U.S. patent application number 10/835992 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-25 for apparatus for delivering sensitive liquid media.
This patent application is currently assigned to Arzneimittel GmbH Apotheker Vetter & Co. Ravensburg. Invention is credited to Bobst, Benjamin.
Application Number | 20040232171 10/835992 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32731173 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040232171 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bobst, Benjamin |
November 25, 2004 |
Apparatus for delivering sensitive liquid media
Abstract
Apparatus for delivering sensitive liquid media, such as
solutions, dispersions, suspensions, and the like, which comprises
at least one flexible container having an outlet and enclosing a
liquid medium. A pressure chamber which accommodates the container.
The outlet of the container can be led through the chamber wall. A
pressure source can be connected to the pressure chamber and the
pressure chamber can be pressurized thereby.
Inventors: |
Bobst, Benjamin;
(Mittelbiberach, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSTROLENK FABER GERB & SOFFEN
1180 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
100368403
|
Assignee: |
Arzneimittel GmbH Apotheker Vetter
& Co. Ravensburg
|
Family ID: |
32731173 |
Appl. No.: |
10/835992 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/386.5 ;
222/399 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 5/1486
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/386.5 ;
222/399 |
International
Class: |
B65D 083/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 3, 2003 |
DE |
103 19 874.1 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for delivering liquid media, comprising at least
one flexible container which has an outlet and encloses a liquid
medium, a pressure chamber which accommodates the container and
from which the outlet from the container can be led, and a pressure
source connection to the pressure chamber by which the pressure
chamber can be pressurized.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
pressure source to the pressure source connection and the source
acts on the pressure chamber with nitrogen.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
monitoring device operable for setting a defined pressure or for
setting a defined pressure variation over time.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is a
bag.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is a
sterile disposable bag.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
vibrating unit positioned and operable to act on the medium to be
discharged from the container.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the vibrating unit
includes a vibrating table on which the pressure chamber may be
arranged.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a device
in the chamber which supports the container so as to not block the
exit of medium through the outlet.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an
outlet conduit from the container outlet and a sealable passage
from the chamber through which the outlet conduit passes to outside
the chamber while the chamber is sealed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus for delivering
sensitive liquid media from a sealed flexible container using a
pressurized chamber in which the container is held.
[0002] In the medical sector, it is repeatedly necessary to deliver
sensitive liquid media such as solutions, dispersions, suspensions
and the like, for example protein solutions, or the like. It is
known to introduce the media into flexible containers and to
suspend these, for example, at a specific height, in order to
supply the medium to a use, for example a filtration device, under
a positive pressure depending on the height of the suspension. It
is also known to conduct a gaseous medium into the container with
the liquid medium, to build up a positive pressure in the container
and to drive out the liquid medium. Finally, it is known to use
peristaltic pumps to deliver such sensitive liquid media.
[0003] Disadvantages have occurred in the delivery of the liquid
media. If the container with the medium is suspended at a certain
height, then the delivery pressure depends on the difference in
height between the container and a user of the medium. If the
container itself is inflated with a gas in order to build up a
positive pressure to deliver the liquid medium, then it is possible
for leaks in the container to occur and for the liquid medium to
emerge. Even bursting of the container cannot be ruled out. If
peristaltic pumps are used to deliver the liquid medium, then
firstly sensitive constituent parts of the liquid medium are loaded
mechanically by the peristaltic pump. Moreover, in particular with
a low positive pressure for delivering the liquid medium, it is
often a problem to set a defined positive pressure. Finally,
pulsations occur in the medium delivered, which is often
undesired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an
apparatus for delivering sensitive liquid media which does not have
the above described disadvantages.
[0005] In order to achieve this object, an apparatus is proposed
which has the following features. A sensitive liquid medium is held
in a flexible container with an outlet and from which medium is
forced upon pressure being applied to the container. It is
distinguished by providing a pressure chamber into which the
flexible container filled with the liquid medium can be introduced.
A pressure source is connected to the pressure chamber, acts on the
pressure chamber with a positive pressure and therefore compresses
the flexible container. The medium is thereby driven out of the
container. It is particularly advantageous that the pressure can be
set very accurately and can be easily monitored.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0006] The invention is explained in more detail in the following
text using the drawing, which is a perspective view of a pressure
chamber formed as a pressure cabinet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The pressure cabinet 1 shown in the single Figure has an
interior which serves as a pressure chamber 3, into which there is
introduced a flexible container 5 in which there is a sensitive
liquid medium 7.
[0008] The container 5 is preferably formed as a sterile disposable
bag, which is therefore used only once, so the problems of cleaning
and disinfection of the container which are associated with
refilling are avoided.
[0009] The container 5 has an outlet 9, from which a hose 11 exits.
The hose discharges the liquid medium 7 from the container 5.
Otherwise, the container 5 is closed off completely from the
outside, so that the medium 7 cannot be contaminated.
[0010] The container 5 is suspended in the interior of the pressure
cabinet 1 in a suitable way. Here, it is illustrated with a
conventional cutout 13, which is provided in a double-walled region
of the container 5, so that there no connection is provided between
the liquid medium 7 and the outside. Two hooks 15, which hold the
container 5 securely in the interior of the pressure cabinet 1,
engage in the cutout 13.
[0011] However, such a suspension of the container 5 is necessary
only when the pressure cabinet 1 is operated upright, which should
be the normal case. However, should the cabinet be oriented
horizontal, the container 5 would be held securely by the side
walls 17, 19, 21 and 23, so that further fixing of the container 5
in the pressure chamber 3 would not be required.
[0012] The hooks 15 can be fixed to a rear wall 25 of the pressure
cabinet 1, or else from the inside to the upper side wall 17. It is
merely critical that the container 5 is held in a desired position
here, so that it does not kink the hose 11 on account of the
inherent weight of the container.
[0013] The lower side wall 21 of the cabinet has a cutout 27, which
leads from the pressure chamber 3 to the outside and accommodates
the hose 11. Preferably, an elastic protective layer, for example a
rubber grommet 29, prevents the hose 11 chafing through.
[0014] Fitted to one side wall 23, for example via hinges 33 and
35, or the like, is a door 31 which when closed, closes off the
pressure chamber 3 in a pressure-tight manner.
[0015] On its side facing the pressure chamber 3, the door may be
provided with a circumferential seal 37, which interacts with the
front sides of the side walls 17, 19, 21 and 23 to close off the
pressure chamber 3 in a pressure-tight manner.
[0016] On the bottom of the door 31, a protective layer 38 may
again be provided, which holds the hose 11 securely in the cutout
27 without chafing through it.
[0017] On one side wall, here wall 19, there is a pressure
connection 39, via which the pressure chamber 3 can be connected at
40 to a pressure source 42. When the door 31 is closed, the
pressure source can place the pressure chamber 3 and therefore also
the flexible container 5 under a positive pressure. Also provided
on the side wall 19 are a pressure indicator 41 and a safety valve
43.
[0018] Finally, the apparatus 1 can also be provided with a
vibrating unit, to ensure that the medium 7 present in the
container 5 can be kept continuously moving or during
predeterminable time periods, in order to avoid settling of the
substances present in the medium.
[0019] The vibrating unit can act directly on the container 5 and
can be accommodated in the pressure chamber 3. However, the
pressure cabinet 1 is preferably placed on a vibrating table 44 and
therefore subjected in its entirety to a movement which acts on the
medium 7 in the container 5.
[0020] In the following text, operation of the apparatus for
delivering sensitive liquid media will be described in more
detail:
[0021] In the container 5 there is a sensitive medium, for example
a solution, dispersion or suspension, which should not be subjected
to any mechanical loading as might be provided, for example, when
the medium is pumped with a peristaltic pump.
[0022] The container 5 itself is at least in part of flexible
material, so that a positive pressure acting on the container 5
acts on the liquid medium 7 inside the container and drives the
medium out via the outlet 9 and the hose 11.
[0023] The container 5 is introduced into the interior of the
pressure cabinet 1, that is into the pressure chamber 3, and is
preferably fixed to the hooks 15. The hose 11 is led through the
cutout 27, which is dimensioned such that the hose 11 is not
crushed when the door 31 is closed. The hose 11 may consist of a
flexible material which closes off the cutout 27 in a
pressure-tight manner. However, provision is preferably made here
for a protective layer 29, which interacts with the protective
layer 38 on the door 31 in such a way that, when the door is
closed, the hose 11 is enclosed completely and the pressure chamber
3 is closed off pressure-tight from the outside. In addition, the
seal 37 interacts with the side walls 17, 19, 21 and 23 here, so
that the pressure chamber 3 is closed off completely when the door
31 is closed.
[0024] Then, a positive pressure is built up in the interior of the
apparatus, here in the pressure cabinet 1, through the pressure
connection 39. A gaseous medium is preferably conducted into the
pressure chamber 3, since such a medium escapes quickly when the
door 31 is opened. However, it would also be conceivable to conduct
a liquid medium into the chamber 3, since the pressure medium is
isolated by the container 5 from the liquid medium 7 in the
interior of the container.
[0025] Nitrogen is preferably conducted into the pressure chamber 3
from the source 42, since would not impair the sensitive medium 7
in the interior of the container 5, even in the event of any leaks
in the container. In addition, the inside of the pressure cabinet 1
is not contaminated by this gas.
[0026] The positive pressure acting in the pressure chamber 3 can
be set by a monitoring device in terms of level and in terms of the
pressure variation provided over time. For this purpose, suitable
backing up of the pressure source can be provided. Monitoring of
the pressure chamber 3 can be implemented by a monitoring device
which includes the pressure indicator 41 and the safety valve 43.
The valve prevents a hazardous positive pressure in the pressure
chamber 3 and therefore prevents the door 31 bursting open
undesirably. However, it is particularly important that the medium
7 is discharged from the container 5 only at a defined pressure and
that is non-hazardous for the medium 7 and for its processing.
[0027] The safety valve 43 preferably can be set to a desired
pressure, in order to employ the apparatus readily for various
delivery purposes. For example, when filtering sensitive media, a
filtration pressure of about 0.2 bar is used. Accordingly, the
safety valve 43 must then be set to this pressure, in order to
enable use of the apparatus for filtering.
[0028] In principle, it is therefore possible, by use of an
appropriate monitoring device and with adjustable pressure sources,
to maintain a desired pressure in the pressure chamber 3 or else to
maintain different pressure values at different times. The
apparatus can therefore be employed universally, that is to say not
just for filtering media but for various processing and delivery
purposes, and possibly also as a metering device when administering
medicaments.
[0029] In the embodiment illustrated, the pressure chamber 3 is
designed to accommodate a single container 5. However, it is
possible to subdivide the pressure chamber and to allocate
different pressure values to various regions of the pressure
chamber which are delimited from one another in a pressure-tight
manner, and also possible to accommodate different containers in
these regions.
[0030] It is critical that the medium 7 can be delivered and
discharged from the container 5 without contact. Pressure acting
externally on the flexible container 5 delivers the medium 7 out of
the container 5 via the outlet 9 and the hose 11 and supplies
medium to various intended uses.
[0031] The pressure chamber 3 is not brought into contact with the
medium 7, so that the replacement of containers with different
media is easily possible, without need for a complicated
disinfection process. The media from different containers do not
come into contact with either the interior or the pressure chamber
of the pressure cabinet nor with any appliances connected to the
pressure chamber, here the pressure connection 39, the pressure
indicator 41 or the safety valve 43. If the pressure chamber 3 is
preferably acted on with nitrogen at a positive pressure, it is
possible to ensure that the medium 7 is not impaired, even if the
container 5 should have a leaky point and the pressure medium
should penetrate into the interior of the container 5.
[0032] After all this, it is obvious that the apparatus is
constructed very simply and therefore can operate virtually without
fault. This leads to very safe use of the apparatus described here,
which is of critical importance in particular in the medical
sector.
[0033] In order to be able to employ the apparatus even at very low
positive pressure values, the pressure connection 39 can also be
provided with a pressure reducing valve. This leads to additional
safety if the apparatus, for example, is used in a filtration in
which a positive pressure of only 0.2 bar is desired.
[0034] The requirements for the container 5 are in no way special.
It is possible to use usual sterile disposable bags such as are on
the market. No kind of adaptation of the container is therefore
required during its use in the apparatus described here.
[0035] Even in the case when the medium must to be kept moving
continuously, no special precautions are required here. The
pressure cabinet 1 can be placed on conventional vibrating tables,
which then act on the medium 7 with the vibrating movement. Since
the pressure cabinet 1 is constructed very simply and ruggedly, no
detriment to it are to be expected when a vibrating table is
used.
[0036] Although the present invention has been described in
relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations
and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those
skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present
invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but
only by the appended claims.
* * * * *