국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0949104
(2007-12-03)
|
등록번호 |
US-8550308
(2013-10-08)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Py, Daniel
- Tulley, Brian
- Willey, Jeff
- Assion, Norbert
- Houle, Nathaniel
- Chan, Julian
- He, Bing
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Medical Instill Technologies, Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
116 |
초록
▼
An apparatus for storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of a stored fluid therefrom. The apparatus comprises a container defining a variable-volume storage chamber for receiving therein the fluid and a dispensing valve including a valve inlet coupled in fluid communication with the variable
An apparatus for storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of a stored fluid therefrom. The apparatus comprises a container defining a variable-volume storage chamber for receiving therein the fluid and a dispensing valve including a valve inlet coupled in fluid communication with the variable volume storage chamber, and a valve member in fluid communication with the valve inlet and defining a normally-closed valve opening. The valve member is responsive to fluid at the valve inlet exceeding a valve opening pressure to move between (i) a normally closed position, and (ii) an open position permitting fluid flow through the valve opening. The dispensing valve defines a dispensing axis defining a direction substantially along which fluid is dispensed from the valve, and further includes an outlet surface over which dispensed fluid flows oriented at an acute angle relative to the dispensing axis for preventing the collection of residual dispensed fluid thereon.
대표청구항
▼
1. An apparatus for storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of the stored fluid therefrom, comprising: a container defining a variable-volume storage chamber for receiving therein the fluid;a one-way dispensing valve including a valve inlet coupled in fluid communication with the variable vol
1. An apparatus for storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of the stored fluid therefrom, comprising: a container defining a variable-volume storage chamber for receiving therein the fluid;a one-way dispensing valve including a valve inlet coupled in fluid communication with the variable volume storage chamber, a valve member in fluid communication with the valve inlet and defining a normally-closed valve opening, wherein the valve member is responsive to fluid at the valve inlet exceeding a valve opening pressure to move between (i) a normally closed position, and (ii) an open position permitting fluid flow through the valve opening, and wherein the one-way dispensing valve defines a dispensing axis defining a direction substantially along which fluid is dispensed from the one-way dispensing valve, and the valve further includes an outlet surface over which dispensed fluid that has exited the valve opening flows oriented at an acute angle relative to the dispensing axis, wherein the outlet surface further defines a lower edge, and the lower edge has a substantially single lowermost portion of the lower edge, configured to prevent collection of residual dispensed fluid on the outlet surface; anda pump coupled between the variable-volume storage chamber and one-way dispensing valve for pumping fluid from the variable-volume storage chamber through the one-way dispensing valve. 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a check valve coupled in fluid communication between the pump and the variable-volume storage chamber and allowing the flow of fluid therethrough in the direction from the variable-volume storage chamber into the pump. 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the pump includes a compressible member defining a compression chamber coupled in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber and the one-way dispensing valve and movable between (i) a first position wherein the compression chamber defines a first volume, and (ii) a second position wherein the compression chamber defines a second volume less than the first volume, wherein movement of the compressible member from the first position to the second position pressurizes fluid in the compression chamber above the valve opening pressure and moves the valve member to the open position to dispense fluid therethrough. 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the compressible member stores sufficient energy when moving from the first position to the second position to drive the compressible member from the second position back to the first position. 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, further comprising a pump inlet tube coupled in fluid communication between the variable-volume storage chamber and the compression chamber and a pump outlet tube coupled in fluid communication between the compression chamber and the one-way dispensing valve. 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a housing receiving therein the variable-volume storage chamber. 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the one-way dispensing valve is disposable outside of the housing. 8. An apparatus as defined claim 6, wherein the one-way dispensing valve is movable between (i) a storage position located at least partially within the housing, and (ii) a dispensing position located at least partially outside of the housing. 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, further comprising a manually engageable actuator mounted on a housing, drivingly coupled to the compressible member, and movable with the compressible member between the first and second positions. 10. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the one-way dispensing valve includes a valve body defining a valve seat and at least one flow aperture extending through at least one of the valve body and valve seat; and wherein the valve member overlies the valve seat, and is movable radially between the normally closed position with the valve member engaging the valve seat, and the open position with at least a segment of the valve member spaced radially away from the valve seat to connect the valve opening in fluid communication with the at least one flow aperture and thereby allow the passage of fluid from the at least one flow aperture through the valve opening. 11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the valve body defines the outlet surface orientated at an acute angle relative to the dispensing axis. 12. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a sterile fluid received within the storage chamber, and wherein the variable-volume storage chamber and one-way dispensing valve maintain the fluid within the storage chamber sterile and hermetically sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere throughout storage and dispensing of fluid through the one-way dispensing valve. 13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the fluid is at least one of a milk-containing fluid, soy-containing fluid, non-dairy creamer, baby formula, low-acid fluid, and dairy-based fluid. 14. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a manually engageable actuator operatively coupled to the pump for manually actuating the pump and pumping fluid through the one-way dispensing valve. 15. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the one-way dispensing valve further includes a dispensing tip defining the single lowermost portion of the lower edge of the outlet surface. 16. An apparatus for storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of the stored fluid therefrom, comprising: first means defining a variable-volume storage chamber for receiving therein the fluid;second means for controlling the flow of fluid dispensed from the first means, wherein the second means includes an inlet coupled in fluid communication with the variable volume storage chamber, third means in fluid communication with the inlet and defining a normally-closed opening, wherein the third means is responsive to fluid at the valve inlet exceeding an opening pressure to move between (i) a normally closed position, and (ii) an open position permitting fluid flow through the third means, and wherein the second means defines a dispensing axis defining a direction substantially along which fluid is dispensed from the second means, and the second means further includes fourth means over which dispensed fluid that has exited the opening flows oriented at an acute angle relative to the dispensing axis, wherein the fourth means defines a lower edge, and the lower edge has a substantially single lowermost portion of the lower edge, configured to prevent collection of residual dispensed fluid on the fourth means; andfifth means coupled between the variable-volume storage chamber and the second means for moving fluid from the variable volume storage chamber through the second means. 17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, further comprising sixth means for operatively engaging the fifth means, wherein the fifth means includes a compressible member defining a compression chamber coupled in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber and the second means and movable in response to movement of the sixth means between (i) a first position wherein the compression chamber defines a first volume, and (ii) a second position wherein the compression chamber defines a second volume less than the first volume, wherein movement of the compressible member from the first position to the second position pressurizes fluid in the compression chamber above the opening pressure and moves the third means to the open position to dispense fluid therethrough. 18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the first means is a container, the second means is a one-way valve, the third means is an elastic valve member, the fourth means is an outlet surface of the one-way valve over which dispensed fluid flows, the fifth means is a pump, and the sixth means is a manually engageable actuator. 19. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, further comprising a sterile fluid received within the variable-volume storage chamber that is at least one of a milk-containing fluid, soy-containing fluid, non-dairy creamer, baby formula, low-acid fluid, and dairy-based fluid, and wherein the variable-volume storage chamber and the second means maintain the fluid within the storage chamber sterile and hermetically sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere throughout storage and dispensing of fluid through the second means. 20. An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein the first means is a container, the second means is a one-way valve, the third means is an elastic valve member, the fourth means is an outlet surface of the one-way valve over which dispensed fluid flows and the fifth means is a pump. 21. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the outlet surface forms an exterior surface of the one-way dispensing valve. 22. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the first means is a container, the second means is a one-way valve, the third means is an elastic valve member, the fourth means is an outlet surface of the one-way valve over which dispensed fluid flows, and the fifth means is a pump. 23. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the fourth means forms an exterior surface of the second means. 24. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the variable-volume storage chamber is sealed with respect to the ambient atmosphere. 25. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the first means is sealed with respect to the ambient atmosphere. 26. An apparatus for storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of the stored fluid therefrom, comprising: a container defining a variable-volume storage chamber for receiving therein the fluid;a one-way dispensing valve including a valve body defining a valve inlet coupled in fluid communication with the variable volume storage chamber, a valve seat, and at least one flow aperture extending through at least one of the valve body and valve seat, and a valve member in fluid communication with the valve inlet and defining a normally-closed valve opening, wherein the valve member is responsive to fluid at the valve inlet exceeding a valve opening pressure to move between (i) a normally closed position, and (ii) an open position connecting the valve opening in fluid communication with the at least one flow aperture and thereby permitting fluid flow from the at least one flow aperture through the valve opening, and wherein the one-way dispensing valve defines a dispensing axis defining a direction substantially along which fluid is dispensed from the one-way dispensing valve, and the valve further includes an outlet surface over which dispensed fluid that has exited the valve opening flows oriented at an acute angle relative to the dispensing axis, wherein the outlet surface further defines a substantially single lowermost portion thereof, configured to prevent collection of residual dispensed fluid on the outlet surface; anda pump coupled between the variable-volume storage chamber and one-way dispensing valve for pumping fluid from the variable-volume storage chamber through the one-way dispensing valve.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.