Medical Patents (Class 215/DIG3)
  • Patent number: 5356406
    Abstract: For interconnecting a syringe with a barrel and needle to a bottle of medicine wherein the bottle has a generally cylindrical cap with a central target zone of relatively small diameter to be pierced by the needle, wherein the adaptor includes a body having a first end with a truncated cone-shaped mouth converging from the first end and an opposite end with a recess sized to receive the bottle cap, the cone-shaped surface of the mouth being adapted to guide the needle into generally co-axial alignment with the bottle and toward the target zone of the bottle cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Inventor: Steven Schraga
  • Patent number: 5348550
    Abstract: A drug vessel includes a vessel body with a narrow neck extending to an open end of a mouth portion thereof, and a stopper fitted in the open end. The stopper includes a stopper body of an elastomeric material with a through-hole passing through a central portion thereof along its center axis, and a closing body fitted into the through-hole of stopper body to block the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Nissho Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Ikeda, Hitoshi Futagawa, Toshihiro Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5297599
    Abstract: A closure or cap for a reagent container for use in an analysis system in which an automatic pipetting device is used for transferring small quantities of reagent from the reagent container to reaction cells. In order to simplify the process of handling the reagent container in an automatic analysis system, the closure is characterized in that it is formed in one piece from a plastic and it has a cylindrical side wall and an annular top wall adjacent the side wall and merging into a conical wall which extends inwards from the inner circle of the top wall and ends in a piercable tip situated on the axis of symmetry of the cylindrical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Hoffmann-LaRoche Inc.
    Inventor: Rudolf Bucheli
  • Patent number: 5297561
    Abstract: An air-evacuated blood collection tube assembly comprising an air-evacuated tubular container having an open end and a closed end, and a cannula-penetrable self-sealing gas-proof closure in sealing engagement with the open end of the container so as to maintain the vacuum inside the container. The closure has an end interior of the container and an end exterior of the container. The end interior has a first notch formed adjacent to the container wall. The end exterior includes a first notch that is aligned with the notch on the end interior of the container. The tubular container is formed of a polyethylene terephthalate material. The open end of the tubular container is flared outwardly. A hump extends inwardly of the inner diameter of the tubular container. The closure has an indented ring that is formed so as to receive this hump during engagement with the tubular container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Inventor: Walter C. Hulon
  • Patent number: 5279606
    Abstract: An elastomeric pharmaceutical barrier (2, 50, 75, 100) formed as a piston, a stopper, or a cap-like gasket and diaphragm structure for use in pharmaceutical containers such as vials, syringes, cartridges and the like. The barrier combines a main body (4, 52, 76, 102) of butyl or silicone based rubber to provide a fluid seal mechanism and includes a pharmaceutically inert insert (6, 54, 78, 104) which provides a substantial portion (40, 68, 92, 130) of a surface of the barrier to be exposed to the pharmaceutical. The non-reactive insert can be fabricated from polytetrafluoroethylene, glass, stainless steel or ceramic material and reduces the surface area of rubber exposed to pharmaceutical contact, therefore making the applicable face of the barrier substantially inert and nonreactive to the contacting pharmaceutical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Habley Medical Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Terry M. Haber, Clark B. Foster, William H. Smedley
  • Patent number: 5275299
    Abstract: A closure device for a front side of an in particular evacuable cylindrical housing comprises a cap surrounding said front side of said housing with a front wall in which a borehole is arranged. A sealing device is arranged between the borehole and an internal cavity of the cylindrical housing. The cap is connected to the sealing device and/or the cylindrical housing by means of a coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: C. A. Greiner & Sohne Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Franz Konrad, Gunther Pakanecz, Manfred Lederer
  • Patent number: 5272084
    Abstract: The disclosed invention relates generally to laboratory ware, and specifically to laboratory ware and method for cultivating biological cell cultures within the laboratory ware. Cell culture vessels are disclosed providing enhanced cell yields for epithelial-like cell lines, and a more in-vivo like cell growing environment for fibroblast-like cell lines. A representative flask and dish including a plurality of grooves, or valleys, residing between ridges substantially covering the interior of preferably the bottom wall of the flask and dish is disclosed. The preferred ridges have a radius between 0.1 and 0.5 millimeters and range from 0.2 to 2.0 millimeters in height, and are spaced apart from each other within the range of 0.2 to 2.5 millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Dennis M. O'Connell, Martin S. Paris
  • Patent number: 5269413
    Abstract: A pill container has a casing with a closed end, an open end, and a chamber. The chamber can hold the pills and communicate with the open end. A cap having an inside surface can releasably attach to the open end and close the casing. A pin is centrally secured at the inside surface of the cap. This pin is positioned to extend into the chamber of the casing when the cap is attached to the casing. A plunger is slidably mounted in the chamber of the casing. A spring mounted in the casing can urge the plunger toward the open end of the casing to hold the pills in position, so that agitation would not tend to powder the pills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Inventor: George Stern
  • Patent number: 5261902
    Abstract: A fluid container assembly including a flexible vessel containing a solvent or diluent and having a fluid communicating port in an upper portion thereof, a drug container containing a drug and having a drug communicating port in a lower portion thereof, and a connecting part for connecting the fluid communicating port of the flexible vessel to the drug communicating port of the drug container, wherein the connecting part includes a plug removably fitted into both the fluid communicating port and the drug communicating port and a plug holding extendable member for holding the plug while unplugging the same when assuming its extended position, the member connecting the outer periphery of the fluid communicating port to the outer periphery of the drug communicating port and defining a fluid communicating path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyonori Okada, Mitugu Inaba, Seizo Sunago, Osamu Takahata
  • Patent number: 5232109
    Abstract: An elastomeric stopper for a fluid-containing bottle to hermetically seal the content therein and to provide access thereto by the insertion of an infusion device through the stopper, the stopper comprising an annular protuberance which forms a second seal with the shaft of the infusion device to prevent leakage, blow-out and introduction of particulate matter into the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Sterling Winthrop Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph V. Tirrell, Neil H. Brown
  • Patent number: 5232111
    Abstract: A combination closure is provided, particularly for evacuated collection tubes for body fluids such as blood, including an elastomer stopper and plastic cover combination with cooperating locking surfaces spaced around the circumference thereof. The stopper includes vertically spaced sealing rings for insertion into the open end of the tube. Also, the stopper includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced protrusions and the cover or shield cooperating circumferentially spaced indentations or ports to provide a locking force between the protrusions and indentations. As a result, the dimensions of the stopper and the plastic cover are reduced, which in turn reduces the penetration force required to insert a needle through the stopper. Moreover, the reduced dimension of the closure allows it to be locked to a bead on the tube whether plastic or glass, and the lesser overall diameter allows the closure on the tube to fit more tube holders or containers during and prior to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: James A. Burns
  • Patent number: 5230427
    Abstract: A hermetically sealed vial for liquids is provided by the present invention. The liquid can be a calibrant or a reference fluid for gas analysis where the liquid has dissolved gas or medication or medicaments. The vial is a glass container means with at least one opening. The dimensions of the opening range from that which is just effective for the addition and removal of fluids to that which is the smallest side of the container. A flange circumferentially extends about the opening. The vial has the liquid that does not fill the vial to leave room for a head space. The head space is present in an amount of the volume percent of the vial ranging from 1 to 99 compared to the amount of the liquid. The vial is sealed with an air impermeable bilaminate seal comprised of an adhesive polymer contacting the vial and a metal surface facing externally from the vial. Before the vial is sealed by heat or induction sealing a securing means like a cap or chemical coupling agents are used to hold the seal on the vial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Betts, Douglas R. Savage, Debra J. Shane
  • Patent number: 5229127
    Abstract: Quick miosis with 24 hour control of intraocular pressure of patients undergoing extracapsular cataract extraction surgery is achieved by applying to the eyes of the patient during surgery acetylcholine as a first miotic agent and carbachol as a second miotic agent. Acetylcholine provides quick miosis while carbachol enhances the miotic effect while providing post-surgery control of intraocular pressure. The two miotic agents can be dissolved in a common saline carrier. The two agents can be combined in a unit dosage package by disposing acetylcholine in powder form in a first compartment and a solution of carbachol in a second compartment. The combined miotic agent of the invention is especially useful when substances which raise IOP such as viscoelastic agents are used during ocular surgery and/or with sensitive patients who enter the surgery with elevated pressure such as those suffering from glaucoma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Inventor: James W. McKinzie
  • Patent number: 5217129
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vial for storing a substance in a condition in which it is excludeded from the ambient air, comprising a reservoir having a closed end and an open end, the open end communicating with a closable tubular member via a neck portion. The vial comprises a cap having a central aperture which is sealingly but detachably connected to the neck portion of the reservoir, while the tubular member constitutes a separate component of the vial and is proportioned so that it can be connected in the aperture of the cap in a circumferentially sealing manner, a rear end portion of the tubular member extending within the neck portion of the reservoir and a front portion which comprises a sealing means extending beyond the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Duphar International Research B.V.
    Inventor: Arnoldus Portengen
  • Patent number: 5213860
    Abstract: An ampul for containing a physiologically acceptable liquid comprises a tubular body made of a non-toxic, chemically inert thermoplastic material having an elongation at break ranging from about 100% to about 200%, a tensile strength at break less than about 15,000 psi and a flexural modulus less than about 400,000 psi. The tubular body has at least one end portion of reduced cross-sectional dimension formed with a peripheral line of weakness enabling the end portion to be manually fractured. The ampul according to the invention is impact-resistant and forms a clean cut when the end portion is fractured to dispense its content, thereby eliminating dangerous shards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Confab Guy Lamarre Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Laing
  • Patent number: 5169602
    Abstract: A resealable conduit is used to remove or add fluid to a closed system without coring or contamination of the fluid. The conduit can include funnel-shaped guide means, duck bill valve means and beveled tip puncturing means. A conduit resting angle of less than about five degrees can be achieved. A tip bevel angle between about ten and twenty degrees is preferred. The beveled tip can have a rotated or twisted blade surface extension. A blade surface extension formed with a ninety degree rotation of the blade surface is preferred. Alternately, the puncturing means can include a needle point or a flat cutting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Wing S. Pang, Thomas L. Kraft, James W. Meador
  • Patent number: 5165560
    Abstract: A hermetically sealed, nonrotatable closure for a bottle having a cylindrical body containing liquid and having an integral tubular neck formed with a free open end, comprises an annular flange on the tubular neck. A flexible stopper mounts on the flange. A cup shaped cap has a flat top wall with peripherally integral pliable skirt in which is an internal beveled ridge. The ridge engages the flange to lock the cap on the neck of the bottle. The top wall of the cap has a central hole to expose the stopper which can be pierced by a hypodermic needle to extract the liquid from the bottle while the cap remains unbroken on the neck of the bottle. Inside the skirt of the cap are circumferentially spaced teeth which engage in circumferential slots in the annular flange to cooperate with the ridge in preventing axial movement on the cap and stopper on the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Genesis Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Ennis, III, Mark Anderson
  • Patent number: 5145646
    Abstract: A reagent bottle and cap assembly includes a bottle which may be positioned in current apparatus in such a manner that the removal of fluids is maximized. The cap has a flip-top with a live hinge and live over-center spring for holding the cap in an open position and includes a conical core which is in communication with a wiper blade for breaking the meniscus or fluid seal between the core and the neck to enhance the flow of fluids which have collected on the cap back into the bottle for minimizing evaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventor: James T. Tyranski
  • Patent number: 5125522
    Abstract: A closure which permits the opening of a membrane seal of an enteral nutritional product container in a single-action motion while maintaining product sterility. This closure includes a general cylindrical side wall having threads along the inner surface thereof, a planar top surface having first and second upwardly extending projections. The first projection is associated with a filter means for allowing air to enter the container, while the second projection has a base which is a spikable membrane. A bottom surface having an annular raised portion is provided. The bottom surface has a downwardly projecting plow member as well abutting against gasket means positioned between the annular raised portion and the inner surface of the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Paul A. Pezzoli, Thomas Joyce, Mark Larkin
  • Patent number: 5125415
    Abstract: A syringe tip cap and a method for purging air from a syringe-like container containing air and hazardous liquid. The cap contains a hydrophilic filter which, when dry, allows air to pass through the filter. When the air is purged from the syringe, liquid from the container is pushed or drawn to the filter. The filter expands when wetted, seals the cap, and prevents further fluid flow. A flow restrictor may be included within the cap to concentrate the flow to only a portion of the filter to prevent premature sealing of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig J. Bell
  • Patent number: 5114030
    Abstract: A container cap, comprising a cap body having an annular shoulder with an inner and outer terminal edge. The shoulder has a skirt depending from the outer terminal edge of the shoulder and an upper cylinder is attached to the annular shoulder at its inner terminal edge. The cylinder extends upward, terminating in an annular flared lip and the upper cylinder is attached to the shoulder by an annular scoring ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: The West Company, Incorporated
    Inventor: William A. Conard
  • Patent number: 5088996
    Abstract: The present invention comprehends the provision of a fluid tight holding chamber which accumulates solution from the vial that aspirates during mixing or drawing fluid from the vial or is pressured out of the syringe upon extraction of the cannula from the vial. The holding chamber is defined in conjunction with the vial septum by a shield cap that surrounds and seals to the neck of the vial. The shield cap defines a guide for the cannula of the syringe and directs the cannula through a sealing member, the holding chamber, the septum and into the vial. One aspect of the invention provides a sleeve portion on the shield cap that receives and retains the syringe barrel. An arm is provided on the sleeve portion and has a notch that holds the syringe barrel in a predetermined position during shipment and storage of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Inventors: Rudolph J. Kopfer, Robert E. Smith
  • Patent number: 5060812
    Abstract: A medication container stopper includes an elastomeric plug which makes a friction fit in an opening of the container. A first cavity in an exterior surface of the plug opens and diverges away from an interior surface of the plug. A second cavity opens qnd diverges away from the exterior surface of the plug. The bottoms of the cavities are spaced apart to define opposite faces of a thin diaphragm formed integrally with the plug. One of the cavities has an elongated groove with a bottom which defines one face of the diaphragm, which is of a thickness that permits the diaphragm to be ruptured by inserting a conventional hypodermic syringe nozzle into the cavity in the exterior surface of the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: International Medication Systems, Limited
    Inventor: George B. Ogle, II
  • Patent number: 5018621
    Abstract: A resilient cylindrical tubular container for spherical objects such as medicinal pills, includes a stopper with flexible fingers extending into the tube to restrain the objects from movement during shipment. An adsorbent desiccant cushion in the bottom of the tube cushions the objects and keeps them dry. Objects are dispensed by removing the cap, pressing the tube at a point below the number of objects desired, and then inverting the tube to pour out only that number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Inventor: John J. O'Connell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5016771
    Abstract: A cap closure having a top member with a center opening, a dependent skirt and a liner. The liner has a central raised portion, which may be concave, which mates with the center opening in the top member by an interference fit, thus retaining the liner in the center opening and under the top member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: J. G. Finneran Associates
    Inventor: James G. Finneran
  • Patent number: 4982769
    Abstract: A package comprising a package container structure having an open end leading into an interior chamber therein, a package lid structure mounted over the open end of the package container structure in generally sealed relation with the interior chamber thereof so as to be moved into opening relation thereto, and a device for use with a medicament vial disposed within the sealed interior chamber. The device and package container structure have interengageable elements disposed out of interengagement when the device is disposed within the sealed interior chamber operable when the package lid structure is moved into opening relation and the device is moved out of the open end of the interior chamber to be moved into interengagement. The device and package container structure with the interengaging elements thereof interengaged provide a generally sealed interior space including the interior chamber within which a medicament vial is contained in cooperating relation with the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Survival Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Fournier, Douglas W. Jacobs-Perkins
  • Patent number: 4969883
    Abstract: A spear-like device for puncturing the membrane or diaphragm stopper of a liquid medicament vial. The spear-like device includes a fluid supply port from which liquid can be delivered to a hooded needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Inventors: Michael D. Gilbert, Lonnie R. Mabley, Dennis V. Worthington
  • Patent number: 4960219
    Abstract: A snap cap apparatus is provided for sealing individual or a plurality of containers having necked openings. The snap cap apparatus comprises one or more caps, each cap having a pliable cover, the cover supporting one or a plurality of caps for sealing corresponding containers having necked openings. The snap caps providing a chamber and concentrically positioned within the chamber are stopper elements with a base connected to the thin pliable cover. The stopper elements terminating in an exposed end portion which is tapered to a smaller dimension than the base, the exposed end portion being positioned proximal to the open end of the chamber of the cap, the cap and stopper element combining to define an open ring portion for receiving container opening neck portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Willie W. Jordan, Brian J. McGraw
  • Patent number: 4944736
    Abstract: A means to connect a hypodermic syringe to its bottle of medicament, so that the syringe is in proper alignment to pierce the bottle sealing diaphragm. The means also holds the syringe to the bottle so that a measured amount of medicament may be withdrawn. Also included are sealing caps to retain full sterility of all elements during use and also non-use. The means permits the entire volume of the medicament to be withdrawn in a plurality of measured doses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Inventor: Leonard J. Holtz
  • Patent number: 4911708
    Abstract: A proposal for reinforcing the bottom of a self-supportable parenteral bottle made of synthetic resin and having resting portions bulged downward from the bottom at opposite sides thereof, and a suspender flap downwardly projecting from and hingedly formed on a flat bottom portion between the resting portions on the center line of the bottom portion. The flat bottom portion has an endless ridge at its center, an upper flat bottom portion integral with and surrounded by the upper end of the ridge, and a lower flat bottom portion integral with and surrounding the lower end of the ridge, the lower flat bottom portion being gently sloped obliquely upward toward the center of the bottom, whereby the bottom of the bottle is precluded from bulging despite the thermal shrinkage resulting from molding or the rise of internal pressure due to sterilization by heating. The bottle is made self-supportable in an upright position reliably with good stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Maezaki, Tamotu Akamatu
  • Patent number: 4863049
    Abstract: A cap of a bottle for a medical fluid having a seal stopper at an opening. The cap has a projection integrally extending from a cap body of a cap member. Around the base portion of the projection, there is formed a thin-plate portion for bending and removing the projection from the cap body with ease and safety. The thin plate comprises a continuously recessed groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Mect Corporation
    Inventors: Issei Suzuki, Takashi Kano, Yoshio Watanabe, Noboru Anzai
  • Patent number: 4815619
    Abstract: A medicament vial safety cap which may be formed integrally at the time of manufacture of the medicament vial or added as an accessory to an existing conventional medicament vial allows an equalization of pressure to occur within a chamber adjacent to the stopper of the vial so that aerosolization of medicaments does not occur as a hypodermic needle is inserted or withdrawn from the vial. A hydrophobic filter, communicating between the vial safety chamber and the ambient, allows the pressure equalization to occur while trapping molecules of medicament inside the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Inventors: Thomas R. Turner, Bernard M. Kraemer, Michael L. Harrison
  • Patent number: 4799925
    Abstract: An aspirator includes two closed containers with one container having a suction tube connected to a closed bellows within the container for creating a vacuum, and the second container having a patient tube for insertion into the body cavity of a patient for sucking removal of mucus and other excess bodily fluids by the vacuum, with the two containers being connected for gaseous communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Inventor: Richard Rosenblatt
  • Patent number: 4799924
    Abstract: An aspirator includes two chambers with one chamber having a suction tube connected to a closed bellows within the chamber for creating a vacuum, and the second container having a patient tube for insertion into the body cavity of a patient for sucking removal of mucus and other excess bodily fluids by the vacuum, with the two chamber being connected for gaseous communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Inventor: Richard Rosenblatt
  • Patent number: 4768669
    Abstract: A top for sealing an elongated tube such as a test tube, a blood drawing tube or the like has a tubular body with a closed upper end, a depending sidewall and an opened lower end which form an open ended tube receiving chamber. The lower end of the sidewall tapers outwardly and forms an enlarged entrance. An annular sealing rib, which is formed at the upper interior corner of the tubular body, extends inwardly into the tube receiving chamber and sealingly engages the lip of the tube when the top is in place. An annular gripping rib, which is formed in the sidewall below the sealing rib, grippingly and sealingly engages the sidewall of the tube. A lower rib, which is formed below the gripping rib, facilitates placing of the top on the tube and gradual breaking of the seal when the top is removed. A thumb tab at the lower end of the sidewall assists in the removal of the top from the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Elkay Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis A. Kane, Herbert L. Bello
  • Patent number: 4746017
    Abstract: A protective safety container for encasing toxic drug filled glass vials is disclosed. The container includes a molded plastic body that is shaped to conform to the shape of a vial to be protected. A plurality of spaced longitudinal ribs are formed on the inner surface of the container body that act to engage the vial and hold it firmly in position, and also form a cushioning air space between the vial and the container. A molded plastic annular base is adapted to be snap fitted into the body such that the vial cannot be easily removed once it is secured within the container. Disposed in the top of the container is a small aperture having a frangible disk disposed therein. The disk may be removed so that a hypodermic needle may be inserted into a stopper in the vial to withdraw the vial's contents. The aperture is too small, however, to permit removal of the stopper itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: Bristol-Myers Company
    Inventors: David S. Howard, Michael S. Roehm
  • Patent number: 4741446
    Abstract: A stopper or closure is provided as a closure for containers in which the stopper profile is computer generated to take into consideration radial stress at the stopper/container interface, and to eliminate tensile stress therealong which tensile stress is an indication that a portion of the stopper wall is not engaging the opposed container surface. The stopper of the invention is particularly appropriate for use in evacuated blood sample collection tubes for eliminating "gray bands" or regions where the stopper and tube do not contact, and "red spots" formed in small cavities generated on the internal surface of the stopper at the withdrawal position of a blood collection needle having been inserted in the stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Henry F. Miller
  • Patent number: 4740206
    Abstract: A sealed, disposable pocket-size package for an eye-rinsing liquid comprises a flexible plastic bottle containing the liquid. The bottle includes a neck that is closed by a cap welded thereto. One end of the cap communicates with a connector for a liquid discharge tube that is located within the bottle, and the other end of the cap defines a liquid sprinkle member which extends into a cup-shaped eye bowl that is integral with the cap. The eye bowl is shaped to define an open mouth and includes a liquid drainage hole in a bottom wall of the bowl. The open mouth of the eye bowl is sealed closed by a cover that is tearably welded thereto, the cover including an integral plug which extends from the inner surface of the cover across the bowl into the drainage hole to also close the drainage hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Tobin Scandinavia AB
    Inventor: Claes Allander
  • Patent number: 4734373
    Abstract: A disposable cell culture device is disclosed. The instant invention finds particular utility in in vitro growth of micro-organisms, plant and animal cells, including germ cells, short and long-term tissue cultures, hybridomas and other biologically engineered cells to maximize the in vitro yield of cell constituents and products. The device comprises an enclosed container having an opening for introducing and removing cells, a plurality of surfaces for supporting cells, each surface having a passage in spaced relationship to each other and mounted in and spaced from the interior walls of the container, and at least one removable cover. The surfaces may be arranged in either a lattice, trapezoidal, conical, pyramidal, honeycomb or other configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Inventor: Arie H. Bartal
  • Patent number: 4717668
    Abstract: A plastic roller bottle is provided for suspension cultures for bacteriology or other cell growth or maintenance. The roller bottle comprises a closed bottle defining a longitudinal axis and having flexible plastic walls. Aseptically sealable means for access into the closed body are provided as well. A plurality of spaced reinforcement rings are defined in the flexible plastic walls about the longitudinal axis, to cause the body to normally retain a predetermined, generally cylindrical shape. The flexible plastic walls, apart from the rings, are made of a plastic formulation, and are of a thickness such that the oxygen and carbon dioxide diffusion which takes place through said walls is sufficient to support desired biochemical culturing processes taking place within the roller bottle without venting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Keilman, Ronald P. Symbol
  • Patent number: 4706830
    Abstract: A vacuum drainage bottle includes a chamber for receiving fluids from a patient and a pressure indicator (9,21) for measuring the pressure in the chamber. Prior to use, the pressure indicator is isolated from the chamber by means of a breakable seal. The seal may be in the form of a recessed membrane (43), which may be ruptured by depressing the pressure indicator, causing a ball (45) to bear against the membrane (43).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark V. Wareing
  • Patent number: 4671331
    Abstract: A medicinal vial cover for preventing the introduction of a liquid solution to atmosphere during the removal of the solution from a container of the type having an axially-extending neck and an entrance opening coaxial with the neck in which the opening is sealed by a rubber plug through which a hypodermic needle is inserted to extract the solution into a syringe, the cover having a tip at one of its ends and a hollow base at its other end adapted to be attached over the neck of the container. A hypodermic needle can then be inserted through both the cover and the rubber plug to withdraw the solution into a syringe with any aerosol or droplets being trapped within the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Lyphomed, Inc.
    Inventor: James F. Pruden
  • Patent number: 4632267
    Abstract: A improved port and closure assembly is provided. The closure is overmolded to the port. The closure hermetically seals the port and provides a tamper evident closure. The closure cooperates with the port to provide a band that circumscribes the port after the closure is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Fowles, Brian C. Green
  • Patent number: 4592092
    Abstract: A medical solution container having an outlet port with a neck that includes a tapered annular collar for slidably and sealingly engaging the hollow spike of an administration set. The inner and outer surfaces of the tapered collar slope inwardly, the collar defining an opening that is smaller (when the collar is unstretched) than the reduced portion of the bore of the neck communicating with that collar, thereby helping to assure effective contact between the collar and an inserted spike.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: American Hospital Supply Corporation
    Inventor: Charles J. McPhee
  • Patent number: 4529614
    Abstract: This invention relates to single-step coating methods for coating substrates such as plastics or glass to impart properties to the substrate which are anticoagulant and hydrophobic, and to substrates so coated. The method is particularly useful in coating the internal surfaces of blood test vessels, such as microcontainers or VACUTAINERS.RTM. for receiving blood samples for subsequent testing. The method herein imparts the desired properties to the vessel in a single step by combining silicone containing material in a water vehicle to which has been added a quantity of an anticoagulant, such as heparin or ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), followed by air drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: James A. Burns
  • Patent number: 4419016
    Abstract: A patient medication use compliance aid which enables the users to readily ascertain the time at which they took a previous dose of medication. A time keeping device is incorporated into a typical container for medicinal products without the need for complicated container construction or complex mechanical parts or expensive electronic circuitry. The time keeping device displays the time and day of the week when the container was last opened by the patient-user and continues to display the same, even after closing of the container, to serve as a reminder. The time keeping device may also be provided with settable alarms to visually or audibly alert the patient as to when the next dose is to be taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1983
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventor: Bart J. Zoltan
  • Patent number: 4397903
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making articles comprised of a body portion of an elastomeric material having a liner of an inert material covering at least a portion of the peripheral surface of said body portion including the steps of bonding a layer of elastomeric material to one face of a layer of the inert material, positioning the bonded layers in a mold cavity with the layer of inert material contacting at least a portion of the surface of a mold cavity, adding additional amounts of uncured elastomeric material to the mold cavity and vulcanizing the elastomeric materials. Also disclosed herein is a system and apparatus for making molded articles as well as the molded articles produced thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1983
    Assignee: The West Company
    Inventors: Roland M. Allen, Andrew J. Kolacai
  • Patent number: 4325368
    Abstract: An infusion device for medical purposes is described, comprising a container (10) with at least two chambers (14, 16), with their openings (20, 22) closable by means of sealing stoppers, in particular by a common stopper (12). The sealing stopper has a cavity (34) in the area of the opening (20) of the first chamber (14) which communicates with the second chamber (16). A cannula (42) may be pierced through the stopper (12) in the area of the opening (20) of the first chamber (14) and can simultaneously receive infusional solutions from the two chambers through two orifices (44, 46) spaced longitudinally from one another. The connection between the cavity (34, 40) in the stopper (12) may be established in one embodiment by means of a connecting cannula (56) with orifices (58, 60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1982
    Assignee: Ingrid Bernard
    Inventor: Erich Kaemmerer
  • Patent number: 4259184
    Abstract: A sealed container especially adapted for medical usage to receive and dispense fluids without contamination has a two orifice closure system whereby contaminants are kept out by a microfilter when an inlet orifice is opened for additions, and by a valve when an outlet orifice is opened for withdrawals. The closure has an upper removable seal and a lower fixed seal spaced from the upper removable seal and cooperating therewith in defining an operative space compartment sealed from both the interior of the container and the outside. In some embodiments, the lower seal has inlet and outlet passageways joining the interior of the container with the operative space compartment. An independent seal accessible from the operative space compartment is provided for the inlet passageway which is associated with the microfilter for stopping ingress of contaminants into the container. The valve provided at the outlet passageway is accessible from the operative space compartment to control outflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1981
    Inventor: Hubert A. D'Arnal
  • Patent number: 4244478
    Abstract: A closure for a unit dose vial for oral administration of medication, comprising an elastomer stopper which seals the vial and affords a rim covering the lip of the vial, and a metal sealing ring crimped onto the vial, covering the stopper rim but exposing a self-venting self-sealing linear slit valve in the stopper, the sealing ring including an integral release tab allowing quick, convenient removal of both the ring and the stopper for oral administration of the vial contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1981
    Assignee: MPL, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Handman