Dispenser with sealed chamber, one-way valve and needle penetrable and laser resealable stopper

• US 7,290,573 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2005
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medical Instill Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medical Instill Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Py, Daniel, Assion, Norbert M., Chan, Julian V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas; Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US11/195,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20050263543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 141/2, 141/18, 141/21, 141/27, 141/85, 141/329, 222/386, 222/390, 222/494, 222/563, 604/256, 604/415
• US Class Current: 141/329
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/26 Appliances specially adapted for applying pasty paint, e.g. using roller, using a ball
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31586 performed by rotationally moving or pivoted actuator, e.g. an injection lever or handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31595 Pre-defined multi-dose administration by repeated overcoming of means blocking the free advancing movement of piston rod, e.g. by tearing or de-blocking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/50 having means for preventing re-use, or for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile retractable needles or needle protectors with means for preventing re-use A61M5/321
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/502 for blocking the piston
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 35/06 from metallic material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 35/08 from plastics material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 35/38 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 35/44 Closures closure members of interest apart from this application B65D39/00 - B65D55/00; forming bottom closures after filling B65B7/14
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2031 the element being formed by a slit, narrow opening or constrictable spout, the size of the outlet passage being able to be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure B65D47/2025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/027 of the syringe type

Abstract

A syringe is provided for the delivery of controlled, metered amounts of any of numerous different substances to humans or animals, such as medicaments, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food products, or to deliver materials which may react upon exposure to air, such as glue. The syringes include a body and a plunger. Means are provided in the syringe body and the plunger to effect controlled movement of the plunger into the syringe to permit delivery of a pre-determined amount of the substance contained in the syringe. A one-way valve is provided at the dispensing tip of the syringe to hermetically seal the portion of the syringe containing the substance to be dispensed.

Claims

1. A dispenser adapted to be filled with a substance by an apparatus including at least (i) a needle for piercing the dispenser and introducing the substance through the needle and into the dispenser, and (ii) an energy source for thermally resealing an aperture in the dispenser after withdrawal of the needle therefrom, the dispenser comprising:

a body defining a chamber for receiving the substance;

a one-way valve mounted on the body and including an axially-elongated valve seat, and an axially-elongated flexible valve member secured to the valve seat and defining a normally-closed valve opening at the interface of the valve member and valve seat that is connectable in fluid communication with the chamber;

a piston mounted within the body and movable axially therethrough for varying the volume of the chamber upon dispensing substance from the chamber through the one-way valve; and

a resealable stopper in fluid communication with the chamber and penetrable by the needle for introducing the substance through the stopper and into the chamber, and including a penetrable region that is fusible in response to the application of thermal energy from the energy source thereto to hermetically seal an aperture in the penetrable region after removing the needle therefrom.

2. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the piston and body is rotatable relative to the other to move the piston axially within the body and, in turn, dispense substance from the chamber through the one-way valve.

3. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the penetrable region of the stopper is formed of at least one of a thermoplastic and elastomeric material.

4. A dispenser as defined as defined in claim 3, wherein a base portion of the stopper is formed of vulcanized rubber.

5. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the resealable stopper is located on the piston.

6. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the piston defines a one-way valve extending adjacent to the periphery thereof for allowing gas to escape out of the chamber and through the valve and for preventing gas from passing in the other direction through the valve and into the chamber.

7. A dispenser as defined in claim 6, wherein the one-way valve is defined by a flexible member extending outwardly from the piston and engageable with the body for forming a seal between the flexible member and body.

8. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the body defines at least one axially elongated fluid-passageway extending between the body and the piston for allowing fluid to pass therethrough upon filling the chamber with the substance.

9. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the energy source is a laser that transmits laser radiation at a predetermined wavelength and power, the penetrable region of the resealable stopper is heat resealable to hermetically seal the needle aperture by applying laser radiation from the laser at the predetermined wavelength and power thereto, and the stopper comprises a thermoplastic body defining (i) a predetermined wall thickness in an axial direction thereof, (ii) a predetermined color and opacity that substantially absorbs laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and substantially prevents the passage of radiation through the predetermined wall thickness thereof, and (iii) a predetermined color and opacity that causes the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and power to hermetically seal a needle aperture formed in the needle penetration region thereof in a predetermined time period of less than approximately 2 seconds and substantially without burning the needle penetration region.

10. A dispenser as defined in claim 9, wherein the needle penetration region is formed of a thermoplastic blend of a first material consisting essentially of a styrene block copolymer and a second material consisting essentially of an olefin.

11. A dispenser as defined in claim 10, wherein the first and second materials are blended within a range of about 50:

50 to about 95;

5 by weight.

12. A dispenser as defined in claim 9, wherein the predetermined wavelength is approximately 980 nm.

13. A dispenser as defined in claim 9, wherein the predetermined power is less than approximately 30 Watts.

14. A dispenser as defined in claim 13, wherein the predetermined power is less than or equal to about 10 Watts.

15. A dispenser as defined in claim 9, wherein the predetermined color is gray.

16. A dispenser as defined in claim 9, wherein the predetermined time period is less than about 1.5 seconds.

17. A dispenser as defined in claim 10, wherein the predetermined wavelength is about 980 nm, the predetermined power is within the range of about 8 to 10 Watts, the predetermined color is gray, and the predetermined opacity is defined by a dark gray colorant additive within the range of about 0.3% to about 0.6% by weight.

18. A dispenser adapted to be filled with a substance by an apparatus including at least (i) a needle for piercing and introducing the substance into the dispenser, and (ii) an energy source for thermally resealing an aperture in the dispenser after removing the needle therefrom, the dispenser comprising:

first means defining a chamber for receiving the substance;

second means defining a normally closed opening for hermetically sealing the substance within the chamber, for allowing substance from the chamber at a pressure that exceeds an opening pressure to be dispensed therethrough, and for retaining a remaining portion of the substance hermetically sealed within the chamber;

third means movable axially through the first means for varying the volume of the chamber upon dispensing substance from the chamber; and

fourth means penetrable by the needle for introducing the substance therethrough and into the chamber, and fusible in response to the application of thermal energy from the energy source thereto for hermetically sealing an aperture in the penetrable region after removing the needle therefrom.

19. A dispenser as defined in claim 18, wherein the energy source is a laser that transmits laser radiation at a predetermined wavelength and power, and a needle penetration region of the fourth means 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 the laser at the predetermined wavelength and power thereto, wherein the fourth means includes (i) a thermoplastic body defining a predetermined wall thickness in an axial direction thereof, (ii) fifth means for substantially absorbing the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and substantially preventing the passage of radiation through the predetermined wall thickness thereof, and (ii) sixth means for causing the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and power to hermetically seal a needle aperture formed in the needle penetration region thereof in a predetermined time period of less than approximately 2 seconds and substantially without burning the needle penetration region.

20. A dispenser as defined in claim 19, wherein the fourth means and the fifth means each are defined by a predetermined color and opacity that substantially absorbs the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and substantially prevents the passage of the radiation through the predetermined wall thickness thereof, and that causes the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and power to hermetically seal a needle aperture formed in the needle penetration region thereof in a predetermined time period of less than approximately 2 seconds and substantially without burning the needle penetration region.

21. A dispenser as defined in claim 19, wherein the first means is a body;

the second means is a one-way valve mounted on the body and including an axially-elongated valve seat, and an axially-elongated flexible valve member secured to the valve seat and defining a normally-closed valve opening at the interface of the valve member and valve seat that is connectable in fluid communication with the chamber;

the third means is a piston mounted within the body and movable axially therethrough for varying the volume of the chamber upon dispensing substance from the chamber and through the one-way valve; and

the fourth means is a resealable stopper in fluid communication with the chamber and penetrable by the needle for introducing the substance through the stopper and into the chamber, and including a penetrable region that is fusible in response to the application of thermal energy from the energy source thereto for hermetically sealing an aperture in the penetrable region after removing the needle therefrom.

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

providing a dispenser including a body defining a chamber, a piston slidably received within the body, a one-way valve mounted on the body and including an axially-elongated valve seat, and an axially-elongated flexible valve member secured to the valve seat and defining a normally-closed valve opening at the interface of the valve member and valve seat that is connectable in fluid communication with the chamber, and a resealable stopper including a resealable portion fusible in response to the application of thermal energy thereto;

sterilizing an exposed surface of the stopper;

penetrating the stopper with a needle coupled in fluid communication with a source of the substance;

introducing the substance through the needle and into the chamber of the body;

withdrawing the needle from the stopper; and

applying sufficient thermal energy to the penetrated region of the resealable portion of the stopper to fuse the penetrated region and form a substantially gas-tight seal between the penetrated region and the chamber of the body.

23. A method as defined in claim 22, wherein the step of applying thermal energy includes applying laser radiation at a predetermined wavelength and power to the penetrated region of the stopper, and further comprising the steps of providing a resealable stopper comprising a thermoplastic body defining a predetermined wall thickness in an axial direction thereof, selecting a predetermined color and opacity of the thermoplastic body that substantially absorbs the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and substantially prevents the passage of the radiation through the predetermined wall thickness thereof, and selecting a predetermined color and opacity of the thermoplastic body that causes the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and power to hermetically seal a needle aperture formed in the needle penetration region thereof in a predetermined time period of less than approximately 2 seconds and substantially without burning the needle penetration region.