Baxter International Inc.

Dale R Severs

Lecon Woo

Patrick R Balteau

Eric J Henaut

Hugh M Forman

Eddie K Chan

Sandra Wade

Franco Peluso

Joyce Silvestri

Andrew D Aswad

Michael Kemp

Lisa S Walsh

David Frankenberger

Thomas D Hiller

Sungwook Yang

Richard Williams

A system and method is provided which substantially eliminates the effect of air entrapped in tubing for delivering a liquid from a container. The inner diameter of the tubing is selected such that the gravitational force of the liquid from the container is greater than the surface tension of the liquid. A release agent may be used as a coating layer on the interior wall in addition to or alternatively from an expanded diameter.

Self-venting fluid system

An apparatus (31) and a method are disclosed for performing an operation upon multiple webs (51,53), including the feeding of multiple webs (51,53), the provision of a carrier (65) for assisting in moving the webs (51,53) along a predetermined path (83), the performance of an operation (69) upon the webs, the insertion of a carrier (65) between the webs (51,53), and the provision of a sealing device (71) for sealing the webs together to form a sealed portion (75) to cooperate with the carrier (65) for assisting in moving the webs (51,53). The carriers (65) are mounted on a conveyor (83) and each carrier (65) pushes against the sealed portion (75) to pull the webs (51,53), and the packages (41) formed therefrom in the direction of conveyor travel. The preferred carrier (65) has a shaped head on the end of a flat plastic blade. The shaped head may have an opening (81) therein of a smaller size than the sealer (188) inserted into the opening such that the fused plastic may extrude outwardly to abut the edge (79) of the carrier defining the opening.

Multi-web carrier

An apparatus (31) and a method are disclosed for temporarily separating multiple webs (51,53) while performing an operation (123,125,133) thereon, including the feeding of multiple webs (51,53), the provision of a retractable web separator (68) for temporarily separating the webs, the performance of an operation (123,125,133)) upon the webs, the provision of a gripping device (65) for gripping the webs and assisting in moving the webs (51,53) along a predetermined path (83), and the provision of a sealing device (71) for sealing the webs together to form a package seal (73). The retractable separators (68) are mounted on a conveyor (83) and each separator (68) in turn temporarily separates the webs (51,53), for insertion of a port (45), fitting or the like, whereupon the separator (68) may be retracted and the port (45) may be sealed into the packages (41) being manufactured. The preferred separator (68) has a shaped head (170) on the end of a reciprocating shaft (158). The head (170) may be enlarged and may have a tapered end (171) for insertion between the webs (51,53).

Retractable web separator

An improved adaptor and protector for same which is removably sealing an opening of the adaptor located at an end of a tubular member. The adaptor has a longitudinal passageway for receiving a cannula. An upper end of the adaptor has an interior diameter defining a first end of the passageway for receiving the cannula. A lower end of the adaptor has an interior diameter defining a second end of the passageway adapted for receiving an injection site wherein the diameter of the first end is larger than the diameter at the second end. A middle portion intermediate the first end and the second end has a tapering interior diameter for directing the cannula to the injection site and further having an exterior surface with gripping surfaces. The tapering interior diameter of the middle portion of the adaptor includes guiding members to direct the cannula or other injection devices. The adaptor may also be provided with a protector removably sealing an opening located at an end of the adaptor. The cap portion includes means extending therefrom for allowing removal of the cap portion from the adaptor. Additionally, the present invention provides an improved container assembly.

Port adaptor and protector and container having same

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Gurnee, IL, United States of America

Dale R Severs