Dispenser for an elongated flexible member

• US 4,713,059 A
• Filed: 10/11/1984
• Issued: 12/15/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Original Assignee: American Hospital Supply Corp. (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Rold, Michael D., Bickelhaupt, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Pinkham, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, T.
• Application Number:
  US06/659,702
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 604/159, 604/171, 33/138, 33/137 R, 242/99, 242/107.6, 242/84.8
• US Class Current: 604/171
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0113 Mechanical advancing means, e.g. catheter dispensers

Abstract

A dispenser comprising a base and a reel rotatably mounted on the base. An elongated flexible member which is to be dispensed is wound on the reel, and a housing is provided for the reel and the flexible member. Interlocking members on the reel and the housing hold the reel against rotation in any direction in the housing until the housing is removed from the base. The reel has first and second sets of radially extending fingers at the periphery of the reel, with the first set of fingers being inclined relative to the second set of fingers. The flexible member is wound on the reel between the first and second sets of fingers.

Claims

1. A dispenser comprising:

a base;

a reel,

means for mounting the reel on the base for rotation relative to the base,

an elongated, flexible member to be dispensed wound on said reel, said flexible member being adapted for insertion into a patient;

housing means for forming a sterile enclosure for the reel and the flexible member, said housing means being removable from the base; and

cooperating means on the reel and the housing means for holding the reel against rotation in said enclosure in both directions, said cooperating means being responsive to the removal of the housing means from the base to release the reel for rotation only when said housing is removed from said base whereby the flexible member can be dispensed.

2. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said cooperating means includes interlocking means on the reel and said housing means.

3. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein a portion of the flexible member extends from the reel within said enclosure and said dispenser includes clamping means on said base and the housing means for clamping said portion of the flexible member against movement longitudinally of the flexible member.

4. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes a shaft on the base and said reel is snap fit on the shaft, said mounting means includes a resilient retainer on the shaft and engaging the reel to resist rotation of the reel.

5. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said reel has a side face, said flexible member has an inner end portion and said dispenser includes means on said face of the reel for retaining said inner end portion.

6. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said reel has first and second sets of radially extending fingers at the periphery of the reel with said first set of fingers being inclined relative to the second set of fingers and said flexible member is wound on the reel between said first and second sets of fingers.

7. A dispenser as defined in claim 6 wherein said base has a ring-like ledge and the fingers of said first set are longer radially than the fingers of the second set and ride on said ledge to assure that the fingers of said first set are inclined relative to the fingers of said second set, and said fingers of said second set terminate radially inwardly of said ledge.

8. A dispenser as defined in claim 7 wherein the fingers of said first set are resilient and resiliently bear on the ledge.

9. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said base and said reel are each integrally molded of plastic material.

10. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said reel has a side face, said flexible member has an enlarged inner end portion, said dispenser includes means on said face of the reel for releasably retaining said enlarged inner end portion, said reel has first and second sets of radially extending fingers at the periphery of the reel with said first set of fingers being inclined relative to the second set of fingers, and said flexible member is wound on the reel between said first and second sets of fingers.

11. A dispenser for an elongated flexible member comprising:

a base;

a reel having a side face;

means for mounting the reel on the base for rotation relative to said base about a rotational axis;

said reel having first and second sets of radially extending fingers at the periphery of the reel with said first set of fingers being inclined axially relative to the second set of fingers whereby said flexible member can be wound on the reel adjacent said periphery between said first and second sets of fingers; and

means on said face of the reel for releasably retaining an inner end portion of the flexible member.

12. A dispenser as defined in claim 11 wherein the fingers of the first set alternate with the fingers of the second set.

13. A dispenser as defined in claim 11 wherein said base has a ring-like ledge and the fingers of said first set are longer radially than the fingers of the second set and ride on said ledge to assure that the fingers of said first set are inclined relative to the fingers of said second set, and said fingers of said second set terminate radially inwardly of said ledge.

14. A dispenser as defined in claim 13 wherein the fingers of said first set are resilient and resiliently bear on the shoulder.

15. A dispenser as defined in claim 11 wherein said mounting means includes a shaft on the base and said reel is snap fit on the shaft, said mounting means includes a resilient retainer on the shaft and engaging the reel to retard rotation of the reel.

16. A dispenser as defined in claim 11 wherein said base and said reel are each integrally molded of plastic material.

17. A dispenser as defined in claim 11 including housing means for forming an enclosure for the base and reel.

18. A dispenser comprising:

a base;

a reel having a side face;

means for mounting the reel on the base for rotation relative to the base;

an elongated flexible member to be dispensed, said member having an inner end portion;

housing means for forming an enclosure for the reel and the flexible member, said housing means being removable from the base;

said reel having first and second sets of radially extending fingers at the periphery of the reel with said first set of fingers being inclined axially relative to the second set of fingers, said flexible member being wound on the member between said first and second sets of fingers; and

means on said face of the reel for releasably retaining said inner end portion of the flexible member.