Single slider double barrel syringe and method to use same for medical diagnostics, therapeutic use, and placement confirmation and joint space injection

Abstract

A syringe is provided having a hub with an orifice, first and second barrels having interior surfaces to form respective lumens, a slider, and an optional test indicator. The first and second barrels slideably receive respective first and second plungers for movement therein. The slider is operable to provide a fluidly communicative path between the orifice of the hub and the first and second barrel lumens. The optional test indicator is responsive to at least one characteristic of bodily fluid, the test indicator positioned to be exposed to any bodily fluid drawn into the first barrel lumen and visible from an exterior of the first barrel.

1 . A medical apparatus operable to detachably couple to a plurality of barrels, the medical apparatus comprising:
 a communal hub having:
 an orifice which provides fluidly communicative paths to the barrels; and 
 an opening; and 
   a slider translatingly moveable through the opening between a first position and a second position, the slider having:
 an exterior surface which translates between the first position and the second position, the slider in the first position opens a fluidly communicative path between the orifice of the communal hub and a first one of the plurality barrels and closes a fluidly communicative path between the orifice of the communal hub and a second one of the plurality of barrels, and the slider in the second position opens a fluidly communicative path between the orifice of the communal hub and the second one of the plurality of barrels and closes the fluidly communicative path between the orifice of the communal hub and the first one of the plurality of barrels; wherein:
 the exterior surface is spaced apart from an interior surface of the communal hub by a first gap to define a first chamber; and 
 the exterior surface is spaced apart from the interior surface of the hub by a second gap to define a second chamber; and 
 
   a plurality of seals sealingly received around the slider, wherein at least a first pair of spaced apart seals of the plurality of seals are sealingly coupled to the exterior surface at opposing ends of the first chamber, and at least a second pair of spaced apart seals of the plurality of seals are sealingly coupled to the exterior surface at opposing ends of the second chamber, the first pair of seals arranged to open the fluidly communicative path between the orifice of the communal hub and the first one of the plurality of barrels via the first chamber while the second pair of spaced apart seals are arranged to close the fluidly communicative path between the orifice of the communal hub and the second one of the plurality of barrels when the slider is in the first position, and the second pair of seals arranged to open the fluidly communicative path between the orifice of the communal hub and the second one of the plurality of barrels via the second chamber while the first pair of seals are arranged to close the fluidly communicative path between the orifice of the communal hub and the first one of the plurality of barrels when the slider is in the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The medical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the slider includes an end cap positioned at a terminal end of the slider. 
     
     
         3 . The medical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the slider includes a pair of end caps which are located across the communal hub at locations diametrically opposed to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The medical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the communal hub includes one or more couplers, each of the one or more couplers sized and shaped to couple to a respective one of the plurality of the barrels. 
     
     
         5 . The medical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the communal hub includes a first port and a second port, the first port and the second port fluidly communicatively coupling the orifice of the communal hub to the first one of the plurality of barrels when the slider is in the first position. 
     
     
         6 . The medical apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the communal hub includes a third port, the first port and the third port fluidly communicatively coupling the orifice of the communal hub to the second one of the plurality of barrels when the slider is in the second position. 
     
     
         7 . The medical apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a needle adapter coupleable to the communal hub; and   a needle having a shaft, the shaft coupled to the needle adapter at one end thereof and the shaft having a bevel at another end thereof.   
     
     
         8 . A medical apparatus operable to inject or withdraw fluid, the medical apparatus comprising:
 a communal hub including:
 an opening; 
 a first port; 
 a second port; and 
 a third port; and 
   a slider slideably received via the opening of the communal hub and translatable across the communal hub, between a first configuration and a second configuration, the slider in the first configuration providing a first fluidly communicative path between the first port and the third port and the slider in the second configuration providing a second fluidly communicative path between the second port and the third port, the slider having:
 a first external surface circumferentially spaced apart from an internal surface of the communal hub by a first gap; and 
 a second external surface circumferentially spaced apart from the internal surface of the communal hub by a second gap; wherein: 
   the slider in the first configuration opens the first fluidly communicative path between the first port and the third port via the first gap while blocking the second fluidly communicative path between the second port and the third port; and   the slider in the second configuration opens the second fluidly communicative path between the second port and the third port via the second gap while blocking the first fluidly communicative path between the first port and the third port.   
     
     
         9 . The medical apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the communal hub includes a needle coupler sized and shaped to coupleably receive a needle, the needle coupler arranged to provide a third fluidly communicative path between the needle and the third port. 
     
     
         10 . The medical apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the slider translates across the communal hub in a direction that is perpendicular to a direction of the third fluidly communicative path. 
     
     
         11 . The medical apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the communal hub includes a first barrel coupler and a second barrel coupler, the first barrel coupler sized and shaped to coupleably receive a first barrel and arranged to provide a fourth fluidly communicative path between the first port and the first barrel, and the second barrel coupler sized and shaped to coupleably receive a second barrel and arranged to provide a fifth fluidly communicative path between the second port and the second barrel. 
     
     
         12 . The medical apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a first pair of spaced apart seals that are sealingly coupled to the first external surface; and   a second pair of spaced apart seals that are sealingly coupled to the second external surface, the first pair of spaced apart seals are arranged to open the first fluidly communicative path between the third port and the first port via the first gap while the second pair of spaced apart seals are arranged to close the second fluidly communicative path between the third port and the second port when the slider is in the first configuration, and the second pair of spaced apart seals are arranged to open the second fluidly communicative path between the third port and the second port via the second gap while the first pair of spaced apart seals are arranged to close the first fluidly communicative path between the third port and the first port when the slider is in the second configuration.   
     
     
         13 . The medical apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the first pair of spaced apart seals are sealing coupled to the first external surface at opposing ends of the first external surface, and the second pair of spaced apart seals are sealingly coupled to the second external surface at opposing ends of the second external surface. 
     
     
         14 . The medical apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the communal hub includes a plurality of grooves, at least a pair of the grooves sized and shaped to sealingly receive at least one of the first pair of spaced apart seals or the second pair of spaced apart seals. 
     
     
         15 . The medical apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the slider includes a pair of end caps which are located across the communal hub at locations diametrically opposed to one another.