System for lubricating a syringe barrel
AssigneeMiniMed Inc.
InventorJeffrey V. Funderburk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and related method are provided for lubricating an interior surface of a device, such as the inner diameter surface of a syringe barrel. A fixture is provided for receiving and supporting the syringe barrel with an open rear end in alignment with a lubricant spray nozzle and an open front end in alignment with a counterflow air nozzle. Lubricant is sprayed via the lubricant spray nozzle into the syringe barrel in counterflow relation to an air flow discharged through the air nozzle, resulting in turbulent lubricant atomization and dispersal as a substantially uniform surface coating of interior surfaces of the syringe barrel.
Claims18
A system for lubricating interior surfaces of a syringe barrel having an open rear end and an open front end, said system comprising:
- a fixture for receiving and supporting a syringe barrel;
- first spray means for delivering a lubricant spray into the open rear end of the syringe barrel supported by said fixture;
- and
- second spray means for delivering a counterflow spray into the syringe barrel through the open front end thereof, in opposition to the lubricant spray, to result in turbulent dispersal of the lubricant spray within the syringe barrel so that interior barrel surfaces are coated with a substantially uniform surface coating of lubricant.
A system for lubricating interior surfaces of a hollow device having opposite open ends, said system comprising:
- a fixture for receiving and supporting the device;
- first spray means for delivering a lubricant spray into one end of the device;
- and
- second spray means for delivering a counterflow spray into the opposite end of the device, in opposition to the lubricant spray, to result in turbulent dispersal of the lubricant spray so that interior surfaces of the device are coated with a substantially uniform surface coating of lubricant.
A method of lubricating interior surfaces of a device having opposite open ends, said method comprising the steps of:
- spraying a lubricant spray into one end of the device;
- and
- spraying a counterflow spray into the opposite end of the device, in opposition to the lubricant spray, to result in turbulent dispersal of the lubricant spray so that interior surfaces of the device are coated with a substantially uniform surface coating of lubricant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.