Abstract:
A syringe filling apparatus having a housing, a fluid reservoir, and a port for providing a fluid pathway between the syringe and the fluid reservoir. The apparatus has an alarm to indicate the fluid level within the reservoir.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to dental and medical devices for delivering fluids and more specifically to devices for filling devices for fluid delivery. 
         [0002]    When delivering fluids for use in dental or medical situations, care is generally taken so that a precise amount of fluid is used and delivered during a procedure, whether the fluid is a medicine, an antiseptic, water, or other fluid. Devices, such as syringes, are metered so that an accurate amount of fluid will be delivered and/or an accurate amount of fluid will be introduced into the syringe. 
         [0003]    Unless a syringe is prepackaged with a specific fluid, the specific fluid is usually stored in a container that holds much more fluid than is needed for an individual dose or syringe, with the fluid being transferred to the syringe from the container. Care must be taken when filling the syringe, to minimize the amount of fluid that may spill when filling the syringe and to make sure that the syringe is precisely filled. Care must also be taken to insure that the larger container of fluid is not contaminated when fluid is transferred from the larger container to the syringe. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides an apparatus for filling individual syringes from a reservoir of fluid that may incorporate a larger container of fluid. The device generally comprises a housing, a reservoir, and a port connected to the reservoir, which is designed to receive a syringe or similar device. The reservoir preferably is connected to a fluid container, as well. The port provides a fluid tight seal that prevents fluid from exiting the port, unless connected to the syringe. 
         [0005]    The present invention is arranged to minimize potential contamination of the fluid within the reservoir and/or the container connected to the reservoir before the fluid is transferred to the syringe. 
         [0006]    The present invention also provides an arrangement to alert the user when a predetermined amount of fluid is left in the reservoir, so that a user may refill the reservoir, or replace the fluid container that is fed into the reservoir, as desired. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of a filling apparatus according to the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the housing of the apparatus depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  provides a perspective view of a fluid container that can be used in conjunction with the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an overhead plan view of a base section of the housing depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 3  and the base of  FIG. 4  connected to one another. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a filling apparatus according to the present invention arranged to receive a syringe. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view of a port used in the present invention, with the port being in a closed position to prevent the flow of fluid through the port. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a syringe being coupled to the filling apparatus of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7A  is a cross-sectional of the port of  FIG. 6A , with the port being in an open position to allow the flow of fluid through the port. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a partial cut-away cross-sectional view of a reservoir of the present filling apparatus containing fluid. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a partial cut-away cross-sectional view of the reservoir of  FIG. 8 , having less fluid within the reservoir. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0018]    Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of a syringe filling apparatus  10  in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus generally comprises a housing  12 , which comprises a base section  14  and an upright section  16 . The upright section  16  comprises a backing section  18  and a front section  20 , which enclose a fluid container  22 . The base section  14  supports a port  24 , which will be discussed in more detail with respect to  FIGS. 6-9 . The base section  14  also supports a signal  26  that will alert a user when the fluid container  22  may need to be replaced. The signal  26  will be described further with respect to  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  provides an exploded view of the housing  12  of the apparatus  10 . The backing section  18  has a bottom portion  28  that is arranged to slidingly mate with the base section  14 , with base section  14  resting upon the bottom portion  28 . The base section  14  has a pair of posts  30  that will mate with a pair of slots  32  located on the backing section  18  to secure the base section  14  and the backing section  18  to one another. The backing section  18  also mates with the front section  20  to form an enclosure for the fluid container  22 . The front section  20  also has a pair of posts  34  that mate with slots  36  located on the backing section  18 . The front section  20  could be designed to be pivotally connected to the backing section  18 , to allow for easy opening and closing of the housing  12 , when necessary, to remove or replace the container  22 . Alternatively, locks, clasps, or other securing means could be used to further close the housing  12 . Thus, the front section  20 , the backing section  18 , and the base section  14  form the housing  12  that provides protection for the container  22  in a manner that is easy to assemble. It is understood that the housing could comprise different arrangements, sizes, or sections, and still fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0021]    Still referring to  FIG. 2 , the fluid container  22  has an opening  36  that will be arranged to allow fluid to flow from the container  22  to a reservoir  38  located within the base section  14 , with the container  22  preferably being removably secured to or within the reservoir  38  in a fluid tight arrangement. A movable plug  37  (shown in phantom) is located within the opening  36 . The container  22  and the reservoir  38  will be discussed further with respect to  FIGS. 3-5 . It should be understood that the reservoir  38  could be designed so that it is may be filled with fluid directly, and it is not necessary to use a container  22  or containers  22 . However, the use of the container  22  coupled or connected to the reservoir minimizes spills and contamination associated with transferring fluid from the container  22  to the reservoir  38 , or from the container  22  directly to a syringe. It is understood that any of these arrangements would fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  provides a perspective view of the container  22  used in the present invention, with the container  22  preferably being a standard size used in the industry. The opening  36  of the container  22 , which is also preferably of a typical dimension used within the industry, normally will be sealed prior to use, preferably being hermetically sealed, with a foil-type seal  40  commonly used for sealing containers. The container  22  has a neck  42  that supports an O-ring  44 , which assists the container  22  in being fluidly connected to the reservoir  38  ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ) in a fluid-tight manner. It should be understood that other sealing means beside the O-ring  44  could be used to provide a seal between the container  22  and the reservoir  38 , such as a press fit or threaded arrangement. 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  shows an overhead view of the base section  14 , which houses the reservoir  38 . The reservoir has a perimeter  46 , which is substantially the same size as the opening  36  of the container  22 . The base section  14  further has an edge  48  that will support the container  22  when the container  22  is mated with the reservoir  38 . If desired, the edge  48  could be of a size that allows the container  22  to be placed inwardly of the edge  48 , thereby providing further support for the container  22 , when the container is in the dispensing position, as shown in  FIG. 5 . A post  50  is located within the reservoir  38 , with the post  50  being designed to pierce the seal  40  located on the opening  36  of the container  22  when the container  22  is mated with the reservoir  38 . The arrangement further minimizes potential spilling or possible contamination of the fluid. It should be understood the shape and design of the reservoir  38  and the base section  14  could be changed and still fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the container  22  is shown coupled with the reservoir  38 , which is shown in phantom. The opening  36  is inserted into the reservoir  38 , with the O-ring  44  being sealingly fit within the perimeter  46  to form a fluid tight arrangement between the container  22  and the reservoir  38 . Also, as the opening  36  is inserted into the reservoir  38 , the post  50  pierces the seal  40 , thereby allowing fluid to pass from the container  22  into the reservoir  38  in a fluid-tight manner. The plug  37  (shown in phantom) is pushed out of the opening by the post  50 , and will float upwardly, as the plug  37  is preferably lighter, or less dense, than the fluid within the container  22 . Thus, fluid can be transferred from the container  22  to the reservoir  38  without spilling any fluid when opening the container  22 . 
         [0025]      FIGS. 6 and 7  demonstrate a syringe  52  being filled from the apparatus  10 . The syringe  52  mates with the port  24  located on the base section  14 . The syringe  52  preferably has a LUER-LOK® arrangement, typically known and used in the industry, with a threaded end section  54  that will mate with a threaded section  56  located on the port  24 . The syringe  52  typically has a fluid passageway  58  that extends outwardly past the threaded end section  54 , which allows the passageway  58  to contact the port  24  prior to the threaded end section  54  contacting the port  24 . The port  24  has a movable plug  60 , which is normally biased outwardly in a first position when there is no external force on the plug  60 , as shown in  FIG. 6A . A spring  62  or other similar biasing means can be used to keep the plug  60  in a closed position, which will prevent fluid from passing through the port  24  until desired. That is, the arrangement of the port  24  and the plug  60  prevents fluid from flowing through the port  24  until an external device, such as the syringe  52  is attached to or mated with the port  24 . 
         [0026]    Referring particularly to  FIG. 7 , the syringe  52  is shown coupled or mated with the port  24 . The threaded end section  54  is threaded onto the threaded section  56  of the port  24 , which cause the passageway  58  to make contact with the plug  60 , thereby inwardly biasing the plug  60  in a second position against the spring  62 , as shown in  FIG. 7A . Fluid can then pass through the port  24 , and outwardly into the syringe  52 . When a plunger  64  is pulled backwardly, fluid passes through the passageway  58  and into the syringe  52 . Once a desired amount of fluid is added to the syringe  52 , the threaded end section  54  will be unthreaded from the port  24 . The spring  62  biases the plug  60  outwardly and seals the port  24 , easily and efficiently, with minimal fluid leakage or loss. Thus, the plug  60  moves easily between an open position that prevents the flow of fluid to a closed position that allows the flow of fluid, without fluid leakage. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 8 and 9  provide a cross-sectional view of the apparatus  10 , the container  22 , and the reservoir  38 . The reservoir  38  is preferably located below the container  22 , so that the container  22  will drain completely into the reservoir  38 . A fluid conduit  66  connects the reservoir  38  to the port  24 . A float  68  is located within the reservoir  38 . In  FIG. 8 , the float  68  is shown floating within the fluid in the reservoir  38 . In  FIG. 9 , fluid has been extracted from the container  22  and the reservoir  38 , thereby allowing the float  68  to move down towards the bottom of the reservoir  38 . When this happens, the alarm  26  will be triggered, thereby telling the user that the container  22  should be replaced and/or the reservoir  38  should be refilled with fluid. The alarm is preferably a visual or audible alarm. In a preferred arrangement, the alarm  26  is triggered by the use of a reed switch  70 . The reed switch  70  is connected in a circuit by wires  72  to the alarm  26  and a power source, such as a standard 9-volt battery  74 . Once the float  68 , which is preferably made of a magnetizable material, comes sufficiently close to the reed switch  70 , the circuit will be closed, thereby activating the alarm  26 , indicating that the fluid source should be replaced or replenished. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the alarm  26  is activated, demonstrated by the alarm  26  visually lighting up. 
         [0028]    The apparatus  10  provides for an efficient system for filling individual syringes from a larger container or reservoir without worrying about spilling the fluid during the transferring process and, also, minimizing contamination of the fluid. Likewise, the apparatus  10  provides for an alarm or warning system to notify the operator that the reservoir and/or container is out of fluid. Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the alarm  26  will notify the user of fluid depletion before the reservoir  38  is completely empty, thereby preventing any potential disruption in the syringe filling process. 
         [0029]    The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, 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. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.