IE45841B1

IE45841B1 - Pouring device for the transfer of sterile liquid

Info

Publication number: IE45841B1
Application number: IE2318/77A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Ims Ltd
Priority date: 1977-07-18
Filing date: 1977-11-15
Publication date: 1982-12-15
Also published as: SE7807856L; DK534977A; IL53469A0; ES242440Y; IT7848634A0; ZA7853B; IE45841L; JPS5422290A; NO774382L; FR2397995A1; LU79002A1; NZ186043A; FI773526A7; NL7713844A; GB1555267A; BE863552A; AU3140877A; ES242440U; IN146349B

Abstract

A pouring device for the aceptic transger of sterile solution from a container to the sterile operating field or other area, said device having a fluid passage, a flange disposed about the exterior of the fluid passage, one end of said passage has a sharpened scarf or cutting edge for the stopper or closure on a container of sterile solution of the portion of the fluid passage on the opposite side offlange being elongated and is bent or curved so that when device is held near the flange with a container of sterile in place, the end of the fluid passage opposite the end acts as a dispensing spout for the sterile solution the sterile solution cvontainer remains physically disposed from the pouring end of the fluid passage, said debvice having an airway which extends generally poarallel to terminates in an exterior opening, and a resilient, surface on that side of the flange facing said cutting whereby the flange is adapted to prevent fluid leaks when device is being used to dispense from a container of sterile solution. [IN146349A1]

Description

This invention relates to a pouring device for the transfer of sterile liquid from a container and more especially to such a device for the introduction of any sterile fluid into the operating field during a surgical procedure.

It is not unusual for a surgeon to have need to flush or wash an area during a surgical procedure. This must be done with a sterile fluid, and the sterile fluid must be introduced without the inadvertent loss of sterility. The problem with simply opening a container of sterilexfluid and pouring the contents onto the desired location in the operating field is that the container itself must, for reasons of space limitations, be stored at some distance from the operating field.

The attendant in charge of such matters responds to the surgeon's instruction by obtaining a container of sterile fluid from arelatively remote point which may or may not be sterile, removing or puncturing the stopper, and introducing the container and the attendant's hand, both of compromised sterility, into the critical field.

The present invention provides a pouring spout for containers of sterile fluid such that only the pouring end of the spout ever need come in close proximity to the sterile field. The container and hand of questionable sterility are physically never introduced into the sterile - 3 field, and hence the danger of bacterial contamination of the critical area is reduced.

According to the invention there is provided a pouring device for the aseptic transfer of sterile solutions from a container to the sterile operating field or other similar area, said device having a fluid passage; a flange disposed about the exterior of the fluid passage near one end thereof which has a sharpened cutting edge for penetration of the stopper or closure on a container of sterile solution in use of the device, the portion of the fluid passage on the other side of the flange from said one end being elongated and bent or curved so that when the device is held near the flange with a container of sterile solution in place, the end of the fluid passage opposite the cutting end can act as a dispensing spout for the sterile solution while the sterile solution container remains physically displaced from the pouring end of the fluid passage, said device also having an airway which extends generally parallel to the fluid passage from the cutting end through said flange and terminates in an exterior opening; and a resilient, seal-forming surface on that side of the flange facing the one end of the passage for cooperation, when the device is being used to dispense, with the container of sterile solution to prevent or resist fluid leaks.

The invention will become further apparent from the detailed description which follows by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pouring device embodying the invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2; - 4 Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the cutting end of the device with outer protective cover removed; Figure 5 shows the device of Figures 1 to 4 in place on a container of sterile solution after the closure on the\container has been punctured by the cutting end of the device; and Figure 6 shows generally how the device in conjunction with the container is adapted to dispense sterile solution. It will be understood that the entire assembly is hand-held at the upper end around the flange and the remainder of the device below the spout is free of contact with anything and is free for insertion in any sterile area, as desired.

Considering the drawings in more detail, a fluid pouring or transfer device 10 has a central fluid path or passage 12 which runs the length of the device. A flange 14 is generally circular and integral with the fluid passage 12. One end of the fluid path terminates in a sharp cutting end edge 16. An airway 18 runs from end edge 16, through the flange 14, and terminates in an opening 20 adjacent the flange. A resilient surface 22, which may be) for example, rubber or flocking, is provided on the one side of flange 14. On the opposite side of flange 14, the fluid passage is elongated and has a bent or curved portion 24 to form a pouring or dispensing spout. The curvature of the portion 24 is in a direction such that the opening 20 is located on the same side of the fluid passage as the outer side of the bend. Each end of passage 12 is provided with caps or covers 26 and 28, which maintain the sterility of these ends during storage of the device.

The device is particularly adapted for use with the sterile solution container 30 which is provided with a conventional rubber stopper 32 held by a crimped metal ring 34. In use, the cap 28 on the sharp end 16 of the device 12 is removed, and the end 16 is made to pierce the stopper 32 by manual force. Then the assembly can be picked up, inverted, and held as shown in Figure 6, around the area flange 14. The cap 26 is removed and fluid can be dispensed from the dispensing end 36.

The length of the device 10 is such that the end 36 can be inserted into the sterile area while the container 30 and the attendant's hand are displaced therefrom. Also there is no likelihood of the inadvertent introduction of bacterial contamination into the sterile fluid.

The airway 18, which extends nearer to the cutting edge 16 than does the passage 12, allows for the inflow of air as the liquid sterile fluid is dispensed from container 30, and hence serves to maintain uniformpressure and flow rate.

In general, the device except for element 22 is made of rigid material such as plastics material.

Element 22 is a resilient material which abuts the end of the container 30 as shown in Figure 6, and helps to prevent a drippage or seepage of sterile fluid during use.

Claims

1. A pouring device for the aseptic transfer of sterile solutions from a containep to the sterile operating field or other similar area, said device 5 having a fluid passage; a flange disposed about the exterior of the fluid passage near one end thereof which has a sharpened cutting edge for penetration of the stopper or closure on a container of sterile solution in use of the device, the portion of the fluid passage on 10 the other side of the flange from said one end being elongated and bent or curved so that when the device is held near the flange with a container of sterile solution in place, the end of the fluid passage opposite the cutting end can act as a dispensing spout for the 15 sterile solution while the sterile solution container remains physically displaced from the pouring end of the fluid passage, said device also having an airway which extends generally parallel to the fluid passage from the cutting end through said flange and terminates in an 20 exterior opening; and a resilient, seal-forming surface on that side of the flange facing the one end of the passage for cooperation when the device is being used to dispense, with the container of sterile solution to prevent or resist fluid leaks. 25

2. A device according to claim 1 which is made of a rigid material except for the material providing said resilient surface.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the resilient surface is of rubber.

4. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the resilient surface is flocked. 48841

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the exterior opening terminating the airway is located adjacent the said other side of the flange.

6. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said exterior 3 opening is located on the same side of the fluid passage as the outer side of the bend and the airway extends nearer to the cutting edge than does the fluid passage.

7. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the ends of the device is covered by a removable protective io cover.

8. A pouring device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in combination with a container of sterile solution having an end closure, the one end of the device penetrating the end closure of the container of sterile solution, and the seal-forming surface on the lb flange abutting the end of said container, whereby the flange prevents fluid leaks when the device is being used to dispense from the container of sterile solution.

9. A pouring device constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying -2o drawings.