Abstract:
A device ( 1 ) fills a flexible pouch ( 100 ) with medicinal fluids. The pouch is mounted with its distal end ( 113 ) upward and attached to a filling infuser ( 110 ) which is supported in a supporting bore ( 121 ). A neck end of the supply container ( 200 ) which carries a resilient cap ( 202 ) is inserted into the bore such that the filling infuser pierces the cap. A flexible bladder ( 31 ) or a squeeze bulb ( 33 ) is connected with an air inlet ( 116 ) of the filling infuser to inject pressurized air into the supply container and accelerate the transfer of medicinal liquids from the supply container to the flexible pouch.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention concerns a filling apparatus for a flexible pouch. 
   The invention finds particular advantage, but not exclusive, in the field of the injection of liquids in medicine. 
   In medicine, the injection of liquids is currently employed notably during giving transfusions, perfusions, artificial nutrition vascularly or digestively, injections of contrast agents, etc. Of all the known techniques, the high pressure injection of liquid contained in flexible pouches constitutes one of the best in medicine for achieving satisfactory hygiene. 
   The principle consists of using a flexible pouch which, like its name indicates, is typically made of a pouch of flexible material containing in one part a medical liquid for injection and equipped at another part with a reusable fitting. This fitting is for connection, possibly by an intermediate tube of adequate length, to a detachable injection conduit, such as a catheter or a hypodermic needle. The flexible pouch is then placed in an enclosure containing an inert liquid capable of being put under pressure for the purpose of compressing the pouch, forcing the liquid to flow out through the injection conduit, possibly through the intermediate tube. 
   If the injection of liquid contained in the flexible pouch constitutes a technically satisfactory operation, the refilling of the pouch properly is a time consuming operation since it is carried out just by gravity. One uses generally a filling device constituted by simply a refilling infuser that is put in place manually removable from the end of the reusable fitting of the flexible pouch. 
   The refilling infuser typically includes two conduits. The first conduit connects its distal end, that is intended to be connected to other external devices, to its proximal end that is intended to be connected to the internal volume of the flexible pouch. The second conduit connects the same distal end to an air inlet leading to the exterior and typically coupled to a filter that is impermeable by liquids. 
   When refilling the flexible pouch, the refilling infuser is simply maintained vertically, such that its distal end is oriented toward the top such that the later can be forced through the cap of a supply container that is oriented such that it is toward the bottom. The air inlet can then play its role of permitting the entrance of air to the interior of the supply container via the second conduit and consequently the out flow of liquids out of the supply container by the first conduit. The liquid then is going to be forced to flows out through the connection to refill the flexible pouch. 
   This type of filling device functioning just by gravity presents many times the inconvenience of rendering the filling operation particularly long. 
   The technical problem to be resolved, by the object of the present invention, is to propose a filling device for a flexible pouch, intended to introduce a liquid into a flexible pouch connected to a filling infuser by pressurizing an air inlet, filling device that will permit the avoidance of the problems of the prior technique permitting an acceleration just of the out flow of liquid into the flexible pouch and hence rapid refilling. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The solution to the long-lived technical problem includes, according to the present invention, a filling device that comprises:
         attaching means for the flexible pouch adapted to position the distal end of a filling infuser toward the top,   supporting means for receiving a supply container containing the liquid for introduction, said attaching means being adapted to position said supply container in a position such that the liquid flows out by gravity when said receptacle is connected to a filling infuser,   air compressing means,   connecting means for connecting the compression means and the air inlet of the filling infuser.       

   Positioned this way, the supply container is typically connected to the flexible pouch by the filling infuser, in a manner that the liquid can flow out by gravity. But in addition, the air inlet that is also connected to the supply container communicates with the compression means suitably to bring air under pressure to the interior of the aforesaid receptacle. The implementation of this compression means goes consequently to increase the pressure of the air in the supply container. This positive pressure goes then to push the liquid by the only accessible out flow orifice such that it goes through the filling infuser and is guided to the flexible pouch. The fitting finds itself advantageously accelerated. 
   The present invention concerns also the characteristics that will come out in the course of the description that is will follow, and should be considered individually or according to all their possible combinations. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the attached drawings which are exemplary only and not limiting. 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a standard flexible pouch utilized with a filling apparatus according to the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a sagittal sectional view representing a supply container coupled to the flexible pouch of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a filling device showing a first embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view in partial transverse section of the filling device of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  represents in perspective a flexible pouch positioned in front of the filling device of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
       FIG. 6  shows in perspective the relative position of the flexible pouch and the filling device of  FIG. 5  after being put in place. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating the receipt of a supply container on the filling device equipped with the flexible pouch visible in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the implementation of the filling device once the supply container is coupled to the flexible pouch of  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  represents in perspective a filling device showing a second embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a flexible pouch  100  intended to be utilized with a filling device  1  of the present invention, that is the flexible pouch  100  is coupled to a filling cannula  110 . The flexible pouch  100  typically includes a pouch  101  made of a flexible material and is designed to contain a medical liquid for injection. The pouch  101  is equipped with a reusable connection  102  comprising here a tube  103  at the end of which a nut  104  is mounted for free rotation. In this embodiment, the junction of the reusable connection  102  can therefore removably cooperate by a screw on fitting  111  at a proximal end  112  of the filling infuser  110 . 
   In the model of  FIG. 2 , the filling infuser  110  includes in any case typically two conduits  114 ,  115 . The first conduit  114  connects the distal end  113  that is intended to be connected to all exterior devices to a proximal end  112  that is intended to connect to the internal volume of the flexible pouch  100  via the reusable connection  102 . The second conduit  114  connects the distal end  113  to a side air inlet  116  on the exterior and is equipped with a filter  117  impermeable to liquid but readily permeable to air. The filling infuser  110  additionally includes a pair of support stops  118  disposed laterally in opposition to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the filling infuser  110 . 
     FIG. 2  illustrates additionally the role of the needle  110  during a typical filling operation. Also, as can be seen, the filling infuser  110  is maintained vertically in orientation with its distal end  113  positioned towards the top; the pouch  101  (not shown) simply hangs down below. A supply container  200 , containing a liquid  201  toward the bottom, is positioned in a manner that it can be coupled to the filling infuser  110  through the intermediary of its cap  202  through which the distal end  113  of the filling infuser  110  penetrates. In order to facilitate coupling and assure a watertight seal, the cap  202  is made of a material sufficiently soft to permit introduction of the distal part  113 , advantageously fashioned in the form of a point. 
   The air inlet  116  can then fully fulfill its role and provide an entrance for air into the interior of the supply container  200 , via the second conduit  115 ; the filter  117  blocks the flow of liquid  201  to the exterior. The flow of liquid  210  from the supply container  200  through the first conduit  114 , it can also be realized, is permitted by the same in to fill the flexible pouch  100 . 
   It is noted that the assembly of  FIGS. 3 to 9  represents a preferred embodiment of the filling systems including two devices for currently filling conforming to the object of the present invention. The combination of plural filling devices does not change anything in the structure nor in the functional principle of each relative to one considered in isolation. In these figures, the description of only one of the filling devices is provided and is not repeated each time, for evident reasons of simplicity. 
   In this way now,  FIG. 3  illustrates a filling device  1  according to the invention. A liquid  201  contained in the supply container  200  is intended for introduction into a flexible pouch  100  provided with the filling infuser  110  itself connected to an air inlet  116 . 
   In this first embodiment, the filling device  1  is provided with an attaching means  10  permitting the positioning of the flexible pouch  100  in such a manner that the distal end  113  of the filling infuser  110  is disposed near the top. 
   The filling device  1  also includes a supporting means  20  permitting the positioning of the supply container  200  vertically of the flexible pouch  100  in a position that the liquid  201  can flow out by gravity when such supply container  200  is connected to the filling infuser  110 . 
   The filling device  1  is additionally equipped with an air compressing means  30  which includes, in this embodiment, a flexible balloon or bladder  31  that is compressible by a pivotal pedal  32 . 
   Finally, the filling device  1  includes a connecting means  40  which connects the air compressing means  30  with the filling infuser  110 . 
   Also, it can be seen especially in  FIG. 4 , the attaching means  10  are adapted to cooperate by connecting with at least one portion of the filling infuser  110 . The support is also realized advantageously on a truly rigid part of the flexible pouch  100 . 
   In the embodiment of  FIGS. 3 to 8 , the attaching means  10  includes an attachment hollow or bore  11  of complimentary form to the proximal part  112  of the filling infuser  110 . 
   The attaching means  10  additionally includes a transverse vertical opening  12  extending between the attaching bore  11  and the exterior. This transverse vertical opening  12  is adapted to permit the filling infuser  110  to pass though in a vertical orientation particularly the proximal part  112  when it is positioned in the attachment bore  11  after insertion in the horizontal direction. 
   The attaching means  10  includes finally a transverse horizontal slot  13  between the attachment bore  11  and the exterior. The transverse horizontal slot  13  being adapted to permit the passage of the lateral supports  118  when the filling infuser  110  is placed in the attachment bore  11  after insertion in a horizontal direction. 
   The supporting means  20  includes a support bore  21  shaped complimentarily to the exterior of the supply container  200  and the cap  202 . 
   In the present case, the support bore  21  is in the form of a cylinder whose diameter is complimentary to the neck of the supply bottles most commonly utilized. 
   The support means  20  are positioned in direct proximity to the attachment means  10  in that they are respectively intended for cooperating with the supply container  200  and with the filling infuser  110  after the latter are connected between them. Also the support means  20  includes a transverse vertical slot  22  extending between the support bore  21  and the exterior. This transverse vertical slot  22  is adapted to permit the passage of the distal part  113 , oriented vertically, after insertion of the filling infuser  110  in the attachment bore  11  by insertion along a horizontal direction. 
   In a particularly advantageous manner, the transverse vertical slot  22  and the transverse vertical opening  12  are directly communicating with each other. 
   Also it can be seen in the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the compressing means  30  include a flexible balloon or bladder  31  compressible by the intermediary of a pivoting pedal  32 . 
   One can also see that the connecting means  40  includes a tube  41  connecting the flexible balloon  31  and a fitting  42  adapted for cooperatively connecting with the air inlet  116  of the filling infuser  110 . 
     FIGS. 5 to 8  show the functioning of the filling device  1  according to the invention. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , the filling operation begins by putting in place the flexible pouch  100  coupled to its filling infuser  110 . This latter, vertically oriented, proximal part  113  toward the top and air inlet  116  in the front, is introduced horizontally to traverse simultaneously the transverse vertical opening  12 , the transverse horizontal slot  13 , and the transverse vertical slot  22 . 
   The insertion ends as shown in  FIG. 6 , after firm pressure, the proximal part  12  is found inserted in the attachment bore  11  forming the attaching means  10 . The end of the air inlet  116  is then inserted in the fitting  42  of complimentary form and the distal part  113  of the filling infuser  110  extends axially in the cylindrical attachment bore  21 , forming the attaching means. 
   Also it can be seen in  FIG. 7 , the supply container  200  is positioned vertically with the top cap  202  toward the bottom in the direction of the support means  20 . The cap  202  is then driven on to the distal part  113  of the filling infuser  110  up through the entire neck of the supply container  200  in the attachment bore  21 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , no longer at rest, the compression means  30  gets to work by the manual action of the pivotal pedal  32 . Partial squeezing of the compressible bulb  31  generates a positive pressure that is propagated up to the fitting  42  through the connecting means  40  then into the interior of the supply container  200  successively through the air inlet  116  and the conduit  115 . The increase in pressure then forces liquid  201  to flow out through the conduit  114  and, consequently, to accelerate refilling of the flexible pouch  100 . 
   In the second embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the compression means  30  presents itself simply in the form of a manually compressible squeeze bulb  33 . 
   Naturally, the invention equally applies to refilling systems calling for at least two refilling devices  1  such as previously described. The configuration with two refilling devices  1  combined, such as shown in  FIGS. 3 to 9 , is particularly advantageous when it is necessary to refill two pouches simultaneously or one double pouch with two liquids. This is for example the case with double pouches of gadolinium and serum. 
   Of course the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented by way of example, but includes all equivalent techniques as well as combinations thereof.