Tubing connector, front loadable syringe, and injector

Abstract

A syringe for an injector that has at its nozzle end a connection to the fluid delivery tubing that prevents, reduces, or eliminates fluid leaks, by virtue of a ridge on the external surfaces of the connector which engage to tubing. Furthermore, the syringe and injector are configured to permit the syringe to be oriented in more than one manner on the injector.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
   
   
       31 . A syringe comprising:
 a syringe case comprising:
 a proximal end and an opposing remote end; 
 a discharge neck located at the remote end of the syringe case; and 
 tubing connector located at a remote end of the discharge neck, the tubing connector comprising:
 a taper comprising a proximal end, an opposing distal end, and an annular first ridge disposed about a peripheral circumference of the taper; and 
 an internal threaded section disposed about the taper; and 
 
   a plunger disposed within an internal cavity of the syringe case.   
   
   
       32 . The syringe of  claim 31 , wherein the first ridge is disposed between the proximal end and the distal end of the taper. 
   
   
       33 . The syringe of  claim 31 , wherein the first ridge is disposed at the distal end of the taper. 
   
   
       34 . The syringe of  claim 31 , wherein the taper comprises an annular second ridge disposed about a peripheral circumference of the taper. 
   
   
       35 . The syringe of  claim 32 , wherein the taper comprises an annular second ridge disposed about a peripheral circumference of the taper. 
   
   
       36 . The syringe of  claim 33 , wherein the taper comprises an annular second ridge disposed about a peripheral circumference of the taper. 
   
   
       37 . The syringe of  claim 36 , wherein the second ridge is disposed between the proximal end and the distal end of the taper. 
   
   
       38 . The syringe of  claim 31 , wherein the taper is at least a six degree taper. 
   
   
       39 . The syringe of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a pressure cap connected to a front wall of the syringe case.   
   
   
       40 . The syringe of  claim 31 , wherein the syringe case is formed of molded plastic material. 
   
   
       41 . The syringe of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a medical fluid disposed within an internal syringe cavity of the syringe case.   
   
   
       42 . The syringe of  claim 41 , wherein the medical fluid is contrast media. 
   
   
       43 . An injector assembly for injecting medical fluid into a patient, comprising:
 an injector; and   a syringe mounted to the injector, the syringe comprising:
 a unitary, single piece syringe case comprising:
 a proximal end and an opposing remote end; 
 a discharge neck located at the remote end of the syringe case; and 
 tubing connector located at a remote end of the discharge neck, the tubing connector comprising:
 a taper comprising a proximal end, an opposing distal end, and an annular first ridge disposed about a peripheral circumference of the taper; and 
 an internal threaded section disposed about the taper; and 
 
 
 a plunger disposed within an internal cavity of the syringe case. 
   
   
   
       44 . The injector assembly of  claim 43 , wherein the first ridge is disposed between the proximal end and the distal end of the taper. 
   
   
       45 . The injector assembly of  claim 43 , wherein the first ridge is disposed at the distal end of the taper. 
   
   
       46 . The injector assembly of  claim 43 , wherein the taper comprises an annular second ridge disposed about a peripheral circumference of the taper. 
   
   
       47 . The injector assembly of  claim 44 , wherein the taper comprises an annular second ridge disposed about a peripheral circumference of the taper. 
   
   
       48 . The injector assembly of  claim 45 , wherein the taper comprises an annular second ridge disposed about a peripheral circumference of the taper. 
   
   
       49 . The injector assembly of  claim 46 , wherein the second ridge is disposed between the proximal end and the distal end of the taper. 
   
   
       50 . The injector assembly of  claim 43 , wherein the taper is at least a six degree taper. 
   
   
       51 . The injector assembly of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 a pressure cap connected to a front wall of the syringe case.   
   
   
       52 . The injector assembly of  claim 43 , wherein the syringe case is formed of molded plastic material. 
   
   
       53 . The injector assembly of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 a medical fluid disposed within an internal syringe cavity of the syringe case.   
   
   
       54 . The injector assembly of  claim 53 , wherein the medical fluid is contrast media. 
   
   
       55 . A method of using a syringe that includes tubing connector having a taper comprising a proximal end, an opposing distal end, and an annular first ridge disposed about a peripheral circumference of the taper, the method comprising:
 disposing the taper of the tubing connector into a connecting end of a medical tube such that the annular first ridge of the taper is in contact with an inner surface of the medical tube.   
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the first annular ridge is the only portion of the taper that is in contact with the medical tubing upon completion of the disposing. 
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the disposing comprises disposing the taper of the tubing connector into the connecting end of the medical tube such that both the annular first ridge and an annular second ridge of the taper are in contact with the inner surface of the medical tube. 
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the first annular ridge and the second annular ridge are the only portions of the taper that are in contact with the medical tubing upon completion of the disposing. 
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising:
 mounting the syringe onto a medical fluid injector.   
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the mounting comprises inserting the syringe into a pressure jacket of the medical fluid injector.