Method and apparatus for dispensing fluids

• US 6,101,452 A
• Filed: 11/18/1998
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Innovative Medical Services (Pure Bioscience, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Innovative Medical Services (Pure Bioscience, Inc.)
• Inventors: Krall, Michael L., Caird, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cuong H.
• Application Number:
  US09/195,771
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 702/100.5, 702/52, 702/55, 137/487.5, 137/625.65, 137/898, 137/488, 137/101.25, 137/896-897, 73/149, 222/52, 222/61
• US Class Current: 702/55
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/00 Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1234 to determine the total amount
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0811 provided with coded information
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/14 responsive to input of recorded programmed information, e.g. on punched cards
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/222 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/303 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/103 with radiation as transfer means to the indicating device, e.g. light transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/003 using electromagnetic, electric or electronic means G01F15/002, G01F15/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2534 Liquid level response

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dispensing fluids in response to a user request for a specified amount of the fluid. A microprocessor opens and closes a fluid port for predetermined amounts of time to control the amount of fluid dispensed. The microprocessor monitors the elapsed time and the amount of fluid that has been dispensed since the last time the filter was serviced. In one preferred embodiment, the amount of fluid that is dispensed is measured by continuously monitoring the volume of fluid flowing through the apparatus. A pressure measurement device allows the microprocessor to monitor the fluid pressure. The microprocessor prevents fluid from being dispensed if the pressure is not within a predetermined range of tolerances. The fluid port is opened and closed by activating and deactivating a solenoid. A keypad allows the user to input the amount of fluid that is to be dispensed. A "Wait" period is imposed between the time that the user initiates the first stage and the time the user may initiate the second stage. The microprocessor does not open the fluid port if a "Failure" condition exists. An LCD is provided to display the amount of fluid that the user has requested. In an alternative embodiment, a bar code scanner or other input device allows the user to automatically input the amount of fluid that is to be dispensed.

Claims

1. A portable automated fluid dispenser for automatically dispensing a selectable and variable volume of fluid, including:

(a) a manifold having a fluid passage for selectively allowing fluid to flow through the manifold, wherein the fluid passage has a fluid input port and a fluid output port;

(b) a valve disposed in the manifold for controlling the flow of fluid from the fluid input port to the fluid output port;

(c) a fluid measurement device, operatively connected to the fluid passage, for measuring a delivered volume of fluid dispensed, wherein the fluid measurement device is capable of measuring the delivered volume of fluid to an accuracy of approximately 1 milliliter;

(d) a control device operatively coupled to the valve and the fluid measurement device, the control device selectively causing the valve to open, and then to close after a selected volume of fluid has been dispensed as determined by the fluid measurement device; and

(e) a data input device, operatively coupled to the control device, wherein the data input device specifies the selected volume of fluid to be dispensed by the portable automated fluid dispenser, and wherein the selected volume of fluid can be specified with a resolution of approximately 1 milliliter.

2. The portable automated fluid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the fluid measurement device comprises a pressure measurement device for obtaining a fluid pressure measurement within the fluid passage, and wherein the control device utilizes the fluid pressure measurement to determine a period of time, the period of time being directly proportional to a selected volume of fluid requiring dispensing, and wherein the control device selectively causes the valve to open for the determined period of time such that the selected volume of fluid is dispensed by opening the valve for the period of time and thereafter closing the valve.

3. The dispenser of claim 2, further including a user input device operatively coupled to the control device, the user input device allowing a user to specify to the control device the selected volume of fluid to be dispensed.

4. The dispenser of claim 3 further including a memory device, wherein the control device will not allow the valve to open unless a user enters a code which is stored in the memory device.

5. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein the code includes the date on which a filter that is in fluid communication with the dispenser was last serviced, and wherein the code also includes a status of the filters on the date that the dispenser was last serviced.

6. The dispenser of claim 2, further including a display device electrically coupled to the control device, wherein the display device receives signals from the control device causing the display to indicate the selected volume of fluid to be dispensed.

7. The dispenser of claim 2, further including a display device electrically coupled to the control device, wherein the display device receives signals from the control device causing the display to indicate when a predetermined fluid quality falls below a predetermined level.

8. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the control device prevents fluid dispensing if a failure condition is detected by the control device.

9. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the failure condition includes a power supply within the dispenser being below a predetermined power level.

10. The dispenser of claim 2, further including a fluid quality measurement device.

11. The dispenser of claim 2, further including a user input device operatively connected to the control device, wherein the control device opens the valve to dispense a first portion of a selected volume of fluid in response to the user activating the user input device a first time, and wherein the control device opens the valve to dispense a second portion of the selected volume of fluid in response to the user activating the user input device a second time.

12. The dispenser of claim 2, further including a memory device operatively coupled to the control device.

13. The dispenser of claim 12, further including program instructions executed by the control device, the program instructions being stored within the memory device.

14. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein the memory device includes information used by the control device to determine when filters within the dispenser require service.

15. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein the memory device contains information used by the control device to determine an amount of time to keep the fluid control device open and thereby dispense the selected volume of fluid.

16. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein the information is contained in a look-up table.

17. The dispenser of claim 16, wherein the look-up table includes entries specifying the selected volume of fluid to be dispensed based upon a selected medication having a selected dosage strength and manufactured by a selected manufacturer.

18. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the program stored within the memory device includes instructions for performing the following steps:

(a) receiving a user input;

(b) in response to the user input, opening a valve;

(c) measuring an elapsed time starting from the time at which the valve is opened; and

(d) closing the valve after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

19. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the program stored within the memory device includes instructions for performing the following steps:

(a) receiving a first user input;

(b) in response to the first user input, opening a valve;

(c) measuring a first elapsed time starting from the time at which the valve is opened in response to the first user input;

(d) closing the valve after a first predetermined amount of time has elapsed and awaiting a second user input;

(e) receiving a second user input;

(f) in response to the second user input, opening the valve;

(g) measuring a second elapsed time starting from the time at which the valve is opened in response to the second user input; and

(h) closing the valve after a second predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

20. The portable automated fluid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the fluid measurement device comprises a fluid flow meter.

21. The dispenser of claim 20, wherein the selected volume of fluid dispensed by the dispenser is monitored by the control device using input obtained from the fluid flow meter.

22. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the data input device comprises a bar code scanner.

23. The dispenser of claim 22, wherein the bar code scanner reads coded information pertaining to a medication requiring reconstitution, and wherein the central control device determines the predetermined amount of fluid to be dispensed based upon the coded information.

24. A portable automated fluid dispenser for automatically dispensing a selectable and variable volume of fluid, including:

(a) a valve means for allowing fluid to flow and for restricting the flow of fluid;

(b) a fluid measurement means for measuring a volume of fluid dispensed, wherein the fluid measurement means is capable of measuring the volume of fluid to an accuracy of approximately 1 milliliter;

(c) a control means, coupled to the fluid measurement means and valve means, for causing the valve means to prevent fluid flow after a selected volume of fluid has been dispensed as determined by the fluid measurement means; and

(d) a data input means, operatively coupled to the control means, for specifying the selected volume of fluid to be dispensed by the fluid dispenser, wherein the selected volume of fluid can be specified with a resolution of approximately 1 milliliter.

25. The portable automated fluid dispenser of claim 24, wherein the data input means comprises a bar code scanner.

26. A method for automatically dispensing a selectable and variable volume of fluid, including the steps of:

(a) receiving an input from a data input device, wherein the input indicates a desired volume of fluid to be dispensed, and wherein the desired volume of fluid is specified with a resolution of approximately 1 milliliter,

(b) in response to the data input, opening a valve;

(c) measuring fluid flow until the desired volume of fluid is dispensed, wherein the desired volume of fluid dispensed is measured to an accuracy of approximately 1 milliliter; and

(d) closing the valve after the desired volume of fluid has been dispensed.