TITLE OF INVENTION
Syringe
5 TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a syringe.
BACKGROUNDART
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2008-99862 (PTD 1) is a prior art document
which discloses a syringe provided with a scale on each of a barrel and a plunger. The
10 syringe described in PTD 1 includes a barrel, a plunger formed to be slidable in the
barrel, and a stopper which is fitted to an outer circumference of the plunger and
restricts insertion of the plunger into the barrel by abutting to a rear end of the barrel.
CITATION LIST
PATENT DOCUMENT
15 PTD 1 : Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2008-99862
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
TECHNICAL PROBLEM
The syringe described in PTD 1 is a syringe of what is called a pre-filled type
which is filled with a medicinal solution in advance, and a scale provided on an outer
20 circumferential surface of the plunger shows an amount of administration of the
medicinal solution. In a syringe of a type other than the pre-filled type, a desired
amount of medicinal solution should be drawn.
In drawing a desired amount of medicinal solution in a general syringe, the
medicinal solution is drawn by pulling a plunger while a scale provided on a barrel is
25 observed. Since the barrel is held, the scale may not be seen well as being hidden by a
hand. In this case, it becomes difficult to draw a desired amount of medicinal solution
In a disposable syringe, a medicinal solution name indication portion cut from a
label stuck to a vial from which a medicinal solution has been drawn is attached to a
surface of a barrel in order to prevent erroneous administration. Therefore, a scale
provided on the barrel may not be seen well as being covered with the medicinal
solution name indication portion. In this case, it becomes difficult to administer a
desired amount of medicinal solution.
Since the syringe described in PTD 1 is a syringe of a pre-filled type, this
5 document does not consider drawing a desired amount of medicinal solution. The
syringe described in PTD 1 has a substantially columnar plunger. Therefore, when an
attempt to draw a medicinal solution is made with the syringe being held with one hand,
the hand tends to slip and it is difficult to draw the medicinal solution.
The present invention was made in view of the problems above, and an object is
10 to provide a syringe which can draw or administer a desired amount of medicinal
solution and can readily draw the medicinal solution while the syringe is held with one
hand.
SOLUTION TO PROBLEM
A syringe based on the present invention includes a barrel having a medicinal
15 solution port provided at a tip end and an opening provided at a rear end and a plunger
including a gasket portion provided on a tip end side and sliding with respect to an
inner circumferential surface of the barrel, a flange portion provided at the rear end, and
a shaft portion connecting the gasket portion and the flange portion to each other. The
plunger further includes an auxiliary scale member provided on an outer
20 circumferential side of the shaft portion and provided with a scale. The scale is
provided such that a marking coinciding with the rear end of the barrel shows an
amount of medicinal solution accommodated in the barrel or an amount of
administration of medicinal solution accommodated in the barrel.
In one form of the present invention, at least a part of the shaft portion includes
25 a plate-shaped portion radially protruding from a shaft center.
In one form of the present invention, a gap allowing grip of the shaft portion is
provided between the auxiliary scale member and the flange portion.
In one form of the present invention, in the auxiliary scale member, a surface
provided with the scale is curved in conformity with the inner circumferential surface
of the barrel.
In one form of the present invention, the plunger includes two auxiliary scale
members. The two auxiliary scale members are provided on respective opposing sides
in a radial direction of the shaft portion.
5 In one form of the present invention, the auxiliary scale member is provided
substantially halfway around a circumferential direction of the shaft portion.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION
According to the present invention, a desired amount of medicinal solution can
be drawn or administered, and a medicinal solution can readily be drawn while a
10 syringe is held with one hand.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a syringe according to a first embodiment
of the present invention with a plunger being pulled.
Fig. 2 is a diagram of the syringe in Fig. 1 when viewed in a direction shown
15 with 11.
Fig. 3 is a diagram of the syringe in Fig. 1 when viewed in a direction shown
with 111.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the syringe according to the first
embodiment of the present invention with the plunger being pushed.
Fig. 5 is a diagram of the syringe in Fig. 4 when viewed in a direction shown
with V.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the syringe according to the first embodiment of
the present invention being held with one hand before the plunger is pulled.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the syringe according to the first embodiment of
25 the present invention with the plunger being pulled with one hand.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a syringe according to the present
modification with the plunger being pulled.
Fig. 9 is a diagram of the syringe in Fig. 8 when viewed in a direction shown
with IX.
Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the syringe according to the present
modification with the plunger being pushed.
Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a syringe according to a second
embodiment of the present invention with the plunger being pulled.
5 Fig. 12 is a diagram of the syringe in Fig. 11 when viewed in a direction shown
with XII.
Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the syringe according to the second
embodiment of the present invention with the plunger being pushed.
Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing a syringe according to a third
10 embodiment of the present invention with a plunger being pulled.
Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing the syringe according to the third
embodiment of the present invention with the plunger being pushed.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
A syringe according to each embodiment of the present invention will be
15 described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. In the description of
embodiments below, the same or corresponding elements in the drawings have the
same reference characters allotted and description thereof will not be repeated.
(First Embodiment)
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a syringe according to a first embodiment
20 of the present invention with a plunger being pulled. Fig. 2 is a diagram of the syringe
in Fig. 1 when viewed in a direction shown with 11. Fig. 3 is a diagram of the syringe
in Fig. 1 when viewed in a direction shown with 111. Fig. 4 is a perspective view
showing the syringe according to the first embodiment of the present invention with the
plunger being pushed. Fig. 5 is a diagram of the syringe in Fig. 4 when viewed in a
25 direction shown with V.
As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, a syringe 100 according to the first embodiment of the
present invention includes a barrel 110 and a plunger 120. Barrel 110 has a
cylindrical accommodation portion 1 1 1 which accommodates a medicinal solution. A
medicinal solution port 112 is provided at a tip end of barrel 110. An opening 115 is
provided at a rear end of barrel 110. A first scale 116 is provided on an outer
circumferential surface of barrel 1 10.
Specifically, medicinal solution port 112 to which an injection needle or the like
can be attached is provided on a tip end side of accommodation portion 11 1. A flange
5 113 having a rear end surface 114 perpendicular to an axial center of accommodation
portion 11 1 is provided around opening 11 5, on a rear end side of accommodation
portion 1 1 1. First scale 1 16 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of
accommodation portion 1 1 1.
Barrel 110 is composed of a transparent or semi-transparent resin such as
10 polypropylene. A lubricant oil such as a silicone oil is applied to an inner
circumferential surface of barrel 1 10.
A gasket portion 122 which slides with respect to the inner circumferential
surface of barrel 110 is provided on a tip end side of plunger 120. A flange portion
123 is provided at the rear end of plunger 120. Plunger 120 includes a shaft portion
15 121 which connects gasket portion 122 and flange portion 123 to each other. Plunger
120 further includes an auxiliary scale member 125 provided on an outer
circumferential side of shaft portion 121 and provided with a second scale 126.
Specifically, gasket portion 122 has an outer diameter slightly larger than an
inner diameter of accommodation portion 11 1. Gasket portion 122 is formed from an
20 elastic body such as vulcanized rubber or thermoplastic elastomer. Gasket portion
122 comes in intimate contact with the entire inner circumferential surface of
accommodation portion 1 1 1 while it is inserted in accommodation portion 1 1 1. A tip
end surface 124 perpendicular to a shaft center of shaft portion 121 is formed at the tip
end of gasket portion 122.
25 In the present embodiment, shaft portion 121, flange portion 123, and auxiliary
scale member 125 are integrally formed by injection molding a resin such as
polypropylene. Shaft portion 121 and flange portion 123 may integrally be formed,
and separate auxiliary scale member 125 may be attached to shaft portion 121.
At least a part of shaft portion 121 includes a plate-shaped portion which
radially protrudes from the shaft center. In the present embodiment, shaft portion 121
is formed from two plate-shaped portions 121a and 121b orthogonal to each other, and
substantially in a cross shape in a transverse surface.
By forming at least a part of shaft portion 121 substantially in a cross shape in
5 the transverse surface, rigidity of shaft portion 121 can be ensured while a resin
material to be used is reduced, and deformation of plunger 120 when it is pushed into
barrel 110 can be suppressed.
The shape of shaft portion 121, however, is not limited as above, and the shape
should only allow suppression of deformation of plunger 120 when it is pushed into
10 barrel 110. For example, at least a part of shaft portion 121 may be in a star shape in
the transverse surface. The tip end of shaft portion 121 is connected to the rear end of
gasket portion 122.
Flange portion 123 is provided with a plurality of recesses or projections for slip
resistance at a distance from each other. In the present embodiment, flange portion
15 123 has a diameter slightly larger than an inner diameter of accommodation portion 11 1
In the present embodiment, auxiliary scale member 125 is provided at one end
in a radial direction of shaft portion 121 in one plate-shaped portion 121a of the two
plate-shaped portions forming shaft portion 121. Auxiliary scale member 125 is
provided to face the other plate-shaped portion 121b of the two plate-shaped portions.
20 A gap 129 allowing grip of shaft portion 121 is provided between auxiliary scale
member 125 and flange portion 123.
A surface of auxiliary scale member 125 where second scale 126 is provided is
curved in conformity with the inner circumferential surface of barrel 110. In auxiliary
scale member 125, a surface provided with second scale 126 may be flat.
25 In syringe 100 according to the present embodiment, in drawing a medicinal
solution, an amount of medicinal solution drawn into barrel 110 can be checked by
visually recognizing any scale which is easier to look at, of first scale 116 provided on
barrel 110 and second scale 126 provided on plunger 120.
Specifically, first scale 116 is provided such that a marking coinciding with a
tip end surface 124 of gasket portion 122 shows an amount of medicinal solution
accommodated in barrel 110. Second scale 126 is provided such that a marking
coinciding with rear end surface 1 14 of flange 1 13 of barrel 1 10 shows an amount of
medicinal solution accommodated in barrel 1 10.
5 For example, in Fig. 2, a marking on first scale 116 coinciding with tip end
surface 124 of gasket portion 122 is 10 ml, and a marking on second scale 126
coinciding with rear end surface 114 of flange 113 is also 10 ml. In this state, 10 ml
of medicinal solution is accommodated in barrel 110.
In Fig. 5, a marking on first scale 116 coinciding with tip end surface 124 of
10 gasket portion 122 is 0 ml, and a marking on second scale 126 coinciding with rear end
surface 1 14 of flange 1 13 is also 0 ml. In this state, 0 ml of medicinal solution is
accommodated in barrel 110. Namely, no medicinal solution is accommodated in
barrel 1 10.
Thus, in syringe 100 according to the present embodiment, in drawing a
15 medicinal solution, an amount of drawn medicinal solution can be checked by visually
recognizing a scale which is easier to look at, so that a desired amount of medicinal
solution can be drawn.
Since auxiliary scale member 125 is provided on the outer circumferential side
of shaft portion 12 1, second scale 126 and rear end surface 1 14 of flange 1 13 are close
20 to each other and a marking at a position where they coincide with each other can more
readily be read.
In auxiliary scale member 125, a surface provided with second scale 126 is
curved in conformity with the inner circumferential surface of barrel 110. Therefore,
second scale 126 and rear end surface 114 of flange 113 are closer to each other and a
25 marking at a position where they coincide with each other is more readily read.
As set forth above, a marking at a position where second scale 126 and rear end
surface 114 of flange 113 coincide with each other is readily read, so that a desired
amount of medicinal solution can be drawn in drawing the medicinal solution with the
use of syringe 100. Though first scale 116 and second scale 126 are equal in scale
spacing in the present embodiment, they may be different from each other in scale
spacing.
A method of drawing a medicinal solution while syringe 100 according to the
present embodiment is held with one hand will now be described. Fig. 6 is a
5 perspective view of the syringe being held with one hand before the plunger is pulled.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the plunger being pulled with one hand.
As shown in Fig. 6, when syringe 100 before plunger 120 is pulled is held with
one hand 900, a middle finger 930 and a ring finger 940 are placed in between flange
113 and flange portion 123, the inside of ring finger 940 and the outside of a little
10 finger 950 form a ring, and the ring catches flange portion 123. Furthermore, a thumb
910 is pressed against flange 1 13 and a forefinger 920 is lightly laid over
accommodation portion 11 1 so as to hold barrel 11 0.
As shown in Fig. 7, barrel 110 and plunger 120 are moved away from each
other by pushing up flange 1 13 with thumb 9 10 to thereby pull out plunger 120 through
15 barrel 110. In this state, second scale 126 coinciding with rear end surface 114 of
flange 113 of barrel 110 can visually be recognized without being covered with a hand.
Syringe 100 according to the present embodiment can thus readily draw a desired
amount of medicinal solution while it is held with one hand. If the plunger has a
columnar outer geometry, in pulling the plunger while it is held with one hand, holding
20 of the plunger with the hand is insufficient, the hand tends to slip, and it is difficult to
draw a medicinal solution.
Since gap 129 allowing grip of shaft portion 121 is provided between auxiliary
scale member 125 and flange portion 123 as above, shaft portion 121 can be gripped
between the inside of ring finger 940 and the outside of little finger 950.
25 Consequently, flange portion 123 can firmly be caught by the ring formed by the inside
of ring finger 940 and the outside of little finger 950, and hence slip of one hand 900 in
pulling plunger 120 can more reliably be suppressed.
A modification of syringe 100 according to the present embodiment will be
described below. Since a syringe 100a according to the present modification is
different from syringe 100 according to the first embodiment only in shape of auxiliary
scale member 125a, description of other features will not be repeated.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the syringe according to the present
modification with the plunger being pulled. Fig. 9 is a diagram of the syringe in Fig.
5 8 when viewed in a direction shown with IX. Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing
the syringe according to the present modification with the plunger being pushed.
As shown in Figs. 8 to 10, in syringe lOOa according to the present modification,
an auxiliary scale member 125a is provided substantially halfway around the
circumferential direction of shaft portion 121. As shown in Fig. 9, auxiliary scale
10 member 125a is substantially in a semi-cylindrical shape. A tip end of auxiliary scale
member 125a is in contact with the rear end of gasket portion 122.
In syringe 1 OOa according to the present modification, shaft portion 121 is
formed from two plate-shaped portions 12 1 a and 12 1b orthogonal to each other only
between flange portion 123 and auxiliary scale member 125a.
15 Specifically, only one plate-shaped portion 121a of the two plate-shaped
portions is provided from the tip end to the rear end of shaft portion 121. The other
plate-shaped portion 121b of the two plate-shaped portions is provided only between
flange portion 123 and auxiliary scale member 125a. In auxiliary scale member 125a,
a plurality of partition plate portions 12 1 c orthogonal to one plate-shaped portion 12 1 a
20 of the two plate-shaped portions are provided at a distance from each other.
In syringe lOOa according to the present modification, plunger 120 is in the
shape as above, so that it is higher in rigidity than plunger 120 of syringe 100 according
to the first embodiment. Therefore, syringe 100a according to the present
modification can achieve more suppressed deformation of plunger 120 at the time when
25 it is pushed into barrel 110 than syringe 100 according to the first embodiment.
Consequently, a medicinal solution can be administered from medicinal solution port
112 in a more stable manner.
A syringe according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be
described below. Since a syringe 200 according to the second embodiment of the
present invention is different from syringe 100 according to the first embodiment only
in that two auxiliary scale members 125 are provided, description of other features will
not be repeated.
(Second Embodiment)
5 Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the syringe according to the second
embodiment of the present invention with the plunger being pulled. Fig. 12 is a
diagram of the syringe in Fig. 11 when viewed in a direction shown with XII. Fig. 13
is a perspective view showing the syringe according to the second embodiment of the
present invention with the plunger being pushed.
10 As shown in Figs. 11 to 13, in syringe 200 according to the second embodiment
of the present invention, plunger 120 includes two auxiliary scale members 125. Two
auxiliary scale members 125 are provided on respective opposing sides in the radial
direction of shaft portion 12 1.
Specifically, two auxiliary scale members 125 are provided at respective end
15 portions in the radial direction of shaft portion 121 in one plate-shaped portion 121a of
the two plate-shaped portions forming shaft portion 121. Two auxiliary scale
members 125 are provided to face the other plate-shaped portion 121b of the two plateshaped
portions.
Since plunger 120 includes two auxiliary scale members 125 in syringe 200
20 according to the present embodiment, in drawing a medicinal solution, second scale
125 which is more easily to look at can visually be recognized to check an amount of
drawn medicinal solution. Consequently, syringe 200 according to the present
embodiment can more readily draw a desired amount of medicinal solution than
syringe 100 according to the first embodiment.
25 A syringe according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be
described below. Since a syringe 300 according to the third embodiment of the
present invention is different from syringe 100 according to the first embodiment only
in the second scale of the auxiliary scale member, description of other features will not
be repeated.
(Third Embodiment)
Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing the syringe according to the third
embodiment of the present invention with a plunger being pulled. Fig. 15 is a
perspective view showing the syringe according to the third embodiment of the present
5 invention with the plunger being pushed.
As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, in syringe 300 according to the third embodiment
of the present invention, a second scale 326 of auxiliary scale member 125 of a plunger
320 is provided such that a marking coinciding with rear end surface 114 of flange 113
of barrel 110 shows an amount of administration of a medicinal solution
10 accommodated in barrel 1 10.
For example, in Fig. 14, a marking on second scale 326 coinciding with rear end
surface 114 of flange 113 is 2 ml. In this state, 2 ml of 12 ml of the medicinal
solution accommodated in barrel 110 has been administered. In Fig. 15, a marking on
second scale 326 coinciding with rear end surface 114 of flange 113 is 12 ml. In this
15 state, 12 ml of the 12 ml of medicinal solution accommodated in barrel 110 has been
administered. Namely, the entire medicinal solution accommodated in barrel 110 has
been administered.
In syringe 300 according to the present embodiment, first scale 116 is provided
to show an amount of medicinal solution accommodated in barrel 110 and second scale
20 326 is provided to show an amount of administration of the medicinal solution
accommodated in barrel 1 10.
Therefore, in syringe 300 according to the present embodiment, in drawing a
medicinal solution, an amount of drawn medicinal solution can be checked by visually
recognizing first scale 1 16, and in administration of the medicinal solution, an amount
25 of administered medicinal solution can be checked by visually recognizing second scale
326. First scale 1 16 does not necessarily have to be provided on barrel 1 10.
Thus, in syringe 300 according to the present embodiment, in administration of
a medicinal solution, an amount of administered medicinal solution can be checked by
visually recognizing second scale 326, so that a desired amount of medicinal solution
can be administered.
The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in every respect and do not
serve as the grounds for limitative interpretation. Therefore, the technical scope of the
present invention is not interpreted only based on the embodiments described above but
5 is delimited by the terms of the claims, and includes any modifications within the scope
and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
100, 1 OOa, 200, 300 syringe; 1 10 barrel; 1 1 1 accommodation portion; 1 12
medicinal solution port; 1 13 flange; 1 14 rear end surface; 1 15 opening; 1 16 first scale;
10 120, 130 plunger; 12 1 shaft portion; 12 1 a, 12 1 b plate-shaped portion; 12 1 c partition
plate portion; 122 gasket portion; 123 flange portion; 124 tip end surface; 125, 125a
auxiliary scale member; 126, 326 second scale; 129 gap; 900 one hand; 910 thumb; 920
forefinger; 930 middle finger; 940 ring finger; and 950 little finger.
CLAIMS
1. A syringe comprising:
a barrel having a medicinal solution port provided at a tip end and an opening
5 provided at a rear end; and
a plunger including a gasket portion provided on a tip end side and sliding with
respect to an inner circumferential surface of the barrel, a flange portion provided at the
rear end, and a shaft portion connecting the gasket portion and the flange portion to
each other,
10 the plunger further including an auxiliary scale member provided on an outer
circumferential side of the shaft portion and provided with a scale, and
the scale being provided such that a marking coinciding with the rear end of the
barrel shows an amount of a medicinal solution accommodated in the barrel or an
amount of administration of the medicinal solution accommodated in the barrel.
15
2. The syringe according to claim 1, wherein
at least a part of the shaft portion includes a plate-shaped portion radially
protruding from a shaft center.
3. The syringe according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
a gap allowing grip of the shaft portion is provided between the auxiliary scale
member and the flange portion.
4. The syringe according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
in the auxiliary scale member, a surface provided with the scale is curved in
conformity with the inner circumferential surface of the barrel.
5. The syringe according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
the plunger includes two auxiliary scale members,
6.the syring according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the auxiliary scale member is provided substantially halfway around a circumferential direction of the shaft portion.