FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to medication delivery systems, and, in particular, to syringes.

BACKGROUND

Medical treatments often include the infusion of a medical fluid (e.g., a saline solution or a liquid medication) to patients using an intravenous (IV) catheter that is connected though an arrangement of flexible tubing and fittings, commonly referred to as an “IV set,” to a source of fluid, for example, a syringe. Certain configurations of IV sets may have extended lengths of tubing, for example, in excess of 6 feet. Additionally, tubing may be primed with saline prior to the infusion of a liquid medication.

In some applications, during the use of IV catheters, saline from the priming process may be delivered to patient before the liquid medication is delivered to the patient.

SUMMARY

The disclosed subject matter relates to syringes. In certain embodiments, a syringe is disclosed that comprises a syringe body defining a syringe cavity and a syringe port, wherein the syringe port is in fluid communication with the syringe cavity; a first plunger disposed within the syringe cavity and defining a first chamber in the syringe cavity, wherein the first chamber is in fluid communication with the syringe port, the first plunger comprising: a first plunger channel extending through the first plunger; a first plunger shaft extending from the first plunger, the first plunger shaft defining a first plunger shaft lumen, wherein the first plunger shaft lumen is in fluid communication with the first plunger channel; a second plunger disposed within the syringe cavity, the first plunger and the second plunger cooperatively defining a second chamber in the syringe cavity, the second plunger comprising: a second plunger shaft extending from the second plunger, the second plunger shaft defining a second shaft channel, the second shaft channel receiving at least a portion of the first plunger shaft; and an inner tube comprising an inner tube lumen, the inner tube extending from the syringe port into the first plunger shaft lumen, wherein the inner tube and the first plunger shaft lumen define an annulus therebetween, the annulus in fluid communication with the first plunger channel and the annulus permits fluid communication between the syringe port and the first plunger channel.

In certain embodiments, a medication delivery system is disclosed that comprises a syringe, comprising: a syringe body defining a syringe cavity and a syringe port, wherein the syringe port is in fluid communication with the syringe cavity; a first plunger disposed within the syringe cavity and defining a first chamber in the syringe cavity, wherein the first chamber is in fluid communication with the syringe port, the first plunger comprising: a first plunger channel extending through the first plunger; a first plunger shaft extending from the first plunger, the first plunger shaft defining a first plunger shaft lumen, wherein the first plunger shaft lumen is in fluid communication with the first plunger channel; a second plunger disposed within the syringe cavity, the first plunger and the second plunger cooperatively defining a second chamber in the syringe cavity, the second plunger comprising: a second plunger shaft extending from the second plunger, the second plunger shaft defining a second shaft channel, the second shaft channel receiving at least a portion of the first plunger shaft; and an inner tube comprising an inner tube lumen, the inner tube extending from the syringe port into the first plunger shaft lumen, wherein the inner tube and the first plunger shaft lumen define an annulus therebetween, the annulus in fluid communication with the first plunger channel and the annulus permits fluid communication between the syringe port and the first plunger channel; and a tubing defining a first flow path and a second flow path, wherein the first flow path is separated from the second flow path by a tubing wall, the first flow path is in fluid communication with the first chamber, and the second flow path is in fluid communication with the annulus.

In certain embodiments, a method to deliver medication is disclosed that comprises receiving saline from a return flow path of a tubing in an inner tube of a syringe; directing saline from the inner tube to an annulus of the syringe, wherein the inner tube and a medication plunger shaft lumen define the annulus therebetween; and directing saline from the annulus to a saline chamber of the syringe.

It is understood that various configurations of the subject technology will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure, wherein various configurations of the subject technology are shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the subject technology is capable of other and different configurations and its several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all without departing from the scope of the subject technology. Accordingly, the summary, drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

