Slotted syringe

Abstract

A syringe is disclosed. The syringe may include a syringe body with a fluid chamber, the syringe body having a proximal end and a distal end, with an extrusion opening at the proximal end; a first slot formed in the syringe body, starting near the proximal end of the syringe body and ending near the distal end of the syringe body; a first sleeve covering the first slot; a thumb grip, the thumb grip including a first slot guide disposed in the first slot, the thumb grip shaped to slide from a first position near the distal end of the syringe body toward a second position near the proximal end of the syringe body; and a plunger disposed in the fluid chamber of the syringe body, the plunger configured to move towards the proximal end of the syringe body in response to pressure applied by a user to the thumb grip, the plunger including a first plunger slot guide disposed in the first slot.

1 . A syringe, comprising:
 a syringe body with a fluid chamber, the syringe body having a proximal end and a distal end, with an extrusion opening at the proximal end;   a first slot formed in the syringe body, starting near the proximal end of the syringe body and ending near the distal end of the syringe body;   a first sleeve covering the first slot;   a thumb grip, the thumb grip including a first slot guide disposed in the first slot, the thumb grip shaped to slide from a first position near the distal end of the syringe body toward a second position near the proximal end of the syringe body; and   a plunger disposed in the fluid chamber of the syringe body, the plunger configured to move towards the proximal end of the syringe body in response to pressure applied by a user to the thumb grip, the plunger including a first plunger slot guide disposed in the first slot.   
     
     
         2 . The syringe of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second slot formed in the syringe body, beginning near the proximal end of the syringe body and ending near the distal end of the syringe body; and   a second sleeve covering the second slot;   wherein the thumb grip further includes a second slot guide disposed in the second slot.   
     
     
         3 . The syringe of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first sleeve and the second sleeve are parts of a single unitary sleeve covering the syringe body.   
     
     
         4 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the first slot passes through the syringe body, from an outer surface forming an outer circumference of the syringe body through an inner surface forming the fluid chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the first sleeve is an integral part of the syringe body. 
     
     
         6 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the first sleeve is affixed to the syringe body. 
     
     
         7 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the first sleeve is attached to the syringe body by one of co-molding, overmolding, press-fitting, laminating, adhering, welding, and shrink wrapping. 
     
     
         8 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plunger is attached to the thumb grip.   
     
     
         9 . The syringe of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an end cap disposed at the distal end of the syringe body.   
     
     
         10 . The syringe of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cutting edge attached to a proximal end of the thumb grip and positioned to cut the first sleeve as the thumb grip moves towards the proximal end of the syringe body.   
     
     
         11 . The syringe of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a finger grip disposed on the syringe body near the proximal end of the syringe body.   
     
     
         12 . The syringe of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an intermediate finger grip disposed on the syringe body between the thumb grip and the finger grip.   
     
     
         13 . The syringe of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the intermediate finger grip is configured to slide towards the proximal end of the syringe body when pushed by the thumb grip.   
     
     
         14 . The syringe of  claim 13 , wherein the intermediate finger grip comprises:
 an intermediate finger grip body shaped to support a user's finger; and   an aperture passing from a proximal side of the intermediate finger grip body to a distal side of the intermediate finger grip body, in which the syringe body is disposed.   
     
     
         15 . The syringe of  claim 12 , wherein the intermediate finger grip is configured to be removed from the syringe body during operation. 
     
     
         16 . The syringe of  claim 15 , wherein the intermediate finger grip comprises:
 a finger grip body shaped to support a user's finger; and   a clip formed on an end of the finger grip in which the syringe body is disposed.   
     
     
         17 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first sleeve is made from the same material as the syringe body.   
     
     
         18 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the first sleeve is made from different material than the syringe body. 
     
     
         19 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first slot extends to the distal end of the syringe body.   
     
     
         20 . A syringe, comprising:
 a syringe body with a fluid chamber, the syringe body having a proximal end and a distal end, with an extrusion opening at the proximal end;   a first slot formed in the syringe body, beginning near the proximal end of the syringe body and ending near the distal end of the syringe body;   a second slot formed in the syringe body, beginning near the proximal end of the syringe body and ending near the distal end of the syringe body;   a first sleeve covering the first slot;   a second sleeve covering the second slot;   a thumb grip including a first slot guide and a second slot guide, the slot guides disposed in the slots, the thumb grip shaped to slide from a first position near the distal end of the syringe body toward a second position near the proximal end of the syringe body;   a first and second cutting edge disposed on a proximal side of the thumb grip and positioned to cut the first and second sleeve as the thumb grip moves towards the proximal end of the syringe body;   a finger grip disposed on the syringe body, near the proximal end of the syringe body; and   a plunger disposed within the fluid chamber of the syringe body, the plunger configured to move towards the proximal end of the syringe body in response to pressure applied by a user to the thumb grip, the plunger including a first and second plunger slot guide disposed in the first and second slots.   
     
     
         21 . The syringe of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 an intermediate finger grip, disposed on the syringe body, between the finger grip and the thumb grip.