SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH FLUIDS

• US 20160083121A1
• Filed: 04/03/2015
• Published: 03/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tinnus Enterprises LLC
• Original Assignee: Tinnus Enterprises LLC
• Inventors: MALONE, JOSHUA
• Granted Patent: US 9,527,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/007 for taking urine samples measuring urological functions A61B5/20; genital receptacles A61F5/451; urinals for bed-ridden persons A61G9/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1427 Multiple blood sampling, e.g. at periodic or pre-established intervals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15 Devices for taking samples of blood hypodermic syringes A61M5/178
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150221 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150366 Blood collection bags, e.g. connected to the patient by a catheter comprising means for removing a small sample of collected blood from the bag collection bags as such A61J1/05, A61M1/0209
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150992 Blood sampling from a fluid line external to a patient, such as a catheter line, combined with an infusion line; blood sampling from indwelling needle sets, e.g. sealable ports, luer couplings, valves tubing connectors and couplings A61M39/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/155 Devices specially adapted for continuous or multiple sampling, e.g. at predetermined intervals devices loaded with multiple lancets simultaneously A61B5/15146
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/10 Bag-type containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1018 Balloon inflating or inflation-control devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/00 Drainage appliance for wounds or the like , i.e. wound drains, implanted drains negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90; implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 ; middle ear drainage A61F11/202
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1033 Inflation devices or methods for inflating balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1041 Holding or sealing means, e.g. handling rods, clamps or plugs
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1083 Valves or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/10 Balloons connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; other than toy aspects B64B1/40
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/003 Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/04 Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/17 for filling valve bags
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/26 Methods or devices for controlling the quantity of the material fed or filled
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/28 : by weighing
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 51/04 : Applying separate sealing or securing members, e.g. clips, applying separate lids or covers B65B7/28
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/02 : Closing containers or receptacles deformed by, or taking-up shape, of, contents, e.g. bags, sacks
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/025 : Closing valve bags

Abstract

An example embodiment of an apparatus includes a housing with an opening at a first end and a plurality of holes at a second end, a plurality of hollow tubes attached to the plurality of holes, a plurality of containers removably attached to the hollow tubes, and a plurality of elastic fasteners, each elastic fastener clamping each container to a corresponding hollow tube, such that when the containers are filled with fluid and detached from the corresponding hollow tubes, each elastic fastener seals each container with the fluid inside.

Claims

1-28. -28. (canceled)

29. An apparatus comprising:

a housing comprising a plurality of holes extending through the housing;

a plurality of hollow tubes, each hollow tube attached to the housing at a respective one of the holes;

a plurality of containers, each container removably attached to a respective one of the hollow tubes; and

a plurality of elastic fasteners, each elastic fastener clamping a respective one of the plurality of containers to a respective tube, and each elastic fastener configured to restrict detachment of its respective container from its respective tube and to automatically seal its respective container upon detachment of the container from its respective tube, the restriction of each elastic fastener being sufficiently limited to permit its respective container to detach from its respective tube upon one or more of (1) at least partially filling the container with fluid and (2) shaking the housing;

wherein the apparatus is configured to fill the containers substantially simultaneously with fluid.

31. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein at least first and second ones of the plurality of containers are disposed sufficiently close to each other such that they press against each other, regardless whether the first and second ones of the plurality of containers are in a filled state or an unfilled state.

30. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the apparatus is sufficiently compact to be operated while being held by hand of a single operator.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein each container is a water balloon.