 a proximal portion configured to be grasped by a first part of a hand;  
 an intermediate portion including: 
 spaced apart outer walls;  
 a hollow interior between the spaced apart outer walls; and  
 an aperture through at least one of the spaced apart outer walls; and  
 
 a distal portion configured to pivotally couple to a first part of a syringe;  
   a second member including: 
 a proximal portion configured to be grasped by a second part of the hand;  
 an intermediate portion including: 
 two spaced apart arms for receiving the intermediate portion of the first member; and  
 a non-circular aperture in at least one arm of the two spaced apart arms; and  
 
 a distal portion configured to pivotally couple to a second part of the syringe; and  
   a locking hinge, including: 
 an elongate element with an axis of rotation, the elongate element including at least one end having a non-circular cross-sectional shape, taken transverse to the axis of rotation, for engaging a non-circular aperture in the at least one arm of the intermediate portion of the second member; and  
 a locking element protruding from the elongate element, the locking element contained within the hollow interior of the intermediate portion of the first member,  
 the elongate element configured to slide along the axis of rotation between: 
 a locked position in which the locking element engages a locking feature within the hollow interior of the intermediate portion of the first member to prevent the hinge element from rotating relative to the first member; and  
 an unlocked position in which the locking element and the locking feature are disengaged, the hinge element is free to rotate relative to the first member, and the at least one end protrudes from an outer surface of the second member.  
 
   
   
   
       13 . The handles of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one end of the hinge element is configured to engage the non-circular aperture of the intermediate portion of the second member so that the hinge element rotates as the second member pivots relative to the first member.  
   
   
       14 . The handles of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the first member includes axially aligned apertures extending through both spaced apart outer walls of the intermediate portion for receiving portions of the hinge element;    the second member includes axially aligned non-circular apertures extending through the two spaced apart arms of the intermediate portion; and    the hinge element includes two ends with non-circular cross sections taken transverse to the axis of rotation, the two ends configured to engage the axially aligned non-circular apertures so that the hinge element rotates as the second member pivots relative to the first member.    
   
   
       15 . The handles of  claim 12 , wherein the first part of the syringe comprises a plunger of the syringe and the second part of the syringe comprises a barrel of the syringe.  
   
   
       16 . The handles of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second members cross one another.  
   
   
       17 . The handles of  claim 15 , wherein the proximal and distal portions of the second member are located on the same side of the first member.  
   
   
       18 . The handles of  claim 12 , comprising: 
 a microadjustment mechanism including a microadjustment handle including features for engaging a complementary microadjustment element of the hinge element to enable pivoting of the first and second members relative to one another as the hinge element is in the locked position.    
   
   
       19 . The handles of  claim 18 , wherein the microadjustment handle comprises the locking feature within the hollow interior of the intermediate portion of the first member and the microadjustment element comprises the locking element of the hinge clement.  
   
   
       20 . The handles of  claim 12 , wherein the locking element comprises a gear axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the hinge element  
   
   
       21 . The handles of  claim 20 , wherein the locking feature comprises a ratchet arm.  
   
   
       22 . A method for operating a syringe, comprising: 
 pivoting first and second hingedly connected members of a handle to an orientation that places a plunger of at least one syringe at a desired location within a plunger of the at least one syringe; and    locking the handles in the orientation.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein locking comprises engaging a locking element of a hinge connecting the first and second hingedly connected members to prevent a first handle from rotating relative to the hinge, cooperating configurations of at least a portion of the hinge and a receptacle of a second handle preventing the second handle from rotating relative to the hinge.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein engaging the locking element comprises actuating the hinge so as to cause the locking element to engage a substantially stationary feature within the first member.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein engaging the locking element comprises causing engagement features of a microadjust element to engage corresponding features of the locking element of the hinge.