US20110282284A1 - Fluid dispensing apparatus - Google Patents
Fluid dispensing apparatus Download PDFInfo
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- US20110282284A1 US20110282284A1 US12/930,136 US93013610A US2011282284A1 US 20110282284 A1 US20110282284 A1 US 20110282284A1 US 93013610 A US93013610 A US 93013610A US 2011282284 A1 US2011282284 A1 US 2011282284A1
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- Prior art keywords
- reservoir
- fluid
- collapsible
- supporting structure
- assembly
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M5/00—Devices for bringing media into the body in a subcutaneous, intra-vascular or intramuscular way; Accessories therefor, e.g. filling or cleaning devices, arm-rests
- A61M5/14—Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
- A61M5/142—Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
- A61M5/145—Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps using pressurised reservoirs, e.g. pressurised by means of pistons
- A61M5/1452—Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps using pressurised reservoirs, e.g. pressurised by means of pistons pressurised by means of pistons
- A61M5/1454—Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps using pressurised reservoirs, e.g. pressurised by means of pistons pressurised by means of pistons spring-actuated, e.g. by a clockwork
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M5/00—Devices for bringing media into the body in a subcutaneous, intra-vascular or intramuscular way; Accessories therefor, e.g. filling or cleaning devices, arm-rests
- A61M5/14—Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
- A61M5/142—Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
- A61M5/145—Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps using pressurised reservoirs, e.g. pressurised by means of pistons
- A61M5/148—Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps using pressurised reservoirs, e.g. pressurised by means of pistons flexible, e.g. independent bags
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Vascular Medicine (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Anesthesiology (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
- Hematology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)
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.
Description
- Divisional Application of co-pending U.S. Ser. No. 11/725,220 filed Mar. 14, 2007 which is a Non-Provisional Application claiming the benefit of co-pending Provisional Application No. 60/783,019 filed Mar. 15, 2005.
- Not Applicable
- Not Applicable
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates generally to fluid dispensing apparatus. More particularly, the invention concerns medicament dispensers for dispensing medicinal fluids to ambulatory patients.
- 2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
- A number of different types of medicament dispensers for dispensing medicaments to ambulatory patients have been suggested in the past. Many of the devices or apparatus seek either to improve or to replace the traditional gravity flow and hypodermic syringe methods which have been the standard for delivery of liquid medicaments for many years.
- The prior art gravity flow methods typically involve the use of intravenous administration sets and the familiar flexible solution bag suspended above the patient. Such gravametric methods are cumbersome, imprecise and require bed confinement of the patient. Periodic monitoring of the apparatus by the nurse or doctor is required to detect malfunctions of the infusion apparatus. Accordingly, the prior art devices or apparatus are not well suited for use in those instances where the patient must be transported to a remote facility for treatment.
- With regard to the prior art, one of the most versatile and unique fluid delivery apparatus developed in recent years is that developed by one of the present inventors and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,820. The components of this novel fluid delivery apparatus generally include: a base assembly, an elastomeric membrane serving as a stored energy means, fluid flow channels for filling and delivery, flow control means, a cover, and an ullage which comprises a part of the base assembly.
- Another prior art patent issued to one of the present applicants, namely U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,879, discloses an injectable medicament dispenser for use in controllably dispensing fluid medicaments such as insulin, anti-infectives, analgesics, oncolylotics, cardiac drugs biopharmaceuticals, and the like from a pre-filled container at a uniform rate. The dispenser, which is quite dissimilar in construction and operation from that of the present invention, includes a stored energy source in the form of a compressively deformable, polymeric, elastomeric member that provides the force necessary to controllably discharge the medicament from a pre-filled container, which is housed within the body of the apparatus. After having been deformed, the polymeric, elastomeric member will return to its starting configuration in a highly predictable manner.
- By way of brief summary, one form of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient comprises a supporting structure; a carriage assembly interconnected with the supporting structure for movement between a first position and a second position; a pre-filled collapsible container carried by the carriage assembly, the collapsible container having accessing means for accessing the reservoir comprising a frangible member in the form of a pierceable member or shearable member. The apparatus also includes guide means connected to the supporting structure for guiding travel of the carriage assembly between the first position and said second positions; a stored energy source operably associated with the carriage assembly for moving the carriage assembly between the first and second positions; and an administration set, including an administration line interconnected with the outlet port of the collapsible reservoir.
- With the forgoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a compact fluid dispenser for use in controllably dispensing fluid medicaments to ambulatory patients, such as, antibiotics, blood clotting agents, analgesics, KVO, artificial blood substitutes, resuscitation fluids, internal nutritional solutions, biologics, and like beneficial agents from pre-filled or field-filled containers at a uniform rate.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a small, compact pre-filled fluid dispenser that is aseptically filled and sealed at the time of manufacture.
- Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that is of simple construction that can be used in the field with a minimum amount of training.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser in which a stored energy source is provided in the form of a compressible, expandable or retractable member of novel construction that provides the force necessary to continuously and uniformly expel fluid from the apparatus reservoir.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of the class described which includes a fluid flow control assembly that precisely controls the flow of the medicament solution to the patient. Uniquely, the container is formed as a unitary structure that includes a collapsible side wall and a pierceable closure wall that isolates the beneficial agents contained within the container reservoir from external contaminants.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser that includes precise variable flow rate selection.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid dispenser of simple construction, which embodies an integrally formed, collapsible, pre-filled drug container that contains the beneficial agents to be delivered to the patient.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid dispenser of the class described which is compact, lightweight, is easy for ambulatory patients to use, is fully disposable, transportable and is extremely reliable in operation.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid dispenser as described in the preceding paragraphs that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture in large quantities.
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FIG. 1 is a generally perspective, top view of one form of the fluid dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient. -
FIG. 2 is a generally perspective, exploded view of the fluid dispensing apparatus shown inFIG. 1 as it appears with a top cover of the apparatus removed. -
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the fluid dispensing apparatus illustrated inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4A is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the left-hand portion of the apparatus shown inFIG. 3 . -
FIG. 4B is a fragmentary, longitudinal, cross-sectional view similar toFIG. 4A , but showing the various components of the apparatus as they appear following delivery to the patient of the fluid contained within the apparatus reservoir. -
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the fluid reservoir assembly of the invention. -
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 6-6 ofFIG. 5 . -
FIG. 7 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the area designated inFIG. 6 by the numeral “7”. -
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 8-8 ofFIG. 3 . -
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 9-9 ofFIG. 8 . -
FIG. 10 is a view taken along lines 10-10 ofFIG. 9 . -
FIG. 11 is a generally perspective, exploded view of the fluid delivery apparatus illustrated inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 12 is a generally perspective, exploded view of the multiple flow rate control assembly of the apparatus of the invention and a portion of the administration set. -
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the rate control assembly depicted inFIG. 12 as it appears in an assembled configuration. -
FIG. 14 is an exploded, cross-sectional view of the rate control assembly illustrated inFIG. 13 . -
FIG. 15 is a view taken along lines 15-15 ofFIG. 14 . -
FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the selector knob of the present invention for rotating the selector member in a manner to select the rate of fluid flow to the patient. -
FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 17-17 ofFIG. 16 . -
FIG. 18 is a bottom plan view of the selector knob shown inFIG. 17 . -
FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the selector member of the apparatus which is rotated by the selector knob. -
FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 20-20 ofFIG. 19 . -
FIG. 21 is a bottom plan view of the selector member shown inFIG. 20 . -
FIG. 22 is front view of the selector element of the rate control means of the invention. -
FIG. 23 is a bottom plan view of the selector element. -
FIG. 24 is a top plan view of the nipple portion of one of the rate control covers of the rate control assembly. -
FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 25-25 ofFIG. 24 . -
FIG. 26 is a top plan view of the other of the rate control covers. -
FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 27-27 ofFIG. 26 . -
FIG. 28 is a view taken along lines 28-28 ofFIG. 27 . -
FIG. 29 is a side elevation view of the selector member housing of the apparatus. -
FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 30-30 of FIG. -
FIG. 31 is a view taken along lines 31-31 ofFIG. 29 . -
FIG. 32 is a bottom plan view of the rate control plate of the rate control assembly. -
FIG. 33 is a top plan view of thecover member 89 of the rate control assembly. -
FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 34-34 ofFIG. 33 . -
FIG. 35 is a top plan view of a portion of the supporting structure of the apparatus of the invention. -
FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 36-36 ofFIG. 35 . -
FIG. 37 is a view taken along lines 37-37 ofFIG. 36 . -
FIG. 38 is a side-elevational view of one form of the control shaft of the flow control means of the invention. -
FIG. 39 is a view taken along lines 39-39 ofFIG. 38 . -
FIG. 40 is a view taken along lines 40-40 ofFIG. 38 . -
FIG. 41 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines 41-41 ofFIG. 38 . -
FIG. 42 is an enlarged, side-elevational view of one form of the spring knife of the invention that is carried within cavities formed in the control shaft as shown inFIG. 41 . -
FIG. 43 is a view taken along lines 43-43 ofFIG. 42 . -
FIG. 44 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a portion of the support structure and of the control shaft of the apparatus illustrating the appearance of the components in their starting position. -
FIG. 45 is a cross-sectional view similar toFIG. 44 but showing the appearance of the components after the initial rotation of the control shaft from a first position to a second position. -
FIG. 46 is a cross-sectional view similar toFIG. 45 but showing the appearance of the components after further rotation of the control shaft from the second position to a third, final position. -
FIG. 47 is a generally perspective, diagrammatic view showing the operating handle of the apparatus in its starting position. -
FIG. 48 is a generally perspective, diagrammatic view illustrating the gripping of the apparatus handle by the operator. -
FIG. 49 is a generally perspective, diagrammatic view illustrating the movement of the operating handle by the operator to open the fluid flow path between the reservoir and the rate control means of the invention. -
FIG. 50 is a generally perspective, diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the locking means of the apparatus in a manner to lock the carriage to the base component of the apparatus structural support. -
FIG. 51 is a generally perspective, diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the locking means of the apparatus to release the carriage so as to arm the system to permit delivery of fluid to the patient via the administration set of the apparatus. -
FIG. 52 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of an alternate form of the fluid dispensing apparatus of the invention showing the reservoir in a pre-filled condition. -
FIG. 53A is a fragmentary, longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the left-hand portion of the apparatus shown inFIG. 52 . -
FIG. 53B is a fragmentary, longitudinal, cross-sectional view similar toFIG. 53A , but showing the various components of the apparatus as they appear with administration line installed and following delivery to the patient of the fluid contained within the apparatus reservoir. -
FIG. 54 is a cross-sectional view of the fluid reservoir assembly of this latest form of the invention. -
FIG. 55 is a cross-sectional view showing the fluid reservoir assembly as it appears in a substantially empty condition following delivery to the patient of the fluid contained within the reservoir. -
FIG. 56 is a generally perspective, exploded view of a portion of the administration set and of the single or fixed rate control assembly of this latest embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 57 is an exploded, cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the apparatus illustrated inFIG. 52 . -
FIG. 58 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 58-58 ofFIG. 57 . -
FIG. 59 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 59-59 ofFIG. 57 . -
FIG. 60 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 60-60 ofFIG. 57 . -
FIG. 61 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 61-61 ofFIG. 57 . -
FIG. 62 is a top plan view of the rate control plate of the rate control apparatus of this latest form of the invention. -
FIG. 63 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 63-63 ofFIG. 62 . -
FIG. 64 is a view taken along lines 64-64 ofFIG. 63 . -
FIG. 65 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of yet another form of the dispensing apparatus of the invention showing the reservoir in a pre-filled condition. -
FIG. 66 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view similar toFIG. 65 , but with the reservoir in a substantially empty condition showing the configuration of the apparatus after the fluid dispensing step. -
FIG. 67 is a generally perspective, exploded view of the apparatus shown inFIG. 65 . -
FIG. 67A is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of yet another form of the fluid dispensing apparatus of the invention. -
FIG. 67B is a view, similar toFIG. 67A , but showing the configuration of the apparatus after the fluid dispensing step. -
FIG. 68 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of still another form of the fluid dispensing apparatus of the invention showing the reservoir in a pre-filled condition. -
FIG. 68A is a generally perspective view of the fluid dispensing apparatus of the invention shown inFIG. 68 as it appears following removal of the closure cap. -
FIG. 68B is a fragmentary, generally perspective, exploded view of the upper portion of the fluid dispensing apparatus of the invention shown inFIG. 68 as it appears following removal of the tear strip. -
FIG. 69 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view similar toFIG. 68 but showing the various components of the apparatus as they appear following delivery to the patient of the fluid contained within the apparatus reservoir. -
FIG. 69A is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the selector member housing of the fluid dispensing apparatus. -
FIG. 69B is a cross-sectional view taken alonglines 69B-69B ofFIG. 69A . -
FIG. 69C is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the selector member of the fluid dispensing apparatus. -
FIG. 69D is a view taken along lines 69D-69D ofFIG. 68 . -
FIG. 69E is an enlarged, generally perspective, exploded view of the rate control portion of the fluid dispensing apparatus shown inFIGS. 68 and 69 . -
FIG. 70 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view of still another form of the fluid dispensing apparatus of the invention showing the reservoir in a filled condition. -
FIG. 71 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view similar toFIG. 70 , but showing the various components of the apparatus as they appear following delivery to the patient of the fluid contained within the apparatus reservoir which is shown in a substantially empty condition. -
FIG. 72 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view of yet another alternate form of the fluid dispensing apparatus of the invention showing the reservoir in a filled condition. -
FIG. 73 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view similar toFIG. 72 , but showing the various components of the apparatus as they appear following delivery to the patient of the fluid contained within the apparatus reservoir which is substantially empty. -
FIG. 74 is a top plan view of the collapsible container of this alternate embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 75 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 75-75 ofFIG. 74 . -
FIG. 76 is an exploded, cross-sectional view of the reservoir access assembly of this latest form of the invention. -
FIG. 77 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the collapsible container as it appears in the collapsed substantially empty condition. -
FIG. 78 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view of an alternate form of the fluid dispensing apparatus of the invention showing the reservoir in a pre-filled condition. -
FIG. 79 is a foreshortened longitudinal, cross-sectional view, similar toFIG. 78 , but showing the various components of the apparatus as they appear following delivery to the patient of the fluid contained within the apparatus reservoir with the reservoir substantially empty. -
FIG. 80 is a top plan view of the collapsible container of this alternate embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 81 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 81-81 of FIG. 80. -
FIG. 82 is an exploded, cross-sectional view of the reservoir access assembly of this latest form of the invention. -
FIG. 82A is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view of yet another alternate form of the fluid dispensing apparatus of the invention showing the reservoir in a pre-filled condition. -
FIG. 82B is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view, similar toFIG. 83A , but showing the various components of the apparatus as they appear following delivery to the patient of the fluid contained within the apparatus reservoir which is substantially empty. -
FIG. 82C is a fragmentary, exploded view of the accessing neck assembly of the apparatus shown inFIG. 82A . -
FIG. 82D is a fragmentary view similar toFIG. 82C but showing the neck assembly in an assembled configuration. -
FIG. 82E is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view of still another alternate form of the fluid dispensing apparatus of the invention showing the reservoir in a pre-filled condition. -
FIG. 82F is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view, similar toFIG. 82E , but showing the various components of the apparatus as they appear following delivery to the patient of the fluid contained within the apparatus reservoir which is substantially empty. -
FIG. 83 is a cross-sectional view of still another form of the dispensing apparatus of the invention. -
FIG. 84 is a cross-sectional view similar toFIG. 83 but showing the various components of the apparatus as they appear following delivery to the patient of the fluid contained with the fluid reservoir. -
FIG. 85 is a top plan view of the collapsible container of this alternate embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 86 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 86-86 ofFIG. 85 . -
FIG. 87 is a cross-sectional view of the reservoir access assembly of this latest form of the invention. -
FIG. 88 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the collapsible container as it appears in the collapsed configuration. -
FIG. 89 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view of still another alternate form of the fluid dispensing apparatus of the invention showing the reservoir in a pre-filled condition. -
FIG. 90 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view, similar toFIG. 89 , but showing the various components of the apparatus as they appear following delivery to the patient of the fluid contained within the apparatus reservoir which is substantially empty. -
FIG. 91 is a top plan view of the collapsible container of this alternate embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 92 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 92-92 ofFIG. 91 . -
FIG. 93 is a cross-sectional view of the luer-like reservoir access assembly of this latest form of the invention. -
FIG. 94 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the collapsible container as it appears in the collapsed configuration. -
FIG. 95 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view of yet another alternate form of the fluid dispensing apparatus of the invention showing the reservoir in a pre-filled condition. -
FIG. 96 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view, similar toFIG. 95 , but showing the various components of the apparatus as they appear following delivery to the patient of the fluid contained within the apparatus reservoir with the reservoir substantially empty. -
FIG. 97 is a top plan view of the collapsible container of this alternate embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 98 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 98-98 ofFIG. 97 . -
FIG. 99 is a cross-sectional view of the luer-like reservoir access assembly of this latest form of the invention. -
FIG. 100 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view of yet another alternate form of the fluid dispensing apparatus of the invention showing the reservoir in a pre-filled condition. -
FIG. 101 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view similar toFIG. 100 but showing the various components of the apparatus as they appear following delivery to the patient of the fluid contained within the apparatus reservoir which is shown substantially empty. -
FIG. 102 is a top plan view of the collapsible container of this alternate embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 103 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 103-103 ofFIG. 102 . -
FIG. 104 is a cross-sectional view of the luer-like reservoir access assembly of this latest form of the invention. -
FIG. 105 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the collapsible container as it appears in the collapsed configuration. -
FIG. 106 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view of still another alternate form of the fluid dispensing apparatus of the invention showing the reservoir in a pre-filled condition. -
FIG. 107 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view similar toFIG. 106 but showing the various components of the apparatus as they appear following delivery to the patient of the fluid contained within the apparatus reservoir which is shown substantially empty. -
FIG. 108 is a top plan view of the collapsible container of this alternate embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 109 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 109-109 ofFIG. 108 . -
FIG. 110 is a cross-sectional view of the luer-like reservoir access assembly of this latest form of the invention. -
FIG. 111 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view of still another alternate form of the pre-filled reservoir type fluid dispensing apparatus of the invention that includes a sponge-like stored energy source. -
FIG. 112 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view, similar toFIG. 111 , but showing the various components of the apparatus as they appear following delivery to the patient of the fluid contained within the apparatus reservoir showing the reservoir substantially empty. -
FIG. 113 is a top plan view of the collapsible container of this alternate embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 114 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 114-114 ofFIG. 113 . -
FIG. 115 is a cross-sectional, exploded view of the luer-like reservoir access assembly of this latest form of the invention. -
FIG. 116 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the collapsible container as it appears in the collapsed configuration. -
FIG. 117 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view of still another alternate form of the pre-filled reservoir type fluid dispensing apparatus of the invention that includes a sponge-like stored energy source. -
FIG. 118 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view, similar toFIG. 117 , but showing the various components of the apparatus as they appear following delivery to the patient of the fluid contained within the apparatus reservoir which is shown in a substantially empty condition. -
FIG. 119 is a top plan view of the collapsible container of this alternate embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 120 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along lines 120-120 ofFIG. 119 . -
FIG. 121 is a cross-sectional, exploded view of the luer-like reservoir access assembly of this latest form of the invention. -
FIG. 122 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view of yet another alternate form of the pre-filled reservoir type fluid dispensing apparatus of the invention that includes a sponge-like stored energy source. -
FIG. 123 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view, similar toFIG. 122 , but showing the various components of the apparatus as they appear following delivery to the patient of the fluid contained within the apparatus reservoir which appears in a substantially empty condition. -
FIG. 124 is a top plan view of the collapsible container of this alternate embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 125 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 125-125 ofFIG. 124 . -
FIG. 126 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the collapsible container as it appears in the collapsed configuration. -
FIG. 127 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view of still another alternate form of the pre-filled reservoir type fluid dispensing apparatus of the invention that includes a sponge-like stored energy source. -
FIG. 128 is a foreshortened, longitudinal, cross-sectional view, similar toFIG. 127 , but showing the various components of the apparatus as they appear following delivery to the patient of the fluid contained within the apparatus reservoir which appears in a substantially empty condition. -
FIG. 129 is a top plan view of the collapsible container of this alternate embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 130 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along lines 130-130 ofFIG. 129 . - As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:
- A closed container formed from a single component.
- A wall having no break in uniformity or continuity.
- Individual seeking medical care.
- A container that is designed and intended to be secure against the entry of microorganisms and to maintain the safety and quality of its contents after pressurizing.
- A virus, therapeutic serum, toxin, antitoxin, vaccine, blood, blood component or derivative, allergenic product, or analogous product applicable to the prevention, treatment or cure of diseases or injuries of man.
- As defined by the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, drugs are “articles (other than food) intended for the use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in man or other animals, or to affect the structure or any function.”
- A finished dosage form (e.g. tablet, capsule, or solution) that contains the active drug ingredient usually combined with inactive ingredients.
- Blood Substitutes are used to fill fluid volume and/or carry oxygen and other gases in the cardiovascular system. These include volume expanders for inert products, and oxygen therapeutics for oxygen-carrying products.
- Infusion of hyperosmotic-hyperoncotic solutions such as hypertonic saline dextran (HSD) as used for resuscitation of traumatic shock and perioperative volume support or as an adjunct to other conventional isotonic crystalloid solutions. Where hypotension is caused by myocardial depression, pathological vasodilatation and extravascation of circulating volume due to widespread capillary leak, a resuscitative effort is attempted to correct the absolute and relative hypovolemia by refilling the vascular tree. Here resuscitation with a small volume of hypertonic-hyperoncotic solution allows systemic and splanchnic hemodynamic and oxygen transport recovery, without an increase in pulmonary artery pressure. Alternate types of normotonic, hyperoncotic, hypertonic, and hypertonic-hyperoncotic solutions can be used for systemic hemodynamic recovery.
- KVO—keeping-the-vein-open in an IV set up, a phrase that refers to the flow rate of a maintenance IV line established as a prophylactic access.
- Dietary supplemental enteral nutrition support feeding solutions used for nasoenteric application typically used in nasogastric, nasoduodenal and nasojejunal or intravenous routes of administration.
- The term beneficial agent can include any substance or compound that is biologically active and includes any physiologically or pharmacologically active substance that produces a localized or systemic effect in humans or animals and that can be delivered by the present invention to produce a beneficial and useful result.
- A liquid that dilutes, as in an inert solution used to dilute a medicament. An inert liquid carrier of a beneficial agent.
- An instrument, apparatus, implement, machine, contrivance, implant, in vitro reagent, or other similar or related article, including any component, part or accessory, which is intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, treatment or prevention of disease. A device does not achieve its intended purpose through chemical action in the body and is not dependent upon being metabolized to achieve its purpose.
- An appliance or device for a particular purpose: An integrated group of materials or apparatus used for a particular purpose. The totality of means by which a designated function is performed or a specific task executed, a group of body parts that work together to perform a given function.
- A receptacle or chamber for storing a fluid. A part of a machine, apparatus, where liquid is stored.
- A receptacle for holding a liquid. A fluid dispenser that is carried or transported.
- To cause to fold, break down, or fall down or inward or as in bent-over or doubled-up so that one part lies on another.
- A dispensing apparatus in which one or more walls of the container are made of a material which will deform (collapse) when pressure is applied thereto; or a dispensing apparatus having a collapsible or telescoping wall structure.
- The term ‘aseptic processing’ as it is applied in the pharmaceutical industry refers to the assembly of sterilized components and product in a specialized clean environment.
- A sterile product is one that is free from all living organisms, whether in a vegetative or spore state.
- Blow-Fill-Seal Process
- The concept of aseptic blow-fill-seal (BFS) is that a container is formed, filled, and sealed as a unitary container in a continuous manner without human intervention in a sterile enclosed area inside a machine. The process is multi-stepped, pharmaceutical grade resin is extruded into a tube, which is then formed into a container. A mandrel is inserted into the newly formed container and filled. The container is then sealed, all inside a sterile shrouded chamber. The product is then discharged to a non-sterile area for packaging and distribution.
- An article of one-piece construction, or several parts that are rigidly secured together and is smoothly continuous in form and that any such components making up the part have been then rendered inseparable.
- A word borrowed from the Latin “saeptum” meaning a dividing wall or enclosure; thus, a thin partition or membrane that divides two spaces.
- A septum that is partially slit to aid in cannula penetration.
- Tending to penetrate; having the power of entering or piercing.
- Capable of or designed for incising, shearing, or severing as to cut off from a main body.
- An article, item or object that is capable of being ruptured or broken, but does not necessarily imply any inherent materials weakness. A material object, under load that demonstrates a mechanical strain rate deformation behavior, leading to disintegration.
- A connector used to connect medical apparatus. Classically, the Luer consists of a tapered barrel and a conical male part that fits into it with or without a seal.
- The processes of surface treatments, more formally surface engineering, to tailor the surfaces of engineering materials to change, alter or modify the physical surface characteristics and improve the function of the materials properties for its intended purpose.
- A mechanical element that can be deformed by a mechanical force such that the deformation is directly proportional to the force or torque applied to it. An elastic machine component able to deflect under load in a prescribed manner and to recover its initial shape when unloaded. The combination of force and displacement in a deflected spring is energy which may be stored when moving loads are being arrested.
- Constant force springs are a special variety of extension spring. They are tightly coiled wound bands of pre-hardened spring steel or stainless steel strip with built-in curvature so that each turn of the strip wraps tightly on its inner neighbor. When the strip is extended (deflected) the inherent stress resists the loading force; the same as a common extension spring, but at a nearly constant (zero) rate. The constant-force spring is well suited to long extensions with no load build-up. In use, the spring is usually mounted with the ID tightly wrapped on a drum and the free end attached to the loading force. Considerable flexibility is possible with constant-force springs because the load capacity can be multiplied by using two or more strips in tandem, or back-to-back. Constant force springs are available in a wide variety of sizes.
- Referring to the drawings and particularly to
FIGS. 1 through 3 , one form of the fluid dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient is there shown and generally designated by the numeral 50. The dispensing apparatus here comprises a supportingstructure 52, which includes ahousing 54 having anupper portion 55 and a generally cylindrically shapedskirt portion 56. Supportingstructure 52 can be constructed from metal, plastic or any suitable material. Connected toportion 56 is abase segment 57, the details of construction of which will presently be described. - Disposed within
skirt portion 56 is acarriage assembly 58, which is movable between a first position shown inFIGS. 3 and 4A and a second position shown inFIG. 4B . As best seen by referring toFIGS. 4A and 4B ,carriage assembly 58 comprises acarriage 60 having acarriage flange 60 a to which the novel stored energy means of the present invention is operably interconnected.Carriage assembly 58 is releasably locked in its first position by a novel locking means the character of which will be described in the paragraphs, which follow. - Carried by
carriage assembly 58 is areservoir defining assembly 64 that defines afluid reservoir 65. As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 6 ,reservoir defining assembly 64 includes atop wall 64 a, an accordion-like side wall 64 b that is connected totop wall 64 a and abottom wall 64 c that is connected toside wall 64 b. As illustrated inFIG. 3 ,bottom wall 64 c includes a cup-shapedportion 64 e.Reservoir 65 has a combination inlet/outlet 66 that is formed in areservoir nipple 68 showing ascoreline 69 that also comprises a part of thereservoir assembly 64. - In the preferred form of the invention shown in
FIG. 6 ,nipple 68 is sealably interconnected withtop wall 64 a in accordance with an aseptic blow-fill-seal technique of a character well understood by those skilled in the art. This blow-fill-seal technique comprises the continuous extrusion through an extruder head of a length of a parison in the form of a hollow tube between and through two co-acting first or main mold halves. The method includes the step of cutting off the parison below the extruder head and above the main mold halves to create an opening which allows a blowing and filling nozzle assembly to be moved downwardly into the opening in the parison for molding and thereafter filling a molded container. - When the container portion of the container assembly is filled with the desired amount of liquid, the blowing and filling nozzle assembly is retracted from the opening in the parison. A separate pair of co-acting second or upper sealing mold halves are then moved together around the exposed length of parison to form and seal the container upper portion. The finished container assembly, completely formed, filled, and sealed as a unitary structure is then conveyed out of the molding apparatus. Further information concerning aseptic blow-fill and blow-fill-seal techniques is available from Weiler Engineering of Elgin, Ill. and from Rommelag of Waiblingen, Germany.
- To controllably move the carriage assembly from its first position to its second position and to thereby controllably expel the fluid from the
fluid reservoir 65, novel stored energy means are provided. These novel stored energy means, which are operably associated withcarriage assembly 58, are here provided in the form of three circumferentially spaced-apart, constant force springs 70 (FIGS. 3 and 8 ). It is to be understood that an alternate number of springs can be used as may be desired. As illustrated inFIGS. 3 , 8 and 9, constant force springs 70 are housed withinspring retainers 72 a which form a part of aspring housing 72 which includes acavity 73 havinginternal threads 73 a.Housing 72, in turn, forms a part of the supportingstructure 52 of the apparatus. The details of construction and operation of these important constant force springs will presently be described. - As will be discussed more fully in the paragraphs which follow during the fluid dispensing step, as the
carriage assembly 58 is moved by the constant force springs 70 toward its deployed position, the accordion-like sidewall 64 b of thereservoir assembly 64 will be urged to move into the collapsed configuration shown inFIG. 4B and in so doing will cause the fluid contained within the container to be controllably and substantially expelled therefrom. - To further control the flow of fluid from
reservoir 65 toward the administration set 76 of the invention and then on to the patient, novel fluid flow control means are provided. The fluid flow control means, which is carried by the supportingstructure 52, here comprises two cooperating components, namely a rate control means for controlling the rate of fluid flow from the collapsible reservoir toward the administration set and an operating means for controlling fluid flow between the collapsible reservoir and the rate control means. - Considering first the rate control means of the invention, this important means comprises a
rate control housing 82, which includes afirst cover member 84, that engages aselector element 86 which is received within acavity 87 provided inselector member 88 and located therewithin by a flat “F” (FIG. 23 ).Selector member 88, which has anenlarged diameter portion 88 a (SeeFIG. 14 ), forms a part of the selector means of the invention for selecting the desired rate of fluid flow from the fluid reservoir toward the administration set.Cover member 84 also has a ratecontrol plate cavity 84 b. As best seen inFIGS. 13 and 14 ,rate control housing 82 includes asecond cover member 89 having an outwardly extending attachednipple 92, the purpose of which will presently be described. - Interconnected with
rate control housing 82 is aselector knob 94, that includes acentral bore 96, the enlarged, threadeddiameter portion 96 a of which sealably receives theconnector hub 77 of the administration set 76 (FIG. 12 ). Theenlarged diameter portion 96 b ofbore 96, which includes agroove 96 c, receives the reduceddiameter portion 88 b of selector member 88 (FIGS. 13 and 14 ). A threadedcap 95 retainsselector member 88 in position. As shown inFIG. 14 ,selector member 88 includes anorientation spine 88 s that is received ingroove 96 c.Selector knob 94 also includes an outwardly extendingflange 94 c which carries circumferentially spaced finger-grippingelements 100 which assist in rotating the selector knob (FIG. 12 ).Flange 94 c also carries anindicator arrow 101, which, upon rotation of the selector member, aligns withflow rate indicia 104 imprinted on therim portion 106 a of aselector member support 106 that supports selector knob 94 (FIGS. 2 , 12 and 13).Selector member support 106 also includes askirt portion 106 b that is interconnected withrate control housing 82 in the manner shown inFIGS. 3 and 13 . It is to be noted that the movable components of the dispensing apparatus typically carry conventional 0-rings to provide appropriate sealing of the components within the apparatus with their mating parts. Throughout the drawings these 0-rings are identified as “0”. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 4A and 4B ,first cover member 84 cooperates withsecond cover 89 to sealably enclose therate control plate 110 of the invention (FIGS. 13 and 14 ) that is disposed betweencovers spline 84 c oncover 84 and notches “N” formed oncover 89 andplate 110.Rate control plate 110 is provided with a plurality of fluid flow channels of different lengths, widths, depths and geometry (FIG. 32 ) that are in fluid communication withoutlet 66 ofcollapsible reservoir 65 via the operating means of the invention,central passageway 92 a ofnipple 92, andcentral passageway 68 a ofnipple 68. After operating the operating means of the invention in a manner presently to be described to permit fluid to flow into the passageway of thenipples passageway 89 a, through a conventionalparticulate filter 111, into a well 89 b and intoinlet 110 a of the rate control plate. Frominlet 110 a, the fluid will flow into the various circuitousfluid channels FIGS. 12 and 32 ). As each of the channels fills with the medicinal fluid to be dispensed to the patient, the fluid will flow intooutlet passageways FIG. 28 ). From these outlet passageways, the fluid will flow into and fill circumferentially spaced-apartfluid passageways FIGS. 26 and 27 ). - As best seen by referring to
FIG. 21 ,selector member 88, which controllably rotates withknob 94, is provided with aninlet 120, a radially extendinginlet passageway 122 and anoutlet 124 that is in communication with acentral passageway 126 via anorifice 86 a of the selector element 86 (FIG. 23 ). When theconnector hub 77 of the administration set 76 is in position within thecavity 96 a formed inselector knob 94 in the manner shown inFIG. 4B , the fluid will flow through theselector film 86 and directly into theinlet 77 a of thehub 77 of the administration set 76 (FIGS. 3 , 20, 21, 22, and 23). - With the construction just described, by rotating the
selector knob 94, (SeeFIG. 4B ) which, in turn, rotatesselector member 88,inlet 120 of the selector member can be selectively brought into index with one of the axially extending passageways formed inselector member 88, thereby providing fluid communication with a selected one of the circuitous flow passageways formed inrate control plate 110. Sinceoutlet passageway 124 is in fluid communication with the administration set 76 in the manner previously described, the rate of fluid flow toward the patient can be precisely controlled by selecting a rate control passageway of appropriate length that is formed inrate control plate 110. - Considering now the previously identified operating means of the invention, this important means, which controls fluid flow between
collapsible reservoir 65 andpassageway 92 a ofnipple 92 of the rate control means, here comprises an operating shaft 128 (FIGS. 4A , 4B and 38) that is sealably, rotatably mounted within a generally cylindrical-shaped chamber 130 (FIGS. 4A , 4B and 36) formed inhousing 54 of supporting structure 52 (FIGS. 3 , 4A and 36). Operatingshaft 128 can be rotated withinchamber 130, which is closed by aclosure cap 130 a, by an “L”-shaped operating handle 134 (FIG. 2 ) between the position shown inFIG. 44 , blocking fluid flow fromcollapsible reservoir 65 toward administration set 76 and the position shown inFIG. 46 permitting fluid flow from the reservoir toward the administration set. - Turning particularly to
FIGS. 38 through 41 , operatingshaft 128 can be seen to comprise abody portion 128 a and a reduceddiameter neck portion 128 b. Circumferentially spaced-apart, generally arcuate-shapedcavities body portion 128 a, are strategically located to receive the end portions ofnipples chamber 130 byintegral retainer clips 135 in the manner shown inFIG. 36 . Also formed withinoperating shaft 128 is a transversely extendingfluid passageway 136, which, upon rotation of the operating shaft byhandle 134, can be moved into alignment with thefluid passageways nipples FIG. 46 ). - Mounted within each of the
cavities spring knife 140, which, as indicated inFIGS. 41 and 42 , includes acutting edge 140 a formed proximate one extremity and a pair of mountingclips 142 provided proximate the opposite extremity.Tabs 142 a of the mounting clips are received withinslots 144 formed inbody portion 128 a so as to secure the spring knives within the arcuate cavities in the manner illustrated inFIG. 44 . With this construction, as the operatingshaft 128 is rotated byhandle 134 from the position shown inFIG. 44 into the position shown inFIG. 45 the spring knives will cleanly sever the sealedtip portions nipples member 128 will move sealedtip portions FIG. 45 ) and will movetransverse passageway 136 into alignment withpassageways FIG. 46 . With the operating member in this position fluid can flow freely fromreservoir 65 toward the rate control means of the invention viapassageways nipples - From
passageway 68 a, fluid will flow throughpassageway 136, throughpassageway 92 a, through conventionalparticulate filter 111, through well 89 b, throughoutlet 89 a, intoinlet 110 a ofrate control plate 110 of the rate control assembly and then into the various circuitousfluid channels FIGS. 3 , 13 and 32).Rate control plate 110, which can be constructed from various plastics, is oriented relative tomembers Filter 111 is maintained in position withincavity 92 b ofmember 92 which is received in acavity 89 b formed inplate 89. As each of the channels fills with the medicinal fluid to be dispensed to the patient, the fluid will flow next intooutlet passageways FIG. 28 ). From these outlet passageways, the fluid flows into and fills circumferentially spaced-apartfluid passageways FIGS. 26 and 27 ). By controllably rotatingknob 94 which in turn rotates theselector member 88,inlet 120 thereof can be selectively brought into index with one of the fluid passageways formed incover member 84 viaelement 86, thereby providing fluid communication with a selected one of the circuitous flow passageways formed inrate control plate 110. Sinceoutlet passageway 124 of theselector member 88 is in fluid communication with the administration set 76 in the manner previously described the fluid can be delivered to the patient at a selected controlled rate of flow. - With the apparatus in the configuration shown in
FIG. 1 and with thefluid reservoir 65 filled with the medicament to be dispensed to the patient, the dispensing operation can be commenced by removing thetop cover 150 which is snapped over acover connector 152 that protrudes from therate control cover 84. With the top cover removed, theadministration line 76 a of the administration set 76 can be unwrapped from thesleeve 106 b of theselector knob support 106 about which it has been coiled (seeFIG. 3 ). Removal of thetop cover 150 also exposes theselector knob 94 so that the fluid flow rate can be selected by rotating the selector knob to the desired flow rate indicated by theindicia 104 imprinted on the rim of the selector knob support 106 (FIG. 2 ). In this regard, it is to be noted thatselector knob 94 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spacedcavities 97 c (FIG. 17 ) that are engaged by aprotuberance 106 p formed on inwardly extendingflange 106 d of support 106 (FIGS. 13 and 31 ). With the desired flow rate thusly set, the operatingshaft 128 is next rotated through the use of the operating handle 134 from the starting position shown inFIG. 47 to the fully rotated position shown inFIG. 49 . In this way, communication is opened between thereservoir outlet 66 andpassageway 92 a ofnipple 92 which, in turn, is in communication with the rate control assembly of the invention. - Following the controlled rotation of the operating
shaft 128 in the manner shown inFIGS. 44 through 49 , the carriage locking means of the invention can now be manipulated in the manner illustrated inFIG. 51 to release thecarriage 60 frombase segment 57 in order to permit the stored energy means, or constant force springs 70 to move the carriage from the fully deployed or extended starting position shown inFIG. 4A to the retracted position shown inFIG. 4B . In this regard, as best seen inFIGS. 4A , 4B and 51, the carriage locking means here comprises the previously identifiedbase segment 57 which includes a lockingsleeve 57 a that is provided with acam groove 155 that is adapted to mate with amale thread 157 formed on thebase 57 of container 64 (seeFIGS. 4A and 6 ). With this construction, upon rotatingbase segment 57 so as to release the carriage in the manner shown inFIGS. 4B and 51 ,carriage 60 is then free to move in response to the urging of the constant force springs 70 from the position shown inFIG. 4A to the fluid delivery position shown inFIG. 4B . As the carriage moves into the fluid delivery position the fluid contained withinreservoir 65 will be caused to controllably flow towardreservoir outlet 66, intofluid passageway 68 a ofnipple 68, throughpassageway 136 formed incontrol member 128 and intopassageway 92 a ofnipple 92. Frompassageway 92 a, fluid will flow through conventionalparticulate filter 111, into the well 89 b, throughoutlet 89 a, and intoinlet 110 a ofrate control plate 110 and then into the various circuitousfluid channels FIG. 32 ). As each of the channels fills with the medicinal fluid to be dispensed to the patient, the fluid will flow into and fill circumferentially spaced-apartfluid passageways FIG. 28 ). By controllably rotating theselector knob 94,inlet 120 ofselector member 88 can be selectively brought into index with one of thefluid passageways cover member 84, thereby providing fluid communication with a selected one of the circuitous flow rate control passageways formed inrate control plate 110 and in this way select the desired rate of fluid flow to the administration set and then on to the patient. - In the present form of the invention, administration set 76, which comprises a part of the dispensing means of the invention for delivering medicinal fluids to the patient, includes, in addition to
administration line 76 a, a conventional “Y”-site injection septum orport 76 b, a conventional gas vent andparticulate filter 76 c and aline clamp 76 d. Provided at the distal end of the administration line is aLuer connector 76 e of conventional construction (FIG. 2 ) which enables the apparatus to be interconnected with the patient in a conventional manner. - The stored energy members or constant-force springs 70, which are a special variety of extension spring, are readily commercially available from several sources, including Barnes Group Inc. of Bristol, Conn.; Stock Drive Products/Sterling Instrument of Hyde Park, N.Y. and Walker Corporation of Ontario, Calif. Constant force extension springs are basically high stress, long deflection apparatus that offer great advantages when used in applications, such as the present application, where very low or zero gradient is desired, where space is a factor and where very high reliability, accuracy, and linear force tolerance is required. Constant force springs, such as
springs 70, provide markedly superior constant force loading when compared to conventional helical extension or like conventional types of springs. A constant force spring is typically a roll of pre-stressed metal strip that exerts a nearly constant restraining force to resist uncoiling or recoiling. The force is constant over time because the change in the radius of the curvature is constant.Springs 70 can be of a laminate construction, or alternativelyspring 70 can comprise a single spring element of the character shown in the drawings. - Turning now to
FIGS. 52 , 53A and 53B, an alternate form of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient is there shown. This alternate form of dispensing apparatus is similar in many respects to that shown inFIGS. 1 through 51 and like numerals are used inFIGS. 52 through 64 to identify like components. As before, the dispensing apparatus here includes a supporting structure which includes anupper portion 154 and a generally cylindrically shapedskirt portion 156 that is interconnected with the upper portion in the manner best seen inFIG. 52 of the drawings. - Disposed within
skirt portion 156 is acarriage assembly 60 which is movable between a first position shown inFIGS. 52 and 53A and a second position shown inFIG. 53B .Carriage assembly 60 is of identical construction and operation to that previously described and is releasably locked in its first position by locking means also identical to the locking means previously described herein. - The primary difference between this latest form of dispensing apparatus of the invention and that previously described resides in the provision of a single, rather than multiple, flow
rate control assembly 160 and areservoir defining assembly 162 of a totally different construction.Reservoir defining assembly 162 here comprises acollapsible container assembly 164 which is carried bycarriage assembly 60 in the manner illustrated inFIG. 52 . - As best seen by referring to
FIGS. 52 and 54 ,collapsible container assembly 162 includes acollapsible container 164 having acollapsible sidewall 164 a, aninterconnected bottom wall 164 b and an interconnectedtop wall 164 c to which a sealedreservoir nipple 166 which is scored about its periphery is sealably interconnected.Collapsible container assembly 164 defines afluid reservoir 168 having an inlet/outlet that is generally identified by the numeral 170 (FIGS. 52 and 54 ). - In the preferred form of this alternate embodiment of the invention,
nipple 166 is sealably interconnected with membertop wall 164 c in accordance with an aseptic blow-fill-seal technique of the general character previously described to form a unitary structure. - To controllably move the
carriage assembly 60 from its first position to its second position, novel stored energy means are provided. This novel stored energy means, which is identical in construction and operation to that previously described, comprises three circumferentially spaced constant force springs 70. - As in the earlier described embodiment of the invention, following operation of the operating means, when the locking means of the invention is manipulated in a manner to unlock the carriage assembly from base portion that is substantially similar to
base portion 57, springs 70 will move from their extended position shown inFIGS. 52 and 53A to their retracted position shown inFIG. 53B and in so doing will controllably move the carriage assembly from its fully deployed or extended starting position shown inFIG. 52 to its fully retracted position shown inFIG. 53B . As the carriage assembly moves toward its retracted position, thecollapsible sidewall 164 a of thecollapsible container 164 will move into the collapsed configuration shown inFIG. 53B . As the collapsible container collapses, the medicinal fluid or diluent contained within the container will be substantially and controllably expelled therefrom. - To further control the flow of medicinal fluid from
reservoir 168 toward the administration set 76 of the invention and then on to the patient, flow control means are provided. As before this novel fluid flow control means, comprises two cooperating components, namely a rate control means for controlling the rate of fluid flow from the collapsible reservoir to the patient and an operating means for controlling fluid flow between the collapsible reservoir and the rate control means. As previously mentioned, the rate control means is different from that previously described. However, the flow control means of this embodiment is identical in construction and operation to that previously described. The important alternate form of rate control means will be more fully described in the succeeding paragraphs. - As in the earlier described embodiment of the invention, the important flow control means, which controls fluid flow between
collapsible reservoir 164 and the rate control means, comprises an operatingshaft 128 that is rotatably mounted within a generally cylindrically shapedchamber 130 formed inupper portion 154 of the supporting structure. As before, operatingshaft 128 can be rotated withinchamber 130 by an “L”-shaped operating handle between a first position blocking fluid flow fromcollapsible reservoir 168 toward administration set 76 and a second position permitting fluid flow from the reservoir toward the administration set. - Operating
shaft 128 includes circumferentially spaced-apart generally arcuate-shapedcavities end portion 166 a ofcontainer nipple 166 and also to receive theend portion 172 a of the rate control meansnipple 172 when the operating shaft is held in position withinchamber 130 by the retainer clips 125. As best seen inFIG. 57 ,nipple 172 is affixed to and extends from acover 173, which forms a part of therate control assembly 177 of this latest form of the invention. As in the earlier described embodiment, as the operatingshaft 128 is rotated by the operating handle from it first position into its secondposition spring knives 140 will cleanly sever the sealedtip portions nipples transverse passageway 136 into alignment withfluid passageways reservoir 168 toward the rate control means of the invention viapassageways nipples control shaft 128. - From
passageway 172 p, fluid will flow through a conventionalparticulate filter 111 and then into theinlet 179 of therate control plate 180 of the rate control assembly 160 (FIG. 64 ). The fluid will then flow throughchannel 182 and outwardly ofoutlet 186. Fromoutlet 186 the fluid will flow intoinlet 188 ofcircuitous flow channel 180 a. Unlike the rate control plate of the previously described embodiment of the invention,rate control plate 180 has but asingle micro-channel 180 a. It is apparent that by varying the geometry of the micro-channel, including its length, depth, width and geometry, the rate of fluid flow fromreservoir 168 toward the administration set of the apparatus can be precisely controlled. After flowing through therate control channel 180 a, fluid will flow throughoutlet 190 of the rate control plate and intoinlet 192 a formed in theupper plate 192 of the rate control assembly. Afterrate control cover 196 has been mated withupper plate 192 in the manner shown inFIGS. 52 and 56 , theadministration line 76 a of the administration set 76 can be unwound from the periphery of theupper plate 192 and thehub portion 77 of the administration set can be inserted into thesocket 196 a formed incover 196. With the administration set thusly interconnected with the rate control assembly, the fluid will flow frominlet 192 a into theinlet 76 c of the administration set and onward toward the patient at a precisely controlled rate. - Turning now to
FIGS. 65 , 66 and 67, an alternate form of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient is there shown and generally designated by the numeral 300. This alternate form of the dispensing apparatus is similar in many respects to the previously described embodiments and like numerals are used inFIGS. 65 through 67 to identify like components. As before, the dispensing apparatus here includes a supportingstructure 302 which includes anupper portion 304 and a generally cylindrically shapedskirt portion 306 that is interconnected with the upper portion in the manner best seen inFIG. 65 of the drawings. - Disposed within
skirt portion 306 is acarriage assembly 309 which is movable between a first position shown inFIG. 65 and a second position shown inFIG. 66 .Carriage assembly 309 is of similar construction and operation to that previously described and is releasably locked in its first position by locking means also similar to the locking means previously described herein. As before, the locking means secures the carriage assembly and until released prevents forced loading of the reservoir assembly. - The primary difference between this latest form of dispensing apparatus of the invention and that previously described resides in the provision of a novel stored energy source, which is of a totally different construction. More particularly, rather than being of a mechanical spring, the novel stored energy means of this latest form of the invention comprises a compressible, expandable sponge-like configuration, which is generally designated in the drawings by 312. This unique stored energy source, which functions to move the
carriage 309 in the first compressed position shown inFIG. 65 to the second expanded position shown inFIG. 66 can take several forms. By way of non-limiting example, storedenergy source 312 can comprise a microporous, mesoporous, macroporous, ordered structure and can be constructed from Polypropylene (PP), Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF), Ethyle-vinyl Acetate (EVA), Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN), Polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE), silicone and porous cellulose acetate. A suitable source of certain of these materials is NUSIL Technology of Carpinteria, Calif. However, practice has shown that any porous plastic material including an open cell, porous foam or sponge-like material is suitable for use in constructing the stored energy source. The stored energy material employed may also be a cellular metal, porous metal, a metal sponge or solid metal foam. The metal foams may be derived from single element or alloys of two or more elements. The metals or alloys comprising the foams may be crystalline or amorphous. They may also have regions that display semi-crystalline characteristics. General examples of these materials include Al, Cu/Al, Sn, Au, Pb, brass, steel and negative Poisson metal foams. - As in the last described embodiment of the invention,
reservoir defining assembly 162 here comprises acollapsible container assembly 164, which is of identical construction to that previously described in connection withFIGS. 52 and 54 .Container assembly 164 is carried bycarriage assembly 309 in the manner illustrated inFIG. 65 .Collapsible container assembly 164, which includes anipple assembly 166, defines afluid reservoir 168 having an inlet/outlet that is generally identified by the numeral 170. - To control the flow of fluid from
reservoir 168 toward the administration set 76 of the invention and then on to the patient, novel fluid flow control means are provided. The fluid flow control means, which is carried by the supportingstructure 302 is identical in construction and operation to that previously described in connection withFIGS. 1 through 51 . As before, this fluid flow control means here comprises two supporting components, namely a rate control means for controlling the rate of fluid flow from the collapsible reservoir toward the administration set and an operating means for controlling fluid flow between the collapsible reservoir and the rate control means. Because the operating means and the rate control means of this latest form of the invention are substantially identical to those described in connection with the embodiment of the invention shown inFIGS. 1 through 51 , these means will not be further described. - In operating the apparatus of this latest form of the invention, with the apparatus in the configuration shown in
FIG. 65 and with thefluid reservoir 168 filled with the medicament or diluent to be dispensed to the patient, the dispensing operation can be commenced by removing thetop cover 150, which is snapped over acover connector 152 that protrudes from therate control cover 84. With a cover removed, the administration line of the administration set 76 can be unwrapped from thesleeve 104 b of theselector knob support 104 about which it has been coiled. Removal of thetop cover 150 also exposes theselector knob 92 so that the fluid flow rate can be selected by rotating the selector member to the desired flow rate indicated by the indicia imprinted on the rim of theselector knob support 104. With the desired flow rate appropriately set, the operatingshaft 128 is next rotated through the use of the operating handle to open communication between thereservoir outlet 170 andpassageway 92 a ofnipple 92 viapassageway 166 p, which, in turn, is in communication with the rate control assembly of the invention. - Following the controlled rotation of the operating
shaft 128, which is interconnected withstructural member 304, the carriage locking means of the invention can now be manipulated in a manner to release the carriage frombase segment 214 in order to permit the stored energy means, orsponge 312 to move the carriage from the starting position shown inFIG. 65 to the extended position shown inFIG. 66 . - As the carriage moves toward its extended position fluid will be controllably expelled from
reservoir 168, through the flow control means and on to the administration set in the manner previously described. - Turning now to
FIGS. 67A and 67B , yet another form of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient is there shown and generally designated by the numeral 315. This alternate form of the dispensing apparatus is similar in many respects to the previously described embodiments and like numerals are used inFIGS. 67A and 67B to identify like components. As before, the dispensing apparatus here includes a supportingstructure 316 which includes anupper portion 316 a and a generally cylindrically shapedskirt portion 316 b that is interconnected with the upper portion in the manner best seen inFIG. 67A of the drawings. - Disposed within
skirt portion 316 b is acarriage assembly 318 which is movable between a first position shown inFIG. 67A and a second position shown inFIG. 67B .Carriage assembly 318 is of similar construction and operation to that previously described and is releasably locked in its first position by locking means somewhat similar to the locking means previously described herein. - The primary difference between this latest form of dispensing apparatus of the invention and that described in connection with
FIGS. 65 through 67 resides in the provision of a novelcollapsible container 319 which has accordion-wall construction similar to that shown inFIGS. 3 and 6 of the drawings. -
Container assembly 319 is carried bycarriage assembly 318 in the manner illustrated inFIG. 67A .Collapsible container assembly 319, which includes anipple assembly 319 a, defines afluid reservoir 320 having an inlet/outlet that is generally identified by the numeral 320 a. - To control the flow of fluid from
reservoir 320 toward the administration set 76 of the invention and then on to the patient, novel fluid flow control means are provided which are identical in construction and operation to that previously described in connection withFIGS. 1 through 51 . - In operating the apparatus of this latest form of the invention, with the apparatus in the configuration shown in
FIG. 67A and with thefluid reservoir 320 filled with the medicament or diluent to be dispensed to the patient, the dispensing operation can be commenced by removing thetop cover 150, which is snapped over acover connector 152 that protrudes from therate control cover 84. With a cover removed, the administration line of the administration set 76 can be unwrapped from thesleeve 104 b of theselector knob support 104 about which it has been coiled. Removal of thetop cover 150 also exposes theselector knob 92 so that the fluid flow rate can be selected by rotating the selector member to the desired flow rate indicated by the indicia imprinted on the rim of theselector knob support 104. With the desired flow rate appropriately set, the operatingshaft 128 is next rotated through the use of the operating handle to open communication between the reservoir outlet 320 a, throughpassageway 166 p,passageway 136, andpassageway 92 a ofnipple 92, which, in turn, is in communication with the rate control assembly of the invention. - Following the controlled rotation of the operating
shaft 128, the carriage locking means of the invention can now be manipulated in a manner to release the carriage frombase segment 316 c in order to permit the stored energy means, orsponge 312, to move the carnage from the starting position shown inFIG. 67A to the extended position shown inFIG. 67B . - In this latest form of the invention, the carriage release means comprises a threaded
connector boss 321 that is rotatably carried bybase segment 316 c and is constructed and arranged to threadably engage a threadedaperture 318 d formed in thecarriage base 318 a, with this construction rotation of the threaded boss usingpivotal handle 321 a, will cause the boss to disengage the base segment permitting the stored energy source to move the carriage toward the position shown inFIG. 67B . - As the carriage moves toward its retracted position, fluid will be controllably expelled from
reservoir 320, through the flow control means and on to the administration set in the manner previously described. - Referring next to
FIGS. 68 , 68A, 68B and 69, still another form of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient is there shown and generally designated by the numeral 322. This alternate form of dispensing apparatus is similar in some respects to the earlier described embodiments and like numerals are used inFIGS. 68 and 69 to identify like components. Because the flow control means of this latest form of the invention is of different construction and operates in a different way, the dispensingapparatus 322 includes a supportingstructure 324, which, is of necessity, somewhat different in construction. More particularly, the supportingstructure 324 here comprises aconnector assembly 326 and a generally cylindrically shapedouter housing 328 that is interconnected with the connector assembly in the manner best seen inFIG. 68 of the drawings. - Disposed within
outer housing 328 is the carriage assembly, which is movable between a first position shown inFIG. 68 and a second position shown inFIG. 69 .Carriage assembly 329 comprises acarriage 330 having acarriage base 330 a that has proximate its periphery aconnector portion 330 b.Carriage assembly 329 is releasably locked to base 328 a ofouter housing 328 in its first position by a novel locking means the character of which will presently be described. - Carried by
carriage assembly 329 is areservoir defining assembly 334 that defines afluid reservoir 335.Reservoir defining assembly 334 here includes acollapsible container 336 having asidewall 336 a, aninterconnected bottom wall 336 b and an interconnectedtop wall 336 c having athin wall portion 336 d to which a sealedreservoir septum assembly 338 is sealably interconnected (seeFIG. 68 ). In a manner presently to be described,fluid reservoir 335 is accessible via aslit septum 338 s, which comprises a part ofreservoir septum assembly 338. As best seen inFIG. 68 ,septum 338 s is disposed within a generally cylindrically shaped holdingring 342, which in turn is disposed withinseptum assembly 338. - In the preferred form of this alternate embodiment of the invention,
reservoir assembly 334 is formed by the previously described aseptic blow-fill-seal technique to form a hermetically sealed container that contains the fluid to be dispensed. - The primary difference between this latest form of dispensing apparatus of the invention and those previously described herein resides in the provision of a totally different operating means for controlling fluid flow between
reservoir 335 and the rate control means of the invention. This important operating means here comprises a septum-penetrating assembly generally designated inFIG. 68 by the numeral 339.Assembly 339, which is disposed within askirt 340 formed on aselector member housing 342 includes a pointed septum-penetratingmember 344 having anelastomeric overcoat 344 e, which is received within aguide passageway 346 formed onsupport member 326.Assembly 339 includes an internally threaded counterbore 339 c which threadably mates with externally threadedportion 326 a ofconnector assembly 326.Assembly 339 also includes acavity 339 a, which closely receives a portion of the somewhat differently configuredrate control assembly 350, the details of construction of which will presently be described. - In this latest embodiment of the invention,
selector member housing 342 along with septum-penetratingassembly 339 is movable within aguide sleeve 352 that extends outwardly fromsupport member 326, from the first position shown inFIG. 68 to the second position shown inFIG. 69 . In addition to guiding the travel of the septum-penetrating assembly,guide sleeve 352 defines acylindrical space 352 a about which theadministration line 76 a of the administration set can be coiled in the manner best seen inFIG. 68 . -
Selector member housing 342 is retained in its first position by atear strip 354 that is removably receivable between acircumferentially extending rib 342 a formed onhousing 342 and theupper extremity 352 b ofguide sleeve 352. When thetear strip 354 is removed in the manner illustrated inFIG. 68B , a rotational force exerted onselector member housing 342 will move the housing along with the septum-penetrating assembly into the second position shown inFIG. 69 and in so doing will cause the septum-penetratingmember 344 to pierce theseptum 338 s in the manner shown inFIG. 69 . Piercing of theseptum 338 s andthin wall portion 336 d opens a fluid communication path fromreservoir 335 to therate control assembly 350 via acentral fluid passageway 344 a formed in septum-penetratingmember 344. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, frompassageway 344 a fluid will flow through conventionalparticulate filter 357, intoinlet 360 ofrate control cover 362 of therate control assembly 350, intoinlet 364 p ofrate control plate 364 and then into the various circuitous fluid channels of the rate control plate (seeFIG. 69E ). The fluid will then flow via the sealably connectedrate control cover 366 into the various circumferentially spaced-apart fluid passageways formed in the selector housing 342 (seeFIGS. 69A and 69B ). - Considering in greater detail the
rate control assembly 350 of this latest form of the invention, as shown inFIG. 69E rate control plate 364 is provided with circuitousfluid channels reservoir 335 into theinlet 364 p ofrate control plate 364 via the orifice of therate control cover 362, each of the circuitous fluid channels will fill with the medicinal fluid to be dispensed to the patient. From the circuitous fluid channels, the fluid will flow intooutlet passageways rate control cover 366. From these outlet passageways, the fluid flows into and fills circumferentially spaced-apartfluid passageways FIG. 69B ). - As best seen by referring to
FIGS. 69C and 69E ,selector member 370 is provided with aninlet passageway 377 and anoutlet passageway 378 that is interconnected withinlet passageway 376 by means of an axially extendingstub passageway 380 which, in turn, is connected to a circumferentially extendingchannel passageway 382 formed in selector member 370 (FIG. 69C ). With this construction, by rotating theselector member 370,inlet passageway 377 can be selectively brought into index with one of theradial extensions 384 of the axially extending passageways formed inselector member housing 342 thereby providing fluid communication betweenoutlet passageway 378 and the selected one of the circuitous flow passageways formed inrate control plate 364 viaannular channel passageway 382 and the selected axially extending passageway formed in theselector member housing 342. Sinceoutlet passageway 378 is in fluid communication with the administration set 76 of the invention via passageway 386 (FIG. 69A ), the rate of fluid flow toward the patient can be precisely controlled by selecting a rate control passageway of appropriate configuration and length that is formed inrate control plate 364. - With the apparatus in the configuration shown in
FIG. 68 , and with thefluid reservoir 335 filled with the medicament or diluent to be dispensed to the patient, the dispensing operation can be commenced by removing thetop cover 390, which is snapped over acover connector 392 that is provided onconnector member 326. With the cover removed, theadministration line 76 a of the administration set 76 can be unwrapped from the selector member housing about which it has been coiled. Removal of thetop cover 390 also exposes theselector member 370, which is secured in position by a selectormember retainer component 395, so that the fluid flow rate can be selected by rotating the selector member to the desired flow rate indicated by theindicia 397 imprinted on the selector member retainer component. - In the manner previously described, movement within
guide sleeve 352 of theselector member housing 342, along with septum-penetratingassembly 339 from the first position shown inFIG. 68 to the second position shown inFIG. 69 opens fluid communication betweenreservoir 335 and therate control assembly 350. This done, the carriage locking means of this latest form of the invention can be manipulated in a manner to release thecarriage 330 frombase member 328 a in order to permit the stored energy means, or springs 70, to move the carriage from the starting position shown inFIG. 68 to the position shown inFIG. 69 . - In this regard, as indicated in Figures and 68, 69 and 69D the carriage locking means includes a locking
member 400 having ashank portion 400 a which extends through a keyhole-shapedopening 402 provided in thecarriage base 330 a (seeFIG. 69D ). The carriage locking means also includes a finger-engaging, operatingmember 406 that is connected toshank portion 400 a. Operatingmember 406 functions to rotate lockingmember 400 from a transverse locking position to a release position in alignment with keyhole opening 402 formed incarriage base 330 a. As the operating member is rotated from a locked position to a release position, the stored energy means, or springs 70 (FIGS. 68 and 69 ) will move the carriage from a position shown inFIG. 68 into the position shown inFIG. 69 and in so doing will urge the fluid contained withinreservoir 335 to flow toward penetratingmember 344, intopassageway 344 a formed in the penetrating member and into the inlet ofrate control cover 362 viafilter 357 of the rate ofcontrol assembly 350. The fluid will then flow into the various circuitous fluid channels formed in the rate control plate and then into the various outlet passageways formed inrate control cover 364. From the rate control cover, the fluid will flow into the various circumferentially spaced-apart fluid passageways formed in the selector housing 342 (seeFIGS. 69A and 69B ). By rotating theselector member 370,inlet passageway 377 ofselector member 370 can be selectively brought into index with one of theradial extensions 384 formed inselector member housing 342 thereby providing fluid communication betweenoutlet passageway 378 and the selected one of the circuitous flow passageways formed in the rate control plate. Fromoutlet passageway 378 the fluid will flow viapassageway 386 toward the patient via the administration set 76. - To recover any medicament that may remain in
reservoir 335 following the fluid delivery step, apierceable septum 410, which is carried byselector member 370, can be conveniently pierced using a conventional syringe, or like apparatus (not shown). Piercing ofseptum 410 opens communication betweenreservoir 335 and the syringe viacentral passageway 376, via therate control assembly 350, viacentral passageway 364 p and viapassageway 344 a of penetratingmember 344 so that any remaining medicament can be readily extracted fromreservoir 335. - Turning now to
FIGS. 70 and 71 , still another alternate form of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments and diluents to a patient is there shown and generally designated by the numeral 420. This alternate form of the dispensing apparatus is similar in many respects to that shown inFIGS. 68 through 69E and like numerals are used inFIGS. 70 and 71 to identify like components. As before, the dispensing apparatus here includes a supportingstructure 324 which includes aconnector assembly 326 and a generally cylindrically shapedouter housing 328 that is interconnected with the connector assembly in the manner best seen inFIG. 70 of the drawings. - Disposed within
wall portion 328 is acarriage assembly 329 which is movable between a first position shown inFIG. 70 and a second position shown inFIG. 71 .Carriage assembly 329 is of identical construction and operation to that previously described and is releasably locked in its first position by locking means also identical to the locking means previously described herein. - The primary difference between this latest form of dispensing apparatus of the invention and that previously described resides in the provision of a
reservoir defining assembly 422 of a totally different construction.Reservoir defining assembly 422 here comprises acollapsible container assembly 424, which is carried bycarriage assembly 329 in the manner illustrated inFIG. 70 . - As best seen by referring to
FIGS. 70 and 71 ,collapsible container assembly 424 includes a collapsible, accordion, or bellows-like sidewall 424 a, aninterconnected bottom wall 424 b and an interconnectedtop wall 424 c having athin wall portion 424 t to which a sealedreservoir septum assembly 424 d is integrally formed (seeFIG. 68 ).Reservoir septum assembly 424 d is substantially identical to the reservoir septum assembly previously described and includes aslit septum 424 s, which provides access to thefluid reservoir 425 ofcollapsible container assembly 424 of this latest form of the invention. As before,septum assembly 424 d is preferably sealably interconnected withtop wall 424 c in accordance with the previously described aseptic blow-fill-seal technique. - As in the earlier described embodiment,
selector member housing 342 is retained in its first position by atear strip 354. When the tear strip is removed, a rotary force exerted onselector member housing 342 will move the internally threaded penetratingassembly 339 into the second position shown inFIG. 71 and in so doing will cause the penetratingmember 344 to pierce theseptum 424 s. Movement withinguide sleeve 352 of theselector member housing 342, along with septum-penetratingassembly 339 from the first position shown inFIG. 70 to the second position shown inFIG. 71 opens fluid communication betweenreservoir 425 and therate control assembly 350, which is identical in construction and operation to that previously described. This done, the carriage locking means of this latest form of the invention, which is also identical in construction and operation to that previously described, can now be manipulated in a manner to release thecarriage 330 frombase member 328 a. - Once again, in order to controllably move the carriage assembly from its first position to its second position, novel stored energy means are provided. This novel stored energy means, which is operably associated with
carriage assembly 330, is here provided in the form of three constant force springs 70 which are of identical construction and operation to those previously described. As the carriage assembly moves toward its deployed position, thecollapsible sidewall 424 a of thecollapsible container assembly 424 will move into the collapsed configuration shown inFIG. 71 . As the collapsible container collapses, the medicinal fluid contained within the container reservoir will be substantially controllably expelled therefrom. - From
reservoir 425, the fluid will flow through penetratingmember 344, through conventionalparticulate filter 357, through therate control assembly 350, through theselector member 370 and toward the patient via the administration set 76. - Turning next to
FIGS. 72 through 77 , still another form of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient is there shown and generally designated by the numeral 432. This alternate form of dispensing apparatus is similar in some respects to that shown inFIGS. 70 and 71 and like numerals are used inFIGS. 72 through 77 to identify like components. As best seen inFIGS. 72 and 73 the supportingstructure 434 is similar in many respects to the previously described supporting structures and here comprises aconnector assembly 436 and a generally cylindrically shapedouter housing 438 that is interconnected with the connector assembly in the manner best seen inFIG. 72 of the drawings. - Disposed within
outer housing 438 is thecarriage assembly 330, which is of identical construction and operation to that previously described and is releasably locked in its first position by locking means also identical in construction and operation to the locking means previously described herein. Carried bycarriage assembly 330 is areservoir defining assembly 440 which is of a somewhat different construction. This important reservoir defining assembly here includes acollapsible container assembly 442 having asidewall 442 a, aninterconnected bottom wall 442 b, an interconnectedtop wall 442 c having athin wall portion 444 and aninterconnected neck portion 442 d which is sealed at the time of manufacture by the previously discussed blow-fill-seal technique to form a hermetically sealed liquid filled container.Neck portion 442 d forms a part of the novel reservoir access means of the invention.Collapsible container assembly 442 defines afluid reservoir 447 that, in a manner presently to be described, is accessible via a penetratingmember 344 that is adapted to pierceclosure wall 444 as well as apierceable septum membrane 452 which is positioned overclosure wall 444 by means of aclosure cap 454 which is affixed to theneck portion 442 d of container assembly 442 (seeFIGS. 72 and 73 ). Penetratingmember 344,pierceable membrane 452 and threadedclosure cap 454 also form a part of the novel reservoir access means of the invention (FIG. 75 ). - In the preferred form of this latest alternate embodiment of the invention,
closure wall 444 is sealably interconnected withneck portion 442 d in accordance with the previously described aseptic blow-fill-seal technique. - The primary difference between this latest form of dispensing apparatus of the invention and those previously described herein resides in the somewhat differently configured
container assembly 442. In constructing thecontainer assembly 442, the basic container is formed using the aseptic blow-fill-seal technique earlier described herein and the reservoir portion of the container is sealed by the thinclosure wall portion 444. Thepiercable membrane 452 is then positioned over theclosure wall 444 and thecap 454 is positioned over thepiercable membrane 452 and secured toneck portion 442 d by any suitable means such as adhesive bonding or sonic welding. This done thecontainer assembly 440 is interconnected withconnector member 436 by threadingcap 454 into threadedcounterbore 436 c. - Once again, in order to controllably move the carriage assembly from its first position to its second position, novel stored energy means are provided. This novel stored energy means, which is operably associated with
carriage assembly 330, is here provided in the form of three constant force springs 70, which are also identical construction and operation to that previously described. - As in the earlier described embodiments of the invention, when the locking means of the invention is manipulated in a manner to unlock the carriage assembly from
base portion 438 a of theouter housing 438 to arm the apparatus constant force springs 70 will move from their extended position shown inFIG. 72 to their retracted position shown inFIG. 73 and in so doing will controllably apply a substantially constant force to the carriage to move the carriage assembly from its fully deployed or extended starting position shown inFIG. 72 to its fully retracted position shown inFIG. 73 . Following operation of the operating means the carriage assembly can then move toward its retracted position at which time thesidewall 442 a of thecollapsible container 442 will be urged to move into the collapsed configuration shown inFIGS. 73 and 77 . As the collapsible container collapses, the medicinal fluid contained within the container will be substantially expelled in a controlled manner therefrom. - To control the flow of medicinal fluid or diluent from
reservoir 447 toward the administration set 76 of the invention and then on to the patient, flow control means are provided. Once again, this novel fluid flow control means, comprises two cooperating components, namely a rate control means for controlling the rate of fluid flow from the collapsible reservoir and an operating means for controlling fluid flow between the collapsible reservoir and the rate control means. Both the operating means and the rate control means of this latest form of the invention are identical in construction and operation to those described in connection with the embodiment ofFIGS. 68 and 69 . - As in the earlier described embodiment,
selector member housing 342 is retained in its first position by atear strip 354. When the tear strip is removed, a rotary force exerted onselector member housing 342 will controllably move the housing along with the penetrating assembly into the second position shown inFIG. 73 and in so doing will cause the penetratingmember 344 to pierce the membrane, shown here as an elastomeric septum 452 (FIGS. 75 and 76 ) as well as theclosure wall 444 in the manner shown inFIG. 73 . Piercing of theseptum 452 and theclosure wall 444 opens a fluid communication path fromreservoir 447 to therate control assembly 350 via acentral fluid passageway 344 a formed in penetratingmember 344. Fromreservoir 447, the fluid will flow throughcentral fluid passageway 344 a of penetratingmember 344, through conventionalparticulate filter 357, through therate control assembly 350, through theselector member 370 and toward the patient via the administration set 76. - Referring next to
FIGS. 78 through 81 , yet another form of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient is there shown and generally designated by the numeral 452. This alternate form of dispensing apparatus is similar in most respects to that shown inFIGS. 73 through 77 and like numerals are used inFIGS. 78 through 81 to identify like components. The major difference between this latest embodiment of the invention and that shown inFIGS. 73 through 77 resides in the differently configuredreservoir defining container 454. As shown inFIG. 78 container 454, rather than being in the nature of the collapsible bottle, comprises a reservoir defining unitary container having a continuous bellows-likesidewall 454 a that is movable from the expanded, starting configuration shown inFIG. 78 to the collapsed configuration shown inFIG. 79 . This important reservoir defining container here includes, in addition tosidewall 454 a, aninterconnected bottom wall 454 b, an interconnectedtop wall 454 c and aninterconnected neck portion 454 d which is sealed at the time of manufacture by athin closure wall 455.Neck portion 454 d forms a part of the novel reservoir access means of the invention. Collapsibleunitary container 454 defines afluid reservoir 457 that is accessible via a penetratingmember 344 that is identical to that previously described. Penetratingmember 344 is adapted to pierceclosure wall 455 as well as apierceable membrane 456 which is positioned overclosure wall 455 by means of aclosure cap 459 which is affixed to theneck portion 454 d of container assembly 454 (see alsoFIGS. 82 and 83 ). - As best seen in
FIGS. 78 and 79 the supportingstructure 434 is substantially identical to the supporting structure of the last described embodiment and here comprises aconnector assembly 436 and a generally cylindrically shapedouter housing 438 that is interconnected with the connector assembly in the manner best seen inFIG. 78 of the drawings. - Disposed within
outer housing 438 is thecarriage assembly 429 which is of identical construction and operation to that previously described and is releasably locked in its first position by locking means also identical in construction and operation to the locking means previously described herein. Carried by carriage assembly is the previously describedreservoir defining container 454. - As in the last described embodiment of the invention,
closure wall 455 is integrally formed withneck portion 454 d in accordance with the previously described 454 is formed using the earlier described aseptic blow-fill-seal technique to form a unitary container (FIG. 82 ). - As before, the basic unitary container and the hermetically sealed reservoir portion of the container is closed by the
thin closure wall 455. Thepiercable septum membrane 456 is then positioned over theclosure wall 455 and thecap 459 is positioned over the piercable septum and secured toneck portion 454 d by any suitable means such as adhesive bonding or sonic welding. It is to be understood thatseptum 456 can also be constructed as a slit or partially slit member. It is Important to note thatclosure wall 455 effectively prevents the medicament contained within the fluid reservoir from coming in contact with external contaminants. - Once again, in order to controllably move the carriage assembly from its first position to its second position, novel stored energy means are provided. This novel stored energy means, which is operably associated with
carriage assembly 330, is here provided in the form of three constant force springs 70, which are also identical construction and operation to that previously described. - As in the earlier described embodiments of the invention, following operation at the operating means of the invention, when the locking means of the invention is manipulated in a manner to unlock the carriage assembly from
base portion 438 a of theouter housing 438, springs 70 will move from their extended position shown inFIG. 78 to their retracted position shown inFIG. 79 and in so doing will controllably move the carriage assembly from its starting position shown inFIG. 78 to its fully deployed, reservoir substantially empty position shown inFIG. 79 . As the carriage assembly moves toward its deployed position, thesidewall 454 a of thecollapsible container 454 will move into the collapsed configuration shown inFIG. 79 . As the collapsible container collapses, the medicinal fluid contained within the container will be controllably expelled therefrom. - To control the flow of medicinal fluid from
reservoir 457 toward the administration set 76 of the invention and then on to the patient, flow control means are provided. Once again, this novel fluid flow control means, comprises two cooperating components, namely a rate control means for controlling the rate of fluid flow from the collapsible reservoir and an operating means for controlling fluid flow between the collapsible reservoir and the rate control means. Both the operating means and the rate control means of this latest form of the invention are identical in construction and operation to those described in connection with the embodiment ofFIGS. 68 and 69 . - As in the earlier described embodiment,
selector member housing 342 is retained in its first position by atear strip 354. When the tear strip is removed, a rotary force exerted on threadedselector member housing 342 will controllably move the housing along with the penetratingassembly 344 into the second position shown inFIG. 79 and in so doing will cause the penetratingmember 344 to pierce theseptum 456 as well as theclosure wall 455 in the manner shown inFIG. 79 . Piercing of themembrane 456 and theclosure wall 455 opens a fluid communication path fromreservoir 457 to therate control assembly 350 via acentral fluid passageway 344 a formed in penetratingmember 344. Fromreservoir 457, the fluid will flow throughcentral fluid passageway 344 a of penetratingmember 344, through conventionalparticulate filter 357, through therate control assembly 350, through the selector member and toward the patient via the administration set 76. - Referring next to
FIGS. 82A through 82D , yet another form of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient is there shown. This alternate form of dispensing apparatus is similar in most respects to that shown inFIGS. 78 through 81 and like numerals are used inFIGS. 82A through 82D to identify like components. The major difference between this latest embodiment of the invention and that shown inFIGS. 78 through 81 resides in the somewhat differently configuredreservoir defining container 458. More particularly, as shown inFIG. 82A container 458 has a differently configured reservoir accessingneck assembly 458 a, which is interconnected with the containertop wall 458 b. In addition, totop wall 458 b the container formed as a unitary structure has a bellows-like sidewall 458 c that is movable from the expanded, starting configuration shown inFIG. 82A to the collapsed configuration shown inFIG. 82B and aninterconnected bottom wall 458 d.Collapsible container 458 defines afluid reservoir 459 that is accessible via a penetratingmember 344 that is identical to that previously described. Penetratingmember 344 is adapted to pierce aclosure wall 458 e that forms an integral part of the sealingportion 460 of the neck assembly. As shown InFIG. 82D ,insert component 459 of the neck assembly is interconnected with the neckassembly base portion 460 a by an insert molding process or by a subsequent bonding step. With the unique construction thus described, the container of this embodiment need not be sealed at the time of manufacture. Rather,base portion 460 a of the neck assembly can be left open and then later sealed by the interconnection therewith of the sealingportion 460. - As best seen in
FIG. 82A the supportingstructure 434 is substantially identical to the supporting structure of the last described embodiment as is thecarriage assembly 429.Carriage assembly 429 is releasably locked in the first position shown inFIG. 82A by locking means which is also identical in construction and operation to the locking means previously described herein. Carried by the carriage assembly is the previously describedreservoir defining container 458. - As previously mentioned, a unique feature of this latest embodiment resides in the fact that the
basic container 458 can be formed using the earlier described aseptic blow-fill technique, but left unsealed. The container can later be hermetically sealed by mating the sealingportion 460 with theneck base portion 460 a and then sealably interconnecting the components by any suitable means such as adhesive bonding or sonic welding. However, it is to be understood that, if desired, the sealingportion 460 and thebase portion 460 a can be sealably interconnected during a blow-fill operation. - Once again, in order to controllably move the carriage assembly from its first position to its second position, novel stored energy means are provided. This novel stored energy means, which is operably associated with
carriage assembly 330, is here provided in the form of three constant force springs 70, which are also identical in construction and operation to that previously described. - As in the earlier described embodiment,
selector member housing 342 is retained in its first position by atear strip 354. When the tear strip is removed, rotary force exerted onselector member housing 342 will controllably move the housing, along with the penetratingassembly 344 into the second position shown inFIG. 82B and in so doing will cause the penetratingmember 344 to pierce theclosure wall 458 e in the manner shown inFIG. 82B . Piercing of theclosure wall 458 e opens a fluid communication path fromreservoir 459 to therate control assembly 350 via acentral fluid passageway 344 a formed in penetratingmember 344. Fromreservoir 459, the fluid will flow throughcentral fluid passageway 344 a of penetratingmember 344, through conventionalparticulate filter 357, through therate control assembly 350, through theselector member 370 and toward the patient via the administration set 76. It is to be noted that due to the novel construction of the reservoir accessing means, orneck assembly 458 a, following penetration ofclosure wall 458 e, the elastomeric-coated wall of the penetrating member will sealably engage the inwardly protrudingcollar 460 c formed on sealingportion 460 of the neck assembly so as to substantially prevent fluid leakage between the collar and the penetrating member. - As in the earlier described embodiments of the invention, following operation of the operating means of the invention, when the locking means of the invention is manipulated in a manner to unlock the carriage assembly from
base portion 438 a of theouter housing 438, springs 70 will move from their extended position shown inFIG. 82A to their retracted position shown inFIG. 82B and in so doing will controllably move the carriage assembly from its starting position to its fully deployed, reservoir substantially empty position shown inFIG. 82B . As the carriage assembly moves toward its deployed position, the sidewall 458 c of thecollapsible container 458 will move into the collapsed configuration shown inFIG. 82B . As the collapsible container collapses, the medicinal fluid contained within the container will be controllably expelled therefrom. - To control the flow of medicinal fluid from
reservoir 459 toward the administration set 76 of the invention and then on to the patient, flow control means are provided. This novel fluid flow control means, is identical in construction and operation to the control means described in connection withFIGS. 78 through 81 . - Referring next to
FIGS. 82E and 82F , still another form of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient is there shown. This alternate form of dispensing apparatus is similar in most respects to that shown inFIGS. 82A through 82D and like numerals are used inFIGS. 82E and 82F to identify like components. The major difference between this latest embodiment of the invention and that shown inFIGS. 82A through 82D resides in the somewhat differently configuredreservoir defining container 461. As shown inFIG. 82E container 461, rather than being of a bellows-like construction, here comprises a container having a collapsible bottle-like construction as a unitary structure. This reservoir defining, bottle-like container here includes asidewall 461 a, aninterconnected bottom wall 461 b, an interconnectedtop wall 461 c and aninterconnected neck portion 461 d which is identical to theneck portion 458 a of the previously described embodiment and is of the construction shown inFIGS. 82C and 82D .Collapsible container 461 defines afluid reservoir 463 that is accessible via a penetratingmember 344 that is identical in construction and operation to that previously described. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 82E and 82F the supportingstructure 434 is substantially identical to the supporting structure of the last described embodiment as is thecarriage assembly 429.Carriage assembly 429 is releasably locked in its first position by locking means also identical in construction and operation to the locking means previously described herein. Carried by carriage assembly is the previously describedreservoir defining container 461. - Once again, in order to controllably move the carriage assembly from its first position to its second position, novel stored energy means are provided. This novel stored energy means, which is operably associated with
carriage assembly 330, is here provided in the form of three constant force springs 70, which are also identical construction and operation to that previously described. - To control the flow of medicinal fluid from
reservoir 463 toward the administration set 76 of the invention and then on to the patient, flow control means are provided. Once again, this novel fluid flow control means is identical in construction and operation to those previously described. - Turning next to
FIGS. 83 through 88 , still another form of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient is there shown and generally designated by the numeral 462. This alternate form of dispensing apparatus is similar in many respects to that shown inFIGS. 78 through 82 and like numerals are used inFIGS. 83 through 88 to identify like components. As best seen inFIGS. 83 and 84 the supportingstructure 464 is similar in many respects to supportingstructure 434 and here comprises aconnector assembly 466 and a generally cylindrically shapedouter housing 468 that is interconnected with the connector assembly in the manner best seen inFIG. 83 of the drawings. - Disposed within
outer housing 468 is thecarriage assembly 430, which is of identical construction and operation to that previously described and is releasably locked in its first position by locking means also identical in construction and operation to the locking means previously described herein. Carried by carriage assembly is areservoir defining assembly 470, which is of a somewhat different construction. This important reservoir defining assembly here includes a unitarycollapsible container assembly 472 having asidewall 472 a, aninterconnected bottom wall 472 b and an interconnected thin filmtop wall 472 c. Connected totop wall 472 c and extending therefrom is a luer-like connector 474 havingexternal threads 474 a and an integrally formed sealingwall 474 b.Connector 474, which is interconnected withtop wall 472 c at the time of manufacture of thecollapsible container assembly 472, forms a part of the novel reservoir access means of this latest form of the invention.Collapsible container assembly 472 defines afluid reservoir 477 that, in a manner presently to be described, is accessible via a slightly differently configured penetratingmember 480 a that penetrates sealingwall 474 b oftop walls 472 c. - In the preferred form of this latest alternate embodiment of the invention, luer-
like connector 474 is sealably interconnected withtop wall 472 c in accordance with the previously described aseptic blow-fill-seal technique.Connector 474 ofcontainer 470 is threadably interconnected withconnector member 464 and secured in position by lockingtabs 68 e (FIG. 85 ). - The primary differences between this latest form of dispensing apparatus of the invention and those previously described herein resides in the somewhat differently configured
container assembly 470 and the somewhat differently configured penetratingassembly 480. In constructing the container assembly, the basic container is formed using the aseptic blow-fill-seal technique earlier described herein and the reservoir portion of the container is sealed by the interconnected walls of the container. - In order to controllably move the carriage assembly from its first position to its second position, novel stored energy means are provided. This novel stored energy means, which is operably associated with
carriage assembly 430, is here provided in the form of three constant force springs 70, which are also identical in construction and operation to that previously described. - As in the earlier described embodiments of the invention, following operation at the operating means of the invention, when the locking means of the invention is manipulated in a manner to unlock the carriage assembly from
base portion 468 a of theouter housing 468, springs 70 will move from their extended position shown inFIG. 83 to their retracted position shown inFIG. 84 and in so doing will controllably move the carriage assembly from its starting position shown inFIG. 83 to its fully deployed or retracted position shown inFIG. 84 . As the carriage assembly moves toward its deployed position, thecollapsible sidewall 472 a of thecollapsible container 472 will move into the collapsed configuration shown inFIG. 84 . As the container collapses and following operation of the operating means, the medicinal fluid contained within the container will be controllably expelled therefrom. - To further control the flow of medicinal fluid from
reservoir 477 toward the administration set 76 of the invention and then on to the patient, flow control means are provided. These important flow control means are identical to those previously described in connection with the embodiment ofFIGS. 68 and 69 and will not here be further discussed. - As in the last described embodiment,
selector member housing 342 is retained in its first position by atear strip 354 that is removably receivable between acircumferentially extending rib 342 a formed onhousing 342 and theupper extremity 352 b ofguide sleeve 352. When thetear strip 354 is removed and rotary force exerted onselector member housing 342 will move the housing along with the penetratingassembly 480 into the second position shown inFIG. 84 and in so doing will cause the penetratingmember 480 a to penetrate sealingwall 474 b oftop wall 472 c of the container assembly. - Penetrating
member 480 a is of a slightly different construction that is better suited for penetrating sealingwall 474 b of the container assembly. More particularly, penetratingmember 480 a has a generally cylindrically shapedbody portion 481 a, an intermediate taperedportion 481 b and a reduced diameter sharppenetrating extremity 481 c. To guide the travel of the penetratingmember 480 a, thesupport member 466 here includes aguide passageway 467, which guides the travel of the penetratingmember 480 a asselector member housing 342, along with penetratingassembly 480 is moved from the first position shown inFIG. 83 to the second position shown inFIG. 84 . As the penetratingmember 480 apierces wall 474 b, taperedportion 481 b sealably engages taperedwall 474 c of luer-like connector 474 thereby forming a substantially fluid seal. - Piercing of
wall 474 b opens a fluid communication path fromreservoir 477 to therate control assembly 350 via acentral fluid passageway 481 d formed in penetratingmember 480 a. Frompassageway 481 d, fluid will flow through conventionalparticulate filter 357, into the inlet of therate control assembly 350 and into the circumferentially spaced-apart fluid passageways formed in theselector housing 342. In operating the apparatus in the manner previously described herein, by rotating theselector member 370, which is carried byselector member housing 342passageway 376 can be selectively brought into index with one of theradial extensions 384 of the axially extending passageways formed inselector member 370, thereby providing fluid communication betweenoutlet passageway 378 and the selected one of the circuitous flow passageways formed inrate control plate 364. Sinceoutlet passageway 378 is in fluid communication with the administration set 76 of the invention viapassageway 386, the rate of fluid flow toward the patient can be precisely controlled by selecting a rate control passageway of appropriate geometry, width and length that is formed in rate control plate 364 (seeFIG. 69E ). - Turning next to
FIGS. 89 through 94 , still another form of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient is there shown and generally designated by the numeral 492. - This alternate form of dispensing apparatus is similar in many respects to that shown in
FIGS. 83 through 88 and like numerals are used in FIGS. 89 through 94 to identify like components. - The major difference between this latest embodiment of the invention and that shown in
FIGS. 83 through 88 resides in the differently configured reservoir definingcontainer assembly 494 and the somewhat differently configured penetratingassembly 495. As before, in constructing thecontainer assembly 494, the basic container is formed using the aseptic blow-fill-seal technique earlier described herein and the reservoir portion of the container is sealed by the interconnected walls of the container. - As best seen in
FIGS. 89 and 90 the supportingstructure 498 is similar in many respects to supportingstructure 464 and here comprises aconnector assembly 500 and a generally cylindrically shapedouter housing 502 that is interconnected with the connector assembly in the manner best seen inFIG. 89 of the drawings. - Disposed within
outer housing 498 is thecarriage assembly 430, which is of identical construction and operation to that previously described and is releasably locked in its first position by locking means also identical in construction and operation to the locking means previously described herein. Carried by thecarriage assembly 430 is the previously identifiedreservoir defining assembly 494. - Once again, in order to controllably move the carriage assembly from its first position to its second position, novel stored energy means are provided. This novel stored energy means, which is operably associated with
carriage assembly 430, is here provided in the form of three constant force springs 70, which are also identical construction and operation to that previously described. - As in the earlier described embodiments of the invention, following operation of the operating means at the invention, when the locking means of the invention is manipulated in a manner to unlock the carriage assembly from
base portion 502 a of theouter housing 502, springs 70 will move from their extended position shown inFIG. 89 to their retracted position shown inFIG. 90 and in so doing will controllably move the carriage assembly from its starting position shown inFIG. 89 to its fully deployed or extended position shown inFIG. 90 . As the carriage assembly moves toward its contracted position,container 494 a will be urged to move into the collapsed configuration shown inFIGS. 90 and 94 . Following operation of the operating means, as the collapsible container collapses, the medicinal fluid contained within the container will be controllably expelled therefrom throughfluid passageway 496 a formed in the penetratingmember 496. As before, penetratingmember 496 is receivable within a luer-like connector 497 havinginternal threads 497 a.Connector 497, which forms a part of the novel reservoir access means of this latest form of the invention, is interconnected withtop wall 499 of the collapsible container at the time of manufacture of thecollapsible container assembly 494. - To further control the flow of medicinal fluid from
reservoir 507 of thecollapsible container 494 a toward the administration set 76 and then on to the patient, flow control means are provided. Once again, this novel fluid flow control means, comprises two cooperating components, namely a rate control means for controlling the rate of fluid flow from the collapsible reservoir and an operating means for controlling fluid flow between the collapsible reservoir and the rate control means. These components are, in this latest embodiment of the invention, substantially identical in construction and operation to those described in connection withFigure drawings 68 through 69A. However, as previously mentioned, the penetratingmember 496 is of a slightly different construction that is better suited for penetrating topthin sealing wall 509 oftop wall 499 of the container assembly. More particularly, penetratingmember 496 has a generally cylindrically shapedbody portion 496 b which, as before, is coated with an elastomer, such as silicone, an intermediate taperedportion 496 c and a reduceddiameter penetrating extremity 496 d. -
Support member 500 includes aguide passageway 500 a, which guides the travel of the penetratingmember 496. Similarly,member 500 has a sealing wall which sealably engages the reduceddiameter penetrating extremity 496 d following its penetration ofthin sealing wall 509 of thetop wall 499 of the container assembly. - In this latest embodiment of the invention,
selector member housing 242, along with penetratingassembly 495 is rotatably movable from the first position shown inFIG. 89 to the second position shown inFIG. 90 . In addition to guiding the travel ofmember 242,guide sleeve 250 defines acylindrical space 250 a about which theadministration line 76 a of the administration set can be coiled in the manner best seen inFIG. 89 . - As in the earlier described embodiment,
selector member housing 242 is retained in its first position by atear strip 252 that is removably receivable between acircumferentially extending rib 242 a formed onhousing 242 and theupper extremity 250 b ofguide sleeve 250. When thetear strip 252 is removed, a rotational force exerted onselector member housing 242 will move the housing along with the penetrating assembly into the second sealed position shown inFIG. 90 and in so doing will cause the penetratingmember 496 to pierce thinsealing container wall 509 in the manner shown inFIG. 90 . Piercing ofwall 509 opens a fluid communication path fromreservoir 507 to therate control assembly 350 and then into the circumferentially spaced-apart fluid passageways formed in theselector housing 242. In operating the apparatus in the manner previously described herein, by rotating theselector member 370, which is carried byselector member housing 242, the rate of fluid flow toward the patient can be precisely controlled. - Turning next to
FIGS. 95 through 99 , still another form of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient is there shown and generally designated by the numeral 512. This alternate form of dispensing apparatus is similar in many respects to that shown inFIGS. 89 through 94 and like numerals are used inFIGS. 95 through 99 to identify like components. - The major difference between this latest embodiment of the invention and that shown in
FIGS. 88 through 91 resides in the differently configuredreservoir defining container 514. As shown inFIGS. 95 and 98 ,container 514, rather than being in the nature of the collapsible bottle, comprises a reservoir defining unitary container having a bellows-like sidewall 514 a that is movable from the expanded, starting configuration shown inFIG. 95 to the collapsed configuration shown inFIG. 96 . This important reservoir defining container here includes, in addition tosidewall 514 a, aninterconnected bottom wall 514 b and an interconnectedtop wall 514 c. - Connected to
top wall 514 c and extending therefrom is a luer-like connector 497 which is substantially identical to that previously described. Collapsibleunitary container 514 defines afluid reservoir 517 that is accessible via a penetratingmember 496 that is identical to the penetrating member previously described in connection withFIGS. 89 and 90 and is adapted to pierce aclosure wall 514 d in the manner previously described. - As indicated in
FIGS. 95 and 96 the supportingstructure 498 is substantially identical to the supporting structure of the last described embodiment. Similarly, thecarriage assembly 430, which is carried within cylindrically shapedouter housing 502, is of identical construction and operation to that previously described and is releasably locked in its first position by locking means also identical in construction and operation to the locking means previously described herein. Carried bycarriage assembly 430 in the manner illustrated inFIG. 95 is the previously described reservoir definingcontainer assembly 514. - As in the earlier described embodiments of the invention, following the operation of the operating means when the locking means of the invention is manipulated in a manner to unlock the carriage assembly from
base portion 502 a of theouter housing 502, springs 70 will move from their extended position shown inFIG. 95 to their retracted position shown inFIG. 96 and in so doing will controllably move the carriage assembly from its starting position shown inFIG. 95 to its fully contracted position shown inFIG. 96 . As the carriage assembly moves toward its deployed position, the accordion-like,collapsible sidewall 514 a of thecollapsible container assembly 514 will move into the collapsed configuration shown inFIG. 96 . As the container collapses, the medicinal fluid contained within the container will be controllably expelled therefrom. - To further control the flow of medicinal fluid from
reservoir 517 toward the administration set 76 of the invention and then on to the patient, flow control means are provided. These important flow control means are identical to those previously described in connection with the embodiment ofFIGS. 88 through 91 and will not here be further discussed. - As in the last described embodiment,
selector member housing 242 is retained in its first position by atear strip 252. When thetear strip 252 is removed, a rotational force exerted onselector member housing 242 will move the housing along with the penetrating assembly into the second position shown inFIG. 96 and in so doing will cause the penetratingmember 496 to pierce theclosure wall 514 d and sealably engage sealingwall 497 b ofmember 500. - Piercing of the
closure wall 514 d opens a fluid communication path fromreservoir 517 to therate control assembly 250. The fluid will then flow into the circumferentially spaced-apart fluid passageways formed in theselector housing 242. In operating the apparatus in the manner previously described herein, by rotating theselector member 370, which is carried byselector member housing 242, the rate of fluid flow toward the patient can be precisely controlled. - Turning next to
FIGS. 100 through 105 , still another form of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient is there shown and generally designated by the numeral 522. This alternate form of dispensing apparatus is similar in many respects to that shown inFIGS. 95 through 99 and like numerals are used inFIGS. 100 through 105 to identify like components. - The difference between this latest embodiment of the invention and that shown in
FIGS. 95 through 99 resides in the slightly differently configured reservoir definingunitary container 524 and the slightly differently configured penetratingassembly 526. As shown inFIG. 100 unitary container 524 is similar in most respects tocontainer 494 ofFIG. 89 except that the luer-like connector 527 is provided with a differently configured sealingwall 537 for sealably engaging the slightly differently configured penetratingmember 526 a of penetratingassembly 526. -
Reservoir defining container 524 has acollapsible sidewall 524 a that is movable from the expanded, starting configuration shown inFIG. 100 to the collapsed configuration shown inFIG. 101 . This important reservoir defining container here includes, in addition tosidewall 524 a, aninterconnected bottom wall 524 b, an interconnectedtop wall 524 c to which luer-like connector 527 is attached. Luer-like connector 527 here forms a part of the novel reservoir access means of the invention. -
Collapsible container assembly 524 defines afluid reservoir 531 that is accessible via elastomer coated penetratingmember 526 a. Penetratingmember 526 a here comprises anelongated body portion 533 that terminates in a substantially punch-like end 535 comprising a cutter means that is adapted to pierceclosure wall 537 of luer-like connector 527 in the manner shown inFIGS. 100 and 101 . After penetratingmember 526 apierces closure wall 537, theelongated body portion 533 of the penetrating member sealably engages sealingwall 527 a of luer-like connector 527 in the manner shown inFIG. 101 to form a substantially perfect fluid seal. - As best seen in
FIGS. 100 and 101 the supportingstructure 538 is similar in many respects to supportingstructure 498 and here comprises aconnector assembly 538 a and a generally cylindrically shapedouter housing 538 b that is interconnected with the connector assembly in the manner best seen inFIG. 100 of the drawings.Connector assembly 538 a includes aguide passageway 540 that guides the travel of penetratingmember 526 a. - Except for the differently configured
collapsible container 524 and the differently configured penetratingmember 526 a, the apparatus of this latest form of the invention, including thecarriage assembly 330, the locking means, the stored energy source and a flow control means operate in the same manner to accomplish the same result as the apparatus discussed in connection withFIGS. 95 through 99 . - Turning next to
FIGS. 106 through 110 , still another form of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient is there shown and generally designated by the numeral 532. - This alternate form of dispensing apparatus is similar in many respects to that shown in
FIGS. 100 through 105 and like numerals are used inFIGS. 106 through 110 to identify like components. - The difference between this latest embodiment of the invention and that shown in
FIGS. 100 through 105 resides only in the differently configured reservoir defining containerunitary assembly 534. As shown inFIG. 106 ,container 535 of reservoir definingcontainer assembly 534, rather than being in the nature of the collapsible bottle, comprises a reservoir defining container having a bellows-like sidewall 535 a that is movable from the expanded, starting configuration shown inFIG. 106 to the collapsed configuration shown inFIG. 107 . This important reservoir defining container here includes, in addition tosidewall 535 a, aninterconnected bottom wall 535 b and an interconnectedtop wall 535 c. - Connected to
top wall 535 c and extending therefrom is luer-like connector 527, which is identical to that shown inFIG. 100 .Collapsible container assembly 534 defines afluid reservoir 537 that is accessible via penetratingmember 526 a that is identical to the penetrating member previously described in connection withFIGS. 100 and 101 and is adapted to pierce an integrally formed thinfilm closure wall 539 in the manner previously described. - Except for the differently configured collapsible
unitary container 535 a, the apparatus of this latest form of the invention, including thecarriage assembly 330, the locking means, the stored energy source and a flow control means operate in the same manner to accomplish the same result as the apparatus discussed in connection withFIGS. 100 through 105 . - Referring next to
FIGS. 111 through 116 , still another form of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient is there shown and generally designated by the numeral 542. This alternate form of dispensing apparatus is similar in some respects to the earlier described embodiments shown inFIGS. 72 through 77 and like numerals are used inFIGS. 111 through 116 to identify like components. - The primary difference between this latest form of dispensing apparatus and that previously described in connection with
FIGS. 72 through 77 resides in the provision of a novel stored energy source, which is of a totally different construction. More particularly, rather than being constant force springs, the novel stored energy means of this latest form of the invention comprises a compressible, expandable sponge-like configuration, which is generally designated in the drawings by the numeral 544. This unique stored energy source, which functions to movecarriage 546 from the first compressed position shown inFIG. 111 to the second expanded position shown inFIG. 112 can take several forms. By way of non-limiting example, storedenergy source 544 can comprise a microporous, mesoporous, macroporous, ordered structure and can be constructed from Polypropylene (PP), Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF), Ethyle-vinyl Acetate (EVA), Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN), Polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE) and porous cellulose acetate. A suitable source of these materials is NUSIL Technologies of Carpinteria, Calif. However, practice has shown that any porous plastic material including an open cell, porous sponge material is suitable for use in constructing the stored energy source. The stored energy source can also comprise a metallized foam as described in greater detail in connection with the embodiments ofFIGS. 65 through 67 . - As in the embodiment of the invention shown in
FIG. 72 , thereservoir defining assembly 440 here comprises acollapsible container assembly 442, which is of identical construction that previously described and is carried bycarriage assembly 546 in the manner illustrated inFIG. 111 .Container assembly 442 can be interconnected with the connector member either by threads, or as shown here, by a snap-fit assembly. - As before, the
carriage assembly 546 is releasably secured tobase portion 438 a of theouter housing 438 by a novel locking means. Following operation of the operating means when the locking means of the invention is manipulated in a manner to unlock thecarriage assembly 546 from thebase portion 438 a,sponge 544 will expand from the first compressed position shown inFIG. 111 to the second expanded position shown inFIG. 112 and in so doing will controllably move the carriage assembly from its starting position shown inFIG. 111 to its fully deployed or extended position shown inFIG. 112 . As the carriage assembly moves toward its deployed position, thesidewall 442 a of thecollapsible container 442 will move into the collapsed configuration shown inFIG. 112 . As the collapsible container collapses, the medicinal fluid contained within thecontainer reservoir 447 will be controllably urged outwardly thereof. - To control the flow of medicinal fluid from
reservoir 447 toward the administration set 76 of the invention and then on to the patient, flow control means are provided. Once again, this novel fluid flow control means, comprises two cooperating components, namely a rate control means for controlling the rate of fluid flow from the collapsible reservoir and an operating means for controlling fluid flow between the collapsible reservoir and the rate control means. Both the operating means and the rate control means of this latest form of the invention are identical in construction and operation to those described in connection with the embodiment ofFIGS. 72 through 77 . - As in the earlier described embodiment, the
selector member housing 342 is retained in its first position by atear strip 354. When the tear strip is removed, a rotational force exerted onselector member housing 342 will move the housing along with the penetratingassembly 338 into the second position shown inFIG. 112 and in so doing will cause the penetratingmember 344 to pierce theseptal membrane 452 as well as the thinsealing closure wall 444 in the manner shown inFIG. 112 . Piercing of themembrane 452 and the thinsealing closure wall 444 opens a fluid communication path fromreservoir 447 to therate control assembly 350 via acentral fluid passageway 344 a formed in penetratingmember 344. Fromreservoir 447, the fluid will flow throughcentral fluid passageway 344 a of penetratingmember 344, through conventionalparticulate filter 357, through therate control assembly 350, through theselector member 370 and toward the patient via the administration set 76. - Referring next to
FIGS. 117 through 121 , yet another form of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient is there shown and generally designated by the numeral 552. This alternate form of dispensing apparatus is similar in most respects to that shown inFIGS. 111 through 116 and like numerals are used inFIGS. 117 through 121 to identify like components. The major difference between this latest embodiment of the invention and that shown inFIGS. 111 through 116 resides in the differently configuredreservoir defining container 554. As shown inFIGS. 117 and 120 ,unitary container 554, rather than being in the nature of the collapsible bottle, comprises a reservoir defining container having a bellows-like sidewall 554 a that is movable from the expanded, starting configuration shown inFIG. 117 to the collapsed configuration shown inFIG. 118 . This important reservoir defining container here includes, in addition tosidewall 554 a, aninterconnected bottom wall 554 b, an interconnectedtop wall 554 c and aninterconnected neck portion 554 d, which is sealed following filling at the time of manufacture by athin closure wall 555.Neck portion 554 d forms a part of the novel reservoir access means of the invention.Collapsible container 554 defines afluid reservoir 557 that is accessible via a penetratingmember 344 that is identical to that previously described. Elastomer-coated penetratingmember 344 is adapted to pierceclosure wall 555 as well as apierceable membrane 452, which is positioned overclosure wall 555 by means of aclosure cap 454, which is affixed to theneck portion 554 d of container assembly 554 (see alsoFIGS. 120 and 121 ). - As best seen in
FIGS. 117 and 118 the supporting structure is substantially identical to the supporting structure of the last described embodiment and here comprises aconnector assembly 436 and a generally cylindrically shapedouter housing 438 that is interconnected with the connector assembly in the manner best seen inFIG. 117 of the drawings. - Disposed within
outer housing 438 is thecarriage assembly 546, which is of identical construction and operation to that previously described and is releasably locked in its first position by locking means also identical in construction and operation to the locking means previously described herein. Carried by the carriage assembly is the previously describedreservoir defining container 554. - As in the last described embodiment of the invention, thin
sealing closure wall 555 is sealably interconnected withneck portion 554 d andtop wall 554 c in accordance with the previously described aseptic blow-fill-seal technique previously discussed. - As before, the basic
unitary container 554 is formed using the earlier described aseptic blow-fill-seal technique and after filling the reservoir portion of the container is sealed by thethin closure wall 555. Thepiercable membrane 452 is then positioned over theclosure wall 555 and thecap 454 is positioned over the piercable membrane and secured toneck portion 554 d by any suitable means such as adhesive bonding or sonic welding. The container along withneck portion 554 d is then interconnected withconnector member 436 and retained in position by the previously described snap-fit tabs. - Once again, in order to controllably move the carriage assembly from its first position to its second position, novel stored energy means are provided. This novel stored energy means, which is operably associated with
carriage assembly 546, is here provided in the form of a compressible, expandable sponge-like configuration 544, which is identical in construction and operation to that previously described. - As in the earlier described embodiments of the invention following operation of the operating means, when the locking means of the invention is manipulated in a manner to unlock the carriage assembly from
base portion 438 a of theouter housing 438,sponge 544 will expand and in so doing will controllably move the carriage assembly from its starting position shown inFIG. 117 to its fully deployed or extended position shown inFIG. 118 . As the carriage assembly moves toward its deployed position, thesidewall 554 a of thecollapsible container 554 will be urged to move toward the collapsed configuration shown inFIG. 118 . As the collapsible container collapses, the medicinal fluid contained within the container will be controllably expelled therefrom. - To control the flow of medicinal fluid from
reservoir 557 toward the administration set 76 of the invention and then on to the patient, flow control means are provided. Once again, this novel fluid flow control means, comprises two cooperating components, namely a rate control means for controlling the rate of fluid flow from the collapsible reservoir and an operating means for controlling fluid flow between the collapsible reservoir and the rate control means. Both the operating means and the rate control means of this latest form of the invention are identical in construction and operation to those described in connection with the embodiment ofFIGS. 111 and 112 . - As in the earlier described embodiment,
selector member housing 342 is retained in its first position by atear strip 354. When the tear strip is removed, a rotational force exerted onselector member housing 342 will move the housing along with the penetrating assembly into the second position shown inFIG. 118 and in so doing will cause the penetratingmember 344 to pierce themembrane 452 as well as theclosure wall 555 in the manner shown inFIG. 118 . Piercing of themembrane 452 and theclosure wall 555 opens a fluid communication path fromreservoir 557 to therate control assembly 350 via acentral fluid passageway 344 a formed in penetratingmember 344. Fromreservoir 557, the fluid will flow throughcentral fluid passageway 344 a of penetratingmember 344, through conventionalparticulate filter 357, through therate control assembly 350, through theselector member 370 and toward the patient via the administration set 76. - Turning next to
FIGS. 122 through 126 , still another form of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient is there shown and generally designated by the numeral 562. This alternate form of dispensing apparatus is similar in many respects to that shown inFIGS. 83 through 88 and like numerals are used inFIGS. 122 through 126 to identify like components. As best seen inFIGS. 122 and 123 the supportingstructure 564 is similar in many respects to supportingstructure 436 ofFIGS. 111 and 112 and here comprises aconnector assembly 566 and a generally cylindrically shapedouter housing 568 that is interconnected with the connector assembly in the manner best seen inFIG. 122 of the drawings. - Disposed within
outer housing 568 is thecarriage assembly 546, which is of identical construction and operation to that described in connection with the preceding embodiment and is releasably locked in its first position by locking means also identical in construction and operation to the locking means previously described herein. Carried bycarriage assembly 546 is areservoir defining assembly 570, which is of a somewhat different construction. This important reservoir defining assembly here includes a bottle-like collapsible,unitary container assembly 572 having asidewall 572 a, aninterconnected bottom wall 572 b and an interconnectedtop wall 572 c. Connected totop wall 572 c and extending therefrom is a luer-like connector 574 havingexternal threads 574 a and a thinfilm sealing wall 574 b.Connector 574, which is interconnected withtop wall 572 c at the time of manufacture of the collapsible container assembly, forms a part of the novel reservoir access means of this latest form of the invention.Collapsible container assembly 570 defines afluid reservoir 577 that is accessible via a penetratingmember 344 that is identical to that previously described and is adapted to piercetop wall 574 b and sealably engage a sealingwall 574 c formed onconnector 574. - In the preferred form of this latest alternate embodiment of the invention, following filling of the container the luer-
like connector 574 is sealably interconnected withtop wall 572 c in accordance with the previously described aseptic blow-fill-seal technique. - In order to controllably move the carriage assembly from its first position to its second position, novel stored energy means are provided. This novel stored energy means, which is operably associated with
carriage assembly 546, is here provided in the form of a compressible, expandable sponge-like configuration 544, which is identical in construction and operation to that previously described. - As in the earlier described embodiments of the invention, following operation of the operating means when the locking means of the invention is manipulated in a manner to unlock the carriage assembly from
base portion 568 a of theouter housing 568,sponge 544 will expand from its extended position shown inFIG. 122 to the position shown inFIG. 123 and in so doing will controllably move the carriage assembly from its starting position shown inFIG. 122 to its fully deployed or extended position shown inFIG. 123 . As the carriage assembly moves toward its deployed position, thecollapsible sidewall 572 a of thecollapsible container 572 will move into the collapsed configuration shown inFIG. 123 . As the container collapses, the medicinal fluid contained within the container will be controllably expelled therefrom. - To further control the flow of medicinal fluid from
reservoir 577 toward the administration set 76 of the invention and then on to the patient, flow control means are provided. These important flow control means are identical to those previously described in connection with the previously described embodiments and will not here be further discussed. - As in the last described embodiment,
selector member housing 342 is retained in its first position by atear strip 354. When thetear strip 354 is removed, a rotational force exerted onselector member housing 342 will move the housing along with the penetratingassembly 344 into the second position shown inFIG. 123 and in so doing will cause the penetratingmember 344 to penetratetop wall 574 b of the container assembly. - Piercing of
wall 574 b opens a fluid communication path fromreservoir 577 to therate control assembly 350 via acentral fluid passageway 344 a formed in penetratingmember 344. Frompassageway 344 a, fluid will flow through conventionalparticulate filter 357, into the inlet of therate control assembly 350 and into the circumferentially spaced-apart fluid passageways formed in theselector housing 342. In operating the apparatus in the manner previously described herein, by rotating theselector member 370, which is carried byselector member housing 342, the rate of fluid flow toward the patient can be precisely controlled by selecting the rate control passageway of appropriate geometry, width and length that is formed inrate control plate 364. - Turning next to
FIGS. 127 through 130 , yet another form of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention for dispensing medicaments to a patient is there shown and generally designated by the numeral 572. This alternate form of dispensing apparatus is similar in many respects to that shown inFIGS. 122 through 126 and like numerals are used inFIGS. 127 through 130 to identify like components. As best seen inFIGS. 127 and 128 the supportingstructure 564 is similar in many respects to supportingstructure 436 ofFIGS. 111 and 112 and here comprises aconnector assembly 566 and a generally cylindrically shapedouter housing 568 that is interconnected with the connector assembly in the manner best seen inFIG. 127 of the drawings. - Disposed within
outer housing 568 is thecarriage assembly 546, which is of identical construction and operation to that described in connection with the preceding embodiment and is releasably locked in its first position by locking means also identical in construction and operation to the locking means previously described herein. Carried bycarriage assembly 546 is areservoir defining assembly 574, which is of a somewhat different construction. This important reservoir defining assembly here comprises a unitarycollapsible container assembly 576 having an accordion-like sidewall 576 a, aninterconnected bottom wall 576 b and an interconnectedtop wall 576 c. Connected totop wall 572 c and extending therefrom is a Luer-like connector 578 havingexternal threads 578 a and a sealingwall 578 b.Connector 578, which is interconnected withtop wall 576 c at the time of manufacture of the collapsible container assembly, forms a part of the novel reservoir access means of this latest form of the invention.Collapsible container assembly 576 defines afluid reservoir 579 that is accessible via a penetratingmember 344 that is identical to that previously described and is adapted to piercetop wall 578 b and sealably engage sealingwall 578 c formed onconnector 578. - In the preferred form of this latest alternate embodiment of the invention, following filling of the container the luer-
like connector 578 is sealably interconnected withtop wall 576 c in accordance with the previously described aseptic blow-fill-seal technique. - In order to controllably move the carriage assembly from its first position to its second position, novel stored energy means are provided. This novel stored energy means, which is operably associated with
carriage assembly 546, is here provided in the form of a compressible, expandable sponge-like configuration 544, which is identical in construction and operation to that previously described. - As in the earlier described embodiments of the invention, following operation of the operating means when the locking means of the invention is manipulated in a manner to unlock the carriage assembly from
base portion 568 a of theouter housing 568,sponge 544 will expand from its compressed position shown inFIG. 127 to the expanded position shown inFIG. 128 and in so doing will controllably move the carriage assembly from its starting position shown inFIG. 127 to its fully deployed or extended position shown inFIG. 128 . As the carriage assembly moves toward its deployed position, thecollapsible sidewall 576 a of thecollapsible container 576 will move into the collapsed configuration shown inFIG. 128 . As the container collapses, the medicinal fluid contained within the container will be controllably expelled therefrom. - To further control the flow of medicinal fluid from
reservoir 579 toward the administration set 76 of the invention and then on to the patient, flow control means are provided. These important flow control means are identical to those previously described in connection with the previously described embodiments and will not here be further discussed. - As in the last described embodiment,
selector member housing 342 is retained in its first position by atear strip 354. When thetear strip 354 is removed, a rotational force exerted onselector member housing 342 will move the housing along with the penetratingassembly 344 into the second position shown inFIG. 128 and in so doing will cause the penetratingmember 344 to penetratetop wall 578 b of the container assembly. - Piercing of
wall 578 b opens a fluid communication path fromreservoir 579 to therate control assembly 350 via acentral fluid passageway 344 a formed in penetratingmember 344. Frompassageway 344 a, fluid will flow through conventionalparticulate filter 357, into the inlet of the rate ofcontrol assembly 350 and into the circumferentially spaced-apart fluid passageways formed in theselector housing 342. In operating the apparatus in the manner previously described herein, by rotating theselector member 370, which is carried byselector member housing 342, the rate of fluid flow toward the patient can be precisely controlled by selecting the rate control passageway of appropriate geometry and length that is formed inrate control plate 364. - Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.
Claims (16)
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.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US12/930,136 US20110282284A1 (en) | 2006-03-15 | 2010-12-29 | Fluid dispensing apparatus |
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US78301906P | 2006-03-15 | 2006-03-15 | |
US11/725,220 US7993304B2 (en) | 2006-03-15 | 2007-03-14 | Fluid dispensing apparatus |
US12/930,136 US20110282284A1 (en) | 2006-03-15 | 2010-12-29 | Fluid dispensing apparatus |
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US20110282284A1 true US20110282284A1 (en) | 2011-11-17 |
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EP (1) | EP2134389B1 (en) |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2134389B1 (en) | 2016-10-19 |
EP2134389A1 (en) | 2009-12-23 |
US7993304B2 (en) | 2011-08-09 |
ES2613934T3 (en) | 2017-05-29 |
US20070219501A1 (en) | 2007-09-20 |
WO2008112275A1 (en) | 2008-09-18 |
WO2008112275A9 (en) | 2009-03-05 |
EP2134389A4 (en) | 2013-01-09 |
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