Direct dual filling device for sealing agents

• US 20030083606A1
• Filed: 11/04/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gordon Howard Epstein, Mitchell E. Levinson, Richard Spero
• Original Assignee: Gordon Howard Epstein, Mitchell E. Levinson, Richard Spero
• Inventors: Levinson, Mitchell E., Spero, Richard, Epstein, Gordon Howard
• Granted Patent: US 7,081,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00495 for two-component glue
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2013 having two piercing ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2058 having multiple connecting ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1782 Devices aiding filling of syringes in situ combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents A61J1/2096, filling of medical containers in general B65B3/003

Abstract

A filling device for connecting a dispensing instrument having multiple fluid reservoirs to multiple containers is disclosed. More particularly, the present invention discloses a connecting device capable of coupling the individual reservoirs of a dispensing instrument to multiple fluid containers. The apparatus includes a body, a collar extending from the body, a plurality of tubes in fluid communication with a plurality of inlet ports formed in the body, and a hood adapted to simultaneously receive a plurality of containers therein. The containers are positioned within the hood to allow the plurality of tubes to simultaneously and separately draw fluid from the fluid containers and transferring the material into the individual reservoirs of the dispensing instrument.

Claims

17. A kit for drawing fluids from a plurality of containers comprising:

(a) a plurality of containers wherein said containers are adapted to sealably hold fluids;

(b) a dispensing instrument having at least two fluid reservoirs for separately holding and controllably dispensing readable fluids, said dispensing instrument further has a supply port connected to each fluid reservoir by a supply conduit;

(c) a connector for coupling said dispensing instrument to said plurality of containers wherein said connector comprises;

(i) a body having a bottom and a top, said top having an outer perimeter and a plurality of outlet ports within said perimeter, said bottom having a plurality of inlet ports connected to said outlet ports wherein each of said inlet ports is connected to one of said outlet ports by a bore in said body;

(ii) a collar extending from said perimeter, said collar being adapted to detachably receive said dispensing instrument connecting said supply ports to said inlet ports of said connector;

(iii) a plurality of tubes whereby each of said tubes is connected to one of said inlet ports and has an end distal to said inlet ports for extending into one of said containers, each of said ends having an opening for drawing fluid; and

(iv) a hood extending from said bottom and adapted to simultaneously slideably receive and releasably lock onto said plurality of containers such that once each of said plurality of containers is interlocked with said hood, said ends of said tubes allow for simultaneous and separated drawing of fluids into said fluid reservoirs of said dispensing instrument.

1. A connector for connecting a dispensing instrument to multiple containers comprising:

(a) a body having a bottom and a top, said top having an outer perimeter and a plurality of outlet ports within said perimeter, said bottom having a plurality of inlet ports connected to said outlet ports wherein each of said inlet ports is connected to one of said outlet ports by a bore in said body;

(b) a collar extending from said perimeter, said collar being adapted to detachably receive said dispensing instrument;

(c) a plurality of tubes whereby each of said tubes is connected to one of said inlet ports and has an end distal to said inlet ports for extending into one of said containers, each of said ends having an opening for drawing fluid; and

(d) a hood extending from said bottom and adapted to simultaneously slideably receive a plurality of containers such that once the containers are seated within said hood, said ends of said tubes allow for simultaneous and separate drawing of fluids into said dispensing instrument.

2. The connector as recited in claim 1 wherein said collar, said body, and said hood are formed of thermoplastic materials.

3. The connector as recited in claim 2 wherein said thermoplastic is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polystyrene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene, and acrylic.

4. The connector as recited in claim 1 wherein said collar, said body, and said hood are formed as a single thermoplastic member.

5. The connector as recited in claim 1 wherein said tubes are formed of a metallic material.

6. The connector as recited in claim 1 wherein said collar is keyed to said dispensing instrument such that said dispensing instrument may be fitted to said connector in only one orientation.

7. The connector as recited in claim 1 wherein said hood comprises a resilient material and is sized such that when each of said containers is positioned within said hood, said hood resiliently conforms to fit and secure each of said containers in place.

8. The connector as recited in claim 1 wherein said hood further comprises a locking member adapted to secure said containers to said connector.

9. The connector as recited in claim 8 wherein said locking member comprises resilient plastic joined to said hood and extends radially inward from said hood such that when each of said containers is positioned within said locking member, said locking member secures each of said containers in place.

10. The connector as recited in claim 8 wherein said locking member is an o-ring fitted within said hood.

11. The connector as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said outlet ports comprises a circular shape.

12. The connector as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said bores is tapered.

13. The connector as recited in claim 1 wherein said collar is capable of making a Luer lock with said dispensing instrument.

14. The connector as recited in claim 1 wherein said connector further comprises at least one tubular air vent attached to said connector wherein each air vent further comprises a first opening, a second opening, and a conduit connecting said first opening to said second opening and said first opening is positioned such that when said containers are locked to said hood, each of said first openings is situated inside each of said containers and each of said second openings is externally situated on said connector such that positive air pressure is supplied to each of said containers reducing any vacuum forces created within said containers during drawing.

15. The connector as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said distal ends of said tubes have a pointed tip adapted to sealably pierce a cap of said containers.

16. The connector as recited in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said plurality of outlet ports consists of a first and second outlet ports;

(b) said plurality of inlet ports consists of first and second inlet ports whereby said first inlet port is connected to said first outlet port and said second inlet port is connected to said second outlet port;

(c) said plurality of tubes consists of two tubes; and

(d) said hood is adapted to simultaneously slideably receive and releasably lock onto two containers such that the once the two containers are interlocked with said hood, said ends of said tubes allow for simultaneous and separate drawing of fluids into said dispensing instrument.

18. The kit as recited in claim 17 wherein said collar, said body, and said hood of said connector are formed of thermoplastic materials.

19. The kit as recited in claim 2 wherein said thermoplastic of said connector is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polystyrene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene, and acrylic.

20. The kit as recited in claim 17 wherein said collar, said body, and said hood of said connector are formed as a single thermoplastic member.

21. The kit as recited in claim 17 wherein said tubes of said connector are formed of a metallic material.

22. The kit as recited in claim 17 wherein said collar of said connector is keyed to said dispensing instrument such that said dispensing instrument may be fitted to said connector in only one orientation.

23. The kit as recited in claim 17 wherein said hood comprises a resilient material and is sized such that when each of said containers is positioned within said hood, said hood resiliently conforms to fit and secure each of said containers in place.

24. The kit as recited in claim 17 wherein said hood further comprises a locking member adapted to secure said containers to said connector.

25. The kit as recited in claim 8 wherein said locking member comprises resilient plastic joined to said hood and extends radially inward from said hood such that when each of said containers is positioned within said locking member, said locking member secures each of said containers in place.

26. The kit as recited in claim 8 wherein said locking member is an o-ring fitted within said hood.

27. The kit as recited in claim 17 wherein each of said outlet ports of said connector comprises a circular shape.

28. The kit as recited in claim 17 wherein each of said bores of said connector is tapered.

29. The kit as recited in claim 17 wherein said collar of said connector is capable of making a Luer lock with said dispensing instrument.

30. The kit as recited in claim 17 wherein said connector further comprises at least one tubular air vent attached to said connector wherein each air vent further comprises a first opening, a second opening, and a conduit connecting said first opening to said second opening and said first opening is positioned such that when said containers are locked to said hood, each of said first openings is situated inside each of said containers and each of said second openings is externally situated on said connector such that positive air pressure is supplied to each of said containers reducing any vacuum forces created within said containers during fluid drawing.

31. The kit as recited in claim 17 wherein:

(a) said plurality of outlet ports consists of first and a second outlet ports;

(b) said plurality of inlet ports consists of first and a second inlet ports whereby said first inlet port is connected to said first outlet port and said second inlet port is connected to said second outlet port;

(c) said plurality of tubes consists of two tubes; and

(d) said hood is adapted to simultaneously slideably receive and releasably lock onto two containers such that the once the two containers are interlocked with said hood, said ends of said tubes allow for simultaneous and separate drawing of fluids into said dispensing instrument.

32. The kit as recited in claim 17 wherein said connector comprises:

(a) two outlet ports consisting of a first and a second outlet port;

(b) two inlet ports consisting of a first and second inlet port whereby said first inlet port is connected to said first outlet port and said second inlet port is connected to said second outlet port;

(c) two tubes; and

(d) said hood is adapted to simultaneously slideably receive and releasably lock onto two containers and allow for separated simultaneous drawing of two fluids into a dispensing instrument adapted to dispense two fluids.

30-1. The kit as recited in claim 17 wherein said distal ends of said tubes of said connector have a pointed tip adapted to sealably pierce a cap of said containers.

33. A connector for connecting a dispensing instrument to multiple containers comprising:

(a) a body having a bottom and a top, said top having an outer perimeter and a plurality of outlet ports within said perimeter, said bottom having a plurality of inlet ports connected to said outlet ports wherein each of said inlet ports is connected to one of said outlet ports by a bore in said body;

(b) a collar extending from said perimeter, said collar being adapted to detachably receive said dispensing instrument;

(c) a plurality of tubes whereby each of said tubes is connected to one of said inlet ports and has an end distal to said inlet ports for extending into one of said containers, each of said ends having an opening for drawing fluid;

(d) a hood extending from said bottom; and

(e) a base having a plurality of support members adapted to simultaneously receive a plurality of containers, said base being adapted to detachably receive said hood such that once said hood is seated on said base, said ends of said tubes allow for simultaneous and separate drawing of fluids into said dispensing instrument.

34. A connector for connecting a dispensing instrument to multiple containers comprising:

(a) a housing having a bottom and a top, said top having an outer perimeter and a plurality of outlet ports within said perimeter, said housing defining a plurality of cavities each defining an internal volume for housing one of said containers, each of said cavities having an inlet port wherein each of said inlet ports is connected to one of said outlet ports by a conduit;

(b) a collar extending from said outer perimeter, said collar being adapted to detachably receive said dispensing instrument;

(c) a plurality of tubes whereby each of said tubes is connected to one of said inlet ports and has an end distal to said inlet ports for extending into one of said containers, each of said ends having an opening for drawing fluid; and

(d) a base having a plurality of support members each adapted to simultaneously receive one of said containers, said base being adapted to detachable receive said housing such that once said housing is seated on said base, said containers are positioned within said cavities.