Fluid dispensing apparatus

Abstract

A compact fluid dispenser for use in controllably dispensing fluid medicaments, such as antibiotics, blood clotting agents, analgesics, and like medicinal agents from collapsible containers at a uniform rate. The dispenser includes a novel stored energy source that is provided in the form of a compressible-expandable member that functions to continuously and uniformly expel fluid from the apparatus reservoir. The apparatus further includes a novel fluid flow control assembly that precisely controls the flow of the medicament solutions from the apparatus reservoir to the patient.

1 . A dispensing device for dispensing medicaments to a patient comprising:
 (a) a supporting structure;   (b) a pre-filled collapsible container having a continuous wall formed of a single material carried by said supporting structure, said collapsible container comprising an hermetically sealed reservoir having an outlet port and including sealing means for sealing said outlet port, said sealing means comprising a pierceable member;   (c) stored energy means carried by said supporting structure and operably associated with said collapsible reservoir for collapsing said collapsible reservoir to expel fluid therefrom;   (d) an administration set, including an administration line interconnected with said outlet of said collapsible reservoir; and   (e) fluid control means carried by said supporting structure for controlling fluid flow from said collapsible reservoir toward said administration set.   
     
     
         2 . A dispensing device for dispensing medicaments to a patient comprising:
 (a) a supporting structure;   (b) a pre-filled collapsible container having a continuous wall formed of a single material carried by said supporting structure, said collapsible container comprising an hermetically sealed reservoir having an outlet port and including sealing means for sealing said outlet port;   (c) stored energy means carried by said supporting structure and operably associated with said collapsible reservoir for collapsing said collapsible reservoir to expel fluid therefrom, said stored energy means comprising an expandable sponge operably interconnected with said collapsible reservoir;   (d) an administration set, including an administration line interconnected with said outlet of said collapsible reservoir; and   (e) fluid flow control means carried by said supporting structure for controlling fluid flow from said collapsible reservoir toward said administration set.   
     
     
         3 . A dispensing device for dispensing medicaments to a patient comprising:
 (a) a supporting structure comprising a base assembly and a generally cylindrically shaped outer housing interconnected with said base assembly;   (b) a carriage assembly interconnected with said supporting structure for movement between a first position and a second position, said carriage assembly comprising a carriage having a carriage base provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings;   (c) locking means carried by said supporting structure for locking said carriage assembly in said first position;   (d) an aseptically filled collapsible container carried by said carriage assembly, said collapsible container being formed by a blow-fill-seal process and having a continuous wall including a collapsible side wall, a pierceable top wall connected to said collapsible side wall;   (e) a stored energy means operably associated with said carriage assembly for moving said carriage assembly between said first and second positions, said stored energy means comprising a coil spring having a first end in engagement with said supporting structure and a second end in engagement with said carriage;   (f) an administration set, including an administration line interconnected with said outlet port of said collapsible reservoir; and   (g) fluid flow control means carried by said base assembly of said supporting structure for controlling fluid flow from said collapsible reservoir toward said administration set, said flow control means comprising:
 (i) rate control means carried by said supporting structure for controlling the rate of fluid flow from said collapsible reservoir toward said administration set, said rate control means comprising a rate control plate having a plurality of fluid flow channels interconnected with said outlet of said collapsible reservoir; and 
 (ii) operating means carried by said supporting structure for controlling fluid flow between said collapsible reservoir and said rate control means. 
   
     
     
         4 . A dispensing device as defined in  claim 3  further including guide means connected to said supporting structure for guiding travel of said carriage assembly between said first position and said second position, said guide means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced guide members connected to said base assembly and a guide rib connected to said housing of said supporting structure, said spaced-apart guide members being slidably received within said openings provided in said carriage base. 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing device as defined in  claim 3  in which said operating means comprises a penetrating member movable between first position and a second position permitting fluid flow from said collapsible reservoir toward said administration set. 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing device as defined in  claim 3  in which said collapsible container comprises a bellows structure. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing device as defined in  claim 3  in which said rate control means further includes selector means for selecting the rate of fluid flow between said collapsible reservoir and said administration set, said selector means comprising a selector housing carried by said supporting structure and a selector member rotatably carried by said selector housing. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing device as defined in  claim 3  further including a pierceable septum connected to said collapsible container. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing device as defined in  claim 8  in which said pierceable septum comprises a slit septum. 
     
     
         10 . A dispensing device for dispensing medicaments to a patient comprising:
 (a) a supporting structure;   (b) a hermetically sealed, unitary collapsible container carried by said supporting structure, said unitary collapsible container comprising a bellows structure and being formed using aseptic blow-fill-seal manufacturing techniques and having a pre-filled, sealed fluid reservoir filled with the fluid to be delivered to the patient;   (c) access means connected to said collapsible container for accessing said reservoir;   (d) a stored energy means operably associated with said supporting structure for collapsing said collapsible container; and   (e) an administration set, including an administration line interconnected with said outlet port of said collapsible reservoir.   
     
     
         11 . A dispensing device for dispensing medicaments to a patient comprising:
 (a) a supporting structure;   (b) a hermetically sealed, unitary collapsible container carried by said supporting structure, said unitary collapsible container having a telescoping side wall and being formed using aseptic blow-fill-seal manufacturing techniques and having a pre-filled, sealed fluid reservoir filled with the fluid to be delivered to the patient;   (c) access means connected to said collapsible container for accessing said reservoir;   (d) a stored energy means operably associated with said supporting structure for collapsing said collapsible container; and   (e) an administration set, including an administration line interconnected with said outlet port of said collapsible reservoir.   
     
     
         12 . A dispensing device for dispensing medicaments to a patient comprising:
 (a) a supporting structure;   (b) a hermetically sealed, unitary collapsible container carried by said supporting structure, said unitary collapsible container being formed using aseptic blow-fill-seal manufacturing techniques and having a pre-filled, sealed fluid reservoir filled with the fluid to be delivered to the patient;   (c) access means connected to said collapsible container for accessing said reservoir;   (d) a stored energy means operably associated with said supporting structure for collapsing said collapsible container, said stored energy means comprising a compressible-expandable member operably interconnected with said carriage assembly; and   (e) an administration set, including an administration line interconnected with said outlet port of said collapsible reservoir.   
     
     
         13 . A dispensing device for dispensing medicaments to a patient comprising:
 (a) a supporting structure;   (b) a hermetically sealed, unitary collapsible container carried by said supporting structure, said unitary collapsible container being formed using aseptic blow-fill-seal manufacturing techniques and having a pre-filled, sealed fluid reservoir filled with the fluid to be delivered to the patient;   (c) access means connected to said collapsible container for accessing said reservoir, said access means comprising a neck portion connected to said collapsible container, a pierceable septum carried by said neck portion and a sealing wall integrally formed with said unitary collapsible container;   (d) a stored energy means operably associated with said supporting structure for collapsing said collapsible container; and   (e) an administration set, including an administration line interconnected with said outlet port of said collapsible reservoir.   
     
     
         14 . A dispensing device for dispensing medicaments to a patient comprising:
 (a) a supporting structure;   (b) a hermetically sealed, unitary collapsible container carried by said supporting structure, said unitary collapsible container being formed using aseptic blow-fill-seal manufacturing techniques and having a pre-filled, sealed fluid reservoir filled with the fluid to be delivered to the patient;   (c) access means connected to said collapsible container for accessing said reservoir;   (d) a stored energy means operably associated with said supporting structure for collapsing said collapsible container;   (e) an administration set, including an administration line interconnected with said outlet port of said collapsible reservoir; and   (f) fluid flow control means carried by said supporting structure for controlling fluid flow from said collapsible reservoir toward said administration set.   
     
     
         15 . A fluid dispensing device comprising:
 (a) a supporting structure;   (b) a pre-filled sealed, collapsible container carried by said supporting structure, said collapsible container including a fluid reservoir and being integrally formed as a single unit at time of manufacture;   (c) stored energy means carried by said supporting structure and operably associated with said collapsible container for collapsing said collapsible container to controllably expel fluid from said fluid reservoir;   (d) an administration set, including an administration line interconnected with said fluid reservoir; and   (e) fluid flow control means carried by said supporting structure for controlling fluid flow from said fluid reservoir toward said administration set, said flow control means comprising:
 (i) rate control means for controlling the rate of fluid flow from said fluid reservoir toward said administration set, said rate control means comprising a rate control plate having a plurality of micro-channels of varying length, width, depth and geometry interconnected with said fluid reservoir; and 
 (ii) operating means for controlling fluid flow between said collapsible reservoir and said rate control means. 
   
     
     
         16 . The dispensing device as defined in  claim 15  in which said rate control means further includes selector means for selecting the rate of fluid flow between said fluid reservoir and said administration set, said selector means comprising a selector housing carried by said supporting structure and a selector member rotatably carried by said selector housing.