# US 8,783,518 B2 · Multiple-metered self-cleaning dispenser > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,518 B2 - Document ID: US8783518B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/142,692 - Filed: 2009-12-27 - Published: 2012-01-05 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-29 - Assignees: Otic Pharma Ltd. - Applicants: Oz Cabiri; Rodrigo Yelin; Ella Zlatkis; Eran Eilat - Inventors: Oz Cabiri; Rodrigo Yelin; Ella Zlatkis; Eran Eilat - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783518B2 ## CPC - B65D 83/52: Metering valves; Metering devices - A61M 15/0036: {hollow piercing means} - A61M 15/0045: {using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters} - A61M 15/009: {using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08)} - G01F 11/028: {the dosing device being provided with a dip tube and fitted to a container, e.g. to a bottleneck} - A61M 2202/04: Liquids - A61M 2209/06: Packaging for specific medical equipment - B05B 15/55: using cleaning fluids - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - 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)} - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) ## Abstract A method for dispensing a plurality of metered doses of a fluid, comprising: providing a fluid in a container comprising a plurality of metering chambers and a plurality of tubes connectable to and movable relative to the chambers, wherein the tubes are externally open or open to the fluid; connecting to the chambers tubes open to the fluid, thereby loading the chambers with fluid; and selectively connecting one or more externally open tubes to one or more chambers, thereby dispensing the fluid contents of the one or more chambers via an external opening. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for dispensing a plurality of metered doses of fluid by a dispenser, comprising: (a) providing a fluid in a container comprising a plurality of metering chambers and a plurality of tubes connectable to and movable relative to the chambers; (b) connecting to the chambers tubes open to the fluid, thereby loading the chambers with fluid; (c) selectively connecting one or more externally open tubes to one or more chambers, thereby dispensing the fluid contents of the one or more chambers via an external opening; (d) providing in the container a cleaning effluent, at least one additional chamber and an additional movable tube open to the cleaning effluent; (e) connecting to the additional chamber the tube open to the cleaning effluent, thereby loading the additional chamber with cleaning effluent; and (f) connecting an externally open tube to the additional chamber, thereby dispensing the cleaning effluent via the externally open tube. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein connectable to the chambers comprises having holes at planned positions on the tubes, selectively providing or preventing a passage between a tube and a chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein selectively connecting comprises moving tubes to a position where a particular chamber is connected to an externally open tube while concurrently disconnecting the particular chamber from a tube open to the fluid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein selectively connecting comprises moving tubes to a position where particular chambers are connected to externally open tubes while concurrently disconnecting the particular chambers from tubes open to the fluid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein selectively connecting comprises progressively moving tubes to consecutive positions, successively connecting particular chambers to externally open tubes while disconnecting the particular chambers from tubes open to the fluid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein dispensing the fluid contents comprises at least one of a liquid, gas, spray, foam, solution, suspension, aerosol, emulsion, gel, colloid, powder, microparticles, cream, lotion or paste form, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein providing a fluid in a container comprises providing a fluid pressurized by a pressure greater than the ambient pressure outside the container. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein connecting externally open tube to the additional chamber comprises moving tubes to a position where the additional chamber is connected to an externally open tube while synchronously disconnecting the additional chamber from the tube open to the cleaning effluent. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein connecting externally open tube to the additional chamber is facilitated subsequently to dispensing a fluid from at least one other chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a tube open to the cleaning effluent comprises a tube connected to a further provided auxiliary chamber open to the cleaning effluent. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein providing an effluent comprises providing a gas at a pressure greater than the ambient pressure outside the container. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein providing an effluent comprises providing a fluid alterable to a cleaning effluent. ### Claim 13 An dispenser apparatus for dispensing a plurality of metered doses of fluid, comprising: (a) a container fillable with a fluid to at least a portion of the container; (b) a plurality of chambers disposed in the container; (c) a plurality of tubes open to said portion, connectable to and movable relative to the chambers, providing selectable connections between said portion and the chambers for loading the fluid to the chambers; and (d) a plurality of externally open tubes connectable to and movable relative to the chambers, providing a selectable external connection to at least one chamber for dispensing the content of the at least one chamber; (e) at least one additional chamber, disposed in the container, connectable to an externally open tube; and (f) at least one additional tube, open to the container outside of said portion, connectable to and movable relative to the additional chamber and allowing a selectable connection between the additional chamber and outside of said portion for loading into the additional chamber a provided cleaning effluent for a subsequent discharge via the externally open tube. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein connectable to the chambers comprises having holes at planned positions on the tubes, selectively providing or preventing a passage between a tube and a chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13, structured to effect a mutual exclusiveness of (i) providing connections between said portion and the chambers and (ii) providing an external connection to at least one chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein structured to effect a mutual exclusiveness comprises at least one tube separated by an internal stopper providing at one side thereof a connection between said portion and the chambers and at another side thereof an external connection to at least one chamber. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the cleaning effluent is fillable from outside of said portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the tubes are packed into a group. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the tubes are formed as lumens in a stem. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the externally open tubes are connected to an outlet.