Syringe Having Needle Isolation Features

Abstract

The present invention is a syringe tip cap comprising a bottom portion, a top portion, an annular skirt extending therebetween and a plug that projects proximally from the bottom portion so as to be telescoped into the passage of a syringe tip. The plug provides means to allow air to be vented from the syringe with contacting the user. The syringe tip cap of the present invention also provides the user with an indication by tactile and visual feedback that the syringe has been vented.

1. A tip cap for sealingly covering the distal end of a syringe comprising:
 a cylindrical housing having a bottom portion comprising an inner end wall and an outer end wall, a top portion comprising a rim and an annular skirt extending from said top portion to said bottom portion having an inner surface and an outer surface and means for venting air from said syringe and for providing tactile means to the user that said syringe has been vented by said tip cap.  
 
     
     
       2. The tip cap of  claim 1 , wherein said means for venting is an inner plug that projects proximally from said inner end wall of said bottom portion. 
     
     
       3. The tip cap of  claim 2 , further comprising an intermediate wall projecting proximally from said inner end wall of said bottom portion and spaced in surrounding relationship to said plug. 
     
     
       4. The tip cap of  claim 3 , wherein said intermediate wall comprises an outer surface that is substantially cylindrical and an inner surface that is defined by intersecting planar surfaces. 
     
     
       5. The tip cap of  claim 4 , wherein said inner surface of said intermediate wall is substantially a hexagonal cross-section. 
     
     
       6. The tip cap of  claim 5 , wherein said outer surface of said intermediate wall comprises vertical interference strips. 
     
     
       7. The tip cap of  claim 6 , wherein said interference strips comprise a first position to indicate a first venting position to the user and a second position to indicate to the user that said tip cap and said syringe are removably secure. 
     
     
       8. The tip cap of  claim 7 , further comprising a generally cylindrical internal sealing ring extending from said inner surface of said annular skirt and said inner end wall of said bottom portion. 
     
     
       9. The tip cap of  claim 8 , wherein said internal sealing ring comprises an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface. 
     
     
       10. The tip cap of  claim 9 , wherein said internal sealing ring is separated from said outer surface of said intermediate wall by a first annular space. 
     
     
       11. The tip cap of  claim 10 , further comprising a second annular space between said inner surface of said annular skirt and said inner wall surface of said internal sealing ring. 
     
     
       12. The tip cap of  claim 11 , further comprising indentations on said inner wall surface of said internal sealing ring. 
     
     
       13. A syringe assembly comprising:
 a syringe comprising a barrel, a syringe tip, a luer connection, a needle and a plunger rod with a piston member on the distal end of said plunger rod; and  
 a tip cap over said distal end of said syringe barrel comprising a cylindrical housing having a bottom portion comprising an inner end wall and an outer end wall, a top portion comprising a rim and an annular skirt extending from said top portion to said bottom portion having an inner surface and an outer surface and means for venting air from said syringe and for providing tactile means to the user that said syringe has been vented by said tip cap.  
 
     
     
       14. The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said means for venting is an inner plug that projects proximally from said inner end wall of said bottom portion. 
     
     
       15. The assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising an intermediate wall projecting proximally from said inner end wall of said bottom portion and spaced in surrounding relationship to said plug. 
     
     
       16. The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said intermediate wall comprises an outer surface that is substantially cylindrical and an inner surface that is defined by intersecting planar surfaces. 
     
     
       17. The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said inner surface of said intermediate wall is substantially a hexagonal cross-section. 
     
     
       18. The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said outer surface of said intermediate wall comprises vertical interference strips. 
     
     
       19. The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said interference strips comprise a first position to indicate a first venting position to the user and a second position to indicate to the user that said tip cap and said syringe are removably secure. 
     
     
       20. The assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising a generally cylindrical internal sealing ring extending from said inner surface of said annular skirt and said inner end wall of said bottom portion. 
     
     
       21. The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said internal sealing ring comprises an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface. 
     
     
       22. The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein said internal sealing ring is separated from said outer surface of said intermediate wall by a first annular space. 
     
     
       23. The assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising a second annular space between said inner surface of said annular skirt and said inner wall surface of said internal sealing ring. 
     
     
       24. The assembly of  claim 23 , further comprising indentations on said inner wall surface of said internal sealing ring. 
     
     
       25. A tip cap for a syringe, comprising:
   a housing comprising a bottom portion having an annular skirt extending therefrom, a first annular ring located within the skirt, and a second annular ring located within the first annular ring, wherein an annular space exists between at least a portion of the first annular ring and the second annular ring, and wherein the second annular ring or both the first annular ring and the second annular ring are capable of engaging a threaded luer connection.     
     
     
       26. The tip cap of  claim 25 , wherein a second annular space exits between at least a portion of the skirt and the first annular ring. 
     
     
       27. The tip cap of  claim 26 , wherein the second annular ring comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface, and wherein the exterior surface comprises at least two vertical strips. 
     
     
       28. The tip cap of  claim 27 , wherein the vertical strips are capable of engaging and providing securement to the threaded luer connection. 
     
     
       29. The tip cap of  claim 28 , wherein the vertical strips are deformable upon contact with the threaded luer connection, the deformation providing the securement to the threaded luer connection. 
     
     
       30. The tip cap of  claim 25 , wherein the first annular ring and the second annular ring extend from the bottom portion of the housing. 
     
     
       31. The tip cap of  claim 25 , wherein the annular gap between the first annular ring and the second annular ring is continuous. 
     
     
       32. The tip cap of  claim 25 , further comprising a vent located proximate the bottom portion of the housing, the vent located within the second annular ring. 
     
     
       33. The tip cap of  claim 32 , wherein the vent is integral with the bottom portion. 
     
     
       34. The tip cap of  claim 32 , wherein the vent is sized to fit into a syringe tip. 
     
     
       35. The tip cap of  claim 32 , wherein the vent is a solid plug. 
     
     
       36. The tip cap of  claim 35 , wherein the plug comprises a substantially circular, tapered outer wall having one or more flattened portions thereon. 
     
     
       37. The tip cap of  claim 25 , wherein an interior surface of the second annular ring comprises one or more planar portions. 
     
     
       38. A tip cap for a syringe, comprising:
   a housing comprising a bottom portion having an annular skirt extending therefrom and an annular ring located within the skirt, the annular ring having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface comprises at least two vertical strips,        wherein the at least two vertical strips comprises a first strip of a first length and a second strip of a second length.     
     
     
       39. The tip cap of  claim 38 , wherein the vertical strips are capable of engaging and providing securement to a threaded luer connection. 
     
     
       40. The tip cap of  claim 39 , wherein the vertical strips are deformable upon contact with the threaded luer connection, the deformation providing the securement to the threaded luer connection. 
     
     
       41. The tip cap of  claim 38 , further comprising a vent located proximate the bottom portion of the housing, the vent located within the annular ring. 
     
     
       42. The tip cap of  claim 41 , wherein the vent is integral with the bottom portion. 
     
     
       43. The tip cap of  claim 41 , wherein the vent is sized to fit into a syringe tip. 
     
     
       44. The tip cap of  claim 41 , wherein the vent is a solid plug. 
     
     
       45. The tip cap of  claim 44 , wherein the plug comprises a substantially circular tapered outer wall having one or more flattened portions thereon. 
     
     
       46. The tip cap of  claim 38 , wherein an interior surface of the annular ring comprises one or more planar portions. 
     
     
       47. A tip cap designed for a syringe having a barrel, a syringe tip, and a luer connection at a distal end of the barrel, the tip cap comprising:
   a housing comprising a bottom portion having an annular skirt extending therefrom and an annular ring located within the skirt, wherein the inner diameter of the skirt at the end of the skirt opposite the bottom portion is greater than the outer diameter of the syringe barrel.     
     
     
       48. The tip cap of  claim 47 , wherein upon physical engagement of the tip cap with the luer connection, the skirt extends proximally over the syringe such that the luer connection is contained within the interior of the housing. 
     
     
       49. The tip cap of  claim 48 , wherein upon engagement of the tip cap with the luer connection, the end of the skirt opposite the bottom portion surrounds a portion of the barrel. 
     
     
       50. The tip cap of  claim 47 , wherein an exterior surface of the annular ring comprises at least two vertical strips, and wherein the vertical strips are capable of engaging and providing securement to the threaded luer connection. 
     
     
       51. The tip cap of  claim 50 , wherein the vertical strips are deformable upon contact with the threaded luer connection, the deformation providing the securement to the threaded luer connection. 
     
     
       52. The tip cap of  claim 47 , further comprising a vent located proximate the bottom portion of the housing, the vent located within the annular ring. 
     
     
       53. The tip cap of  claim 52 , wherein the vent is integral with the bottom portion. 
     
     
       54. The tip cap of  claim 52 , wherein the vent is sized to fit into the syringe tip. 
     
     
       55. The tip cap of  claim 52 , wherein the vent is a solid plug. 
     
     
       56. The tip cap of  claim 47 , further comprising an intermediate annular ring located between the skirt and the annular ring, wherein an annular space exists between at least a portion of the annular ring and the intermediate annular ring, and wherein the annular ring or both the annular ring and the intermediate annular ring are capable of engaging the threaded luer connection. 
     
     
       57. The tip cap of  claim 56 , wherein a second annular space exits between at least a portion of the skirt and the intermediate annular ring.