Flexible container systems and nozzles, and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12076469-B2
Application number	US-202217818581-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2022
Priority date	Jul 5, 2018
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

A container system includes at least one flexible wall defining a compartment containing a dissolvable solid or concentrate, a support adjacent a first end of the at least one flexible wall, and a nozzle assembly coupled to a second end of the at least one flexible wall. The second end of the wall is distal from the first end. The nozzle assembly comprises a hollow body defining a longitudinal axis. The hollow body further defines a plurality of orifices through a wall thereof. Each orifice is able to form a fluid connection between an interior volume within the hollow body and the compartment. Each orifice is configured to deliver liquid from the interior volume to the compartment in a direction having an angle of between 5° and 85° from a direction of the longitudinal axis. Related nozzles and methods are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A nozzle assembly comprising:
a hollow body having a generally cylindrical exterior surface and defining a longitudinal axis;
a domed outer surface;
a retaining lip extending radially from the domed outer surface; and
a port configured to couple to a catheter;
wherein the hollow body defines a plurality of orifices extending through the domed outer surface, each orifice able to form a fluid connection between an interior volume within the hollow body and an exterior volume outside the nozzle assembly, one or more of the plurality of orifices configured to deliver liquid received from the port to the exterior volume in a direction forming an angle of between 5° and 85° with respect to a direction of the longitudinal axis of the hollow body, the one or more of the plurality of orifices defined by a first hole in an inner surface of the hollow body proximate the interior volume and a second hole in an outer surface of the hollow body proximate the exterior volume, wherein the first hole has a first cross-sectional shape and the second hole has a second different cross-sectional shape larger than the first cross-sectional shape.

2. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the angle is between 10° and 85°.

3. The nozzle assembly of claim 2 , wherein the angle is between 20° and 85°.

4. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one orifice of the plurality is oriented such that liquid flowing through the at least one orifice leaves the nozzle assembly traveling in a direction at an angle of at least 5° with respect to a direction normal to an exterior surface of the nozzle assembly.

5. The nozzle assembly of claim 4 , wherein the at least one orifice of the plurality is oriented such that liquid flowing through the at least one orifice leaves the nozzle assembly traveling in a direction at an initial angle of at least 10° with respect to a direction normal to an exterior surface of the nozzle assembly.

6. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a flange surrounding the hollow body.

7. The nozzle assembly of claim 6 , further comprising flow channels defined between then flange and the hollow body.

8. The nozzle assembly of claim 7 , wherein the flow channels are configured to deliver liquid received from the port to the exterior volume in a lateral direction.

9. A method for delivering a liquid, the method comprising:
flowing a liquid into an interior volume of a hollow body of a nozzle assembly through a port coupled to a catheter, the hollow body having a generally cylindrical exterior surface and defining a longitudinal axis, the nozzle assembly including a domed outer surface and a retaining lip extending radially from the domed outer surface,
flowing the liquid out of the interior volume of the hollow body and into an exterior volume through a plurality of orifices through a wall of the hollow body at an angle of between 5° and 85° from a direction of the longitudinal axis, wherein the liquid enters one or more of the plurality of orifices through a first opening having a first cross-sectional shape and exits the one or more of the plurality of orifices through a second opening having a second different cross-sectional shape larger than the first cross-sectional shape, the second opening defined in the domed outer surface of the nozzle assembly, the exterior volume including a dissolvable solid or concentrate;
mixing the dissolvable solid or concentrate with the liquid to form a solution; and
withdrawing the solution after mixing from the exterior volume through the nozzle assembly.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein providing a plurality of streams of a liquid through a nozzle assembly into a compartment comprises forming a rotational flow of liquid in the compartment.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising breaching a frangible seal before providing the plurality of streams of the liquid through the nozzle assembly into the compartment.

12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein withdrawing the solution through the nozzle assembly comprises varying a flow rate of the solution through the nozzle assembly.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein varying a flow rate of the solution through the nozzle assembly comprises decreasing the flow rate in a stepwise manner.

14. The method according to claim 9 , wherein withdrawing the solution through the nozzle assembly begins less than five minutes after providing a plurality of streams of a liquid through a nozzle assembly begins.

15. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising flowing a portion of the liquid through flow paths defined between an exterior of the hollow body and a flange surrounding the hollow body.

16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising flowing the portion of the liquid out of the flow paths in a lateral direction.

17. A nozzle assembly comprising:
a flange defining a central opening;
a hollow body disposed in the central opening of the flange;
a domed outer surface;
a retaining lip extending radially from the outer surface; and
a port configured to couple to a catheter;
wherein the hollow body defines a plurality of orifices extending through the domed outer surface, each orifice able to form a fluid connection between an interior volume within the hollow body and an exterior volume outside the nozzle assembly, one or more of the plurality of orifices configured to deliver liquid received from the port to the exterior volume, the one or more of the plurality of orifices defined by a first hole in an inner surface of the hollow body proximate the interior volume and a second hole in an outer surface of the hollow body proximate the exterior volume, wherein the first hole has a first cross-sectional shape and the second hole has a second cross-sectional shape different than the first cross-sectional shape.

18. The nozzle assembly of claim 17 , further comprising one or more flow paths defined between the flange and the hollow body, the flow paths configured to redirect a portion of the liquid received from the port to the exterior volume in a lateral direction.

19. The nozzle assembly of claim 18 , wherein the one or more flow paths comprise channels defined in an exterior surface of the hollow body.

20. The nozzle assembly of claim 18 , wherein the one or more flow paths further comprise lateral orifices operatively coupled to channels, wherein the lateral orifices are substantially perpendicular to the channels.

Assignees

• Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Jensen Lynn E
• Lindley Deloy
• Rebacz Natalie
• Hoover Mary
• Dayton Troy
• Smith Michael P

Classifications

• A61M1/167

  Flexible packaging for solid concentrates · CPC title

• A61J1/2024

  having peelable seals · CPC title

• A61J1/10

  Bag-type containers · CPC title

• A61M1/287

  Dialysates therefor · CPC title

• A61J1/2093

  Containers having several compartments for products to be mixed · CPC title