Container and valve assembly for storing and dispensing substances, and related method

Abstract

A device and method for aseptically storing and dispensing a liquid. The device has container forming a variable-volume storage chamber, and a one-way valve coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber and having an elastic valve member forming a normally closed valve opening. The valve member is movable between a normally closed position, and an open position with at least a segment of the elastic valve member spaced radially away from the closed position to allow the passage of fluid from the storage chamber through the valve opening. The liquid is maintained hermetically sealed in the storage chamber with respect to ambient atmosphere throughout dispensing multiple portions of the liquid from the storage chamber through the one-way valve.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method comprising:
 aseptically storing substance in an assembly including an internally sterile variable-volume storage chamber, and a one-way valve coupled in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber and including an elastic valve member forming a normally closed valve opening, wherein the valve member is movable between a normally closed position, and an open position with at least a segment of the valve member spaced away from the closed position to allow the passage of substance from the variable-volume storage chamber through the valve opening; the storing step including   (i) sterile filling the variable-volume storage chamber with a sterile substance; and   (ii) hermetically and sterilely sealing the substance within the variable-volume storage chamber.   
     
     
         27 . A method as defined in  claim 26 , further comprising the steps of:
 (iii) dispensing a plurality of different portions of the substance at different points in time from the variable-volume storage chamber through the one-way valve; and   (iv) maintaining the substance within the variable-volume storage chamber sterile and hermetically sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere throughout steps (iii) and (iv).   
     
     
         28 . A method as defined in  claim 27 , further comprising the step of substantially preventing the ingress of bacteria or other unwanted impurities through the one-way valve and into the variable-volume storage chamber during steps (iii) and (iv). 
     
     
         29 . A method as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the dispensing step includes pumping a plurality of different sterile portions of the substance at different points in time from the variable-volume storage chamber through the one-way valve. 
     
     
         30 . A method as defined in  claim 27 , wherein steps (iii) and (iv) are performed at ambient temperature. 
     
     
         31 . A device for aseptically storing and dispensing a substance, comprising:
 an assembly including
 an internally sterile variable-volume storage chamber containing a sterile substance hermetically sealed therein; and 
 a one-way valve coupled in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber and including an elastic valve member forming a normally closed valve opening, wherein the valve member is movable between a normally closed position, and an open position with at least a segment of the elastic valve member spaced away from the closed position to allow the passage of substance from the variable-volume storage chamber through the valve opening 
   wherein the assembly is configured to maintain the substance within the variable-volume storage chamber sterile and hermetically sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere throughout dispensing a plurality of different portions of the substance from the storage chamber through the one-way valve.   
     
     
         32 . A device as defined in  claim 31 , further comprising a pump for pumping a plurality of different portions of the substance from the variable-volume storage chamber through the one-way valve. 
     
     
         33 . A container for aseptically storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of the stored fluid therefrom, comprising:
 a flexible container defining a hermetically sealed, variable-volume storage chamber containing therein multiple portions of fluid in an aseptic condition and hermetically sealed within the storage chamber with respect to ambient atmosphere; and   a one-way valve comprising a valve member formed of an elastic material and forming a normally closed valve opening and an inlet to the valve opening in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber, wherein the valve member is movable in response to fluid at the inlet to the valve opening exceeding a valve opening pressure between (i) a normally closed position and (ii) an open position with at least a segment of the valve member spaced away from the closed position to allow fluid from the variable-volume storage chamber to be dispensed through the valve opening, wherein during dispensing of fluid through the one-way valve, the one-way valve and variable-volume storage chamber maintain any remaining fluid in the variable-volume storage chamber in an aseptic condition and sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere.   
     
     
         34 . A container as defined in  claim 33 , further comprising a pump coupled between the variable-volume storage chamber and one-way valve and configured to pump fluid from the storage chamber and into the valve opening to dispense the fluid therethrough. 
     
     
         35 . A container as defined in  claim 33 , further comprising a tubular portion coupled in fluid communication between the variable-volume storage chamber and one-way valve. 
     
     
         36 . A container as defined in  claim 33 , wherein the one-way valve further includes a valve body defining a valve seat, wherein the elastic valve member includes a valve portion overlying the valve seat and forming an interference fit with the valve seat, the valve portion and the valve seat define a seam therebetween forming the valve opening, and the valve portion engages the valve seat in the closed position. 
     
     
         37 . A container as defined in  claim 36 , wherein the valve portion includes a segment that engages the valve seat substantially throughout any period of dispensing fluid through the valve opening to maintain a hermetic seal between the valve opening and ambient atmosphere. 
     
     
         38 . A container as defined in  claim 36 , wherein one or more of (i) the valve portion and valve seat define a progressively decreasing degree of interference therebetween in a direction from an upstream end toward downstream end of the valve opening, (ii) the valve portion defines a decreasing radial thickness when moving axially in a direction from an upstream end toward a downstream end of the valve seat; or (iii) the valve seat is defined by a radius that progressively increases in magnitude in a direction from an upstream end toward a downstream end of the valve seat. 
     
     
         39 . A container as defined in  claim 33 , further comprising an airflow passageway connectable in fluid communication between the exterior and interior of the outer body for regulating a flow of air into the outer body between the outer body and flexible container, and the outer body is manually squeezable to compress the air located between the outer body and flexible container to compress the container and, in turn, compress the fluid within the flexible container to a pressure exceeding the valve opening pressure. 
     
     
         40 . A method comprising:
 storing fluid in a device including
 (i) a flexible container defining a hermetically sealed, variable-volume storage chamber containing therein multiple portions of the fluid hermetically sealed within the storage chamber with respect to ambient atmosphere; and 
 (ii) a one-way valve comprising (a) a valve member formed of an elastic material and forming a normally closed valve opening, wherein the valve member is movable between a normally closed position, and an open position with at least a segment of the valve member spaced away from the closed position to allow the passage of fluid from the variable-volume storage chamber through the valve opening and (b) an inlet to the valve opening in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber; 
   dispensing at least one of the multiple portions of the stored fluid by pressurizing fluid at the inlet to the valve opening to a pressure at least equal to a valve opening pressure and moving the elastic valve member between (i) a normally closed position and (ii) an open position with at least a segment of the valve member spaced away from the closed position, and, in turn, dispensing fluid through the valve opening;   substantially preventing, during dispensing of fluid through the one-way valve, ingress of air through the valve in an upstream direction; and   maintaining any remaining fluid in the storage chamber hermetically sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere.   
     
     
         41 . A method as defined in  claim 40 , wherein the device further comprises a squeezable tubular portion coupled in fluid communication between the storage chamber and the one way valve, and the pressuring step comprises squeezing the tubular portion. 
     
     
         42 . A method as defined in  claim 40 , wherein the device further comprises a pump configured to pressurize fluid at the inlet to the valve opening to dispense the fluid therethrough, wherein the pressurizing step includes activating the pump. 
     
     
         43 . A device for storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of the stored fluid therefrom, comprising:
 a flexible container defining a hermetically sealed, variable-volume storage chamber containing therein multiple portions of the fluid hermetically sealed within the storage chamber with respect to ambient atmosphere; and   a one-way valve comprising a valve member formed of an elastic material and forming a normally closed valve opening and an inlet to the valve opening in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber, wherein the valve member is movable between a normally closed position, and an open position with at least a segment of the valve member spaced away from the closed position to allow the passage of fluid from the variable-volume storage chamber through the valve opening;   wherein during dispensing of fluid through the one-way valve, the one-way valve and variable-volume storage chamber substantially prevent ingress of air and maintain any remaining fluid in the variable-volume storage chamber sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere.   
     
     
         44 . A device as defined in  claim 43 , further comprising a squeezable tubular portion coupled in fluid communication between the storage chamber and the one way valve. 
     
     
         45 . A device as defined in  claim 43 , further comprising a pump configured to pump fluid from the storage chamber through the valve opening. 
     
     
         46 . A device for storing fluid and dispensing stored fluid therefrom, comprising:
 a manually squeezable body containing a storage chamber therein;   a fluid within the storage chamber;   a one-way valve comprising a valve seat and a valve member formed of an elastic material overlying the valve seat and forming a normally closed valve opening therewith defined by a seam between the valve seat and the valve member and defining a valve opening pressure, and an inlet to the valve opening in fluid communication with the storage chamber, wherein the valve member is movable between a normally closed position in which the valve member engages the valve seat, and an open position with at least a segment of the valve member spaced away from the closed position to allow passage of at least a portion of fluid from the storage chamber through the valve opening, and configured such that substantially throughout any period of dispensing the one-way valve substantially prevents the ingress of bacteria or other unwanted impurities from the ambient atmosphere through the one-way valve and into the storage chamber; and   an airflow passageway in fluid communication between an exterior and an interior of the manually squeezable body for regulating a flow of air into the interior of the body, wherein bacteria and unwanted impurities in air passing through the airflow passageway are substantially prevented from contaminating the fluid in the storage chamber;   wherein upon manually squeezing the manually squeezable body, fluid at the inlet to the valve opening is pressurized to a pressure at least equal to the valve opening pressure and moving the elastic valve member between the normally closed position and the open position with at least a segment of the valve member spaced away from the closed position, and, in turn, dispensing at least a portion of the stored fluid through the valve opening; and   wherein upon relaxation of the squeezing, air enters the interior of the manually squeezable body through the airflow passageway without bacteria and unwanted impurities in said air contaminating the fluid in the storage chamber.   
     
     
         47 . A device as defined in  claim 46 , wherein the valve seat, the valve member and the seam are axially-extending.