Methods and systems for mating disposable syringes with pneumatic drivers without breaking sterility

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11904147-B2
Application number	US-201916701591-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 3, 2019
Priority date	Dec 19, 2018
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

A pneumatic driver for a syringe is provided. The syringe has an elongated barrel with a cap secured to the proximal end that has a through bore. A filter is secured to the cap interior of the barrel that covers an opening in the through bore interior of the barrel. The pneumatic driver includes a source of pressurized air; a support for receiving and locating the syringe; and a supply block configured to receive pressurized air from the source and having an outlet for delivery of pressurized air. The supply block is movable between a first position spaced apart from the cap of the syringe and a second position in contact with the cap with fluid communication being established between the outlet of the supply block and the through-bore in the cap.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An actuator for a syringe, the syringe comprising an elongated barrel having a first end, and a cap secured to the first end having a through-bore, the actuator comprising:
a) a source of pressurized air;
b) a support for receiving and locating the syringe having the cap with the through-bore secured to the first end of the syringe; and
c) a supply block configured to receive pressurized air from the source and having an outlet for delivery of pressurized air, the supply block being movable between a first position spaced apart from the cap of the syringe and a second position in contact with the cap with fluid communication being established between the outlet of the supply block and the through-bore in the cap;
further comprising a base, wherein the source of pressurized air, the support for receiving the syringe, and the supply block are mounted to the base; and
wherein the source of pressurized air and the support for receiving the syringe are affixed to the base and the supply block is movably attached to the base for movement between the first and second positions by a plurality of links, each link having a first and second end, the first end of each link being pivotally secured relative to the base and the second end of each link being pivotally secured to the supply block.

2. The actuator of claim 1 further comprising a seal associated with one of the outlet of the supply block or the through-bore in the cap to provide a seal between the outlet of the supply block and the through-bore in the cap when the supply block is in the second position.

3. The actuator of claim 1 further comprising a lever pivotally attached relative to the base and a further link having first and second ends, the first end of the further link being pivotally secured to the lever and the second end of the further link being pivotally secured to the supply block such that movement of the lever relative to the base moves the supply block between the first and second positions.

4. The actuator of claim 3 wherein the lever further comprises a cover, the cover being spaced away from the base when the supply block is in the first position and is spaced closer to the base when the supply block is in the second position.

5. The actuator of claim 1 further wherein the plurality of links comprises two pairs of links pivotally secured to the supply block and the base so that the links of each pair are substantially parallel throughout a range of motion from the first position to the second position.

6. The actuator of claim 1 further comprising a first permanent magnet secured to the base and a second permanent magnet secured to the supply block such that the first and second magnets are in proximity when the supply block is in the first position with a sufficient force of attraction to maintain the supply block in the first position in the absence of a further external force being applied to the supply block.

7. The actuator of claim 3 further comprising a first permanent magnet secured to the base and a second permanent magnet secured to the supply block such that the first and second magnets are in proximity when the supply block is in the first position with a sufficient force of attraction to maintain the supply block in the first position in the absence of a further external force being applied to the supply block.

8. The actuator of claim 4 further comprising a first permanent magnet secured to the base and a second permanent magnet secured to the supply block such that the first and second magnets are in proximity when the supply block is in the first position with a sufficient force of attraction to maintain the supply block in the first position in the absence of a further external force being applied to the supply block.

9. The actuator of claim 1 further comprising an air flow pathway from the source of pressurized air to the supply block, one or more valves for controlling air flow through the air flow pathway, one or more pressure sensors for measuring air pressure within the air flow pathway and providing a signal indicative of the air pressure, and a programmable controller configured to automatically control the air flow through the air flow pathway by actuation of the one or more valves in response to signals received from the one or more sensors.

10. The actuator of claim 2 further comprising an air flow pathway from the source of pressurized air to the supply block, one or more valves for controlling air flow through the air flow pathway, one or more pressure sensors for measuring air pressure within the air flow pathway and providing a signal indicative of the air pressure, and a programmable controller configured to automatically control the air flow through the air flow pathway by actuation of the one or more valves in response to signals received from the one or more sensors.

11. The actuator of claim 3 further comprising an air flow pathway from the source of pressurized air to the supply block, one or more valves for controlling air flow through the air flow pathway, one or more pressure sensors for measuring air pressure within the air flow pathway and providing a signal indicative of the air pressure, and a programmable controller configured to automatically control the air flow through the air flow pathway by actuation of the one or more valves in response to signals received from the one or more sensors.

12. The actuator of claim 4 further comprising an air flow pathway from the source of pressurized air to the supply block, one or more valves for controlling air flow through the air flow pathway, one or more pressure sensors for measuring air pressure within the air flow pathway and providing a signal indicative of the air pressure, and a programmable controller configured to automatically control the air flow through the air flow pathway by actuation of the one or more valves in response to signals received from the one or more sensors.

13. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the supply block defines a longitudinal axis generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the syringe received in the support and the actuator further comprising a latch pivotally mounted relative to the base comprising an arcuate track, a guide block secured to the base comprising a linear track generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the supply block, and the supply block further comprising a follower received in both the arcuate track of the latch and the linear track of the guide block, such that when the latch is pivoted, the arcuate track engages the follower to move the follower along the linear track and to thus move the supply block between the first and second positions.

14. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the outlet of the supply block comprises a luer fitting.

15. The actuator of claim 14 wherein the luer fitting is threaded and the supply block is rotatable.

16. An actuator for a syringe, the syringe comprising an elongated barrel having a first end, and a cap secured to the first end having a through-bore, the actuator comprising:
a) a source of pressurized air;
b) a support for receiving and locating the syringe having the cap with the through-bore secured to the first end of the syringe; and
c) a supply block configured to receive pressurized air from the source and having an outlet for delivery of pressurized air, the supply block being movable between a first position spaced apart from the cap of the syringe and a second position in contact with the cap with fluid communication being established between the outlet of the supply block and the through-bore in the cap;
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Assignees

• Fenwal Inc

Inventors

• Wegener Christopher J
• Salomon Alexandra
• Olson Bret M
• Grider Keith
• Matusaitis Tom

Classifications

• A61M5/31578 Primary

  based on axial translation, i.e. components directly operatively associated and axially moved with plunger rod · CPC title

• A61J1/05

  for collecting, storing or administering blood, plasma or medical fluids {(multiple bags systems for separating or storing blood components A61M1/0209); Infusion or perfusion containers} · CPC title

• A61M1/362265

  Details of valves · CPC title

• A61M5/3145

  Filters incorporated in syringes · CPC title

• B01L9/00

  Supporting devices; Holding devices · CPC title