Apparatus for opening a vessel

• US 5,705,066 A
• Filed: 04/16/1996
• Issued: 01/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aksys Ltd.
• Inventors: Walker, Donald C., Treu, Dennis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, SUN U
• Application Number:
  US08/558,215
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 210/232, 210/233, 210/235, 239/302, 239/104, 222/83, 222/83.5, 222/88
• US Class Current: 210/233
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/04 Heat A61L2/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1607 before use, i.e. upstream of dialyser
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1609 after use, i.e. downstream of dialyser
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1649 with pulsatile dialysis fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/165 with a dialyser bypass on the dialysis fluid line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1656 Apparatus for preparing dialysates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1658 Degasification
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/166 Heating for sterilisation A61M1/1686
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1662 with heat exchange between fresh and used dialysate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1666 by dissolving solids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1668 Details of containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1672 using membrane filters, e.g. for sterilising the dialysate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1682 both machine and membrane module, i.e. also the module blood side
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1684 Checking the module characteristics before reuse
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1686 by heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1688 with recirculation of the sterilising fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/169 using chemical substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1692 Detection of blood traces in dialysate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1694 : with recirculating dialysing liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/288 : Priming priming in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3643
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3434 : with pre-dilution and post-dilution
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3437 : downstream of the filter, e.g. post-dilution with filtrate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3465 : using dialysate as substitution fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3468 : using treated filtrate as substitution fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3609 : Physical characteristics of the blood, e.g. haematocrit, urea
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3622 : with a cassette forming partially or totally the blood circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36224 : with sensing means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36226 : Constructional details of cassettes, e.g. specific details on material or shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362263 : Details of incorporated filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3626 : Gas bubble detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3627 : Degassing devices; Buffer reservoirs; Drip chambers; Blood filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3629 : degassing by changing pump speed, e.g. during priming
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3639 : Blood pressure control, pressure transducers specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3641 : Pressure isolators
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3643 : Priming, rinsing before or after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3644 : Mode of operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3646 : Expelling the residual body fluid after use, e.g. back to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3647 : with recirculation of the priming solution
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3649 : using dialysate as priming or rinsing liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/365 : through membranes, e.g. by inverted trans-membrane pressure [TMP]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 : with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 : Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 : with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 : with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 : Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3324 : PH measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 : Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 : Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3382 : Upper level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3386 : Low level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 : User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 : Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/705 : Testing of filters for leaks blood in dialysate A61M1/1692
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/707 : Testing of filters for clogging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7554 : with means for unclogging or regenerating filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7581 : with means for switching over to a fresh filter on clogging or saturation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/11 : Laminar flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/65 : Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/16 : having provision for disinfection or sterilisation A61M39/143 takes precedence; methods or apparatus for disinfection or sterilisation A61L2/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/04 : Specific process operations in the feed stream; Feed pretreatment
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/10 : Temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/25 : Recirculation, recycling or bypass, e.g. recirculation of concentrate into the feed
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/2626 : Absorption or adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/04 : Backflushing
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/16 : Use of chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/32 : By heating or pyrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/02 : Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration ; Nanofiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/025 : Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/04 : Feed pretreatment
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/12 : Controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/32 : Controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/022 : Membrane sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/102 : Detection of leaks in membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/104 : Detection of leaks in membrane apparatus or modules
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/441 : by reverse osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/0453 : the member being a diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/929 : Hemoultrafiltrate volume measurement or control processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 215/03 : Medical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7722 : Line condition change responsive valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7794 : With relief valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7796 : Senses inlet pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7799 : Liquid transfer

Abstract

An apparatus is described for automatically opening and dispensing the contents of a vessel, for example, a vessel containing dialysate chemicals for dispersion into a dialysate preparation tank. The apparatus comprises a housing having an open interior region, with the vessel mounted above the housing, and a spike reciprocable within the interior of the housing between upper and lower positions. The spike pierces the vessel when the spike is moved to the upper position. The spike has an upper spike element that pierces the bottle and an integral spike body concentric with the housing permitting passage of dialysate chemicals therethrough after the spike has pierced the vessel. A drive means is proved for moving the spike relative to the housing between the upper and lower positions, so as to control the operation of the spike and the automatic release of the contents of the vessel.

Claims

1. Apparatus for opening a vessel containing a batch of dialysate chemicals, comprising:

a housing having an open interior region, said vessel mounted above said housing;

a spike reciprocable within said interior region of said housing between upper and lower positions, and spike piercing said vessel when said spike is moved to said upper position;

said spike comprising an upper spike element, an integral spike body concentric with said housing permitting passage of dialysate chemicals therefore after said spike has pierced said vessel, and

means for moving said spike relative to said housing between said upper and lower positions, wherein said means for moving comprises a collar mounted to said housing and a threaded member on the exterior surface of said spike body threadably engaging said collar; and

wherein said apparatus further comprises a drive means for rotating said collar, causing said spike to move between upper and lower positions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a nozzle disposed within said housing in communication with a source of fluid, said nozzle oriented in the direction of said vessel when said vessel is mounted above said housing;

said nozzle ejecting fluid towards said vessel after said spike has traveled to said upper position and pierced said vessel, thereby promoting the release of the entire contents of said vessel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vessel comprises a bottle having a seal that is broken by said spike when said bottle is mounted above said housing and said spike is moved to said upper position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising alignment means cooperating with said bottle for permitting said bottle to mount to said housing with said seal positioned in a predetermined orientation relative to said spike.

5. Apparatus for opening a vessel containing a batch of dialysate chemicals, comprising:

a housing having an open interior region, said vessel mounted above said housing;

a spike reciprocable within said interior region of said housing between upper and lower positions, said spike piercing said vessel when said spike is moved to said upper position;

said spike comprising an upper spike element, an integral spike body concentric with said housing permitting passage of dialysate chemicals therethrough after said spike has pierced said vessel, and

means for moving said spike relative to said housing between said upper and lower positions, wherein said means for moving comprises a collar mounted to said housing and a threaded member on the exterior surface of said spike body threadably engaging said collar; and

wherein said apparatus further comprises a drive means for rotating said collar, causing said spike to move between said upper and lower positions, wherein said drive means comprises a motor and a belt driven by said motor, said belt engageable with said collar to rotate said collar.