WO2017072727A1 - Syringe and method of using same - Google Patents

Abstract

A syringe includes a body having a tubular shape and an inner surface. The inner surface has a body protrusion and a plunger sized to slide in an axial direction and rotate in the body. The plunger has a top, a bottom and a side wall extending a length between the top and the bottom. The side wall has plunger protrusions formed at a different location along an outer surface of the plunger. The plunger selectively aligns each plunger protrusion with the body protrusion during rotation. The plunger, when slid to be withdrawn from the body, has one plunger protrusion interface with the body protrusion to restrict further sliding movement of the plunger, so that the plunger is withdrawn at a discrete different length at each interface of the one plunger protrusion with the body protrusion.

Description

SYRINGE AND METHOD OF USING SAME

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/248,383, filed October 30, 2015, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to syringes. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a syringe and a method for selecting a desired dose and restricting operation of a syringe to measure and dispense the selected dose.

2. Description of Related Art

[0003] Syringes are used to inject and/or withdraw fluids in various sectors such as, for example, laboratory, and medical fields. A syringe typically has several parts. One part is a cylindrical barrel that is substantially hollow. Another part is a plunger that partially fits in the hollow space of the barrel.

[0004] The plunger either pushes fluid, such as a medicament, out of the barrel during injection, or pulls fluid into the barrel during withdrawal from a source. Many syringes have a hollow needle or cannula permanently or detachably connected at the distal end of the barrel. Syringes that do not have a hollow needle or cannula, have a fill and dispense opening that is generally part of the body of the syringe. These types of syringes are frequently used for dispensing medicaments orally to a patient in need. Dispensing medicament from a syringe is accomplished by pushing the plunger further into the barrel, where the medicament is located. This action reduces the volume and forces medicament to be expelled through the opening of the body. Withdrawing medicament from an external source is accomplished by partially drawing the plunger from the barrel to create a vacuum, which causes medicament to flow from the external source into the barrel.

[0005] Typically, syringes have markings on the barrel that signify a quantity of medicament contained therein. However, there is difficulty in ensuring an accurate measurement when withdrawing the plunger to fill the syringe with a predetermined dose, especially, for example, during the night when a child is sick and the syringe is needed to administer medication to the child.

[0006] Accordingly, there is a need for a syringe and a method and system for use of the syringe that enables a user to select a desired dose. After the dose is selected, a plunger is drawn back from a body a distance that is restricted to the selected dose. This prevents a user from accidentally drawing up too large a dose, and also helps to prevent under-dosing, since the user will draw back to a hard stop at the restricted distance and be less likely to stop short of their intended dose.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0007] The present disclosure provides a syringe or syringe device and a method for making the syringe, and for use of the syringe that is comfortable to hold.

[0008] The present disclosure also provides such a syringe that assures ease of delivery of the correct dosage of the medicament in the syringe.

[0009] The present disclosure further provides such a syringe that maintains cleanliness of the dispensing tip due to the syringe's ergonomic design when placed on a surface or substrate.

[0010] The present disclosure provides a syringe that includes a body having a tubular shape and an interior surface with a body protrusion, and a plunger is sized to move in the body. The plunger has a top, a bottom and a side wall extending a length between the top and the bottom. The side wall has a plurality of plunger protrusions formed on an outer surface thereof. The plunger is rotatable in the body to selectively align each plunger protrusion with the body protrusion. When the plunger is movable in the body to be withdrawn from the body in a first direction, one plunger protrusion interferes with the body protrusion restricting movement of the plunger in the first direction. Each plunger protrusion is positioned at a different location on the outer surface to interfere with the body protrusion at a different location along the length so that the plunger is withdrawn at discrete, different lengths.

[0011] The above-described and other advantages and features of the present disclosure will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a syringe in a retracted position according to the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view with a plunger removed from a body of the syringe of FIG. 1 with the body shown as transparent.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a partial top perspective view of the body of FIG. 2 shown as opaque.

[0015] FIG. 4 is another partial top perspective view of the body of FIG. 3 rotated 180 degrees.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the body of FIG. 3 taken along line A-A.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a top view of the body of FIG. 3. [0018] FIG. 7 is a side view of the plunger of the syringe of FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the plunger of FIG. 7 rotated 180 degrees.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a partial side view of the plunger of FIG. 7.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a bottom cross-sectional view along plane A of the plunger of FIG. 8.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a partial rear view of the plunger of FIG. 7.

[0023] FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial side view of the plunger of FIG. 7.

[0024] FIGS. 13 and 14 are a side perspective view of the plunger of FIG. 7 split into two separate molded parts.

[0025] FIGS. 15A, 15B and 15C illustrate the steps of filling the syringe of FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 16A is top cross-sectional view of the syringe of FIG. 1 in the retracted position.

[0027] FIG. 16B is a partial cross-sectional side perspective view of the plunger and the body of FIG. 1 with the cross-section passing through a body protrusion on a flexible element of the body.

[0028] FIG. 16C is a partial cross-sectional side perspective view of the plunger and the body of FIG. 1 with the cross-section passing through a body wall of the body.

[0029] FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate the steps of dispensing material from the syringe of FIG. 1.

[0030] FIG. 17C is a side view of the syringe of FIG. 1 held by a hand of a user. [0031] FIGS. 18A, 18B, 18C and 18D illustrate the steps of cleaning the syringe of FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 19 is a side view of the syringe of FIG. 1 on a flat surface.

[0033] FIG. 20 is a partial side perspective view of the syringe of FIG. 1 having the plunger with an alternative disassembly indicia.

[0034] FIG. 21 is a partial side perspective view of the syringe of FIG. 1 having the plunger with the alternative disassembly indicia rotated clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 20.

[0035] FIG. 22 is a side view of the syringe of FIG. 1 having an alternative disassembly indicia and measurement indicia shown exploded from the tube.

[0036] FIGS. 23-27 are side views of the syringe of FIG. 1 having alternative nozzle sections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0037] Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of a syringe of the present disclosure is generally referred to by reference numeral 100. Syringe 100 has a body 200 and a plunger 700. Plunger 700 is rotatable in body 200. Plunger 700 can be withdrawn from and inserted into body 200. Syringe 100 enables a user to rotate plunger 700 to select a desired dose, for example, a dose of medicine that is a liquid. After the dose is selected, plunger 700 is drawn back from body 200 a distance that is restricted to the dose selected. This prevents a user from accidentally drawing up too large a dose, and also helps to prevent under-dosing, since the user will draw back to a hard stop at a restricted distance and be less likely to stop short of their intended dose.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 2, body 200 has a tubular section 202, a nozzle section 204 connected to tubular section 202, and an open end section 206 connected to nozzle section 204 opposite tubular section 202. Body 200 has a body wall 210 surrounding an interior volume 212. Body wall 210 forms tubular section 202, nozzle section 204 and open end section 206.

[0039] Tubular section 202 has a conduit shape and preferably has measurement indicia 214. Measurement indicia 214 can be a raised surface or painted thereon. Tubular section 202 also has information indicia 216.

[0040] Nozzle section 204 has a conical-type shape for dispensing material that terminates in a radial section 203. Radial section 203 basically has a uniform radius throughout is axial extant, and has an opening 205 at its distal end opposite nozzle section 204. Opening 205 emits or receives fluid or medicament from or into, respectively, syringe 100.

[0041] Open end section 206 has a larger diameter or radii than tubular section 202 and nozzle section 204. Open end section 206 has an opening 218 into interior volume 212. In open end section 206, body wall 210 has gaps 220 that form a flexible element 222. Open end section 206 has ribs 224 that extend from body wall 210 into interior volume 212, and a ridge 226 that extends outward from body wall 210 around the circumference of body 202.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 3, flexible element 222 has body protrusions 302, 304 and blocking protrusion 310. Body protrusion 302 has a top surface 306, and body protrusion 304 has a top surface 308. Blocking protrusion 310 has a top surface 312. Top surfaces 304, 306 and 312 each have an angle with an interior surface 31 1 of body wall 210 of greater than 90 degrees.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 4, each rib 224 has a contact surface 402. Tubular section 210 has disassembly indicia 404. Flexible element 222 has a depression 406. Depression 406 is on an exterior surface 408 of body 200 that is opposite to interior surface 31 1 shown in FIG. 3. Depression 406 forms an approximate mirror image of body protrusions 302, 304 and blocking protrusion 310, which are shown in FIG. 3. The staircase shape of depression 406 preserves a consistent wall thickness throughout flexible element 222 to simplify the molding of body 200.

[0044] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, body protrusion 302 has side surfaces 502, 504 and bottom surface 505. Body protrusion 304 has side surfaces 506, 508 and bottom surface 509. Blocking protrusion 310 has side surfaces 510, 512 and a bottom surface 514. Side surfaces 502, 504, 506, 508, 510, 512 and bottom surfaces 505, 509 and 514 each have an angle of greater than 90 degrees with an interior surface 31 1 of body wall 210. Body 200 has a bore 616 from opening 218 to opening 205 through nozzle section 204.

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 7-9, plunger 700 has a nozzle portion 702, a body portion 704 and contact portion 706. Nozzle portion 702 has a conical shape for dispensing material that has a smaller diameter than body portion 704.

[0046] Body portion 704 has a seal portion 708 that is the largest diameter on body portion 704. Seal portion 708 forms a lip with nozzle portion 702 so that seal portion 708 extends over nozzle portion 702 forming a space 709 between seal portion 708 and nozzle portion 702. Body portion 704 has an angled surface 710, plunger protrusions 714, ridges 718 and grooves 720. Angled surface 710 is angled inward from seal portion 708 toward a body surface 712. Plunger protrusions 714 are raised from body surface 712, and each adjacent pair are connected to one another to form a staircase shape wall 716. Plunger protrusions 714 are each at a different location along body surface 712. Ridges 718 are raised from body surface 712. Grooves 720 are formed on body surface 712 between two adjacent ridges 718, and are also formed between one ridge 718 and staircase shape wall 716. Ridges 718 that are above angled surface 710 and have inclined surfaces 722. Each inclined surface 722 is angled outward from angled surface 710 toward body surface 712.

[0047] Contact portion 706 has a hemispherical shape that is preferably sized so that user's fingers can grasp contact portion 706 without having to grasp underneath a curved portion 724 of contact portion 706. Curved portion 724 has one or more ridges 726 to assist in grasping and rotating contact portion 706. Contact portion 706 has a marking 728 that is raised or can be painted thereon.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 10, curved portion 724 forms a lip with body portion 704 so that curved portion 724 extends over body portion 704 forming a space 1002 between curved portion 724 and body portion 704. Ribs (not shown) can be formed between curved portion 724 and body portion 704 to structurally support contact portion 706. Each ridge 718 has a center point 1004, and inclined surfaces 1008, 1010. Inclined surfaces 1008, 1010 each have an angle with body surface 712 of greater than 90 degrees. Ridges 718 have a distance 1006 of 20 degrees between adjacent center points 1004. Staircase shape wall 716 of plunger protrusions 714 shown in FIG. 9 extends around 300 degrees of plunger body portion 704. Angled surface 710 extends around 60 degrees of plunger body portion 704.

[0049] Referring to FIGS. 1 1-12, each plunger protrusion 714 has a width 1 102, a depth 1104 and a height 1106.

[0050] Referring to FIGS. 13-14, plunger 700 can be made in a first piece 1302 and a second piece 1402 that are permanently connected, for example, by snap fit. First piece 1302 and second piece 1402 can simplify molding and manufacture of plunger 700.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 15A, during operation of syringe 100, plunger 700 is in body 200 in an assembled condition, and nozzle section 204 is placed in communication with a material to be dispensed, e.g., a container of liquid medicine. Marking 728 indicates a dose of syringe 100. Referring to FIG. 16A, when assembled, plunger 700 is connected to body 200 so that each of body protrusions 302, 304 is between two of ridges 718 in one groove 720.

[0052] Referring to 15B, contact portion 706 is grasped by a user that applies a force in a rotation direction 1502 to rotate contact portion 706 to align marking 728 with a desired one of measurement indicia 214 that indicates a dosage size.

Ridges 726 on contact portion 706 of plunger 700 assists with gripping by the user for rotation. The user can select their dose by rotating plunger 700 relative to measurement indicia 214 on body 200. Aligning marking 728 with a desired one of measurement indicia 214 aligns one protrusion 714 with body protrusion 302 and another protrusion 714 with body protrusion 304. During rotation in rotation direction 1502 or in a rotation direction opposite to rotation direction 1502, side surfaces 502, 504, 506, 508 of body protrusions 302, 304 and side surfaces 512, 514 of blocking protrusion 310 contact inclined surfaces 1008, 1010 of ridges 718, which are angled in the same or similar direction to one another, to deflect flexible element 222 over each ridge 718 and retracts into each groove 720. During rotation, movement of flexible element 222 over each ridge 718 creates a tactile feel of a bump and can also create an audible noise or "click", which can help indicate a change in dosage, e.g., 0.5ml_ per click/bump, to the user. As shown in FIG. 16B, curved portion 724 has an inside face 725 and open end section 206 has an outer face 207. During rotation, plunger 700 and body 200 are kept in good axial alignment due to inside face 725 of plunger 700 acting on outer face 207 at the top of body 200.

[0053] Once marking 728 is aligned with the desired one of measurement indicia 214, body protrusions 302, 304 and blocking protrusion 310 are each between two of ridges 718 in one groove 720. Plunger 700 is held at each dial position by a rotational detent. This rotational detent is formed by the long, angled spline features of ridges 718 on plunger 700 that acts on the corresponding angled faces of side surfaces 502, 504, 506, 508 of body protrusions 302, 304 and on flexible element 222 of body 200.

[0054] Referring to 15C, user grasps contact portion 706 to apply a force in a first direction 1504 to move plunger 700 out of body 200. Body protrusions 302, 304 and blocking protrusion 310 each are between two adjacent ridges 718 in one groove 720 and restrict rotation of plunger 700 during movement in first direction 1504 unless a force greater than a predetermined force is applied in rotation direction 1502 or in a rotation direction opposite to rotation direction 1502. Once plunger 200 has been withdrawn a short distance, plunger 700 is potentially free to wobble greatly and ribs 224 help to prevent this wobble by acting on staircase shape wall 716 of plunger 700 so that ribs 224 ensure ridges 718 of plunger 700 are biased into contact with body protrusions 302, 304 and blocking protrusion 310 of flexible element 222 when plunger 700 is being withdrawn from body 200 in direction 1504.

[0055] Referring to FIGS. 16B and 16C, FIG. 16B shows the plunger withdrawn from the body so that further sliding movement is restricted while FIG. 16C shows the plunger withdrawn from the body so that further sliding movement is restricted. In FIGS. 16B and 16C, the staircase shape wall of the plunger and the body are shown as opaque with the remainder of the plunger shown as transparent.

Referring to FIGS. 15, 16B and 16C, the alignment of a first protrusion 714 with body protrusion 302 and a second protrusion 714 with body protrusion 304 restricts movement of plunger 700 when the first protrusion 714 contacts bottom surface 505 of body protrusion 302 and the second protrusion 714 contacts bottom surface 509 of body protrusion 304. This creates a two stop feature on body 200.

[0056] The two stop feature acts on staircase shape wall 716 of plunger 700 to prevent plunger 700 from being pulled out further than the selected dose. Plunger 700 is pulled back until a hard stop is reached. Accordingly, on the top of body 200 is flexible element 222 that has body protrusions 302, 304 forming both blocking stop features and rotational detents that keep body 200 and plunger 700 together.

[0057] As discussed above, plunger protrusions 714 are each formed at a different location along body surface 712 of plunger 700. When plunger 700 is slid to be withdrawn from body 200, plunger protrusions 714 interface with body protrusions 302, 304 to restrict further sliding movement of plunger 700 at a discrete different length for each interface of one of the plurality of plunger protrusions 714 with body protrusions 302, 304, for example, a larger length in FIG. 15C and a smaller length in FIGS. 16B and 16C. Accordingly, a dosage in syringe 100 shown in FIGS. 16B and 16C is smaller than a dosage in syringe 100 shown in FIG. 15C. [0058] Seal portion 708 is in contact with body wall 210 in body 200 so that the movement of plunger 700 in body 200 in first direction 1504 creates a negative pressure to cause a flow of the material into body 200 through opening 205 and nozzle section 204. When one or first protrusion 714 contacts body protrusion 302 and another or second protrusion 714 contacts body protrusion 304 an amount of material indicated by the desired one measurement indicia 214 in which marking 728 is aligned in body 200 is in syringe 100.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 17A, nozzle section 204 (is removed from communication with the material to be dispensed) is placed in a position for dispensing, e.g., in a mouth of a child. The user grasps contact portion 706 to apply a force in a second direction 1702 to move plunger 700 into body 200, as shown in FIG. 17B. Body protrusions 302, 304 and blocking protrusion 310 each being between two ridges 718 in one groove 720 (shown in FIG. FIG. 16A) restricts rotation of plunger during movement in second direction 1702 unless a force greater than a predetermined force is applied in rotation direction 1502 or in a rotation direction opposite to rotation direction 1502. Seal portion 708 is in contact with body wall 210 in body 200 so that the movement of plunger 700 in body 200 in second direction 1702 creates a positive pressure to cause a flow of the material out of body 200 to dispense the material.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 17B, plunger 700 moves until contact portion 706 abuts ridge 226 of body 200 where further movement of plunger in second direction 1702 is restricted. The movement of plunger 700 into contact with ridge 226 dispenses the amount of material indicated by the desired one of measurement indicia 214 in which marking 728 is aligned. The design and location of flexing element 222 preserves a clean bore 616, as shown in FIG. 6, down a full length of body 200. This ensures that plunger 700 will seal well within body 200 across the full range of doses.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 17C, the user can grasp syringe 100 by placing a thumb T on contact portion 706 and fingers F1 , F2 against a side of ridge 226 adjacent tubular section 202 of body 200 to apply a force in second direction 1702 to move plunger 700 into body 200, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B. Fingers F1 , F2 gripping body 200 of the syringe would get pinched at locations L1 , L2, between body 200 and contact portion 706, if ridge 226 on body 200 was too small. Ridge 226 is sized so as not to pinch fingers F1 , F2 at locations L1 , L2.

[0062] Referring to FIG. 18A, once syringe is returned to the retracted position, contact portion 706 is grasped by a user that applies a force in rotation direction 1502 to rotate contact portion 706 to choose another dosage or to align marking 728 with disassembly indicia 404 that aligns angled surface 710 shown in FIG. 18C with blocking protrusion 310 shown in FIG. 3 to remove plunger 700 from body 200.

[0063] Referring to FIG. 18B, the user grasps contact portion 706 to apply a force in first direction 1504 to move angled surface 710 into contact with blocking protrusion 310 that deflects flexible element 222 outward so that plunger 700 can be disassembled from body 200 in a disassembled condition, as shown in FIG. 18C. Angled surface 710 and bottom surface 514 of blocking protrusion 510 shown in FIG. 5 are angled in the same or similar direction to one another to deflect flexible element 222 over angled surface 710. Nozzle portion 702 has a smaller diameter than the remainder of plunger 700 so that plunger 700 can be disconnected from body 200 after deflection of flexible element 222 over angled surface 710. Accordingly, to remove plunger 700 from body 200, blocking protrusion 510 forming the blocking feature flexes out of the way. There is a long angled face on angled surface 710 of plunger 700 that acts on a corresponding feature on flexible element 222 on body 200, deflecting flexible element 222 radially outwards.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 18C, body 200 and plunger 700 can be washed separately when in the disassembled condition.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 18D, plunger 700 is assembled with body 200 by, for example, the user grasping contact portion 706 to apply a force in second direction 1702 to insert nozzle portion 702 of plunger 700 into opening 218 of body 200. The application of force by the user in second direction 1702 deflects flexible element 222 outward, similar to the deflection of flexible element 222 shown in FIG. 18B, from body portion 704 to move contact portion 706 of plunger 700 into contact with ridge 226 of body 200 as shown in FIG. 15A so that syringe 100 is again ready to measure, fill with a dose of material, and dispense the material. Plunger 700 can be re-inserted into body 200 in any orientation. An end of plunger 700 will act on the top face of flexible element 222 to deflect flexible element 222 out of the way, allowing body 200 and plunger 700 to be assembled together.

[0066] Referring again to FIG 12 and the steps in staircase shape wall 716, width 1102 is 1.35 millimeters ("mm"). Depth 1104 is 1.35mm. Height 1106 is 3.34mm. A cross-sectional area of bore 616, as shown in FIG. 6, is 149.6 square millimeters. Each 3.34mm increase in height 1106 equates to (3.34 multiplied by 149.6) 500 cubic millimeters of volume that equals 0.5 milliliters.

[0067] Height 1106 is driven by the incremental increase in dosing volume that syringe 100 will draw up. Depth 1 104 is driven by a size of engagement of plunger protrusions 714 desired with body protrusions 302, 304. If there is a smaller depth 1 104 than 1.35mm, there results in less engagement of plunger protrusions 714 and body protrusion 302, 304 for a less robust design. If there is a larger depth 1 104, there results in greater engagement of plunger protrusions 714 with body protrusions 302, 304 for a more robust dose stop, but requires flexible element 222 on body 200 to flex outward a greater distance to disconnect plunger 700 from body 200 for cleaning. Thus, the depth 1104 of between about 1 millimeter and about 3 millimeters is desired for optimal functioning of syringe 100. However, these dimensions are also dependent on a geometry of the rest of syringe 100. For example, a taller flexible element 222 would permit greater engagement without risk of the flexible element snapping off during dis-assembly.

[0068] Width 1102 is driven by the number of plunger protrusions 714 required around plunger 700 in order to provide a discrete dose stop at every 0.5 milliliters interval from 0.5 milliliters to 7.5 milliliters. If width 1 102 of plunger protrusions 714 is greater, it will result in an increased contact between plunger protrusions 714 and body protrusions 302, 304 for a more robust stop feature. Width 1102 has been chosen to maximize the width of the plunger protrusions 714 within the available space. Width 1102 is calculated by dividing the number of plunger protrusions 714 into 360 degrees after having allocated a portion of the 360 degrees for angled surface 710. However, if the number of plunger protrusions 714 desired were to be quite low (e.g. 6 rather than the shown 15) then width 1102 of these steps would become so great that the entire flexible element 222 would take up a relatively large portion of the total circumference. Ideally, the flexible element should take up no greater than 60 degrees to 70 degrees of the circumference (it is currently shown as about 60 degrees) otherwise it will become too stiff to flex repeatedly without failure. Body protrusions 302, 304 maximize a width of engagement with plunger protrusions 714 around the circumference within this angular constraint. However, wider plunger protrusions 714 may only require one step of body protrusions 302, 304 as a stop feature.

[0069] The above dimensions can be changed for other desired dosage sizes. For example, other configurations are possible (e.g. 1 mL to 10mL in steps of 1 mL) in which case the dimensions of the features would be adjusted accordingly.

[0070] Referring to FIG. 19, body 200 is shaped so that when syringe 100 lies on a flat surface or substrate 1902, tubular section 202 contacts flat surface 1902 and nozzle section 204 does not touch flat surface 1902. By minimizing or eliminating nozzle section 204 from touching flat surface 1902, a hygiene and contamination risk is minimized or eliminated.

[0071] Syringe 100 enables the user to first rotate plunger 700 to select their desired dose. After the dose is selected, plunger 700 is drawn back and will stop at the correct dose, preventing the user from accidentally drawing up too large a dose.

[0072] Syringe 100 as described herein is two pieces. However, syringe 100 can be made with only two molded pieces, or in the case of a two-piece plunger, three pieces. These designs reduce the cost to manufacture. [0073] Referring to FIGS. 20-21 , marking 728 can be modified to be more obvious as shown by marking 728a. Marking 728a improves communication of a dose indicator to the user. Marking 728a improves visibility to the user by being an indicator that wraps up over the hemispherical shape of contact portion 706 into a dimple 2002. Thus, marking 728a is now partially visible even from when marking 728a is rotated 180 degrees away from the viewpoint of the user. Marking 728a has a depth 2004 greater than marking 728 such that marking 728a is embossed further from a surface of contact portion 706. Marking 728a has a slot cut out 2006 that provides a high contrast area. Ridges 726 decrease in size, in other words, fade out towards marking 728a to improve visibility to the user. The surface of dimple 2002 can have a gloss finish which contrasts against a texture on the remainder of contact portion 706.

[0074] Referring to FIG. 22, measurement indicia 214 can include "ml" to indicate to the user that the numbers denote a value of milliliters. Disassembly indicia 404, as shown in FIG. 4, can also take the shape of disassembly indicia 2202 that is an intuitive indicator for disassembly of plunger 700 from body 200.

[0075] Referring to FIG. 6, bore 616 has a diameter. The diameter, for example, is 13.8 millimeters (mm) that is optimized for suck-back, e.g., creating a negative pressure to cause a flow of the material into body 200, and plunger travel on a 7.5ml volume syringe. This distance is fixed regardless of nozzle section 204 shape. Referring to FIG. 2, radial section 203, for example, has a vertical wall area of at least 3.5mm at the tip of the device for sealing of a plug in the neck of a medicine bottle and device stability when in the plug in the neck of a medicine bottle. Radial section 203 has an outer diameter that is currently 6.5mm with an opening of 4.5mm. The conical-type shape of nozzle section 204 above radial section 203 largely governs the amount of ullage in the device.

[0076] Referring to FIG. 23, nozzle section 204 can be a different shape that has a longer straight portion so that it can be inserted deeper into the mouth with a harder stop. The straighter portion or form also reduces the amount of ullage in the device. FIGS. 24-27 show alternative shapes of nozzle section 204. [0077] It should also be noted that the terms "first", "second", "third", "upper", "lower", and the like may be used herein to modify various elements. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated.

[0078] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular

embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A syringe comprising: a body having a tubular shape and an inner surface, the inner surface having a body protrusion; and a plunger sized to slide in an axial direction and rotate in the body, the plunger having a top, a bottom and a side wall extending a length between the top and the bottom, the side wall having a plurality of plunger protrusions formed at a different location along an outer surface of the plunger, the plunger selectively aligns each of the plurality of plunger protrusions with the body protrusion during rotation, wherein the plunger, when slid to be withdrawn from the body, has one of the plurality of plunger protrusions interface with the body protrusion to restrict further sliding movement of the plunger, so that the plunger is withdrawn at a discrete different length at each interface of one of the plurality of plunger protrusions with the body protrusion.

2. The syringe of claim 1 , wherein the body is formed by a body wall that forms a flexible element that moves inward and outward, and wherein the body has the body protrusion positioned on the flexible element.

3. The syringe of claim 2, wherein the side wall of the plunger has an angled face that aligns with the flexible element.

4. The syringe of claim 3, wherein the angled face interferes with the body protrusion to move the flexible element outward to disconnect the plunger from the body.

5. The syringe of claim 3, wherein the angled face has an angle with the outer surface of the plunger that is greater than 90 degrees.

6. The syringe of claim 2, wherein the flexible element has a blocking protrusion extending a length thereof, and wherein the blocking protrusion has a top side opposite a bottom side along the length.

7. The syringe of claim 6, wherein the blocking protrusion has a bottom longitudinal surface along the bottom side that has an angle with the interior surface, wherein the angle with the interior surface is greater than 90 degrees.

8. The syringe of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of ridges on the outer surface that form a plurality of plunger grooves.

9. The syringe of claim 8, wherein the plurality of ridges extends along a length of the plunger, and wherein the plurality of ridges each has side surfaces on opposite sides of each of the plurality of ridges.

10. The syringe of claim 9, wherein the side surfaces each have an angle with the interior surface of greater than 90 degrees.

1 1. The syringe of claim 8, wherein the body protrusion can fit in each of the plurality of plunger grooves.

12. The syringe of claim 1 1 , wherein the plunger is rotatable in the body when a predetermined force is applied to the plunger in a direction of rotation so that the body protrusion passes over each of the plurality of plunger grooves and the plurality of ridges during rotation of the plunger.

13. The syringe of claim 12, wherein, when the plunger is sliding in the body, the body protrusion is in one of the plurality of plunger grooves to prevent rotation when a force less than the predetermined force is applied to the plunger in the direction of rotation.

14. The syringe of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of plunger protrusions each are connected to form a staircase shape.

15. The syringe of claim 14, wherein the staircase shape has a width, a depth and a height, and wherein the height is greater than the width and the depth.

16. The syringe of claim 15, wherein the width and the depth are approximately equal.

17. The syringe of claim 1 , wherein the plunger has a contact portion gripped by a user, and wherein the contact portion has a marking that indicates a dose of syringe that extends from a side to a top portion where a dimple is formed in the contact portion.

18. A method of measuring and dispensing a material with a syringe wherein the syringe has a body and a plunger, the method comprising: rotating the plunger in the body to align a body protrusion on the body with one of a plurality of plunger protrusions on the plunger, each of the plurality of plunger protrusions positioned at a different location on an outer surface of the plunger to interface with the body protrusion so that the plunger is movable to be withdrawn from said body at different lengths; sliding the plunger in a first direction out of the body until the body protrusion contacts one of the plurality of plunger protrusions to restrict sliding of the plunger in the first direction; and moving the plunger in a second direction, opposite the first direction, into the body to dispense the material out of the body.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein when the plunger is restricted from sliding in the first direction when anyone of the plurality of plunger protrusions interface with the body protrusion, the body is filled with the material.