Liquid Dispensing Syringe

Abstract

A syringe for dispensing liquid materials to a substrate. In one embodiment, the syringe includes a barrel having a first end, a second end, and an interior reservoir. A piston is slidably disposed within the reservoir and is movable to increase or decrease a volume of the interior reservoir near the first end of the barrel. At least a portion of at least one of the barrel, the piston, or the dispensing tip comprises a material selected to maintain operative structural integrity of the dispensing syringe at elevated temperatures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispensing syringe, comprising:
 a barrel having a first end and a second end, and defining an interior reservoir therein;   a piston slidably disposed within said reservoir to thereby increase or decrease a volume of said interior reservoir proximate said first end of said barrel;   a dispensing tip proximate said first end of said barrel, said dispensing tip including an outlet in fluid communication with said reservoir;   wherein at least a portion of at least one of said barrel, said piston, or said dispensing tip comprises a material selected to maintain operative structural integrity of the dispensing syringe at temperatures above about 150 degrees Celsius.   
     
     
         2 . The dispensing syringe of  claim 1 , wherein said material comprises a high temperature resin. 
     
     
         3 . The dispensing syringe of  claim 2 , wherein said material comprises polybutylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing syringe of  claim 2 , wherein said material is a composite material that further comprises fiber reinforcement. 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing syringe of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an adapter selectively removably coupled to said second end of said barrel for coupling said barrel to a source of pressurized fluid.   
     
     
         6 . A dispensing syringe, comprising:
 a barrel having a first end and a second end, and defining an interior reservoir therein;   a piston slidably disposed within said reservoir to thereby increase or decrease a volume of said interior reservoir proximate said first end of said barrel;   said piston having a first end and a second end, said first end having a generally hemispherically-shaped surface profile with an elongated apex extending along a central axis thereof for dispensing fluid from said first end of said barrel when said piston is moved toward said first end of said barrel; and   a luer coupling at said first end of said barrel adapted for receiving a dispensing tip;   said luer coupling including an outlet orifice and an outlet passage in fluid communication between said outlet orifice and said reservoir;   said outlet passage tapered along an axial length thereof;   wherein at least a portion of at least one of said barrel, said piston, or said luer coupling comprises a material selected to maintain operative structural integrity of the dispensing syringe at temperatures above about 150 degrees Celsius.   
     
     
         7 . The dispensing syringe of  claim 6 , wherein said material comprises a high temperature resin. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing syringe of  claim 7 , wherein said material comprises polybutylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing syringe of  claim 7 , wherein said material is a composite material that further comprises fiber reinforcement. 
     
     
         10 . The dispensing syringe of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an adapter selectively removably coupled to said second end of said barrel for coupling said barrel to a source of pressurized fluid.   
     
     
         11 . The dispensing syringe of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an end cap selectively removably coupled to said second end of said barrel for sealing said barrel.   
     
     
         12 . The dispensing syringe of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a tip cap selectively removably coupled to said luer coupling at said first end of said barrel and sealingly engaging said outlet orifice of said luer coupling when said tip cap is firmly seated on said luer coupling.   
     
     
         13 . The dispensing syringe of  claim 6 , wherein said barrel further comprises:
 an elongate tubular body including at least one sidewall defining said interior reservoir;   said sidewall further defining a hemispherically-shaped portion within said interior reservoir proximate said first end of said body and complementary to said hemispherically-shaped surface profile of said piston.   
     
     
         14 . The dispensing syringe of  claim 13 , wherein said barrel further comprises:
 a radially inwardly extending ledge within said interior reservoir adjacent said hemispherically-shaped portion, said sidewall having a substantially uniform thickness proximate said ledge, whereby the location of said radially inwardly extending ledge is visible externally of said body by a corresponding radially outwardly extending ledge.