US2923293A - Dispensing closure - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2, 1960 E. J. NAWOJ ETAL DISPENSING CLOSURE Filed Aug. 15, 1955 dumro' J Nqwoj Ferns E. NEWMAN INVENTORS W ;(m 2M Fliv DISPENSING CLOSURE Edward J. Nawoj, Mount Prospect, Ill., and Ferris E.

Newman, Cleveland, Miss., assignors to Baxter Laboratories, Inc.

Application August 15, 1955, Serial No. 528,478

3 Claims. (Cl. 128214) This invention relates to a dispensing closure and, more particularly, to a closure adapted for use with a parenteral solution container.

Parenteral solutions have been conventionally housed in glass bottles provided with a smaller diameter neck, the neck being closed by a rubber stopper or plug. Inasmuch as the solutions are dispensed from the container suspended in a mouth-downward condition, the stopper is generally provided with two passageways extending therethrough. One passageway permits outflow of liquid while the other permits entry of air to replace the dispensed liquid. conventionally, this second passageway, or airway, has been equipped with an air tube constructed of glass and extending inwardly of the container to a point adjacent the base. Thus, the air tube permits the introduction of air at a point above the level of the solution being dispensed.

in the instance Where solutions from two containers are desired to be administered simultaneously through a single conduit leading from one bottle source, it has been necessary to cause the solution from the second container to flow into the first mentioned container by way of the air tube, thus achieving a series hook-up. However, transfer of a solution in this manner causes a great deal of agitation and, where the second solution is blood, may result in blood cell damage. Also, causing the blood to flow up through the air tube in the first bottle and then cascading down into the parenteral solution contained therein may result in the blood being dispersed in the solution. This prevents rapid and eflicient administration of blood and possible loss if all the solution is not administered.

This problem is overcome by the structure of our invention wherein the conventionally rigid air tube is replaced by one constructed of a flexible material and so constructed and arranged as to be dislodgeable whenever solutions are desired to be administered simultaneously by the series hook-up mentioned above.

Rigid glass air tubes as presently provided are not dislodgeable since not only are they shatterable but also because the tubes are inserted into the stoppers a greater distance than that existing between the inner end of the air tube and the inside base of the container. It is considered desirable to provide a minimal distance between the inner end of the air tube and the base of the bottle so as to insure the introduction of air above the liquid in the container when the container is inverted, and, more importantly, to prevent liquid from escaping through the air tube. Also, lengthening this distance would require lengthening of the container resulting in increased container cost.

Our invention will be explained in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective rview of a dual bottle parenteral solution apparatus; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a parenteral solution container provided with the dis pensing closure of our invention; and Fig. 3 is a view United States Patent C) "ice Patented Feb. 2, 1960 similar to Fig. 2 but shows the dispensing closure prior to heat sterilization thereof.

Referring now to the drawing and, in particular, Fig. 1. The numeral 10 denotes a parenteral solution container disposed in a form suitable for dispensing. Shown in similar disposition is second parenteral solution container, generally designated 10. The fluid from container 10 flows into container 10 by transfer set 11 before entering parenteral administration set generally designated 12. The conventional use of such a series hook-up occurs where blood is to be administered. In such an instance, blood is contained in container 10' and container 10 contains a parenteral solution such as saline. When a hook-up such as is shown in Fig. 1 is used, saline solution is first caused to flow into administration set 12. It is therefore possible to determine whether the needle portion of the administration set has entered a vein by flexing the tubing portion so as to induce a flash back" of blood. If the administration set were filled with blood, the signal achieved by a flash back would be masked. After the transfusion of blood from container 10' is completed, it is possible to flush administration set 12 with saline so as to insure utilization of all of the more expensive blood.

Containers 10 and 10 are shown mounted in a conventional fashion by bail members 13 and 13 respectively which are suspended from standard 14. Container 10 has mounted in its mouth portion a resilient stopper or plug 15, and container 10' a plug 15'. Inserted into the liquid passageway of stopper 15 is administration set 12 which includes a length of flexible tubing 16. Aflixed to the ends of flexible tubing 16 are suitable puncturing means such as a hypodermic needle 17 adapted for insertion into the vein of a recipient, and plug-in 18 suitable for insertion into stopper 15. Also provided as part of administration set 12 is drip housing 19. The flow of fluid through administration set 12 is regulated by clamp 20 mounted on flexible tubing 16.

Stopper 15' of container 10 is provided with a small liquid passageway in which is inserted the plug-in portion 21' of transfer set generally designated 11. Transfer set 11 is substantially the same as administration set 12 except that it does not require drip tube 19. The other end of transfer set 11 is provided with plug-in 21 which is inserted intothe airway passage of stopper 15 of container 10. When blood is administered it is desirable to provide a filter as part of drip device 19 such as is designated 22.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the stopper 15 equipped with the air tube structure of our invention is shown in enlarged view. Stopper 15 is provided with two passages extending therethrough. One passage 23 acts as a liquid outflow passage while the other passage 24 serves to permit the introduction of air. Stopper 15 is secured within the mouth of container 10 by the compressive force exerted by clamping ring 25 which has one flange 25a overlying a portion of the outer surface of stopper 15 and another flange 25b anchored under bead 26 of container 10. To close passages 23 and 24 against contamination until use, diaphragm 27 is provided which is mounted adjacent the outer surface of stopper 15 and held thereagainst by the cooperation of clamping ring 25. It is to be noted, however, that the stopper struc ture described above for use with our invention can be modified to incorporate diaphragm 27 as an integral part of stopper 15.

Mounted in air passage 24 is flexible air tube 28. Flexibility of air tube 28 can be achieved by constructing it of suitable plastic material. At the same time, use of a plastic material permits achieving the locking structure designated 29 in Fig. 2.

Essentially air tube 28 is provided with a constricted or-neck portion 28a at a -.point adjacent to -but spaced from its outward end. A corresponding constricted portion 24a is provided in passage 24 which cooperates with neck portion 28a to lock air tube 28 in stopper 15 against inadvertent dislodgement.

An economical means for achieving the lock structure described above is'to provide a stopper 15 having an air passage 24 molded therein of the configuration shown in Fig. 2. Inserted into passage 24 at the time of assembly of the container and closure is cylindrical air tube 28. Since air tube 28 has an outside diameter of about the same size as the bore of passage 24 outward of constricted portion 240, constricted portion 24a is compressed, resulting in the structure shown in Fig. 3 wherein the compressed portion is indicated by dotted lines. Upon subjecting the assembly pictured in Fig. 3 to heat sterilization preferably in the range 230-250 F., the plastic material of which air tube 28 is constructed adapts itself to conform to the configuration of passage 2 When it is desired to connect containers 10 and 10 in a. series hook-up, plug-in 21 is inserted into passage 24 as indicated in Fig. 2 thereby dislodging air tube 28, the result of which is seen in Fig. 1. The other plug-in 21 of transfer set 11 is then inserted into the liquid outlet passage of stopper i and blood from container is able to .flowinto container 10 without turbulence and in such a disposition to preferentially flow out of container 10 by way of passage 23. The preferential outflow of blood is achieved since blood has a specific gravity some- .what greater than the usual solution such as saline contained in container 1! This substantially avoids dispersing blood in the saline solution such as would be the case when air tube 28 is not removed from passage 24-.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations are to be inferred therefrom.

We claim: 1. A dispensing closure for a container adapted to dispense liquids in a mouth-downward condition com- 4 prising a resilient -stopper mounted in the mouth of said container, said stopper having at least one passage extending from the inner end of said stopper at least partway through said stopper, and afiexible dislodgeable air entry tube mounted in said passage and extending only inwardly of said container and constructed of a plastic material sufficiently stiff to resist deformation by said resilient stopper at room temperatures.

2. The closure of claim 1 wherein the length of air tube mounted in said stopper is greater than the distance extending between the inner base of said container and the inner end of said air tube.

3. A dispensing closure comprising a resilient plug having at least one recess in the bottom face thereof, said recess having a constricted portion adjacent said bottom face and a flexible plastic air entry tube mounted in said recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,190,054 Cutter et al. Feb. 13, 1940 2,202,163 Mulford et al. May 28, 1940 2,210,098 Ravenscroft Aug. 6, 1940 2,318,637 Schwab May 11, 1943 2,432,132 Allen Dec. [9, 1947 2,452,644 Fields Nov. '2, 1948 2,614,562 Shaw Oct. 21, 1952 2,644,453 Beacham July 7, 1953 2,684,674 Archer July 27, v1954 2,808,829 Butler Oct. 8, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 583,400 France -3." Oct. 30, 1924 77,233 Netherlands Feb. 22, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES Modern Plastics, volume 25, number 6, February 1948, pages 73-80, 128-214.

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