US 11,896,807 B2
Convertible plungers and methods for assembling the same in a medical barrel
Brian Russell Lilly, Auburn, AL (US); Kenneth Wade Kelly, Auburn, AL (US); Joseph W. Rogers, Lafayette Hill, PA (US); Jean-Pierre Giraud, Auburn, AL (US); Bruce Rabinne, Boissy-le-Chatel (FR); Herve Pichot, Chennevieres-sur-Marne (FR); Benjamin Hunt, Auburn, AL (US); Zachary Dean Freeman, Auburn, AL (US); Dalton Roe, Auburn, AL (US); and Robert S. Abrams, Albany, NY (US)
Assigned to SIO2 MATERIAL PRODUCTS, INC, Auburn, AL (US)
Filed by SIO2 MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC., Auburn, AL (US)
Filed on Feb. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/248,972.
Application 17/248,972 is a continuation of application No. 16/306,536, granted, now 10,918,800, issued on Feb. 16, 2021, previously published as PCT/US2017/013337, filed on Jan. 13, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/343,536, filed on May 31, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0275752 A1, Sep. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. A61M 5/315 (2006.01); A61F 9/00 (2006.01); A61M 5/31 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 5/31513 (2013.01) [A61F 9/0008 (2013.01); A61M 2005/3101 (2013.01); A61M 2005/3121 (2013.01); A61M 2207/00 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A convertible plunger comprising:
a. a first subassembly comprising a connector body having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the connector body comprising a recess or axial channel, the first subassembly further comprising a plunger head, which is a separate component that is assembled to the distal end of the connector body, the plunger head having a liquid sealing section configured to contact and provide a seal against an interior wall of a medical barrel when disposed therein;
b. a second subassembly comprising an elongate ring carrier having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the ring carrier being secured to the proximal end of first subassembly, the proximal end of the ring carrier being configured to be secured to a plunger rod, the ring carrier comprising an annular dispensing platform and an annular storage platform distal to the dispensing platform, the annular storage platform having a larger maximum diameter or cross-sectional width than the dispensing platform, the ring carrier further comprising an annular insertion platform distal to the annular storage platform, the annular insertion platform having a smaller maximum diameter or cross-sectional width than the storage platform, the insertion platform being disposed in the recess or axial channel so as to fixedly secure the first subassembly to the second subassembly, the second subassembly further comprising a compressible and resilient storage ring disposed about the ring carrier and configured to displace axially thereon;
c. wherein the storage platform is more rigid than the storage ring.