Hand-held, hand-operated power syringe and methods

Abstract

A hand-held syringe includes a handle configured for suspending and using the syringe with a single hand. The handle includes pivotally connected first and second members. The members of the handle may be pivotally connected at intermediate positions along the lengths thereof or at or near ends thereof. The first member is associated with, and may be pivotally connected to, a syringe barrel, while the second member is associated with, and may be pivotally connected to, a syringe plunger. The syringe may be configured for a single-use (i.e., it may be disposable). Applications of use and methods of using a hand-held syringe are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A single-use syringe, comprising:
 a syringe barrel including a receptacle for receiving fluid;   a plunger insertable into the receptacle and moveable longitudinally therethrough; and   a handle, including:
 a first member configured to be held by a first part of a user's hand, the first member including an end that terminates in association with the syringe barrel; and 
 a second member configured to be held by a second part of the user's hand, the second member including an end that terminates in association with the plunger, the first and second members being connected to one another in pivotal relation at intermediate locations thereof. 
   
     
     
         2 . The single-use syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second members cross one another. 
     
     
         3 . The single-use syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the end of the first member is pivotally connected to the syringe barrel. 
     
     
         4 . The single-use syringe of  claim 3 , wherein a pivotal connection between the first member and the syringe barrel is located along an axis of the barrel. 
     
     
         5 . The single-use syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the end of the second member is pivotally connected to the plunger. 
     
     
         6 . The single-use syringe of  claim 1 , configured to be suspended by and operated with a single hand of a user. 
     
     
         7 . The single-use syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first and second members is angled. 
     
     
         8 . The single-use syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is configured to simultaneously move the syringe barrel and the plunger. 
     
     
         9 . A hand-held syringe, comprising:
 a syringe including:
 a barrel; and 
 a plunger disposable within the barrel and moveable along a length of the barrel; and 
   a handle including:
 a first member associated with the barrel to facilitate movement of the barrel relative to the plunger; and 
 a second member associated with the plunger to facilitate movement of the plunger relative to the barrel, 
 the first and second members of the handle being pivotally connected to one another at ends thereof and configured to facilitate suspension by and use of the syringe with a single hand of a user. 
   
     
     
         10 . The hand-held syringe of  claim 9 , wherein the syringe and handles are configured for disposability. 
     
     
         11 . The hand-held syringe of  claim 9 , wherein the barrel extends through the first member of the handle. 
     
     
         12 . The hand-held syringe of  claim 11 , wherein the barrel is longitudinally fixed relative to the first member. 
     
     
         13 . The hand-held syringe of  claim 11 , wherein the second member includes a capture element for receiving an end of the plunger of the syringe. 
     
     
         14 . The hand-held syringe of  claim 9 , wherein the barrel of the syringe and the first member of the handle are pivotally associated with one another. 
     
     
         15 . The hand-held syringe of  claim 9 , wherein the plunger of the syringe and the second member of the handle are pivotally associated with one another. 
     
     
         16 . The hand-held syringe of  claim 9 , wherein intermediate portions of the first and second members of the handle are associated with the barrel and plunger, respectively, of the syringe. 
     
     
         17 . The hand-held syringe of  claim 9 , wherein the handle further includes:
 a connection element for securing the first and second members to one another, the connection element including a plurality of pivot points.   
     
     
         18 . A method for introducing a fluid into a body, comprising:
 coupling one of an injection apparatus and an infusion apparatus to a syringe barrel in communication with a receptacle of the syringe barrel; and   grasping a first handle pivotally associated with the syringe barrel and a second handle pivotally associated with a syringe plunger with a single hand to pivot the first handle and the second handle toward one another to force the syringe plunger into the receptacle of the syringe barrel, the first handle pivoting relative to the syringe barrel, the second handle pivoting relative to the syringe plunger, the syringe plunger displacing fluid within the receptacle to force the fluid through the injection apparatus or the infusion apparatus and into the body.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 pivoting the first handle and the second handle away from one another to create a negative pressure within the receptacle.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the negative pressure draws a fluid into the receptacle.