U.S. patent application number 13/564821 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-08 for filling system for an anesthetic dispenser.
This patent application is currently assigned to Drager Medical GmbH. The applicant listed for this patent is Michael HEIDSCHMIDT, Thomas LUTTER, Franz MAIR. Invention is credited to Michael HEIDSCHMIDT, Thomas LUTTER, Franz MAIR.
Application Number | 20130199664 13/564821 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48407671 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130199664 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MAIR; Franz ; et
al. |
August 8, 2013 |
FILLING SYSTEM FOR AN ANESTHETIC DISPENSER
Abstract
A filling system for an anesthetic dispenser has an improved
anesthetic-specific code. The adapter neck of the cylinder adapter
has polygonally arranged outer surfaces (7, 71) as
anesthetic-specific code. A filling device for anesthetics at the
anesthetic dispenser has a filler neck for receiving the adapter
neck, and polygonally arranged inner surfaces (27, 271) are formed
as an anesthetic-specific code at the filler neck, which are
designed corresponding to the outer surfaces (7, 71). At least one
inner surface (271) has a projection (272) projecting from the
inner surface, and at least one outer surface (71) has a depression
(72) designed corresponding to the projection (272).
Inventors: |
MAIR; Franz; (Lubeck,
DE) ; LUTTER; Thomas; (Lubeck, DE) ;
HEIDSCHMIDT; Michael; (Lubeck, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MAIR; Franz
LUTTER; Thomas
HEIDSCHMIDT; Michael |
Lubeck
Lubeck
Lubeck |
|
DE
DE
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Drager Medical GmbH
Lubeck
DE
|
Family ID: |
48407671 |
Appl. No.: |
13/564821 |
Filed: |
August 2, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/18 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 2205/6045 20130101;
A61M 16/183 20130101; B65B 3/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/18 |
International
Class: |
B65B 3/04 20060101
B65B003/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 2, 2012 |
DE |
10 2012 001 965.3 |
Claims
1. An anesthetic dispenser filling system comprising: a cylinder
adapter with an adapter neck, said cylinder adapter being provided
at a storage tank for liquid anesthetic; polygonally arranged outer
surfaces at said adapter neck as an anesthetic-specific code at the
cylinder adapter; an anesthetic dispenser; a filling device for
anesthetic with a filler neck for receiving said adapter neck, said
filling device being at said anesthetic dispenser; and polygonally
arranged inner surfaces, as an anesthetic-specific code at said
filler neck, said polygonally arranged inner surfaces being
designed corresponding to said polygonally arranged outer surfaces,
wherein at least one of said polygonally arranged inner surfaces
has a projection projecting from the inner surface and at least one
of said polygonally arranged outer surfaces has a depression
designed corresponding to said projection.
2. A filling system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
polygonally arranged inner surfaces and outer surfaces provide a
generally polygon shape designed corresponding to as a regular
n-sided polygon.
3. A filling system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said
polygonally arranged inner surfaces and outer surfaces provide a
generally polygon shape with sides corresponding to one of a
hexagon, a pentagon, a heptagon or an octagon.
4. A filling system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said
projection of said at least one inner surface comprises a
pin-shaped component and said depression at said at least one outer
surface comprises a groove corresponding to said pin-shaped
component.
5. A filling system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said
projection of said at least one inner surface is a convex contour
and said depression of said at least one outer surface is an
inwardly directed contour designed corresponding to said convex
contour.
6. A filling system in accordance with claim 5, wherein all of said
inner surfaces have a convex contour and all of said outer surfaces
have an inwardly directed contour designed corresponding to said
convex contour.
7. A filling system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said convex
contour and said inwardly directed contour are designed as a
curvature in a radial direction of said polygonally arranged outer
surfaces and said polygonally arranged inner surfaces and that no
curvature is present at right angles thereto.
8. A cylinder adapter for filling an anesthetic dispenser, cylinder
adapter comprising an adapter neck; and polygonally arranged outer
surfaces at the adapter neck as an anesthetic-specific code of the
cylinder adapter, wherein at least one of said outer surfaces has
an inwardly directed contour.
9. A cylinder adapter in accordance with claim 7, wherein all of
said outer surfaces have an inwardly directed contour.
10. A cylinder adapter in accordance with claim 8, wherein said
contour comprises a curvature in a radial direction of said
polygonally arranged outer surfaces and that no curvature is
present at right angles thereto.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119 of German Patent Application DE 10 2012 001 965.3
filed Feb. 2, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention pertains to a filling system for an
anesthetic dispenser.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A filling system of this type is known from DE 10 2004 061
392 B3 (and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 7,168,467 B2). A cylinder
adapter, which is designed for connection to a storage tank for
liquid anesthetic, has an anesthetic-specific code on the adapter
neck in the form of an outer polygon. An inner polygon, which has a
shape corresponding to that of the outer polygon, is provided on
the filling device at the anesthetic evaporator.
[0004] A cylinder adapter, which establishes the connection between
the storage tank for liquid anesthetic and the filling device at
the anesthetic evaporator, is necessary in the filling device known
from U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,016 B1. A threaded sleeve, which has two
grooves for receiving an index collar arranged on the neck of the
storage tank, is provided at the cylinder-side end of the cylinder
adapter. The index collar has an anesthetic-specific design, so
that only the cylinder adapter fitting the storage tank can be
screwed onto the thread of the cylinder.
[0005] An anesthetic-specific code in the form of two projections,
which are arranged angularly offset in relation to one another and
which mesh with corresponding recesses on the filling neck of the
filling device, are likewise provided on the adapter neck of the
cylinder adapter.
[0006] The outlet pipe of the cylinder adapter is closed by means
of a spring-loaded adapter valve, so that no anesthetic vapor can
escape into the environment. A corresponding filling valve is
provided at the filling device. A stationary rod, which has such a
length that the adapter valve can be opened when the adapter neck
is inserted into the filler neck of the filling device, is located
in the middle of the filler neck of the filling device. The
interaction between the cylinder adapter and the filling device is
designed such that the filling valve opens first and the adapter
valve thereafter. Liquid anesthetic can then flow from the storage
tank into the tank of the anesthetic evaporator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A basic object of the present invention is to provide an
improved anesthetic-specific code for a filling system of the type
mentioned and for a cylinder adapter.
[0008] According to the invention, an anesthetic dispenser filling
system is provided comprising a cylinder adapter with an adapter
neck. The cylinder adapter is provided at a storage tank for liquid
anesthetic. Polygonally arranged outer surfaces are provided at the
adapter neck as an anesthetic-specific code at the cylinder
adapter. The system also comprises an anesthetic dispenser. A
filling device for anesthetic with a filler neck for receiving the
adapter neck is provided at the anesthetic dispenser. Polygonally
arranged inner surfaces, as an anesthetic-specific code at the
filler neck, are provided that are designed corresponding to the
polygonally arranged outer surfaces. At least one of the
polygonally arranged inner surfaces has a projection projecting
from the inner surface and at least one of the polygonally arranged
outer surfaces has a depression designed corresponding to the
projection.
[0009] The polygonally arranged inner surfaces and outer surfaces
may provide a generally polygon shape designed corresponding to as
a regular n-sided polygon. The polygonally arranged inner surfaces
and outer surfaces may provide a generally polygon shape that has
sides corresponding to one of a hexagon, a pentagon, a heptagon or
an octagon.
[0010] The projection of the at least one inner surface may
comprise a pin-shaped component and the depression at the at least
one outer surface may comprise a groove corresponding to the
pin-shaped component. The projection of the at least one inner
surface may be a convex contour and the depression of the at least
one outer surface may be an inwardly directed contour designed
corresponding to the convex contour.
[0011] All of the inner surfaces may have a convex contour and all
of the outer surfaces have an inwardly directed contour designed
corresponding to the convex contour. The inwardly directed contour
may be designed as a curvature in a radial direction of the
polygonally arranged outer surfaces and the polygonally arranged
inner surfaces wherein no curvature is present at right angles
thereto.
[0012] According to another aspect of the invention, a cylinder
adapter is provided for filling an anesthetic dispenser. The
cylinder adapter comprises an adapter neck and polygonally arranged
outer surfaces at the adapter neck as an anesthetic-specific code
of the cylinder adapter. At least one of the outer surfaces has an
inwardly directed contour.
[0013] All of the outer surfaces may have an inwardly directed
contour. The contour may comprise a curvature in a radial direction
of the polygonally arranged outer surfaces wherein there is no
curvature present at right angles thereto.
[0014] The anesthetic-specific code is prepared in such a manner
that polygonally arranged outer surfaces on the adapter neck of the
cylinder adapter are present and the filling device has polygonally
shaped inner surfaces designed correspondingly thereto. At least
one of the inner surfaces is provided with a projection in the form
of a lug or a convex contour and at least one of the outer surfaces
has a depression adapted to the projection. This depression is
designed such that the cylinder adapter can be inserted into the
filling device when the at least one inner surface is in contact
with the at least one outer surface. It is within the scope of the
present invention that each of the inner surfaces has a projection
and each of the outer surfaces has a depression or contraction
designed correspondingly thereto. No special preferential position
needs to be maintained for this case for inserting the cylinder
adapter into the filling device, but the insertion position can be
found by slightly rotating the cylinder adapter. The convex contour
is especially advantageously designed as a convex arch.
[0015] The polygonal arrangement of the outer surfaces and inner
surfaces is preferably embodied in the form of a regular n-sided
polygon. A 5-sided polygon is thus used for sevoflurane, a 6-sided
polygon for isoflurane, and an 8-sided polygon for halothane.
[0016] The convex contour on the inner surface and outer surface is
designed such that it is a curvature in the radial direction of the
polygon and no curvature is present at right angles thereto.
[0017] The scope of protection expressly covers cylinder adapters
that have the code according to the present invention. The cylinder
adapters can now be screwed onto the storage tank or especially
preferably they can be firmly connected to the storage tank for
liquid anesthetic or the cylinder adapter is fastened to the
storage tank by means of a flange connection.
[0018] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in
the figure and will be explained in more detail below. The various
features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed
out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part
of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,
its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses,
reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive
matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are
illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cylinder adapter according
to the invention and corresponding to the embodiments of FIGS. 5
and 6 wherein the view shows polygonally arranged outer surfaces,
showing a side with the flat outer surfaces corresponding to the
state of the art, wherein the at least one outer surface with a
depression is at a side opposite the side being viewed;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cylinder
adapter according to FIG. 1 and corresponding to the embodiments of
FIGS. 5 and 6 wherein the view shows polygonally arranged outer
surfaces, showing a side with the flat outer surfaces corresponding
to the state of the art, wherein the at least one outer surface
with the depression is at a side opposite the side being
viewed;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a filling device according
to the invention and corresponding to the embodiments of FIGS. 5
and 6 wherein the view shows polygonally arranged inner surfaces,
showing a side with the flat inner surfaces corresponding to the
state of the art, wherein the at least one inner surface with a
projection is at a side opposite the side being viewed;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of the filling device
according to FIG. 3 and corresponding to the embodiments of FIGS. 5
and 6 wherein the view shows polygonally arranged inner surfaces,
showing a side with the flat inner surfaces corresponding to the
state of the art, wherein the at least one inner surface with the
projection is at a side opposite the side being viewed;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a first code with
polygonally arranged surfaces including the at least one inner
surface with the projection and the at least one outer surface with
the depression;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a second code with
polygonally arranged surfaces including the at least one inner
surface with the projection and the at least one outer surface with
the depression;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a third code with
polygonally arranged surfaces including the all of the inner
surfaces with projections and all of the outer surfaces with
depressions;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Referring to the drawings in particular, FIG. 1 shows a
perspective view of a cylinder adapter 1, which has a threaded
sleeve 2 on the underside for screwing onto a storage tank for
liquid anesthetic, not shown specifically in FIG. 1. On its
cylinder collar, the storage tank has an anesthetic-specific index
collar, which is inserted into mounting grooves 3 of the threaded
sleeve 2. Thus, only one cylinder adapter 1 belonging to the
anesthetic can be screwed onto the storage tank. The screwing
motion is facilitated here by recessed grips 4 above the threaded
sleeve 2. An adapter neck 5 with an O-ring 6 and polygonally
arranged outer surfaces 7 for the anesthetic-specific code as well
as an outlet pipe 8 with radially extending slots 9 are located at
the upper end of the cylinder adapter 1. The upper side 10 of the
pipe is designed as a star-shaped body 11. The code comprises
polygonally arranged surfaces 7/71 including the at least one outer
surface 71 with the depression wherein only the flat outer surfaces
7, corresponding to the state of the art are viewable in FIG.
1.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows the cylinder adapter 1 according to FIG. 1 in a
longitudinal section. Identical components are designated by the
same reference numbers as in FIG. 1. A shut-off valve 12 with a
valve piston 13, with a ring body 14 on the upper side of the valve
piston 13 and with a valve spring 15, which is prestressed by means
of a support plate 16 and pushes the valve piston 13 against a
sealing surface 131, is located within the cylinder adapter 1.
Support plate 16 is held within the cylinder adapter 1 by a support
cage 17. A sealing ring 18, which lies on the cylinder neck of the
storage tank, not shown in the figures, is fastened to the
underside of the support cage 17. Support plate 16 contains holes
19, via which the gas and liquid exchange takes place. The surfaces
7/71 generally provide a polygonal shape is of an
anesthetic-specific design. Thus, a 5-sided generally polygonal
shape is used for sevoflurane, a 6-sided generally polygonal shape
for isoflurane, and an 8-sided generally polygonal shape for
halothane.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a filling device 20 for
anesthetic at an anesthetic dispenser 21. The filling device 20 has
a filler neck 22 with a cylindrical sealing surface 23, an inner
lead-in bevel 24 at the upper part of the filler neck 22, a spoked
wheel 25 with radially inwardly pointing rods 26, polygonally
arranged inner surfaces 27 for the anesthetic-specific code and a
filling valve 28. FIG. 3 shows the code with polygonally arranged
surfaces including the at least one inner surface with the
projection wherein only the flat inner surfaces 27 corresponding to
the state of the art are viewable in FIG. 3.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section of the filling device
20. Identical components are designated by the same reference
numbers as in FIG. 3. Filling valve 28 comprises a valve plate 29
at a valve guide rod 30, which is received in a hole 31 of the
dispenser housing 32 such that it can perform strokes. The upper
side 33 of the valve plate 29 is pressed by means of a valve spring
34 against a sealing crater 35 of the filling valve 28. A guide
ring 36 is connected to the valve plate 29 and is displaceable
together with valve plate 29.
[0030] The filling system operates as follows:
[0031] When the cylinder adapter 1 is inserted into the filling
device 20, the O-ring 6 first slides over the lead-in bevel 24 and
is in contact with the sealing surface 23 of filler neck 22. The
outer surfaces 7 come to mesh in the further course with the inner
surfaces 27 and the cylinder adapter 1 is centered as a result in
relation to the filling device 20. The rods 26 are then located in
the slots 9 of the outlet pipe 8 and the outlet pipe 8 enters the
area of guide ring 36.
[0032] By a pressure being applied to the cylinder adapter 1, the
upper side 10 of the pipe of the cylinder adapter is in contact
with the upper side 37 of the guide ring 36 and the filling valve
28 opens. The adapter valve 12 is still closed. If the pressure on
the cylinder adapter 1 is increased further, valve plate 29 is
displaced against the force of the valve spring 34 further downward
and the rods 26 touch the ring body 14 of the valve body 13, as a
result of which the adapter valve 12 opens. Anesthetic is now
flowing via the holes 19 of the support plate 16 into the tank of
the anesthetic evaporator 21 and, as in communicating vessels, gas
returns from the tank into the storage tank via the holes 19.
[0033] When ending the filling operation, the adapter valve 12
closes at first, so that possible residual quantities of anesthetic
within the filler neck 22 can flow off into the tank of the
anesthetic evaporator 21. The filling valve 28 is then closed and
the cylinder adapter 1 can be removed from the filler neck 22.
[0034] FIG. 5 schematically shows a first embodiment 100 of the
code according to the present invention, and only the cooperation
of the polygonally arranged outer surfaces 7 on the cylinder
adapter 1 and the polygonally shaped inner surfaces 27 on the
filling device 20 is shown. A first outer surface 71, being a
partial surface of the outer surfaces 7, has an inwardly directed
arch 72, and a first inner surface 271 designed correspondingly
thereto has a convex arch 272. When the first outer surface 71 is
aligned with the first inner surface 271, cylinder adapter 1 can be
pushed into the filling device 20.
[0035] Unlike in the first embodiment according to FIG. 5, a
pin-shaped component 273 is present at the first inner surface 271
in a second embodiment 200 shown in FIG. 6, and the first outer
surface 71 has a groove 73 designed correspondingly thereto.
[0036] In a third embodiment 300 according to FIG. 7, all inner
surfaces 27 have a convex arch 272 and all outer surfaces 7 are
provided with the inwardly directed arch 72. Unlike in the first
embodiment 100 with an arched partial surface, no special
preferential position is needed in the third embodiment 300 for
inserting the cylinder adapter 1 into the filling device 20.
[0037] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown
and described in detail to illustrate the application of the
principles of the invention, it will be understood that the
invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such
principles.
* * * * *