MXPA06006254A - Bulk compounder manifold - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a manifold (10) for receiving fluid tubes in a bulk compounder. In its simplest form, the manifold includes a plurality of inlets, each inlet defining an opening to a respective fluid passageway, and each passageway contains a check-valve. Included in this manifold is an outlet (310) in fluid communication with the fluid passageways and an inlet port (140) which is coaxial with the outlet (310). The coaxial inlet port (140) contains a check-valve (150). Included as a part of the present invention is a cannula (300)adapted for use with the manifold of the present invention, tube sets for use with the manifold of the present invention, and a method of minimizing error in filling a bag using a manifold in accordance with the present invention.

Description

MULTIPLE FOR VOLUMETRIC MIXER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to volumetric nutrition mixers and more specifically to multiples for use in volumetric nutrition mixers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hyperalimentation therapy is the intravenous delivery of nutrients to patients. A typical solution would include a protein-carbohydrate mixture. It is mainly used to meet the patient's protein and caloric requirements that can not be met by oral delivery. The protein may be in the form of a free amino acid or hydrolyzed protein and the carbohydrate is commonly dextrose. In addition to protein and carbohydrate, vitamins (water-soluble and fat-soluble) and electrolytes can also be supplied in this therapy. Each of these parenteral ingredients and the combination thereof is particularly susceptible to the growth of harmful organisms and it is desirable that they be administered to the patient in a sterile condition. Additionally, solutions are tailored to specific requirements of patients under the supervision of a physician. Thus, since these protein and carbohydrate solutions must be combined near their time of use, their mixing must be done under sterile conditions to prevent the growth of organisms. As part of this mixing, the solutions to be administered intravenously are transferred to a total parenteral nutrition bag (which is commonly referred to as a TPN bag). Such bags are designed for use in homes or use in a hospital or care facility. Once full they can be stored for a limited period in a standard refrigerator. A pharmacist fills the bags with solutions either by gravity or by a device known as a high-speed volumetric mixer. Such mixers are typically capable of delivering solutions of up to nine bags or containers from different sources to a bag of receiving product at relatively high flow rates. The source containers can be hung from a frame of the mixer while the receiving bag hangs from a load cell that measures the weight of the receiving bag. A pump kit consisting of a series of pump tips (for example nine or more such tips) or flow paths is designed for use with the mixer. Each of the pump limbs includes flexible tubing and terminates at one end with a piercing delivery tip or similar connector that is used to connect the end of the pump equipment to one of the source containers. The other end of each end engages one of the input ports of the common manifold equipped with an outlet port which is adapted to be coupled to a filling tubing connected to the receiving TPN product bag. In those cases where a high-speed mixer is used, each end of the pump equipment is associated with a peristaltic pump or pump station different from the mixer. A microprocessor in the mixer controls each of the peristaltic pumps or pump stations to control the amount of solution that is supplied from each source container through the pump end in particular and the manifold to the product bag receiver The amount of solution that is supplied from each source container is determined in part by the information that is supplied to the microprocessor from the weight being measured at selected times by the load cell from which the receiving bag is suspended. . The peristaltic pumps extract solutions from each of the source containers in sequence under the control of the microprocessor and the solutions flow through the common manifold and the filling tubing into the receiving product bag. A typical mixer would have several source bags and affiliated tubes. Typically, there are six or nine pumping stations for six or nine different source solutions. A microprocessor in the mixer is programmed to sequentially fill the product bag with each ingredient, one at a time, by sequentially activating each of the six pumping stations individually so that the solutions of each source bag are transferred via the common manifold and the filling tubing to the product bag. Then, once the product bag has the required amount of fluids, the filling tubing of the product bag is sealed. Since all tubes in such a configuration flow in a common manifold but only one fluid is pumped at a time through the common manifold, it is possible that some fluid from a particular source bag will flow back through the common manifold and go to a supply tube of another source bag that contains a different fluid. The fluid that does not flow back into a different supply tube is not weighted as part of the product bag and the mixer microprocessor does not recognize that fluid as part of the overall conformation of the product bag. The problem with this is that once the product bag receives the weight of a particular ingredient, the microprocessor turns off that corresponding pump and goes to the next source bag. The microprocessor starts pumping the fluid from that second source bag into the product bag but in doing so causes the fluid backed and stored from the first product bag in that supply tube to flow now to the manifold and at the end to the product bag However, at that point, the weight gain in the product bag is recognized by the microprocessor of the mixer as slope for the second fluid. This error leads to the situation in which too much of the first fluid is present in the product bag and insufficiency of the second fluid is present in the bag. A related problem arises when one of the fluids to be introduced into the product bag is a lipid solution. The lipid solutions are essentially fat emulsions which are typically placed in a separate compartment within the product bag which is isolated from the remaining mixture until immediately before (or very shortly before) the solution is administered to a patient. This isolation is necessary because the lipid solution, if mixed with the other ingredients in advance, clouds the total solution mixture and renders it unusable. This phenomenon is known in the art as "haze". Because the mixing of lipids with the other solutions prior to the time of administration is not desired, a problem has persisted in the art where a residual amount of the lipid solution is allowed to remain in a common volume of the multiple once it is pump a lipid solution but before the next non-lipid solution is pumped. When the subsequent solution is pumped, the residual lipid solution is carried to the product bag and the mist is caused.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a manifold for receiving fluid tubes in a volumetric mixer. In its simplest form, the manifold comprises a plurality of inlets, each inlet defining an opening to a corresponding fluid conduit and each conduit contains a check valve. Included in this manifold is an outlet in fluid communication with the fluid conduits and a coaxial inlet port at the outlet. The coaxial inlet port preferably contains a check valve. Also included as part of the present invention is a manifold kit for receiving fluid tubes in a volumetric mixer. The manifold equipment comprises a manifold and a cannula. The manifold comprises a plurality of inlets, each inlet defining an opening to a corresponding fluid conduit, each conduit containing a check valve, an outlet in fluid communication with the fluid conduits; and a coaxial input port with the output, the coaxial input port also contains a check valve. The cannula has at least one male blunt tip for insertion into the self-sealing membrane, and preferably includes a female port disposed within the male blunt tip. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a manifold is provided for receiving fluid tubes in a volumetric mixer having a plurality of inlets, each inlet defining an opening to a corresponding fluid conduit, with each conduit containing a check valve. The plurality of inlets are disposed radially around a central inlet and an outlet is provided in fluid communication with all fluid conduits y. central entrance. The central exit and entrance have the same central axis.

Also included as part of the present invention is a tubing equipment for use in volumetric mixing. The tube equipment comprises a plurality of pump sections, each pump section having a distal end. Also included is a plurality of tubes, each tube of the plurality having a distal end and a proximal end, with each proximal end of each tube of the plurality attached to the distal end of a corresponding pump section. Additionally, each distal end of each tube of the plurality is attached to a manifold, wherein the manifold comprises a plurality of inlets, each inlet defining an opening to a corresponding fluid conduit, each conduit contains a check valve. In manifold it includes an output in fluid communication with the fluid conduits. A preferred tube kit according to the present invention comprises a plurality of pump sections, each pump section having a distal end and a proximal end, a first plurality of tubes, each tube of the first plurality attached to the proximal end of a corresponding pump section, and a second plurality of tubes, each tube of the second plurality has a distal end and a proximal end, with each proximal end of each tube of the second plurality attached to the distal end of a corresponding pump section. The distal end of each tube of the second plurality is joined to a manifold. The manifold comprises a plurality of inlets, each inlet defining an opening to a corresponding fluid conduit, each conduit contains a check valve, and an outlet in fluid communication with the fluid conduits. Also included in the present invention is a method for minimizing the error in filling a product bag in a volumetric mixing system. The method comprises the steps of providing a manifold with a minimum common volume to minimize the residual retention of any ingredient solution, and passing individual ingredient solutions through the manifold to fill a product bag. The error is reduced by reducing the common volume step of the manifold. Also included as part of the present invention is the cannula for joining two fluid channels. The cannula comprises at least one male blunt end for insertion into a first source of fluid, and a female port formed within the male blunt end to allow connection of the cannula to a different fluid source where the different fluid source has a male end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is better understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a device according to the present invention, including a portion of manifold body, valve housing and an outlet tube connector; Figure 2 illustrates a tube kit according to the present invention using the manifold of Figure 1; Figure 3a shows a cross-sectional view of the main body portion of the manifold of Figure 1 without the valve housings or the outlet pipe connector shown in Figure 1; Figure 3b shows an exploded view of the main body portion shown in Figure 3a; Figure 3c shows an exploded view like that of Figure 3b but with only six total input ports; Figure 4 shows a top view of the manifold shown in Figure 1; Figure 5a shows a cross-sectional view of a valve housing in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5b shows an exploded view of the valve housing shown in Figure 5a; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of an outlet tube connector in accordance with the present invention; Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a male blunt cannula used in accordance with the present invention; Figure 8 shows the male blunt cannula of Figure 7 inserted into an outlet tube connector in accordance with the present invention; Figure 9 shows a cross sectional view of linear manifold in accordance with the present invention; Figure 10a is an exploded view of the linear manifold shown in Figure 9; and Figure 10b is a view of the assembled device shown in Figure 10a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a manifold having a one-way valve or check valve, disposed within each inlet of the manifold. Additionally, the manifold has a plurality of inputs, with at least one input disposed proximate to, and coaxial with, an output. The purpose of the coaxially arranged input / output is to minimize the volume through which the solution that passes to the axial input must be displaced, tdecreasing the amount of potential waste that may remain behind that particular solution. In a preferred embodiment, this line is used to transport a lipid solution. Other aspects of the manifold in accordance with the present invention that will be described in greater detail below also contribute to the reduction in common volume, treducing the error in the final composition of the product bag due to residual accumulation within the manifold. Figure 1 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a manifold 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the manifold 101 has a main body portion 100, a plurality of valve housings 200 and an outlet tube connector 300. Specifically, each of a plurality of inlets 220 carries a corresponding fluid conduit 221, which is disposed a check valve disc 210. As used herein, the terms "check valve" and "one-way valve" are intended to be synonyms. The fluid passing through each check valve disc 210 flows along its corresponding flow path through flow channels 222 in the main body portion 100 and into a common central chamber 215 that is in fluid communication with each corresponding flow channel 222 and, consequently, each fluid conduit 221. Common central chamber 215 fluidly connects all fluid channels 222 and central port 140 (discussed in greater detail below) to the multiple output port. 310 and at the end to manifold outlet pipe connector 300. In the case of a preferred embodiment each of the three main components (main body portion 100)., a plurality of valve housings 200 and an outlet pipe connector 300) can be independently manufactured and joined to form an individual device shaped from their individual components. Preferably each of these three main components is ultrasonically welded to its corresponding coupling. The means of joining the components is discussed in detail below. The main advantage of such construction is the ease of manufacture. The manifold can be made from any number of suitable materials, including plastics such as polycarbonates, which are suitable for handling the pharmaceutical and food preparations that will pass through them. Suitable materials must also be such that they can be injection molded to form parts of the device, or the entire device, and one skilled in the art would know such materials. More specifically, Figure 1 shows valve housings 200 which are connected to their corresponding manifold body portion openings 110. In a preferred embodiment, the valve housings 200 are connected to their corresponding manifold body portion openings. 110 by ultrasonic welding. Ultrasonic welding is a technique known to those skilled in the art for attaching plastics to plastic. However, additional connection means could be employed, including solvent welding, adhesives, snap fit, flanges or any other suitable connection known to one skilled in the art. Figure 2 shows a manifold 10 in accordance with the present invention disposed at the end of a tube set 500. In this particular embodiment, the manifold 10 has 9 inlets, one for each supply tube 201-209. In this configuration, the supply tubes 201-209 carrying the corresponding fluids, such as from a pump disposed between the manifold 10 and corresponding fluid source bags (not shown), are connected to the upper openings 220 of the valve housings 200. Preferably, the supply tubes 201-209 are connected to the manifold 10 by having each of its distal ends placed on its corresponding upper opening 220 of each corresponding valve housing 200. These tubes could be joined by adjustment by friction or other means known to those skilled in the art, including the use of adhesives. Figure 2 also shows upper tubes 211-219, each of which extends from a corresponding source bag (not shown) as noted above. The pump sections 231-239 are shown by connecting the proximal ends of the supply tubes 201-209 to the distal ends of the upper tubes 211-219. These pump sections are when the pump (not shown) operates in the tubing equipment. Figure 2 also shows a tubing organizer 291 attached to the macromixer transfer equipment. The tubing organizer 291 is preferably a semi-flexible plastic element that aligns the tubing segments (for example 6 or 9) for easy insertion into the mixer. The organizer includes a deviated lane that acts as a key to ensure that the pump segments are loaded in proper sequence from left to right. The organizer also acts as a packaging aid to avoid the entanglement of the equipment within the finished package. Fig. 1 also shows a central port 140 coaxial with the outlet pipe connector 300. Preferably, and as shown in Fig. 1, the check valve disk 150 (a one-way valve) is disposed within the port 140. Details of suitable check valves are discussed in more detail below, but are generally known to those skilled in the art. The fact that the central port 140 is close to, and coaxial with, the output port of the multiplex 310 and, at the end, to manifold outlet tube connector 300, it is important when the central port 140 is intended to be used as a means to supply a lipid solution to the product bag. As discussed above, the presence of lipid residue within the manifold is harmful. Thus, by minimizing either or both of the common volume within the manifold where any such lipid solution could accumulate and the volume of flow within the manifold for the lipid fluid itself, one achieves a concomitant reduction in the amount of any residue of lipids that could later be transferred to the wrong part of the product bag. This is an advantage realized by the positioning of the lipid port of the invention, or opening, in line with the exit port. Such a configuration achieves the smallest possible volume through which the lipid solution needs to pass within the manifold, thus minimizing any lipid residue.

Figure 3a shows a view of a manifold body portion 100 with valve housings 200 or outlet pipe connector 300. In this particular embodiment, the main body portion of the manifold 100, as discussed above, has a portion central 140 which is coaxial with manifold outlet port 310 and has a check valve disk 150 disposed therein. As shown in the drawings, the main body portion of manifold 100 comprises the upper part of manifold 240, lower manifold 250 and manifold gasket 260 disposed therebetween. A preferred construction material for packaging is silicone. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3a, the central port 140 is formed as part of the upper manifold portion 240, and the manifold exit port 310 is formed as a portion of the lower manifold portion 250. As shown in FIG. noted above, Figure 3a shows the gasket 260 which fluidly seals the upper part 240 to the lower part 250 and along with the flow channels 222 formed in the upper part 240 forms corresponding fluid passages as discussed in more detail below . Top 240 and bottom 250 can be joined in any number of ways known to those skilled in the art, including ultrasonic welding. To assist in ultrasonic welding, the male projection 270 extending from the top 240 in the female portion 280 formed in the lower part 250 can be molded in the corresponding halves.

Figure 3b shows an exploded view of the components discussed above with respect to Figure 3a. Specifically, top 240 is shown with 9 input ports, including eight radially arranged inlets 110 and central port 140. In addition, eight flow channels 222 are shown formed in top 240. Check valve disk 150 is a silicone disc disposed above a mounting point 251 formed in the bottom 250. As noted above, to assist ultrasonic welding, protrusions can be formed in any suitable part, shown in Figure 3b are projections 252 formed in the lower part 250. Figure 3c shows a similar view as that shown in Figure 3b but illustrates a modality having a total of only six ports. Figure 4 shows a view of a manifold as shown in Figure 3b, but from the upper (or proximal) side of the manifold having manifold openings 110 disposed radially outward from the central port 140. As discussed above, the Fluid flow channels 222 are formed in an upper part of the manifold 240 which, together with the gasket 260, form individual flow channels that connect each inlet fluid conduit 221 to the common central chamber 215. The manifold must be capable of of supplying fluid at the rate of approximately one liter in 60 seconds. It is also preferable that the residual or common volume within the manifold be less than two milliliters, being better if the common volume is smaller.

As can be seen in Figures 3b, 3c and 4, each fluid conduit (with the exception of the central port 140) is configured in a radial pattern with its own radial flow path and flow channel 222 respectively, each of which leads to the common central chamber 215. Such configuration, together with the presence of the package 260, further aids an important part of the invention as discussed above, namely minimizing any common volume within the manifold. By providing these individual flow paths of each manifold opening 110 throughout the path to the common central chamber 215, only the common central chamber 215 of the manifold receives the fluid from all the source bags, instead of the entire space between the upper part of manifold 240 and the lower part of manifold 250 (as would be the case without the gasket 260). This minimum volume is further facilitated by fluid conduits that preferably have a semicircular cross section that results in high flow rates. Figure 5a shows a cross-sectional view of a single valve housing 200. As discussed above with respect to Figure 1, the valve housing 200 can be constructed in one piece (not shown) or in several pieces and then assembled to form a modular device. As shown in the drawings, a preferred valve housing 200 is modular and consists of an upper valve half 230 and a lower valve half 290. In this preferred embodiment, the upper valve half 230 is soldered to the lower valve half 290, and check valve disc 210 is disposed therebetween on top of a valve seat, namely mounting point 501. Solvent welding is known to those skilled in the art. A preferred solvent is methylene chloride or a mixture of methylene chloride and tetrahydrofuran. Other means of connecting the valve halves would be known to those skilled in the art, however, they would include adhesives or ultrasonic welding. In addition, the unidirectional valves as disclosed herein could take any of several forms known to those skilled in the art. Preferably, they would comprise a check valve disk, preferably made of a silicone elastomer, disposed on a polycarbonate valve seat. Figure 5b shows a developed view of the valve housing 200. Figure 5b shows the upper valve half 230, the check valve disc 210 and the lower valve half 290 containing the mounting point 501. The figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary outlet tube connector 300 by itself. As indicated above with respect to Figure 1, the outlet tube connector 300 is preferably ultrasonically welded to the multiple outlet port 310, although other connection means would be known to those skilled in the art. Figure 6 shows the outlet tube connector including a connector cap 400 which is attached to the distal end 410 of the outlet tube connector 300 (the distal end being defined as the farthest end of the multiple body portion 100) . The connector cap 400 is joined by a hinge 415 which is integrally formed, in this embodiment, with the connector cap 400 and the connector retaining ring 420 that extends around the distal end 410 of the outlet tube connector 300. Arranged between the retaining ring 420 and the distal ring 410 of the outlet tube connector 300 is a connector diaphragm 440. This is generally a self-sealing membrane designed to close the opening, when an outlet line is not connected to the connector of the connector. outlet tube 300. When the product bag is ready to be filled, a filling line is pushed or propelled into the product bag, which typically has a pointed cannula (connector), or a blunt cannula to the diaphragm 440 to create a fluid communication between the filling line and the output pipe connector 300 of the manifold. Self-obturating membranes of this type are known to those skilled in the art. A preferred connection between the filling line of the product bag and the outlet tube connector 300 is a blunt cannula connector. According to the present invention, an exemplary blunt cannula is shown in Figure 7. Figure 7 shows a blunt male cannula 700 having a female port 710 on at least one end. Figure 7 shows the blunt male cannula 700 disposed at the end of the filling line of the product bag 720. The end having the female port 710 is the end that would be pushed into the diaphragm in order to establish fluid flow as described above. The advantage of having a female port disposed within the male cannula is realized, when one realizes how typically these TPN bags are used. Frequently, when a TPN product bag has been filled according to the above, it may be convenient to take additional steps. These additional steps would possibly include adding a very small amount of some additional ingredient, or remove a small sample of the composition of the product. Frequently such addition or sampling requires the addition or removal of a small amount of fluid such as 1 to 5 cm3 of fluid. The female port in the male rome cannula 700 as described above allows the insertion of a typical syringe and the subsequent sealing of that syringe against the female port wall to form a seal and allow for the removal or addition of a small amount of fluid . In addition, after the product bag has been filled, the diaphragm male blunt cannula can be removed from the outlet tube driver 300. A syringe can then be inserted and accommodated within the female port 710 of the 700 male blunt cannula. to allow the syringe to act on the fluid inside the product bag. Another aspect of the male blunt cannula is that it can be inserted through the diaphragm 440 and housed within the outlet tube connector 300 along the inner wall of the outlet tube connector 300. The figure shows such a frictional fit between the male rome cannula 700 and the inner wall 810 of the outlet tube connector 300. Such adjustment is favored by the slightly decreasing inner diameter of the outlet tube connector 300, as one moves from its distal end towards the exit port of 310. Such a slightly conical inner surface facilitates the adjustment by friction. An additional advantage of this configuration is that it further reduces the common volume of the manifold, because the area outside the cannula wall, but inside the outlet tube connector 300, shown in Figure 8 as the space 820, is subtracted from the volume of the flow. It is also notable that, when the cannula is removed from the outlet tube connector 300 of the manifold, a vacuum is momentarily created within the manifold as the cannula is removed and the diaphragm prevents the volume from being filled with air until the cannula is completely outside the connector of the outlet tube and it is allowed to stabilize the pressure inside the system. This vacuum can suck extra fluid remaining in any (or all) of the manifold supply tubes. Such fluid suction is inconvenient, of course, especially in the case of the lipid line for the reasons discussed above. In order to avoid such fluid suction, the check valves must be designed in such a way that they do not interrupt the negative pressure created when a vacuum is formed as a result of removal of the cannula. This is especially important for the lipid line check valve which, as discussed above, in the preferred embodiment is the port closest to the port of departure. Thus, it is a feature of the present invention that the breaking pressure of the check valves (the pressure at which the check valve opens or releases) exceeds the absolute value of the vacuum pressure created as a result of the removal of the cannula In one embodiment of the invention, the breaking pressure of at least the check valve disposed in the lipid line (eg the check valve disc 150 in the central port 140) exceeds the absolute value of the vacuum pressure created as a result the withdrawal of the cannula. Although multiple rounds have been discussed and illustrated so far, it is part of the present invention that other forms of multiples can be used. Figure 9 shows a view of an alternately shaped like manifold, namely a linear manifold 90 having a coaxial input 900 (for the lipid line) defined by the coaxial input port 920 which is coaxial with the output port 910. As indicated above, such a configuration minimizes the volume at which lipid solutions can accumulate. Essentially all the parts, such as valve housings 200 and check valve discs 210, are the same as those discussed above with respect to the multiple round configuration. The main difference between this mode and those discussed above with respect to the round multiple configuration is that packaging is not used in this mode and a single common flow channel 92 connects all the inputs (except the coaxial input (900) to the camera). common central 915. Figure 10a shows a developed view of manifold 90 (without valve housings or outlet pipe connector 300), with the manifold top 940 shown being disposed above the manifold bottom 950 and the check valve disc 925 of the coaxial inlet port 920 shown being disposed therebetween. Figure 10b shows these components of the assembled manifold 90. Of course, as mentioned above, any number of entries can be provided. Figures 10a and 10b illustrate a preferred embodiment having 9 inputs in total, including coaxial input port 920. Included as part of the present invention is a method of minimizing the error in filling a product bag in a volumetric mixing system. The method comprises the steps of providing a manifold with a minimum common volume to minimize the residual capacity of any ingredient solution and pass individual ingredient solutions through the manifold to fill a product bag. The error is reduced due to the minimization of the common volume step of multiple. Although the invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to specific embodiments, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications can be made to the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims and without departing from the invention.

Claims (18)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A manifold for receiving fluid tubes in a volumetric mixer, said manifold characterized in that it comprises: a plurality of inputs, each input defining an opening to a respective fluid conduit, each of said conduits containing a check valve; an outlet in fluid communication in said fluid conduits; and an inlet port that is coaxial with said outlet, said coaxial inlet port containing a check valve.

2. The manifold according to claim 1, further characterized in that it additionally comprises a central chamber in fluid communication with each of said fluid conduits for fluidly connecting said fluid conduits to said outlet.

3. The manifold according to claim 1, further characterized in that said outlet comprises an outlet port having a self-sealing membrane adapted to be penetrated by a cannula.

4. The manifold according to claim 1, further characterized in that said outlet comprises an outlet port having a self-sealing membrane adapted to be penetrated by a cannula, and said coaxial inlet port check valve is adapted to have a breaking pressure greater than the vacuum pressure inside said outlet port, when the cannula is extracted from said self-sealing membrane.

5. The manifold according to claim 4, further characterized in that all said check valves are adapted to create a breaking pressure greater than the vacuum pressure inside said outlet port, when the cannula is extracted from said membrane self-absorbing

6. The manifold according to claim 1, further characterized in that said plurality of inputs are arranged linearly with respect to each other.

7. A manifold equipment for receiving fluid tubes in a volumetric mixer, characterized in that it comprises: a manifold, said manifold comprising: a plurality of inputs, each input defining an opening to a respective fluid conduit, each of said conduits containing a check valve; an outlet in fluid communication with said fluid conduits; and an inlet port that is coaxial with said outlet, said coaxial inlet port containing a check valve; and a cannula having at least one male blunt tip for insertion into said self-sealing membrane.

8. The manifold equipment according to claim 7, further characterized in that said cannula has a female port in said male blunt tip to receive an additional male tip.

9. - A manifold for receiving fluid tubes in a volumetric mixer, said manifold characterized in that it comprises: a plurality of inputs, each input defining an opening to a respective fluid conduit, each of said conduits containing a check valve, said plurality of entrances being arranged radially from a central entrance; and an outlet in fluid communication with all said fluid conduits and said central inlet; said outlet and said central entrance having the same central axis.

10. The manifold according to claim 9, further characterized in that said central inlet defines a central conduit containing a check valve.

11. A tube equipment for use in volumetric mixing, said tube equipment characterized in that it comprises: a plurality of pump sections, each of said pump sections having a distal end; a plurality of tubes, each said tube of said plurality having a distal end and a proximal end, each said proximal end of each tube of said plurality being attached to said distal end of a respective pump section, and each from said distal end of each tube of said plurality being connected to a manifold, said manifold comprising: a plurality of entries, each entry defining an opening to a respective fluid conduit, each of said conduits containing a check valve; an outlet in fluid communication with said fluid conduits; and an inlet port that is coaxial with said outlet, said coaxial inlet port containing a check valve.

12. The pipe equipment according to claim 11, further characterized in that said plurality is six.

13. The pipe equipment according to claim 11, further characterized in that said plurality is nine.

14. A tube equipment for use in volumetric mixing, said tube equipment characterized in that it comprises: a plurality of pump sections, each of said pump sections having a distal end and a proximal end; a first plurality of tubes, each of said tubes of said first plurality being attached to said proximal end of a respective pump section; a second plurality of tubes, each of said tubes of said second plurality having a distal end and a proximal end, each said proximal end of each tube of said second plurality being attached to said distal end of a respective pump section, and said distal end of each tube of said second plurality being attached to a manifold, said manifold comprising: a plurality of inputs, each inlet defining an opening to a respective fluid conduit, each said duct containing a check valve; an outlet in fluid communication with said fluid conduits; and an inlet port that is coaxial with said outlet, said coaxial inlet port maintaining a check valve.

15. - The tube equipment according to claim 14, further characterized in that said first and second plurality are in both cases of six.

16. The pipe equipment according to claim 14, further characterized in that said first and second plurality are in both cases nine.

17. A method of minimizing the error in filling a product bag in a volumetric mixing system, said method characterized in that it comprises the steps of: providing a manifold with a minimum common volume to minimize the residual capacity of any ingredient solution; and passing individual ingredient solutions through the manifold to fill a product bag; whereby the error is reduced due to the minimization of the common volume step of multiple.

18. A cannula for joining two fluid channels, said cannula characterized in that it comprises: at least one male blunt end for insertion into a first source of fluids; and a female port formed within said male blunt end to allow connection of said cannula to a different source of fluid in which said different source of fluid has a male end.