Patent Publication Number: US-2022233766-A1

Title: System for dispensing fluid

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/140,262, filed Jan. 22, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to fluid dispensing systems and, more particularly, to fluid dispensing systems that utilize a pressure source to dispense fluid at a controlled rate. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Systems for dispensing fluids, particularly infusion systems for the intravenous (IV) delivery of fluids to a patient, are quite common in the medical field. In one approach, a bag containing a therapeutic fluid is inflated to exert pressure on the fluid and thereby force the fluid out of the bag. However, such an approach suffers from the bag being inflated and stretching, thereby resulting in variable pressure being exerted on the fluid in the bag based on the extent to which the bag has been inflated. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following introduces a selection of concepts in a simplified form in order to provide a foundational understanding of some aspects of the present disclosure. The following is not an extensive overview of the disclosure, and is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure or to delineate the scope of the disclosure. The following merely presents some of the concepts of the disclosure as a prelude to the more detailed description provided thereafter. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems for dispensing fluid. In one embodiment, the system includes a housing defining a chamber; an inflatable bag disposed in the chamber and adapted to contain a fluid, the bag being in fluid communication with a flow path for flow of the fluid out of the bag; and a pressure source for inflating the bag to force the fluid from the bag to the flow path at a controlled rate, wherein the bag inflates against an inner surface of the housing such that, prior to the bag being fully inflated, the fluid contained in the bag is forced from the bag at the controlled rate. 
     Further scope of applicability of the systems, apparatuses, and methods of the present disclosure will become apparent from the more detailed description given below. However, it should be understood that the following detailed description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the systems, apparatuses, and methods, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the concepts disclosed herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Features of the present systems and techniques may be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1A  shows a system for dispensing fluid according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 1B  shows a system for dispensing fluid according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 1C  shows a system for dispensing fluid according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 1D  shows a system for dispending fluid according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 1E  shows a system for dispending fluid according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  shows a system for dispensing fluid to a patient according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  shows a system for mixing multiple solutions according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not necessarily affect the scope or meaning of what is claimed in the present disclosure. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numbers are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures, wherein showings therein are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure and not for purposes of limiting the same. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various examples and embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described. The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding and enabling description of these examples. One of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand, however, that one or more embodiments described herein may be practiced without many of these details. Likewise, one skilled in the relevant art will also understand that one or more embodiments of the present disclosure can include other features and/or functions not described in detail herein. Additionally, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or described in detail below, so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the relevant description. It is originally intended to combine the configurations described in the various embodiments as appropriate. Also, one or more of the components in the embodiments disclosed herein may not be used. 
     Turning to  FIG. 1A , a system  100  for dispensing fluid according to an embodiment will now be described. As shown, the system  100  mainly includes a housing  102 , a fluid bag  104 , a pressure source  106 , and a flow path  108 . The housing  102  defines a chamber  110  within which the fluid bag  104  is disposed. In an embodiment, the chamber  110  is of a fixed volume. In another embodiment, the volume of the chamber  110  may be adjustable or may dynamically change while the fluid bag  104  is in use. 
     In an embodiment, the housing  102  is similar to a shell or container for the fluid bag  104 . For example, the housing  102  acts as an exoskeleton for the fluid bag  104 , giving support and rigidity to the fluid bag  104 , which has none. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the housing  102  has an opening  122  at one end (e.g., the bottom end) to allow the fluid bag  104  to be inserted into the chamber  110 , in an embodiment. In this manner, the housing  102  serves as a protective cover or case for the fluid bag  104 . At the other end (e.g., top end) of the housing  102  opposite the opening  122  is an opening  124  formed in the top side  134  of the housing  102 . The opening  124  formed in the top side  134  of the housing  102  serves to allow an attachment mechanism  128  of the fluid bag  104  to extend through the top side  134  of housing  102  from within the chamber  110 . In an example, the attachment mechanism  128  of the fluid bag  104 , which may be a ring, hook, or the like, may be inserted through the opening  124  in the top side  134  of the housing  102  for attachment to another apparatus or structure. For example, the attachment mechanism  128  of the fluid bag  104  may be used to hang or suspend the fluid bag  104  and housing  102  from a stationary or portable IV pole, a hospital bed, the interior of an ambulance, or some other structure or apparatus. 
     The housing  102  may be made of a non-compliant material or a rigid material including, for example, metal, plastic, fiberglass, or the like. The housing  102  can be any of a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate the fluid bag  104  therein. For example, in one embodiment, the shape and size of the housing  102  emulates the shape of the fluid bag  104 , such as illustrated in  FIG. 1A . In an embodiment, the size of the housing  102  is only slightly larger than the size of the fluid bag  104 , such that the housing  102  fits over the fluid bag  104  with a close fit. In one or more other embodiments, the housing  102  has a shape different from that illustrated in  FIG. 1A . 
     In at least one embodiment, one or more dimensions of the housing  102  is adjustable such that fluid bags  104  of different sizes can be appropriately accommodated within the chamber  110  of the housing  102  in the intended manner For example,  FIG. 1D  shows the housing  102  having an adjustable length (e.g., dimension corresponding to the Y-axis direction), in an embodiment. The housing  102  may have adjustable side portions  146 , which can be expanded or reduced as necessary to accommodate larger or smaller fluid bags  104 . 
     In an embodiment, the housing  102  may include an attachment mechanism  114  to enable the housing  102  to be attached to another apparatus or structure. For example, the housing  102  may be hung or otherwise suspended from a pole, shelf, bedpost, etc. The attachment mechanism  102  may be an extension of the housing  102  such that the attachment mechanism  114  is formed integral with the housing  102 , in an embodiment. In one embodiment, the attachment mechanism  114  may be removably attached to the outside of the housing  102  (e.g., via one or more screws, as a clip-in attachment, etc.) so that the attachment mechanism  114  can be removed to accommodate a specific environment in which the system is used. 
     The fluid bag  104  is an inflatable bag adapted to contain a fluid  112 . The fluid bag  104  is made of a flexible and impervious material known to those of ordinary skill in the art as being suitable for containing and dispensing fluids, including, for example, various polymers or plastics, polyolefin, ethylene vinyl acetate, glass, silicone glass, laminated aluminum foil, polyester, combinations thereof, or the like. The fluid bag  104  is connected to one end of a flow path  108  by a valve  118 . The flow path  108  is preferably a tube such as a catheter, for example The valve  118  that connects the fluid bag  104  to the one end of the flow path  108  may be any of a variety of types suitable to achieve the desired flow control out of the fluid bag  104 . 
     The pressure source  106  provides pressurized air to the fluid bag  104  via a conduit  116  in order to inflate the fluid bag  104 . For example, the pressure source  106  may be any suitable electro pressure controller or mechanical regulator known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, the conduit  116  attaches to a resilient inlet tube  126  extending from the same end of the fluid bag  104  as the valve  118  ( FIGS. 1A and 1B ). With reference to  FIGS. 1C , in an embodiment, the valve  118  extends from the fluid bag  104  through a port  122  in the bottom of the housing  102 , and the conduit  116  attaches to the resilient inlet tube  126  extending from the fluid bag  104  and passing through a port  132  in the top  120  of the housing  102 . 
     In operation, the inflatable fluid bag  104  is inflated by air delivered from the pressure source  106  through the conduit  116  to the inflatable fluid bag  104 . As the fluid bag  104  inflates against the inner surface of the housing  102 , pressure is applied to the fluid bag  104  such that, prior to the fluid bag  104  being fully inflated, the fluid  112  contained in the fluid bag  104  is forced from the fluid bag  104  at a controlled rate. The fluid  112  is forced from the fluid bag  104  to the flow path  108  for delivery to a patient, for example. In one embodiment, a hydraulic pressure sensor (not shown) may be provided as part of the pressure source to monitor the pressure within the fluid bag  104 . 
     It should be noted that the system  100  may be adapted for use with a variety of fluid bag shapes and/or configurations. For example, in some scenarios the entry and exit points to the fluid bag  104  may both be located on a same edge or side of the bag. For example, the fluid bag  104  may have a closed top edge such that the pressure port (e.g., inlet tube  126 ) and fluid delivery port (e.g., valve  118 ) are both located on a bottom edge of the fluid bag  104  (as in  FIGS. 1A and 1B ). In another example, the pressure port and fluid delivery port may be located on opposite edges of the fluid bag  104  (as in  FIGS. 1C and 1D ). 
     Turning to  FIG. 1C , in at least one embodiment, the system  100  includes a removable top  120  that removably attaches to the housing  102 . For example, the top  120  may twist or snap onto the housing  102 , or may attach to the housing  102  via one or more buckles or clips (not shown). In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1C , the top  120  may include an opening  132  through which the inlet tube  126  passes from the conduit  116  to the fluid bag  104 . 
       FIG. 1E  illustrates an embodiment in which a plurality of ribs  152  are formed on the inner surface of the housing  102  facing the fluid bag  104 . The ribs  152  may provide additional points of pressure on the fluid bag  104  as it inflates against the inner surface of the housing  102 . In one embodiment, the ribs  152  are spaced apart along the inner surface of the housing  102  with equal distance between adjacent ribs. In one or more other embodiments, the spacing between the ribs  152 , the number of ribs  152 , and/or the arrangement of the ribs  152  on the inner surface of the housing  102  may be different from what is shown in  FIG. 1E . It should also be understood that while the ribs  152  shown in  FIG. 1E  have a shape resembling a semi-circle or half-moon, in other embodiments the ribs  152  may have a different shape and/or may be of a different size from what is illustrated. 
     The systems and apparatuses disclosed herein may be useful in any of a variety of applications in the medical and pharmaceutical industries.  FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate example applications of the system  100 . In one example, the medical industry uses saline solution for flushing during surgery. In another example, two solutions may be mixed to form a mixed solution. 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference has been made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language has been used to describe these embodiments. However, no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is intended by this specific language, and the disclosure should be construed to encompass all embodiments that would normally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art. Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodiment should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other embodiments unless stated otherwise. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing the particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. In the description of the embodiments, certain detailed explanations of related art are omitted when it is deemed that they may unnecessarily obscure the essence of the disclosure. 
     The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. Numerous modifications and adaptations will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in this art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by the detailed description of the invention but by the following claims, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the invention. 
     No item or component is essential to the practice of the invention unless the element is specifically described as “essential” or “critical”. It will also be recognized that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” and “having,” as used herein, are specifically intended to be read as open-ended terms of art. The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In addition, it should be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms, which are only used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.