Abstract: The method of molding flexible, collapsible containers comprises extruding a tubular parison of material to be molded and sealing the outer, free end of the parison; ballooning the parison with relatively low pneumatic pressure; closing the mold about the ballooned parison to cause the edges of the parison to protrude out of the mold chamber; and sealing said parison to form said container, including the step of forming seal lines positioned laterally inwardly from the lateral edges of the parison. A novel container design is also covered.

Abstract: A fluid filter is disclosed which separates gas from liquid and vents the separated gas from the filter. The filter includes a vented housing through which the fluid stream passes. Liquid-wetting filter means carried in the housing in the path of the fluid stream permits the passage of liquid only. Gas separated from the fluid is vented through vent opening means which is covered by a liquid-repellent filter to permit the passage of gas only. An automatic, pressure sensitive control means may be used to seal the vent opening means against the entry of ambient air but to automatically release separated gas from the filter. The liquid-repellent filter may be secured to the housing by a mechanical bond between the housing and a fibrous backing carried by the filter, or a continuous band of medical grade tape may be used to attach the filter to the housing.

Abstract: A nebulizer cap for oxygen therapy and the like includes a cap body, having attachment means for sealingly connecting the cap body to a container for liquid to be neubulized. A dip tube is carried by the cap body to extend into the container, with the one end of the tube being in flow communication with conduit means defined by the cap body. The conduit means communicates with the liquid inlet of a nebulizing venturi, while a gas port passes through the cap body to the exterior, and is in communication with a gas inlet of the nebulizing venturi. The conduit leading from the dip tube to the liquid inlet of the venturi is defined by open channels, positioned on an upstanding portion of the cap body. A thin metal heat exchange shell is sealingly positioned over the upstanding portion of the cap body to enclose the channels, which preferably define a zig-zag flow pattern. A toroidal heater can fit over the shell when heating is desired.

Abstract: A container closure is provided with internal threads which compensate for variations in the external threads of a container neck onto which the container closure is to be threaded. The container closure threads extend inwardly toward the central axis of the closure and, in the illustrative embodiment, define an angle of 30 degrees with respect to the central axis. The closure thread tapers inwardly as it extends toward the central axis and is generally flexible but is sufficiently rigid to prevent the lower thread from contacting an immediately higher thread during flexing of the threads.

Abstract: Improvements in infusion controlling apparatus used in limiting the flow rate of an intravenous solution to a patient. The improvements provide coarse and fine orientations of a casette through which the solution passes relative to a controller which valves the casette's inlet and outlet to provide measured volumes of fluid. The coarse alignment device includes spaced apart metal sections which grasp onto the casette and move it towards the controller's valving members. As the casette reaches the valving members, protuberances on the controller fit into indentations on the casette, as the fine adjustment. The indentations into which the protuberances fit form part of the casette's base section of plastic notwithstanding the location of a cover slip between these two items. The valving members couple to a rocker arm which pivots about a point located at its middle and has magnetic poles at its ends.

Abstract: A container for storing and dispensing sterile liquids is provided with a hermetically sealed primary cap and overcap. The overcap and primary cap are provided, respectively, with an interlocking ring and undercut lip to provide for limited relative axial movement; the overcap and bottle neck are provided with interfitting lugs and ribs to provide for limited rotational movement. An outer ring has internal threads engaging external threads on the overcap and defines a jacking member whereby rotation of the outer ring moves the overcap upwardly to break the hermetic seals.

Abstract: A casette employing a stretchable elastomeric membrane used with an intravenous infusion controller to limit the field flow to a patient. The casette includes two sections of rigid plastic fused together with the membrane between them. The membrane and one section of the plastic form the channel through which the intravenous solution passes. The other section of plastic limits the expansion of the membrane to a predetermined size in order to provide the casette with a chamber of known volume. A valving configuration in the inlet and outlet to the chamber controls the fluid flowing through the casette and, thus, to the patient. Each valve includes a section of the elastomeric membrane in proximity to a configured portion of the piece of plastic forming the channel with the membrane. To close the valve, the controller extends a shaped elongated member through the other section of plastic to stretch the membrane and force it into contact with the configured plastic.

Abstract: A closure system is provided for a threaded container. A threaded closure cap has an annular skirt which engages a resilient gasket that is stretched over the bottle neck. The resilient gasket overlies a cap support flange which extends from the neck. Downward axial movement of the cap with respect to the container provides a vertical compressive force against the resilient gasket by the cap skirt. A heat shrinkable outer member surrounds the closure cap and provides a tamperproof seal with respect to the container.

Abstract: A resealable container is provided for storing and dispensing liquids. The container is formed in a one-piece molded construction and includes a cap covering an outlet defined by an externally threaded neck, with a frangible section coupling the cap to the neck. An outer ring is threadedly interfitted over the cap in engagement with the neck, with the outer ring having a plurality of inwardly extending slightly flexible fingers which fit around the cap to captivate the cap. The cap is forced downwardly during downward rotation of the outer ring thereby severing the cap from the neck at the frangible section.

Abstract: A parenteral liquid administering device includes an enlarged, liquid-holding burette-type chamber for receiving measured aliquots of liquid from a source. The burette has a bottom flow aperture with a valve controlling flow through the aperture. The valve includes a buoyant float ball and a valve seat positioned about the bottom flow aperture to receive the ball, in the absence of sufficient liquid to float it, in air-tight, sealing relation. Apertured retention means are provided surrounding the ball which are proportioned to permit it to float in spaced relation from the valve seat in the presence of liquid passing through the apertured retention means.

Abstract: A thermoplastic pharmaceutical solution container includes a neck portion having at least one port through the neck portion. A thermoplastic port protector or closure covers the port and defines a frangible section. The closure has a length to diameter ratio providing good mechanical advantage leverage to rupture the frangible section when the closure is pushed sideways. A seal is formed with the closure by forcing a die heated above the melting point of the plastic material into the neck portion, removing a portion of the port protector and forming a depression. The frangible section is formed in the vertical side wall of the depression.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a fracturable seal of the type wherein a plastic cup-shaped closure is hermetically sealed to a plastic planar surface, such as the neck of pharmaceutical solution containers. The seal is formed with the closure by forcing a die heated above the melting point of the plastic material into the planar surface, with the sealing die also being in heat exchange relationship with a portion of the closure. Both the planar surface and the closure adjacent thereto become molten and the surface material is displaced to form a fused seal transverse to the surface. The surface is depressed at least 0.005 inch from its original height by the sealing action of the die, and a frangible section is formed in the vertical side wall of the depression. The seal will be fractured due to tension stress when the closure is removed from the surface.

Abstract: In apparatus for indicating and regulating the pressure of a selected body fluid, an elongated indicator tube with pressure limiting opening means is carried in a vented chamber and mountable in a substantially vertical position. A drip platform circumscribes the indicator tube at a position below the pressure limiting opening means to channel fluid overflowing through the opening means away from the indicator tube and to permit the fluid to flow into the bottom of the chamber free of contact with the side of the indicator tube. The chamber in which the indicator tube is mounted may be defined by an elongated hollow member closed at each end with one-piece end closures which include integral attachment fingers for mounting the chamber and indicator tube in a vertical position.

Abstract: A plastic container such as a collapsible blood bag or a parenteral solution container may include a flexible sheet member integrally attached to a plastic container and defining lines of tearing weakness for defining and unfolding an elongated sheet member portion, which, in turn, defines a second line of tearing weakness for forming a retaining aperture for receiving a sample tube and the like. Also, the container may have a retention member positioned at each end of the plastic container comprising open, transverse channel means proportioned to receive a length of flexible tubing wound about the ends of said container.

Abstract: A balloon-type catheter is disclosed having a catheter shank made of a block copolymer having thermoplastic rubber characteristics with a central block of ethylene-butylene copolymer and terminal blocks of polystyrene. The inflatable balloon member, and preferably the distal Y-member, of the catheter are made of an elastic composition which includes the same or a similar block copolymer, in the presence of polystyrene or equivalent material as a tackifying agent, polypropylene, and an oil-type plasticizer.

Abstract: A cap closure is provided for bonding to the neck of a container. The cap closure includes a base portion enclosed by a side wall, a peripheral rim extending outwardly from the side wall with the rim being adapted for bonding to the neck of the container, an administration port connected to the base portion, a medication addition port connected to the base portion, a resealable injection site connected to the medication addition port, and port protectors covering and hermetically sealing the administration and medication addition ports. In the illustrative embodiment, the base portion, side wall, peripheral rim, administration port and medication addition ports are molded as an integral, unitary member, and a method is provided for fusing a membrane to the medication addition port and for fusing port protectors with the base member.

Abstract: A screw top closure for a container opening defining a helically threaded neck, and a rotatable screw top positioned to permit rotation by the screw top between outward and inward positions on the neck. A sealing partition is positioned across the opening of the neck. In accordance with this invention, an aperture is defined in the sealing partition, the aperture being positioned in off-center relation to the rotational axis of the screw top. A sealing cap member is positioned across the aperture, with a rupturable seal, facing the screw top. A projection is defined on the side of the screw top facing the partition, being positioned to be longitudinally spaced from the sealing cap member when the screw top is in the outward position, and to engage the sealing cap member when the screw top is rotationally advanced to its inward position. Accordingly, the seal between the cap member and the partition may be ruptured in aseptic manner by the projection, to open the aperture.

Abstract: A valve comprising a body including a plug receiving socket and including conduits in communication with the socket, with the body having an outwardly extending flange about the periphery of the socket, and a plug rotatably positioned in the socket whereby the plug can be rotated to register slots with the conduits to selectively control fluid flow through the conduits, the plug including a flange portion about the flange of the body wherein the flange on the body includes an upper bearing surface and a lower gripping surface, and the flange portion of the plug includes an upper gripping surface corresponding to the lower gripping surface of the flange on the body, whereby insertion of the plug in the socket causes the upper bearing surface to flex outwardly the flange portion of the body and the upper gripping surface constantly urges the lower gripping surface toward a sealing relationship with the plug in the socket.

Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine employs a relatively low pressure pump to provide fuel to injectors located at the engine cylinders. A booster device for maintaining the fluid pressure constant, at a substantially higher level, is connected in series with the line between the pump and the injector and includes one way valves at its inlet and outlet. The booster employs a chamber connected to the fuel line and pressurized by a piston which acts to contract the chamber volume under the force of the coil spring. The piston is cocked against the spring at regular intervals to renew the original volume of the chamber by an arm driven from the engine crankshaft. Sealed volume converters having flexible diaphragm walls are disposed adjacent to the inlet and outlet of the booster device and in the fluid conduit adjacent the injectors to obviate sharp drops in the fluid pressure in the fuel line when the injectors actuate.