Syringe with rotatable element, infusion/aspiration system including the syringe, and associated methods,

Abstract

A slip ring assembly for an injector is provided, where the injector includes a handle assembly coupled to a syringe barrel, and a plunger configured to rotate and slidably translate through a receptacle. The slip ring assembly includes a rotatable element disposed about the syringe barrel and configured to rotate at least partially about a circumference of the barrel, a retention groove positioned upon the syringe barrel, and a locking element including a protrusion complimentary with the retention groove and configured to engage retention groove and maintain rotatable element upon the syringe barrel.

1 . An injector comprising:
 a handle assembly;   a syringe barrel having a circumference, the barrel comprising:
 a receptacle for receiving a fluid; 
 a nozzle for directing fluid from the receptacle; 
   a plunger configured to rotate and slidably translate through the receptacle; and   a rotatable element disposed on the syringe barrel and configured to rotate at least partially about the circumference of the barrel.   
   
   
       2 . The injector according to  claim 1  wherein the handle assembly further comprises a rear handle member pivotally coupled to the rotatable element. 
   
   
       3 . The injector of  claim 1  wherein the handle assembly comprises a forward handle member pivotally coupled to the plunger and a rear handle member pivotally coupled to the forward handle member at a hinge in a scissors-type arrangement. 
   
   
       4 . The injector according to  claim 3  further comprising at least one axially aligned hinge element that extends outwardly from the rotatable element and enables the rear handle member to be pivotally coupled to the rotatable element. 
   
   
       5 . The injector according to  claim 1  wherein the rotatable element further comprises a surface configured to engage a locking element. 
   
   
       6 . The injector according to  claim 5  wherein the locking element comprises a retention feature positioned about the syringe barrel, the rotatable element comprising a groove disposed within the rotatable element surface and configured to engage the retention feature. 
   
   
       7 . The injector according to  claim 6  wherein the barrel comprises a first section and a second section, each section having an outside diameter, the first section outside diameter being longer than the second section outside diameter, the retention feature positioned upon the second section. 
   
   
       8 . The injector according to  claim 5  wherein the locking element further comprises a tab configured to maintain rotatable element position along the barrel. 
   
   
       9 . The injector according to  claim 1  wherein the handle assembly comprises at least one finger loop extending radially outward from the rotatable element, and a finger loop extending outward from the plunger. 
   
   
       10 . The injector according to  claim 1  further comprising a fitting fixedly coupled to the nozzle. 
   
   
       11 . A slip ring assembly for an injector, the injector comprising a handle assembly coupled to a syringe barrel comprising a receptacle configured to receive a fluid, a plunger configured to rotate and slidably translate through the receptacle, the slip ring assembly comprising:
 a rotatable element disposed about the syringe barrel and configured to rotate at least partially about a circumference of the barrel;   a retention groove positioned upon the syringe barrel; and   a locking element comprising a protrusion complementary with the retention groove and configured to engage retention groove and maintain rotatable element upon the syringe barrel.   
   
   
       12 . The slip ring assembly according to  claim 11  wherein the handle assembly comprises a forward handle member coupled to the plunger. 
   
   
       13 . The slip ring assembly according to  claim 12  wherein the handle assembly further comprises a rear handle member pivotally coupled to the rotatable element, the rear handle member pivotally coupled to the forward handle member at a hinge. 
   
   
       14 . The slip ring assembly according to  claim 11  wherein the retention groove comprises a proximal engagement portion including area of smaller outer dimension than a main body of the barrel, the protrusion positioned upon the engagement portion. 
   
   
       15 . The slip ring assembly according to  claim 11  wherein the retention groove comprises complementary threads configured to receive and retain the locking element. 
   
   
       16 . The slip ring assembly according to  claim 11  wherein the handle assembly comprises finger loops of a control syringe that are integral with the rotatable element. 
   
   
       17 . The slip ring assembly according to  claim 11  further comprising a pair of axially aligned hinge elements that extend from the rotatable element and enable the rear handle member to be pivotally coupled to the rotatable element. 
   
   
       18 . An injector comprising;
 a disposable syringe barrel having a circumference, the barrel comprising:
 a receptacle for receiving a fluid; 
 a nozzle for directing fluid from the receptacle; 
   a plunger configured to rotate and slidably translate through the receptacle;   a rotatable element comprising at least one axially aligned hinge element that extends outwardly from the rotatable element and enables the rear handle member to be removably coupled to the rotatable element disposed on the syringe barrel, the rotatable element configured to rotate at least partially about the circumference of the barrel; and   a handle assembly comprising a rear handle member removably coupled to the rotatable element, and a forward handle member removably coupled to the plunger, wherein the rear handle member is pivotally coupled to the forward handle member at a hinge in a scissors-type arrangement.   
   
   
       19 . The injector in accordance with  claim 18  wherein the rotatable element further comprises a surface configured to engage a locking element. 
   
   
       20 . The injector in accordance with  claim 18  wherein the barrel comprises a first section and a second section, each section having an outside diameter, the first section outside diameter being longer than the second section outside diameter, wherein a retention element is positioned upon the second section.