Apparatus and methods for simultaneously administering two or more medications to a patient

Abstract

A medical injection apparatus for simultaneously administering two or more medications to a patient includes a housing that is structured to hold two or more syringes in a substantially fixed relationship so that the distal ends of the syringe needles are spaced apart from each other. The housing may be structured for reuse, or may be disposable. The housing may include two portions that are identically structured, each portion defining half of the housing. The housing may also include a syringe sleeve that is deployable from a first position in which the needles of the syringes are exposed to a second position in which the needles of the syringes are not exposed.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . A medical injection apparatus for simultaneously administering two or more medications to a patient, comprising 
 a housing having a plurality of recesses to hold a plurality of syringes in a substantially fixed relationship, the housing including a first portion having a length and a width, and a plurality of hemicylindrical recesses, each recess dimensioned to receive a syringe, and a second portion substantially identically structured to the first portion so that the second portion matingly engages with the first portion to form a plurality of cylinders to receive the hypodermic syringes in a substantially fixed relationship.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the housing includes at least one locking device located on each of the first and second portions, the at least one locking device positioned on the first portion to engage with at least one locking device on the second portion.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the housing includes a hinge assembly structured to permit the first portion and second portion to pivot about a pivot axis that is parallel to the width of the housing.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the hinge assembly comprises a flexible web coupling the first portion to the second portion before the two portions are engaged.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the hinge assembly is selected from a group consisting of a pin disposed on one side of the housing, and a clamp disposed on the opposite side of the housing; a pin on one side of the housing, and a hole on an opposite side of the housing; and a ball on one side of the housing, and a socket on an opposite side of the housing.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a syringe sleeve disposed around at least one of the syringes, the syringe sleeve deployable from a first position in which the needle of the at least one syringe is exposed to permit injection of a medication, to a second position in which the needle of the at least one syringe is covered.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the syringe sleeve is unitary structure having a plurality of syringe containers, each container dimensioned to receive a barrel of a syringe.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the syringe sleeve is disposed around the housing, and includes a locking device to prevent the sleeve from being moved from the second position after the locking device is engaged.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the locking devices of the first portion and the second portion are structured to prevent the first portion from being manually disengaged from the second portion.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are identically structured.