Abstract:
An apparatus and system for transferring a liquid, such as a liquid anesthetic, from a reservoir to a machine while minimizing the release of the liquid to the surrounding environment. The apparatus can include a frame member defining a frame passage extending from a first end of the frame member to a second end of the frame member and a nozzle connected to the frame member. The nozzle can be moveable between a first position and a second position relative to the frame member, and include a biasing member connected to the frame member and the nozzle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of the earlier filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/082,624 filed on Jul. 22, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein as if being set forth in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This application discloses an invention which is related, generally and in various embodiments, to a device for supplying a liquid to a machine, such as a vaporizer. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Liquid anesthetics are often packaged in glass bottles and shipped to a location where they may be used to anesthetize a patient undergoing a medical or dental procedure. Such anesthetics may also be used to induce analgesia in a patient undergoing a medical or dental procedure. In order to administer the anesthetic, the contents of the glass bottle are placed in a vaporizer. The vaporizer can vaporize the anesthetic and provide the vaporized anesthetic in a desired amount to the patient. 
         [0004]    Inhalable anesthetics are typically volatile substances with relatively low boiling points and high vapor pressure. Preferably, there is little or no release of anesthetic to the atmosphere during handing. To transfer liquid anesthetic to a vaporizer, however, the bottle containing the vaporizer must be opened. Since it is unwise to expose medical personnel performing a procedure to an anesthetic, and since anesthetics are expensive, devices have been developed to minimize the release of anesthetic from a bottle to the environment surrounding a vaporizer. These devices, however, have failed to effectively minimize the release of anesthetic. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This application discloses an apparatus and system for transferring a liquid, such as an anesthetic, from a reservoir to a machine while effectively minimizing the release of the liquid to the surrounding environment. The apparatus can include a frame member defining a frame passage extending from a first end of the frame member to a second end of the frame member and a nozzle connected to the frame member. The nozzle can be moveable between a first position and a second position relative to the frame member, and can define a plug member configured to block the second end of the frame passage when the nozzle is in the first position. The apparatus can further include a biasing member connected to the frame member and the nozzle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a reservoir and a closing mechanism for connecting the reservoir to a vaporizer. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a vaporizer receiving station and closing mechanism according to an alignable opening embodiment of the invention in a closed position, and  FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in  FIG. 2A . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a vaporizer receiving station and a closing mechanism according to an alignable opening embodiment of the invention in an open position, and  FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in  FIG. 3A . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a vaporizer receiving station and a closing mechanism according to a sealing disk embodiment of the invention in a closed position, and  FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in  FIG. 4A . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a vaporizer receiving station and a closing mechanism according to a sealing disk embodiment of the invention in an open position, and  FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in  FIG. 5A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]    The accompanying drawings are intended to provide further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of the description of the invention. The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description illustrate principles of the invention. 
         [0012]    The drawings should not be taken as implying any necessary limitation on the essential scope of invention. The drawings are given by way of non-limitative example to explain the nature of the invention. 
         [0013]    For a more complete understanding of the instant invention reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings. 
         [0014]    The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out specifically in the claims which are a part of this description. For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of invention. 
         [0015]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the referred views,  FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of an apparatus  10  which may hold a liquid such as a volatile anesthetic. The apparatus  10  may include a reservoir  13  which can be a glass bottle or any other container capable of containing a liquid. At its top, the reservoir  13  includes an opening  16  through which liquid anesthetic may be transferred from the reservoir  13  to the apparatus  22 , and ultimately to the machine  19 . The apparatus may include a closing mechanism  22  connecting a reservoir  13  to a machine  19  ( FIGS. 2A-5B ). In this embodiment, the machine  19  is a vaporizer that dispenses anesthetic to a person undergoing a medical procedure and the apparatus  22  is a closing mechanism connecting the vaporizer  19  the reservoir  13  for selectively allowing the volatile anesthetic to leave the reservoir. 
         [0016]      FIGS. 2A-3B  provide views of a closing mechanism  22  according to an alignable opening embodiment of the invention for selectively allowing liquid to transfer from a reservoir  13  to a vaporizer  19 . The closing mechanism  22  includes a frame member  28  and a nozzle  25  which are moveable relative to each other. In embodiments of the invention, a portion of the nozzle  25  overlaps with and forms a seal with a portion of the frame  28 . The nozzle and the frame  28  may each include openings  31 ,  34 . The nozzle  25  is connected to the frame member  28 , and the nozzle is moveable between a first position ( FIGS. 2A-2B ) and a second position ( FIGS. 3A-3B ) relative to the frame member  28 . In the first position ( FIGS. 2A-2B ) of the nozzle in which the openings  31  in the nozzle  25  are aligned with the openings  34  in the frame  28 , the passage of liquid within the closing mechanism  22  is prevented. In the second position ( FIGS. 3A-3B ) in which the nozzle openings  31  are not aligned with the frame openings  34  passage of liquid within the closing mechanism  22  is allowed. 
         [0017]    In this embodiment, the frame member  28  may be screwed to the reservoir  13  and held to the reservoir via an adhesive or by connected any other commonly known method such as methods allowing removal of the frame  28  and nozzle  25  from the reservoir  13  such as, for example, a threaded surface, a self-locking snap ring, or a crimped ring. In this manner, the closing mechanism  22  and reservoir  13  may be cleaned and reused. 
         [0018]    A biasing member  40  can be connected at one end to a base  12  of the frame member  28  and at the opposite end to the nozzle  25 . The biasing member  40  can be a spring, such as a torsion spring. As will be discussed in greater detail below, the biasing member  40  can apply a biasing force between the frame member  28  and the nozzle  25  so that the nozzle openings  31  are not aligned with the frame openings  34  to prevent the flow of a liquid. In this manner the anesthetic can not escape unless a force is applied to counter the force imposed by the torsion spring  40 . 
         [0019]    The nozzle  25  may include activation extensions  43 . The nozzle  25  and extensions may fit into channels  46  provided by the receiving stations  37  of the vaporizer  19 . To insert the nozzle  25  into the receiving station  37 , the activation extensions  43  are aligned with the openings  31 ,  34 , and the reservoir  13  is pushed toward the receiving station  37 . Once the nozzle  25  is pushed by the reservoir  13  into the receiving station  37 , the reservoir  13 , including the attached frame  28 , may be rotated while the receiving station  37  prevents the nozzle  25  from rotating to the same extent as the frame  28 . In doing so, the frame openings  34  are allowed to align with the nozzle openings  31 , thereby allowing anesthetic to leave the reservoir  13  through the nozzle  25  and enter the receiving station  37 . By sizing the channels  46  properly, one or more sealing surfaces  49  of the nozzle  25  may be brought into contact with one or more sealing surfaces  52  of the receiving station  37  before the openings  31 ,  34  are aligned to allow anesthetic to leave the reservoir  13 . 
         [0020]    Channels  46  in the receiving station  37  may be sized to accept the activation extensions  43  as the nozzle  25  is inserted into the receiving station  37 . When the nozzle  25  has been inserted to a desired extent, the channels  46  may permit the activation extensions  43  to rotate slightly as the reservoir  13  is rotated, so that each activation extension  43  contacts an abutment  55  at the end of each channel  46 . The abutment prevents the activation extensions  43  from further rotating as the reservoir  13  continues to rotate, thereby aligning the opening  31 ,  34  only after the activation extensions  43  are against the abutment  55 . If the activation extensions  43  are allowed to rotate slightly in the channels  46  before contacting the abutments  55 , the nozzle  25  may be held within the receiving station  37  until the nozzle  25  is rotated in the opposite direction. When the nozzle  25  is held within the receiving station  37 , the device is prevented from being removed from the receiving station while the openings  31 ,  34  are aligned. The channels  46  may be any suitable shape. In embodiments of the invention, each channel  46  is L-shaped. 
         [0021]    Once a desired amount of the anesthetic has been emptied from the reservoir  13  to the vaporizer  19 , the reservoir  13  may be rotated in the opposite direction from that which aligned the openings  31 ,  34 , and while the torsion spring  40  applies a force, the activation extensions  43  will be held against the abutments  55 . Ultimately, the nozzle openings  31  will come out of alignment with the frame openings  34  as the reservoir  13  is rotated in that opposite direction. At about the same time the frame openings  34  are in the non-aligned position, the torsions spring  40  will no longer exert a force to hold the activation extensions  43  against the abutments  55 , and the nozzle  25  may be allowed to rotate to the same extent as reservoir  13 , and the activation extensions  43  may be removed from the channels  46 . 
         [0022]    In this fashion, the closing mechanism  22  will prevent anesthetic from leaving the reservoir  13  unless the activation extension  43  are engaged with the receiving station  37 . By doing so, medical personnel will be protected from exposure to the anesthetic while the anesthetic is transferred to the vaporizer  19 . 
         [0023]    In other various embodiments of the device including the sealing disk embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4A-5B , a sealing disk  58  is provide in lieu of nozzle openings  31  that align with frame openings  34 . As in the first embodiment, the nozzle is moveable between a first position ( FIGS. 4A-4B ) and a second position ( FIGS. 5A-5B ) relative to the frame member  28 . In the first position ( FIGS. 4A-4B ) of the nozzle the torsion spring  40  biases the relative positions of the frame  28  and nozzle  25  to keep the sealing disk  58  against a sealing surface  61  when no forces counter the spring force, the passage of liquid within the closing mechanism  22  is prevented. In the second position ( FIGS. 5A-5B ), rotation of the frame  28  relative to the nozzle  25  causes the sealing disk  58  to move away from the sealing surface  61  in order to allow anesthetic to leave the reservoir  13  via the nozzle  25 . 
         [0024]    It is to be understood that the descriptions of the invention have been simplified to illustrate characteristics that are relevant for a clear understanding of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that other elements or steps are desirable or required in implementing the invention. However, because such elements or steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the invention, a discussion of such elements or steps is not provided herein. The disclosure herein is directed to all such variations and modifications to such elements and methods known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0025]    It is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in this specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
         [0026]    Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be regarded as falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims that follow.