Filling needle

Abstract

Disclosed is a filling needle of a fluid-dispensing system, the filling needle including a needle portion that is a metallic material, a hub affixed to an end of the needle portion, wherein the hub is non-metallic and configured to securely associate with the fluid-dispensing system, and allow the fluid-dispensing system to be in fluid communication with the needle portion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 903,178, filed Feb. 23, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The disclosure relates generally to a filling needle, and more particularly to a filling needle of a fluid dispensing system.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Fluid dispensing systems typically include a reservoir, tubing, a pump or pumps, and filling needles. The reservoir contains a bulk supply of fluid for distribution to the other components of the system. Fluid is transported from the bulk supply to the pumps and / or needles via the tubing. The pumps then actuate dispensing of a desired amount of fluid into the filling needles, which in turn dispense the fluid into a desired container or onto a desired surface. These dispensing systems are often used in conjunction with containers that are moved into filling position (i.e. into p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]Accordingly, reduction or elimination of the costs and dangers associated with cleaning, cleaning validatio

Problems solved by technology

Despite this quickness and accuracy, dispensing systems can be costly to maintain, particularly in that the filling needles must be sterilized after a batch of containers is filled and / or before a new fluid is to be dispensed.

Cleaning and sterilization of needles requires cleaning and sterilization equipment, as well as space to store the cleaning and sterilization equipment, which both can be costly.

Needle cleaning and sterilization also increases down time between batch fillings, which prolongs the time it takes to fill (and ultimately ship) batches of different fluids.

These validation processes are time consuming and expensive.

A company that relies on cleaning and sterilization of needles for re-use runs some risk of cross-contamination, associated health risks, litigation and adverse cost effects that can follow therefrom.

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