Universal fluid container adapter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11865072-B2
Application number	US-202117388174-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2021
Priority date	Jul 29, 2020
Publication date	Jan 9, 2024
Grant date	Jan 9, 2024

Abstract

Various embodiments are generally directed to fluid container adapters that couple with a fluid container and enable different systems, such as endoscopic systems, to access the contents of the fluid container, such as via a tubing set. Several embodiments are particularly directed to a fluid container adapter that punctures a fluid container to couple with and gain access to the contents of the fluid container. In one embodiment, for example, a platform may be used to support a fluid container as one or more penetration members attached to a crossmember are advanced into the fluid container along rails connected between the platform and the crossmember. In such embodiments, the one or more penetration members may include lumens to enable a tubing set to access the contents of the fluid container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adapter for fluid containers, comprising:
a platform including first and second rails extending from the platform, the first and second rails extending substantially parallel to each other; and
a crossmember slidably attached to the first and second rails such that the platform and the crossmember are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the platform, the crossmember, and the first and second rails are adjustable for receiving a fluid container, wherein the crossmember includes one or more penetration members extending from the crossmember towards the platform, each of the one or more penetration members comprising a lumen and a penetrator portion with an opening to the lumen, the penetrator portion configured for piercing the fluid container when the crossmember is moved towards the platform along the first and second rails.

2. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the opening of the penetrator portion of at least one of the one or more penetration members comprises a plurality of radial openings to the lumen.

3. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the penetrator portion of at least one of the one or more penetration members comprises a conical point.

4. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the penetrator portion of at least one of the one or more penetration members comprises a beveled tip.

5. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more penetration members comprises a sealing portion, the sealing portion configured to create a seal between an exterior of the penetration member and the fluid container.

6. The adapter of claim 5 , wherein the sealing portion comprises an elastomer disposed about a circumference of the exterior surface of the penetration member.

7. The adapter of claim 6 , wherein the first rail comprises a first channel, the second rail comprises a second channel, and the crossmember comprises first and second pegs, the first peg extending into the first channel to slidably attach the first rail to the crossmember and the second peg extending into the second channel to slidably attach the second rail to the crossmember.

8. The adapter of claim 6 , wherein the lumen and the opening of at least one of the one or more penetration members are configured to have a tube extended therethrough and into an interior of the fluid container after the fluid container is pierced with the penetrator portions of the one or more penetration members.

9. The adapter of claim 6 , wherein the crossmember comprises a first side and a second side with a through hole extending from the first side to the second side, wherein at least one of the one or more penetration members extend from the first side and the through hole is in fluid communication with the lumen of the at least one penetration member.

10. The adapter of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the one or more penetration members comprise a connector portion configured to couple to a tube and place the tube in fluid communication with the lumen of the at least one penetration member.

11. The adapter of claim 6 , wherein the opening of at least one of the one or more penetration members comprises a filter screen.

12. The adapter of claim 6 , wherein the one or more penetration members comprise a first penetration member and a second penetration member, and further comprising:
a pressure source in fluid communication with the lumen of the second penetration member, wherein the pressure source is configured to introduce a first fluid into an interior of the fluid container to cause a second fluid to exit the interior of the fluid container via the lumen of the first penetration member.

13. The adapter of claim 12 , wherein the first penetration member comprises a first sealing portion configured to create a seal between an exterior of the first penetration member and the fluid container, and the second penetration member comprises a second sealing portion configured to create a seal between an exterior of the second penetration member and the fluid container.

14. An apparatus, comprising:
a platform comprising a support surface configured to support a fluid container;
a first rail attached to the platform and extending from the support surface;
a second rail attached to the platform and extending from the support surface parallel to the first rail;
a crossmember comprising one or more mounts configured to connect to one or more penetration members, the crossmember slidably connected to the first rail and the second rail;
and a penetration member connected to the crossmember via a mount of the one or more mounts and extending toward the support surface, the penetration member comprising a lumen and a penetrator portion with an opening to the lumen, the penetrator portion configured to puncture the fluid container supported by the support surface and place an interior of the fluid container in fluid communication with the lumen of the penetration member via the opening when the crossmember is slid toward the support surface along the first and second rails.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , comprising a lever configured to slide the crossmember toward the support surface along the first and second rails.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the opening comprises a filter screen.

17. A method, comprising:
attaching a first rail and a second rail to a platform, the platform including a support surface configured to support a fluid container and the first and second rails extending substantially parallel to one another from the support surface; and
slidably connecting a crossmember to the first rail and the second rail, the crossmember including one or more penetration members;
wherein the penetration member extends toward the support surface of the platform and includes a lumen and a penetrator portion with an opening to the lumen, the penetrator portion configured to puncture the fluid container supported by the support surface and place an interior of the fluid container in fluid communication with the lumen of the penetration member via the opening when the crossmember is slid toward the support surface along the first and second rails.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising disposing an elastomer about an exterior circumference of the penetration member to form a sealing portion of the penetration member, the sealing portion configured to create a seal between the exterior of the penetration member and the fluid container when the interior of the fluid container is in fluid communication with the lumen of the penetration member.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising pivotally attaching a lever to the crossmember, wherein activation of the lever is configured to force the crossmember toward the support surface.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising extending the lever through a channel in the first rail or the second rail to configure the lever to force the crossmember toward the support surface.

Assignees

• Boston Scient Scimed Inc

Inventors

• Robertson Jared

Classifications

• A61J1/2017 Primary

  having three or more piercing ends · CPC title

• A61B1/00131 Primary

  Accessories for endoscopes · CPC title

• A61J1/2055

  having gripping means · CPC title

• B67C9/00

  Devices for emptying bottles, not otherwise provided for {(during preparation of alcoholic beverages except beer C12G1/00)} · CPC title

• A61B1/12

  with cooling or rinsing arrangements · CPC title