Low deadspace syringe including a pivoting needle guard

Abstract

A low deadspace syringe having a pivoting protective needle guard on a fixed needle assembly that is permanently attached to the syringe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A safety syringe assembly comprising:
 a syringe barrel having an open proximal end, an open distal end, and a chamber therebetween for retaining fluid, said open distal end having a coupling extending therefrom and connected to a distal wall opening in said chamber; and   a needle assembly comprising:
 a hub having a proximal end, a distal end, and a conduit therethrough, said proximal end of said hub having a cork extending therefrom and into said coupling of said open distal end of said syringe barrel to connect said conduit to said chamber such that said proximal end of said conduit is substantially inserted into said open distal end of said syringe barrel; 
 a cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therethrough, said proximal end of said cannula mounted within said conduit of said hub; and 
 a guard rotatably mounted on said hub to rotate from an open position to a locked safety position, wherein said guard covers said distal end of said cannula when in said locked safety position. 
   
     
     
         2 . A safety syringe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said guard is rotatably mounted on said hub using a hinge. 
     
     
         3 . A safety syringe assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said hinge is a pivot hinge having a pivot shaft on said guard that is received in a pivot mount clasp on said hub. 
     
     
         4 . A safety syringe assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said guard can be user dependently parked between said open position and said locked safety position. 
     
     
         5 . A safety syringe assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said hinge is a living hinge connecting said guard to said hub. 
     
     
         6 . A safety syringe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said guard has a tapered distal end to provide a gap between said guard and said syringe barrel when said guard is in said open position to facilitate activation by a user. 
     
     
         7 . A safety syringe assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plunger rod having a distal end and a proximal end, said plunger rod being slidably mounted within said chamber of said syringe barrel. 
     
     
         8 . A safety syringe assembly of  claim 7 , wherein dead-space between said distal end of said cannula and said distal end of said plunger rod is no more than 10 μL when said distal end of said plunger rod abuts said distal wall opening of said chamber. 
     
     
         9 . A safety syringe assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said distal end of said plunger rod includes a stopper and wherein dead-space between said distal end of said cannula and said stopper is no more than 10 μL when said stopper of said plunger rod abuts said distal wall opening of said chamber. 
     
     
         10 . A safety syringe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said guard locks to said hub when in said locked safety position. 
     
     
         11 . A safety syringe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said guard traps said cannula within said guard when in said locked safety position. 
     
     
         12 . A safety syringe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said guard locks to said hub and traps said cannula within said guard when in said locked safety position. 
     
     
         13 . A safety syringe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said guard provides an audible click when entering said locked safety position. 
     
     
         14 . A safety syringe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said guard provides tactile feedback when entering said locked safety position. 
     
     
         15 . A safety syringe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said hub is permanently fixed to said syringe barrel. 
     
     
         16 . A safety syringe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said hub is attached to said syringe barrel using a snap-fit. 
     
     
         17 . A safety syringe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said syringe assembly includes a re-use prevention frangible plunger feature to prevent re-use after the injection has been completed. 
     
     
         18 . A safety syringe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said syringe assembly includes an auto-disable plunger locking element feature to prevent re-use after the injection has been completed. 
     
     
         19 . A safety syringe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said syringe barrel includes gradations on an exterior surface and said hub is attached to said syringe barrel such that said guard does not cover said gradations when in said open position. 
     
     
         20 . A safety syringe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said distal end of said cannula includes a bevel and said guard is mounted on said hub such that said bevel is properly aligned with said guard to ensure that said guard does not interfere with injection technique when performing an injection with said safety syringe assembly.