Abstract:
Disclosed is a method for dispensing a lubricant and, more particularly, a surgical lubricant, from a mechanical dispenser. The method includes a health care worker positioning a hand or other receiving object near an outlet of a mechanical dispenser configured to dispense a surgical lubricant, then receiving the lubricant from the dispenser through the outlet onto the hand or receiving object.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to methods of using mechanical dispensers for dispensing liquids, and more particularly, surgical lubricants, onto a hand.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Medical personnel use surgical lubricants, such as K-Y Jelly™ and Surgilube™, for a variety of medical procedures. The current method of dispensing a surgical lubricant is via a squeeze tube, which contains multiple units, or an individual packet, which contains a single unit. There are several problems associated with the current method of dispensing surgical lubricants. For example, it is often messy and cumbersome for a medical practitioner to squeeze a small amount of lubricant out of a tube for use in a medical procedure. Opening an individual packet of lubricant can be similarly messy and cumbersome, and occasionally a packet will cut the medical practitioner&#39;s protective glove. This situation is dangerous and unsanitary for both the practitioner and patient.  
           [0005]    Furthermore, the current method of dispensing surgical lubricant is not cost-effective. A certain amount of surgical lubricant remaining in either a squeeze tube or an individual packet is wasted with each use. Dispensing surgical lubricants in this manner is also inconvenient because the tube or individual packet must be stocked and located prior to examining a patient. These additional preparations take time and diminish cost and time efficiency of a medical office.  
           [0006]    Other types of products, such as hand lotion and soap, are delivered for use from containers by small hand-operated pumps, or pumps that operate via a foot pedal. Some of these pumps, such as those supplied with window cleaning compounds, utilize a dip tube extending below the pump apparatus to draw fluid up to the pump for its exit. Others employ a configuration wherein a fluid-containing reservoir is disposed above the pump apparatus. Dispensers of the latter variety are particularly well suited for use as wall mounted soap dispensers in washroom facilities. Since the container is positioned above the pump, location of the pump&#39;s outlet directly above a wash basin is facilitated.  
           [0007]    Mechanical dispensers have been described in various publications, including the following U.S. patents, which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety: U.S. Pat. No. 1,729,903 to T. J. Stephens, issued Oct. 1, 1929; U.S. Pat. No. 2,000,493 to J. C. Miller, issued May 7, 1935; U.S. Pat. No. 2,148,711 to A. C. Reeve, issued Feb. 28, 1939; U.S. Pat. No. 2,227,706 to M. G. Conner, issued Jan. 7, 1941; U.S. Pat. No. 3,337,096 to F. E. Brown, issued Aug. 22, 1967; U.S. Pat. No. 3,414,169 to D. F. Corsette, issued Dec. 3, 1968; U.S. Pat. No. 3,478,934 to A. M. Lindquist, issued Nov. 18, 1969; U.S. Pat. No. 3,844,452 to M. R. Blum, issued Oct. 29, 1974; U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,022 to D. Oldorf, issued Aug. 30, 1988; U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,581 to C. M. Lombardi, Jr., issued Nov. 17, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,572 to C. P. Bath, issued Nov. 24, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,020 to S. A. Kunz, issued Mar. 15, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,613 to Y. C. Chen, issued Jan. 11, 2000; and, particularly by U.S. Pat. No. 3,952,918 to E. J. Poitras, et al., issued Apr. 27, 1976.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    Described herein are methods of obtaining lubricant, especially surgical lubricant, from a mechanical dispenser. The mechanical dispenser can be modified to contain a plastic bag, with or without a metallic coating that lines the inner surface of the bag, filled with lubricant. To obtain lubricant, a medical practitioner may press on the handle of a mechanical dispenser filled with lubricant and hold their hand or other receiving object near or under the outlet. In a further embodiment the mechanical dispenser may be mounted on a wall for increased convenience. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation view of a preferred lubricant dispenser.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional plan and elevation views, respectively, of a clamp apparatus that can optionally be employed with the dispenser shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation view of an alternate fluid container apparatus.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is an enlarged bottom view of a seal cup utilized with the dispenser of FIG. 4. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]    Many surgical lubricants of various compositions are available for a variety of uses. Certain surgical lubricants, such as K-Y Jelly™, are aqueous, i.e., water-based and/or water soluble. Surgical lubricants can be used to moisturize dry tissue, to lubricate body orifices, and to aid in various medical procedures. The term “surgical lubricant,” as used herein, refers to any appropriate lubricant used in a health-care practice, such as those used by physicians, in or on a patient. Such use includes, for example, lubrication for gynecological, gastroenterological, or urological examinations.  
         [0014]    Many different types of mechanical dispensers can be used to extrude lubricants, such as surgical lubricants, including the dispenser described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,952,918. Disclosed herein is one of the many different mechanical dispensers that can be used for extruding lubricant.  
         [0015]    Referring first to FIG. 1 there is shown a hand operated pump  21  for dispensing small quantities of fluid from a container bottle  22 . Supporting the bottle  22  is a support cup  23  mounted on a base member  19 . With the bottle  22  in the operative position shown in FIG. 1 a puncture tube  24  threadedly retained by the base  19  passes through an aperture  20  in a bottle cap  25 . A gasket seal  26  is seated between the inner surface of the bottle cap  25  and the top edge  22 ′ of the bottle  22  in the conventional manner. The cap  25  both retains the seal  26  and prevents inadvertent puncture thereof prior to the time of intended use. Preferably, the seal  26  is made of resilient material and remains in sealing engagement with an outer seal surface  27  of the puncture tube  24 . In addition, the aperture  20  in the bottle cap  25  is sealed by an O-ring  30 ′ seated between the outer surface of the cap  25  and a shoulder  30  formed on the tube  24 . Thus, all fluid flowing from the bottle  22  must pass through a passage  28  extending through the puncture tube  24 .  
         [0016]    Mounted in the tube  24  is a spring loaded check valve  29  that closes the passage  28 . The valve  29  only permits the passage of fluid if the pressure within the bottle  22  exceeds the pressure in a cylindrical chamber  31  formed in a base  19  and communicating with the passage  28 . One wall of the chamber  31  is formed by a spring loaded valve  32  that is bonded to the end of a hollow tubular piston  33  having an opposite end closed by a handle  40 . Accommodating the piston  33  in the base  19  is a counter bore  33 ′ coaxial with the chamber  31 . The piston  33  passes through a retaining ring  34  pressed into an accommodating recess in the base  19  and an inner O-ring  35  retained between a shoulder formed by the counter bore  33 ′ and a washer  35 ′. Extending between the washer  35 ′ and an annular boss  37  on the piston  33  is a spring  36  that urges the piston toward the right as viewed in FIG. 1. The valve  32  comprises a pressure responsive valve member  38  that opens when the pressure in the chamber exceeds, by a predetermined level, the pressure in the hollow piston  33 . The opening pressure required is determined by a spring  41  that resists movement of the valve member  38 . Further valve control, however, is provided by a pin  42  that extends from the valve member  38  beyond the end  39  of the valve body  32 . As the piston  33  is moved inwardly, the pin  42  engages an end wall  43  of the chamber  31  and forces the valve  32  to open regardless of pressure in the chamber  31 .  
         [0017]    An outlet orifice  44  in the piston  33  is plugged by a pliable rubber cap  45  with a slit  46  in the lower surface thereof. The cap  45  acts as an outlet valve and opens to relieve pressure within the piston  33  caused by fluid flow thereinto through the valve  32 . Air is allowed to enter the bottle  22  during use through a pin hole (not shown) punched through the bottom thereof.  
         [0018]    To use the dispenser  21 , a bottle  22  previously filled with a lubricant, for example, is inverted and placed in the operative position within the support  23 . At that time the puncture tube  24  passes through the gasket seal  26 . However, fluid flow into the chamber  31  is prevented by the check valve  29 . The handle  40  and, accordingly, the piston  33  are then pressed toward the left as viewed in FIG. 1 compressing the air in the chamber  31 . When the pin  42  strikes the wall  43  the valve member  38  opens and the pressure in the chamber  31  is relieved. As the handle  40  is allowed to return under the influence of the spring  36 , a partial vacuum is created in the chamber  31 . When the handle  40  nearly reaches the position shown in FIG. 1, the passage between the chamber  31  and the check valve  29  is opened, the low pressure in the chamber  31  allows the valve  29  to open and atmospheric pressure in the bottle  22  forces a measured amount of lubricant into the chamber  31 . When the handle  40  is again pressed to the left, the resultant fluid pressure in the chamber  31  opens the pressure responsive valve member  38  and the moving surface  39  forces fluid through the valve  32  into the hollow piston  33 . Each subsequent reciprocal movement of the handle  40  similarly induces first an emptying and then a filling of chamber  31 . After several such actuations, the interior of the piston  33  is filled and further influx of fluid through the valve  32  produces a lubricant discharge out of the piston  33  through the outlet valve  45 . When this operating condition is reached, each depression and release of the handle  40  causes a measured amount of lubricant to flow from the outlet valve  45 .  
         [0019]    During this pumping operation, the valve member  38  and the pin  42  function to prevent discharged lubricant from accumulating on the outer surface of the outlet valve  45 . Consequently, a tidy appearance is more easily maintained and unwanted dripping from the valve  45  is prevented. These functions are provided by the pin  42  which induces a transient reverse pumping action at the completion of each positive pump stroke by the piston  33 . As described above, contact between the pin  42  and the wall surface  43  maintains the valve member  38  open regardless of the pressure in the chamber  31 . Thus, after each complete pump stroke, the valve member remains open during initial outward motion of the piston  33 . The partial vacuum created during this period draws lubricant from the hollow piston into the chamber  31 . This action continues only until the pin moves out of contact with the surface  43 . Thus, at the completion of each pump stroke a metered quantity of lubricant is returned from the hollow piston  33  to the chamber  31  producing suction at the outlet slit  46  and thereby preventing the above-noted external accumulation of lubricant.  
         [0020]    Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 there is shown an optional clamp apparatus  51  that can be utilized in conjunction with the subject dispenser. A plate  52  is retained between the shoulder  30  on the puncture tube  24  and the support cup  23 . The puncture tube  24  passes through an elongated slot  53  in a plate  52  so as to allow sliding movement thereof. An elongated actuator rod  54  passes through two openings  55  and in the support cup  23 . Vertical side walls  57  and  58 , extending from the plate  52 , terminate in a transverse support plate  59  with a U-shaped notch  60  therein. The U-shaped notch  60  surrounds and extends over the edge  61  on the bottle cap  25  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.  
         [0021]    To remove the bottle  22 , the actuator  54  is pressed to the left (as viewed in FIG. 2) by an external tool (not shown) that passes through the opening  55 . Thus, the plate  52  moves to the left, and the bottle cap  25  is released. After a new bottle  22  has been located in place, the end of the actuator rod  54 , protruding from the opening  56  is depressed until it is flush with the outer surface of the support cup  23 . When that is done, the U-shaped plate  59  is again in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the bottle cap  25  is securely retained. Furthermore, with the clamping mechanism  51  in that position, the actuator rod  55  is concealed within the cup  23  and can be moved into release position only by a tool fitting through the opening  55 . Thus, the possibility of having the bottle  22  removed by unauthorized personnel is substantially reduced.  
         [0022]    Referring now to FIG. 4 there is shown another container embodiment  61  mounted on the base member  19  shown in FIG. 1. Lubricant is contained by a flaccid bag  62  made, for example, of plastic or metal. Preferably the bag  62  is filled with a pliable substance such as lubricant. Enclosing the bag  62  is a cylindrical can  63  with a cover  64  having an annular skirt portion  65 . A marginal portion  66  along an open end of the bag  62  is retained between the outer surface of the can  63  and the inner surface of the annular skirt portion  65 . Centrally located in the cover  64  is a discharge opening  67  while opposite thereof is a vent opening  68  extending through a top wall  69  of the can  63 . A reinforcing cylindrical coil member  71  is axially aligned with the opening  67  and contacts the inner surface of the bag  62 . The coil member  71  made, for example, of plastic or metal is easily collapsible axially but is resistant to collapse radially and integrally with the bag  62 . Also retained within the bag  62  is a circular disc  72  located directly adjacent the end of the bag opposite the discharge opening  67 .  
         [0023]    The can  63  is supported by the base  19  and is retained thereon by an annular, vertically extending rim  75 . The remainder of the base member  19  is identical to that shown in FIG. 1 except that the check valve  29  is replaced in embodiment  61  by a cup member  76  shown also in FIG. 5 and formed, for example, of a suitable elastomeric material. The cup member  76  comprises a semispherically shaped seal portion  77  joined centrally with a hollow nozzle portion  78  that is press fitted into a threaded opening  79  in the base member  19 . A slit  81  provides a discharge opening in a lower conically shaped portion of the nozzle  78 .  
         [0024]    During use of the embodiment  61 , a lubricant filled bag  62  is inserted into the opened can  63  which is then closed by the cover  64  as shown in FIG. 4. As the can  63  is positioned on the base member  19 , an air seal is formed around the opening  67  between the cover  64  and the semispherical seal portion  77 . Manipulation of the pump  21  as described above in connection with FIG. 1 produces a vacuum pressure that draws lubricant through the discharge opening  67  and the slit  81  into the pump chamber  31  from which it can be dispensed. As the contents of the bag  62  are depleted, atmospheric pressure insured by the vent opening  68  causes collapse of the bag  62 . Because of the coil member  71 , however, this collapse progresses uniformly in a vertical direction toward the discharge opening  67  since horizontal collapse is prevented by the axial rigidity of the coil member  71 . Consequently, no sidewall portion of the bag  62  is allowed to reach and thereby seal the discharge opening  67 . In addition, the shield disc  72  prevents the end wall of the flexible bag  62  from reaching the opening  67 . Thus, the opening  67  is maintained open to insure that the entire contents of the bag  62  are emptied.  
         [0025]    The mechanical dispenser disclosed herein can be used by medical personnel to obtain lubricant. A medical practitioner may press on the handle  40  and position his or her hand under the outlet slit  46  to receive lubricant. Alternatively, a foot pedal may be used to release the lubricant from the dispenser. In a further embodiment, the medical practitioner may position any receiving object other than a hand under the dispenser, such as a bowl or a gauze. In some embodiments the mechanical dispenser may be mounted on a wall for increased convenience.  
         [0026]    Dispensing lubricant from a mechanical dispenser has a number of advantages over the previous method of lubricant dispersal. For example, it is easier to obtain lubricant from the present invention than from a squeeze tube or an individual packet containing lubricant. To use the present invention, a medical practitioner merely presses on a handle and places his or her hand under an outlet slit from which lubricant is extruded. By contrast, to use a squeeze tube, the medical practitioner must remove the cap, squeeze a certain amount of lubricant out of the tube, and replace the cap. To use an individual packet, a medical practitioner must tear open the packet, squeeze lubricant out of the packet, and throw the empty packet away.  
         [0027]    In addition, the present invention is safer than the previous methods of lubricant dispersal. Previous methods of lubricant dispersal, in particular obtaining lubricant from an individual unit packet, can lacerate a medical practitioner&#39;s protective glove. Laceration can increase risk of contamination of both the practitioner and patient. The present invention has a much reduced risk of glove laceration.  
         [0028]    Furthermore, the present invention produces less waste than the previous methods of lubricant dispersal. It is difficult to accurately measure an amount of lubricant squeezed out of a tube, which can lead to overuse and wastage of lubricant. Generally, in both squeeze tube and individual unit packets, a certain amount of lubricant is lost in transferring the lubricant from the package to the medical practitioner. The present invention reduces waste and is therefore more cost-effective than the previous methods of lubricant dispersal.  
         [0029]    Using the present invention is more time-efficient than previous methods of lubricant dispersal. Mounting the present invention in a convenient location can reduce preparation time before examining patients, thus freeing up a few extra moments that can be spent with a patient.  
         [0030]    From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that a novel approach for the application of a surgical lubricant to the hands or fingers has been disclosed. While aspects of the invention have been described with reference to specific embodiments, the description is illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Various modifications and applications of the invention may occur to those who are skilled in the art, without departing from the true spirit or scope of the invention. The breadth and scope of the invention should be defined only in accordance with the appended claims and their equivalents.