Method and apparatus for syringe preparation

Abstract

An apparatus for preparing a syringe for use in injecting a medication includes a body extending obliquely upwardly, with a carriage slidably secured thereto and adapted to support a syringe. The syringe is fixedly secured to the body, and translation of the carriage proximally and distally knocks off the needle protective cap and the plunger cap. A trough aligned with the syringe enables an injectant vial to be translated downwardly to drive the needle into the vial. A plunger driver is slidably mounted on the body to engage the syringe plunger and assist its withdrawal and retraction. A protective cap holder may be placed on the trough to engage and remove the protective cap for later use.

1 . An apparatus for preparing an empty syringe having a barrel with a needle extending therefrom and a protective cap covering the needle and a plunger cap covering the plunger end, including:
 a longitudinally extending body extending obliquely upwardly and means on said body for releasably securing the syringe thereto in longitudinal alignment with said body and immobilized with respect thereto;   a carriage slidably secured to said body and disposed to support the barrel of the syringe, and cover means hinged to said carriage to releasably engage said carriage with the barrel of the syringe;   said carriage including leading edge means for impinging on the protective cap and knocking it off the syringe when said carriage is translated in a distal direction;   trough means extending longitudinally in said body and distally from said carriage and having a bottom curved to receive and align a tubular vial of injectant;   said vial being translatable in a proximal direction to drive the sealed end of the vial into the needle and push the needle into the vial, whereby the syringe may be filled with injectant from the vial.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said carriage further includes at least one knockoff finger extending proximally therefrom and disposed to engage the plunger cap when said carriage is translated in a proximal direction to knock off the plunger cap from the syringe. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including means to constrain said carriage to slide longitudinally along said body within a limited range. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further including resilient means for centering said carriage within said limited range. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including base means for supporting said body on a horizontal surface. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said base means includes a clamp for releasably engaging an edge of the horizontal surface. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a first receptacle disposed in said body for releasably supporting the vial of injectant. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including plunger driver means for  20  engaging the plunger of the syringe and moving it longitudinally. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said plunger driver means includes a plunger driver secured to a shaft extending longitudinally along said body and adapted to translate therealong and rotate thereabout. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said plunger driver includes a clevis end for engaging the plunger of the syringe and a handle end for manual engagement. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said clevis end includes a distal flat surface to engage a tabular handle end of the plunger to push the plunger into the syringe. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further including a coffer-like catchall disposed in said body adjacent to said base end. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a protective cap holder for securing and releasably retaining the protective cap after it is knocked off the syringe. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said protective cap holder includes a cylindrical body dimensioned to be receivable in said trough, said cylindrical body including a tapered end having a split collet to engage the protective cap. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further including a second receptacle disposed in said body for releasably supporting said protective cap holder. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said means for releasably securing the syringe includes a pair of protrusions extending from said body and spaced apart to admit a portion of the syringe therebetween, and a pair of slots, each disposed in a respective one of said protrusions and opening toward the other, said slots adapted to receive the finger tabs of the syringe to immobilize the syringe with respect to said body. 
     
     
         17 . A method for preparing an empty syringe for injection, the syringe having a protective cap covering the needle and a plunger cap covering the plunger end, including the steps of:
 providing a longitudinally extending body having a carriage secured thereto for longitudinal sliding motion therealong, said carriage including means for knocking off the protective cap and plunger cap of the syringe;   securing the syringe to the body with a portion of the syringe supported on said carriage and the syringe immobilized with respect to said body;   translating said carriage distally to knock off the protective cap and proximally to knock off the plunger cap;   providing a trough-like guide in said body aligned longitudinally with the syringe;   placing a vial of injectant in said guide and sliding the vial along the guide to impale the syringe needle in the vial;   loading injectant from the vial into the syringe by extending the syringe plunger; and,   removing the syringe for use in an injection.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further including the step of providing a plunger driver slidably supported on said body for operating the syringe plunger to fill the syringe. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further including the step of providing a receptacle in said body for supporting the vial of injectant. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further including the step of supporting said body extending obliquely upwardly from a horizontal surface.