APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING FLUID THROUGH A PORT CONNECTOR
A dispensing apparatus and method for dispensing fluid from a container is disclosed. The dispensing apparatus includes a container for storing fluid and a dispensing cap. The dispensing cap includes a bottom portion configured to be attachable to the container and a port connector including a bottom cylindrical end for attaching the port connector through a hole in the bottom portion of the dispensing cap. The dispensing cap also includes a protective cap connectable to a top cylindrical end of the port connector for providing access to the dispensing cap. A dispensing instrument is arranged to be connectable to the top cylindrical end of the port connector to retrieve liquid stored in the container attached to the dispensing cap.
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1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to medical devices, and is particularly directed to an apparatus and method for dispensing fluid from a container through a port connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
Medical professionals routinely dispense fluid such as prescription topical anesthetic for medical reasons, such as controlling pain, easing discomfort and suppressing gag reflexes. These fluids are typically provided in storage containers, wherein multiple doses of a prescription fluid are provided in each container. In order to obtain the appropriate dosage of fluid, the cap of the storage container is removed and a dispenser, such as a syringe may be inserted into the container to retrieve the desired dosage. This, however, can lead to contamination of the liquid in the container if a contaminated syringe is inserted into the storage container. A small amount of the fluid may be poured into another container and accessed from the other container. This may lead to waste if the amount poured into the other container is more than the amount needed and it may also lead to contamination if the excess amount is returned to the storage container.
To reduce cross contamination and infection, disposable or “one-use” syringes may be used. So, it is possible to insert a disposable syringe into the container to obtain the liquid while reducing the risks of contamination. In order to obtain the liquid from the container without inserting significant portions of the syringe into the container, however, a blunt tip needle with a large opening is required. While these types are needles are useful in obtaining liquid from containers, they are too large for certain medical procedures. For example, these types of needles cannot be used by dentists to get into a pocket of a tooth. But, needles with thin tips, hereafter referred to as thin-tipped needles, cannot obtain the required liquid from containers because of the size of the needle tip. So there is a need for an apparatus and method for accessing liquid from a container with a syringe that is attachable to thin-tipped needles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn embodiment of the invention is directed to a dispensing cap for dispensing fluid stored in a container. The dispensing cap includes a bottom portion configured to be attachable to the container and a port connector including a bottom cylindrical end for attaching the port connector through a hole in the bottom portion of the dispensing cap. The dispensing cap also includes a protective cap connectable to a top cylindrical end of the port connector for providing access to the dispensing cap. A dispensing instrument is arranged to be connectable to the top cylindrical end of the port connector to retrieve liquid stored in the container attached to the dispensing cap.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for dispensing fluid stored in a container. The method includes removing a protective cap from the top of a dispensing cap, wherein the dispensing unit includes a bottom portion configured to be attachable to the container and a port connector including a bottom cylindrical end for attaching the port connector through a hole in the bottom portion of the dispensing cap. The protective cap is connectable to a top cylindrical end of the port connector for providing access to the dispensing cap. The method also includes attaching a dispensing instrument to the top cylindrical end of the port connector, retrieving an appropriate amount of liquid through the dispensing instrument, detaching the dispensing instrument from the top cylindrical end of the port connector and applying the retrieved liquid to a patient.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a dispensing kit for dispensing fluid. The dispensing kit includes a container for storing fluid and a dispensing cap. The dispensing cap includes a bottom portion configured to be attachable to the container and a port connector including a bottom cylindrical end for attaching the port connector through a hole in the bottom portion of the dispensing cap. The dispensing cap also includes a protective cap connectable to a top cylindrical end of the port connector for providing access to the dispensing cap. A dispensing instrument is arranged to be connectable to the top cylindrical end of the port connector to retrieve liquid stored in the container attached to the dispensing cap.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention that together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention, wherein:
Reference will now be made to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The present invention is directed to a novel dispensing cap for dispensing fluid from a container and to a novel method of dispensing fluid from the container through a port connector.
Port connector 106 is a hollow cylindrical unit which includes a bottom cylindrical end 204 for attaching the port connector 106 to dispensing cap 104 and a top cylindrical end for attaching the port connector 106 to a protective cap or a dispensing instrument. Assembly of dispensing cap 104 includes threading the bottom cylindrical end 204 of port connector 106 into hole 202. The walls of cylindrical end 204 are grooved or otherwise suitably configured to allow cylindrical end 204 to be threaded into hole 202. Upon threading cylindrical end 204 into hole 202, a sealant is applied to the threads. A nut 206 is threaded onto the threaded cylindrical end 204 to lock the port connector 106 into hole 202. Any excess threads of the port connector 106 protruding out of nut 206 are removed so that threaded cylindrical end 204 is flushed with the bottom of locking nut 206.
In an embodiment of the invention, the storage container 102 is shipped with a standard cap which does not include port connector 106. Prior to use, the shipping cap is removed and replaced with dispensing cap 104.
During use, protective cap 402 is removed from port connector 106 to permit a dispensing instrument to be affixed to port connector 106. As noted above, the dispensing instrument may be a syringe that is arranged to be threaded to top cylindrical extension 404 of port connector 106. Threads 406 are also oriented to mate with threads on a suitable dispensing instrument. After the dispensing instrument is affixed to port connector 106, the appropriate amount of liquid is aspirated and an appropriate application tip may thereafter be attached to the dispensing instrument for dispensing the liquid to a patient. Alternatively, the dispensing instrument may be a micro brush or other instrument that is configured to be inserted into the hollow portion of port connector 106 to obtain a small amount of liquid for application to the patient.
Although the present invention has been shown and described with respect to certain embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the inventive testing device and the method of the instant invention without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of the inventive testing device and method provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A dispensing cap for dispensing fluid stored in a container, the dispensing cap comprising:
- a bottom portion configured to be attachable to the container;
- a port connector comprising a bottom cylindrical end for attaching the port connector through a hole in the bottom portion of the dispensing cap; and
- a protective cap connectable to a top cylindrical end of the port connector for providing access to the dispensing cap,
- wherein a dispensing instrument is arranged to be connectable to the top cylindrical end of the port connector to retrieve liquid stored in the container attached to the dispensing cap.
2. The dispensing cap of claim 1, wherein the walls of the bottom cylindrical end are configured to allow the bottom cylindrical end of the port connector to be threaded into the hole and attached to the dispensing cap.
3. The dispensing cap of claim 2, wherein upon threading the walls of the bottom cylindrical end into the hole, a sealant is applied to threads of the bottom cylindrical end and a locking nut is threaded onto the threaded bottom cylindrical end.
4. The dispensing cap of claim 3, wherein excess thread of the bottom cylindrical end protruding out of the locking nut is removed.
5. The dispensing cap of claim 3, wherein a gasket seal is formed on the inner surface of the dispensing cap.
6. The dispensing cap of claim 1, wherein inner walls of the protective cap are configured to mate with threads located on the top cylindrical end of the port connector.
7. The dispensing cap of claim 1, wherein upon retrieving liquid from the dispensing cap, the dispensing instrument is connectable to an appropriate tip for dispensing the liquid to a patient.
8. The dispensing cap of claim 1, wherein the dispensing instrument is a syringe that is connectable to a thin-tipped needle for dispensing the liquid to a patient.
9. The dispensing cap of claim 1, wherein the dispensing instrument is an instrument configured to be inserted into a hollow portion of the port connector to obtain a small amount of liquid for application to the patient.
10. A method for dispensing fluid stored in a container, the method comprising:
- removing a protective cap from the top of a dispensing cap, wherein the dispensing unit includes a bottom portion configured to be attachable to the container and a port connector comprising a bottom cylindrical end for attaching the port connector through a hole in the bottom portion of the dispensing cap, and wherein the protective cap is connectable to a top cylindrical end of the port connector for providing access to the dispensing cap,
- attaching a dispensing instrument to the top cylindrical end of the port connector;
- retrieving an appropriate amount of liquid through the dispensing instrument;
- detaching the dispensing instrument from the top cylindrical end of the port connector; and
- applying the retrieved liquid to a patient.
11. A dispensing kit for dispensing fluid, the dispensing kit comprising:
- a container for storing fluid, and
- a dispensing cap including a bottom portion configured to be attachable to the container, a port connector comprising a bottom cylindrical end for attaching the port connector through a hole in the bottom portion of the dispensing cap and a protective cap connectable to a top cylindrical end of the port connector for providing access to the dispensing cap,
- wherein a dispensing instrument is arranged to be connectable to the top cylindrical end of the port connector to retrieve liquid stored in the container attached to the dispensing cap.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 19, 2009
Publication Date: Aug 19, 2010
Applicant: CETYLITE INDUSTRIES, INC. (Pennsauken, NJ)
Inventor: Barry Wachman (Cherry Hill, NJ)
Application Number: 12/388,867
International Classification: B65D 25/38 (20060101);