Multi-chamber, multi-formulation fluid delivery system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9706754-B2
Application number	US-201414488968-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2014
Priority date	Sep 17, 2013
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

The application discloses a multi-chamber, multi-formulation fluid delivery system, comprising a multi-chamber applicator in fluid communication with multi-chamber packaging. Applicators according to the instant disclosure have reduced squeeze-strength requirements, and are useful for dispensing fluids, including medicaments, to animals, including livestock animals. The multi-chamber packaging provides separate storage for formulations containing incompatible active ingredients, and is suitable for use with the multi-chamber applicator. The application also discloses methods for using the system to simultaneously deliver multiple active ingredients, at least some of which are not suitable for co-formulation, thus reducing the time, economic burden and animal stress involved with applying multiple, separate formulations to animals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-chamber, multi-liquid delivery system comprising:
an applicator having an outlet for delivering at least two liquids; and
a dual chamber hose coupled to the applicator for providing parallel fluid communication from packaging, the packaging comprising at least two separate containers that prevents a liquid in each container from mixing with each other prior to entering the applicator, wherein the applicator comprises at least two barrels;
each barrel comprising:
an inlet that is coupled to one chamber of the dual chamber hose;
a one-way valve adjacent to inlet for receiving fluid from the inlet, the one-way valve comprising means for limiting pressure within a respective barrel;
wherein the pressure limiting means comprises:
a first valve head and a first valve seat, wherein the first valve head can be moved from a closed position to an open position by movement of a diaphragm; and
a second valve head and second valve seat, wherein the second valve head is connected to the first valve head and moves with the first valve head, such that a pressure difference across said first valve head is substantially equal to a pressure difference across said second valve head;

a dispensing conduit that is in fluid communication with the one-way valve;
a piston for displacing fluid through the dispensing conduit;

the applicator further comprising:
a mixing chamber coupled to each dispensing conduit of each barrel for mixing fluid received from each dispensing conduit to create a mixed liquid, the mixing chamber also coupled to the outlet; and
an actuator coupled to each piston and for moving each piston within a respective barrel when a force is applied to the actuator, each piston when moved dispenses the mixed liquid from the mixing chamber through the outlet, whereby the applicator provides a mechanical advantage in reducing the force needed to actuate the actuator for dispensing the mixed liquid through the outlet.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a volume control for adjusting a fluid volume within a respective barrel received from the dual chamber hose.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the volume control is coupled to the mixing chamber.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one-way valve comprises a disc.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the disc is coupled to a spring.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the means for limiting pressure comprises a force transfer component coupled to the spring and a ring hub, and a flexible diaphragm that engages the ring hub and a clamp ring.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a first handle coupled to a first end of each piston and a second handle coupled to the mixing chamber.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the two containers are coupled together by a fastening device.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the fastening device comprises at least one bracket for holding the two containers together when they are coupled to the dual chamber hose.

10. A multi-chamber, multi-formulation delivery system comprising:
an applicator having an outlet for delivering at least two liquid formulations, the applicator comprises at least two barrels;
each barrel comprising:
an inlet;
a one-way valve adjacent to inlet for receiving fluid from the inlet, the one-way valve comprising means for limiting pressure within a respective barrel;
wherein the pressure limiting means comprises:
a first valve head and a first valve seat, wherein the first valve head can be moved from a closed position to an open position by movement of a diaphragm; and
a second valve head and second valve seat, wherein the second valve head is connected to the first valve head and moves with the first valve head, such that a pressure difference across said first valve head is substantially equal to a pressure difference across said second valve head;

a dispensing conduit that is in fluid communication with the one-way valve;
a piston for displacing fluid through the dispensing conduit;

the applicator further comprising:
a mixing chamber coupled to each dispensing conduit of each barrel for mixing fluid received from each dispensing conduit to create a mixed formulation liquid, the mixing chamber also coupled to the outlet; and
an actuator coupled to each piston and for moving each piston within a respective barrel when a force is applied to the actuator, each piston when moved dispenses the mixed formulation liquid from the mixing chamber through the outlet, whereby the applicator provides a mechanical advantage in reducing the force needed to actuate the actuator for dispensing the mixed formulation liquid through the outlet.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a dual chamber hose coupled to the applicator for providing parallel fluid communication from packaging.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the packaging comprises at least two separate containers, each container comprising a different liquid formulation.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the two containers are coupled together by a fastening device.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the fastening device comprises at least one bracket for holding the two containers together when they are coupled to the dual chamber hose.

15. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a volume control for adjusting a fluid volume within a respective barrel received from the dual chamber hose.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the volume control is coupled to the mixing chamber.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one-way valve comprises a disc.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the disc is coupled to a spring.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the means for limiting pressure comprises a force transfer component coupled to the spring and a ring hub, and a flexible diaphragm that engages the ring hub and a clamp ring.

20. The system of claim 10 , wherein the actuator comprises a first handle coupled to a first end of each piston and a second handle coupled to the mixing chamber.

21. A multi-chamber, multi-formulation delivery system comprising:
an applicator having an outlet for delivering at least two liquid formulations, the applicator comprises at least two barrels;
each barrel comprising:
an inlet;
a one-way valve adjacent to inlet for receiving fluid from the inlet, the one-way valve comprising a pressure relief device for limiting pressure within a respective barrel;
wherein the pressure limiting device comprises:
a first valve head and a first valve seat, wherein the first valve head can be moved from a closed position to an open position by movement of a diaphragm; and
a second valve head and second valve seat, wherein the second valve head is connected to the first valve head and moves with the first valve head, such that a pressure difference across said first valve head is substantially equal to a pressure difference across said second valve head;

a dispensing conduit that is in fluid communication with the one-way valve;
a piston for displacing fluid through the dispensing conduit;

the applicator further comprising:
a mixing chamber coupled to each dispensing conduit of each barrel for mixing fluid received from each dispensing conduit to create a mixed formulation liquid, the mixing chamber also coupled to the outlet; and
an actuator coupled to each piston and for moving each piston within a respective barrel when a force is applied to the actuator, each piston when moved dispenses the mixed formulation li

Assignees

• Merial Ltd
• Merial Inc

Inventors

• Prescott Todd Luepke
• Walker Rodney Gordon
• Lauchlan Gareth Nigel
• Trow David Andrew

Classifications

• B05C17/01

  with {manually} mechanically or electrically actuated piston or the like {(B05C17/00533 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A61M2005/3128

  Incorporating one-way valves, e.g. pressure-relief or non-return valves · CPC title

• A61M2005/2026

  Semi-automatic, e.g. user activated piston is assisted by additional source of energy · CPC title

• A61M5/2066

  comprising means for injection of two or more media, e.g. by mixing · CPC title

• A01K13/003 Primary

  Devices for applying insecticides or medication (A01K27/007 takes precedence) · CPC title