US 5,799,830 A · Pressure vessel access port

Abstract

A disposable fluid transport system is provided for dispensing sterile fluids from a pressure vessel. The pressure vessel has an internal chamber with an outlet opening extending therethrough. The fluid transport system includes a collapsible media bag having an internal compartment defining a sterile environment. A first end of a delivery tube is attached in fluid communication to the compartment of the media bag. Disposed at a point along the length of a delivery tube is an interface adapter. The interface adapter includes an annular flange which encircles and radially projects out from the exterior surface of the delivery tube. The gasket is formed of a resiliently flexible material and has an outside diameter that is larger than the inside diameter of the outlet opening on the pressure vessel. Once the media bag and delivery tube are positioned within the chamber of the pressure vessel, the second end of the delivery tube can be fed out the outlet opening. As a result of the flexible nature of the gasket, the gasket can also be constricted to pass through the outlet opening and then radially expanded. A clamp can then be used to seal the gasket on the outlet opening so as to seal the outlet opening closed.

Claims54

Dependent claims

A fluid transport system for selectively dispensing a fluid from within a pressure vessel, the pressure vessel comprising a housing having an interior surface defining a chamber, the pressure vessel further comprising an outlet opening having an inner diameter and being formed on the housing and an inlet opening having an inner diameter and being formed on the housing, the inlet opening and the outlet opening each effecting discrete fluid communication between the chamber of the pressure vessel and the exterior of the pressure vessel, the fluid transport system comprising:

(a) a delivery tube comprising a first end, an opposing second end being sealed closed, an exterior surface, and an interior surface defining a lumen extending between the first end and the second end;
(b) containment means attached in sealed fluid communication with the first end of the delivery tube for forming a closed sterile environment capable of receiving and containing a fluid and for dispensing the contained fluid through the delivery tube when pressure is applied to the containment means;
and
(c) first sealing means disposed at a point along the delivery tube for effecting a pressure tight seal of the outlet opening without breaching the closed sterile environment of the containment means to enable pressurization of the chamber of the pressure vessel when the containment means is positioned within the chamber and the second end of the delivery tube is passed from within the chamber though the outlet opening so as to be outside of the pressure vessel.

1 more element

(a) a collapsible media bag having an interior surface defining a compartment for containing a fluid;
(b) a delivery tube comprising:
(i) a first end in sealed fluid communication with the compartment of the media bag;
(ii) an opposing free second end being sealed closed;
and
(iii) an interior surface defining a lumen extending between the first end and the second end, the lumen of the delivery tube and the chamber of the media bag comprising a closed sterile environment;
and
(c) first sealing means disposed at a point along the delivery tube for effecting a pressure tight seal of the outlet opening without breaching the closed sterile environment to enable pressurization of the chamber of the pressure vessel when the media bag is positioned within the chamber and the second end of the delivery tube is passed from within the chamber though the outlet opening so as to be outside of the pressure vessel.

5 more elements

A fluid transport system for selectively dispensing a fluid from within a pressure vessel, the pressure vessel comprising a housing having an interior surface defining a chamber, a first sealing flange and a second sealing flange are formed on the housing of the pressure vessel, an outlet opening having an inner diameter extends through the first sealing flange so as to be in fluid communication with the chamber of the pressure vessel, likewise, an inlet opening having an inner diameter extends through the second sealing flange so as to be in fluid communication with the chamber of the pressure vessel, the fluid transport system comprising:

(a) a collapsible media bag having an interior surface defining a compartment for containing a fluid;
(b) a delivery tube having a lumen longitudinally extending therethrough, the delivery tube comprising:
(i) a transition tube having a first end in sealed fluid communication with the media bag and an opposing second end;
and
(ii) a feeding tube having a first end and an opposing second end, the second end being sealed closed;
(c) a first interface adapter comprising:
(i) a tubular sleeve having a first end, an opposing second end, and an exterior surface extending therebetween, the tubular sleeve also having an interior surface defining a passageway extending between the first end and the second end, the first end of the tubular sleeve being fluid coupled with the second end of the transition tube, the second end of the tubular sleeve being fluid coupled with the first end of the feeding tube;
and
(ii) a gasket encircling and radially extending out from the exterior surface of the tubular sleeve, the gasket extending to an outside perimeter that is larger than the inner diameter of the outlet opening extending through the first sealing flange, the gasket being sufficiently flexible that the interface adapter positioned within the chamber can be constricted to pass through the outlet opening in the first sealing flange and then expanded to enable the gasket to be mounted flush against the first sealing flange on the housing.

6 more elements

A fluid dispensing system comprising:

(a) a pressure vessel comprising a housing having an interior surface defining a chamber and an outlet opening formed on the housing to enable fluid communication between the chamber of the pressure vessel and the exterior of the pressure vessel;
(b) a delivery tube comprising a first end, an opposing second end being sealed closed, and an interior surface defining a lumen extending between the first end and the second end;
(c) containment means attached in sealed fluid communication with the first end of the delivery tube for forming a closed sterile environment capable of receiving and containing a fluid and for dispensing the contained fluid into the delivery tube when pressure is applied to the containment means;
(d) first sealing means disposed at a point along the delivery tube for effecting a pressure tight seal of the outlet opening without breaching the closed sterile environment of the containment means to enable pressurization of the chamber when the containment means is positioned within the chamber and the second end of the delivery tube is passed from within the chamber though the outlet opening so as to be outside of the pressure vessel;
and
(e) first attachment means for removably securing the sealing means to the housing.

3 more elements

A fluid dispensing system comprising:

(a) a pressure vessel comprising a housing having an exterior surface, the housing also having an interior surface defining a chamber located within the pressure vessel, the pressure vessel further comprising:
(i) a sealing flange mounted on the exterior surface of the housing and having an exposed face;
(ii) an outlet opening with an inner diameter extending through the face of the sealing flange so as to be in fluid communication with the chamber of the pressure vessel;
(b) a collapsible media bag having an interior surface defining a compartment for containing a fluid, the media bag being configured to be received within the chamber of the pressure vessel;
(c) a flexible delivery tube having a first end in sealed fluid communication with the compartment of the media bag and an opposing second end, the delivery tube also being configured to be received within the chamber of the pressure vessel;
(d) an interface adapter comprising:
(i) a tubular member having a first end, an opposing second end, and an exterior surface extending between, the tubular member also having an interior surface defining a passageway extending between the first end and the second end, the tubular member being fluid coupled in axial alignment with the delivery tube at a point between the first end and the second end of the delivery tube;
and
(ii) a gasket encircling and radially extending out from the exterior surface of the tubular member, the gasket having a first side, a second side, and extending to an outside perimeter that is larger than the inner diameter of the outlet opening extending through the sealing flange, the gasket being sufficiently flexible that when the second end of the delivery tube is passed from within the chamber through the outlet opening, the interface adapter can be constricted to also pass through the outlet opening in the sealing flange and then expanded to enable the gasket to be mounted flush against the face of the sealing flange;
and
(e) clamping means for compressing the interface adapter against the face of the sealing flange to produce a pressure tight seal therebetween.

8 more elements

A method for assembling a system for dispensing sterile fluid solutions, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a pressure vessel comprising a housing having an exterior surface, the housing also having an interior surface defining a chamber located within the pressure vessel, the pressure vessel further comprising:
(i) an access door removably sealing an entree port, the entree port extending through the housing and communicating with the chamber;
(ii) an inlet opening extending through the housing and communicating with the chamber to selectively pressurize the chamber;
and
(iii) an sealing flange formed on the exterior surface of the housing of the pressure vessel, the sealing flange having a outlet opening extending therethrough so as to be in fluid communication with the chamber of the pressure vessel;
(b) positioning a fluid transport system within the chamber of the pressure vessel through the entree port, the transport system comprising:
(i) a collapsible media bag having an interior surface defining a closed compartment for containing a fluid;
(ii) a flexible delivery tube having a first end in sealed fluid communication with the compartment of the media bag, the delivery tube also having an opposing second end being sealed closed;
and
(iii) a flexible interface adapter comprising:
(A) a tubular member having a first end, an opposing second end, and an exterior surface extending between, the tubular member also having an interior surface defining a passageway extending between the first end and the second end, the tubular member being fluid coupled in axial alignment with the delivery tube at a point between the first end and the second end of the delivery tube;
and
(B) a gasket encircling and radially extending out from the exterior surface of the tubular member, the gasket extending to an outside perimeter that is larger than the inner diameter of the outlet opening extending through the sealing flange, the gasket being sufficiently flexible to pass from within the chamber through the outlet opening in the sealing flange;
(c) passing the second end of the delivery tube including the interface adapter through the outlet opening so that the gasket is positioned flush against the sealing flange outside of the chamber;
and
(d) sealing the gasket against the surface of the sealing flange so that the outlet opening is sealed closed, thereby enabling pressurization of the chamber having the media bag contained therein.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pressure vessel access port

Life of this patent

Pressure vessel access port

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims54