Dispenser with sealed chamber, one-way valve and needle penetrable and laser resealable stopper
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
23 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of filling a dispenser with a predetermined substance, comprising the following steps:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification