Apparatus for aseptically dispensing a measured volume of liquid

Claim 2

Apparatus for aseptically dispensing liquid, comprising a. measuring chamber means for accurately measuring the amount of liquid to be dispensed, said measuring chamber means being filled with a fluid immiscible in the liquid to be dispensed, and b. flexible chamber means communicating with said measuring chamber means having a variable volume for receiving the immiscible fluid displaced from the measuring chamber means as the liquid enters the measuring chamber means and for returning the immiscible fluid to the measuring chamber means as liquid is discharged from said measuring chamber mEans, whereby the apparatus requires no contaminating gas to be introduced into the apparatus as liquid is dispensed.

Claim 3

shut-off means connected adjacent said outlet of said measuring chamber for automatically terminating the flow of liquid in said liquid conduit means when said measuring chamber is empty of liquid, and

Claim 4

shut-off means connected adjacent said outlet of said measuring chamber for automatically terminating the flow of liquid in said liquid conduit means when said measuring chamber is empty of liquid, and

Claim 5

Apparatus for aseptically dispensing an accurately measured volume of liquid, comprising a. liquid conduit means for conducting liquid, and b. liquid control means connected with said liquid conduit means for automatically terminating the flow of liquid in said liquid conduit means when a measured volume of liquid has been dispensed, said liquid control means including

Claim 6

Apparatus for aseptically dispensing an accurately measured volume of liquid, comprising a. liquid conduit means for conducting liquid, and b. liquid control means connected with said liquid conduit means for automatically terminating the flow of liquid in said liquid conduit means when a measured volume of liquid has been dispensed, said liquid control means including

Claim 7

flexible chamber means communicating with said measuring chamber having a variable volume for receiving the immiscible fluid displaced from the measuring chamber as liquid enters the measuring chamber inlet and for returning the immiscible fluid to the measuring chamber as liquid is discharged through the measuring chamber outlet, whereby the flow of liquid through the apparatus automatically terminates when said flexible chamber means is fully collapsed.

Claim 8

flexible chamber means communicating with said measuring chamber having a variable volume for receiving the immiscible fluid displaced from the measuring chamber as liquid enters the measuring chamber inlet and for returning the immiscible fluid to the measuring chamber as liquid is discharged through the measuring chamber outlet, whereby the flow of liquid through the apparatus automatically terminates when said flexible chamber means is fully collapsed.

Claim 9

flexible chamber means communicating with said measuring chamber having a variable volume for receiving sterilized air displaced from said measuring chamber as parenteral solution enters the measuring chamber inlet and for returning the sterilized air to the measuring chamber as liquid is discharged through said measuring chamber outlet, said flexible chamber means including a flexible walled chamber having a volume which, in its fully expanded condition at the pressure permitted by the gravity flow of liquid, is equal to the maximum calibrated volume of said measuring chamber; c. a drip chamber mounted on said measuring chamber and connecting said measuring chamber outlet to said second portion of said flexible tubing, said drip chamber being flexible to permit a portion of the sterilized air to be displaced from the measuring chamber when said drip chamber is squeezed to allow an initial amount of parenteral solution to enter said drip chamber and said second portion of said flexible tubing; d. first valve means connected with said First portion of said flexible tubing for permitting only the desired amount of liquid to enter said measuring chamber; e. second valve means connected with said second portion of said flexible tubing for controlling the rate of liquid discharged from the measuring chamber; and f. third valve means for controlling the flow of air between said measuring chamber and said flexible chamber whereby said first, second and third valves may be manipulated to measure out and dispense a desired volume of parenteral solution by causing a controlled volume of parenteral solution to be displaced into said measuring chamber which causes an equal volume of air to be displaced into said flexible chamber and thereafter allowing parenteral solution to be dispensed until said flexible chamber is completely collapsed at which time the flow of parenteral solution through said drip chamber and said second portion of said flexible tubing will terminate automatically.

Claim 10

flexible chamber means communicating with said measuring chamber having a variable volume for receiving sterilized air displaced from said measuring chamber as parenteral solution enters the measuring chamber inlet and for returning the sterilized air to the measuring chamber as liquid is discharged through said measuring chamber outlet, said flexible chamber means including a flexible walled chamber having a volume which, in its fully expanded condition at the pressure permitted by the gravity flow of liquid, is equal to the maximum calibrated volume of said measuring chamber; c. a drip chamber mounted on said measuring chamber and connecting said measuring chamber outlet to said second portion of said flexible tubing, said drip chamber being flexible to permit a portion of the sterilized air to be displaced from the measuring chamber when said drip chamber is squeezed to allow an initial amount of parenteral solution to enter said drip chamber and said second portion of said flexible tubing; d. first valve means connected with said First portion of said flexible tubing for permitting only the desired amount of liquid to enter said measuring chamber; e. second valve means connected with said second portion of said flexible tubing for controlling the rate of liquid discharged from the measuring chamber; and f. third valve means for controlling the flow of air between said measuring chamber and said flexible chamber whereby said first, second and third valves may be manipulated to measure out and dispense a desired volume of parenteral solution by causing a controlled volume of parenteral solution to be displaced into said measuring chamber which causes an equal volume of air to be displaced into said flexible chamber and thereafter allowing parenteral solution to be dispensed until said flexible chamber is completely collapsed at which time the flow of parenteral solution through said drip chamber and said second portion of said flexible tubing will terminate automatically.

Claim 11

Apparatus for automatically dispensing an accurately measured volume of liquid, comprising a. liquid conduit means for conducting liquid, and b. liquid control means connected with said liquid conduit means for automatically terminating the flow of liquid in said liquid conduit means when a measured volume of liquid has been dispensed, said liquid control means including

Claim 12

Apparatus for automatically dispensing an accurately measured volume of liquid, comprising a. liquid conduit means for conducting liquid, and b. liquid control means connected with said liquid conduit means for automatically terminating the flow of liquid in said liquid conduit means when a measured volume of liquid has been dispensed, said liquid control means including

Claim 13

flexible chamber means communicating with said measuring chamber having a variable volume for receiving the immiscible fluid displaced from the measuring chamber as liquid enters the measuring chamber inlet and for returning the immiscible fluid to the measuring chamber as liquid is discharged through the measuring chamber outlet, whereby no environmental air need be introduced into said measuring chamber as the liquid is dispensed therefrom.

Claim 14

flexible chamber means communicating with said measuring chamber having a variable volume for receiving the immiscible fluid displaced from the measuring chamber as liquid enters the measuring chamber inlet and for returning the immiscible fluid to the measuring chamber as liquid is discharged through the measuring chamber outlet, whereby no environmental air need be introduced into said measuring chamber as the liquid is dispensed therefrom.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said measuring chamber includes a transparent wall portion having visual graduation marks indicating the volume of liquid contained in the measuring chamber when the upper level of the liquid reaches each respective mark.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said measuring chamber has a fixed volume defined by relatively rigid walls and said flexible chamber means includes a flexible walled chamber having a variable volume which, in its fully expanded condition at the pressure permitted by the gravity flow of liquid, is at least equal to the maximum calibrated volume of said measuring chamber.

Claim 17

Apparatus as defined in claim 5 further including metering means connected with said flexible walled chamber for varying the volume of immiscible fluid contained therein, said metering means including a syringe communicating with the interior of said flexible walled chamber, said syringe including a plunger movable in one direction to withdraw immiscible fluid from said flexible walled chamber and movable in the opposite direction to reinsert the immiscible fluid in said flexible walled chamber.

Claim 18

Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said flexible walled chamber includes a plurality of segmented sections and a plurality of narrow passageways separating the sections, whereby any one of said passageways may be clamped off to restrict the amount of immiscible fluid which may flow back into said measuring chamber.

Claim 19

Apparatus as defined by claim 3 wherein said liquid conduit means includes first valve means located within said one portion for permitting only the desired amount of liquid to enter said measuring chamber and second valve means located within said another portion for controlling the rate of liquid discharge from the measuring chamber.

Claim 20

Apparatus as defined by claim 8 further including a fluid conduit between said measuring chamber and said flexible chamber means having a third valve means for controlling the flow of said immiscible fluid between said measuring chamber and said flexible chamber means.

Claim 21

Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the liquid is a parenteral solution and said liquid conduit means includes a drip chamber mounted adjacent said measuring chamber outlet, said drip chamber being flexible to permit some of the immiscible fluid to be displaced from the measuring chamber when the drip chamber is squeezed whereby a controlled level of parenteral solution may be displaced into the drip chamber and liquid conduit means.

Claim 22

Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said liquid conduit means includes a piercing means at one end for insertion into a source of liquid and a needle at the other end for insertion into a patient.

Claim 23

A parenteral solution administration apparatus for dispensing accurately measured volumes of parenteral solution and for positively terminating liquid flow, comprising a. a flexible tubing including piercing means at one end for insertion into a source of parenteral solution and needle means at the other end for insertion into a patient for transporting parenteral solution to a patient; b. control means for automatically terminating the flow of liquid in said flexible tubing when a predetermined volume of parenteral solution has been dispensed through said needle means, said control means including

Claim 24

A parenteral solution administration apparatus for dispensing accurately measured volumes of parenteral solution and for positively terminating liquid flow, comprising a. a flexible tubing including piercing means at one end for insertion into a source of parenteral solution and needle means at the other end for insertion into a patient for transporting parenteral solution to a patient; b. control means for automatically terminating the flow of liquid in said flexible tubing when a predetermined volume of parenteral solution has been dispensed through said needle means, said control means including