Methods, systems and devices for administering medication

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices for administering medication are disclosed. One or more embodiments of a medication delivery device may include a syringe, a needle, a guiding element, and a volume limiter for limiting the amount of medication that can be drawn from a vial. At least one method for administering medication using a medication delivery device, may include: inserting a vial into a guiding element, drawing back on a plunger, removing the guiding element and the vial from a needle to expose the needle, inserting the needle into a patient, depressing the plunger to inject the medication into the patient, and withdrawing the medication delivery device from the patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medication delivery device, comprising:
 a syringe, comprising:
 a flange; 
 a syringe barrel for housing medication; 
 a plunger slideably disposed in the syringe barrel for drawing medication from a vial into the syringe barrel and for injecting the medication from the syringe barrel into a patient, wherein at least a portion of the plunger is configured for limiting the distance the plunger can travel within the syringe barrel; and 
 a syringe tip; 
   a needle;   a guiding element comprising a guiding element shaft for housing the needle; and   a volume limiter for limiting the amount of medication that can be drawn from the vial.   
     
     
         2 . The medication delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger comprising a channel and the volume limiter comprising a pin, wherein the pin interacts with the channel to limit the distance the plunger can travel within the syringe barrel and to limit the amount of medication that can be drawn from the vial. 
     
     
         3 . The medication delivery device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plunger comprises an engagement section for limiting the distance the plunger can travel within the syringe barrel; and   wherein the volume limiter comprises:
 a top surface; 
 a bottom surface; and 
 an opening through which the plunger may be inserted, wherein the opening comprises:
 a first surface that assumes the contour of the engagement section of the plunger; and 
 a second surface that assumes the contour of a surface of the plunger alternate to the engagement section. 
 
   
     
     
         4 . The medication delivery device of  claim 3 , wherein the volume limiter is permanently connected to the syringe and comprises:
 a first flange housing element for engaging the flange; and   a second flange housing element for engaging the flange.   
     
     
         5 . The medication delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger comprises an engagement section for limiting the distance the plunger can travel within the syringe barrel, wherein the engagement section comprising a second end that engages the volume limiter to limit the amount of medication that can be drawn from the vial. 
     
     
         6 . The medication delivery device of  claim 5 , wherein the volume limiter comprising a swivelable plate which engages the engagement section of the plunger to limit the amount of medication that can be drawn from the vial. 
     
     
         7 . The medication delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the volume limiter is configured into the syringe barrel as at least one protrusion which may engage a second end of the plunger to limit the distance the plunger may travel within the syringe barrel and to limit the amount of medication that can be drawn from the vial. 
     
     
         8 . The medication delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the guiding element shaft is configured as a semi-sharp cannula and further comprises:
 a neck designed to be sharp enough to puncture a rubber septum of the vial but not sharp enough to penetrate skin; and   at least one duct wherein medication may flow from the vial to the needle.   
     
     
         9 . The medication delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the guiding element operably connects to the needle and further comprises a guiding element barrel for securing the vial and for guiding the needle into the vial. 
     
     
         10 . The medication delivery device of  claim 9 , wherein the guiding element further comprises at least one flexible member for engaging and securing the vial when the vial is inserted into the guiding element barrel. 
     
     
         11 . A volume limiter device, comprising:
 a top surface, a bottom surface, an opening through which a plunger of a syringe travels, and a retention member;   wherein the opening comprises a first surface;   wherein the volume limiter operably connects to a flange of the syringe;   wherein, when the volume limiter is operably connected to the flange, the retention member engages a barrel of the syringe and applies force to the volume limiter such that the first surface of the opening engages the plunger; and   wherein, when the first surface and the plunger engage each other, the bottom surface of the volume limiter restricts the longitudinal distance that the plunger can be drawn and thereby limits the amount of medication that can be drawn from a vial.   
     
     
         12 . The volume limiter device of  claim 11 , wherein, when the volume limiter is operably connected to the flange, the retention member is secured around a portion of the barrel of the syringe and an oppositely situated surface of the volume limiter. 
     
     
         13 . The volume limiter device of  claim 11 , wherein, when the volume limiter is operably connected to the flange, the volume limiter is resiliently shiftable on the flange. 
     
     
         14 . The volume limiter device of  claim 11 , further comprising: a first bottom ledge and a second bottom ledge located on the bottom surface of the volume limiter, wherein the first bottom ledge and the second bottom ledge are arranged to allow the flange of the syringe to transition in between the first bottom ledge and the second bottom ledge when the volume limiter is operably connected to the flange. 
     
     
         15 . The volume limiter device of  claim 14 , further comprising a first flange housing element that receives the flange when the volume limiter is operably connected to the flange. 
     
     
         16 . The volume limiter device of  claim 11 , wherein, when the volume limiter is operably connected to the flange and when the plunger is depressed through the opening of the volume limiter, the retention member causes the volume limiter to transition on the flange such that the first surface automatically engages the plunger. 
     
     
         17 . The volume limiter device of  claim 11 , wherein the first surface of the volume limiter's opening resiliently engages the plunger when the volume limiter is operably connected to the flange. 
     
     
         18 . The volume limiter device of  claim 11 , wherein, when the volume limiter is operably connected to the flange, the retention member resiliently secures an operable connection between the volume limiter and the syringe and automatically engages the volume limiter to limit the amount of medication that can be drawn from the vial. 
     
     
         19 . The volume limiter device of  claim 11 , wherein the volume limiter further comprises a first flange housing element and a second flange housing element that are configured to engage the flange when the volume limiter is operably connected to the flange. 
     
     
         20 . The volume limiter device of  claim 11 , wherein the volume limiter further comprises a swivelable plate that engages the plunger to limit the amount of medication that can be drawn from the vial when the volume limiter is operably connected to the flange.