DISCHARGER WITH IMPROVED PIERCING TIP

Abstract

A discharger for discharging fluid includes a sleeve, a discharge section, a carriage including a receiving space disposed therein, the carriage cooperating with a proximal end of the sleeve such that the carriage is moveable relative to the sleeve, and a piercing tip having a flow channel configured to establish a flow connection for the fluid from the receiving space to an inlet of the discharge section, the piercing tip having a shell surface, the piercing tip being integrally formed with at least a portion of the sleeve or formed as a unitary separate piece linked with at least the portion of the sleeve, the shell surface of the piercing tip having a convexly curved configuration, and the sleeve surrounding a proximal end of the discharge section and having an outer diameter that is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the carriage.

Claims

1. A discharger for discharging a predetermined amount of fluid, comprising: a sleeve defining a longitudinal first axis and having a proximal end and a distal end; a discharge section having a discharge passage for the fluid extending between an inlet opening and an outlet opening of the discharge section; a carriage including a receiving space disposed therein, the receiving space configured to have the fluid disposed therein, the carriage cooperating with the proximal end of the sleeve such that the carriage is moveable relative to the sleeve along the longitudinal first axis to expel the fluid from the receiving space; and a piercing tip having a flow channel configured to establish a flow connection for the fluid from the receiving space to the inlet opening of the discharge section, the piercing tip defining a centrally extending longitudinal second axis and having a shell surface, the piercing tip being integrally formed with at least a portion of the sleeve or formed as a unitary separate piece linked with at least the portion of the sleeve, the shell surface of the piercing tip having an essentially convexly curved configuration, and the sleeve surrounding a proximal end of the discharge section and having an outer diameter that is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the carriage.

2. The discharger according to claim 1, wherein the flow channel is centrally located within the piercing tip and extends along the second axis or the flow channel is located at an offset position relative to the second axis.

3. The discharger according to claim 1, wherein the piercing tip is essentially rotationally symmetric about the second axis.

4. The discharger according to claim 1, wherein the piercing tip has a shape in a longitudinal cross-section along the second axis defined by two surface lines intersecting at an angle of between 70° and 110°.

5. The discharger according to claim 1, wherein the piercing tip has a shape in a longitudinal cross-section along the second axis defined by two surface lines, each surface line having at least one section defined by a curvature radius being larger than a diameter of the piercing tip at a widest point thereof.

6. The discharger according to claim 5, wherein the curvature radius has a length of between 1.01 and 1.50 times the diameter.

7. The discharger according to claim 1, wherein the piercing tip in a longitudinal cross-section along the second axis is defined by two surface lines, each surface line having at least two sections of different curvature radii.

8. The discharger according to claim 1, wherein the piercing tip at an apex thereof comprises a ridge.

9. The discharger according to claim 8, wherein the ridge is perpendicular to the second axis.

10. The discharger according to claim 8, wherein the ridge is interrupted by the flow channel such that two protrusions adjacent to the flow channel are formed.

11. The discharger according to claim 8, wherein the ridge is deformable.

12. The discharger according to claim 1, wherein the piercing tip is at least partially positioned inside the sleeve so as to protrude into the receiving space when the carriage is moved towards the distal end of the sleeve.

13. The discharger according to claim 1, wherein an inner contour of the receiving space or an inner contour of a container configured to be loaded into the receiving space and holding an amount of fluid is essentially complementary in shape to the piercing tip.

14. A discharge system comprising: a discharger according to claim 1; and at least one container configured to hold the amount of fluid to be discharged, the container configured to be loaded into the receiving space of the carriage of the discharger.

15. A method of discharging the amount of fluid, comprising: providing the discharger according to claim 1; and discharging the amount of fluid, the fluid including at least one medical, dental or veterinary agent, the amount of the fluid lying in the range of 0.1 to 10 ml.

16. The discharger according to claim 1, further comprising a housing integrally formed with at least an other portion of the sleeve or formed as a unitary separate piece linked with at least the other portion of the sleeve.

17. The discharger according to claim 16, wherein a portion of the housing surrounds at least the other portion of the sleeve.

18. The discharger according to claim 16, wherein the carriage is moveable relative to the housing along the longitudinal first axis.

19. The discharger according to claim 16, wherein the housing surrounds a proximal end of the discharge section and a distal end of the carriage.

20. The discharger according to claim 16, wherein the carriage is disposed between the portion of the sleeve and the portion of the housing, when in a final discharge position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

[0062] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a discharge system comprising a discharger according to the present disclosure in different states of use,

[0063] FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-section along the longitudinal first axis of the discharge system of FIG. 1.

[0064] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged portion of FIG. 4,

[0065] FIG. 6 shows a partial cross-section along the longitudinal first axis of a proximal portion of the discharge system of FIG. 3,

[0066] FIGS. 7 to 9 respectively show a first cross-section of a piercing tip according to the present invention and a side view of the piercing after a rotation by 90°, and

[0067] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a piercing tip having a ridge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0068] In the following the same reference numerals will be used for parts having the same or equivalent function. Any statements made having regard to the direction of a component are made relative to the position shown in the drawing and can naturally vary in the actual position of application.

[0069] FIG. 1 shows a discharger 10 comprising a housing 12, a carriage 26 and a discharge section 18. The housing 12 defines a longitudinal first axis A.sub.1 and includes opposing wing-like protrusions 44 similar to a common disposable syringe. The carriage 26 is received in a proximal end region 14 of the housing 12. The carriage 26 defines a receiving space 28 into which a container 34 has been loaded through an opening 35 of the carriage 26. The discharger 10 and the container 34 form a discharge system and are generally designed as disposable articles intended for one-time use only.

[0070] The discharge section 18 of the discharger 10 comprises a discharge passage 20 and extends from within the housing 12 through a tapered distal end 16 towards a thickened distal end portion 17. The distal end portion 17 can be formed integrally with the discharge passage 20 or can be made as a separate component connected in a suitable manner to the discharge passage 20. The distal end portion 17 moreover defines an outlet opening 24.

[0071] The distal end portion 17, in general, can be adapted to the type and site of application and can be in the form of or comprise a spray head, a needle (cannula), a brush, a sponge or a pipette. For large area applications, for example, a spray head or a sponge can be of advantage, whereas selective applications might require a needle or a plain tube of small diameters.

[0072] The discharger 10 has a securing means or device 48 comprising a slot 47 being formed in the housing 12 and cooperating with a pin 46 being formed at the carriage 26. The slot 47 is divided into a circumferential portion 49a and into a longitudinal portion 49b extending in parallel to the first axis A.sub.1.

[0073] The discharger 10 in FIG. 1 is shown in an initial state of use with the pin 46 being situated at the end of the circumferential portion 49a of the slot 47. In this initial state of use a movement of the carriage 26 along the longitudinal axis A.sub.1 towards the distal end 16 is prevented.

[0074] FIG. 2 shows the discharger 10 in a starting position with the pin 46 being situated at the intersection point of the circumferential portion 49a and the longitudinal portion 49b of the slot 47. In this state the carriage 26 is movable along the longitudinal axis A.sub.1 towards the distal end 16.

[0075] FIG. 3 shows the discharger 10 in a final discharge position with the pin 46 being situated at the end of the longitudinal portion 49b of the slot 47. In this state the carriage 26 is completely situated inside the housing 12.

[0076] FIG. 4 shows the discharger 10 of FIG. 1 in a partial cross-section along the longitudinal first axis A.sub.1. The discharge section 18, however, is not shown in cross-section.

[0077] FIG. 4 illustrates the container 34 located inside the receiving space 28 of the carriage 26. The container 34 is made as a capsule which has a cylindrical outer shape and is filled with a fluid 11 to be discharged. The fluid 11 inside the container 34 is located in a fluid reservoir 41 which is protected from the environment by a breakable seal 42 in the form of a foil. This is even more clear in the enlarged portion of FIG. 4 depicted in FIG. 5. The amount of the fluid 11 inside the fluid reservoir 41 is approximately 0.5 ml. A circumferential shoulder 29 of the carriage 26 acts as an axial stop for the container 34 when being loaded into the receiving space 28 of the carriage 26.

[0078] Moreover, FIG. 4 illustrates a sleeve portion 13 integrally formed with the housing 12. The discharge passage 20 is fitted into the sleeve portion 13. A proximal end portion 15 of the sleeve portion 13 is fitted into a distal cylindrical portion 21 of the carriage 26 through a distal opening thereof. The housing 12 generally has a cylindrical outer shape with a constant inner diameter. In order to conform the distal cylindrical portion 21, the outer diameter of which is smaller than the inner diameter of the housing 12, to the inner diameter of the housing 12, a flange 27 is formed integrally with the distal cylindrical portion 21.

[0079] The proximal end portion 15 of the sleeve portion 13 comprises a piercing tip 30 having a flow channel 32 being connected to an inlet opening 22 of the discharge passage 20. The piercing tip 30 is formed integrally with the sleeve portion 13 of the housing 12 and defines a centrally extending longitudinal second axis A.sub.2 which in this embodiment corresponds to the first axis A.sub.1.

[0080] From FIG. 5 it is apparent that the flow channel 32 extends along the longitudinal first or second axis A.sub.1, A.sub.2. Also the configuration of the piercing tip 30 is clear. The piercing tip 30 has a convexly curved outer surface 31 and moreover comprises two protrusions 40 adjacent to the flow channel 32, respectively. The protrusions originate from a ridge 39 that has been interrupted by the flow channel 32 during the manufacturing process (see FIG. 10).

[0081] FIG. 5 further reveals that the fluid reservoir 41 has a rotationally symmetric inner contour 38. Apart from the protrusions 40, the inner contour 38 is complementary to the outer shape of the piercing tip 30.

[0082] FIG. 6 shows the discharger 10 in its final discharge position, i.e. the carriage 26 has been fully moved towards the distal end 16 into the housing 12. In this position, the piercing tip 30 and at least the proximal end portion 15 of the sleeve portion 13 are located in the fluid reservoir 41 of the container 34. The seal 42 has been pierced and the fluid 11 has been displaced. The protrusions 40 have been compressed such that the piercing tip 30 and the inner contour 38 of the fluid reservoir 41 establish a form-fitting connection.

[0083] FIG. 7 shows detailed views of the piercing tip 30 of FIGS. 4 to 6. The upper pane contains a cross-sectional view along the longitudinal second axis A.sub.2 and along the two protrusions 40. The two protrusions 40 are located adjacent to a proximal entry opening of the centrally located flow channel 32. The shape of the piercing tip 30 is defined by two surface lines 33a, 33b which are axially symmetric. Each surface line 33a, 33b consists of three sections S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3, wherein each section S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3 is defined by a curvature radius R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3. This means each section S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3 is a segment of a circle. The length of the curvature radii R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 is indicated by respective arrows. The radius R.sub.1 of the first section S.sub.1 is roughly one fifth of the radius R.sub.2 of the second section S.sub.2. The length of the radius R.sub.2 of the second section S.sub.2 is more than half the length of a diameter D.sub.W of the piercing tip 30 at its widest point (see lower pane). The third section S.sub.3 particularly defines the shape of the protrusions 40. The length of the corresponding radius R.sub.3 is approximately half of the radius R.sub.1. Thus, the convex shape of the piercing tip 30 is mainly defined by sections S.sub.1 and S.sub.2.

[0084] The lower pane of FIG. 7 shows a side view of the piercing tip 30 shown in the upper pane after a rotation by 90°. The sections S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3 are indicated by lines perpendicular to the second axis A.sub.2. It is clearly visible that the surface lines defining section S.sub.3 in this view run linear and intersect at an angle α of approximately 90°. Thus, the protrusions 40 in this view have a triangular profile.

[0085] A perspective view clearly indicating the convex shape of the outer surface of the piecing tip 30 according to FIGS. 4 to 7 is also shown in FIG. 10.

[0086] FIG. 8 in its upper pane shows a cross-section along the longitudinal second axis A.sub.2 of another embodiment of the piercing tip 30 according to the present invention. Each surface line 33a, 33b consists of two sections S.sub.1, S.sub.2 each being a segment of a circle having a corresponding radius R.sub.1, R.sub.2. Regarding the length of the radii R.sub.1, R.sub.2 the same applies as for FIG. 7.

[0087] The flow channel 32 is not centrally located within the piercing tip 30 but is located at an offset position relative to the second axis A.sub.2. This means the piercing tip 30 slightly deviates from a rotationally symmetric configuration. Due to this arrangement the piercing tip 30 comprises a thorn-like protrusion 43 which, however, in the side view after a rotation by 90° depicted in the lower pane of FIG. 7 is not visible anymore. It turned out that this configuration lowers the piercing force that has to be initially applied for puncturing the seal 42, however, not to the same extend as for the embodiment comprising two protrusions 40.

[0088] FIG. 9 in its upper pane shows a cross-section along the longitudinal second axis A.sub.2 of a further embodiment of the piercing tip 30 according to the present invention. The piercing tip 30 is rotationally symmetric about the second axis A.sub.2 since the flow channel 32 is centrally located within the piercing tip 30. Each surface line 33a, 33b consists of two sections S.sub.1, S.sub.2 each being a segment of a circle having a corresponding radius R.sub.1, Rz. Regarding the length of the radii R.sub.1, R.sub.2 the same applies as for FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0089] Both representations, the cross-section in the upper pane of FIG. 9 and the side view after a rotation by 90° in the lower pane, indicate that the piercing tip 30 is slightly cut due to the arrangement of the flow channel 32. Thus, the apex of the piercing tip 30 is an imaginary point located where the two surface lines 33a, 33b would intersect if they were not interrupted by the flow channel 32.

[0090] Any of the three piercing tips according to FIGS. 7 to 8 are able to initially punctuate a foil with a moderate and user-friendly piercing force, wherein the piercing tip comprising two protrusions 40 has shown the best results in this regard. The convexly curved configuration, however, is mainly responsible that the force which needs to be applied during the movement or displacement of the piercing tip remains essentially constant over a wide distance. This constant force distribution was shown by all of the three piercing tips according to FIGS. 7 to 9 and can therefore be regarded as independent of the shape in the rather small region of the apex of the piercing tip. With particular benefit it is therefore possible to ensure a highly homogeneous discharge by merely adapting the shape in the apex region of the piercing tip to the characteristics of the applied foil.

[0091] For operating the discharger 10, i.e. to discharge the fluid 11 inside the container 34 through the discharge passage 20 out of the outlet opening 24, the carriage 26 including the container 34 needs to be pushed towards the distal end 16 into the housing 12. However, the securing device 48 prevents the carriage 26 from being unintentionally pushed into the housing 12 when the discharger is in an initial state of use. In this initial state of use shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the piercing tip 30 is still positioned spaced apart from the seal 42 of the container 34, i.e. the piercing tip 30 does not yet protrude into the fluid reservoir 41 of the container 34.

[0092] In order to discharge the fluid 11, the user, firstly, has to deliberately rotate the carriage 26 counter-clockwise with respect to the housing 12 until the pin 46 is aligned with the axial portion 49b of the slot 47. For facilitating the rotation of the carriage 26, the outer surface of the carriage 26 may be roughened or provided with longitudinal grooves providing a non-slip surface.

[0093] The carriage 26 now being in the starting position is movable along the longitudinal axis A.sub.1. From the starting position the carriage 26 and the container 34 together can be actuated like a push button which can be pressed by the user with a thumb while counteracting this actuation by holding the housing 12 with two fingers behind the projections 44. Thus, to discharge the fluid 11 the user, secondly, has to deliberately push the carriage 26 towards the distal end 16. While the carriage 26 moves towards the distal end 16, the piercing tip 30 initially punctuates and then pierces the seal 42. The piercing tip 30 enters into the fluid reservoir 41 of the container 34, thereby urging the fluid 11 out of the container 34 through the flow channel 32 being connected to the discharge passage 20. The complementary shapes of the piercing tip 30 and the inner contour 38 of the fluid reservoir 41 ensure that essentially no residual amounts of fluid 11 remain within the container 34.

[0094] Since in many countries pertinent regulations prohibit a simple throwing away of medical, dental or veterinary substances, the lack of substantial residual amounts of fluid as provided by the discharge system as described herein simplifies the disposal of used containers and dischargers in accordance with the respective national regulations.