Push back procedure for preventing drop-former droplet formation in a vacuum assisted solution transfer system with upstream occulusion

Claim 1

A method for cleaning a conduit of fluid comprising the steps of: providing a device for vacuum-assisted transfer of a fluid from a first container to a second container via a conduit coupling said containers together, said device including an occluder associated with said conduit and positioned between said containers to selectively allow transfer of a fluid, said occluder being closed following transfer of a fluid, said second container being placed under vacuum pressure during transfer of the fluid; following transfer of a fluid, placing said second container under positive pressure; and sufficiently pulsing said occluder open to allow fluid downstream of said occluder to be forced upstream of said occluder.

Claim 2

A method for cleaning a conduit of fluid comprising the steps of: providing a device for vacuum-assisted transfer of a fluid from a first container to a second container via a conduit coupling said containers together, said device including an occluder associated with said conduit and positioned between said containers to selectively allow transfer of a fluid, said occluder being closed following transfer of a fluid, said second container being placed under vacuum pressure during transfer of the fluid; following transfer of a fluid, placing said second container under positive pressure; and sufficiently pulsing said occluder open to allow fluid downstream of said occluder to be forced upstream of said occluder.

Claim 8

A device for accurately transferring multiple individual fluids from multiple source containers to a single receiving container, in which fluid flows from said multiple source containers through individual fluid conduits to a chamber having a chamber fluid outlet conduit in fluid communication with the single receiving container, the chamber also having a pressure conduit, the invention comprising: a first occlusion means for selectably preventing fluid flow from each of said individual fluid conduits to said chamber; pressure means for selectively creating positive and negative pressures in said chamber to control the rate of fluid flow through said chamber; second occlusion means for selectively occluding fluid flow from said chamber outlet fluid conduit to said receiving container; and control means for controlling said first and second occlusion means and said pressure means, said control means causing said first occlusion means to allow fluid to flow through at least one of said individual fluid conduits while causing said second occlusion means to prevent fluid flow into said receiving container and simultaneously causing said pressure means to create a negative pressure in said chamber to precisely control the amount of fluid flow into said chamber, said control means creating a positive pressure in said chamber and then causing said first occlusion means to allow fluid to flow in a fluid conduit associated with a most recently transferred fluid thereby allowing said positive pressure to force fluid in said conduit upstream of said first occlusion means, said control means further causing said first occlusion means to prevent fluid flow through all of said individual fluid conduits after a predetermined amount of fluid has been delivered to said chamber, said control means then further causing said second occlusion means to allow fluid to flow from said chamber through said outlet conduit while simultaneously causing said pressure means to create a positive pressure in said chamber to force fluid from said chamber into said receiving container.

Claim 9

A device for accurately transferring multiple individual fluids from multiple source containers to a single receiving container, in which fluid flows from said multiple source containers through individual fluid conduits to a chamber having a chamber fluid outlet conduit in fluid communication with the single receiving container, the chamber also having a pressure conduit, the invention comprising: a first occlusion means for selectably preventing fluid flow from each of said individual fluid conduits to said chamber; pressure means for selectively creating positive and negative pressures in said chamber to control the rate of fluid flow through said chamber; second occlusion means for selectively occluding fluid flow from said chamber outlet fluid conduit to said receiving container; and control means for controlling said first and second occlusion means and said pressure means, said control means causing said first occlusion means to allow fluid to flow through at least one of said individual fluid conduits while causing said second occlusion means to prevent fluid flow into said receiving container and simultaneously causing said pressure means to create a negative pressure in said chamber to precisely control the amount of fluid flow into said chamber, said control means creating a positive pressure in said chamber and then causing said first occlusion means to allow fluid to flow in a fluid conduit associated with a most recently transferred fluid thereby allowing said positive pressure to force fluid in said conduit upstream of said first occlusion means, said control means further causing said first occlusion means to prevent fluid flow through all of said individual fluid conduits after a predetermined amount of fluid has been delivered to said chamber, said control means then further causing said second occlusion means to allow fluid to flow from said chamber through said outlet conduit while simultaneously causing said pressure means to create a positive pressure in said chamber to force fluid from said chamber into said receiving container.

Claim 14

A device for transferring fluid from a first container to a second container comprising: a conduit coupling said containers in fluid communication; an occluder positioned between said containers and operatively associated with said conduit to selectively occlude said conduit thereby selectively permitting fluid to flow from said first container to said second container; and means for displacing fluid in said conduit upstream of said occluder including means for placing said second container under positive pressure.

Claim 15

A device for transferring fluid from a first container to a second container comprising: a conduit coupling said containers in fluid communication; an occluder positioned between said containers and operatively associated with said conduit to selectively occlude said conduit thereby selectively permitting fluid to flow from said first container to said second container; and means for displacing fluid in said conduit upstream of said occluder including means for placing said second container under positive pressure.

Claim 17

A device for transferring fluid from a first container to a second container comprising: a conduit coupling said containers in fluid communication; an occluder positioned between said containers and operatively associated with said conduit to selectively occlude said conduit thereby selectively permitting fluid to flow from said first container to said second container; mean for displacing fluid in said conduit upstream of said occluder; and means for placing said second container under vacuum pressure during transfer of fluid from said first container to said second container.

Claim 18

A device for transferring fluid from a first container to a second container comprising: a conduit coupling said containers in fluid communication; an occluder positioned between said containers and operatively associated with said conduit to selectively occlude said conduit thereby selectively permitting fluid to flow from said first container to said second container; mean for displacing fluid in said conduit upstream of said occluder; and means for placing said second container under vacuum pressure during transfer of fluid from said first container to said second container.

Claim 19

A device for transferring fluid from a first container to a second container comprising: a conduit coupling said containers in fluid communication; an occluder positioned between said containers and operatively associated with said conduit to selectively occlude said conduit thereby selectively permitting fluid to flow from said first container to said second container; and means for displacing fluid in said conduit upstream of said occluder comprising means for placing said second container under a positive pressure and means for pulsing said occluder to thereby permit positive pressure to force fluid in said conduit upstream of said occluder.

Claim 20

A device for transferring fluid from a first container to a second container comprising: a conduit coupling said containers in fluid communication; an occluder positioned between said containers and operatively associated with said conduit to selectively occlude said conduit thereby selectively permitting fluid to flow from said first container to said second container; and means for displacing fluid in said conduit upstream of said occluder comprising means for placing said second container under a positive pressure and means for pulsing said occluder to thereby permit positive pressure to force fluid in said conduit upstream of said occluder.

Claim 23

A method of clearing a conduit of fluid comprising the steps of: providing a device for transfer of a fluid from a first container to a second container via a conduit coupling said containers together, said device including an occluder associated with said conduit and positioned between said containers to selectively allow transfer of a fluid; following transfer of a fluid, creating a differential pressure across the occluder whereby the greater positive pressure is exerted downstream of said occluder to thereby urge fluid in said conduit upstream of said occluder; and a sufficiently pulsing said occluder open to allow fluid downstream of said occluder to be forced upstream of said occluder.

Claim 24

A method of clearing a conduit of fluid comprising the steps of: providing a device for transfer of a fluid from a first container to a second container via a conduit coupling said containers together, said device including an occluder associated with said conduit and positioned between said containers to selectively allow transfer of a fluid; following transfer of a fluid, creating a differential pressure across the occluder whereby the greater positive pressure is exerted downstream of said occluder to thereby urge fluid in said conduit upstream of said occluder; and a sufficiently pulsing said occluder open to allow fluid downstream of said occluder to be forced upstream of said occluder.