Dual zone syringe for pharmaceutical delivery device

Abstract

A syringe for use in a pharmaceutical delivery system is described. The syringe is a dual zone syringe having a working zone including a fluid reservoir at a distal end of the syringe and a non-working zone configured to receive a slidable plunger assembly, an a plunger having a proximal end to contact a piston and a distal end having a shape similar to the distal end of the syringe. The plunger comprises a distal seal and a proximal seal, where the distal seal seals the working zone and the proximal seal seals the non-working zone.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A syringe comprising:
 a distal end, a proximal end, and a syringe body defining a lumen therebetween;   at least a working zone defining a fluid reservoir at the distal end;   at least a non-working zone configured to receive a slidable plunger assembly; and   a plunger having a proximal end to contact a piston and a distal end having a shape similar to the distal end of the syringe,   wherein the plunger comprises a distal seal and a proximal seal, the distal seal sealing the working zone and the proximal seal sealing the non-working zone.   
     
     
         2 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the working zone has a smaller inner diameter than an inner diameter of the non-working zone. 
     
     
         3 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger comprises more than two seals. 
     
     
         4 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the distal seal is in sealing communication with an inner wall of the working zone to seal a medical fluid within the fluid reservoir of the at least a working zone. 
     
     
         5 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal seal is in sealing communication with an inner wall of the non-working zone to prevent direct contact of ambient air with an inside wall of the working zone when the plunger is moved in a distal direction. 
     
     
         6 . The syringe of  claim 5 , wherein the working zone maintains sterility of a medical fluid during repeated use of the syringe. 
     
     
         7 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the distal seal comprises a distal O-ring set within a distal groove at the distal end of on the plunger. 
     
     
         8 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal seal comprises a proximal O-ring set within a groove at the proximal end of the plunger. 
     
     
         9 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the non-working zone is defined by the distance between the distal seal and the proximal seal. 
     
     
         10 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end comprises a connector for attachment to a fluid path set. 
     
     
         11 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the syringe body further comprises a plurality of markings indicating a classification feature of the syringe. 
     
     
         12 . The syringe of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of markings are comprised of a visible tag, a radio tag, or a light tag. 
     
     
         13 . The syringe of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of markings are a series of etched grooves in the syringe body that can be identified by a light reader in an injector device. 
     
     
         14 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger has a cylindrical shape with a conical shaped distal end. 
     
     
         15 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the syringe body further comprises at least one connector flange around a diameter of the syringe body. 
     
     
         16 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the syringe body further comprises a stop around a diameter of the syringe body to limit advancement of the syringe into an injector device during attachment. 
     
     
         17 . A multiple patient delivery system comprising:
 a fluid path set; and   a syringe, the syringe comprising:
 a distal end, a proximal end, and a syringe body defining a lumen therebetween; 
 at least a working zone defining a fluid reservoir at the distal end; 
 at least a non-working zone configured to receive a slidable plunger assembly; and 
 a plunger having a proximal end to contact a piston and a distal end having a shape similar to the distal end of the syringe, 
 wherein the plunger comprises a distal seal and a proximal seal, the distal seal sealing the working zone and the proximal seal sealing the non-working zone. 
   
     
     
         18 . The injector assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the distal seal of the syringe is in sealing communication with an inner wall of the working zone to seal a medical fluid within the fluid reservoir of the at least a working zone. 
     
     
         19 . The injector assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the proximal seal of the syringe is in sealing communication with an inner wall of the non-working zone to prevent direct contact of ambient air with an inside wall of the working zone when the plunger is moved in a distal direction. 
     
     
         20 . The injector assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the working zone maintains sterility of a medical fluid during repeated use of the syringe.