CA2578803A1 - Fluid dispenser having a housing and flexible inner bladder - Google Patents

Fluid dispenser having a housing and flexible inner bladder Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2578803A1
CA2578803A1 CA002578803A CA2578803A CA2578803A1 CA 2578803 A1 CA2578803 A1 CA 2578803A1 CA 002578803 A CA002578803 A CA 002578803A CA 2578803 A CA2578803 A CA 2578803A CA 2578803 A1 CA2578803 A1 CA 2578803A1
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Canada
Prior art keywords
dispenser
fluid
bladder
flexible bladder
needle
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Granted
Application number
CA002578803A
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French (fr)
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CA2578803C (en
Inventor
Daniel Py
Joseph M. Ting
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Medinstill Development LLC
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Individual
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Publication date
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Priority claimed from CA002426182A external-priority patent/CA2426182C/en
Publication of CA2578803A1 publication Critical patent/CA2578803A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2578803C publication Critical patent/CA2578803C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing a fluid includes a rigid vial that has a main fluid chamber containing a fluid, and a pump assembly that is in fluid communication with the main fluid chamber and is configured to dispense a predetermined quantity of fluid from the main fluid chamber. A flexible bladder is provided which is located within the main fluid chamber and is configured to expand to fill the ullage created within the main fluid chamber during dispensing of fluid by the pump assembly.
The resilient bladder tends to force itself outwardly toward the rigid vial and, in turn, increases the pressure within the main fluid chamber in comparison to the interior of the bladder to thereby prevent the ingress of air or vapors through the bladder or otherwise into the main fluid chamber.

Claims (47)

1. A dispenser for use with a filling assembly including a needle for penetrating the dispenser and introducing a substance therein, a substance source coupled in fluid communication with the needle for introducing the substance through the needle and into the dispenser, and a laser source for transmitting a beam of laser radiation onto a penetrated region of the dispenser to seal a resulting needle hole therein, the dispenser comprising:

a housing defining a variable volume storage chamber;

a one-way valve in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber for allowing the passage of a substance from the variable-volume storage chamber therethrough and preventing the passage of fluid in an opposite direction, wherein the one-way valve includes a valve seat and a valve cover, the valve cover extends about the valve seat and forms an interface therebetween, the valve defines an outlet aperture in fluid communication with the interface and at least part of the valve cover is movable between (i) a closed position with the valve cover engaging the valve seat to close the interface and form a fluid-tight seal therebetween, and (ii) at least one open position with at least part of the valve cover spaced away from the valve seat in response to substance flowing through the outlet aperture at a pressure greater than a valve opening pressure to allow the passage of substance therebetween;

a manually engageable actuator that is manually engageable and movable between (i) a first non-actuated position, and (ii) a second actuated position for dispensing substantially predetermined dosages of substance from the storage chamber through the one-way valve; and a needle penetrable and laser resealable member in communication with the variable-volume storage chamber and defining a needle penetration region that is pierceable with the needle to form a needle aperture therethrough, and is heat resealable to hermetically seal the needle aperture by applying laser radiation from the laser source thereto, wherein the needle penetration region substantially absorbs the laser radiation and causes the laser radiation to hermetically seal the needle aperture formed in the needle penetration region thereof and thereby maintain the substance contained within the variable-volume storage chamber in a sterile, hermetically sealed condition.
2. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a pump coupled in fluid communication with the fluid-receiving chamber for pumping a fluid received therein from the dispenser; and a one-way valve coupled in fluid communication with the pump for allowing the passage of the pumped fluid therethrough and preventing the passage of fluids in the opposite direction.
3. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the variable-volume storage chamber is defined by a flexible bladder.
4. A dispenser as defined in claim 3, wherein the flexible bladder is mounted within the housing and defines an interior chamber therein, and a fluid-receiving chamber between the flexible bladder and the housing, the flexible bladder is movable between a collapsed condition upon filling the fluid-receiving chamber with a fluid and an expanded condition upon dispensing the fluid from the fluid-receiving chamber.
5. A dispenser as defined in claim 4, wherein the flexible bladder is formed of a resilient material that flexes the bladder outwardly toward the expanded condition and thereby creates a first pressure within the fluid-receiving chamber greater than the second pressure in the interior chamber of the bladder to thereby prevent the ingress of gases or vapors into the fluid-receiving chamber.
6. A dispenser as defined in claim 3, further comprising:

a seal formed between the flexible bladder and the housing for sealing the fluid receiving chamber, wherein the seal includes a first protuberance extending radially outwardly on an outer surface of the flexible bladder, and a second protuberance axially spaced relative to the first protuberance and extending radially inwardly on an inner surface of the bladder, and wherein the first and second protuberances are subject to radial compression to seal the interface between the flexible bladder and housing.
7. A dispenser as defined in claim 6, wherein the first protuberance extends about an outer peripheral surface of the bladder and defines an outer annular sealing surface, and the second protuberance extends about an inner peripheral surface of the bladder and defines an inner annular sealing surface.
8. A dispenser as defined in claim 7, wherein the first protuberance defines a tapered surface for directing bladder material in approximately the direction of the second protuberance to thereby facilitate maintaining a fluid-tight seal in the event of bladder material creep.
9. A dispenser as defined in claim 8, wherein the tapered surface is curved.
10. A dispenser as defined in claim 6, wherein the seal further includes a peripheral flange extending about an open end of the bladder and subject to axial compression for further sealing the interface between the bladder and the housing.
11. A dispenser as defined in claim 6, further comprising a plug receivable within an open end of the housing and engageable with at least one of the first and second protuberances for radially compressing the at least one protuberance to seal the interface between the flexible bladder and the housing.
12 A dispenser as defined in claim 11, wherein the plug defines an annular surface engageable with the second protuberance for radially compressing the second protuberance and thereby sealing the interface of the flexible bladder and the housing.
13. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, further comprising a plug receivable within an open end of the housing.
14. A dispenser as defined in claim 13, further comprising a seal formed between the plug and the housing, and wherein the plug defines at least one aperture therethrough in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the flexible bladder.
15. A dispenser as defined in claim 14, further comprising a two-way valve coupled in fluid communication between the interior chamber of the flexible bladder and the aperture of the plug for preventing fluid communication between the interior chamber of the bladder and the ambient atmosphere when a pressure differential across the two-way valve is less than a threshold level.
16. A dispenser as defined in claim 15, wherein the two-way valve is formed by a flexible, annular protuberance extending radially inwardly from an inner peripheral surface of the flexible bladder and engageable with an annular surface of the plug to thereby seal the interface between the flexible bladder and plug.
17. A dispenser as defined in claim 16, wherein the annular protuberance defines axially-opposed surfaces that taper inwardly in the radial direction to facilitate flexing of the protuberance in response to a pressure differential across the protuberance exceeding a predetermined threshold level.
18. A dispenser as defined in claim 3, wherein the flexible bladder defines at least one radially compressible sealing surface, and at least one axially compressible sealing surface axially spaced relative to the at least one radially compressible sealing surface, for effecting both axially and radially directed seals.
19. A dispenser as defined in claim 18, wherein the flexible bladder defines two radially compressible sealing surfaces, and wherein a first radially compressible sealing surface is located on an external peripheral surface of the flexible bladder, and a second radially compressible sealing surface is located on an internal peripheral surface of the bladder, and the first and second radially compressible sealing surfaces are axially offset relative to each other.
20. A dispenser as defined in claim 19, wherein the first radially compressible sealing surface defines a tapered surface portion for directing bladder material in approximately the direction of the second radially compressible sealing surface to facilitate maintaining a fluid-tight seal in the event of bladder material creep.
21. A dispenser as defined in claim 4, wherein the flexible bladder defines an open end and a closed end, and is movable between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, wherein upon expansion of the flexible bladder from the collapsed condition into the expanded condition, the flexible bladder and the housing define an annular gap therebetween, and the annular gap defines an increasing width in the axial direction from the open end toward the closed end of the flexible bladder to facilitate the removal of fluid from the fluid-receiving chamber upon expansion of the flexible bladder.
22. A dispenser as defined in claim 21, wherein upon expansion of the flexible bladder from the collapsed condition into the expanded condition, the flexible bladder initially contacts the housing adjacent to the open end of the flexible bladder, and the flexible bladder progressively engages the housing in the axial direction from the open end toward the closed end of the flexible bladder with further expansion thereof.
23. A dispenser as defined in claim 4, wherein the flexible bladder defines an external morphology in an expanded condition, the housing defines an internal morphology, and the external and internal morphologies are substantially the same to thereby allow the flexible bladder to conformably contact the housing and substantially eliminate any dead space in the fluid-receiving chamber therebetween.
24. A dispenser as defined in claim 4, wherein the flexible bladder is made of a resilient material and defines an outer width in an expanded condition, the housing defines an inner width, and the outer width of the bladder is at least equal to or greater than the inner width of the housing to thereby allow the resilient bladder to exert pressure on the fluid-receiving chamber and housing upon expanding into contact therewith.
25. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a pump coupled to the actuator and including a slide defining a passageway and a piston received within the passageway, wherein the slide defines within the passageway a compression zone, a first portion formed between the compression zone and the storage chamber, and a second portion located on an opposite side of the compression zone relative to the first portion.
26. A dispenser as defined in claim 25, wherein the piston and housing are formed integral with each other as a single part.
27. A dispenser as defined in claim 25, further comprising a nozzle coupled in fluid communication with the slide for receiving fluid pumped therethrough by the piston, and wherein the nozzle and slide are formed integral with each other as a single part.
28. A dispenser as defined in claim 25, wherein at least one of the piston and the slide is reciprocable relative to the other, and the piston is made of a relatively hard material, the slide is made of a relatively soft material, and the piston flexes at least a portion of the slide outwardly upon moving at least one of the piston and the slide relative to the other.
29. A dispenser as defined in claim 25, wherein the first portion is defined by a first radius and the compression zone is defined by a second radius that is less than the first radius, and at least one of the piston and slide is movable relative to the other between (i) a first actuated position with the tip of the piston received within the first portion of the slide, and the compression zone coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber for receiving substance therefrom, and (ii) a rest position with a tip of the piston received within the second portion of the slide.
30. A dispenser as defined in claim 29, further comprising at least one spring drivingly connected to at least one of the piston and slide, wherein the spring drives at least one of the piston and slide from the first actuated position to the rest position to pressurize fluid in the compression zone and, in turn, dispense a metered dosage of fluid through the valve.
31. A dispenser as defined in claim 25, wherein the actuator is drivingly connected to at least one of the piston and slide for moving at least one of the piston and slide relative to the other.
32. A dispenser as defined in claim 25, wherein one of the piston tip and the compression zone of the slide is softer than the other, and the piston tip and compression zone form an interference fit to thereby form a fluid-tight seal therebetween.
33. A dispenser as defined in claim 25, wherein at least one of the piston and the slide is movable relative to the other between (i) a rest position with the piston tip located in the second portion of the slide; (ii) a first actuated position with the piston tip located in the first portion of the slide and the compression zone coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber for receiving substance therefrom;
(iii) a second actuated position with the piston tip located in the compression zone, a fluid tight seal formed between the piston tip and compression zone to pressurize the substance in the compression zone to a pressure greater than the valve opening pressure and, in turn, cause the pressurized substance to open the valve and dispense through the valve; and (iv) a rest position with the piston tip located in the second portion of the slide and the outlet aperture coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber to reduce the pressure between the outlet aperture and the compression zone and allow closure of the valve.
34. A dispenser as defined in claim 3, further comprising:
a plug defining at least one peripheral protuberance; and wherein the flexible bladder defines a peripheral flange, and the housing defines an open end and a recess spaced axially inwardly from the open end, and wherein the peripheral flange of the flexible bladder is receivable within the recess for temporarily sealing the fluid-receiving chamber, and the at least one peripheral protuberance is receivable within the recess upon depressing the plug axially inwardly into the housing to thereby secure the plug and bladder to the housing.
35. A dispenser as defined in claim 34, wherein upon engaging the at least one peripheral protuberance with the recess of the housing, the plug axially compresses the peripheral flange to seal the fluid-receiving chamber formed between the flexible bladder and housing.
36. A dispenser as defined in claim 3, wherein the flexible bladder is movable between an expanded condition and a predetermined collapsed condition, and the dispenser further comprises means for controlling the bladder to collapse into the predetermined collapsed condition.
37. A dispenser as defined in claim 36, wherein the means for controlling includes a plurality of legs extending axially inwardly into the interior chamber of the flexible bladder for conformably contacting the flexible bladder upon collapse thereof.
38. A dispenser as defined in claim 36, wherein the means for controlling includes at least one axially elongated surface discontinuity formed in the flexible bladder.
39. A dispenser as defined in claim 38, wherein the means for controlling further includes at least one axially elongated rib formed on the flexible bladder and angularly spaced relative to the at least one surface discontinuity.
40. A dispenser as defined in claim 3, wherein the bladder is capable of being penetrated by a needle or like injection member for introducing a predetermined substance into the fluid-receiving chamber, and the bladder includes a first portion substantially infusible in response to the application of thermal energy thereto and compatible with the substance to be received within the fluid-receiving chamber, and a second portion overlying the first portion and fusible in response to the application of thermal energy thereto for forming a substantially fluid-tight seal between the flexible bladder and fluid-receiving chamber in a region thereof penetrable by the needle or like injection member.
41. A dispenser as defined in claim 40, wherein the second portion is formed of at least one of a thermoplastic and an elastomeric material.
42.1 A dispenser as defined in claim 40, wherein the first portion is formed of vulcanized rubber.
43. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, further comprising a pump including a piston, and a bore that receives the piston, wherein at least one of the piston and the bore is movable by the manually engageable actuator relative to the other.
44. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, in combination with a filling assembly including:

a needle for penetrating the needle penetrable and laser resealable member and introducing a substance through the resealable member and into the variable-volume storage chamber;

a substance source coupled in fluid communication with the needle for introducing the substance through the needle and into the variable-volume storage chamber; and a laser source connectable in thermal communication with the resealable member for applying laser radiation thereto.
45. A method of filling a dispenser with a predetermined substance, comprising the following steps:

providing a laser source that transmits laser radiation;

providing a dispenser including a housing defining a variable-volume storage chamber for receiving the pre-determined substance; a one-way valve in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber for allowing the passage of a substance from the variable-volume storage chamber therethrough and preventing passage of fluid in an opposite direction; a manually-engageable actuator; and a resealable portion in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber, wherein the resealable portion substantially absorbs the laser radiation transmitted by the laser source, and defines a needle penetration region that is pierceable with a needle to form a needle aperture therethrough and that substantially absorbs the laser radiation transmitted by the laser source to hermetically seal a needle aperture therein;

prior to filling the variable-volume storage chamber with the substance, forming a substantially gas-tight seal between the variable-volume storage chamber and the exterior of the dispenser;

penetrating the needle penetration region of the resealable portion with a needle coupled in fluid communication with a source of the predetermined substance;

introducing the predetermined substance through the needle and into the variable-volume storage chamber;

withdrawing the needle from the needle penetration region of the resealable portion and forming a needle aperture therein;

applying laser radiation from the laser source to the needle penetration region of the resealable portion;

substantially absorbing within the needle penetration region of the resealable portion the laser radiation transmitted by the laser source; and causing the laser radiation to hermetically seal the needle aperture formed in the needle penetration region of the resealable portion and in turn form a substantially gas-tight seal between the penetrated region and the variable-volume storage chamber.
46. A method as defined in claim 45, further comprising the steps of providing a radiation source, and transmitting radiation from said source onto the dispenser prior to the step of penetrating the needle penetration region of the resealable portion.
47. A method as defined in claim 45, further comprising the step of manually engaging and moving the actuator between (i) a first non-actuated position, and (ii) a second actuated position and, in turn, dispensing a substantially predetermined dose of substance from the variable-volume storage chamber through the one-way valve.
CA2578803A 2000-10-23 2001-10-23 Fluid dispenser having a housing and flexible inner bladder Expired - Fee Related CA2578803C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US24259500P 2000-10-23 2000-10-23
US60/242,595 2000-10-23
US24297400P 2000-10-24 2000-10-24
US60/242,974 2000-10-24
CA002426182A CA2426182C (en) 2000-10-23 2001-10-23 Fluid dispenser having a housing and flexible inner bladder

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002426182A Division CA2426182C (en) 2000-10-23 2001-10-23 Fluid dispenser having a housing and flexible inner bladder

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2578803A1 true CA2578803A1 (en) 2002-05-23
CA2578803C CA2578803C (en) 2011-02-01

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CA2578803A Expired - Fee Related CA2578803C (en) 2000-10-23 2001-10-23 Fluid dispenser having a housing and flexible inner bladder

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113654826A (en) * 2021-07-14 2021-11-16 深圳大学 Pressure-maintaining coring sealing structure with flexible part

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113654826A (en) * 2021-07-14 2021-11-16 深圳大学 Pressure-maintaining coring sealing structure with flexible part

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Publication number Publication date
CA2578803C (en) 2011-02-01

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Effective date: 20191023