US2625157A - Single dosage disposable hypodermic syringe ampoule and assembly - Google Patents

Description

jun. 13, 1953 M. L. LOCKHART SINGLE DOSAGE DISPOSABLE HYPODERMIC SYRI-NGE AMPOULE AND ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 22, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR. MARS/M41 Z. Zoe/(mm:

M. 1., LOCKHART Jan. 13, 1953 I SINGLE DOSAGE QISPOSABLE HYPODERMIC SYRINGE AMPOULE AND ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 22, 1950 m S 2 R Wm T OK. N TC. N0 R 1 m m m M a u w M j s m M Patented Jan. 13, 1953 SINGLE DOSAGE DISPOSABLE HYPODERMIC SYRINGE AMPOULE AND ASSEMBLY Marshall L. Lockhart, Rutherford, N. J., assignor to The Compule Corporation, Rutherford, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application December 22, 1950, Serial No. 202,333

11 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to disposable hypodermic syringe ampules and assemblies of the type which, prior to distribution, may be charged with single dosages of therapeutic liquids so that, upon subcutaneous injection of contents, the ampules or devices may be discarded.

A general object of the present invention is to provide such hypodermic syringe ampules and assemblies, the parts of each of the latter being unusually few and extremely simple in construction, readily produced on an economical massbasis, and easily assembled and charged with therapeutic fluids intended for hypodermic administration; the various embodiments featuring a movable wall container or elastic aspirating-ampule capable of capacity reduction and in which the therapeutic fluid is isolated, with the container or ampule being associated with a double-ended cannula, preferably protectively-covered, and one being manipulatable in a simple manner directly relative to the other so as to bring the cannula bore into communication with the interior of the container immediately at will.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide such a hypodermic syringe device which support means is mountable to carry therein a double-ended cannula with its inner end located outward of the diaphragm, and a removable cover is mountable in the socket beyond the support means for protectively housing the cannula, the diaphragm and inner end of the needle being relatively manipulatable in a unique and very simple manner with movement of the cover in the container socket to cause the cannula to pierce through the diaphragm to communication with the interior of the container for hypodermic discharge of contents thereof by application of manual pressure to reduce the capacity of the movable wall container or elastic ampule.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such hypodermic syringe device in the form of a structure featured by a collapsible tube moldable from elastic plastic or other suitabl similar material having a hollow neck extending axially from one end thereof with the bore in the neck separated from the interior of the tube by a needle-pierceable diaphragm, the hollow neck carrying therein a slidable body through which the double-ended cannula extends, with the inner end of the latter spaced outwardly from the diaphragm without intervening structure and with a cover cap having its inner open end slidably mounted in the neck bore beyond the support body so that the latter may be slid further into the bore by depression of the cap thereinto to cause the cannula to pierce through the diaphragm; such device thus permitting one to carry with him a dose of therapeutic composition effectively housed in a protective manner within the syringe device, which can be quickly and easily prepared for hypodermic injective use simply by first depressing and then withdrawing the cap.

A further object of the present invention is to provide structural embodiments of such hypodermic syringe device, the parts of which are readily and economically constructed, and such ampules, which permit efficient and economical use and operation or functioning thereof, as will be more fully apparent from the following descriptions of said embodiments shown by way of erample in the accompnying drawings.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view to a scale slightly larger than natural size of an embodiment of the hypodermic syringe device of the present invention, with the parts thereof assembled-relative to each other and with an end of the container open to receive a charge of therapeutic fluid;

Fig. 2 is a side view, with parts in axial section and broken away, of the structure shown in Fig. l, but to a much larger scale, and indicating the container charged with a dosage of therapeutic fluid and closed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional veiw substantially on ilne 3'3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2, but with the bottom end of the container broken away, showing manipulation of parts to bring about communication of the cannula with the interior of the container;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 of the charged hypodermic device shown inFig. 2 and indicating removal of the cap after can- Fig. 9 is a sectional view oitheistructureshownin Fig. 8, similar to Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals identify similar parts throughout; it =willbe seen that an embodiment of thepresent inven'-:-

tion shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive may comprise a collapsible wall containenill,"preferably in:.the

form of a collapsible tube or capsule, having relatively thin, highly flexible, elastic side wall's'an'd.

for this purpose, preferably made of an elastic plastic composition, such asa polyethylene "composition; Desirably the composition employed is transparent, at least to a-degree permittin'g inspecti'on of container contents" and'covered parts.

A further advantage of using one of the poly ethylene compositions resides in' the factthat they are readily molded-to desired shatterproof shapes, are moisture -proof and efieotively "mum tight so that-capsules thereof wilLnoV-permit leakageof' contained liquids evenun'd'er appreci' able internal pressure while being substantially inert to medicinal and therapeutic:-preparations intended-to be stored therein and administered therefrom. Also; bodies thereof; even" of sub stantial thickness; are: readily *pierceable byr'a needle with the? material at the 3 margin of a needle-pierced perforation havingrtheiinherent characteristic effectively fofigripping theiexterior of the needlezto there-form: arsubstantially' fluid.- tight seal.. Or -course; othersuitable-materials having; the 5' propericharacteristics. to? answer the demands :of a particular. use or desired :functioning, of'a -.-certainstructural: embodiment within the scope of .the .-invention-.-may .--be Y employed. in the. practice thereof.

As best -shown-in Fig; 2,.one-side of the col-. lapsible wall containerili ilei, one end.2 I Iof-the plastic tube, is closed by a needle-pierceable diaphragm. 22,. preferablyin the iorm'of a flexible membrane, and when made as an integral part oftheelastic plastic container has certainielasticity. vA head23 is mounted upon'end 2! of com tainer 29, preferably in the form of 'a hollowneck having a socket, preferably in the form of acylindrical bore -ti ifeiitending longitudinally or axially thereof,"closedatits inner endor'bottom by diaphragm'EZ; The outer end 25 of th'e'hollowneck 23constitutes 'an abutment for cooperative association with certain' stop means, as" explained hereinafter. As will be seen from Figs;- 1 and 2, the ccntainer=2fi preferably is molded integrally with the neck 23-and diaphragm 22 and has its bottom end-26 open to receive therein a charge of therapeutic fiuid, such'as a dosa'ge of medim inal liquid 2?. Thereafter the bottom .end 260i the tube maybe securely closedby pinching .opposite edges together and heat-sealingoitQatr-ZB, as indicated inFig. 2,..toiorm;a1loaded elastic aspirating ampule as: is more fully indicated hereinafter; 1

The hollow neck 2 371s iadaptedrto: receive and carry therein a double-endedzcannula 29; preferably supportable in" the-:borei 4' by .meansfof a lo'cuiytr3li:v 'I'hersupportbodyxSU may; as is best seen in Fig; 4, comprisesa; cylindrical slug; prefoutwardly of outer side 35 of the support body.

As indicated-inFigyz normally the support body efiiisto beniounted'at a certain point in the bore 24 so that the cannula inner end 32 extends towardwbutshort-of-oris spaced outwardly of the diaphragmiz to avoid puncture of the latter. It is'temporarilyheld in such position preferably byjmakingthe support body 38 slightly oversize, or, i..e., of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter'of the bore 2 so that it will be slidable therein but can be frictionally held in any desiredzpo'sition. By. employing; elastic plastic -composition!iromi-whichitoJ form the container. body and it's'h'ead zfi; the walls of the'hollow' neckrwill have somet'ela'sti'c'ity 'so' as to permittherdesired sliding-action of thesupport'body. 35l-therein, especially whenl-the latter is made of substantially:- rigid. material, such as r metallic composi tion; as mayabe preferred. Flexibility of the neclr 23"ma'y' be' limited zltoiat small degree'by making the walls thereof rel'atively thick while assuring relatively "high: flexibility: inthe container side wallsiby making them relatively thin, characteristic o'iif such: plastic compositions dueto their unique moduli of rigidity.

Cover means-16, preferably: inthe form of an elongated cup=shapedi cap, is provided with the external tdi'ameter of its inner end 31 preferably slightly larger :th'an the :diameter .of the bore 24, so. asto .be"slidable:therein but capable of being securely =heldifrictionally in any desired position; Theiprotectiveicap iifi-may be formed of arelatively rigid materiaL such as: metal or one of many plastic compositions;randiispreferably of transparent material'toi permitiobservation of the 'housedtcannulax and relatively shatterproof. It'willbe understood-however; that if made with relativelyth'ick side walls, cap 36 may be formed of amomposition similar to that employed in the moldingyofithefampule or container Ziland its integralneclcm. As a result, the edge of the inner end 3'l of cap 36' will. abut the outer face 35 0f the support-body 30,- and in the embodiment of'the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive:.may, be employed: to push. the latter inward or down into thei'boreds. The-cap 36is provided with suitable'stop means to limit its sliding action into the bore24, and for this purposepreferably is'provided with a shoulder 38 adapted to'abut against the outer end'25'of the necle 23, and may be formed by reducing the inner end 31 :in section as best'shown in Fig. 5. Of course capefi is of a length sufficiently to house theoutwardly-extending "end 34 of the cannula 29 protectively without damage or con- .tamination-thereof, and the'stop means or shoulder 38 is located at a' distance from the edged the inner' endl-31 preferably sufiicient to permit the :support body 30 to be slid inward in bore 24 just'far enough'as to assure that the inner end ;32 -of the-cannula willpierce through or puncturethe diaphragm 22 'sufliciently to communicate'the-cannula borewith the interior of ampule 20: Accordingly, the distance between the edge ofwthe'inner end- 31 of the cap -36 and the stop 15 -shoulderr38 .\vill approach the difference between the depth of the bore 24 and the longitudinal thickness or length of the support body 30, and preferably will be slightly less than that difference so that the support body will not be injuriously jammed against the relatively thin diaphragm 32. This will be apparent from Fig. 4 wherein it is indicated that the support body 30 is being slid forward by depression of the cap 36, with the distance :11 between the inner face 33 of the body 30 and the diaphragm 22 slightly greater than the distance between the outer end 25 of neck 23 and the cap shoulder 38.

In operation of the hypodermic syringe embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, after a charge of therapeutic fluid 21 has been sealed within the container tube 20 to form a loaded ampule, the device may be used for efiective distribution of single dosages. For example. it may be eflectively employed for supplying soldiers in the field with narcotic doses to be self-administered hvpodermically in emergencies. Since the preferred com osition is substantially shatterproof, such devices may be carried with assurance that they will not be dama ed or burst with rough usage. They are ouickly and easily manipulated, which is highlv important for selfadministration by a severely injured person.

It is a simple matter for one to rasp the tu bular container 20, with its head flan e 39 tending to assure a secure non-slip grasp thereof, and depress the cap 36 bv pushin on the outer end 46 thereof to cause it to telescope into the hollow neck 23 and s ide the support block 3!! forward in the bore 24 to puncture of the aphra m 22. Thus. the bore of the cannula 29 is brou ht into communication with the interior and the contents of the container or ampule 213. as is indicated in Fi 6. Since dia h a m 2 is formed of elastic material. the mar ins of the h le erced therein by the inner cannu a end 32 ill securely rip the evternal surface of need e 29 to pro de an e ctive fluid-t ht seal at that point- The can 36 is then withdrawn from the e 24. as indicated n Pig. and th outer end 34 of the cannula 29 thrust into the pat ents flesh so that the c ntained med cinal dosa e, mav he suhmita'neouslv admin stered by a in mechanical pre sure to onnn ite sides of the t n wa s of the container or ampule 2!], i. e.. colla e. it in the directi n of the arro s 4 4 in Fi 6 to eYpel the fluid th ou h the c nnu a. Due to the chea m ss of th h modermie device. it ma be and is intended to be discarded t r e nn s nn of c ntents in the hypodermi administration thereof The above d scri ed structure also has fu ther advanta es ma 'in it acc ptablv us ful bv physicians and other techn cians ho insist on an aspirating action for a show of blood at the inner end of the ca nula. As is ell known. some medicinal or therapeutic compositions are intended for intravenous in ection and others for intermuscular iniectio-n. To assure proper insertion of the cannula in a vein as iration for a show of blood is emploved, and it is also used to indicate when the needle of a s rin e for administering an intermuscular in ection is improperly located in a vein. Bv forming the walls of the container or ampule 20 of elastic material, such aspiration is permitted since if squeezing pressure on the side walls of'the container is momentarily relieved, suction will be created to develop the show of blood at the inner end 32 of the cannula.

As indicated in Fig. 7. a modified form of the invention may be formed of a greater number of parts suitably assembled or mounted together. For example, the collapsible wall tube or ampule 2|] may be formed from a length of tubing or elastic plastic composition closed at one end 2| by an integral membrane, with the center area thereof constituting diaphragm 22, and witha surrounding marginal area 42 suitably provided with cement. Head I23 may, if desired, be formed of diiferent material, such as substantially rigid plastic composition, having a bore I24 counterbored from the lower end, as indicated at 43, to provide an internal flange 44. The bottom face 45 of head I23 is intended to be adhered to the closed end 2| of container or ampule 20 by the cement in the area 42. However, prior to such cement aflixation of the head to the container or ampule, the cannula unit comprising needle 29 mounted through a suitable support block I30 will be inserted in the counterbored bore I24 from the bottom end thereof. If relatively rigid material is employed for the formation of head I23, it is to be understood that relatively elastic 0r resilient material may be employed in making the support body I30 so that it will slide in the counterbored portion of bore I24 with appreciable frictional resistance when its external diameter is slightly larger than the internal diameter of the counterbore. Also in such case permitted contraction of elastic body I36 may allow it to be snapped into counterbored portion 43 of bore I24 down past internal flange 44. Consequently, in such construction there is assurance that the cannula inner end 32 will be held out away from the diaphragm 22 securely until puncture of the latter is desired. The cover cap 36 may be similar to that employed in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, and, of course, will be used to force the cannula unit forward to puncture of the diaphragm 22. The operation of that embodiment in the hypodermic administration of contents may be similar to that practiced with the use of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.

Another modification of the device of the present invention is shown in Figs. 8 and 9 in which is proposed the employment of a support body 230 of elastic material of appreciably greater diameter frictionally held in a larger bore 224 in a thinner walled neck. 223, preferably of elastic plastic material and molded integrally with the container or ampule 20. The socket or bore 224 is reduced in section at its outer end as indicated at 46 so that the resulting internal flange 4'! may be employed to assure retention of the support body 236 and its cannula 29 in'thesocket 224. The support body 236 is readily inserted into the socket 224 by virtue of the elasticity of both the former and the retaining flange 41, permitting the support body to be squeezed through the restricted throat at 4B. The cover cap I36 may be similar to 36 of the embodiments of Figs, 1 to 7 inclusive, except that its inner end I31 may be enlarged to be frictionally gripped within restrictive throat 4'6, but, of course, will be slidable therethrough. The embodiment in Figs, 8 and 9 also dispenses with the employment of stop means to limit inward sliding motion of the support body 230 since by formin it of relatively nonrigid material, providing the diaphragm I22 of much larger area, and preferably by locating the juncture 48 of the side walls of container tube or ampule 26 radially inward of the inner walls of the socket 224, there is relatively no-tendency for ruptureof'the diaphragm' when the support bodyds jammed up 'thereagainst in the manner iIidica-ted'in FigZ. 9. It will beunderstood of course, thatafter'the diaphragm I22 has been pierced by the inner end=32 of the cannula in the manner proposedin' Fig. 9; the cover l 39'will then bewithdrawn so that-that embodiment of the hypodermic syringe device may be used in amanner similar :to that indicated above in connection with the forms ofthe invention shown in Figsxl to '7 inclusive. I

Itwi'll thus-be seen that'the objects set forth above; among those made apparent from thepreceding description are efiiciently attained and, since certain-changes may lee-made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could bemade Without departing from thescope thereof, it is intended that all matter containedin the-abovedescriptionor shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It: is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements'of the-scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Havin described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

L A single dosage, disposable hypodermic syringe comprising, acollapsible ampule having a longitudinally-extending bore in one end sealed elf-inwardly of its outer end by a pierceable membrane, slidable means frictionally receivable in said bore outward of said membrane, a longitudinally-extending double-ended cannula carriedby said slidable means with the length oi thelatter and that of the inner end of said cannula extending beyond=saidslidable means together being appreciably less than the depth of said bore to space thetip of thecannula inner end outwardly from said membrane when said slidable meansis initially positioned into the outer end of said bore, and a removable cover mounted over'the outer end of said cannula with its inner end-slidablyreceivable in said boreto engage said slidable means and push it inward to pierce saidcannula inner end through said membrane.

2. A single dosage, disposable hypodermic syringe comprising, in combination, a collapsible tube having =.a-hollow neck extending from one end thereof with its bore sealed oil at the bottom by a needle-pierceable membrane, an'oversized block slidably received-in the neck-bore and frictionally. held temporarily in an outward position, adouble-ended cannula mounted through said blockiwith its inner piercing end spaced outwardly from said membrane with no intervening structure to beready for puncture by the cannula inner end with forward sliding of said body into said bore, and a removable cap slidably mounted in said bore protectively over the outer end of said cannula with its inner end engageable against the outerside of'said block so as to push the latter inward with depression of said cap for puncturing said membrane.

3. A single dosage, disposable hypodermic syringe comprising, a collapsible tube having a longitudinally-extending bore in one end sealed oli inwardly. a certain distance from its outer end by a pierceable membrane, slidable means of certain longitudinal length frictionally received and temporarily held in said bore outward a second predetermined' distance from said mombranewith no interveningblockingistructure, alongitudinally-extendingi double-ended cannula carried by. said slidable means with its inner end projectingbeyond the latter a distance-less than the second mentioneddistance to be spaced outwardly of said membrane, a-removableelongated cap.mounted over the outer end of said cannula" with its-inner end slidably received insaid-bore to engage saidslidable means and pushit inward to pierce -said cannula inner end through said membrane, .and stop-.means on said caplto limit inward'travel of said slidable means in said bore short of "said membrane but sufficient to assure piercingpf =said-cannula inner end completely ference betweenthe longitudinal length -ofsaidslidable means and saidfirst-mentioned distance to-engage tube structure at the outer end of said bore for so limiting inward travel of said slidable means. I

5. A- single dosage, disposable hypodermic syringe comprising. a collapsible tube havinga longitudinally-extending, boreof certain depth definedatand sealedofi at its inner end by-a pierceable membrane, slidable means -of certain longitudinal 1engthfrictionally received and temporarilyheld in said boreoutward a predetermineddistance from said membrane with-no intervening blocking Jstructure, a longitudinallyextending .double-ended-cannula carried by said slidable means with its inner end projecting beyond the 'lattera' distance less than the mentioned distance to be spaced outwardly of said membrane, and a removable cup-shaped elongated slidable caphaving its open inner end frictionally received within the'outer end of said bore beyond said slidable'means and covering said cannula, said cap having a stop. shoulder outward of its inner end a distance slightly less than the difierence between the depth of said bore and the longitudinal length of said slidable means.

6. A single dosage, disposable hypodermic syringe comprising, in combination; a fluid-expelling and aspirating, elastic plastic tubular ampule having an integral hollow neck extending axially from one end thereof provided with a cylindrical bore of certain depth sealed off at its bottom by a nee'dle-pierceable membrane located a certain distance from the outer end of said 11601;; a'substantially cylindrical, slightly oversize slide of relatively rigid material and certain longitudinal thickness frictionally. received and temporarily held in anoutwa'rd position in the borewith no intervening blocking structure; a double-ended cannula mounted through said slide with its inner end extending toward but short of said membranegand'capable of piercing the latter when moved forwardj and a removable, cup-shaped, elongated" slidable cap having its open'inner endfrict'ionallyreceived within the outerend "ofsaidbore and covering said cannula with its inner end-engageable against said slide to push it forwardin-said bore with depression of saidcap, said caphavingmi external shoulder thereon adapted to engageth'eouter endof said neck for" limiting inward trave1 thereof and 'located' a distance frointhe inner end of said cap slightly les's thanth 'cl ifierencebetween the depth of said bore and the thickness of said slide.

7; A single dosage; disposable hypodermic syringe comprising". in "combination a"fiuid-'expelling and aspirating, elastic tubular ampule 'of polyethylene composition having ian intgral -hollow neck extending axially from one end thereof with the side walls thereof being imperforate and providedwith an axially-extending socket'defined :at its 1 bottom by a needle-pierceable elastic membrane element of substantially the same composition; a substantially cylindrical, slightly oversize, substantially inelastic support body frictionally mounted wholly within the outer-end of said socket outward ,of said ,membraneelement; a double-ended cannula mounted through said. supportbody with its inner end element spaced outwardly from said membrane element there being no intervening blocking structure between said membrane element and said cannula inner end element with the latter being capable of piercing said membrane element when those two elements are brought together; and a removable, cup-shaped, elongated slidable cap of plastic having a rigidity substantially greater than that of said tube composition with its side walls and outer end being imperforate and having its inner end open and of a diameter substantially equal to that of said support body; said socket being of a depth greater than the combined lengths of said cannula inner end element, said support body and a portion of the open inner end of said cap whereby the latter is frictionally received within the outer end of said bore beyond said support body and covering the outer end of said cannula; said neck, the unpierced membrane element and said cap forming a telescopic enclosure protectively housing said double-ended cannula in a substantially hermetically-tight manner with said cap being adapted to be telescoped into said neck to push said cannula inner end element forward to puncture of said membrane element and then out of said neck to uncover said cannula outer end for injectiveuse.

8. The hypodermic syringe as defined in claim 7 characterized by the provision of a circumferential stop shoulder on the outer side of said cap to engage the outer end of said neck for limiting inward travel of said body in said bore short of said membrane element to prevent said body from being pushed forward to rupture of said membrane element but suiiicient to assure piercing of said cannula, inner end completely through said membrane element.

9. A single dosage, disposable hypodermic syringe comprising, in combination; an elastic plastic, aspirating, tubular, liquid-expelling ampule having an integral, hollow, coaxial neck extending from one end with the bore therein closed oil at its inner bottom end by an integral, needlepierceable, transversely-extending, elastic membrane; a substantially cylindrical, rigid support body of a certain length and a diameter slightly larger than said bore frictionally receivable in the latter; a double-ended cannula rigidly mounted through said body with its inner end extending from the inner end of said body a distance appreciably less than the depth of said bore minus the length of said body so that the latter may be wholly engaged within the bore with an outer portion of the latter beyond said body free to receive another element and with the cannula inner end outward of said membrane; and a cupshaped, elongated, substantially rigid cover receivable of the outer end of said cannula with its inner open end abutted against the outer end of said body, said cover inner end being of a diameter slightly greater than that of said bore to be frictionally engaged in the outer portion of said bore in a slidable manner to push said body forward into said bore, said cover having a circumfer- 10 ential shoulder located outward of said cover inner end at a distance greater than the difference between the depth of said bore and the combined thickness of said membrane and lengths of said body and said cannula inner end'but less than the difference between the depth of said bore and the lengthof said body substantially aligned with the outer end of said neck to engage the latter to limit inward travel of said cover and body in said bore short of said membrane with puncture of the latterby saidcannula inner end.

10. A single dosage, disposable hypodermic syringe comprising, in combination; a container having flexible side walls for reducing the internal capacity thereof and closed at one end by a needle-pierceable membrane; a head fixedly mounted on said container end and having an elongated, longitudinally-extending, closed-wall bore of certain lateral dimension and depth terminating at said membrane; a relatively short support body slidably mounted wholly within said bore and of slightly larger lateral dimension with one of said head and body elements being formed of relatively elastic material to assure frictional mountation of the latter in the former temporarily to hold said body in an initial outward, relatively-fixed, wholly-housed position; a doubleended cannula mounted through said support body having an inner piercing end of certain length extending inward of said body toward said membrane with no structure intervening said cannula end and membrane, the combined lengths of said inner cannula end and said body being appreciably less than the depth of said bore whereby the tip of said cannula end is spaced outwardly from said membrane when said body is in its initial outward and wholly-housed position, said cannula having an outer injecting end extending outward from said body and out of said bore beyond said head for injective use; and an elongated, open-mouth, cup-shaped, imperforate protective cover slidably and removably telescoped inward over the outer end of said cannula and having an open inner en frictionally engaged into and telescopically received by said bore on the outer side of said body to be slidable inwardly therein with the internal diameter of its open inner end less than the external diameter of said body so that the edge of that cover end will engage said body to push it forward to puncture of said membrane by said cannula inner end with telescopic depression of said cover; said telescoped head and cover together forming a substantially hermetically-sealed protective enclosure housing said cannula in a sterile manner. 11. The syringe structure as denned in claim 10 characterized by said container and head being provided as a unitary structure made from elastic plastic material with said container constituting an elastic collapsible tube and its bored head constituting an elastic, elongated, imperforate hollow neck extending from one end of said tube and defining with said membrane a cylindrical socket in which said body in the form of a cylindrical hub is slidably mounted, said cover being in the form of an elongated, cup-shaped, relatively rigid capsule with its inner en and said hub being of substantially equal diameter slightly larger than the bore of said elastic neck to be frictionally and slidably mounted therein.

MARSHALL L. LOCKHART.

(References on following page)

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