Plunger control device for a syringe and associated method

A method for plunging a syringe including a syringe barrel having a barrel flange, and the syringe further including a syringe plunger having a leading end slideably disposed within the syringe barrel and a trailing end external to the syringe barrel, the syringe plunger having a plunger flange disposed about the trailing end thereof, the method comprising:

• coupling a portion of a syringe to a plunger attachment portion of a plunger control device, the plunger control device comprising a translating member operably engaged with an attachment member configured to fixedly engage a syringe barrel, the translating member having an elongate guide member slideably engaged with the attachment member such that the translating member is slideable with respect thereto between a proximal end and a distal end of the elongate guide member, the elongate guide member longitudinally extending along at least a portion of the syringe barrel such that the elongate guide member is exterior to the syringe barrel, the plunger attachment portion being disposed about the distal end of the elongate guide member, the translating member further comprising an engagement member extending from the proximal end of the elongate guide member;
• coupling the attachment member of the plunger control device to the syringe barrel such that the attachment member is fixed with respect to the syringe barrel, the engagement member being spaced-apart from the syringe barrel;
• and
• advancing the engagement member in a plunging direction away from the fixed attachment member so as to plunge the syringe.

A method for plunging a syringe having a syringe barrel with a barrel flange, the method comprising:

• disposing a plunger member of a plunger control device within a syringe barrel, the plunger control device comprising a translating member operably engaged with an attachment member configured to fixedly engage a syringe barrel, the translating member having an elongate guide member defining a longitudinal axis and being slideably engaged with the attachment member such that the translating member is slideable with respect thereto between a proximal end and a distal end of the elongate guide member, the plunger member being fixedly engaged with the elongate guide member such that a longitudinal axis of the plunger member is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the elongate guide member, the plunger member having a leading end slideably disposed within the syringe barrel and a trailing end external to the syringe barrel, the translating member further comprising an engagement member extending from the proximal end of the elongate guide member and adapted to be spaced-apart from the syringe barrel, the engagement member being disposed laterally proximal to the leading end of the plunger member such that the engagement member and the leading end maintain proximity during translation of the translating member;
• coupling the attachment member to the syringe barrel such that the attachment member is fixed with respect to the syringe barrel, the engagement member being spaced-apart from the syringe barrel;
• and
• advancing the engagement member in a plunging direction away from the fixed attachment member so as to plunge the syringe.

A syringe comprising:

• a syringe barrel having a barrel flange;
• a plunger having a leading end slideably disposed within the syringe barrel and a trailing end external to the syringe barrel;
• an attachment member configured to fixedly engage a syringe barrel;
• and
• a translating member operably engaged with the attachment member, the translating member having an elongate guide member defining a longitudinal axis and being slideably engaged with the attachment member such that the translatable member is slideable with respect thereto between a proximal end and a distal end of the elongate guide member, the plunger being fixedly engaged with the elongate guide member such that a longitudinal axis of the plunger is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the elongate guide member, the translating member further comprising an engagement member extending from the proximal end of the elongate guide member and being spaced-apart from the syringe barrel, the engagement member being disposed laterally proximal to the leading end of the plunger member such that the engagement member and the leading end maintain proximity during translation of the translating member.