Multicomponent dispensing device with valve assembly

0001The present invention relates to a multicomponent dispensing device having at least two containers and a valve assembly with an inlet/outlet according to the preamble of claim 1. A device of this kind having a valve assembly is known from <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="WO2005018830A"><text>WO 2005/018830</text></patcit> to the applicant of the present invention.

0002Such a device with a valve assembly is particularly advantageous for a multicomponent syringe having a container for a liquid and a container for a powder where either the prefilled liquid is transferred to the powder for being mixed therewith and subsequently dispensed, or a liquid is aspirated from the exterior for being transferred, mixed with the powder, and subsequently dispensed. The four functions of closing, aspirating, transferring, and dispensing are provided by three-way valve assemblies.

0003Based on this prior art, it is the object of the present invention to provide a simpler and more effective valve assembly. This is accomplished by the valve assembly according to claim 1.

0004The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to drawings of an exemplary embodiment. <dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>shows a perspective view of a double syringe with a valve assembly according to the invention,</dd><dt>Figs. 2 - 5</dt><dd>show longitudinal sections of the valve assembly of <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> in different positions and the corresponding plan views,</dd><dt>Fig. 6</dt><dd>shows the valve body of the valve assembly viewed from the side facing the containers,</dd><dt>Fig. 7</dt><dd>shows a sealing disk viewed from the side facing the valve body,</dd><dt>Fig. 8</dt><dd>shows the valve body of <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 6</figref> with the sealing disk mounted thereon viewed from the side facing the containers,</dd><dt>Fig. 9</dt><dd>shows a perspective view of the outlet side of the double syringe, and</dd><dt>Fig. 10</dt><dd>shows a perspective view of a fastening ring.</dd></dl>

0005Double syringe 1 according to <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> comprises two containers 2 and 3 and a retaining flange 4, the smaller container usually being intended to hold a liquid while the larger container 3 is intended to hold a powder. In analogy to the example according to Fig. 13 of <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="WO2005018830A"><text>WO 2005/018830</text></patcit>, a mixing rod 5 extends into powder container 3 and a removable thrust rod 6 into liquid container 2, the mixing rod extending through the piston.

0006As disclosed in the anterior reference, the powder and liquid mixture can be stirred with the aid of the mixing rod and dispensed using thrust rod 6 of container 2. With regard to possible exemplary embodiments and applications of such double syringes or cartridges, reference is explicitly made to the cited document.

0007On the outlet side, valve assembly 9 according to the invention is arranged, on which a cannula or needle 10 is secured by means of a Luer-Lok connector. Instead of the Luer-Lok connector, another outlet configuration may be provided.

0008Valve assembly 9 is held down and fastened to double syringe 1 by means of a fastening ring 11. In the present exemplary embodiment, the fastening ring is in the form of a removable bayonet ring, but it may also be designed as a threaded ring or a snap ring or the valve assembly can be cemented or welded to the syringe.

0009In <figref idref="f0002">Figs. 2 to 5</figref>, the components of valve assembly 9, i.e. valve body 12 and sealing disk 13, are shown assembled in the four positions. The plan views below each of them show the positions of the sealing disk in relation to the container outlets. The common inlet/outlet 15 is led through the valve body.

0010On the upper side of connecting flange 12A of valve body 12, a positioning nose 23 is arranged and on the opposite side a handle wing 24, the positioning nose and the handle wing facilitating the rotation and positioning of the valve body for the respective function. To this end, areas 26 are provided on the outside of the fastening ring which serve for receiving positioning marks, see <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>.

0011<figref idref="f0003">Fig. 6</figref> illustrates the details of valve body 12. On its side facing the containers, connecting flange 12A comprises four driving pins 32 that correspond to driving recesses 31 in the sealing disk. Furthermore, on the surface of the connecting flange facing the sealing disk, four guide segments 33, 34, 35 and 36 are arranged of which at least two are provided with cams 25 that cooperate with corresponding notches 18 in bayonet collar 8 of the double syringe. This provides corresponding snap-in positions for the valve body.

0012On the underside of the connecting flange, on guide segment 36, a stop 22 is arranged that cooperates with two stops 37 and 38 on the inner diameter of bayonet collar 8 and allows the valve to be rotated in the suitable direction only. Consequently, the closed, aspirating, transfer, and dispensing positions of the valve can be selected in this specific order only.

0013In <figref idref="f0003">Figures 7 and 8</figref>, sealing disk 13 is illustrated in detail. In <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 8</figref>, the surface 27 facing the containers is shown which comprises a passage 28 and a transfer channel 29. In addition to passage 28; the other side 30 shown in <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 7</figref>, which is turned towards the outlet respectively the valve body, comprises four driving recesses 31. The sealing disk is made from a softer material than the other plastic parts, e.g. from silicone or polyurethane, in order to fulfill its sealing function.

0014According to <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 9</figref> outlets 16 of container 2 and 17 of container 3 of double syringe 1 are arranged in outlet flange 7. The outlet flange is provided with a bayonet collar 8 and the latter with bayonet tabs 19 and 19A that serve for receiving corresponding bayonet noses 20, 20A on fastening ring 11.

0015As appears in the drawings, for its assembly, the sealing disk is placed with its four fastening recesses 31 on driving pins 32 and pressed down and is positioned by the guide segments while through-going bore 28 is aligned with common inlet/outlet 15 of the valve body. The sealing disk is thus non-rotatably connected to the valve body.

0016The valve body is secured to outlet flange 7 of double syringe 1 by means of fastening ring 11, see <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 10</figref>, bayonet noses 20, 20A of the fastening ring engaging underneath bayonet tabs 19, 19A of bayonet collar 8 of the double syringe. In order to provide a secure, possibly non-detachable connection, the bayonet noses on the ring comprise snap means, e.g. in the form of a step 21, cooperating with corresponding cams 39 on the underside of the bayonet tabs.

0017By rotating the valve body and the sealing disk connected thereto, inlets/outlets 16 and 17 of containers 2 and 3 can be selectively closed, opened, connected to one another, or connected to inlet/outlet 15 in the valve body.

0018Herebelow, the four valve positions are explained with reference to <figref idref="f0002">Figures 2 to 5</figref>: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>In <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref>, both container outlets 16 and 17 are closed. Transfer channel 29 is in a functionally neutral position.</li><li>In <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 3</figref>, after a 90° rotation, liquid container 2 is connected to passage 28 of the sealing disk and to common inlet/outlet 15 of the valve body so that a liquid can be aspirated.</li><li>In <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 4</figref>, the valve body with the sealing disk is rotated 90° with respect to the position of <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> so that the two container outlets 16 and 17 are connected to each other via transfer channel 29 and the liquid can thus be transferred from container 2 to container 3.</li><li>In <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 5</figref>, the valve body with the sealing disk is illustrated after another 90° rotation. Outlet 17 from container 3 is connected to passage 28 of sealing disk and to inlet/outlet 15 of the valve body so that the mixed components can be dispensed from container 3.</li></ul>

0019It is important in all aspirating respectively dispensing positions that the aspiration and chiefly the dispensing operation can take place in a straight line, without deviations or projecting edges, so that a minimum pressure loss results during these functions. Furthermore, the short transfer channel in the sealing disk ensures a minimum volume loss during the transfer of the liquid to container 3.

0020Although the present invention has been explained by means of a single exemplary embodiment having two containers, it is understood by those skilled in the art that the inventive idea is also applicable to other devices, e.g. to dispensing appliances with syringes or cartridges having more than two containers, as already disclosed in the publication that has been cited in the introduction. In a device having more than two containers, the valve assembly, particularly the sealing disk, must be correspondingly adapted.

0021In dispensing appliances having three containers arranged in a suitable configuration, e.g. a triangular one, it may be appropriate to use two sealing disks of which at least one is arranged at the valve body.

0022Furthermore, the valve assembly according to the invention may also be used for containers without a stirring device.

0023Moreover, embodiments using a respective separate inlet and outlet in the valve body are possible in special cases for avoiding that liquid remaining in the common inlet/outlet during the aspirating operation may be dispensed before the mixed components and enter into the body.