# US 5,705,066 A · Apparatus for opening a vessel

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- Number: US 5,705,066 A
- Document ID: US5705066A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/558,215
- Filed: 1996-04-16
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1995-02-13
- Assignees: Aksys, Ltd.
- Inventors: Dennis M. Treu; Donald C. Walker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5705066A

## CPC

- B01D 65/102: {Detection of leaks in membranes}
- A61L 2/04: Heat (radiation A61L2/08)
- A61L 2/18: Liquid substances
- A61M 1/16: with membranes
- A61M 1/1607: {before use, i.e. upstream of dialyser}
- A61M 1/1609: {after use, i.e. downstream of dialyser}
- A61M 1/1649: {with pulsatile dialysis fluid flow}
- A61M 1/165: {with a dialyser bypass on the dialysis fluid line}
- A61M 1/1656: {Apparatus for preparing dialysates}
- A61M 1/166: {Heating (for sterilisation A61M1/1686)}
- A61M 1/1662: {with heat exchange between fresh and used dialysate}
- A61M 1/1666: {by dissolving solids}
- A61M 1/1668: {Details of containers}
- A61M 1/1672: {using membrane filters, e.g. for sterilising the dialysate}
- A61M 1/1682: {both machine and membrane module, i.e. also the module blood side}
- A61M 1/1684: {Checking the module characteristics before reuse}
- A61M 1/1686: {by heat}
- A61M 1/1688: {with recirculation of the sterilising fluid}
- A61M 1/169: {using chemical substances}
- A61M 1/1692: {Detection of blood traces in dialysate}
- A61M 1/1694: {with recirculating dialysing liquid}
- A61M 1/288: {Priming (priming in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3643)}
- A61M 1/3434: {with pre-dilution and post-dilution}
- A61M 1/3437: {downstream of the filter, e.g. post-dilution with filtrate}
- A61M 1/3465: {using dialysate as substitution fluid}
- A61M 1/3468: {using treated filtrate as substitution fluid}
- A61M 1/3609: {Physical characteristics of the blood, e.g. haematocrit, urea}
- A61M 1/3622: {with a cassette forming partially or totally the blood circuit}
- A61M 1/36224: {with sensing means or components thereof}
- A61M 1/36226: {Constructional details of cassettes, e.g. specific details on material or shape}
- A61M 1/362263: {Details of incorporated filters}
- A61M 1/3626: {Gas bubble detectors}
- A61M 1/3627: {Degassing devices; Buffer reservoirs; Drip chambers; Blood filters}
- A61M 1/3629: {degassing by changing pump speed, e.g. during priming}
- A61M 1/3639: {Blood pressure control, pressure transducers specially adapted therefor}
- A61M 1/3641: {Pressure isolators}
- A61M 1/3643: {Priming, rinsing before or after use}
- A61M 1/3644: {Mode of operation}
- A61M 1/3646: {Expelling the residual body fluid after use, e.g. back to the body}
- A61M 1/3647: {with recirculation of the priming solution}
- A61M 1/3649: {using dialysate as priming or rinsing liquid}
- A61M 1/365: {through membranes, e.g. by inverted trans-membrane pressure [TMP]}
- B01D 61/02: Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration {; Nanofiltration}
- B01D 61/025: {Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration}
- B01D 61/04: Feed pretreatment
- B01D 61/12: Controlling or regulating
- B01D 61/32: Controlling or regulating
- B01D 65/022: {Membrane sterilisation}
- B01D 65/104: {Detection of leaks in membrane apparatus or modules}
- C02F 1/441: {by reverse osmosis}
- F16K 17/0453: {the member being a diaphragm}
- A61M 1/1658: {Degasification}
- A61M 39/16: having provision for disinfection or sterilisation {(A61M39/143 takes precedence)}
- A61M 2205/12: with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
- A61M 2205/15: Detection of leaks
- A61M 2205/17: with redundant control systems
- A61M 2205/18: with alarm
- A61M 2205/3317: Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
- A61M 2205/3324: PH measuring means
- A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow
- A61M 2205/3344: Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
- A61M 2205/3368: Temperature
- A61M 2205/3382: Upper level detectors
- A61M 2205/3386: Low level detectors
- A61M 2205/502: User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
- A61M 2205/505: Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
- A61M 2205/6072: Bar codes
- A61M 2205/705: Testing of filters for leaks
- A61M 2205/707: Testing of filters for clogging
- A61M 2205/7554: with means for unclogging or regenerating filters
- A61M 2205/7581: with means for switching over to a fresh filter on clogging or saturation
- A61M 2206/11: Laminar flow
- A61M 2230/65: Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity
- B01D 2311/04: Specific process operations in the feed stream; Feed pretreatment
- B01D 2321/04: Backflushing
- B01D 2321/16: Use of chemical agents
- B01D 2321/32: By heating or pyrolysis
- Y10S 210/929: Hemoultrafiltrate volume measurement or control processes
- Y10S 215/03: Medical
- Y10T 137/7722: Line condition change responsive valves
- Y10T 137/7794: With relief valve
- Y10T 137/7796: Senses inlet pressure
- Y10T 137/7799: Liquid transfer
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An apparatus is described for automatically opening and dispensing the contents of a vessel, for example, a vessel containing dialysate chemicals for dispersion into a dialysate preparation tank. The apparatus comprises a housing having an open interior region, with the vessel mounted above the housing, and a spike reciprocable within the interior of the housing between upper and lower positions. The spike pierces the vessel when the spike is moved to the upper position. The spike has an upper spike element that pierces the bottle and an integral spike body concentric with the housing permitting passage of dialysate chemicals therethrough after the spike has pierced the vessel. A drive means is proved for moving the spike relative to the housing between the upper and lower positions, so as to control the operation of the spike and the automatic release of the contents of the vessel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus for opening a vessel containing a batch of dialysate chemicals, comprising:
a housing having an open interior region, said vessel mounted above said housing;
a spike reciprocable within said interior region of said housing between upper and lower positions, and spike piercing said vessel when said spike is moved to said upper position;
said spike comprising an upper spike element, an integral spike body concentric with said housing permitting passage of dialysate chemicals therefore after said spike has pierced said vessel, and
means for moving said spike relative to said housing between said upper and lower positions, wherein said means for moving comprises a collar mounted to said housing and a threaded member on the exterior surface of said spike body threadably engaging said collar; and wherein said apparatus further comprises a drive means for rotating said collar, causing said spike to move between upper and lower positions.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a nozzle disposed within said housing in communication with a source of fluid, said nozzle oriented in the direction of said vessel when said vessel is mounted above said housing;
said nozzle ejecting fluid towards said vessel after said spike has traveled to said upper position and pierced said vessel, thereby promoting the release of the entire contents of said vessel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vessel comprises a bottle having a seal that is broken by said spike when said bottle is mounted above said housing and said spike is moved to said upper position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising alignment means cooperating with said bottle for permitting said bottle to mount to said housing with said seal positioned in a predetermined orientation relative to said spike.

### Claim 5

Apparatus for opening a vessel containing a batch of dialysate chemicals, comprising:
a housing having an open interior region, said vessel mounted above said housing;
a spike reciprocable within said interior region of said housing between upper and lower positions, said spike piercing said vessel when said spike is moved to said upper position;
said spike comprising an upper spike element, an integral spike body concentric with said housing permitting passage of dialysate chemicals therethrough after said spike has pierced said vessel, and
means for moving said spike relative to said housing between said upper and lower positions, wherein said means for moving comprises a collar mounted to said housing and a threaded member on the exterior surface of said spike body threadably engaging said collar; and wherein said apparatus further comprises a drive means for rotating said collar, causing said spike to move between said upper and lower positions, wherein said drive means comprises a motor and a belt driven by said motor, said belt engageable with said collar to rotate said collar.