# US 8,540,683 B2 · Syringe device and injector system including a vent for relieving a vacuum within a syringe > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,683 B2 - Document ID: US8540683B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/539,805 - Filed: 2006-10-09 - Published: 2008-07-17 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2006-10-09 - Assignees: ACIST Medical Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Robert C. Williams, Jr.; Vito De Monte - Inventors: Robert C. Williams, Jr.; Vito De Monte - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540683B2 ## CPC - A61M 5/3135: {characterised by constructional features of the proximal end} - A61M 5/007: {for contrast media} - A61M 5/14546: {Front-loading type injectors} - A61M 5/14566: {with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump} - A61M 5/31515: {Connection of piston with piston rod} - A61M 2005/3123: {having air entrapping or venting means, e.g. purging channels in pistons} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A syringe device and injector system including a vent for relieving a vacuum within a syringe is provided. Embodiments provide a syringe device including a reservoir having a sidewall. The reservoir includes a dispensing distal end a proximal end. The syringe device also includes a piston in movable sealing engagement with the sidewall. Furthermore, the sidewall defines a vent extending from the proximal end of the reservoir. The vent is configured to interrupt the sealing engagement between the piston and the sidewall so as to allow a gas to enter the reservoir through the proximal aperture and past the piston member as the piston member is moved from the distal end to the proximal end of the tubular aperture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A syringe device comprising: a reservoir having a reservoir sidewall defining an axis, the reservoir comprising a dispensing distal end defining a dispensing aperture and a proximal end defining a proximal aperture; and a piston member movably disposed in the reservoir, the piston member being configured to be movable between the distal end and the proximal end, the piston member being in movable sealing engagement with the reservoir sidewall; wherein the reservoir sidewall defines at least one longitudinally-extending vent extending distally a length from the proximal end of the reservoir, a depth of the at least one vent continually decreasing at an angle relative to the axis along a majority of the length of the vent as the at least one vent extends from the proximal end of the reservoir, the angle being constant along a majority of the vent, such that the at least one vent is configured to gradually and at least partially interrupt the sealing engagement between the piston member and the reservoir sidewall so as to allow a gas to enter the reservoir through the proximal aperture and past the piston member, as the piston member is moved from the distal end to the proximal end. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A syringe device according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir defines a substantially tubular shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A syringe device according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is formed from a medical-grade polymer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A syringe device according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is formed from a glass material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A syringe device according to claim 1, wherein the piston member is formed of a medical-grade polymer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A syringe device according to claim 1, wherein the piston member is formed of a rubber material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A syringe device according to claim 1, further comprising a connector device operably engaged with the dispensing distal end of the reservoir for operably engaging at least one conduit with the reservoir, the connector device configured to be in fluid communication between the dispensing aperture and the at least one conduit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A syringe device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one vent is substantially integrally formed in the reservoir sidewall. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A syringe device according to claim 1, wherein a geometrical configuration of the at least one vent creates at least a partial seal between the piston member and the reservoir sidewall such that a residual liquid is retained in the reservoir while the partial seal succumbs to the pressure differential caused by a vacuum internal to the reservoir so as to at least partially relieve the vacuum without allowing the residual liquid to flow outward from the reservoir via the proximal aperture. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A syringe device according to claim 1, wherein the at lease one vent creates a pathway between the piston member and the reservoir sidewall, the pathway being configured to allow relief of a vacuum internal to the reservoir and such that a surface tension of a residual liquid disposed in the reservoir will prevent the residual liquid from flowing outward from the reservoir via the proximal aperture. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A syringe device according to claim 1, wherein the piston member is further configured to be selectively movable to a maximum usable volume position disposed substantially between the distal end and the proximal end of the reservoir, and wherein the at least one vent extends from the proximal end of the reservoir to the maximum usable volume position so as to allow the gas to enter the reservoir through the proximal aperture and past the piston member, as the piston member is moved from the maximum usable volume position to the proximal end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A syringe device according to claim 1, wherein the syringe device is configured to be selectively operably engaged and disengaged with the injector device, wherein the reservoir is adapted to be operably engaged with an injector device including a movable plunger head and wherein the piston member further comprises one or more gripping members the gripping members configured to be forced by the reservoir sidewall to operably engage the movable plunger head in response to distal movement of the movable plunger head into the reservoir at the proximal end, the gripping members further configured to operably disengage the movable plunger head in response to proximal movement of the movable plunger head out of the reservoir at the proximal end. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A syringe device according to claim 12, wherein the gripping members comprise rotatable gripping members configured to be rotated radially-inward about the proximal edge of the piston member by the reservoir sidewall as the piston member is moved between the proximal end and the distal end so as to operably engage the movable plunger head and configured to be rotated radially-outward about the proximal edge of the piston member so as to operably disengage the movable plunger head at the proximal end. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A syringe device according to claim 12, wherein the gripping members comprise substantially flexible gripping members configured to be flexed inward about the proximal edge of the piston member by the reservoir sidewall as the piston member is moved between the proximal end and the distal end so as to operably engage the movable plunger head and configured to be flexed radially-outward about the proximal edge of the piston member so as to operably disengage the movable plunger head at the proximal end. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A syringe device according to claim 1, wherein a shape of the at least one vent is polygonal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A syringe device according to claim 1, wherein a shape of the at least one vent is elliptical. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A syringe device according to claim 1, wherein a shape of the at least one vent is circular. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A syringe device according to claim 1, further comprising a flange extending outward from the proximal end of the reservoir, the flange being adapted to be received by a complementary channel defined in an injector device such that the syringe device is adapted to be selectively operably engaged with the injector device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A syringe device according to claim 18, wherein the flange extends radially outward from the proximal end of the reservoir. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A syringe device according to claim 18, wherein the complementary channel is defined in the injector device as a radial groove. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) A syringe device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one vent comprises a generally parabolic cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) A syringe device according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir sidewall has inner and outer surfaces and a thickness extending therebetween, and wherein the longitudinally-extending vent is defined within the thickness of the inner surface such that the sidewall is thinner along at least a portion of the longitudinally-extending vent. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A syringe device according to claim 22, wherein the reservoir has an outer diameter, and wherein the outer diameter is constant along its length and at least partially along the outer surface opposite the longitudinally-extending vent. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A syringe device according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the at least one vent gradually decreases along a substantial length of the vent between the proximal end of the reservoir and a distal end of the vent. ### Claim 25 An injector system comprising: an injector device including a movable plunger head; and a syringe device configured to be capable of operably engaging the injector device, the syringe device comprising: a reservoir having a reservoir sidewall defining an axis, the reservoir including a dispensing distal end defining a dispensing aperture and a proximal end defining a proximal aperture; and a piston member movably disposed in the reservoir, the piston member being configured to be operably engaged with the movable plunger head so as to be movable between the distal end and the proximal end, the piston member being in movable sealing engagement with the reservoir sidewall; wherein the reservoir sidewall defines at least one longitudinally-extending vent extending distally a length from the proximal end of the reservoir, a depth of the at least one vent continually gradually decreasing at an angle relative to the axis along a majority of the length of the vent as the at least one vent extends from the proximal end of the reservoir, the angle being constant along a majority of the vent, such that the at least one vent is configured to gradually and at least partially interrupt the sealing engagement between the piston member and the reservoir sidewall so as to allow a gas to enter the reservoir through the proximal aperture and past the piston member, as the piston member is moved from the distal end to the proximal end. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) An injector system according to claim 25, wherein the reservoir defines a substantially tubular shape. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) An injector system according to claim 25, wherein the reservoir is formed from a medical-grade polymer. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) An injector system according to claim 25, wherein the reservoir is formed from a glass material. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) An injector system according to claim 25, wherein the piston member is formed of a medical-grade polymer. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) An injector system according to claim 25, wherein the piston member is formed of a rubber material. ### Claim 31 (depends on 25) An injector system according to claim 25, further comprising a connector device operably engaged with the dispensing distal end of the reservoir for operably engaging at least one conduit with the reservoir, the connector device configured to be in fluid communication between the dispensing aperture and the at least one conduit. ### Claim 32 (depends on 25) An injector system according to claim 25, wherein the at least one vent is substantially integrally formed in the reservoir sidewall. ### Claim 33 (depends on 25) An injector system according to claim 25, wherein the piston member is further configured to be selectively movable to a maximum usable volume position disposed substantially between the distal end and the proximal end of the reservoir, and wherein the at least one vent extends from the proximal end of the reservoir to the maximum usable volume position so as to allow the gas to enter the reservoir through the proximal aperture and past the piston member, as the piston member is moved from the maximum usable volume position to the proximal end. ### Claim 34 (depends on 25) An injector system according to claim 25, wherein the syringe device is configured to be selectively operably engaged and disengaged with the injector device, wherein the piston member further comprises one or more gripping members, the gripping members being configured to be forced by the reservoir sidewall to operably engage the movable plunger head in response to distal movement of the movable plunger head into the reservoir at the proximal end, the gripping members further configured to operably disengage the movable plunger head in response to proximal movement of the movable plunger head out of the reservoir at the proximal end. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) An injector system according to claim 34, wherein the gripping members comprise rotatable gripping members configured to be rotated radially-inward about the proximal edge of the piston member by the reservoir sidewall as the piston member is moved between the proximal end and the distal end so as to operably engage the movable plunger head and configured to be rotated radially-outward about the proximal edge of the piston member so as to operably disengage the movable plunger head at the proximal end. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) An injector system according to claim 34, wherein the gripping members comprise substantially flexible gripping members configured to be flexed inward about the proximal edge of the piston member by the reservoir sidewall as the piston member is moved between the proximal end and the distal end so as to operably engage the movable plunger head and configured to be flexed radially-outward about the proximal edge of the piston member so as to operably disengage the movable plunger head at the proximal end. ### Claim 37 (depends on 25) An injector system according to claim 25, wherein the shape of the at least one vent is polygonal. ### Claim 38 (depends on 25) An injector system according to claim 25, wherein the shape of the at least one vent is elliptical. ### Claim 39 (depends on 25) An injector system according to claim 25, wherein the shape of the at least one vent is circular. ### Claim 40 (depends on 25) An injector system according to claim 25, wherein the syringe device further comprises a flange extending outward from the proximal end of the reservoir, and wherein the injector device defines a channel therein for receiving the flange such that the syringe device is configured to be selectively operably engaged with the injector device. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) An injector system according to claim 40, wherein the flange extends radially outward from the proximal end of the reservoir. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) An injector device according to claim 40, wherein the complementary channel is defined in the injector device as a radial groove. ### Claim 43 (depends on 25) An injector system according to claim 25, wherein the at least one vent comprises a generally parabolic cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 44 (depends on 25) An injector system according to claim 25, wherein the reservoir sidewall has inner and outer surfaces and a thickness extending therebetween, and wherein the longitudinally-extending vent is defined within the thickness of the inner surface such that the sidewall is thinner along at least a portion of the longitudinally-extending vent. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) An injector system according to claim 44, wherein the reservoir has an outer diameter, and wherein the outer diameter is constant along its length and at least partially along the outer surface opposite the longitudinally-extending vent. ### Claim 46 (depends on 25) An injector system according to claim 25, wherein the depth of the at least one vent gradually decreases along a substantial length of the vent between the proximal end of the reservoir and a distal end of the vent. ### Claim 47 A syringe device comprising: a reservoir having a reservoir sidewall defining an axis, the reservoir comprising a dispensing distal end defining a dispensing aperture and a proximal end defining a proximal aperture; and a piston member movably disposed in the reservoir, the piston member being configured to be movable between the distal end and the proximal end, the piston member being in movable sealing engagement with the reservoir sidewall; wherein the reservoir sidewall defines at least one venting means for at least partially interrupting the sealing engagement between the piston member and the reservoir sidewall so as to allow a gas to enter the reservoir through the proximal aperture and past the piston member, as the piston member is moved from the distal end to the proximal end, wherein the reservoir is adapted to be selectively operably engaged and disengaged with an injector device including a movable plunger head and wherein the piston member further comprises one or more gripping members, the gripping members configured to be forced by the reservoir sidewall to operably engage the movable plunger head in response to distal movement of the movable plunger head into the reservoir at the proximal end, the gripping members further configured to operably disengage the movable plunger head in response to proximal movement of the movable plunger head out of the reservoir at the proximal end. ### Claim 48 A syringe device comprising: a reservoir having a reservoir sidewall defining an axis, the reservoir comprising a dispensing distal end defining a dispensing aperture and a proximal end defining a proximal aperture, the reservoir further comprising a flange extending radially outward from the proximal end; and a piston member movably disposed in the reservoir, the piston member being configured to be movable between the distal end and the proximal end, the piston member being in movable sealing engagement with the reservoir sidewall, wherein the reservoir sidewall defines at least one longitudinally-extending vent extending distally a length from the proximal end of the reservoir, a depth of the at least one vent continually decreasing at an angle relative to the axis along a majority of the length of the vent as the at least one vent extends from the proximal end of the reservoir, the angle being constant along a majority of the vent, such that the at least one vent is configured to gradually and at least partially interrupt the sealing engagement between the piston member and the reservoir sidewall so as to allow a gas to enter the reservoir through the proximal aperture and past the piston member, as the piston member is moved from the distal end to the proximal end, and wherein the reservoir sidewall has inner and outer surfaces and a thickness extending therebetween, and wherein the longitudinally-extending vent is defined within the thickness of the inner surface such that the sidewall is thinner along at least a portion of the longitudinally-extending vent distally of the flange.