Discharging device for liquids

Abstract

A discharging device for pharmaceutical liquids having an actuator for carrying out a discharging operation of a pharmaceutical liquid. A first subordinate unit of the actuator has a discharge orifice, and a second subordinate unit is displaceable relative to the first subordinate unit for carrying out the discharging operation. The two subordinate units together delimit a buffer chamber from which a liquid passageway leads to the discharge orifice. A liquid-containing bag is accommodated in the buffer chamber and has film-like walls. The actuator and the bag are coordinated such that displacement of the subordinate units of the actuator relative to each other causes opening of the bag and reduction in the volume of the buffer chamber with consequent volume reduction of the liquid-containing bag and discharge of liquid through the discharge orifice.

1 . A discharging device for pharmaceutical liquids, comprising
 an actuator ( 40 ,  140 ) to manually carrying out a discharging operation and   a liquid storage receptacle ( 20 ), in which said pharmaceutical liquid ( 38 ) is stored prior to said discharging operation,   wherein   said actuator ( 40 ,  140 ) comprises a first subordinate unit ( 50 ,  150 ) and a second subordinate unit ( 60 ,  160 ), said first subordinate unit ( 50 ,  150 ) of said actuator ( 40 ,  140 ) being provided with a discharge orifice ( 52   b,    152   b ) and said second subordinate unit ( 60 ,  160 ) of said actuator ( 40 ,  140 ) being displaceable relatively to said first subordinate unit ( 50 ,  150 ) for the purpose of carrying out the discharging operation,   the two subordinate units ( 50 ,  60 ,  150 ,  160 ) of said actuator ( 40 ,  140 ) together delimit a buffer chamber ( 70 ,  170 ), from which a liquid passageway ( 54   a,    154   a ) leads to said discharge orifice ( 52   b ,  152   b ),   said liquid storage receptacle ( 20 ) is adapted for accommodation in said buffer chamber ( 70 ,  170 ) and is in the form of a liquid-containing bag ( 20 ), whose walls ( 30 ,  32 ,  34 ) are in the form of film walls ( 30 ,  32 ,  34 ) that delimit an interior space filled with said liquid ( 38 ), and   said actuator ( 40 ,  140 ) and said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ) are coordinated in such a manner that a relative displacement of said subordinate units ( 50 ,  60 ,  150 ,  160 ) of said actuator ( 40 ,  140 ) in relation to each other causes   said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ) to be opened and   the volume of said buffer chamber ( 70 ) to be reduced with consequent volume reduction of said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ) and discharge of liquid ( 38 ) through said discharge orifice ( 52   b,    152 ).   
     
     
         2 . The discharging device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a contact area, in which said two subordinate units ( 50 ,  60 ,  150 ,  160 ) bear against each other, is liquid-tight such that liquid can only pass from said buffer chamber ( 70 ,  170 ) to the environment of said discharging device via said discharge orifice ( 52   b ,  152   b ). 
     
     
         3 . The discharging device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein
 said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ) has an elongated shape,   the diameter of said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ) ranges from 3 mm to 10 mm and preferably from 4 mm to 6 mm,   the length of said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ) ranges from 10 mm to 30 mm and preferably from 15 mm to 25 mm, and/or   the internal volume of said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ) is below 1000 μl and preferably ranges from 100 μl to 500 μl.   
     
     
         4 . The discharging device as defined in  claim 1 , characterized in that
 said film wall ( 30 ,  32 ,  34 ) surrounding the interior space of said liquid-containing bag is of a homegenous nature and the liquid-containing bag ( 20 ) is preferably in the form of a continuously produced tubular bag.   
     
     
         5 . The discharging device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said film wall ( 30 ,  32 ,  34 ) is in the form of a diffusion-proof liquid-containing bag, particularly by means of
 a coating ( 30   b ) on said film wall ( 30   a ), more particularly of metal, ceramics, and/or   a film wall ( 30 ,  32 ,  34 ) or a layer of said film wall ( 32 ,  34 ,  36 ) in the form of a film ( 30   b ) of metal, more particularly aluminum, or of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH).   
     
     
         6 . The discharging device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said actuator ( 140 ) and said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ) are matched in such a manner, that a relative displacement of said two subordinate units ( 150 ,  160 ) of said actuator ( 140 ) can cause a pressure increase in said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ), which, on application of an adequate force to press said two subordinate units ( 150 ,  160 ) against each other causes said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ) to burst, particularly in the region of a film wall or a seam ( 22 ). 
     
     
         7 . The discharging device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a sharp-edged opening means ( 56   a ) for opening said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ). 
     
     
         8 . The discharging device as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said opening means ( 56   a ) is in the form of a hollow-needle ( 56 ) that is open at its distal end and communicates with said liquid passageway ( 54   a ), and preferably said hollow-needle ( 56 )
 has at least over a portion thereof a laterally disposed opening ( 56   c ) and/or   is tapered toward the distal end thereof over at least a portion thereof.   
     
     
         9 . The discharging device as defined in  claim 7 , wherein a protective element ( 58 ) is associated with said opening means ( 56   a ) and is displaceable relatively to said opening means ( 56   a ) such that, in its safety position, it prevents said opening means ( 56   a ) from coming into contact with said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ), and which, in its functional position, gives said opening means ( 56   a ) freedom of movement. 
     
     
         10 . The discharging device as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said protective element ( 58 ) is disposed and/or configured in such a manner that it can be moved from its safety position to its functional position by the application of force on said subordinate units ( 50 ,  60 ) of said actuator ( 40 ), provision being preferably made for this applied force to be transferred to said protective element ( 58 ) via said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ). 
     
     
         11 . The discharging device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said actuator ( 40 ,  140 ) and/or said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ) is configured in such a manner that said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ) is caused when said subordinate units ( 50 ,  60 ,  150 ,  160 ) are pressed together by an actuation force of at least 10 Newton and preferably by an actuation force ranging from 20 Newton to 30 Newton, provision being preferably made for said protective element ( 58 ) to be held in its safety position until said actuation force has been reached by means of at least one safety element ( 54   b ) exhibiting a predetermined break point. 
     
     
         12 . A liquid-containing bag ( 20 ) for a discharging device for pharmaceutical liquids, the liquid-containing bag having walls ( 30 ,  32 ,  34 ) in the form of film walls ( 30 ,  32 ,  34 ) which delimit an interior space filled with a pharmaceutical liquid ( 38 ), said interior space having a volume of not more than 1000 μl and being filled with pharmaceutical liquid ( 38 ). 
     
     
         13 . The liquid-containing bag as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the pharmaceutical liquid ( 38 ) is an inoculant or an analgesic. 
     
     
         14 . The liquid-containing bag as defined in  claim 12 , wherein
 said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ) has an elongated shape,   the diameter of said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ) is from 3 mm to 10 mm, and/or   the length of said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ) ranges from 10 mm to 30 mm.   
     
     
         15 . The liquid-containing bag as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ) is in the form of a tubular bag. 
     
     
         16 . A plurality of liquid-containing bags as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said liquid-containing bags ( 20 ) form a strip ( 10 ) of contiguous bags, and between each of said liquid-containing bags ( 20 ) there are provided perforations ( 26 ) that can be torn without the use of tools. 
     
     
         17 . A liquid-containing bag ( 20 ) for a discharging device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said walls ( 30 ,  32 ,  34 ) of said liquid-containing bag ( 20 ) are in the form of film walls ( 30 ,  32 ,  34 ), which delimit an interior space filled with a pharmaceutical liquid ( 38 ) and said interior space has a volume of not more than 1000 μl and, more particularly, a volume ranging from 100 μl to 500 μl, and said interior space is filled with said pharmaceutical liquid ( 38 ). 
     
     
         18 . The liquid-containing bag as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the diameter of the liquid-containing bag is from 4 mm to 6 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The liquid-containing bag as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the length of the liquid-containing bag ranges from 15 mm to 25 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The liquid-containing bag as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said interior space has a volume ranging from 100 μl to 500 μl.