All-in one syringe assembly for blood draws and medicine delivery to patients

Abstract

A syringe assembly includes (i) a syringe with a cylindrical body, luer tip at a first end, finger grip at a second end and a cannula extending from the luer tip into the cylindrical body, and (ii) a plunger unit having an adapter portion, receiving cavity, finger grip and piston. A channel extends the length of the adapter portion to receive the cannula in one end and a variety of connectors, valves and/or syringes in a second end. The end of the channel accessible in the receiving cavity mates with or engages any number of commercially available valves, connectors and/or syringes while the luer tip similarly connects to any number of valves, catheters, connectors, etc., depending on the task being undertaken with the syringe assembly.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A syringe assembly comprising:
 a syringe having a cylindrical body with a luer at a first end, said luer having an exit opening;   a plunger unit including an adapter portion and a receiving cavity, a first end of said adapter portion retaining a piston, said plunger unit insertable into a second end of said syringe and slidable within said cylindrical body during which said piston creates a seal with an interior surface of said cylindrical body, said adapter portion including a channel extending along its length to an opening at a bottom of said receiving cavity for insertion of an intermediary connector or valve; and   a cannula secured at one end proximate said exit opening of said luer and extending into said piston and extendable into said channel as said plunger unit is inserted farther into said syringe, a fluid seal separating said cannula from said channel.   
     
     
         2 . The syringe assembly of  claim 1  wherein said receiving cavity has a depth in a range of about 1 inch to 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The syringe assembly of  claim 1  wherein said fluid seal is provided by an O-ring attached to the top of the cannula. 
     
     
         4 . The syringe assembly of  claim 1  wherein said fluid seal is provided by an internal sleeve with a wiper seal 
     
     
         5 . The syringe assembly of  claim 1  wherein said fluid seal is provided by an overmold seal on said plunger unit 
     
     
         6 . The syringe assembly of  claim 1  wherein said fluid seal is provided by a drop-in insert into said channel. 
     
     
         7 . The syringe assembly of  claim 4  wherein said internal sleeve extends from the luer tip to the channel opening in the receiving cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The syringe assembly of  claim 6  wherein said insert extends from the luer tip to the channel opening in the receiving cavity. 
     
     
         9 . A syringe assembly comprising:
 a syringe having a cylindrical body with a luer at a first end, said luer having an exit opening;   a plunger unit including an adapter portion and a receiving cavity, a first end of said adapter portion retaining a piston, said plunger unit insertable into a second end of said syringe and slidable within said cylindrical body during which said piston creates a seal with an interior surface of said cylindrical body, said adapter portion including a channel extending along its length to an opening at a bottom of said receiving cavity for insertion of an intermediary connector or valve; and   a cannula secured at one end proximate said exit opening of said luer and extending into said piston and extendable into said channel as said plunger unit is inserted farther into said syringe, a seal member within said channel, said seal member serving to reduce the volume of liquid that may enter said channel.   
     
     
         10 . The syringe assembly of  claim 9  wherein said seal member is an O-ring attached to the top of the cannula. 
     
     
         11 . The syringe assembly of  claim 9  wherein said seal member is an internal sleeve with a wiper seal 
     
     
         12 . The syringe assembly of  claim 9  wherein said seal member is a drop-in insert into said channel. 
     
     
         13 . The syringe assembly of  claim 11  wherein said internal sleeve extends from the luer tip to the channel opening in the receiving cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The syringe assembly of  claim 12  wherein said insert extends from the luer tip to the channel opening in the receiving cavity. 
     
     
         15 . A syringe assembly comprising:
 a syringe having a cylindrical body with a luer at a first end, said luer having an exit opening;   a plunger unit including an adapter portion and a receiving cavity, a first end of said adapter portion retaining a piston, said plunger unit insertable into a second end of said syringe and slidable within said cylindrical body during which said piston creates a seal with an interior surface of said cylindrical body, said adapter portion including a channel extending along its length to an opening at a bottom of said receiving cavity for insertion of an intermediary connector or valve; and   means within said channel for reducing the volume of liquid that may enter said channel.   
     
     
         16 . The syringe of  claim 15  wherein said means within said channel for reducing the volume of liquid that may enter said channel is selected from the group consisting of: an O-ring attached to the top of the cannula, an internal sleeve with a wiper seal, a drop-in insert and 
     
     
         17 . The syringe assembly of  claim 16  wherein said internal sleeve extends from the luer tip to the channel opening in the receiving cavity. 
     
     
         18 . The syringe assembly of  claim 16  wherein said insert extends from the luer tip to the channel opening in the receiving cavity.