Fluid dispenser having a housing and flexible inner bladder

• US 7,000,806 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dr Py Institute LLC
• Original Assignee: Medical Instill Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Py, Daniel, Ting, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTAGENA, MELVIN A
• Application Number:
  US10/890,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20040245289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 222/95, 222/105, 222/321.6, 222/386.5, 222/81
• US Class Current: 222/386.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0008 Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0072 A valve member forming part of an outlet opening
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0097 Means for filling or refilling the sprayer through additional openings in the container B05B11/0056
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/026 Membranes separating the content remaining in the container from the atmospheric air to compensate underpressure inside the container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1004 comprising a movable cylinder and a stationary piston
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1074 located outside pump chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1077 characterised by a particular shape or material B05B11/1076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1092 automatically released from a loaded state at the end of the loading stroke
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1094 having inlet or outlet valves not being actuated by pressure or having no inlet or outlet valve
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/245 Internal membrane, floating cover or the like isolating the contents from the ambient atmosphere loosely-attached linings B65D25/16; dispensing pistons B65D83/0005; flexible bags for expelling the contents B65D83/0055
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0055 Containers or packages provided with a flexible bag or a deformable membrane or diaphragm for expelling the contents

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing a fluid includes a rigid vial that has a main fluid chamber containing a fluid, and a pump assembly that is in fluid communication with the main fluid chamber and is configured to dispense a predetermined quantity of fluid from the main fluid chamber. A flexible bladder is provided which is located within the main fluid chamber and is configured to expand to fill the ullage created within the main fluid chamber during dispensing of fluid by the pump assembly. The resilient bladder tends to force itself outwardly toward the rigid vial and, in turn, increases the pressure within the main fluid chamber in comparison to the interior of the bladder to thereby prevent the ingress of air or vapors through the bladder or otherwise into the main fluid chamber.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing a fluid, comprising:

a housing; and

a flexible bladder mounted within the housing and defining an interior chamber within the flexible bladder, and a fluid-receiving chamber between the flexible bladder and the housing; and

first means for creating a first pressure within the fluid-receiving chamber greater than a second pressure within the interior chamber of the bladder and thereby preventing the ingress of gases or vapors into the fluid-receiving chamber,

wherein the bladder is capable of being penetrated by a needle or like injection member for introducing a predetermined substance into the fluid-receiving chamber, and the bladder includes a first portion substantially infusible in response to the application of thermal energy thereto and compatible with the substance to be received within the fluid-receiving chamber, and a second portion overlying the first portion and fusible in response to the application of thermal energy thereto for forming a substantially fluid-tight seal between the flexible bladder and fluid-receiving chamber in a region thereof penetrable by the needle or like injection member.

2. A dispenser comprising:

a housing defining a variable-volume storage chamber;

a pump in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber;

a one-way valve in fluid communication with the pump for allowing the passage of a pumped fluid therethrough and preventing passage of fluids in an opposite direction; and

a needle penetrable and laser resealable portion in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber, and including a body defining a predetermined wall thickness in an axial direction thereof, and a needle penetration region that is pierceable with a needle to form a needle aperture therethrough, and is heat resealable to hermetically seal the needle aperture by applying laser radiation from a laser source at a predetermined wavelength and power thereto, wherein the needle penetration region has a predetermined color and opacity that (i) substantially absorbs the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and substantially prevents the passage of the radiation through the predetermined wall thickness thereof, and (ii) that causes the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and power to hermetically seal the needle aperture formed in the needle penetration region thereof in a predetermined time period.

3. A dispenser as defined in claim 2, wherein the variable-volume storage chamber is defined by a flexible bladder.

4. A dispenser as defined in claim 2, wherein the one-way valve includes a valve seat and a valve cover, the valve cover extends about the valve seat and forms an interface therebetween, the valve defines an outlet aperture in fluid communication with the interface and at least part of the valve cover is movable between (i) a closed position with the valve cover engaging the valve seat to close the interface and form a fluid-tight seal therebetween, and (ii) at least one open position with at least part of the valve cover spaced away from the valve seat in response to fluid flowing through the outlet aperture at a pressure greater than a valve opening pressure to allow the passage of fluid therebetween.

5. A dispenser as defined in claim 2, in combination with a filling assembly including:

a needle for penetrating the needle penetrable and laser resealable portion and introducing a substance through the resealable portion and into the variable-volume storage chamber,

a substance source coupled in fluid communication with the needle for introducing the substance through the needle and into the variable-volume storage chamber; and

a laser source connectable in thermal communication with the resealable portion for applying laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and power thereto.

6. An assembly as defined in claim 5, comprising a radiation source for sterilizing the needle penetration region of the stopper prior to penetration thereof by the needle.

7. An assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein the radiation source is a laser.

8. An assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein the radiation source is capable of achieving a 6 log reduction in bio-burden on the needle penetration region of the needle penetrable and laser resealable portion.

9. An assembly as defined in claim 5, further comprising a first fluid passageway extending through the needle for introducing the substance from the substance source through the needle and into the variable-volume storage chamber, and a second fluid passageway for allowing fluid to flow out of the variable-volume storage chamber upon introducing the substance from the first fluid passageway into the variable-volume storage chamber.

10. An assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein the second fluid passageway is defined by the needle.

11. A dispenser as defined in claim 2, wherein the pump includes a piston, and a bore that slidably receives the piston, and at least one of the piston and the bore is manually actuatable relative to the other.

12. A dispenser as defined in claim 2, wherein the predetermined wavelength is one of approximately 10.6 .mu.m. and approximately 1.06 .mu.m.

13. A dispenser as defined in claim 2, wherein the predetermined power is within the range of approximately 15 to 30 Watts.

14. A dispenser as defined in claim 2, wherein the predetermined time period is approximately 0.5 seconds.

15. A method of filling a dispenser with a predetermined substance, comprising the following steps:

providing a laser source that transmits laser radiation at a predetermined wavelength and power;

providing a dispenser including a housing defining a variable-volume storage chamber for receiving the pre-determined substance, a pump in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber;

a one-way valve in fluid communication with the pump for allowing the passage of a pumped fluid therethrough and preventing passage of fluids in an opposite direction; and

a resealable portion connectable in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber, wherein the resealable portion includes a body defining a predetermined wall thickness in an axial direction thereof that substantially absorbs the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and power and substantially prevents the passage of such radiation therethrough, and a needle penetration region that is pierceable with a needle to form a needle aperture therethrough and that defines a predetermined color and opacity that substantially absorbs the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and power to hermetically seal a needle aperture therein in a predetermined time period;

prior to filling the variable-volume storage chamber with the substance, forming a substantially gas-tight seal between the variable-volume storage chamber and the exterior of the dispenser;

penetrating the needle penetration region of the body with a needle coupled in fluid communication with a source of the predetermined substance;

introducing the predetermined substance through the needle and into the variable-volume storage chamber;

withdrawing the needle from the needle penetration region of the resealable portion and forming a needle aperture therein;

applying laser radiation from the laser source at the predetermined wavelength and power to the needle penetration region of the body;

substantially absorbing within the needle penetration region of the body the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and power and substantially preventing the passage of radiation through the predetermined wall thickness of the body; and

causing the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and power to hermetically seal the needle aperture formed in the needle penetration region of the body within a predetermined time period to form a substantially gas-tight seal between the penetrated region and the variable-volume storage chamber.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising the steps of providing a radiation source, and transmitting radiation from said source onto the penetrable surface of the needle penetration region of the body prior to the step of penetrating the needle penetration region of the body.

17. A method as defined in claim 15, comprising the step of transmitting the laser radiation at a predetermined wavelength of approximately 10.6 .mu.m. and approximately 1.06 .mu.m.

18. A method as defined in claim 15, comprising the step of transmitting the laser radiation at a predetermined power within the range of approximately 15 to 30 Watts.