Cartridge for aseptically holding and dispensing a fluid material, and a container and method for aseptically holding and mixing the fluid material
First Claim
1. A cartridge for holding and dispensing a fluid material in an aseptic manner, the cartridge comprising:
- a cartridge body having an interior for holding the fluid material and having first and second ends, a seal affixed to the first end of said cartridge body, a movable portion sealed to the second end of said cartridge body said seal and movable portion collectively aseptically sealing said cartridge interior, a movable member disposed within the interior of said cartridge body between the first and second ends, wherein said movable member may be moved in response to movement of said movable portion at the second end such that said movable member breaks the seal and the fluid material is thereby dispensed from the cartridge interior via the first end, and a connector portion operatively connected with said cartridge body, wherein said connector portion is adapted to be affixed adjacent a cap of a container and adapted to be removably and replaceably received in an open end of the container such that the fluid material may be dispensed into the container.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A container, cartridge and method for holding, dispensing and mixing a fluid material comprised of at least two component fluids in an aseptic manner. A cartridge includes a cartridge body for holding one component fluid and having first and second ends. A seal is affixed to the first end of the cartridge body and a movable portion is sealed to the second end of the cartridge body. A movable member is fully disposed within the cartridge body and aseptically sealed between the first and second ends. The movable member may be moved in response to movement of the movable portion at the second end such that the movable member breaks the seal and the fluid material is thereby dispensed from the first end. This allows a fluid component, such as a concentrate, to be readily mixed with another fluid, such as water, under aseptic conditions and immediately contained within an aseptic environment of the container.
119 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A cartridge for holding and dispensing a fluid material in an aseptic manner, the cartridge comprising:
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a cartridge body having an interior for holding the fluid material and having first and second ends, a seal affixed to the first end of said cartridge body, a movable portion sealed to the second end of said cartridge body said seal and movable portion collectively aseptically sealing said cartridge interior, a movable member disposed within the interior of said cartridge body between the first and second ends, wherein said movable member may be moved in response to movement of said movable portion at the second end such that said movable member breaks the seal and the fluid material is thereby dispensed from the cartridge interior via the first end, and a connector portion operatively connected with said cartridge body, wherein said connector portion is adapted to be affixed adjacent a cap of a container and adapted to be removably and replaceably received in an open end of the container such that the fluid material may be dispensed into the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A container for holding a fluid material comprising at least two separate component fluids, comprising:
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a container body having an interior for holding the component fluids and having an opening, a cartridge body having first and second ends and received by the opening in said container body for initially holding and dispensing a first of said component fluids in an aseptic manner, a seal affixed to the first end of said cartridge body, a movable portion sealed to the second end of said cartridge body, a movable member disposed within said cartridge body and aseptically sealed between the first and second ends, wherein said movable member may be moved in response to movement of said movable portion at the second end such that said movable member breaks the seal and the first component fluid is thereby dispensed from the first end, and a connector portion operatively connected with said cartridge body, wherein said connector portion is engageable with the container body and is configured to be removably and replaceably received in the opening of said container body such that the fluid material may be dispensed into the interior of the container body. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of aseptically dispensing a first component fluid and mixing the first component fluid with a second component fluid in a container having at least one opening, the method comprising:
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containing the first component fluid in an aseptically sealed cartridge having a movable member sealed therein, removably and replaceably retaining the cartridge in the opening of said container, actuating the movable member to dispense the first component fluid into the container, and mixing the first component fluid with the second component fluid in the container. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A cartridge for holding and dispensing a fluid material in an aseptic manner, the cartridge comprising:
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a cartridge body having an interior for holding the fluid material and having first and second ends, a seal affixed to the first end of said cartridge body, said seal further comprising a separate seal affixed to the first end of said cartridge body wherein the fluid material may be introduced into said cartridge body through the first end and the separate seal may then be affixed to retain the fluid material therein, and wherein said seal is configured to open at a predetermined temperature, a movable portion sealed to the second end of said cartridge body, said seal and movable portion collectively aseptically sealing said cartridge interior, a movable member disposed within the interior of said cartridge body between the first and second ends, wherein said movable member may be moved in response to movement of said movable portion at the second end such that said movable member breaks the seal and the fluid material is thereby dispensed from the cartridge interior via the first end.
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21. A container for holding a fluid material comprising at least two separate component fluids, comprising:
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a container body for the component fluids and having an opening, a cartridge body having first and second ends and received by the opening in said container body for initially holding and dispensing a first of said component fluids in an aseptic manner, a seal affixed to the first end of said cartridge body, said seal further comprising a separate seal affixed to the first end of said cartridge body wherein the first component fluid may be introduced into said cartridge body through the first end and the seal may then be affixed to retain the first component fluid therein, and wherein said seal is configured to open at a predetermined temperature, a movable portion sealed to the second end of said cartridge body, a movable member disposed within said cartridge body and aseptically sealed between the first and second ends, wherein said movable member may be moved in response to movement of said movable portion at the second end such that said movable member breaks the seal and the first component fluid is thereby dispensed from the first end.
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Specification