Space Saving Plunger Cap and Rod Assembly

A telescopic plunger rod and cap assembly for use with a syringe assembly, the plunger rod and cap assembly comprising:

• a sleeve having a first end and a second end and configured for telescopic movement with respect to a syringe barrel;
• a cap associated with the second end of the sleeve;
• and
• a plunger rod having a first end and a second end, the first end associated with the cap wherein the plunger rod is transitionable from a pre-use position, in which at least a portion of the second end of the plunger rod is configured to extend along a portion of the barrel, and a ready-to-use position in which the plunger rod is aligned with a stopper, wherein upon relative movement of the sleeve with respect to the syringe barrel, the plunger rod is configured for lateral movement with respect to the cap into the ready-to-use position.

A syringe assembly comprising:

• a syringe barrel having a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall extending between the proximal and distal ends defining a chamber;
• a stopper disposed within the chamber of the syringe barrel;
• a sleeve at least partially disposed about the syringe barrel;
• and
• a plunger rod having a first end and second end, both the first end and the second end being integral with the sleeve in a first pre-use position and one of the first end and the second end being laterally advanceable with respect to a portion of the sleeve to integrally engage the stopper in a second ready-to-use position.