Apparatus, devices, and methods for manipulating deformable fluid vessels
First Claim
1. An apparatus for displacing fluid from a fluid container including a first vessel and a second vessel connected or connectable to the first vessel and including a sealing partition preventing fluid flow from the second vessel, wherein the fluid container further includes an opening device configured to be contacted with the sealing partition to open the sealing partition and permit fluid flow from the second vessel, said apparatus comprising:
- a first actuator configured to be movable with respect to the first vessel to compress the first vessel and displace fluid contents thereof; and
a second actuator movable with respect to the opening device and configured to contact the opening device and cause the opening device to open the sealing partition,wherein the second actuator is releasably coupled to the first actuator such that the second actuator moves with the first actuator until the second actuator contacts the opening device and causes the opening device to open the sealing partition, after which the second actuator is released from the first actuator and the first actuator moves independently of the second actuator to displace fluid from the first vessel.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus configured for displacing fluid from a fluid container comprises first and second actuators configured to be movable together until the first actuator compresses a first part of the fluid container and then moveable independently until the second actuator compresses a second part of the fluid container. Fluid containers comprise a first vessel, a second vessel, and a sealing partition preventing fluid flow from the second vessel and further include piercing means for piercing the sealing partition to permit fluid flow from the second vessel. A fluid container comprises a vessel configured to be collapsed to displace fluid from the vessel, a housing surrounding at least a portion of the vessel, and a floating compression plate movably disposed within the housing and configured to permit an external actuator to press the compression plate into the vessel to collapse the vessel and displace the fluid contents therefrom.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for displacing fluid from a fluid container including a first vessel and a second vessel connected or connectable to the first vessel and including a sealing partition preventing fluid flow from the second vessel, wherein the fluid container further includes an opening device configured to be contacted with the sealing partition to open the sealing partition and permit fluid flow from the second vessel, said apparatus comprising:
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a first actuator configured to be movable with respect to the first vessel to compress the first vessel and displace fluid contents thereof; and a second actuator movable with respect to the opening device and configured to contact the opening device and cause the opening device to open the sealing partition, wherein the second actuator is releasably coupled to the first actuator such that the second actuator moves with the first actuator until the second actuator contacts the opening device and causes the opening device to open the sealing partition, after which the second actuator is released from the first actuator and the first actuator moves independently of the second actuator to displace fluid from the first vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for displacing fluid from a fluid container including a first vessel and a second vessel connected or connectable to the first vessel and including a sealing partition preventing fluid flow from the second vessel, wherein the fluid container further includes an opening device disposed within the second vessel and configured to be contacted with the sealing partition to open the sealing partition and permit fluid flow from the second vessel, said method comprising:
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moving a first actuator toward the first vessel; releasably coupling a second actuator with the first actuator; moving the second actuator with the first actuator and contacting the opening device with the second actuator to cause the opening device to open the sealing partition; after the second actuator contacts the opening device and causes the opening device to open the sealing partition, releasing the coupling between the second actuator and the first actuator; and moving the first actuator independently of the second actuator to compress the first vessel and displace fluid from the first vessel through the second vessel and the open sealing partition. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification