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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
FILLING E~1V ANESTHETIC VAPORIZER
Field Of The Inventiyn
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the
transfer of a liquid anesthetic agent from a container to a vaporizer for
administration of the agent to a patient.
l0 3ack~roLmd Of'~'he Invention
Inhalation anesthetics are typically volatile substances with relatively
low boiling points and high vapor pressures. They can be flammable and
explosive substances in both. their liquid and vapor states. Further,
~s inhalation of the vapor by healthcare personnel can cause drowsiness.
Therefore, such anesthetics must be safely handled in operating rooms in
order to minimize the risk of inhalation by medical personnel as well as to
minimize the risk of fire or explosion.
Anesthetics are typically dispensed in liquid form to an apparatus, such
2 o as an anesthetic vaporizer, which mixes the anesthetic with oxygen and
nitrous oxide. The mixture l~hen is supplied in gaseous form to the patient
for
inhalation.
Devices or systems have been designed for the transfer of a liquid
anesthetic agent from a supply container to a vaporizer so as to minimize the
2s likelihood of spilling the liquid anesthetic agent. One system which has
been
developed for connecting an anesthetic supply container to a vaporizer is
described in U.S. Patent No. 5,505,236 which is assigned to Abbott
Laboratories, Inc., One Abbott Park Road, Abbott Park, Illinois 60064-3500,
U.S.A. L'.S. Patent No. 5,505,236 is incorporated herein by reference. In one
3 o embodiment of the system disclosed in the '236 patent, the liquid
anesthetic
agent is provided in a special container which is adapted to fit onto the
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vaporizer. The container- includes a spout having a plunger mounted therein. .
The plunger has a distal end defining a valve member and is movable
between (1) a retracted, open position, and (2) an extended, closed position.
.An internal spring normally biases the plunger to the extended, closed
position so as to continuou:~ly urge the valve member toward the distal end of
the spout and against a valve seat defined by an inside distal end portion of
the spout at a dispensing opening.
The container described in U.S. Patent No. 5,505,236 is adapted to be
inverted and mounted on a:n anesthetic vaporizer having a receiving station
to defining a passage for receiving the container spout. An engaging member
inside the anesthetic vaporiizer receiving station passage projects upwardly
into the spout and is adapted to engage the container plunger valve member.
In addition, a valve is provided within the vaporizer passage, the valve being
biased to a closed position. The plunger and the valve are selectively biased
i5 such that the vaporizer valve is opened, then the plunger is opened, as the
container spout is urged into the vaporizer passage. This permits the liquid
anesthetic agent to flow from the container into the anesthetic vaporizer
after
the container has been properly mounted on the anesthetic vaporizer, while
simultaneously ensuring that the liquid anesthetic agent is not released from
2 o the container until the vaporizer is in a condition to receive the
anesthetic.
While the above-described system functions extremely well and has
many advantages with respect to ease of use, safety, cleanliness, and quick
connect/disconnect capability, it may be necessary in some circumstances to
fill an anesthetic vaporizer i:rom a liquid anesthetic agent container that
does
2s not have the above-described configuration.
ummary Qf the Tnventio~g
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for delivery
30 of a liquid anesthetic agent to a receiving station of an anesthetic
vaporizer
from an anesthetic agent supply container. The apparatus includes a conduit.
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The conduit has a first en.d constructed to be releasably connected to a
discharge end of an anesthetic agent supply container. The second end of the
conduit includes a discharge spout constructed for insertion into an
anesthetic
vaporizer receiving station having a spring-biased shut-off valve. The
discharge spout is constructed such that it opens the spring-biased shut-off
valve as the discharge spout is urged into the anesthetic vaporizer receiving
station.
In accordance with the method of the present invention, the above-
referenced apparatus, a container containing an anesthetic agent, and an
anesthesia vaporizer receiving station having a spring-biased shut-off valve
are provided. The first end of the conduit of the apparatus of the present
invention is connected to t:he liquid anesthetic agent container. The
discharge
spout of the apparatus of l;he present invention is inserted into the
vaporizer
receiving station, thereby opening the spring-biased shut-off valve in the
i5 vaporizer receiving station. Next, anesthetic agent from the container is
flowed from the container into the anesthetic vaporizer receiving station.
Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will
become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the
invention, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.
brief Description Of The Drawin~c
In the accompanying drawings that form part of the specification, and
in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the
2 s same,
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a receiving station on a
liquid anesthetic agent vaporizer;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partial cross-sectional view of a
liquid anesthetic agent supply container in an upright position with an
3 o uninstalled cap shown above the container;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 3-3 in
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FIG. 2;
FiG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the receiving
station portion of the vaporizer with a removable stopper mounted therein;
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a combined engaging member and
s outlet valve structure which is mounted in the vaporizer receiving station;
FIG. 6 is a top plan 'view of the assembly shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the conduit of the present invention
with portions broken away and shown partially in cross section;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing the flexible conduit
i o and the anesthetic vaporizer receiving station;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the
anesthetic vaporizer receiving station showing the conduit discharge spout
inserted into the receiving station;
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the connector discharge
is spout inserted into the liquid anesthetic agent vaporizer receiving station
and
shows the container of liquid anesthetic agent container inverted and elevated
above the anesthetic vaporizer receiving station; and
FIG. 11 is a cross-se<aional view of an alternative, valued embodiment
of a spout of the present invention.
Detailed Desc~ri .Wn
The present invention provides a novel system which includes a method
and apparatus for connecting an anesthetic container to an anesthetic
2 5 vaporizer for filling the vaporizer. The system can be provided in a
number of
different designs incorporating a variety of different features and
capabilities.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different
forms, this specification and the accompanying drawings disclose only some
specific forms as examples of the invention. The invention is not intended to
3 o be limited to the embodiments so described, however. The scope of the
invention is pointed out in t;he appended claims.
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For ease of description, the system components of this invention are
described in normal operating positions, and terms such as upper, lower,
horizontal, etc., are used vvith reference to these positions. It will be
understood, however, that the components of this invention may be
s manufactured, stored, transported, and sold in an orientation other than the
positions described.
Figures illustrating the components of the invention show some
mechanical elements that are known and that will be recognized by one
skilled in the art. The detailed descriptions of such elements are not
to necessary to an understanding of the invention and, accordingly, are herein
presented only to the degree necessary to facilitate an understanding of the
novel features of the present invention.
A portion of a vaporizer that can be filled according to the principles of
the present invention is illwstrated in FIG. 1 and is designated therein by
is reference number 20. The vaporizer 20 includes a receiving station 22 into
which a liquid anesthetic agent L can be dispensed from a container 24.
Except for the receiving station 22, as described herein in detail, the
structure
and operation of the vaporizer 20 may be of any conventional or special
design, the details of which form no part of the present invention.
2 o The container 24 includes a body or body portion 26 which includes a
neck 28. The body portion 26 contains the liquid anesthetic agent L.
In the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG. 2, neck 28 defines
an exterior thread 30. As depicted in FIG. 2, container 24 may further
include a conventional transfer ring 32 at a position below the exterior
thread.
25 In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, a collar 34 is mounted below the
transfer ring 32. The collar 34 is disposed for rotation around the neck 28
and
may include one or more keying or coding tabs, e.g., a first tab 36 and a
second tab 38. A cap 40, wiith an internal thread (not visible in FIG. 2), is
constructed for threadingly engaging the exterior thread 30 on the container
3 o neck 28.
Within the container neck 28, there may be optionally provided an
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internal seal membrane. and/or spring-biased valve system (not illustrated)
which is constructed to isolate the contents of container 24 from an external
environment of container :24 until opened or activated. Opening of the
internal seal membrane or actuation of the valve port preferably occurs in
response to engagement o1" container 24 with an external engaging member,
or in response to some other form of external activation, as described in more
detail hereinafter. However, it will be appreciated that container 24 need not
have any internal valve system or membrane seal in order to function in
accordance with the spirit and scope of the present invention.
to The design of the container neck 28 and collar 34 may be, but need not
be, in accordance with international standard LS.O. 5360, first edition, 1993-
0215, entitled "Anesthetic Vaporizers--Agent-Specific Filling Systems"
(Reference No. LS.O. 5360: 1993(E)).
As illustrated in FICx. 4, the receiving station 22 includes an inlet
passage, well, or sump which comprises a lowermost or first bore portion 104,
a larger diameter second bore portion 106, a still larger diameter third bore
portion 108, and an outermost, threaded bore portion 110. A threaded
stopper 112 can be provided for sealing the vaporizer receiving station 22
closed when the vaporizer is not being filled with anesthetic agent L from a
2 o container 24.
In the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 4, an
insert sleeve 114 is mounted in the receiving station 22 inwardly of the
stopper 112. The sleeve 114 has a large diameter first portion 116 received in
the threaded bore 110 and :has a smaller diameter second portion 118 received
2s in the bore 108. The sleeve 114 defines an inner sealing surface 120
constructed to engage an O-ring 122 mounted at a distal end of stopper 112.
The sleeve portion 116 can be provided with a predetermined pattern of slots,
fins, or grooves 160 for receiving keying or coding features of a transfer
device
described in detail hereinafter.
3 o In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, an O-ring 124 is mounted in a
groove 126 in the exterior of the smaller diameter portion 118 of the sleeve
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114 to seal against the cylindrical wall of the bore 108. The inner end of the
sleeve smaller diameter second portion 118 defines a shoulder or sealing ring
128 for engaging a sealing gasket 130 mounted to the outer surface of an inlet
valve member 132.
s Inlet valve member 132 is provided in order to seal fluidly an interior of
vaporizer receiving station 22 from an external environment thereof. In the
embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6, inlet valve
member 132 includes a pin 136 at its inner end. Pin 136 is constructed to be
received in the fzrst bore portion 104. In the depicted embodiment, inlet
valve
i o member 132 further includes a cylindrical portion 140 which connects pin
136
to an intermediate member 133. Sealing gasket 130 is provided on an upper
surface of an intermediate member 133 of inlet valve member 132. As above-
discussed, sealing gasket l_30 and intermediate member 133 are constructed
so as to sealingly engage shoulder or sealing ring 128 when inlet valve
is member 132 is in a closed position. Extending from the upper surface of
intermediate member 133 is engaging member 134. In the depicted
embodiment of the present: invention, engaging member 134 includes a fluted
portion 144 terminating in a smaller diameter, fluted, engaging boss 146. In
the depicted embodiment, '.boss 146 and fluted portion 144 define four,
2 o vertically oriented, groove: or channels 148 (FIG. 6) which are
constructed to
accommodate fluid flow.
Inlet valve member 132 is operable between a closed position and an
open position. In the closed position, sealing gasket 130 and shoulder or
sealing ring 128 are in contact with one another so as to prevent fluid flow
25 through inlet valve member 132. In the open position, sealing gasket 130
and
shoulder or sealing ring 128 are spaced from one another, thereby allowing
fluid flow past shoulder or sealing ring 128.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, inlet valve
member I32 is biased toward its closed position. In the embodiment depicted
3 o in the accompanying figures, compression spring 150 is disposed in the
bores
106 and 108 and is constructed to bias inlet valve member 132 toward its
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closed position. In the depicted embodiment, the upper end of the spring 150
bears against lower side of intermediate member 133. The bottom end of the
spring 1 ~0 bears against a portion of the bore 106. The spring 150 thus
biases the inlet valve member 132 outwardly toward an extended, closed
position sealing against they stationary sleeve ring 128 (as shown in FIG. 4).
Receiving station 22 is fluidly connected to an anesthetic holding
chamber 158 of an anesthetic vaporizer of known construction. Thus,
anesthetic delivered into receiving station 22 will flow from receiving
station
22 into chamber 158.
to The delivery system of the present invention includes a transfer device
in the form of a conduit 500 (FIGS. 7 and 8). In the depicted embodiment,
conduit X00 includes a lengi;h of flexible, corrugated tubing 502 (FIG. 7)
having a plurality of bellows sections 504. However, one of ordinary skill in
the art will recognize that conduit 500 need not be flexible. In one
embodiment, conduit 500 is a length of rigid tubing. In another embodiment,
conduit 500 is a length of flE~xible, non-corrugated tubing, e.g., a
polyvinylchloride or silicone tubing. Conduit 500 also can have a variety of
cross-sectional shapes and sizes. For example, conduit 500 can be in the form
of a length of flexible, corrugated tubing having an outer diameter of less
than
2o approximately 2.5 cm, e.g., approximately 1 cm. Further, conduit 500 can
have triangular, rectangular.~, polygonal, or elliptical cross-sectional
shapes.
At one end of the conduit 500 is a connector 506 (FIG. 7) constructed to
provide fluid communication between an anesthetic container 24 and an
interior of conduit 500. In the embodiment of the present invention depicted
in FIG. 7, connector 506 includes a reduced diameter, annular portion 508
which is attached to the flexible, corrugated tubing 502. The annular portion
508 may be secured to the tubing 502 by means of heat bonding, adhesive,
friction fit, or other suitable techniques. Annular portion 508 also may be
unitarily formed with conduit X00.
3 o The connector 506 includes an increased diameter portion 510. The
upper end of the increased diameter portion 510 is an annular wall 512
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defining an internal thread 514 for threadingly engaging the liquid anesthetic
agent container exterior thread 30.
The connector 506 includes a lower portion 518 having a larger internal
bore 520. Distal portion 51.8 can define one or more keying or coding slots
s 522, 524 for tabs 36, 38 on container 24. The orientation and construction
of
slots 522, 524 and tabs 36, 38 can be varied dependent upon a variety of
factors, including, but not limited to, the anesthesia contained in container
24, in order to prevent the .attachment of an inappropriate type of anesthesia
container 24 to connector 506. Further, it will be appreciated that tabs can
be
provided on connector 506 <~nd slots on container 24 without affecting the
utility thereof. That is, so long as complementary keying members are
provided on connector 506 and container 24, the desired keying function is
provided.
The container 24 can. be readily connected to the conduit 500 by first
i5 removing the cap 40. Then, the connector 506 is attached to container neck
28. This attachment can be achieved by a threaded connection between
connector 506 and container 24, or through the use of any other known
connection methodology, e.~;., snap fit or frictional fit.
With reference to the embodiment of the present invention depicted in
2o the accompanying figures, the conduit 500 can be rotated and/or the
container
collar 34 can be rotated so ass to align the collar tabs 36 and 38 with the
appropriate connector slots 522, 524. The container 24 can then be rotated
relative to connector so as to effect threaded engagement of the container
neck thread 30 with the flee;ible conduit connector thread 514. During
2s relative rotation of the container 24 and cannector 506, the collar 34
remains
stationary relative the flexible conduit connector 506. The container 24
rotates relative to the collar 34 and relative to the flexible conduit
connector
506 to permit a tight, threaded engagement to be obtained.
At the other end of th.e conduit 500 is a fitting 530 which has a reduced
3 o diameter portion 532 attached thereto. The reduced diameter portion 532
may be secured to tubing 502 with adhesive, heat bonding, or other suitable
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means, or may be units--ri:ly formed therewith. The fitting 530 includes an
increased diameter interrnediate portion 534 and an increased diameter
flange 536. A bore 540 exaends through the fitting 530, bore 540 being in
fluid communication with the interior of conduit 500.
An annular gasket 544 is disposed adjacent the fitting flange 536. A
spout member 550 is disposed adjacent the gasket 544. The spout member
550 has an annular flange 552 which is disposed directly adjacent the gasket
544. A discharge spout 5Ei0 extends outwardly from the flange 552.
An annular ferrule 564 is crimped around the fitting flange 536, the
gasket 544, and the spout member flange 552 to hold the fitting, gasket, and
spout member together as. an assembly.
One or more ribs ~ i'2 can be provided on the exterior of the spout 560.
Each rib 572 is adapted to be received within a coding slot or groove 160 on
the vaporizer. Ribs 572 and slots 160 provide a coding or keying capacity
which precludes the delivE~ry of an inappropriate anesthesia into the
vaporizer
20. It will be appreciated that ribs 572 can be provided on the vaporizer and
that slots 160 can be provided on spout 560 without affecting the utility of
these keying elements. That is, so long as ribs 572 and slots 160 are
complementary in construction, they will provided the desired keying effect
2 o without regard to whether' they are located on spout 560 or the vaporizer.
Spout 560 is constructed to engage engaging member 134 when spout
560 is urged into receiving; station 22, and to move engaging member 134
inwardly as spout 560 is further urged into receiving station 22, thereby
causing valve member 132. to move from its closed position to its open
2 s position. It will be appreciated that the force required to effect such
movement of engaging member 134 will depend upon the compression force of
spring 150.
after the flexible conduit 500 is connected to the container 24 as
described above and as illustrated in FIG. 8, the assembly of the flexible
3 o conduit 500 and connected container 24 can be fluidly connected to
anesthetic
vaporizer receiving station. 22. First, however, the anesthetic vaporizer
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receiving station stopper 7L 12 (FIGS. 1 and 4) is removed. Then the flexible
conduit spout 560 is inserted into the passage 110 in the direction of the
arrow 580 as shown in FIt~. 9. It will be appreciated that insertion of spout
560 into passage 110 will :require an alignment between ribs 572 and slots
160 if ribs 572 are present on spout 560. As spout 560 is inserted further
into
the receiving station 22 as shown in FIG. 9, spout 560 engages engaging
member I34. Still further movement of spout 560 into receiving station 22
causes engaging member 134 to move inwardly, thereby causing valve
member 132 to move from its closed condition to its open condition, thereby
1 o providing a flow path from container 24, through conduit 500, and into
tank
158 of the vaporizer.
Next, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the liquid anesthetic agent in container
24 is flowed from container 24 to tank 158. This flowing of anesthetic can be
accomplished by elevating and inverting container 24 such that the liquid
anesthetic contained therein flows by gravity into tank 158. If the flowing of
liquid anesthetic is to be accomplished by gravity, conduit 500 is preferably
flexible such that container 24 attached to conduit 500 can be inverted and
elevated from its original, upright position in order to effect the gravity
flow of
liquid anesthetic from container 24. In the embodiment of the present
2 o invention depicted in FIG. 10, the flowing of liquid anesthetic from
container
24 into tank 158 is achieved by inverting and moving container 24, together
with a portion of the flexible conduit 500, to a position that is higher than
the
elevation of receiving station 22, such movement being indicated by the arrow
584. During this elevation step, container 24 is inverted in order to permit
flow therefrom.
Flowing of anesthetic from container 24 into tank 158 also can be
facilitated by a pump of Known construction or by providing a container 24
that is of a flexible construction which permits container 24 to be squeezed,
thereby forcing the liquid anesthetic agent out of the container.
3 o In order to facilitate the flowing of liquid anesthetic from container 24
into tank 158, spout 560 can be configured such that air is allowed to flow
into
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flexible tubing 502 into .th.e container 24 during the delivery of the liquid
anesthetic from container 24. For example, the outside surface of the distal
end of the spout X60 can be configured such that it fits loosely within the
surrounding sleeve 114 so as to permit ambient air to flow into container 24
through tubing 502. As shown in FIG. 9, ambient air can enter the receiving
station 22 through the clearance space between the outside surface of the
spout 560 and the adjacent stationary sleeve 114. The ambient air then flows
around the outside distal end of the spout 560, up the engaging member
channels 148, and into the outlet region of the spout 560.
1 o The operator also cam stop the flow of liquid anesthetic from container
24 into receiving station 22. For example, where liquid anesthetic is flowed
by the force of gravity into receiving station 22, the operator can lower the
container 24 and orient it i.n its original, upright position. If a pump is
used,
the pump can be deactivated, thereby stopping the flow of liquid anesthetic
i5 through tubing 502. Next, the operator can pull the spout 560 out of the
receiving station 22. As the spout 560 is pulled outwardly, the receiving
station valve member 132 will assumed its closed position in response to the
biasing force of the spring 150. If there is any small quantity of liquid
anesthetic agent remaining above the closed receiving station valve member
2 0 13 2, that small quantity ca.n be sealed within the receiving station by
replacing the stopper 112 (:FIG. 4). Also, the system may be provided with an
optional drain, having a removable cap 170 (FIGS. 1, ?, and 10),
communicating with the bores or passages in the receiving station. This
provides an alternate drain. path for draining that portion of the system.
25 It will be appreciated that the coding system for the anesthetic
vaporizer receiving station 22 and flexible conduit spout 560 may be modified.
The spout 560 may have any number of ribs 5 i 2, and the receiving station 22
could have a matching number of slots or recesses 160. Similarly, the spout
ribs X72 may have different. shapes or sizes, and the receiving station slots
or
3 o grooves 160 would have mating shapes and sizes. Further, as above-
discussed, the relative positions of the grooves/slots and the ribs/tabs can
be
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varied without affecting the utility of these keying members.
It will also be appreciated that the flexible connector spout 560 could be
provided with an internal valve system for closing off the spout whenever the
spout is not engaged with the anesthetic vaporizer receiving station engaging
s member 134. Far example, the interior of the spout 560 may be provided with
a spring-biased valve member and sealing seat similar to the valve member
and sealing seat provided in the liquid anesthetic agent containers 24 and 224
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 13, respectively, of the above-identified U.S.
Patent
No. 5,505,236.
1 o In particular, a spring-biased plunger 90 of the type depicted in FIG. 2
of the U.S. Patent No. 5,505,236 can be provided within the present invention
flexible conduit spout 560 for normally closing off an annular valve seat at
the
outlet of the spout (similar to the annular valve seat 98 in the outlet of the
container spout illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the U.S. Patent No.
5,505,236).
is Similarly, spout 560 of the present invention can be provided with an
internal, spring-biased plunger 600. Plunger 600 is biased towards a closed
position by compression spring 602. When in its closed position, plunger 600
engages sealing shoulder 604. Upon application of an inward, axial force to
plunger 600, plunger 600 moves away from sealing shoulder 604 and into an
2 0 open position, whereby flow is allowed through spout 560.
If spout 560 of the present invention is provided with a spring-biased
internal plunger 600, then the compression force of the spring 602 associated
with the spout 560 is preferably at least as great as, and more preferably
greater than, the compression force of spring 150 in the anesthetic vaporizer
25 receiving station 22. In such a design, the internal valve within the spout
560
will not open until the anesthetic vaporizer receiving station inlet valve
member 132 has opened. This will insure that the liquid anesthetic agent can
be discharged from the container 24 only if the anesthetic vaporizer receiving
station inlet valve member 132 is in its opened condition.
3 o It will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description of the
invention and from the illustrations thereof that numerous variations and
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modifications may be effected without departing from the true spirit and
scope of the novel concepts or principles of this invention.
