Fluid dispensing apparatus

• US 3,902,635 A
• Filed: 05/03/1974
• Issued: 09/02/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Walter J. Jinotti
• Original Assignee: Walter J. Jinotti
• Inventors: Jinotti, Walter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Application Number:
  US05/466,883
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 222/386,390,146H,146HE,340,341,95,103,105,387 128/DIG.12,214.2,214A,214F 100/240,295,265
• US Class Current: 222/103
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/148 flexible, e.g. independent bagsA61M5/155 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/445 the media being heated in the reservoir, e.g. warming bloodbags

Abstract

Fluid-dispensing apparatus comprises a housing including a movable plate-like piston and a unitary operating mechanism therefor including a shaft disposed within the housing and secured to the piston for (1) retracting the piston to permit a fluid-filled bag to be inserted in a chamber thus formed in the housing and (2) releasing the piston to apply pressure to the bag and to feed fluid therefrom. Only a handle for operating the apparatus is disposed outside of the housing and that is recessed to minimize the size of the apparatus. A plate, of selected thickness, is removably inserted in the chamber in the housing in contact with the fluid-filled bag to permit the pressure of the piston to be adjusted to the volume of the bag. This plate is also usable as a heater for heating the fluid in the bag.

Claims

1. Fluid-dispensing apparatus comprising a housing including a first U-shaped box-like member having a top wall and side walls extending downwardly therefrom, a generally tubular member extending downwardly from said top wall of said first box-like member and having an apertured bottom wall spaced from and disposed beneath said top wall of said first box-like member, a cylindrical hub having an annular base portion suported on said bottom wall of said generally tubular member and a side wall which extends vertically therefrom and terminates in a top wall which is spaced above said top wall of said first U-shaped box-like member, a second U-shaped box-like member having a bottom wall and side walls extending upwardly therefrom, said second box-like member beind slidable into and out of said first box-like member, a frame enclosing said first and second box-like members and having an aperture for receiving a fluid-filled bag, said second box-like member normally being positioned with its bottom wall closely adjacent to said frame in a first set position, spring means in said housing urging said second supported member to remain in said first set position, a hollow tube secured to the inner surface of said bottom wall of said second box-like member and extending vertically toward said top wall of said first box-like member, said hollow tube being generally axially aligned with said tubular member and with the aperture in the bottom wall thereof and aligned with said cylindrical hub whereby said hollow tube can enter said tubular member and said cylindrical hub, a threaded shaft disposed vertically and extending through said cylindrical hub and through said aperture in the bottom wall of said generally tubular member and iN axial alignment therewith, said shaft having an upper end and a lower end, an operating handle secured to said upper end of said threaded shaft outside said housing and disposed adjacent to said top wall of said first box-like member, and a nut secured to said lower end of said shaft and engaging the upper end of said tube when said second box member is in said first set position, said nut being held against rotation by said tube, said shaft and said tube thus being coupled together with said shaft being rotatable with respect to said nut, rotation of said shaft in one direction causing said nut to move upwardly along the shaft and drawing said tube and said second box-like member with it, with said tube entering the aperture in the bottom wall of said generally tubular member and entering said cylindrical hub, and said second box-like member entering said first box-like member and forming a space between the bottom wall of said second box-like member and said frame, said space being aligned with said aperture in said frame and serving to receive a fluid-filled bag, said second box-like member thus being held in a second set position within said first box-like member, rotation of said shaft in the opposite direction causing said nut to move downwardly along said shaft and thus to become disengaged from the upper end of said tube whereby, under the urging of said spring means, said tube and said second box-like member can move downwardly out of said first box-like member and toward said frame whereby said second box-like member applies pressure to said fluid-filled bag and causes fluid to be dispensed therefrom.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 and including a plate-like member removably positioned in said space between the bottom wall of said second box-like member and said frame whereby the volume of said space is reduced and the pressure on a fluid-filled bag positioned in said space is increased.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said plate-like member is a heater for heating fluid in said fluid-filled bag.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said spring means comprises a plurality of springs disposed between said first wall and said second wall and urging said first and second walls apart.