Patent Number: 044973497
Section: description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The dispenser as shown in the drawing includes a housing 10 with a steel sleeve 11 positioned about a lead shield 12, a ring 13, a cap 14, and a cover 15. The lead shield 12 has a cavity 20 which is closed at the bottom and open at the top. The ring 13 typically is of steel and preferably is a press fit into the upper end of the sleeve 11, with the cap 14 being removably attached to the ring 13 by a plurality of screws 21. The cap 14 typically also is made of steel, with the cover 15 preferably formed of lead with a steel outer covering for mechanical protection. The cover 15 is a push fit on the sleeve 11. A glass ampule 25 is positioned within the cavity 20, with an outlet line or neck 26 of the ampule clamped between the two halves 27, 28 of a split collar by guide pins 29. The split collar 27, 28 slides in the cavity 20, with an upper rim 32 of the collar fitting in a mating recess in the ring 13. The collar provides for ease of insertion and removal of the ampule, and also serves to position the main body of the ampule within the cavity 20 and spaced from the inner walls of the shield 12, thereby reducing the likelihood of breakage of the ampule. Also the collar serves to hold the mouth at the end of the neck 26 against the cap 14. A syringe 35 is attached to the housing, as by a band 36, with the syringe outlet connected to a passage 37 in the shield 12 by a line 38. The passage 37 communicates with the mouth of the outlet line 26 of the ampule through passages 39 in the ring 13 and 40 in the cap 14. Another passage 41 in the cap 14 also communicates with the mouth of the ampule outlet line. A hollow needle 50 may be positioned in the passage 41 and in the outlet line 26. A three-way valve 52 is positioned in a cap 53 which is threaded onto a hub 54 carried at the upper end of the needle 50. A filter may be positioned between the cap 53 and hub 54 if desired. The valve 52 provides for directing flow between the needle 50 and outlet 55, or between the needle 50 and outlet 56, or for blocking flow from the needle. A small cap 60 is threaded onto the upper end of the cap 14 for holding an O-ring seal 61 which engages the needle 50 in sealing relation. Another O-ring seal 62 may be positioned in a recess in the ring 13 for sealing engagement about the flow path between the ring 13 and cap 14. Another O-ring 63 may be positioned in a groove at the seat of the cap 14 for sealing engagement with the mouth of the ampule. In operation, the ampule is clamped between the halves 27, 28 of the split collar. The ampule is then inserted into the cavity 20 as shown in FIG. 2. The cap 14 is placed over the ampule and fastened in place by the screws 21, and the cover 15 is placed in position as shown in FIG. 2. The syringe 35 is charged with the desired liquid. The needle with the valve in the closed position is inserted through the cap 14 into the outlet line 26 of the ampule, and is pushed downward to break the internal seal 70 of the ampule. The gas in the ampule is at a pressure below ambient, that is, there is a vacuum in the ampule. Hence when the seal 70 is broken, the liquid in the syringe flows through line 38 and passages 37, 39 and 40 into the interior of the ampule, and the gas originally in the ampule dissolves into the liquid, forming the desired solution. The solution is now ready for dispensing and may be withdrawn by connecting a syringe or line or otherwise as desired to one of the outlets 55, 56 and appropriately actuating the valve. With this arrangement, mixing of the gas and liquid is accomplished within the ampule. Also, small quantities of solution can be prepared, and portions of the solution can be withdrawn for use as desired. As solution is withdrawn, saline in the ampule may be replenished from the syringe 35.