Abstract:
An apparatus and system for transferring a liquid, such as an anesthetic, from the outlet port of a reservoir to a machine while effectively and conveniently minimizing the release of anesthetic. In one embodiment, the apparatus and system can include a first valve movable between a first position and a second position; a first housing surrounding the first valve; a second valve slidably connected to the first valve and movable between a third position and a fourth position; and a second housing which surrounds the second valve; wherein the apparatus defines a first opening, a second opening, and a receiver passage between the first and second openings. In another embodiment, a movable plunger can be slidably connected to the second valve.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of the earlier filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/218,696 filed on Jun. 19, 2009, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     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 
     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. 
     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. The opening of a bottle containing vaporizer can be covered by a closing mechanism having an outlet port. To transfer the liquid anesthetic to a vaporizer, however, the outlet port 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 conveniently and effectively minimize the release of anesthetic. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This application discloses an apparatus and system for transferring a liquid, such as an anesthetic, from the outlet port of a reservoir to a machine while effectively and conveniently minimizing the release of anesthetic. In one embodiment, the apparatus and system can include a first valve movable between a first position and a second position; a first housing surrounding the first valve; a second valve slidably connected to the first valve and movable between a third position and a fourth position; and a second housing which surrounds the second valve; wherein the apparatus defines a first opening, a second opening, and a receiver passage between the first and second openings. In another embodiment, the apparatus can include a first valve movable between a first position and a second position; a first housing which surrounds the first valve; a plunger member surrounded by the first housing, wherein the plunger member is movable between a third position and a fourth position; a second valve slidably connected to the plunger member, wherein the second valve is movable between a fifth position and a sixth position; and a second housing which surrounds the second valve; wherein the apparatus defines a first opening, a second opening, and a passageway between the first and second openings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates various embodiments of a system for the flow of liquid. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a receiver apparatus in the closed position according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 2B  shows a cross section of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates the receiver apparatus in the open position according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 3B  shows a cross section of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates the receiver apparatus in the closed position according to other embodiments. 
         FIG. 4B  shows a cross section of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates the receiver apparatus in the open position according to other embodiments. 
         FIG. 5B  shows a cross section of  FIG. 5A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     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 various embodiments of the invention and together with the description illustrate principles of the invention. 
     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. 
     For a more complete understanding of the instant invention reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings. 
     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. 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the referred views,  FIG. 1  shows various embodiments of a system for the flow of liquid. Specifically,  FIG. 1  shows the general flow of liquid from a reservoir  1  to the receiver apparatus  2  to a machine  3 . The reservoir  1  can be a glass bottle or any other container capable of containing a liquid, such as a liquid anesthetic. At its opening, the reservoir  1  can include an outlet port  4  (see  FIGS. 3A and 3B ) to threadedly connect to the receiver apparatus  2 . As will be described below, the receiver apparatus  2  can include a valve system through which the liquid must travel to reach the machine  3 . In this embodiment, the machine  3  is a vaporizer that dispenses anesthetic to a person undergoing a medical procedure. 
       FIG. 2A  shows various embodiments of a receiver apparatus  2 , where the receiver apparatus  2  is in the closed position. The receiver apparatus  2  is supported by a base  5 . Above a first housing  6  is a mating collar  7  for receiving a reservoir outlet port  4 . The first housing  6  and mating collar  7  surround a first valve  8 , the stem  9  of which is also visible in  FIG. 2A . 
       FIG. 2B  shows a cross section of  FIG. 2A  at cross axis “A.” The first valve  8  can be movable between a first position and a second position. A first valve biasing member  10 , such as a spring, can connect to the first valve  8  and the first housing  6 , and can bias the movement between the first and second position. The movement of the first valve  8  between the first position and the second position can be guided by a guide pin  11  connected to the first housing  6  and a guide pin bore  12  in the first valve  8 . The mating collar  7  defines a threading  13  for receiving a reservoir outlet port  4 . A sealing member  14 , such as an o-ring, provides a seal between the mating collar  7  and the first housing  6 . A first valve sealing member  15 , such as an o-ring, can be in contact with the first valve  8  and can prevent the flow of liquid entering a first opening  16  of the receiver apparatus  2 . The first valve  8  can further include a first valve cam surface  17  adjacent to a stem  18  of a second valve  19 . 
       FIG. 2B  further shows a housing connector member  30  connector member that can connect the first housing  6  and a second housing  20 . The housing connector member and the second housing  20  can surround the second valve  19 . The second valve  19  can be movable between a first position and a second position. A second valve biasing member  21 , such as a spring, can connect to the second valve  19  and the second housing  20 , and can bias the second valve&#39;s  19  movement between its first and second positions. As shown in  FIG. 2B , the first valve biasing member  10  biases the first valve  8  in a first direction, the second valve biasing member  21  biases the second valve  19  in a second direction, and the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction. The movement of the second valve  19  between its first and second positions can be guided in a manner similar to the guide pin  11  and guide pin bore  12  arrangement described with regard to the first valve  8 . A second valve sealing member  22 , such as an o-ring, can be in contact with the second valve  19  and can prevent liquid in the receiver apparatus  2  from flowing out a second opening  23  of the receiver apparatus  2 . 
       FIG. 3A  shows various embodiments of the receiver apparatus  2 , where the receiver apparatus  2  has received a reservoir outlet port  4  and is in the open position. 
       FIG. 3B  shows a cross section of the receiver apparatus  2  of  FIG. 3A  at cross axis “A.” The reservoir outlet port  4  has a reservoir outlet passage  24  through which liquid can flow to the receiver apparatus  2 . The reservoir outlet port  4  can engage the mating collar  7  by threading  13 . An outlet port sealing member  25 , such as an o-ring, can provide a seal between the outlet port  4  and the receiver apparatus  2 . The reservoir outlet port  4  can further include a plug member  26 . When the reservoir outlet port  4  engages the mating collar  7 , the plug member  26  can press the stem  9  of the first valve  8  and overcome the first valve biasing member  10 , thereby moving the first valve  8  to its second position and opening a first valve passage  27 . 
     The second valve  19  can be slidably connected to the first valve  8 . When the first valve  8  begins to move to the second position, the first valve cam surface  17  of the first valve  8  can push the stem  18  of the second valve  19 , thereby overcoming the second valve biasing member  21 , moving the second valve  19  to its second position, and opening a second valve passage  28 . When opened, the first  27  and second  28  valve passages combine to create a receiver passage  29  through which liquid from the reservoir  1  and the first opening  16  can flow to the second opening  23  and, ultimately, to the machine  3 . As shown in  FIGS. 2B and 3B , the first housing  6  and the second housing  20  are coupled to each other via housing connector member  30 , and do not move relative to each other as the first valve  8  moves from the first position shown in  FIG. 2B  to the second position shown in  FIG. 3B , and as the second valve  19  moves from the third position shown in  FIG. 2B  to the fourth position shown in  FIG. 3B . 
       FIG. 4A  shows various alternative embodiments of the receiver apparatus  2 , where the receiver apparatus  2  is in the closed position. Similar to  FIG. 2A , the figure shows a mating collar  7 , a first housing  6 , and a base  5 . But by contrast,  FIG. 4A  also includes an activation member  31  for opening and closing the second valve  19 . 
       FIG. 4B  shows a cross section of the receiver apparatus  2  of  FIG. 4A  at cross axis “A.” The figure is similar to  FIG. 2B  in several respects. Among other similarities, the receiver apparatus  2  of FIG.  4 B shows a first valve  8  movable between a first and second position and surrounded by a first housing  6 , a second valve  19  movable between a first and second position and surrounded by a second housing  20  and a housing connector member  30 , and first  15  and second  22  valve sealing members to help prevent the flow of liquid when the receiver apparatus  2  is in the closed position. Also similar, the mating collar  7  is connected to the first housing  6  and defines a threading  13  for receiving a reservoir outlet port  4 , and the receiver apparatus  2  includes a first opening  16  and a second opening  23 . 
     But by contrast, the receiver apparatus  2  of  FIG. 4B  includes the activation member  31  connected to a plunger member  32 . The activation member  31  can be any device connected to or part of a plunger member  32  for opening and closing the second valve  19 . In this figure, the activation member  31  is a cam that is positioned between the first housing  6  and the second housing  20 . The activation member  31  may rotate about the housing connector member  30  and can move between a first position and a second position. The plunger member  32  and its plunger cap  33  can also be moveable between a first and second position and can be surrounded by the first housing  6 . A plunger biasing member  34 , such as a spring, can connect to the plunger member  32  and the first housing  6 , and can bias the movement of the plunger member  32  between its first and second positions. The plunger member  32  can also include a plunger cam surface  35  adjacent to the stem  18  of the second valve  19 . 
       FIG. 5A  shows various alternative embodiments of the receiver apparatus  2 , where the receiver apparatus  2  of  FIG. 4A  has received a reservoir outlet port  4  and is in the open position. 
       FIG. 5B  shows a cross section of the receiver apparatus  2  of  FIG. 5A  at cross axis “A.” Similar to  FIG. 3B , this figure shows, among other things, the reservoir outlet port  4 , the reservoir outlet passage  24 , the reservoir sealing member  25 , and the threading  13  by which the reservoir outlet port  26  can engage the mating collar  7 . Also similar to  FIG. 3B , the reservoir outlet port  4  can include a plug member  26  such that, when the reservoir outlet port  4  engages the mating collar  7 , the plug member  26  can move the first valve  8  to its second position and thereby open the first valve passage  27 . 
     But by contrast, the second valve  19  of  FIG. 5B  is slidably connected to the plunger member  32 , not the first valve  8 . Thus, when the reservoir outlet port  4  engages the mating collar  7 , the first valve passage  27  may be open while the second valve passage  28  remains closed. To open the second valve passage  28 , the activation member  31  can be moved in any suitable manner such that the activation member  31  pushes the plunger member  32  and overcomes the plunger biasing member  34 , thereby moving the plunger member  32  to its second position. In  FIG. 5B , the activation member  31  is a cam that is positioned between the first housing  6  and the second housing  20 , and when the activation member  31  is rotated about the housing connector member  30  from its position in  FIG. 4A  to its position in  FIG. 5A , the housing connector member  30  pushes down the plunger cap  33  and the plunger member  32 . 
     When the plunger member  32  begins to move to its second position, the plunger cam surface  35  of the plunger member  32  can push the stem  18  of the second valve  19  and overcome the second valve biasing member  21 , thereby moving the second valve  19  to its second position and opening the second valve passage  28 . As in the receiver apparatus  2  of  FIG. 3B , when the first  27  and second  28  valve passages are opened they combine to create a receiver passage  29  through which liquid from the reservoir  1  and the first opening  16  can flow to the second opening  23  and, ultimately, to the machine  3 . 
     The various embodiments of  FIGS. 4A-5B  can provide additional safety to users by opening the first  27  and second  28  valve passages in separate stages. For example, if the receiver apparatus  2  was connected to the reservoir outlet port  4  but not the machine  3 , liquid would not automatically flow through the receiver passage  29 , but would require the additional movement, manual or otherwise, of the activation member. 
     It is to be understood that the descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate characteristics that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that other elements or steps are desirable or required in implementing the present invention. However, because such elements or steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present 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. 
     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. 
     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.