EP1590021A2

EP1590021A2 - Fluid dispenser

Info

Publication number: EP1590021A2
Application number: EP03775121A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Fons
Original assignee: Curatio ApS
Current assignee: Curatio ApS
Priority date: 2002-12-02
Filing date: 2003-12-02
Publication date: 2005-11-02
Also published as: AU2003283218A1; AU2003283218A8; WO2004050534A3; WO2004050534A2

Abstract

Fluid dispenser system comprising a chamber connected to a fluid supply for supply of a first from a fluid supply to the chamber under pressurised conditions. A tube is going though the wall of he chamber for connecting a flexible, collapsible container inside the chamber with a hose outside the container. The pressure of he firs fluid inside the chamber exerts pressure on the container which causes a second fluid inside the container to be pressed out of the container and into the hose.

Description

Fluid dispenser

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser using pressure exerted on flexible fluid containers for pressing the fluid out of the container, for example for dispensing of pharmaceutical liquids from flexible plastic containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A fluid dispenser is described in International patent application WO02/074363 by

Pedersen et al. The dispenser, used in an apparatus for flushing peripheral organs, comprises a chamber enclosing a flexible liquid container and a flexible pressure bag. The pressure bag, when filled with pressurised air, expands and thereby exerts pressure on the liquid container such that liquid is pressed out of the container and into a discharge hose.

It has turned out that for certain thin-walled, flexible pharmaceutical containers, this system is unsuited because the thin wall of the container tends to rupture when used in such systems. Another disadvantage is the fact that the liquid discharge is difficult to regulate precisely, because the force exerted by the pressure bag on the container varies in dependence of the amount of liquid left in the container, resulting in a change of discharge speed during dispensing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the purpose of the invention to provide an improved fluid dispenser. Especially, it is the purpose to provide a fluid dispenser that does not have the above disadvantages.

This purpose is achieved by a fluid dispenser system according to the invention comprising

- a chamber connected to a fluid supply for supply of a first fluid,

- pressure means for supplying the first fluid from the fluid supply to the chamber under pressurised conditions, - a tubing going though the wall of the chamber, the tubing having a first part inside the chamber and a second part outside the chamber,

- a hose connected to the second part of the tubing, and

- a flexible, collapsible container containing a second fluid and connected to the first part of the tubing for supply of the second fluid from the container to the hose when said flexible, collapsible container is subject to pressure from the pressurised first fluid in the chamber.

The fluid dispenser system according to the invention is suited for dispensing fluid, for example liquid, from a collapsible container without the risk that the container wall ruptures. For example, in the apparatus of International patent application WO02/074363, isotonic liquids are used which often are provided in plastic bags with rather thin walls. In a chamber according to the invention, such a thin walled liquid bag is subject to even pressure by the first pressurised fluid, for example pressurised air. Such even pressure around the plastic is much gentler than in the system disclosed in WO02/074363 and therefore reduces the risk of rupture of the plastic bag.

The pressure of the first fluid, for example air, other gases or liquids, can by easy means be kept constant in the chamber. This implies an even and constant pressure on the container in the chamber regardless of the amount that is left inside the container.

Because the amount of liquid removed from the container is dependent on the pressure exerted on the collapsible container and the pressure can be kept constant, also the flow of liquid from the container and into the hose outside the chamber is easy to regulate precisely and can easily be kept constant, if desired. Therefore, by simple means, the invention solves the problems of the prior art.

Also, the construction of the invention allows a great variety of containers to be placed in the chamber, for example containers of different forms and volume, making the invention to a versatile apparatus for a large range of applications.

The means for supplying the first fluid from the fluid supply to the chamber under pressurised conditions may have pressure regulating means for regulating and controlling the pressure of the first fluid in the chamber. For example, such pressure regulating means may be an air pump with a pressure regulator, such as a pressostat. With reference to the aforementioned International patent application WO02/074363, the system according to the invention may be used for a likewise system for flushing peripheral organs with a liquid, for example water, isotonic liquids or other pharma- ceutical liquids. In this case, the fluid dispenser system according to the invention may comprise a pulsation apparatus connected to the hose for creating a pulsating jet of the second fluid, which in this case is a liquid.

The chamber according to the invention may thus be connected to a pulsation appara- tus, which may be in a box-like casing. In order to achieve a system that is easy to transport, the chamber may be equipped with a mount for mounting the chamber to the box-like casing of the pulsation apparatus.

The fluid system according to the invention comprises a fluid dispenser having a chamber connectable to a fluid supply of a first fluid for supply of the first fluid from the fluid supply and into the chamber under pressurised conditions. The chamber may have a tubing going though the wall of the chamber with a first part inside the chamber and a second part outside the chamber for connecting a flexible collapsible container inside the chamber to the first part and a discharge hose outside the chamber to the second part. By the invention, a second fluid from the collapsible container may be discharged through the hose when pressure is exerted on the collapsible container by the pressurised first fluid.

The chamber may comprise a cylindrical wall with end caps, where at least one of the end caps is a removable lid for giving access to the inside of the chamber under opened conditions, where the chamber under closed conditions is sealed against the outside atmosphere. For example, the removable lid may be hinged for easy opening and correct positioning when closing.

Also, the chamber may include a removable connector comprising the tubing, the connector forming part of the wall of the chamber. Such a removable connector may be configured such that it roughly corresponds to the cross section of the cylindrical wall of the chamber and may be arranged between the upper edge of the cylinder and the end cap under sealing conditions in order to confine the pressurised fluid inside the chamber. For example, it could be disc-shaped as the cross section of the cylinder. The tubing through the wall of the chamber has a first and a second part, at least one of which may comprise a so-called Lure-lock for easy and quick connection to the hose or to the collapsible container. However, usually, the first part will be configured as a sharpened part for transpiercing a corresponding seal of the container, for example made of rubber.

The lid of the chamber may comprise a lock system having a rotatable lever with a handle. The Lever may be equipped with at least two, for example three, locking ele- ments engageable with at least two corresponding locking parts connected to the cylindrical wall for locking the lid to the cylindrical wall.

According to the invention fluid may be dispensed from a flexible, collapsible container by the following method comprising - providing a chamber,

- connecting the chamber to a fluid supply of a first fluid for supply of the first fluid from the fluid supply and into the chamber under pressurised conditions,

- providing a tubing going though the wall of the chamber, the tubing having a first part inside the chamber and a second part outside the chamber, - placing a flexible, collapsible container inside the chamber,

- connecting the first part of the tubing to the collapsible container inside the chamber and

- connecting the second part of the tubing to a discharge hose outside the chamber, - supplying the first fluid to the chamber under pressurised conditions for exerting pressure on the collapsible container for discharging the second fluid from the collapsible container and into the hose.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, where FIG. 1. is a schematic of a system according to the invention, FIG. 2. is a drawing of the chamber according to the invention, FIG. 3. is a drawing of the chamber where the locking system is unlocked, FIG. 4. is a drawing of the chamber with an open lid, FIG. 5. is a drawing of a first alternative embodiment, FIG. 6. is a drawing of a second alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 shows a fluid dispenser system 1 according to the invention. A chamber 2 is connected to a fluid supply 3 for supply through a supply tube 4 of a first fluid to the chamber 2. Pressure means 5 are included for supplying the first fluid from the fluid supply 3 to the chamber 2 under pressurised conditions. The pressure means 5 com- prise means for regulation and control of the pressure for the first fluid in the chamber

2. The fluid supply and the pressure means may imply an air pump for supplying pressurised air as a first fluid into the chamber 2 and a pressostat for controlling and regulating the pressure of the first fluid.

Inside the chamber 2, a flexible, collapsible container 6 is positioned which contains a second fluid, in this case a liquid. The container 6 is connected to a hose 7 through a tubing 8 having a first part 9 inside the chamber 2 connected to the container 6 and a second part 10 outside the chamber 2 connected to the hose 7

The first fluid under pressurised conditions in the chamber 2 exerts pressure - indicated by arrows 11 - to the walls 12 of a container 6, whereby liquid from the collapsible container 6 is pressed out of the container 6 and through the tubing 8 into the hose 7. Here it is assumed that the hose 7 is not blocked for entry of liquid into the hose 7.

The hose 7 is optionally connected to a pulsating apparatus 13 inside a casing 17, for example for achieving a flushing of peripheral organs analogous to the disclosed apparatus in International patent application WO02/074363. The pulsating apparatus 13 may through a regulator 16 regulate the pulsation of the expelled liquid 14 through an expel tube 15.

The fluid dispenser system according to the invention including the pulsating apparatus 13 may be constructed as a compact unit, where the fluid supply 3 and the pressure means 5 as a pressure regulated air pump are included in the casing 17. A second regu- lator 19 may be used to regulate and control the pressure of the pressurised air fed into the chamber 2. The chamber 2 is in addition attached to the casing 17 by a mount 18.

Fig. 2 is a drawing of the chamber 2 according to the invention. The chamber 2 com- prises a cylindrical wall 13, a lower end cap 14 and an upper frame 15 supporting a lid

16. The lower end cap 14 has a rim 17 which is connected by rods 18 with the upper frame 15, thus, keeping the upper frame 15 and the lower end cap 14 tightened towards the cylindrical wall 13.

The lid 16 comprises a lock system with a rotatable lever 20 and a handle 19 for turning the lever. Three indentations 21 - better illustrated in Fig. 3 - function as locking elements engageable with three corresponding heads 22 as locking parts connected via the upper frame 15 to the cylindrical wall 13 for locking the lid 16 to the cylindrical wall 13 though the upper frame 15.

The lid 16 may be hinged (not shown) to the upper frame 15 for securing a correct positioning when being closed. As shown in detail in Fig. 4, between the lid 16 and the upper frame 15, a connector 23 is arranged. Under closed conditions, the connector 23 rests on a rubber sealing 24 and is held in place by the locked lid 16 against the super-atmospheric pressure inside the chamber 2. Even for relatively moderate super- atmospheric pressure, the force exerted on the connector 23 is substantial such that a solid construction of the lid is necessary in order to prevent the connector to break. Especially, if the connector 23 is constructed fragile, in order to save material, the solid construction of the lid is important.

The connector 23 has a tubing 8 with a first part 9 inside the chamber for connection to a container (not shown) inside the chamber 2 and a second part 10 outside the chamber 2 for connection to a hose. The second part 10 may be equipped with a Lure- lock, which is generally used for medical equipment. The first part may 9 be sharp- ened, as shown in Fig. 4 for easy transpiercing a rubber sealing of a collapsible container.

The connector 23 may thus be connected to the container by pushing the sharpened second part 9 through the rubber sealing of the collapsible container, after which the container is placed inside the chamber 2 and the connector 23 is put in place resting on the sealing 24. Thereafter, the lid 16 is closed pressing the connector 23 downwards on the sealing 24 and locking the lever 20 by turning the handle 19 such that the three indentations 21 are enganged with the heads 22 for keeping the lid 16 in place. Best seen on Fig. 2, the lid has got a recess 25 leaving space for the second part 10 of the tubing 8.

The connector 23 may be produced by a material of low cost and for medical use be provided in a sterile package for one way use each time a new container is placed in the chamber 2. Also the container to be placed in the chamber 2 may be sterile or at least the rubber sealing to be transpierced could be sterile. Thus, the sharpened part 9 and the rubber sealing would then be sterile when used, which in medical applications may be desired.

Especially, for a connector 23 for one way use, it is desirable that only a small amount of material is used for the production, even in the case, where the material can be recycled. In this case, it is advantageous that the lid 16 is solid enough to support the connector 23 sufficiently that even a thin walled connector 23 can be used at super- atmospheric pressure.

The first part 9 of the tubing 8 may in addition, or alternatively to the sharpened part, be conical for easy engagement with a flexible pipe, because some containers to be placed in the chamber may not be equipped with a rubber sealing to the penetrated, but have instead a flexible pipe attached. Other containers again have a neck at the upper part of which a part can be broken off. The remaining part of the neck has a hole into which the conical first part 9 may be pressed to obtain a sealed connection between the connector and the remaining part of the neck.

The connector 23 and/or the cylindrical wall 13 of the chamber 2 may be made of a transparent material, for example a polymer such as polycarbonate which can be recy- cled. In this case, it is easy to verify how much liquid is left in the container.

Materials that are useful for the chamber, the end cap and the lid is metal, for example steel or aluminium, and polymers. However, this list is in no way exhaustive. In order to mount the chamber 2 to a casing or other convenient supplemental parts, the chamber 2 may be connected to a mount 28, which however may have various other forms dependent on the desired function.

In the shown embodiment of Fig. 1 through 4, the exit of the second fluid is through the top of the chamber 2. However, this is not necessary. A different embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 5, where the chamber 2' contains a container 24 supported by hanging on a hook 25. Also shown in Fig. 5 is the supply tube 4 entering the chamber 2' through the lid 16' and the hose 7' for receipt of the second fluid, in this case a liquid, from the container 24.

A further embodiment is shown in Fig. 6, where the container 24 is placed in a chamber with a back wall 26 and a transparent front wall 27 that can be opened for giving access to the chamber 2.

The invention is primarily intended for medical use, for example flushing of peripheral organs. However, the nature of the invention is generic, and the invention in a broader scope may be used for dispensing liquids or gases in a variety of fields. Examples of such fields are agriculture, gardening, food industry, or dispensing of sol- vents or other chemicals.

Claims

1. Fluid dispenser system comprising

- a chamber connected to a fluid supply for supply of a first fluid, - pressure means for supplying the first fluid from the fluid supply to the chamber under pressurised conditions,

- a tubing going though the wall of the chamber, the tubing having a first part inside the chamber and a second part outside the chamber for connection to a hose,

2. Fluid dispenser system according to claim 1, wherein said means for supplying the first fluid from the fluid supply to the chamber under pressurised conditions, has pressure regulating means for regulating and controlling the pressure of the first fluid in the chamber.

3. Fluid dispenser system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said second fluid is s liquid and wherein said fluid dispenser system comprises a pulsation apparatus connected to the hose for creating a pulsating jet of the second liquid.

4. Fluid dispenser system according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the liquid is a pharmaceutical liquid.

5. Fluid dispenser system according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the liquid is an isotonic liquid.

6. Fluid dispenser system according to claim 3, wherein the chamber comprises a mount for mounting the chamber to the pulsation apparatus.

7. Fluid dispenser for a fluid dispenser system according to any claim 1-6, wherein the fluid dispenser comprising a chamber connectable to a fluid supply of a first fluid for supply of the first fluid from the fluid supply and into the chamber un- der pressurised conditions, the chamber having a tubing going though the wall of the chamber and having a first part inside the chamber for connection to a flexible collapsible container inside the chamber and a second part outside the chamber for connection to a discharge hose outside the chamber for discharge of a second fluid from the collapsible container through the hose when pressure is exerted on the collapsible container by the pressurised first fluid.

8. Fluid dispenser according to claim 5, wherein said chamber comprises a cylindrical wall with end caps, where at least one of the end caps is a removable lid for giving access to the inside of the chamber under opened conditions, where the chamber under closed conditions is sealed against the outside atmosphere.

9. Fluid dispenser according to claim 6, wherein the removable lid is hinged for easy opening and correct positioning when closing.

10. Fluid dispenser according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the chamber includes a removable connector comprising the tubing, the connector forming part of the wall of the chamber.

11. Fluid dispenser system according to claim 8, wherein the removable connector is disc-shaped and wherein the cross section of the cylinder is correspondingly disc-shaped, wherein the removable connector is arranged between the upper edge of the cylinder and the end cap under sealing conditions.

12. Fluid dispenser according to any claim 5-9, wherein the second part comprises a lure-lock.

13. Fluid dispenser according to any claim 5-10, wherein lid comprises a lock system, the lock system having a rotatable lever with a handle, the lever having at least two locking elements engageable with at least two corresponding locking parts connected to the cylindrical wall for locking the lid to the cylindrical wall.

14. A method for dispensing fluid from a flexible, collapsible container, the method comprising providing a chamber, connecting the chamber to a fluid supply of a first fluid for supply of the first fluid from the fluid supply and into the chamber under pressurised conditions, providing a tubing going though the wall of the chamber, the tubing having a first part inside the chamber and a second part outside the chamber, placing a flexible, collapsible container inside the chamber, connecting the first part of the tubing to the collapsible container inside the chamber and connecting the second part of the tubing to a discharge hose outside the chamber, supplying the first fluid to the chamber under pressurised conditions for exerting pressure on the collapsible container for discharging the second fluid from the collapsible container and into the hose.

15. Use of a fluid dispenser system according to claim 1-5 for flushing peripheral organs in humans or animals.