Medical Cartridge Receiver Having Access Device

Abstract

A needle and receiver assembly for use with a syringe cartridge filled with medicine includes a cartridge receiver having a hollow interior, an open end sized for receiving at least part of the syringe cartridge, and a closed end opposite the open end. The assembly includes a needle mounted on the receiver having a fluid passage extending between a sharp delivery tip at a distal end of the needle and a sharp access tip at a proximal end of the needle opposite the delivery tip positioned inside the hollow interior of the receiver. The assembly includes a cutter movably mounted in the hollow interior of the receiver for cutting the diaphragm of the cartridge when received in the hollow interior of the receiver.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A receiver assembly for use with a cartridge, said assembly comprising:
 a cartridge receiver having a hollow interior, an open end sized for receiving at least part of the cartridge, and a closed end opposite the open end;   a needle mounted on the receiver having a fluid passage extending between a delivery tip at a distal end of the needle for inserting the needle into tissue of a patient and an access tip at a proximal end of the needle opposite the delivery tip, the needle extending through the closed end of the receiver so that the access tip is positioned inside the hollow interior of the receiver and the delivery tip is positioned outside the receiver; and   wherein the access tip of the needle is positioned to be spaced from a diaphragm of the cartridge in an unbulged position of the diaphragm and to pierce the diaphragm of the cartridge in a bulged position of the diaphragm.   
     
     
         2 . The receiver assembly of  claim 1  further including a sterile barrier between the cartridge and the hollow interior of the cartridge receiver. 
     
     
         3 . The receiver assembly of  claim 2  wherein the sterile barrier includes an adhesive outer face. 
     
     
         4 . The receiver assembly of  claim 2  wherein bulging of the diaphragm further causes stretching of the sterile barrier and movement of the diaphragm and sterile barrier toward the access needle. 
     
     
         5 . The receiver assembly of  claim 2  wherein, in the bulged position of the diaphragm, the access tip of the needle pierces the sterile barrier and a notched portion of the diaphragm of the cartridge. 
     
     
         6 . The receiver assembly of  claim 5  wherein the notched portion of the diaphragm of the cartridge is a frangible notch. 
     
     
         7 . The receiver assembly of  claim 1  wherein, in the bulged position of the diaphragm, at least a portion of the diaphragm is captured against the sterile barrier. 
     
     
         8 . The receiver assembly of  claim 1  wherein movement of the diaphragm from the unbulged position to the bulged position is in response to pressure on the cartridge. 
     
     
         9 . The receiver assembly of  claim 1  wherein movement of the diaphragm from the unbulged position to the bulged position is in response to a plunger rod being pressed to engage a piston of the cartridge. 
     
     
         10 . A method for preparing a cartridge and a receiver assembly comprising:
 positioning a diaphragm of a cartridge in an unbulged configuration in a spaced apart configuration with respect to an access needle of the cartridge; and   applying pressure on the cartridge, thereby causing the diaphragm of the cartridge to bulge, thereby causing the access needle to pierce the diaphragm and causing fluid communication between the cartridge and the access needle.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further including the step of providing a sterile barrier between the cartridge and the receiver assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of providing a sterile barrier further includes the step of providing an outer adhesive face on the sterile barrier. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of applying pressure on the cartridge further causes stretching of the sterile barrier and movement of the diaphragm and sterile barrier toward the access needle. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  further including the step of providing a notched portion on the diaphragm and wherein the step of applying pressure to the cartridge further causes the access tip of the needle to pierce the notched portion of the diaphragm. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of providing a notched portion further includes the step of providing a frangible notch on the diaphragm. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of applying pressure to the cartridge further causes at least a portion of the diaphragm to be captured against the sterile barrier. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of applying pressure to the cartridge further includes the step of pressing a plunger rod to engage a piston of the cartridge. 
     
     
         18 . A medical cartridge receiver assembly comprising:
 a cartridge receiver having an annular side wall extending between a partially closed distal end and an open proximal end opposing the distal end, the proximal end attachable to a medical cartridge;   a hub mounted to the distal end for supporting a needle having a sharp distal tip and a sharp proximal tip; and   a pierceable sterility barrier secured to the open proximal end.   
     
     
         19 . The medical cartridge receiver assembly of  claim 18  wherein the pierceable sterility barrier includes an adhesive outer face. 
     
     
         20 . The medical cartridge receiver assembly of  claim 18  wherein relative cooperative movement of the cartridge receiver and the medical cartridge forms a sterile fluid pathway from the medical cartridge to the sharp proximal tip.