Syringe packaging system and shell

Abstract

A syringe packaging system including a shell for enclosing a pre-filled syringe is disclosed. The shell includes a first portion having a proximal end and a distal end having a disk-shaped bottom portion; and a second portion having a proximal end and a distal end. With the first portion engaged with the second portion to form the shell, the proximal end of the first portion and the proximal end of the second portion together define a syringe flange having a top wall that defines a shell proximal aperture, a bottom wall, and a sidewall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shell for enclosing a pre-filled syringe, comprising:
 a first shell portion having a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall; and   a second shell portion having a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall,   wherein when the first shell portion is engaged with the second shell portion to form the shell, the distal end of the first shell portion closes the distal end of the second shell portion, and the proximal end of the first shell portion and the proximal end of the second shell portion together define a syringe flange surrounding portion having a top wall that defines a shell proximal aperture, a bottom wall, and a sidewall extending therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The shell of  claim 1 , wherein, with the shell in the closed position, the first shell portion and the second shell portion together define a plunger rod disk surrounding portion having a top wall that defines a second shell proximal aperture, a bottom wall, and a sidewall extending therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The shell of  claim 2 , wherein a diameter of the syringe flange surrounding portion is greater than a diameter of the plunger rod disk surrounding portion. 
     
     
         4 . The shell of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the first shell portion has a disk-shaped bottom portion. 
     
     
         5 . The shell of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the first shell portion has a half-disk shaped bottom portion, and the distal end of the second shell portion has a full-disk shaped bottom portion. 
     
     
         6 . The shell of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the first shell portion and the distal end of the second shell portion have half-disk shaped bottom portions. 
     
     
         7 . The shell of  claim 1 , comprising a hinge connected to a portion of the first shell portion and a portion of the second shell portion, the hinge connecting the first shell portion and the second shell portion together such that the shell is transitionable between an open position and a closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The shell of  claim 7 , wherein the hinge is connected to the sidewall of the first shell portion and the sidewall of the second shell portion. 
     
     
         9 . The shell of  claim 7 , wherein the hinge is connected to a bottom wall of the first shell portion and to a bottom wall of the second shell portion. 
     
     
         10 . The shell of  claim 1 , comprising a label securable to at least a portion of the first shell portion or to at least a portion of the second shell portion. 
     
     
         11 . The shell of  claim 1 , comprising a label securable to a portion of the first shell portion and to a portion of the second shell portion to connect the first shell portion and the second shell portion. 
     
     
         12 . The shell of  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first shell portion and the second shell portion include a transparent window. 
     
     
         13 . A shell for enclosing a pre-filled syringe, comprising:
 a first shell portion having a proximal end, a distal end, and a first sidewall;   a second shell portion having a proximal end, a distal end, and a second sidewall; and   a hinge connected to a portion of the first sidewall and a portion of the second sidewall, the hinge connecting the first shell portion and the second shell portion together such that the shell is transitionable between an open position and a closed position, wherein:   with the shell in the closed position, the first shell portion and the second shell portion together define a syringe flange surrounding portion having a top wall that defines a first shell proximal aperture, a bottom wall, and a sidewall extending therebetween, and the first shell portion and the second shell portion together define a plunger rod disk surrounding portion having a top wall that defines a second shell proximal aperture, a bottom wall, and a sidewall extending therebetween, and   with the shell in the open position, a longitudinal axis of the first shell portion is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second shell portion.   
     
     
         14 . The shell of  claim 13 , wherein the distal end of the first shell portion includes a first bottom wall and the distal end of the second shell portion includes a second bottom wall, and, with the shell in the closed position, at least a portion of the first bottom wall overlaps at least a portion of the second bottom wall. 
     
     
         15 . The shell of  claim 13 , wherein one or both of the first shell portion and the second shell portion include a transparent window. 
     
     
         16 . A shell for enclosing a pre-filled syringe, comprising:
 a first shell portion having a proximal end, a distal end, and a first bottom wall;   a second shell portion having a proximal end, a distal end, and a second bottom wall; and   a hinge connected to at least a portion of the first bottom wall and at least a portion of the second bottom wall, the hinge connecting the first shell portion and the second shell portion together such that the shell is transitionable between an open position and a closed position, wherein:   with the shell in the closed position, the first shell portion and the second shell portion together define a syringe flange surrounding portion having a top wall that defines a first shell proximal aperture, a bottom wall, and a sidewall extending therebetween, and the first shell portion and the second shell portion together define a plunger rod disk surrounding portion having a top wall that defines a second shell proximal aperture, a bottom wall, and a sidewall extending therebetween, and   with the shell in the open position, a longitudinal axis of the first shell portion and a longitudinal axis of the second shell portion are collinear.   
     
     
         17 . The shell of  claim 16 , wherein a portion of the first shell portion is pivotable between a closed position and an open position. 
     
     
         18 . The shell of  claim 17 , wherein a portion of the first shell portion is pivotable between the closed position and the open position via a second hinge. 
     
     
         19 . The shell of  claim 16 , wherein, with the shell in the closed position, at least a portion of the first bottom wall overlaps at least a portion of the second bottom wall. 
     
     
         20 . The shell of  claim 16 , wherein one or both of the first shell portion and the second shell portion include a transparent window. 
     
     
         21 . A plunger rod for a syringe assembly, comprising:
 a proximal end having a thumb pad;   a distal end having a stopper engagement portion;   a proximal disk having a diameter greater than a diameter of the plunger rod; and   a distal disk having a diameter greater than a diameter of the plunger rod, the distal disk spaced from the proximal disk,   wherein the proximal disk is disposed between the distal disk and the proximal end, and the distal disk is disposed between the proximal disk and the distal end.