Syringe tip cap assembly, syringe comprising such a syringe tip cap and method of sealing a syringe barrel

A syringe tip cap for retaining a resilient closure at a distal end of a syringe tip on which a collar for coupling with a syringe needle is mounted, comprising:

• a rigid outer cap having a distal cap member and a proximal sleeve member and configured to be coupled with the collar, for coupling the syringe tip cap with the distal end of the syringe tip;
• and
• tamper indicator means comprising frangible portions which are broken when the annular first breaking line is broken;
• wherein
• the distal cap member is cup-shaped for accommodating and covering a distal end of the resilient closure,
• an annular first breaking line is formed between the distal cap member and the proximal sleeve member of the rigid outer cap,
• the proximal sleeve member comprises a second breaking line extending between a distal end and a proximal end of the proximal sleeve member,
• the second breaking line extends under an acute angle or under an angle of 90 degrees relative to the first breaking line,
• the second breaking line runs into the first breaking line at a point of intersection, and
• the distal cap member and the proximal sleeve member of the rigid outer cap are connected with each other via an axial coupling strip, which bridges and disrupts the annular first breaking line at a position adjacent to the point of intersection

A syringe comprising:

• a syringe barrel having a substance receiving chamber and a syringe tip projecting from a distal end of the syringe barrel with a fluid passage extending through said syringe tip;
• a collar concentrically surrounding the syringe tip, for coupling with a syringe needle;
• a resilient closure having opposed proximal and distal ends, said proximal end defining a tip engaging portion for sealingly engaging the syringe tip to seal a substance contained in the substance receiving chamber of the syringe barrel;
• and
• a syringe tip cap mounted at the distal end of a syringe tip, which engages with the collar and retains the resilient closure at the distal end of the syringe tip, for sealing the syringe tip;
• said syringe tip cap comprising:
• a rigid outer cap having a distal cap member and a proximal sleeve member, wherein an annular first breaking line is formed between the distal cap member and the proximal sleeve member;
• and
• tamper indicator means comprising frangible portions which are broken when the annular first breaking line is broken;
• wherein
• the distal cap member is cup-shaped for accommodating and covering a distal end of the resilient closure, and configured for pressing the resilient closure toward the syringe tip;
• and
• the proximal sleeve member comprises a distal end and a proximal end configured to be coupled with the collar, for coupling the syringe tip cap with the distal end of the syringe tip;
• wherein the proximal sleeve member comprises a second breaking line extending between the distal end and the proximal end of the proximal sleeve member;
• the distal cap member and the proximal sleeve member of the rigid outer cap are connected with each other via an axial coupling strip, which bridges and disrupts the annular first breaking line;
• and
• the frangible portions of the tamper indicator means are weaker than the coupling strip, so that
• the distal cap member and the proximal sleeve member of the rigid outer cap can be partially separated by breaking the annular first breaking line and
• the coupling strip serves as a hinge for pivotally coupling the distal cap member and the proximal sleeve member of the rigid outer cap after the annular first breaking line has been broken.

A method of sealing a syringe barrel for administering a liquid containing a pharmaceutical drug, comprising the steps of:

• providing the syringe barrel having a syringe tip at a distal end thereof on which a collar for coupling with a syringe needle is mounted;
• sealing the syringe tip with a resilient closure;
• providing a syringe tip cap;
• and
• pushing the syringe tip cap in axial direction on the distal end of the syringe barrel until the proximal end of the syringe tip cap is coupled with the collar and the resilient closure is pressed on the distal end of the syringe tip, for sealing the syringe tip;
• said syringe tip cap comprising:
• a rigid outer cap having a distal cap member and a proximal sleeve member, wherein an annular first breaking line is formed between the distal cap member and the proximal sleeve member;
• and
• tamper indicator means comprising frangible portions which are broken when the annular first breaking line is broken;
• wherein
• the distal cap member is cup-shaped for accommodating and covering a distal end of the resilient closure, and configured for pressing the resilient closure toward the syringe tip;
• and
• the proximal sleeve member comprises a distal end and a proximal end configured to be coupled with the collar, for coupling the syringe tip cap with the distal end of the syringe tip;
• wherein
• the proximal sleeve member comprises a second breaking line extending between the distal end and the proximal end of the proximal sleeve member;
• the distal cap member and the proximal sleeve member of the rigid outer cap are connected with each other via an axial coupling strip, which bridges and disrupts the annular first breaking line;
• and
• the frangible portions of the tamper indicator means are weaker than the coupling strip, so that
• the distal cap member and the proximal sleeve member of the rigid outer cap can be partially separated by breaking the annular first breaking line and
• the coupling strip serves as a hinge for pivotally coupling the distal cap member and the proximal sleeve member of the rigid outer cap after the annular first breaking line has been broken.