Devices, systems and methods for filling a syringe with a medication

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for automatically positioning a syringe in a target orientation suitable for withdrawing medication from a container, and for filling the syringe with the medication. The device comprises a syringe conveyor, which is configured to receive the syringe in an initial orientation, and to bring the syringe to a target orientation by being translated and rotated while holding the syringe in a steady orientation relative to the syringe conveyor. The device further comprises a supporting module, configured to support the syringe conveyor while allowing a translation and a rotation thereof. The device comprises a syringe holder configured to hold the syringe, and a gripper coupled to the syringe holder. The gripper is configured to engage the plunger and to enable the automatic displacement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for holding a barrel of a syringe and a plunger of the syringe in order to allow automatic translation of the plunger inside the barrel, the device comprising:
 a syringe holder configured to hold the syringe;   a lock mechanism configured to stabilize the barrel of the syringe relative to the syringe holder;   a gripper coupled to the syringe holder and jointly configured therewith to enable the gripper to engage the plunger by changing a relative angle between the gripper and the syringe holder;   a gripper holder configured to hold the gripper; wherein the gripper holder and the syringe holder are jointly configured to be translated in parallel, and to be rotated relative to each other, thereby changing the relative angle; and   a syringe carrier configured to support the syringe holder and the gripper holder, to allow a translation of the syringe holder and the gripper holder with respect to the syringe carrier, and to allow a relative rotation of the syringe holder and the gripper holder with respect to each other;   wherein the gripper, the syringe holder and the lock mechanism are jointly configured to enable the automatic translation and wherein the syringe carrier, the syringe holder, and the gripper holder, are jointly configured to mechanically derive the relative rotation from the translation.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a linear actuator coupled to the syringe carrier, the syringe holder, and the gripper holder, and configured to drive the translation. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the syringe carrier comprises a first member;
 at least one of the syringe holder and the gripper holder comprises a second member;   the first and second members are jointly configured to be engaged during the translation, thereby causing a rotation of the at least one of the syringe holder and the gripper holder.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the first member is a rack, and the second member is a pinion. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the first member is a protrusion, and the second member is a socket. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the second member is a protrusion, and the first member is a socket.