Method and apparatus for syringe preparation

Abstract

An apparatus for preparing a syringe for use in injecting a medication includes a body extending obliquely upwardly, with a carriage slidably secured thereto and adapted to support a syringe. The syringe is fixedly secured to the body, and translation of the carriage proximally and distally knocks off the needle protective cap and the plunger cap. A trough aligned with the syringe enables an injectant vial to be translated downwardly to drive the needle into the vial. A plunger driver is slidably mounted on the body to engage the syringe plunger and assist its withdrawal and retraction. A protective cap holder may be placed on the trough to engage and remove the protective cap for later use.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable.

SEQUENCE LISTING, ETC ON CD

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to syringes for injecting a liquid substance into a body and, more particularly, to a device for aiding in the preparation of the syringe prior to injection.

2. Description of Related Art

The use of self-injectable medications has increased greatly in recent years, due in part to a growing number of diabetes patients requiring insulin injections. Other medical conditions require treatment by injection of medications, such as chemotherapy, hormone treatment, and the like. As a result, tens of millions of individuals in the United States perform self-injection of pharmaceutical substances on a regular basis.

Although self-injection is fairly simple in concept, the individual tasks that must be performed to prepare a syringe can be difficult to carry out. This is particularly true, for example, for diabetics suffering from peripheral neuropathy, which may diminish manual dexterity. Likewise, age, reduced visual acuity, and similar conditions of advancing age may make it extremely difficult for an individual to prepare a syringe for use. Generally, it is necessary for the user to remove the needle protector and plunger cap from a new, empty syringe, pull the plunger out to define an air-filled volume in the syringe, clean the top of the vial of medicine, insert the needle into the vial of medicine, push the plunger in to inject the air into the vial, withdraw the plunger to draw the medication into the syringe, remove the needle from the vial, and then use the syringe to inject the medication into the body. If the syringe is not to be used immediately, it is necessary to replace the needle protector and place the syringe in a refrigerator to preserve the medication.

As indicated above, simple tasks such as removing the needle protector may be difficult or impossible for patients suffering from arthritis or neuropathy, and it can be very demanding to insert the needle into the top of the vial. It is surprising that there is no apparatus currently known in the prior art that facilitates the separate tasks required to prepare a syringe. Although there are some prior devices that help align the needle with the vial, or which aid in withdrawing the correct volume of medication into the syringe, there is an unmet need for an all-inclusive syringe preparation device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally comprises an apparatus for preparing a syringe for use in injecting a medication into the body. In this description a syringe is assumed to have a tubular barrel-like body with a closed end bearing the injection needle and an open end through which the plunger extends. Adjacent to the open end of the barrel are a pair of diametrically opposed finger tabs, and the plunger generally has a knob or handle at its outer end. Single use syringes like this are used by the millions every day.

In one aspect, the apparatus of the invention includes a long, narrow body having a proximal base end that is adapted to be secured to the edge of a table or desk. The body extends obliquely upwardly from the base end, and is provided with a channel-like cavity opening downwardly and extending longitudinally from the base end to an upper medial portion of the body. At the upper distal end of the body a cantilever portion extends generally horizontally, and an upwardly opening receptacle is formed in the cantilever portion and dimensioned to releasably retain a vial of injectant in an upright orientation. At the boundary between the proximal and medial portions of the body, the top surface thereof is provided with a pair of upwardly extending projections that are spaced apart symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axis of the body. The separation of the projections is dimensioned to accommodate the plunger end of a standard syringe with free clearance. A pair of slots are formed in confronting faces of the two projections, the slots opening upwardly as well as laterally each toward the other. The slots are dimensioned to receive the finger tabs of a standard syringe in sliding fit, whereby a syringe may be releasably secured on the body of the apparatus.

Longitudinally adjacent to the projections, a medial portion of the body is provided with a reduced width, or neck portion. The sidewalls of the channel at the neck portion are each provided with a pair of longitudinally extending, aligned slots. A slidable carriage is secured to the neck portion, the carriage having a downwardly opening channel configuration, whereby the sidewalls of the carriage straddle the neck portion of the body. A locking pin extends through the carriage sidewalls and the aligned slots to secure the carriage to the apparatus. Within the body channel at the neck portion, a pair of opposed compression springs impinge on the locking pin to resiliently bias the carriage to a quiescent position in which the locking pin is centered longitudinally in the slots.

The upper surface of the carriage is provided with a longitudinally extending groove having a width dimensioned to receive the barrel of a syringe in slidable fashion. A knockoff finger extends proximally from the carriage, and is positioned to engage the rim of a plunger cap on a syringe placed on the carriage. At the distal end of the carriage, a cutout communicates with the groove and forms a leading edge positioned to engage the rim of the protective cap on the needle of a syringe placed on the carriage. A carriage cover is hinged to the carriage and adapted to pivot to close over the syringe placed on the carriage to temporarily secure the syringe during its preparation. The cover include a longitudinally extending window that permits visualization of the volume marks and indicia on the barrel of the syringe. It also includes another knockoff finger parallel to the first one and spaced apart therefrom.

Note that when a fresh, empty syringe is placed on the carriage, the barrel is supported in the carriage groove and the finger tabs are received in the opposed slots of the projections extending upwardly from the body. Thus the syringe is immobilized in the longitudinal direction. The carriage cover is closed to secure the syringe, and the carriage is then translated proximally and distally. On the proximal stroke the knockoff fingers engages the rim of the plunger cap and pushes the cap off of the plunger, and on the distal stroke the leading edge of the carriage cutout engages the rim of the needle protective cap and pushes it distally off of the needle. Thus the carriage is designed to remove both the plunger cap and needle cap with a single manual gesture applied to the carriage.

The apparatus further includes a syringe plunger driver assembly disposed at the proximal portion of the body. A shaft extends longitudinally in the channel of the proximal portion, and a plunger driver is secured to the shaft and adapted to slide along the shaft as well as pivot thereon. The plunger driver has a U-shaped configuration, and its outer extremity has a clevis that may engage the plunger of the syringe adjacent to the plunger knob. The plunger driver also is provided with a protruding handle that enables a user to easily grasp, slide, rotate, and manipulate the plunger driver, so that the user need not grasp and pull the miniscule plunger knob to extend the plunger.

The distal portion of the body is provided with a trough-like depression formed in the upper surface and extending longitudinally generally between the vial receptacle and the medial neck portion of the body. The trough has a curved bottom with the curvature closely matching the curvature of a vial of injectant. Thus the vial may be placed in the trough, with the upper end of the vial extending downwardly toward the syringe needle and in alignment therewith. The user may insert the needle into the vial by sliding the vial downwardly until the needle pierces the top seal of the vial.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a device for use in conjunction with the apparatus described above to capture and hold the protective needle cap of the syringe. The device comprises a cylindrical housing having a tubular protrusion extending coaxially from one end thereof The protrusion encloses a split collet extending axially and having an inner diameter dimensioned to receive and retain a standard protective needle cap. A spring-biased plunger is supported in axial orientation in the housing and protruding from the other end of the housing, so that the plunger may be actuated by a user to push the protective cap and discharge it from the collet. The distal end cantilever portion of the apparatus is provided with a receptacle dimensioned to support the cap holder when it is not in use.

The method of the invention involves using the structure described above to carry out the following steps.

1. Place medicine vial in its receptacle and clean properly.
2. Place syringe in sliding carriage of device with finger tabs in slots.
3. Close cover of carriage.
4. Place needle protective cap holder on needle safety cap.
5. Push carriage up to remove needle protective cap.
6. Push carriage down to remove plunger cap.
7. Remove needle protective cap with needle protective cap holder and put it in its receptacle in the cantilever portion.
8. Pull back the syringe plunger by using the plunger driver.
9. Place medicine vial in trough, upside down and, using trough to line up the vial with the needle, slide vial down the trough to drive the needle into the top of the vial.
10. Pressurize the vial by pushing the syringe plunger using the plunger driver.
11. Pull plunger out to draw injectant into syringe by using the plunger driver.
12. Slide medicine vial off of the needle and put it in its receptacle.
The syringe is now ready to use. If the syringe is to be used later, proceed to (13). If not, proceed to (14).
13. Using needle protective cap holder, replace needle protective cap over needle, then return the holder to its receptacle.
14. Open cover of sliding carriage and remove the prepared syringe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an oblique top perspective of the syringe preparation apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an oblique bottom perspective of the syringe preparation apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded perspective view of the upper portion of the apparatus, showing the placement of a syringe therein and the placement of the needle protective cap holder.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the upper portion of the apparatus, showing the syringe secured in the sliding carriage which is advanced distally, and the needle protective cap holder engaging the protective cap.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view as in FIG. 4, with the sliding carriage translated proximally to remove the plunger cap of the syringe.

FIG. 6 is a partial exploded perspective view of the upper portion of the apparatus, showing the syringe plunger extended by the plunger driver and the medication vial placement on the apparatus.

FIG. 7A is a partial perspective view showing the medication vial engaged on the needle of the syringe and the plunger driver urging the plunger into the syringe.

FIG. 7B is a partial perspective view showing the medication vial engaged on the needle of the syringe and the plunger driver urging the plunger to extend from the syringe.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side elevation taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side elevation taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side elevation taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 is a plan view depicting a syringe mounted in the apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional end elevation taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional end elevation taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing all the moving components that are assembled in the apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the plunger driver assembly and the spring-bias assembly of the sliding carriage.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the needle protective cap holder of the invention.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional elevation of the protective cap holder taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a top end view of the protective cap holder depicted in FIGS. 16 and 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally comprises a The present invention generally comprises an apparatus for preparing a syringe for use in injecting a medication into the body. In this description a syringe is assumed to have a tubular body with a closed end supporting the injection needle and an open end through which the plunger extends. Adjacent to the open end of the barrel are a pair of diametrically opposed finger tabs, and the plunger generally has a knob or handle at its outer end. This type of syringe is well known in the prior art and used widely. Generally the empty syringe is sold with a protective cap covering the needle and another cap covering the knob end of the plunger and the opening of the barrel. Typically a user must prepare the syringe for an injection by removing the protective cap and plunger cap and filling the syringe with a measured dose of a medication, such as insulin, chemotherapy agent, and the like. After a single use the syringe is disposed of, rather than being cleaned and reused.

As noted above, individuals who suffer from deficiencies in manual dexterity, or peripheral nerve degeneration, or the like, may find it difficult or impossible to carry out the manipulations and maneuvers necessary to prepare the syringe. Thus this invention is designed to ease the tasks required to prepare the syringe for an injection.

With regard to FIGS. 1 and 2, the syringe preparing apparatus 21 of the invention includes a long narrow body 22 having a proximal base end 23. In this embodiment the base end 23 comprises a C-clamp arrangement 24 for engaging the exposed edge 26 of a table, desk, counter, or other horizontally extending surface. Other expedients for supporting the apparatus, such as a weighted base, frame structure, suction cup, hinge, or the like may be used. In any case the body 22 preferably extends obliquely upwardly from the base end 23. The body 22 includes a channel-like cavity 27 extending longitudinally therein from the base end to an upper medial portion, and opening downwardly therefrom. At the upper distal end of the body a cantilever portion 28 extends generally horizontally therefrom, and a laterally extending cutout 29 formed therein has an upwardly opening receptacle 31 disposed in the bottom of the cutout and dimensioned to releasably retain a vial 32 of injectant in an upright orientation. The cantilever portion 28 is also provided with an upwardly opening receptacle 33 adapted to releasably secure a protective needle cap holder 34, as will be explained in detail below.

With additional regard to FIG. 14, the body 22 has a reduced width, or neck portion 36 disposed at a medial portion of the body. The sidewalls of the channel 27 at the neck portion 36 are each provided with a longitudinally extending slot, the paired slots 36 being parallel and aligned longitudinally. The neck portion 36 is adapted to support a slidable carriage 41 thereon, the carriage 41 having an inverted U-shaped, channel-like configuration, with the opposed sides 42 of the inverted U shape straddling the neck portion 36 with sufficient clearance to be slidably translated therealong. Each side 42 bears a hole 43 extending laterally therethrough, the paired holes 43 being in alignment, and a locking pin 44 extends between the holes 43 and through the slots 36. The pin 44 secures the carriage 41 to the neck portion 36 and enables slidable translation of the carriage longitudinally within the limits of the length of the slots 36.

At the proximal end of the neck portion 36, the body 22 is provided with a pair of projections 46 extending upwardly from the top surface of the body 22. The projections are spaced apart laterally and symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body 22 to define a channel-like opening 47 therebetween. A pair of slots 48 are formed in confronting faces of the two projections 46, the slots opening upwardly as well as laterally each toward the other. The slots 48 are dimensioned to receive the finger tabs of a standard syringe in sliding fit, so that a syringe may be releasably secured on the body 22 of the apparatus. The opening 47 is dimensioned to accommodate the plunger end of a standard syringe with clearance for movement.

Extending longitudinally in the upper surface of the carriage 41 is a shallow groove 49, the groove having a width adapted to receive the barrel of a standard syringe in a slidable manner. The groove 49 extends distally to join a cutout 51 that is recessed at the distal end of the upper surface of the carriage 41. The inner edge 52 of the cutout 51 is precisely positioned to form a distal leading edge that engages the rim of the protective cap on the needle of a standard syringe placed on the carriage. Furthermore, the carriage 41 is provided with a knockoff finger 53 extending proximally therefrom and positioned to engage the rim of a plunger cap on a standard syringe placed on the carriage, as will be described below.

The carriage 41 also includes a cover 54 hingedly secured to the upper surface of the carriage by hinge pin 56. The cover 54 is provided with a longitudinally extending window 57 that permits visualization of the volume marks and indicia on the barrel of the syringe. The cover 54 is adapted to pivot to close over the syringe placed on the carriage 41 to temporarily secure the syringe during its preparation. The cover 54 also includes another knockoff finger 53′ extending parallel to forger 53 and spaced apart therefrom a precise distance whereby, with the cover closed, both fingers 55, 53′ will align with the rim of the plunger cap of the syringe. As shown in FIG. 3, with the cover 54 pivoted open a syringe 100 may be placed on the apparatus with the barrel thereof resting in the groove 49 in the upper surface of the carriage 41, with the needle of the syringe extending distally. The finger tabs of the syringe 100 are inserted into the opposed slots 48 atop the body 21, and the plunger extends through opening 47. The cover 54 is then pivoted closed, securing the syringe 100 to the apparatus. The syringe 100 is immobilized by the slots 48, but the carriage is slidable longitudinally proximally and distally.

Within the portion of the channel 27 that extends through the neck portion 36 there is disposed a spring-biasing mechanism 61 for the sliding carriage 41. As shown in FIG. 14 and elsewhere, a pair of spring keeper blocks 62 and 63 are secured in the channel, and a spring driver block 64 is disposed therebetween. A lateral bore 66 through block 64 admits the passage of lock pin 44 of the sliding carriage 41, so that the block 64 is secured to the sliding carriage for motion in common. A pair of compression springs 67 and 68 are secured between the driver block 64 and a respective one of the blocks 62 and 63. The springs 67 and 68 are balanced in size and force constant, so that the carriage 41 is resiliently biased longitudinally to assume a medial position in the neck portion 36.

The apparatus further includes a plunger driver mechanism 71 for easing the tasks associated with withdrawing and inserting the plunger during preparation of the syringe. With continued regard primarily to FIGS. 14 and 15, the plunger driver mechanism 71 includes another block 72 secured in the channel 27 and spaced proximally from spring keeper block 63. A shaft 73 extends longitudinally to be secured between the blocks 63 and 72 and is disposed within the channel 27. A plunger driver 74 is secured to a bushing 70 that is slidably and rotatably mounted on shaft 73. The plunger driver includes a lobed central portion 75 that surrounds the bushing 70, and a tabular portion 76 extending laterally and radially away from the shaft 73. A dogleg portion 77 extends upwardly from the tabular portion 76 and is terminated in a clevis end 78. The clevis 78 is dimensioned to engage the plunger rod and to be too narrow for the knob end of the plunger. Note that the proximal and distal surfaces of the clevis end 78 are flattened and oriented perpendicular to the shaft 73 so that the clevis end may be used to push or pull the plunger of a syringe mounted on the apparatus, as will be detailed below.

As shown in FIG. 12, the dogleg shape of the portion 77 enables the clevis end 78 to be rotated to be disposed in the vicinity of the plunger of a syringe mounted on the apparatus. As depicted in FIG. 13, the lobe of portion 75 of the plunger driver interacts with the narrow clearance of the channel 27, so that the plunger driver cannot rotate very far in the clockwise direction. Thus the tabular handle 76 juts out laterally and is always at hand for easy access.

At the distal portion of the body 22 is provided with a trough-like depression 81 formed in the upper surface thereof and extending longitudinally generally between the vial receptacle 29 and the medial neck portion 36 of the body. The trough 81 has a curved bottom with the curvature closely matching the curvature of a typical vial 32 of injectant. Thus the vial 32 may be placed in the trough 81, with the upper end of the vial extending downwardly (proximally) toward the needle of a syringe mounted on the apparatus and in alignment therewith. The user may insert the needle into the vial 32 by sliding the vial downwardly until the needle pierces the top seal of the vial, as will be explained below.

Disposed at the proximal end of body 22 at its conjunction with the base end 23, there is formed a coffer-like catchall 82 for catching, in particular, the plunger cap that is removed from the syringe by operation of the apparatus by the user.

With regard to FIGS. 16-18, the needle protective cap holder 34 mentioned previously consists of a cylindrical housing 83 having a bore 84 extending therethough and terminating at one end in a narrow cylindrical tip 86. The tip 86 houses a split collet having a diameter sufficient to engage and secure a needle protective cap by frictional effect. A plunger 87 is secured in the bore 84 and biased by spring 88 to extend away from the tip 86. Manual depression of the plunger 87 against spring 88 causes the plunger to push a needle protective cap out of the collet, so that the cap may be easily removed from the holder 34.

Operation of the Apparatus

A description of the operation of the apparatus 21 also provides a complete explanation of the method of the invention. The first step is to acquire or provide the apparatus 21 and secure it to a table or counter edge 26 using the clamp 24, so that the apparatus extends obliquely upwardly. As shown in FIG. 3, a vial 32 of injectant is placed in its receptacle 29, and the protective cap holder 34 is placed in its receptacle 33. The receptacle 29 provides open access to the top of the vial 32, so that the user may employ an alcohol swab to clean the top surface of the plastic seal of the vial, as is commonly done before drawing injectant from the vial. Note that the carriage 41 is centered longitudinally in the neck portion 36, and the cover 54 is opened. The user then places a syringe 100 on the apparatus 21, with the barrel of the syringe resting in groove 49 and the needle end of the syringe extending distally. At the same time, the user places the finger tabs 106 of the syringe in the opposed slots 48 of the spaced apart protrusions 46, with the plunger cap in the space 47, as best viewed in FIG. 11. The user closes the cover 54 to secure the syringe 100 to the apparatus 21, and the apparatus is in the disposition shown in FIG. 1.

As is typical, the syringe is provided with a protective needle cap 101 and a plunger cap 102, each frictionally engaging their respective end of the syringe 10. Removal of the cap 101 reveals the hollow injection needle 103, and removal of the plunger cap 102 reveals the plunger 104 and its outer tabular handle 105.

To remove the protective needle cap 101, the user first takes the cap holder 34 from its receptacle 33 and places it in the trough 81 with the end 86 extending proximally. The alignment of the trough and the syringe 100 assures that as the user moves the holder 34 proximally, the split collet of the end 86 will concentrically engage and frictionally secure the cap 101 to the holder 34. Thereafter, the user pushes the carriage 41 distally (FIGS. 4 and 9), and the leading edge 52 of the carriage impinges on the rim of the cap 101 and urges it distally, thereby releasing the cap from the syringe and leaving it engaged in the cap holder 34. Note that the spring driver block 64 moves with the carriage, compressing spring 67. When the user releases the carriage, the carriage returns to its rest position midway in the neck portion 36. The cap holder may then be removed and restored to its receptacle 33.

To remove the plunger cap 102, the user pushes the carriage 41 proximally, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, causing the knockoff fingers 53 and 53′ to impinge on the rim of the plunger cap 102 and release its frictional grip on the syringe. The freed cap 102 falls proximally down the top surface of body 22 into the catchall 82 of the apparatus. At the same time the spring driver block 64 moves proximally with the carriage and compresses spring 68, so that when the carriage is released it is restored to its rest position midway in the neck portion and in slot 36. Note that the syringe does not move in these cap removal procedures. Removal of the caps 101 and 102 reveal the needle 103 and plunger 104 with its tabular handle 106, as shown in FIG. 10.

The next step for the user is to extend the plunger 104 to draw air into the syringe in a volume equal to the amount of injectant that will be loaded into the syringe 100. Although the user could possibly wield the plunger directly, the plunger driver mechanism eases that task as well. With regard to FIG. 6, the plunger driver mechanism 71 is employed for this job by moving the plunger driver 74 so that the clevis end 78 engages the syringe plunger 104 adjacent to the tabular handle 106. The driver 74 provides the tabular handle 76 which is much easier to grip and manipulate than the plunger itself. The plunger is withdrawn a measured amount by pulling the handle 76 proximally along shaft 73, the user viewing the plunger position in the syringe through the window 57 of the cover 54, as depicted in FIG. 11. Thereafter the user removes the vial 32 from its receptacle 29 and places it in the trough 81 with the upper end extending downwardly and proximally. The centering effect of the trough 81 in alignment with the needle 103 of the syringe enables the needle 103 to align automatically with the plastic seal in the vial, so that the user is required only to push the vial downwardly and proximally in the trough to drive the needle through the seal and into the vial. The apparatus is then in the situation depicted in FIG. 7A.

Thereafter the clevis end 78 of the plunger driver is placed proximally to the (previously extended) tabular handle 106 of the plunger 104. The user then pushes the plunger driver 71 distally to drive the plunger into the syringe and inject the air from the syringe into the vial (FIG. 7A), in effect pre-pressurizing the vial to accommodate the subsequent withdrawal of fluid. Next, the user places the clevis end 74 on the plunger 104 once again, and uses the plunger driver 74 (FIG. 7B) to extend the plunger 104 a measured amount, thereby withdrawing injectant from the vial 32 into the syringe. The syringe is now filled, and the vial is moved upwardly and distally to withdraw the needle from the vial, and the vial 32 is replaced in its receptacle 29.

At this point in the process the syringe is fully prepared for an injection. The user may open the cover 54 and remove the syringe 100 and use it immediately for an injection. The protective cap 101 may be ejected from the cap holder 34 by depressing the plunger 87. Alternatively, if the syringe is being prepared for delayed use, the syringe remains secured by the cover 54, and the user replaces the cap holder 54 in the trough 81. By pushing the holder 54 downwardly and proximally, the user pushes the cap 101 back onto the end of the syringe and in frictional engagement therewith. (The plunger cap may be replaced if desired, but that is not generally required.) The carriage cover may then be opened, the syringe removed and stored (i.e., refrigerated) for later use.

The apparatus of the invention may be reused indefinitely, since no material is consumed in its use. Moreover, if it is known that the protective cap 101 will not be saved for later use, the cap holder 34 may be eliminated.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching without deviating from the spirit and the scope of the invention. The embodiment described is selected to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as suited to the particular purpose contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preparing an empty syringe having a barrel with a needle extending therefrom and a protective cap covering the needle and a plunger cap covering the plunger end, including:

a longitudinally extending body extending obliquely upwardly and means on said body for releasably securing the syringe thereto in longitudinal alignment with said body and immobilized with respect thereto;

a carriage slidably secured to said body and disposed to support the barrel of the syringe, and cover means hinged to said carriage to releasably engage said carriage with the barrel of the syringe;

said carriage including leading edge means for impinging on the protective cap and knocking it off the syringe when said carriage is translated in a distal direction;

trough means extending longitudinally in said body and distally from said carriage and having a bottom curved to receive and align a tubular vial of injectant;

said vial being translatable in a proximal direction to drive the sealed end of the vial into the needle and push the needle into the vial, whereby the syringe may be filled with injectant from the vial.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said carriage further includes at least one knockoff finger extending proximally therefrom and disposed to engage the plunger cap when said carriage is translated in a proximal direction to knock off the plunger cap from the syringe.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further including means to constrain said carriage to slide longitudinally along said body within a limited range.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further including resilient means for centering said carriage within said limited range.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further including base means for supporting said body on a horizontal surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said base means includes a clamp for releasably engaging an edge of the horizontal surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a first receptacle disposed in said body for releasably supporting the vial of injectant.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further including plunger driver means for 20 engaging the plunger of the syringe and moving it longitudinally.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said plunger driver means includes a plunger driver secured to a shaft extending longitudinally along said body and adapted to translate therealong and rotate thereabout.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said plunger driver includes a clevis end for engaging the plunger of the syringe and a handle end for manual engagement.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said clevis end includes a distal flat surface to engage a tabular handle end of the plunger to push the plunger into the syringe.

12. The apparatus of claim 5, further including a coffer-like catchall disposed in said body adjacent to said base end.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a protective cap holder for securing and releasably retaining the protective cap after it is knocked off the syringe.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said protective cap holder includes a cylindrical body dimensioned to be receivable in said trough, said cylindrical body including a tapered end having a split collet to engage the protective cap.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further including a second receptacle disposed in said body for releasably supporting said protective cap holder.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for releasably securing the syringe includes a pair of protrusions extending from said body and spaced apart to admit a portion of the syringe therebetween, and a pair of slots, each disposed in a respective one of said protrusions and opening toward the other, said slots adapted to receive the finger tabs of the syringe to immobilize the syringe with respect to said body.

17. A method for preparing an empty syringe for injection, the syringe having a protective cap covering the needle and a plunger cap covering the plunger end, including the steps of:

providing a longitudinally extending body having a carriage secured thereto for longitudinal sliding motion therealong, said carriage including means for knocking off the protective cap and plunger cap of the syringe;

securing the syringe to the body with a portion of the syringe supported on said carriage and the syringe immobilized with respect to said body;

translating said carriage distally to knock off the protective cap and proximally to knock off the plunger cap;

providing a trough-like guide in said body aligned longitudinally with the syringe;

placing a vial of injectant in said guide and sliding the vial along the guide to impale the syringe needle in the vial;

loading injectant from the vial into the syringe by extending the syringe plunger; and,

removing the syringe for use in an injection.

18. The method of claim 17, further including the step of providing a plunger driver slidably supported on said body for operating the syringe plunger to fill the syringe.

19. The method of claim 17, further including the step of providing a receptacle in said body for supporting the vial of injectant.

20. The method of claim 17, further including the step of supporting said body extending obliquely upwardly from a horizontal surface.