An improved vessel for perfusion liquids

Abstract

 The vessel (1) for perfusion liquids of the type which is closed at one extremity (4) and having a filling orifice (6) at the other (5) with a zone (8) for the insertion of a syringe or abstraction needle of the catheter supply tube, the vessel (1) being characterized by having incorporated therein integrally and inviolably a microfilter (7) for wet filtration preventing the passage of air under atmospheric pressure and permitting its correct functioning without dismantling the sterilized assembly.

Description

[0001] This invention refers to an improved vessel for containing perfusion liquids offering important novel characteristics in its utilization with respect to currently known vessels used for this purpose.

[0002] Perfusion liquid containers are used generally for the various types of fluids destined for perfusion or injection in the human body, their particular requirement being that they should contain the said fluid under sterile conditions which condition must be maintained up to the moment of the application of the fluid in a clinical operation.

[0003] Current practice is to sterilize the vessel which already contains the fluid for therapeutic use should the fluid be able to tolerate this procedure or in the contrary case, to sterilize the vessel prior to its filling and then carry out the filling operation in a sterile enclosure so as to preserve the required sterile condition of the fluid to be fed into the vessel and that of the vessel itself.

[0004] This invention refers to an improved perfusion liquid vessel having important advantages as against existing containers in that the requirement for sterile enclosures for sterilizing the liquid to be contained in the vessel is no longer necessary (or even in the absence of this requirement ), sterility is maintained up to the moment of use and an automatic control system can be applied to ensure that the procedure has been correct.

[0005] Essentially, the vessel which is the object of this invention is characterized by having built therein a tube for filling the vessel and which tube has integral with it and inalienable thereto a sterilizing membrane filter with a porosity of between 0,20 and 0,25 microns, for preference being 0,22 microns maximum, such that filling the vessel is coincident with a sterilization action and then, having filled the vessel, given the considerable capilliary force exercised in passages of this fineness, air flow is prevented unless the pressure attains some 3 bars, this phenomenum permitting verification and eventually the integrity and correct operation of the filter. This effect facilitates the control of the filter's correct operation since due to the surface tension in the fine passages of the filter the above pressure is required to overcome this tension and allow air to infiltrate the vessel. Hence after the operation of filling the vessel, in order to check the filter effectiveness an air pressure is applied equivalent to the surface tension produced in the filter and at that point no bubbles should be observed forming in the vessel. This bubble point, measured by the air pressure that the filter is resisting presents a simple method for determining the integrity of filter itself.

[0006] To assist the explanation explanatory drawings are attached showing one embodiment, by way of example, of a liquid perfusion vessel in accordance with this present invention.

[0007] Figure 1 shows a frontal view of the vessel in its vertical position.

[0008] Figure 2 is a cross sectional view on the plane so indicated in figure 1.

[0009] Figure 3 shows the detail of the filling tube assembly with its incorporated filter in cross-section.

[0010] Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on the plane so indicated in figure 3.

[0011] Figure 5 is a cross sectional view on the plane so indicated in figure 3.

[0012] As can be seen in the drawings this invention is characterized in that it comprises a vessel -1-, made of a synthetic material that is clinically compatible having a flattened form generally, the front and rear faces -2- and -3- respectively being generally planar with the upper and lower zones -4- and -5- being formed with half round or similar ribbing or projections so as to provide an adequate stiffness and strength to those areas.

[0013] The upper zone -5- has incorporated therein the filling tube -6- with the sterilization filter -7- in its upper part, integral with it and forming part of the inviolable system of a non-detachable assembly. The filter has a porosity of between 0,20 and 0,25 microns, but preferably not exceeding 0,22 microns such that the vessel can be filled with the perfusion fluid through the tube -6- while the fluid's passage through the filter -7- effects its sterilization and thereafter this same filter with its above dimensioned pores operates as a stopper or closure in that for air to infiltrate through it a pressure of some 3 bars would have to be applied, this feature also providing an effective control by which the sterilizing characteristic of the filter may be monitored.

[0014] The vessel is also provided with an access tube -8- parallel to the filling tube incorporating a thin diaphragm -9- which can be perforated by the needle of the perfusion catheter feed tube. There is also fitted to the upper part of the orifice -8- a further stopper or plug -10- with a tab -11- attached thereto to facilitate its opening but ensuring its closure until the time of its utilization.

[0015] Figure 3 shows the filter -7- as having two flat components -12- and -13- joined together by welding or pressing, the piece -13- having as part of it the filler tube -14- and the piece -12- being extended by a tubular connection -15- for attachment by welding or adhesive to the upper end of the tubular component -6-.

[0016] By means of the above disclosed invention it is acceptable to fill the vessel -1- in surroundings which may not necessarily be sterilized thus simplifying the operation and lessening the cost thereof as well as increasing security. Nevertheless the sterilization both during and after filling is assured by the specific characteristics of the filter preventing the entry of any particles exceeding the dimensions as foreseen for the sterilization effect and at the same time providing an effective impediment to the entry of external air and permitting a monitoring of the filtration effectiveness.

Claims

1. An improved vessel for containing perfusion liquids, having a flattened form, closed at one extremity and having at the other extremity an opening for filling the vessel and having also a zone where the syringe or abstraction needle of a catheter feed tube can be inserted, the vessel being characterized in that it is provided with an integral and inviolable wet microfilter preventing the passage of air under atmospheric pressure and which permits its correct functioning to be verified without dismantling the sterilized assembly.

2. An improved vessel for containing perfusion liquids as in claim 1. characterized in that the microfilter has a porosity of approximately 0,20 to 0,25 microns, preferably with a maximum of 0,22 microns.

3. An improved vessel for containing perfusion liquids, as in claim 2, characterized by the filter consisting of two plates mutually joined together with rounded or curved grooving on their mutually facing surfaces, one of the pieces having a filling orifice and the other a connecting member for joining to a tube incorporated within the vessel by means of an adhesive or by welding.

4. An improved vessel for containing perfusion liquids as in claim 1, characterized by the provision of a tubular entry parallel to the incorporated tube and having at some intermediate position a closure part of which is a thin diaphragm for the introduction of the syringe or abstraction needle of a catheter feed.

5. An improved vessel for containing perfusion liquids as in claim 4, characterized in that the tube through which the fluid is abstracted has at its upper extremity a closure which can be opened manually.

6. An improved vessel for containing perfusion liquids as in claim 5, characterized in that the vessel has at its upper part a detachable element having two tubular bodies, one of which can accept the tube for filling the vessel and the other having a diaphragm which can be pierced by the abstraction needle for supply to the catheter and the manually operated closure tab.

Drawing