Importance

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Abstract

A pill crushing syringe is disclosed which includes a barrel and a plunger, with abraded surfaces on each so that a pill placed in the barrel is crushed as the plunger advances within the barrel. The barrel has an aperture located near the closed end with a catheter connected around and extending from the aperture. The plunger has a sealing gland to provide an airtight seal with the barrel so that liquid may be drawn into the barrel through the aperture by withdrawing the plunger from the barrel to thereby suspend the crushed pill in the liquid, and the suspension may be flushed from the barrel by thereafter advancing the plunger into the barrel. In an alternative embodiment, a bi-level barrel has an aperture in spaced relation to the closed end forming a pocket wherein the crushed pill ingredients accumulate. The pocket at the closed end and the separation between the aperture and the barrel closed end helps prevent the medication from escaping the barrel via the catheter prior to aspiration. In still other embodiments, the syringe has a side entry plunger or two opposing plungers. In a further alternative embodiment, the aperture extends through the otherwise closed second barrel end and the catheter extends axially therefrom in better visual conformity with typical syringes. The abraded surfaces include radial protrusion patterns and a plug extending from the plunger prevents the abraded surfaces from meshing to thereby reduce packing of the pill particles between the abraded surfaces. The plug also blocks the catheter when the plunger is fully advanced into the barrel to prevent the medication from escaping via the catheter prior to aspiration.

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First Claim