GB2601521A

GB2601521A - Bottle support and complementary bottle

Info

Publication number: GB2601521A
Application number: GB2019047.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Arnold Adam; Jowitt Jordan
Original assignee: Keymed Medical and Industrial Equipment Ltd
Current assignee: Keymed Medical and Industrial Equipment Ltd
Priority date: 2020-12-03
Filing date: 2020-12-03
Publication date: 2022-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 2040-12-03
Also published as: GB202019047D0; GB2601521B

Abstract

A bottle support for a bottle of irrigation fluid to be used in a medical procedure, comprises a contoured bottle-receiving portion 10 with first and second ends and a longitudinal axis. A first sloping surface slopes down in a direction from the first to the second end. A ramped portion with a second sloping surface slopes up from the first towards the second end. A laterally extending recess extends between the first and second sloping surfaces. A third sloping surface slopes down from the top of the second sloping surface towards the second end. A bottle 40 with a body portion of a complementary shape is also provided which locates on the bottle support in a form-locking manner. A heating device or illumination device may be provided in the first sloping surface.

Description

BOTTLE SUPPORT AND COMPLEMENTARY BOTTLE

The present invention relates to a bottle support and a complementary bottle, for use with a pump supplying liquid for a medical procedure.

Medical procedures such as endoscopies often require irrigation fluid to be administered to the patient. Usually, a peristaltic pump is used to withdraw fluid from a bottle and supplied via plastic tubing. The peristaltic pump may be mounted on a shelf of a moveable workstation or trolley, which also carries other equipment. Therefore, space is relatively limited. Typically, liquid is provided in a standard one litre disposable bottle which is square in cross-section. The bottle can be supported on a tray fixed to the side of the pump. However, for some procedures bespoke bottles of larger capacity are desired but cannot fit on a support intended for the standard bottles. There is a need for a support to accommodate different sizes and configurations of bottle and which can be fixed adjacent to a pump within the limited space available on a workstation, ensuring the bottle is secure but is easily accessible so that it can replaced when empty.

The present invention provides a bottle support comprising first and second ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween, and a contoured bottle receiving surface comprising a first surface sloping down in a direction from the first end to the second end, at least one ramped portion comprising a second surface sloping up in a direction from the first end to the second end and at least one recess defined between the first and second surfaces and extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis.

The contoured shape of the bottle support is able to accommodate both conventional and bespoke configurations of bottle in a secure manner.

The ramped portion preferably further comprises a third surface sloping down from the top of the second surface towards the second end. The ramped portion may comprises a pair of adjacent ramped portions separated by an axially extending channel.

The first surface preferably slopes downwardly at an angle of 50 degrees. In addition, an angle between the first and second surfaces is preferably 90 degrees.

In one embodiment, the first sloping surface comprises a heating device operable to heat a bottle contacting the first surface. The first sloping surface may also comprises an illumination device operable to illuminate a bottle received on the bottle support.

The bottle support may further comprise raised walls on each side of the first sloping surface and the valley, and a flat surface extending from the top of the first sloping surface towards the first end of the bottle support.

Preferably, the bottle support as claimed is formed as a one piece plastic moulding.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a bottle support as described above, in combination with a bottle comprising a body portion which is contoured in a complementary manner to the contoured bottle receiving surface of the bottle support in order to locate on the bottle support in a form-locking manner. In particular, the bottle may comprise a body portion formed with a sloping wall configured to locate against the first sloping surface of the bottle support, and at least one recess configured to locate over the or each ramped portion and further comprising a foot portion defined between the sloping wall and the or each recess configured to locate in the valley of the bottle support.

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a bottle support in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the support of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the support of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view of the support of Figures 1-3 with a complementary bottle mounted thereon; Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the support and bottle of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a side view of the support of Figures 1-3 with a standard bottle mounted thereon; Figure 7 is a rear perspective view of the support and bottle of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a side view of the complementary bottle of Figures 4 and 5; Figure 9 is a front perspective view of the bottle of Figure 8 from above; and Figure 10 is a rear perspective view of the bottle of Figures 8 and 9 from below.

A bottle support 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 1-3. The support 10 is preferably a one-piece moulding made of plastic. In use the support 10 may be attached to the side of a pump by means of a bracket (not shown). The support 10 includes first and second ends 12,14 defining a longitudinal axis X. In normal use, the support 10 is fitted to a pump with the first end 12 adjacent to the front face of the pump for ease of access. Accordingly, the first and second ends 12,14 are also referred to herein as front and rear ends. The upper surface of the support 10, which receives a bottle in use, is contoured to provide an arrangement of projections and recesses against which a bottle can locate.

Towards the front end 12, the support 10 defines a sloping wall 16, as best seen in Figure 3. The wall 16 slopes downwardly in a direction along the longitudinal axis X from the front end 12 towards the rear end 14. Preferably, the wall 16 slopes downwardly at an angle of approximately 50 degrees to the horizontal. A flat plateau region 18 may extend forwardly from the top of the sloping wall 16.

A mid-section of the support 10 is formed with a ramped portion 20, as best seen in Figure 2. The ramped portion 20 is defined by a first ramp 22 which slopes upwardly in a direction from the front to the rear of the support 10, and a second ramp 24 which slopes downwardly in a direction from front to rear. The ramps 22,24 are joined by a rounded peak 26 which projects upwardly.

The first ramp 22 preferably slopes upwardly at an angle of approximately 40 degrees to the horizontal. The second ramp 24 is preferably shallower and slopes down towards the rear end 14 of the support 10 at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the horizontal.

The sloping wall 16 and the first ramp 22 define between them a recess in the form of a trough or valley 28 which extends laterally across the width of the support 10, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X. The ramped portion 20 may comprise a single part of the support 10, but in one example and as best seen in Figures 2-3, it comprises a pair of identical ramped portions 20a,20b adjacent to each other and separated by a central channel 30. Each ramped 4 -portion 20a,20b is formed by first and second ramps 22a,22b and 24a,24b joined by rounded peaks 26a,26b.

The support 10 may further comprise raised side walls 32,34 on each side of the sloping wall 16 and the laterally extending valley 28. The side walls 32,34 may merge into the sides of the ramped portions 20a,20b. The second side wall 34, which will be adjacent to a pump body in use may, continue at its full height to the rear end 14 of the support 10, protruding above the second ramp 24 as best seen in Figures 2 and 3. The first side wall 32 merges into the downward sloping second ramp 24 towards the rear end 14 so that it does not inhibit a bottle being placed onto the support 10 from the side. Preferably the edges of the surfaces making up the ramped portion 20 are radiussed to avoid sharp edges.

The front end 12 of the support 10 may comprise a heating device operable to warm liquid in a bottle supported on the support 10 before it is administered to a patient.

The heating device may comprise an electrically heated plate 36 set into the sloping wall 16 as shown in Figure 3. Heating elements or wires for connection to a power supply may be provided behind the plate 36. The support 10 may also incorporate an illumination device 38 which in this example is a light located in an opening near the lower end of the sloping wall 16. The illumination device 38 illuminates a bottle on the support 10 and helps to indicate the level of liquid remaining in the bottle.

The support 10 may be used with a complementary configuration of bottle 40 as shown in Figures 4 and 5. This configuration of bottle 40 is also illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. The bottle 40 is formed with a complementary shape to mate with the contours of the support 10 in order to locate the bottle 40 securely in position form-locking manner.

The bottle 40 comprises a generally rectangular body 42 with an angled neck 44 projecting up from one corner. Lower parts of the bottle body 42 are shaped to fit against the support 10. Below the angled neck 44, the bottle 40 may be shaped with a projecting shoulder 46 which can rest on the flat plateau 18 at the front end 12 of the support 10. The bottle 40 also defines an angled front wall 48 configured to lie against the sloping wall 16 of the holder support 10. The lower portion of the bottle body 42 is further provided with generally triangular recesses 50 in each side which fit over the ramped portions 20a,20b.

A central spine 52 between the recesses 50 locates within the axial channel 30 on the

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support 10. A foot portion 54 formed between the angled front wall 48 and the recesses 50 on the bottle body 42 will locate within the lateral valley 28 on the holder 10. Thus, the botte 40 is shaped to engage with the features of the support 10 to hold the bottle 40 securely. The ramped and curved form of the support 10 encourage a bottle 40 to locate in the correct position. The side walls 32,34 help to prevent any accidental dislodgement of the bottle 40 to the sides of the holder 10.

The upper portion of the bottle body 42 may be formed with additional recesses 56 on each side providing gripping points for a user lifting the bottle 40.

Alternatively, the support 10 of the present invention can be used with a conventional bottle 58 as shown in Figures Band 7. This form of bottle 58 has a smaller capacity than the complementary bottle 40. It has a body 60 with a generally square cross-section and a central neck 62 protruding upwardly from the upper surface.

This form of bottle 58 locates on the support 10 by resting in a tilted position, with one side wall of the bottle body 60 lying against the sloping wall 16 of the support 10. The base 64 of the bottle 56 lies against the first ramps 22a,22b. A lowermost corner 66 of the bottle 58 will locate within the lateral valley 28. The sloping wall 16 and first ramps 22a,22b of the support 10 preferably define between them an angle of approximately 90 degrees so that a conventional bottle 58 as shown will lie with one side flat against the sloping wall 16 and the base 64 resting against the first ramps 22a,22b. The angle of the sloping wall 16, which is preferably about 50 degrees, ensures the bottle 58 does not extend up too far and interfere with a shelf above it on a workstation, while the bottle 56 is not tilted so far that it risks spilling the contents if the lid is not secure.

For both configurations of bottle 40 and 58, the whole of the heating plate 36 contacts a surface of the bottle for maximum heating efficiency. The weight of liquid in the bottle 40, 58 when it is full tends to push the bottle 40, 58 against the heating plate 36 to ensure good contact.

Both configurations of bottle 40, 56 locate securely on the support 10 and can be easily fitted and removed when required. Once fitted, the neck 44, 62 of the bottle 40, 56 is angled towards the front for ease of access by a user. The support 10 could also be used 6 -with a conventional bottle of circular cross section, particularly if heating, and thus a large area of contact with the heating plate 36, is not required. 7 -

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A bottle support comprising first and second ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween, and a contoured bottle receiving surface comprising a first surface sloping down in a direction from the first end to the second end, at least one ramped portion comprising a second surface sloping up in a direction from the first end to the second end and at least one recess defined between the first and second surfaces and extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis.
2. A bottle support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ramped portion further comprises a third surface sloping down from the top of the second surface towards the second end.
3. A bottle support as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ramped portion comprises a pair of adjacent ramped portions separated by an axially extending channel.
4. A bottle support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first surface slopes downwardly at an angle of 50 degrees.
5. A bottle support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an angle between the first and second surfaces is 90 degrees.
6. A bottle support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first sloping surface comprises a heating device operable to heat a bottle contacting the first surface.
7. A bottle support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first sloping surface comprises an illumination device operable to illuminate a bottle received on the bottle support.
8. A bottle support as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising raised walls on each side of the first sloping surface and the valley.
9. A bottle support as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a flat surface extending from the top of the first sloping surface towards the first end of the bottle 35 support. 8 -
10. A bottle support as claimed in any preceding claim formed as a one piece plastic moulding.
11. A bottle support as claimed in any preceding claim, in combination with a bottle comprising a body portion which is contoured in a complementary manner to the contoured bottle receiving surface of the bottle support in order to locate on the bottle support in a form-locking manner.
12. A bottle support in combination with a bottle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the body portion of the bottle is formed with a sloping wall configured to locate against the first sloping surface of the bottle support, and at least one recess configured to locate over the or each ramped portion and further comprising a foot portion defined between the sloping wall and the or each recess configured to locate in the valley of the bottle support.