Abstract:
The invention relates to a dispensing device for simultaneously dispensing fluid from at least two fluid containers fitted with plungers, wherein the device includes an actuating device having at least two output elements, a push element able to displace the output elements, a force element that acts on the push element in the direction of the fluid containers, and a brake element which acts on the push element and can be manually modified to cancel the effect of the force element.

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This is a national stage Application of PCT Application No. PCT/CH97/00092, filed Mar. 10, 1997. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a fluid delivery device for simultaneously delivering fluids from at least two fluid containers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Automatic fluid delivery devices are well known. Typically, a force acts on a container holding a fluid so that the fluid, which is usually highly viscous, e.g., pastes, oils, medicaments, and the like, is disposed out of an end of the container. A spring or gas is typically used to supply the force acting on the container. 
     Known from patent EP-B-0 435 512 is a medicament delivery device in which a spring provided in the interior of a container directly acts on a plunger which separates the spring portion from the medicament portion. Due to the force of the spring the plunger is pushed into the medicament portion to dispel the medicament. Through an infusion tube the medicament is transported to the treatment site in the human body. The flow of the medicament is opened and closed by a clamp attached to the infusion tube. Any other way of closing off the medicament flow is achievable only at significantly greater expense. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,368, and PCT application WO 93/06940 describe delivery devices which deliver fluids from two containers arranged in parallel. The containers each have a movable plunger on one end, and an orifice on the other. Each plunger is connected to a plunger rod, the rods being held by a cover containing them. By manually moving the cover in the direction of the contained materials, the two plungers are pushed uniformly in the direction of the contained materials, disposing the materials out of the containers through the orifices. A dual cannula is fitted to the two orifices of the containers, and acts to mix the two materials upon discharge. 
     The disadvantage of these known devices is that the force for delivering the fluids dispensed needs to be applied either manually or, where automatic fluid delivery is involved, the device is insufficient for a dispensed delivery. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention is intended to provide a solution to the above described problems. The invention is based on the object of developing a fluid delivery device which displaces fluid from at least two containers by means of a spring actuator, including a simple device for metering delivery and which is inexpensive to manufacture. 
     The invention achieves the cited object by a delivery device which comprises the at least two fluid containers, each fluid container having a plunger and a plunger rod, a pushing element that moves the plunger rods in the direction of the fluid containers under the guidance of a force element, and a brake element that acts on the pushing element and can counteract the force of the force element and can be deactivated manually. 
     One advantage of the invention is to permit metered delivery of the fluids to be mixed from two or more containers by means of an inexpensive automatic delivery device. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of a device in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description the terms proximal and distal as used in medical terminology are employed, i.e. proximal=facing the patient and distal=facing away from the patient. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 it is evident that the delivery device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention comprises a pistol-type housing  1  made up of two main elements, an actuator and a grip  20 . In one embodiment, the actuator is a hollow carrier  10 . In the transition between the grip  20  and the carrier  10  a spindle  2  is arranged which carries a brake lever  40 . The user operates the delivery device  1  like a pistol. 
     Arranged in parallel on the carrier  10  are two fluid containers. In one embodiment, the fluid containers can be syringe bodies  4   a,    4   b.  The two syringe bodies are immovably held in place by two fixtures  8   a,    8   b  on the surface of the carrier  10 . Contained in the syringe bodies  4   a,    4   b  are the two fluids to be mixed. Syringe bodies are substantially hollow-cylindrical containers  4   a,    4   b  closed off at the distal end by a movable plunger  5   a,    5   b  and at the proximal end by an outlet member  9   a,    9   b.  Each plunger  5   a,    5   b  is equipped with an output element. In one embodiment, the element can be a plunger rod  6   a ,  6   b  to extend its length. Fitted to each outlet opening  9   a,    9   b  is a cannula  7   a,    7   b  such that mixing of the two fluids does not take place until at the site to which the two fluids are applied. In this arrangement the two cannulas  7   a,    7   b  may be held in a supporting housing  14 . Instead of a housing  14  supporting the cannulas  7   a,    7   b  a squirter may also be employed which squirts the two fluids to be mixed onto a surface area. 
     Located in the interior of the hollow carrier  10  is a push element. In one embodiment, the push element can be a slider  30  on which a force element acts. In one embodiment, the force element is a spring. The spring arranged in the distal portion of the mount  10  acts such that the slider  30  is displaced proximally unless prevented by a braking surface area  41 , whereby the spring  32  urges distally the rear wall  12  of the carrier  10  and proximally the slider  30 . 
     The carrier  10  is provided with an opening  13  through which the braking surface area  41  acts on the slider  30 . The brake mechanism or element comprises the brake lever  40  arranged on the spindle  2  and the braking surface area  41 . The brake lever  40  consists of a long component  42  and a short component  43  forming an angle with the latter. Arranged in the angle between the short component  43  and the long component  42  of the brake lever  20  is the spindle  2 . The long component  42  of the brake lever  40  is urged by a spring  50  such that the long component  42  is forced away from the pistol-type grip  20 , resulting in the braking surface area  41  arranged on the short component  43  being urged against the slider  30  by the lever action, thus preventing a movement of the slider  30  in the proximal direction. 
     The slider  30  is configured such that a T-like plate  31  arranged at the distal end of the slider  30  protrudes through a longiudinal opening  11  in the plane carrier  10  and contacts the two plunger rods  6   a,    6   b  at their distal end. 
     When the long component  42  of the brake lever  40  is pulled to the grip  20  against the force of the spring  50  the braking effect of the braking surface area  41  on the slider  30  is reduced so that the slider is shifted by the force of the spring  32  in the proximal direction, the plunger rods  6   a,    6   b,  stopped by the T-piece  31 , and the plungers  5   a,    5   b  connected to the plunger rods being shifted in the proximal direction. This movement of the plungers  5   a,    5   b  in the syringe bodies  4   a,    5   b  results in the fluid being dispelled through the two outlet openings  9   a,    9   b  and the cannulas  7   a,    7   b  connected thereto. 
     To prevent accidental actuation of the brake lever a locking mechanism  60  is applied between the long component  42  of the brake lever  40  and the grip  20 , this locking mechanism permits no movement of the brake lever  20  in the direction of the grip  20  in the closed position. 
     The accompanying Figures and this description depict and describe embodiments of the fluid delivery system of the present invention, and features and components thereof. Fastening, mounting, attaching or connecting the components of the present invention to form the apparatus or device as a whole, unless specifically described otherwise, are intended to encompass conventional fasteners such as machine screws, nut and bolt connectors, machine threaded connectors, snap rings, clamps such as screw clamps and the like, rivets, nuts and bolts, toggles, pins and the like. Components may also be connected by welding, friction fitting or deformation, if appropriate. Unless specifically otherwise disclosed or taught, materials for making components of the present invention are selected from appropriate materials such as metal, metallic alloys, fibers, plastics and the like, and appropriate manufacturing or production methods including casting, extruding, molding and machining may be used. 
     Any references herein to front and back, right and left, top and bottom, upper and lower and horizontal and vertical are intended for convenience of description only, not to limit the present invention or its components to any one positional or spatial orientation. Such terms are to be read and understood with their conventional meanings. In the Figures, elements common to the embodiments of the invention are commonly identified. 
     It is contemplated that various changes may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the present invention not be limited strictly to that of the above description of the present invention.