Method of Using a Syringe

A method for providing maintenance treatment to a catheter, comprising the steps of:

• providing a device having:
• a support structure having at least two separate compartments for containing respective liquids;
• a distal wall traversing the support structure proximate a distal end thereof;
• a duct extending through the distal wall enabling liquid to exit the at least two compartments;
• and
• at least one plunger movably affixed to the support structure proximate the proximal end thereof for infusing liquids from the device through the duct upon activation of the at least one plunger,
• the support structure, the at least two compartments and the at least one plunger being adapted to infuse the respective liquids sequentially in a preselected order into the catheter lumen;
• providing a catheter having a lumen open at a proximal end of the catheter;
• connecting the catheter proximal end to the distal end of the device such that the duct is in fluid communication with the lumen;
• activating the at least one plunger to express a first liquid from a first compartment, through the duct and into the lumen;
• activating one of said at least one plunger or another plunger associated with the second compartment, to express a second liquid from a second compartment through the duct and into the lumen;
• and
• removing the device from the catheter proximal end.

A method for providing maintenance treatment to a catheter having a catheter lumen, comprising the steps of:

• providing a syringe having:
• a support structure having at least one compartment for containing liquid and having a distal wall traversing the support structure proximate a distal end thereof;
• a duct extending distally through the distal wall enabling liquid to exit the at least one compartment, such that the duct distal end is recessed within the syringe distal end;
• and
• a plunger movably affixed to the support structure proximate the proximal end thereof in operative association with the at least one compartment for expressing liquid from the syringe through the duct upon activation of the at least one plunger,
• providing a catheter having a luer fitting affixed to a proximal end thereof, the luer fitting defining an open passageway therethrough extending to a catheter lumen such that the proximal end of the catheter is open;
• then, in sequence
• rotatably coupling the distal end of the syringe to the luer fitting such that the duct extends into the open passageway and thus is in fluid communication with the lumen;
• activating the plunger to express a liquid from the at least one compartment, through the duct and into the lumen;
• and
• removing the distal end of the syringe from the luer fitting affixed to the catheter proximal end;
• wherein the step of providing the syringe comprises providing a syringe that includes a closure plug affixed to the support structure distally of the distal wall by easily detachable connections, the closure plug being mostly recessed within the syringe distal end with the duct extending distally through a transverse sealing member of the closure plug, and
• wherein the step of threadedly coupling the distal end of the syringe to the luer fitting comprises, while the closure plug is affixed to the support structure, threadedly coupling the closure plug to the luer connector affixed to the catheter proximal end while simultaneously coupling the syringe to the catheter proximal end whereafter the duct is in fluid communication with the catheter lumen.