Elastomeric bladder assembly
First Claim
1. An elastomeric bladder assembly for dispensing a fluid under pressure comprising in combination;
- (a) an elastomeric bladder having opposed ends;
(b) puncturable, resealable septum means in fluid sealing relationship to one end of said bladder whereby fluid may be introduced into said bladder through said septum means and;
(c) lumen filling means disposed between said opposed ends, said lumen filling means comprising at least two posts received in and substantially filling the lumen of said elastomeric bladder when said elastomeric bladder is in a deflated condition, said posts in the deflated condition being axially aligned in end to end abutting relationship and being capable of resisting axial compressive loads between said opposed ends while offering substantially no resistance to axial expansion and contraction of said bladder;
whereby said opposed ends may be maintained in spaced apart relationship while said bladder is deflated and said opposed ends are free to move axially apart during inflation and axially together during deflation of said bladder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The bladder assembly of this invention has spaced apart inlet and outlet means and the bladder is capable of expanding and contracting radially and axially upon inflation and deflation. When deflated the lumen of the bladder is substantially completely filled by lumen filling means, which in a preferred embodiment, protect the bladder from being punctured by the hypodermic needle used to fill and inflate the bladder. The lumen filling means resists the compressive load applied during insertion of the needle and maintains the inlet and outlet means in spaced apart relationship while providing substantially no resistance to the axial expansion of the bladder. By having the lumen of the bladder filled with the lumen filling means when the bladder is deflated, before its subsequent inflation and deflation, substantially complete expulsion of the fluid contents of the bladder can be obtained.
The bladder assembly of this invention may be particularly adapted for use in an infusor for dispensing fluid under pressure.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An elastomeric bladder assembly for dispensing a fluid under pressure comprising in combination;
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(a) an elastomeric bladder having opposed ends; (b) puncturable, resealable septum means in fluid sealing relationship to one end of said bladder whereby fluid may be introduced into said bladder through said septum means and; (c) lumen filling means disposed between said opposed ends, said lumen filling means comprising at least two posts received in and substantially filling the lumen of said elastomeric bladder when said elastomeric bladder is in a deflated condition, said posts in the deflated condition being axially aligned in end to end abutting relationship and being capable of resisting axial compressive loads between said opposed ends while offering substantially no resistance to axial expansion and contraction of said bladder;
whereby said opposed ends may be maintained in spaced apart relationship while said bladder is deflated and said opposed ends are free to move axially apart during inflation and axially together during deflation of said bladder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12)
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9. An elastomeric bladder assembly for dispensing a fluid under pressure comprising in combination:
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(a) a tubular elastomeric bladder expandable from a deflated to an inflated condition; (b) a tubular housing receiving said bladder; (c) puncturable, resealable septum means associated with one end of said tubular bladder, whereby fluid may be introduced into said elastomeric bladder through a hollow needle punctured through said septum means and received in said port, the void volume of the bladder in its deflated condition is reduced and the axial alignment of said bladder in its inflated and deflated condition is maintained; and (d) piston means slidable in said housing and plug means fixedly mounted in said housing, each said piston means and plug means being provided with a dependent post aligned axially with said housing and fluid sealingly received within the opposite ends of said elastomeric bladder, the combined length of said dependent posts with their adjacent ends in abutting relationship being sufficient to substantially fill the lumen of said tubular bladder in its deflated condition while offering substantially no resistance to inflation and deflation of said elastomeric bladder, the post received in the end of the bladder having the septum means being provided with a port providing fluid communication between the lumen of said bladder and said septum. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification