Locking Hinges for Syringe Handles, Syringes Including Locking Hinges, and Associated Methods

Abstract

A hinge that is configured to lock two pivotally connect members of a handle for a syringe together includes at least one end for engaging and rotating with a first member of the handle. The hinge also includes a locking element within the second member of the handle. The locking element is configured to engage or be engaged by a locking feature within the second member of the handle, with the locking feature configured to limit or prevent rotation of the hinge. By restricting rotation of the hinge in this manner, the at least one end of the hinge likewise restricts pivotal movement of the first member of the handle. Methods of limiting movement of the members of a handle of a syringe are also disclosed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/853,817, filed Oct. 24, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein, in its entirety, by this reference

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to locking hinges for syringe handles configured to provide a user with a mechanical advantage while requiring the use of only one hand, even when a large amount of force is required to move a plunger through the barrel of a syringe. More specifically, the present invention relates to looking hinges that maintain relative positions of two members of syringe handles, as well as a position of a plunger within a barrel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which depict features of various aspects of the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a power syringe handle that includes members that are pivotally connected by an embodiment of locking hinge that incorporates teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembly view of the handle shown in FIG. 1, illustrating an embodiment of locking hinge according to teachings of the present invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate, in perspective, other embodiments of locking hinges;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an interior of a first piece of a first member of the embodiment of handle shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 shows the embodiment of hinge shown in FIG. 2 slid into an unlocked position relative to the members of the handle shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 7 shows the embodiment of hinge shown in FIG. 2 slid into a locked position relative to the members of the handle;

FIG. 8 depicts another example of the manner in which a hinge that incorporates teachings of the present invention may be locked in place;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an interior of a second piece of the first member of the embodiment of handle shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which is configured for assembly with the first piece depicted in FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of an outer surface of a first piece of a second member of the embodiment of handle shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of an outer surface of a second piece of the second member of the embodiment of handle shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which is configured for assembly with the first piece illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of power syringe and its handle, which includes members that are pivotally connected to one another by a locking hinge according to embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 schematically represents another embodiment of power syringe and its handle, which includes members that are pivotally connected by a locking hinge that incorporates teachings of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a handle 20 for a power syringe 10, 10′ (see, e.g., FIGS. 12 and 13) is depicted. Handle 20 includes a first member 50 that is configured for association with a first element (e.g. barrel or plunger) of a syringe (not shown) and a second member 100 that is configured for association with a second element (e.g., plunger or barrel) of the syringe. In addition, handle 20 includes a hinge 40 that pivotally connects first member 50 and second member 100 to each other. Hinge 40 is also configured to enable first member 50 and second member 100 to be locked into a plurality of different orientations—between an open orientation, in which members 50 and 100 are spaced as ar as possible apart from one another, and a closed orientation, in which members 50 and 100 are positioned as close as possible to one another—relative to each other. By locking the relative positions of members 50 and 100, hinge 40 may prevent or limit further movement of members 50 and 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates, among other things, an embodiment of hinge 40. Hinge 40 includes an elongate hinge element 41 with a central axis 42, or axis of rotation about which hinge 40 is intended to rotate, and two ends 43 and 44. At least one end 43, 44 of elongate hinge element 41 is configured to engage a complementary portion of member 50, 100 of handle 20 (FIG. 1).

As depicted, elongate hinge element 41 includes two sections 41a and 41b that are configured for assembly with one another, although single piece hinges are also within the scope of the present invention. In addition to elongate hinge element 41, hinge 40 includes a locking element 45. In the depicted embodiment, locking element 45 may comprise a gear (e.g., a spur gear, a miter gear, a crown gear, etc.) with an axis of rotation that is aligned with central axis 42. Locking element 45 may protrude from an axial location that is slightly offset from a center of a length of elongate hinge element 41, or positioned at any other location along the length of elongate hinge element 41.

Hinge 40 may include a microadjustment element 47. Microadjustment element 47 may comprise a gear or threaded element that is configured to engage a separate microadjustment screw (FIG. 9). In the depicted embodiment, microadjustment element 47 comprises a worm gear with an axis of rotation that coincides with central axis 42 of elongate hinge element 41.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, a hinge 40′ that incorporates teachings off the present invention may include a microadjustment element 47′ at an end of an elongate hinge element 41′. In another embodiment, depicted in FIG. 4, a hinge 40″ may include a microadjustment element 47″ at a central location of elongate hinge element 41a″, 41b″, in which case elongate hinge element 41a″, 41b″ rotates, about its central axis 42″, relative to microadjustment element 47″.

With continued reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, and by way of non-limiting example, microadjustment element 47′, 47″ may include a recess 48′, 48″ with engagement features 49′, 49″ that are respectively configured to receive and engage complementary engagement features 85 of a microadjustment screw 84 (FIG. 9) as hinge 40′, 40″ or microadjustment screw 84 is actuated to cause one of microadjustment element 47′, 47″ and microadjustment screw 84 (FIG. 9) to engage the other (e.g., by sliding hinge 40′, 40″ along, its central axis 42′, 42″, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4; etc.). Without limiting the scope of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, engagement features 49′, 49″ may comprise threads complementary to threads on microadjustment screw 84, slots recessed in a surface of recess 48′, 48″ and oriented to engage complementary splines protruding from the outer surface of microadjustment screw 84, or any other suitable engagement features that cooperate with corresponding engagement features on microadjustment screw 84.

Returning reference to FIG. 2, member 50 of handle 20 may include two pieces 52 and 72 that are configured to be assembled with each other, with each piece 59, 72 forming a side half of member 50. Each piece 52, 72 includes a proximal portion 54, 74, an intermediate portion 56, 76 adjacent to proximal portion 54, 74, and a distal portion 58, 78 adjacent to intermediate portion 56, 76. As shown, proximal portion 54, 74 and distal portion 58, 78 may be located on substantially opposite sides of intermediate portion 56, 76.

Proximal portion 54, 74 is configured to be grasped by a first portion of a hand. In the illustrated embodiment, proximal portion 54, 74 is configured to be grasped by fingers of a hand.

Distal portion 58, 78 may be configure d to be coupled (e.g., pivotally) to a first part of a syringe, such as a syringe plunger. In the illustrated embodiment, hinge elements 59 and 79, which are configured to align and to be assembled with each other, protrude from inner surfaces 53 (FIG. 5) and 73 (FIG. 9) of pieces 52 and 72. respectively. Hinge elements 59 and 79 may be configured for receipt by an aperture in the proximal end of the syringe plunger.

When pieces 57 and 72 are assembled, intermediate portions 56 and 76 include spaced apart outer walls 60 and 80 that define a hollow interior 96 that is configured to receive a central portion of hinge 40 (or hinge 40′ or 40″ (FIGS. 3 and 4)), including) a locking element 45 and/or microadjustment element 47 (or microadjustment element 47′ or 47″). In addition to defining hollow interior 96, intermediate portion 56, 76 may include an aperture 62, 82 through each outer wall 60, 80. Apertures 62 and 82 may be axially aligned with each other, and may be configured to receive opposite sides of elongate hinge element 41 while permitting handle 50 to pivot freely about central axis 42 regardless of whether locking element 45 is engaged by a locking feature within either piece 52, 72.

FIG. 5 illustrates an interior of piece 52, which includes a locking feature 64 that engages locking element 45 of hinge 40 upon movement of hinge 40 from an intermediate position or unlocked position to a locked position. Without limiting the scope of the present invention, locking feature 64 may engage locking element 45 as hinge 40 is slid along central axis 42 (FIG. 2). FIG. 6 shows hinge 40 in a locked position, while FIG. 7 shows hinge 40 in an unlocked position. Locking feature 64 may comprise a fixed or actuatable (e.g., with a button, slider, switch, etc.) element that limits rotation of hinge 40 in one or both directions.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, locking feature 64 comprises a stationary ratchet arm with a tip 65 that engages locking element 45 between teeth 46 thereof. The configurations (or orientations) of teeth 46 and tip 65 may allow hinge 40 to rotate in one direction (e.g., clockwise., as handles 50 and 100 (FIGS. 1 and 2) are drawn together), but prevent the rotation of hinge 40 in the opposite direction (e.g., counterclockwise.

Alternatively as shown in FIG. 8, a microadjustment screw 84 that includes engagement features 85 that are complementary to engagement features 46 (e.g. teeth, etc.) may be moved into and out of engagement with locking element 45. By way of nonlimiting example, an end of microadjustment screw 84 may, be associated with a handle 20 (see, e.g., FIG. 1) in such a way that microadjustment screw 84 pivots from the end thereof while remaining free to rotate. Accordingly, a knob (not shown) at the opposite end of microadjustment screw 84 may be moved to tilt engagement features 85 of microadjustment screw 84 into and out of engagement with engagement features 46 of locking element 45.

Of course, other means for engaging and limiting rotation of locking element 45 and, thus, of hinge 40, including other embodiments of locking feature 64, are also within the scope of the present invention.

An interior of piece 72 is shown in FIG. 9. With end 43 (FIGS. 2 and 10) of hinge 40 (FIGS. 1 and 2) extending through aperture 82, microadjustment element 47 is positioned within hollow interior 96 of intermediate portions 56 (FIG. 5) and 76. Additionally, an end of a microadjustment screw 84 may be disposed within hollow interior 96. As shown, microadjustment screw 84 may include features 85 that are configured to engage microadjustment element 47. As an example, features 85 may comprise a thread of a worm, which engages teeth 48 of a microadjustment element 47 that comprises a worm gear. Microadjustment screw 84 may be held in place by cooperating mounts 66 (FIG. 5) and 86 and stops 68 and 88 protruding from interior surfaces 70 (FIG. 5) and 90 of pieces 52 and 72, respectively, as pieces 52 and 72 are assembled with and secured to one another. As microadjustment screw 84 is rotated, microadjustment element 47 and hinge 40 also rotate.

As noted previously, member 50 (FIGS. 1 and 2) may pivot relative to hinge 40 (FIGS. 1 and 2) regardless of whether hinge 40 is in a locked position or an unlocked position. When in the locked position, however, hinge 40 may limit or prevent member 100 (FIGS. 1 and 2) from pivoting. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, an intermediate portion 106, 126 of each piece 102, 122 of member 100 of handle 20 may include an aperture 112, 132 that receives an end 43, 44 of elongate hinge element 41 (FIG. 2). Aperture 112, 132 may have a configuration and dimensions that enable aperture 112, 132 to receive end 43, 44 of elongate hinge element 41 (or an end of elongate hinge element 41′ or 41″ (FIGS. 3 and 4)). In embodiments where aperture 112, 132 has a non-circular configuration and end 43, 44 has substantially the same configuration with slightly smaller dimensions, pivotal movement of member 100 relative to hinge 40 is limited by the extent and direction to which hinge 40 may rotate about central axis 42. Thus, when the rotation of hinge 40 is prevented, or limited, the ability of member 100 to pivot is likewise limited.

With returned reference to FIG. 2, each piece 102, 122 also includes a proximal portion 104, 124 on one side of intermediate portion 106, 126 and a distal portion 108, 128 on another (e.g., opposite, etc.) side of intermediate portion 106, 126.

Proximal portion 104, 124 is configured to be grasped by another portion of a hand, such as by the thumb and palm of the same hand whose fingers grasp proximal portion 58, 78 of member 50.

In addition to the features discussed above, intermediate portions 106 and 126 may be spaced apart from one another so as to receive, or cradle, intermediate portions 56 and 76 of pieces 52 and 72 of handle 50 therebetween.

Distal portion 108, 128 may be configured to be coupled (e.g., pivotally) to a second part of a syringe (not shown), such as a syringe barrel. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, each distal portion 108, 128 comprises an arm, with distal portions 108 and 128 spaced apart from one another when pieces 102 and 122 are assembled with and secured to each other. With this arrangement, the second part of the syringe may be disposed between distal portions 108 and 128. Each distal portion 108, 128 may include a feature, such as the illustrated apertures 109, 129, that couples distal portions 108 and 128 to complementary features on the second part of the syringe; for example, hinge studs (not shown) protruding from opposite sides of a syringe barrel.

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 9, the relative positions of members 50 and 100 of handle 20 may be locked into place merely by engaging microadjustment element 47 with microadjustment screw 84. When hinge 40 is slid into an intermediate position (i.e., a position between the locked position shown in FIG. 6 and the unlocked position shown in FIG. 7) locking element 45 may be disengaged and microadjustment screw 84 may engage microadjustment element 47. Since first member 50 is not locked directly to second member 100, but is instead held in place by microadjustment screw 84, microadjustment screw 84 prevents external pivotal movement of members 50 and 100 (e.g. by squeezing members 50 and 100 together or moving them apart with a hand). Internal rotation of microadjustment element 47 by rotating microadjustment screw 84 will, however, rotate elongate hinge element 42. causing second handle 100 to pivot relative to first handle 50.

Due to its location and configuration, hinge 40 may be slid between unlocked, intermediate, and locked positions with a finger of thumb of a user's hand. In fact, a finger or thumb on the same hand that holds handle 20 may be used to move hinge 40 to the desired position.

With reference once again to FIG. 5, a spring 99 may be wrapped around and fixedly secured to hinge 40, upper and lower arms 99U and 99L of spring 99 may be held substantially in place by two posts 97 and 98 protruding from an interior surface 5) of piece 52. When proximal portion 104, 124 of member 100 pivots toward proximal end 54, 74 of member 50 (FIGS. 1 and 2), intermediate portion 106, 126 of member 100 causes hinge 40 to rotate., which introduces tension into lower arm 99L of spring 99, Once members 50 and 100 are no longer held in a closed or partially closed orientation of handle 20, the resiliency of spring 99 rotates hinge 40, causing proximal end 104, 124 of member 100 to move away from proximal end 54, 74 of member 50. thereby returning handle 20 to an open orientation.

Turning now to FIGS. 12 and 13, embodiments of syringes that include handles with locking hinges are shown and described.

FIG. 12 depicts an embodiment of power syringe 10 in which a first member 50 of a handle 20 and a second member 100 of handle 20 cross one another. In the depicted embodiment, first member 50 includes a proximal portion 54, 74 that is configured to be held and operated by fingers of a user's hand and is pivotally connected to a plunger 152 of a syringe 150. Second member 100, which includes a proximal end 104, 124 that is configured to be held by a palm and thumb of the same hand, is pivotally coupled to a barrel 154 of syringe 150. When proximal ends 54, 74 and 104, 124 of members 50 and 100, respectively, are drawn toward one another, members 50 and 100 pivot about central axis 42 of hinge 40, forcing distal ends 58, 78 and 108, 128 toward each other, and moving plunger 152 distally into barrel 154.

Another embodiment of power syringe 10′ is shown in FIG. 13. Power syringe 10′ also includes a first member 50′ and a second member 100′ that are connected by a hinge 40. Proximal portion 54′, 74′ and distal portion 58′, 78′ of first member 50′ are, however, located on the same side of (behind, in the Figure) second member 100′. Proximal portion 54′, 74′ is configured to be held by the thumb and palm of a user's hand, while proximal portion 104′, 124′ of second member 100′ is configured to be held by fingers of the same hand. Distal portion 58′, 78′ of first member 50′ is pivotally coupled to a proximal end of a plunger 162 of a syringe 160, while distal portion 108′, 128′ of second member 100′ is pivotally coupled to a barrel 164 of syringe 160. With this arrangement, when proximal ends 54′, 74′ and 104′, 124′ of members 500′ and 100′, respectively, are drawn toward one another, members 50′ and 100′ pivot about central axis 42 of hinge 40, forcing distal ends 58′, 78′ and 108′, 128′ apart from one another, moving plunger 162 proximally out of barrel 164.

While specific embodiments of handles and power syringes are described and illustrated, it should be recognized that a locking hinge that incorporates teachings of the present invention is useful in a variety embodiments of power syringe handles, including without limitation, with the handles of the power syringes described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,041,084, U.S. Patent Application Publication US-2006-0270996-A1, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/431,420, filed May 8, 2006, in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/853,878, filed Oct. 24, 2006, and in the non-provisional version of that provisional application, titled “DOUBLE BARREL SYRINGE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS” and filed on Oct. 23, 2007, the entire disclosure of each of which is, by this reference, hereby incorporated herein.

Although the foregoing, description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention, but merely as providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments. Similarly, other embodiments of the invention may be devised which do not depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated and limited only by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the foregoing description. All additions, deletions and modifications to the invention as disclosed herein which fall within the meaning and scope of the claims are to be embraced thereby.

Claims

1. A locking hinge for pivotally connecting first and second members of a handle of a syringe, comprising:

an elongate hinge element including: a first end configured to engage a first side of a second member of a syringe handle; and a second end configured to engage a second side of the second member, engagement by at least one of the first and second ends configured to rotate the elongate hinge element as the second member is pivoted relative to a first member of the syringe handle; and

a locking element protruding from a central location of the elongate hinge element and configured to engage a locking feature within the first member of the handle as the locking hinge is slid along its axis of rotation from an unlocked position to a locked position, the locking member configured to prevent rotation of the elongate hinge element relative to the first handle and at least one of the first and second ends of the elongate hinge element configured to prevent pivoting of the second handle relative to the locking hinge when the locking hinge is in the locked position.

2. The locking hinge of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first end and the second end of the elongate hinge element has a non-circular shape.

3. The locking hinge of claim 2, wherein both the first end and the second end of the of the elongate hinge element has a non-circular shape.

4. The locking hinge of claim 1, wherein the locking element comprises a gear protruding from and arranged concentrically with the elongate hinge element.

5. The locking hinge of claim 5, wherein the gear protrudes from an entire periphery of the elongate hinge element.

6. The locking hinge of claim 5, wherein the gear protrudes from a portion of a periphery of the elongate hinge element.

7. The locking hinge of claim 5, wherein the locking feature comprises a ratchet arm.

8. The locking hinge of claim 1, comprising:

a worm gear positioned adjacent to the locking element, the worm gear configured to engage a worm of a microadjustment handle associated with the handle of the syringe.

9. The locking hinge of claim 8, wherein the locking element that protrudes from the hinge element comprises the worm gear and the worm comprises the locking feature within the first member of the handle.

10. The locking hinge of claim 8, wherein the worm gear is located adjacent to the locking element.

11. The locking hinge of claim 1, wherein the locking element that protrudes from the hinge element comprises an internally threaded element, the locking feature within the first member of the handle comprises an externally threaded microadjustment element, and the hinge element slides so that threads of the internally threaded element selectively engage or disengage threads of the externally threaded microadjustment element.

12. Handles comprising:

a first member including: a proximal portion configured to be grasped by a first part of a hand; an intermediate portion including: spaced apart outer walls; a hollow interior between the spaced apart outer walls; and an aperture through at least one of the spaced apart outer walls; and a distal portion configured to pivotally couple to a first part of a syringe;

a second member including: a proximal portion configured to be grasped by a second part of the hand; an intermediate portion including: two spaced apart arms for receiving the intermediate portion of the first member; and a non-circular aperture in at least one arm of the two spaced apart arms; and a distal portion configured to pivotally couple to a second part of the syringe; and

a locking hinge, including: an elongate element with an axis of rotation, the elongate element including at least one end having a non-circular cross-sectional shape, taken transverse to the axis of rotation, for engaging a non-circular aperture in the at least one arm of the intermediate portion of the second member; and a locking element protruding from the elongate element, the locking element contained within the hollow interior of the intermediate portion of the first member, the elongate element configured to slide along the axis of rotation between: a locked position in which the locking element engages a locking feature within the hollow interior of the intermediate portion of the first member to prevent the hinge element from rotating relative to the first member; and an unlocked position in which the locking element and the locking feature are disengaged, the hinge element is free to rotate relative to the first member, and the at least one end protrudes from an outer surface of the second member.

13. The handles of claim 12, wherein the at least one end of the hinge element is configured to engage the non-circular aperture of the intermediate portion of the second member so that the hinge element rotates as the second member pivots relative to the first member.

14. The handles of claim 12, wherein:

the first member includes axially aligned apertures extending through both spaced apart outer walls of the intermediate portion for receiving portions of the hinge element;

the second member includes axially aligned non-circular apertures extending through the two spaced apart arms of the intermediate portion; and

the hinge element includes two ends with non-circular cross sections taken transverse to the axis of rotation, the two ends configured to engage the axially aligned non-circular apertures so that the hinge element rotates as the second member pivots relative to the first member.

15. The handles of claim 12, wherein the first part of the syringe comprises a plunger of the syringe and the second part of the syringe comprises a barrel of the syringe.

16. The handles of claim 15, wherein the first and second members cross one another.

17. The handles of claim 15, wherein the proximal and distal portions of the second member are located on the same side of the first member.

18. The handles of claim 12, comprising:

a microadjustment mechanism including a microadjustment handle including features for engaging a complementary microadjustment element of the hinge element to enable pivoting of the first and second members relative to one another as the hinge element is in the locked position.

19. The handles of claim 18, wherein the microadjustment handle comprises the locking feature within the hollow interior of the intermediate portion of the first member and the microadjustment element comprises the locking element of the hinge clement.

20. The handles of claim 12, wherein the locking element comprises a gear axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the hinge element

21. The handles of claim 20, wherein the locking feature comprises a ratchet arm.

22. A method for operating a syringe, comprising:

pivoting first and second hingedly connected members of a handle to an orientation that places a plunger of at least one syringe at a desired location within a plunger of the at least one syringe; and

locking the handles in the orientation.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein locking comprises engaging a locking element of a hinge connecting the first and second hingedly connected members to prevent a first handle from rotating relative to the hinge, cooperating configurations of at least a portion of the hinge and a receptacle of a second handle preventing the second handle from rotating relative to the hinge.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein engaging the locking element comprises actuating the hinge so as to cause the locking element to engage a substantially stationary feature within the first member.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein engaging the locking element comprises causing engagement features of a microadjust element to engage corresponding features of the locking element of the hinge.