A SUITABLE ASSEMBLY AND SYSTEM FOR DISPENSING A LIQUID FROM A COMPRESSIBLE BAG

Abstract

An assembly and system suitable for dispensing liquid from a compressible bag, such as for the intravenous treatment of a patient. The assembly includes an apparatus and a flexible mat. The apparatus includes a housing with a dispensing end and an opposite rear end, a floor comprising a flat floor surface, a pair of parallel guide tracks, and a roller arrangement including a roller body. The roller arrangement has a first roller arrangement end and a second roller arrangement end coupled respectively to the respective guide tracks. The mat has a first mat end, which is mounted or adapted to be mounted on the roller body, and the mat is located at least partially on the flat floor between said guide tracks.

Description

The present invention relates to an assembly and system suitable for dispensing a liquid from a compressible bag, for example, for infusion of liquid or medication according to a predetermined medical therapy. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Patients often receive intravenous (IV) therapy during hospitalization, where they receive fluids and medications directly into a vein. It is necessary to elevate the IV bag containing the fluids and medications so that the fluid can flow into the vein. For IV treatments like these, IV stands are the most commonly used tools. Intravenous treatments and IV stands have a significant impact on the daily lives of patients and healthcare staff in hospitals. The disadvantage of using IV stands occurs, for example, when nurses and paramedics need to move patients. It often happens that hospital staff have to allocate additional resources for patient transfers. In addition, IV stands take up a lot of space in the rooms and create poor working conditions for staff because they are in uncomfortable working positions or have to adjust the height of the IV stands to make the fluid flow faster. Patients who rely on IV poles can also increase coordination challenges among interdisciplinary staff, such as nurses, occupational therapists, and physical therapists in hospitals. There may be waiting times if, for example, a patient needs rehabilitation while simultaneously completing intravenous treatment. Another common problem hospitals face is a lack of wheeled IV stands. This means patients' activities are restricted, and they must therefore remain in bed due to their dependence on the IV stand. Consequently, it is not unusual for patients to spend unnecessarily long periods in bed, which can again lead to unnecessary immobilization and increase the risk of pressure ulcers. In addition, IV stands reduce opportunities for children to participate in games and other activities due to their dependence on the IV stands. nzcrnn / cznz / q / uιλι Labor is often induced while a pregnant woman is receiving intravenous treatment. In this situation, mobilizing the pregnant woman would be a significant advantage, as she could then move freely until labor actually begins. In acute accidents or when treating patients outside of hospitals and ambulances, a person is often required to act as an IV carrier. There were many attempts to provide a bag pump that does not require a pole. US Patent 4850971 describes an infusion pump that uses a linear roller driven by one or more constant-force springs in combination with interchangeable flow-regulating needles to provide a gravity-independent, constant-flow device. The constant-force springs comprise a helical type mounted on a storage drum, with one end of the helical springs attached to a plate such that when the drum separates from the plate, the spring unwinds. In use, the bag is wound onto the drum between the coils of the helical spring. US patent 6669668 describes a drug delivery pump configured to administer infusion therapy using a drug delivery container. The medication contained in a flexible bag is expelled from the bag and delivered to an infusion site. The fluid delivery pump may have a constant-force spring and a mechanical timer, which can limit the maximum rate at which the spring compresses the fluid container. The constant-force spring is configured to compress a flexible fluid container. The fluid container is applied over the deployed and loaded spring and is compressed between the spring's layers as it coils. The mechanical timer assembly is coupled to the constant-force spring and sets the limits. It was found that during liquid dispensing from a bag, some rippling and shrinkage of the bag frequently occurs. This rippling and shrinkage can prevent satisfactory and reliable emptying of the bag. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an assembly and a suitable system for dispensing a liquid from a squeezable bag, where the risk of the bag rippling and shrinking during dispensing is reduced. In one embodiment, an object of the present invention is to provide a suitable assembly and system for dispensing a liquid from a compressible bag with high reliability and control of the quantity and rate of liquid dispensed. In one embodiment, it is an object providing a suitable assembly and system for dispensing a liquid from a compressible bag where the compressible bag can be emptied to a preselected stage, such as complete emptying. In one modality, it is an object providing a suitable set and system for dispensing a liquid from compressible bags of different sizes. This and other objects were resolved by the invention or modalities thereof as defined in the claims or as described below in the present description. It was found that the invention or modalities thereof have a number of additional advantages, which will become clear to the expert in the field from the following description. It should be emphasized that the term “comprises / comprising” when used in this description should be interpreted as an open term, that is, it should be taken to specify the presence of specifically declared characteristics, such as elements, units, wholes, component stages and combinations thereof, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more of the other established characteristics. The term "substantially" in this description should be interpreted to include ordinary variations and tolerances of the product. Reference to some embodiments or an embodiment means that the particular function, feature, or structure described in relation to such embodiment(s) is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. Therefore, the occurrence of the expression "in some embodiments" or "in an embodiment" or "in several places throughout the description" does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment(s). Furthermore, a person skilled in the art will understand that the particular features or structures may be combined in any suitable manner within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Throughout the description or claims, the singular encompasses the plural unless otherwise specified or required by the context. All features of the inventions and embodiments of the invention as described herein, including intervals and preferred intervals, may be combined in various ways within the scope of the invention, unless there are specific reasons for not combining such features. The invention comprises an apparatus and a flexible mat. The flexible mat is advantageously mounted on the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a housing having a dispensing end and an opposite rear end. The apparatus further comprises a floor comprising a flat floor surface, as well as a pair of parallel guide tracks and a roller arrangement. The roller arrangement comprises a roller body with a first roller body end and a second roller body end, and a roller surface with a cross-sectional circumference. The roller arrangement has a first roller arrangement end and a second roller arrangement end. The first and second ends of the roller arrangement are respectively engaged with the respective guide tracks.The guide tracks are positioned to guide the roller arrangement to roll the roller arrangement from the rear end location to the dispensing end. The mat has a length that extends between a first mat end and a second mat end, where the first mat end is mounted or adapted to be mounted on the roller body. Advantageously, the mat is at least partially on the flat ground between the guide tracks when the roller is in its rear final location. A “rear end location” means a location where the roller body is closer to the rear end than to the dispensing end. The inventors of the present invention discovered that the assembly of the invention is surprisingly effective for dispensing liquid from a squeezable bag. The mat was found to support the squeezable bag while ensuring effective dispensing with little to no risk of tearing the bag. Furthermore, the assembly is easy to use and can be used with virtually any type and size of squeezable bag. Advantageously, the second mat end is located closer to the dispensing end than the first mat end, at least when the roller arrangement is located at the rear end location. The first end of the mat can be mounted to the roller body by any method or means. Advantageously, the mounting should be sufficient to ensure that the mat winds onto the roller body when the roller body is rotated. Mounting can be accomplished, for example, by using one or more knobs on the roller body and corresponding grooves in the mat to secure the first end of the mat to the roller body. Other methods and means of securing the mat may include Velcro fasteners, adhesive, glue, and / or securing the first end of the mat by crushing mounting means. In one embodiment, it is desirable that the mat be removable so that it can be replaced with a spare mat after repeated use. In one embodiment, the mounting of the mat to the roller body is a chemical (glue), physical (tape) and / or mechanical mounting (mounting in a groove and / or a projection on or in the roller body), preferably the mat is mounted in a releasable manner. In one modality, the set has a single mat; the mat may comprise one, two, or even more layers. In one embodiment, the set comprises a set of mats comprising at least two or more identical mats, In one embodiment, the set comprises a set of mats comprising at least two different mats, where the mat can be selected according to a specific use, such as one mat for one type of bag and another mat for another type of bag. The length of the mat is advantageously selected based on the length of the bag it is designed to fit, so that the mat is at least 2 cm longer than the bag, for example, approximately 5 cm to approximately 20 cm longer than the compressible bag. In principle, the mat can be even longer, but this is not usually desirable. In one embodiment, the mat has an extension (length) such that when fully unrolled, it reaches a distance of 5 cm or less from its mounting point to the roller to the dispensing end, preferably a distance of 2 cm or less to the dispensing end. The roller circumference and mat length can be selected accordingly; for example, the mat length can be at least 1.5 times the roller circumference, or approximately 2 to 10 times the roller circumference. This ensures smooth rolling on the roller body and precise control of the dispensing rate. In one embodiment, the mat has a width that extends to the length of the roller body, preferably to the distance between the respective guide tracks, such as up to approximately 90% of the distance between the respective guide tracks. Preferably, the width is at least approximately 5 cm, such as from approximately 8 cm to approximately 30 cm, or from approximately 10 cm to approximately 20 cm. Furthermore, the width can be selected according to the length of the bag for which it is intended. In one embodiment, the width of the mat is sufficient to allow two or more compressible bags to be placed side-by-side on the mat for simultaneous dispensing. nzcrnn / cznz / q / uιλι The mat is advantageously flexible and suitable for wrapping around the roller body. The mat must also be advantageously strong enough to be wrapped without risk of tearing due to the applied pulling force. The mat has a top surface and an opposite bottom surface that face the ground when unrolled from the roller body. The top and bottom surfaces may be the same or different. Advantageously, the underside surface has a lower roughness than the top surface. A low underside roughness reduces friction between the mat and the floor surface, ensuring smooth and controlled rolling of the roller body. Preferably, the underside surface has a roughness (RA) of less than approximately 10 µm, for example, less than 5 µm, or 1 µm or less. The underside of the mat advantageously has a coefficient of static friction (CoSF) of approximately 0.3 or less, such as approximately 0.2 or less, or approximately 0.1 or less, determined in accordance with ASTM D3702-94 (2019). The low-friction underside can be provided with a suitable low-friction polymer, for example, a polymer coating, such as a resin comprising lubricating particles, such as tungsten disulfide (WS2) and / or molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). In one embodiment, the bottom surface is provided by a low-friction polymer comprising a fluoropolymer, such as PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PFA (perfluoroalkoxy), and / or FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene). The bottom surface is optionally in the form of a layer or coating of the low-friction polymer. PTFE having a CoSF of approximately 0.05 or less is particularly suitable. Advantageously, the upper surface of the mat has relatively high friction. This provides a good grip on the compressible bag, pulling the bag to be compressed between the roller body and the mat as the mat is wound onto the roller body. In one embodiment, the top surface is provided by a high-friction polymer comprising an elastomer, such as a rubber, for example, a silicone rubber; preferably the high-friction polymer has a Shore A hardness of 90 or less, such as 80 or less. The top surface of the mat may have a high roughness, but advantageously, not too high a roughness to allow excessive amounts of fluid in the compressible bag to escape. nzcrnn / cznz / q / uιλι Each of the upper and lower surfaces of the mat may independently have one or more surface areas with uniform surface characteristics, such as uniform roughness, uniform CoSF, and uniform anisotropy. In one embodiment, at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the mat comprises at least one surface portion having an anisotropic surface characteristic. In one modality, at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the mat has a unique surface feature. In one embodiment, at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the mat comprises two or more surface parts having different surface characteristics. The mat may comprise one or more layers. The mat may advantageously comprise at least two layers that are bonded interfacially or interconnected at least at the first and second mat ends. In one embodiment, the two or more layers are joined together at spot-bond points, where the number, strength, and distribution of the spot-bond points ensure that delamination of the layers is prevented during normal use. Advantageously, the floor on which the mat is applied is relatively hard and smooth to ensure low friction between the floor and the mat. In one embodiment, the soil - preferably the soil that provides the floor surface - comprises a rigid polymer, preferably selected from aerophilic, polycarbonate, polyimide, PEEK (polyetheretherketone), acetal (polyoxymethylene), polyamide (such as nylon 6 or 6 / 6) or any combination thereof. In one modality, the floor comprises a ceramic material poured into cells, such as plexiglass. In one embodiment, the flooring comprises a fiber-reinforced polymer, preferably reinforced with fibers selected from glass fibers, carbon fibers, basalt fibers, aramid fibers, or any combination comprising one or more of these. In one version, the floor is free of fiber reinforcement. The soil surface may advantageously have a CoSF of approximately 0.4 or less, such as approximately 0.3 or less, such as approximately 0.2 or less, determined in accordance with ASTM D3702-94 (2019). In one embodiment, the floor surface is provided by a coating of a fluoropolymer, such as PTFE. In one modality, the ground surface has a hardness of at least approximately 75 Shore nzcrnn / cznz / q / uli D, such as at least approximately 80 Shore D, such as at least approximately 85 Shore D, such as at least approximately 90 Shore D, such as at least approximately 95 Shore D. The roller arrangement preferably comprises a track coupling arrangement at each of its respective first and second ends, coupled with the respective guide tracks. At least one, and preferably both, of the track coupling arrangements are each coupled with a slide and / or a wheel to guide the roller arrangement along the guide tracks and thereby guide the roller body longitudinally between the slides. In one embodiment, at least one of the track coupling arrangements comprises a wheel adapted to roll on or in the guide track with which it is coupled. In one embodiment, at least one of the track coupling arrangements comprises a track slider coupled with the guide track for sliding along the guide tracks; preferably, both track coupling arrangements comprise a track slider coupled with the guide track for sliding along the guide tracks. It was found that when the track coupling arrangements comprise a track slider coupled with the guide track for sliding along the guide tracks, very smooth and stable sliding can be achieved, and at the same time, the slider is very durable compared to a wheel. Therefore, in a desired embodiment, one or both track coupling arrangements are wheel-free. In one embodiment, the track coupling arrangements comprise a gripping lock consisting of an upper flange located in contact with an upper side of the track and a lower flange located in contact with a lower side of the track, thereby locking the track coupling arrangements to the track and allowing it to slide longitudinally along the tracks. Advantageously, the gripping lock is, or forms part of, the slider. In one embodiment, the track coupling arrangements are coupled with the respective guide tracks to hold the roller body at a predefined and / or selectable distance from the flat floor surface as the roller arrangement passes from the rear end to the dispensing end. In one embodiment, the track coupling arrangements are coupled with the respective guide tracks to hold the roller body at a single predefined distance from the flat floor surface as the roller arrangement passes from the rear end to the dispensing end. nzcrnn / cznz / q / uιλι In one embodiment, the track coupling arrangements engage with the respective guide tracks to secure the roller body at a selected distance from the flat floor surface as the roller assembly passes from the rear end to the dispensing end. In this embodiment, the track coupling arrangements and / or the respective guide tracks are adjustable to allow a user to select the distance between the roller body and the flat floor. Advantageously, the track coupling arrangements and / or the respective guide tracks are adjustable to two or more predetermined positions, resulting in respective predetermined distances between the roller body and the flat floor. In this way, the distance between the roller body and the flat floor can be set to be relatively large when dispensing fluid from a large / thick compressible bag, and the distance between the roller body and the flat floor can be set to be relatively small when dispensing fluid from a small / thin compressible bag. In one embodiment, the track coupling arrangements engage with the respective guide tracks to clamp the roller body at a locked, predefined and / or selectable distance from the flat floor surface as the roller arrangement passes from the rear end to the dispensing end. The distance between the roller and the flat surface should be greater than the thickness of the mat, preferably so that the compressible bag is not compressed when empty during use. This ensures efficient dispensing while minimizing the risk of damaging the compressible bag. Advantageously, the predefined and / or selectable distance to the flat floor surface is approximately 2 mm to approximately 3 cm greater than the thickness of the mat, such as approximately 5 mm to approximately 2 cm greater than the thickness of the mat, such as approximately 8 mm to approximately 1 cm greater than the thickness of the mat. In principle, the mat can be as thick as is practically possible to roll it around the roller body. In practice, however, the mat is not too thick, as this would make the apparatus bulkier. On the other hand, the mat must be advantageously thick enough to ensure the desired tensile strength and to support the compressible bag and allow it to be rolled around the roller body. A preferred mat thickness is approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 1 cm, or approximately 1 mm to approximately 5 mm. Advantageously, the mat at its second end has a stop arrangement that prevents the second end of the mat from rolling up over the roller body. The stop arrangement may be, for example, a rigid stop element fixed to the mat at its other end. The rigid stop may be fixed, for example, in such a way that it locks to prevent it from wrapping around the roller body. The rigid stop fixed to the mat at its other end may, for example, be locked by the track's coupling arrangements. In one embodiment, the stop arrangement is adapted to be locked by the track coupling arrangements when the track coupling arrangements reach the second end of the mat. The rigid stop may comprise, for example, a rigid rod, such as a rigid rod with a longitudinal dimension wherein the rigid rod can be mounted with its longitudinal dimension perpendicular to the guide tracks. The roller arrangement may have a central axis located in a central axis plane parallel to the flat floor surface, as the roller arrangement passes from the rear end to the dispensing end. The central axis plane may include guide tracks. The apparatus may comprise a drive arrangement coupled with the roller arrangement for driving the roller roll from the rear end toward the dispensing end. The drive arrangement comprises a spring arrangement and / or an electric motor. Advantageously, the drive mechanism is designed to drive the roller body counterclockwise when viewed from the side where the dispensing end is located on the left side of the roller body. This way, the mat and a compressible bag, if placed on the mat, will pass under the roller body and wrap around it during dispensing. The drive arrangement preferably comprises a spring arrangement, wherein the spring arrangement comprises a single-spring or multiple-spring arrangement, such as a spring arrangement comprising two or more springs operating in parallel. The drive arrangement may comprise, for example, a spring arrangement located wholly or partially in the roller body, i.e., located within the surface of the roller body wall. Advantageously, the spring arrangement comprises at least one helical torsion spring located within the roller body. The roller body may form a housing for one or more helical torsion springs. nzcrnn / cznz / q / uιλι In one embodiment, the roller arrangement comprises a shaft and the roller body is arranged to rotate around the shaft driven by the spring arrangement. In one embodiment, at least one helical torsion spring is located between the roller body and the shaft. The shaft may be directly or indirectly rigidly connected to at least one shaft flange, and a first end of the helical torsion spring may be coupled to the roller body, while a second end of the helical torsion spring may be coupled to the shaft flange. In this way, the rotation of the roller body can be driven to rotate about the shaft by the spring arrangement when the helical torsion spring is in the loaded condition. The shaft can be released from its coupling with the shaft, for example, to adjust the relationship between the shaft and the roller body with respect to the spring's loading stage, i.e., to ensure that the fastening means on the roller body are in the desired position when the springs are in the unloaded condition. The roller body may comprise a cylindrical body portion and at least one roller flange perpendicular to the cylindrical body and / or the shaft. The first end of the helical torsion spring may be coupled to the roller flange and / or the cylindrical body portion. In one embodiment, at least one of the shaft flanges is a coupling shaft flange and at least one of the roller flanges is a coupling roller flange, wherein the coupling shaft flange is coupled to the coupling roller flange, preferably to control, direct, and / or restrict the rotation of the roller body. Advantageously, the coupling shaft flange and the coupling roller flange are coupled by corresponding annular flanges, annular channels, and / or annular flange sections. In a preferred embodiment, the coupling shaft flange and the coupling roller flange form a rotational restraint, which restricts the rotation of the roller body to a predefined rate. This restraint ensures that the desired drive force is transmitted from the spring arrangement to the roller body. Furthermore, it ensures that the spring arrangement can be loaded to a high degree to guarantee complete and essentially constant dispensing of liquid from a squeezable bag. In one embodiment, the coupling shaft flange and the coupling roller flange form a rotational restraint, wherein a first coupling shaft flange and coupling roller flange comprise annular channels, and a second coupling shaft flange and coupling roller flange comprise annular flanges or flange sections mated in the annular channels of the first coupling shaft flange and coupling roller flange. The annular channels may advantageously comprise a lubricant, such as an oil or grease. Preferably, the lubricant fills at least approximately 75% by volume, such as at least approximately 85% by volume, such as at least approximately 95% by volume, of the space in the channels between the annular flanges or flange sections.In this way, the desired damping of the force transferred from the spring arrangement to the roller body can be guaranteed. Preferably, the lubricant can pass from one annular channel to another, for example, through perforations in the annular flanges and / or between flange sections. This ensures a simple and effective way to adjust the damping. In one embodiment, the rotational restriction is adjustable by adjusting the flange size (e.g., penetration depth in the channels) and / or by adjusting the amount of lubricant in the channels. In one embodiment, each of the annular channels has a channel width and wherein at least one of the annular flanges or flange sections coupled in an annular channel has a width of approximately 75% to approximately 100%, such as approximately 90% to approximately 99% of the channel width. The spring arrangement may include a loading mechanism for at least partially loading the spring arrangement. The loading mechanism is preferably arranged to at least partially load the spring arrangement by unwinding the mat from the roller body and / or moving the roller arrangement in a direction from the dispensing end toward the rear end. Advantageously, the spring arrangement includes a loading station for loading the springs. The loading station can be advantageously positioned to engage with the roller arrangement at the rear end of the housing. In one embodiment, the charging station comprises a toothed wheel and a bar for rotating the toothed wheel. The roller body may include a ring of teeth positioned to engage with the toothed wheel when the roller body is placed in the charging station. Preferably, the ring of teeth is located on the periphery of a roller flange located at one end of the roller body. To provide an effective and relatively easy-to-use charging station, the roller arrangement may advantageously include a snap-lock mechanism to temporarily secure the roller body within the charging station. Furthermore, the roller arrangement should include a lever to release the roller body from the charging station, ensuring that a user can release the roller body after the desired and / or completed charging of the springs in the spring arrangement. The device may conveniently include a top part, such as a lid, that can be moved fully or partially to allow access to the mat. The lid prevents accidental compression of a compressible bag located within the unit and also protects against dust. Advantageously, a rear section of the housing forms a shelter for the roller assembly when it is positioned further back. The roller assembly can then be conveniently located within this shelter when coupled with the charging station. In this way, the shelter provides additional protection for the charging station. The apparatus may advantageously comprise one or more sensors. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a monitoring sensor and a display for monitoring and showing at least one condition of a compressible bag disposed on the mat. The condition may advantageously include the temperature of the liquid in the compressible bag and / or the amount dispensed from the bag and / or at least one dispensing condition, such as dispensing rate, dispensing status, or remaining dispensing time. The device may comprise a transmitter for wireless transmission (e.g., using Bluetooth technology) to a user, e.g., a nurse's handheld tablet. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a regulating arrangement for the automatic or remote control of the start or stop of the dispensing of liquid from a bag located on the mat. The monitoring sensor can be integrated into or associated with the regulatory provision. In one embodiment, the device comprises a display for showing a load condition of the spring arrangement. Advantageously, the apparatus comprises a temperature control device adapted for heating a liquid in the compressible bag located on the mat. The temperature control arrangement may comprise one or more heating elements incorporated in the mat, the floor, and / or the lid. In one embodiment, the temperature regulating device comprises a hot air fan arranged to heat the space inside the housing to a selected temperature. Advantageously, the temperature control device may include at least one temperature sensor. The temperature sensor may be advantageously associated with the heating elements to control them. nzcrnn / cznz / q / uιλι In one mode, one or more sensors are located on the floor, mat and / or tracks. The invention further comprises a system suitable for dispensing liquid from a squeezable bag. The system of the invention comprises the assembly as claimed and described above in combination with a squeezable bag. The compressible bag has a rear end and a dispensing end; the dispensing end comprises a dispensing port suitable for connection to a tubing arrangement for administering the liquid to a patient. Any suitable tube arrangement may be applied, such as the type of tube arrangement used in the state-of-the-art dispensing system for dispensing liquid from a squeezable bag. In one version of the system, the mat has a width that is at least equal to the width of the compressible bag. In one version of the system, the mat has a length that is at least equal to the distance between the rear end and the dispensing end of the compressible bag. Advantageously, the track coupling arrangements engage with the respective guide tracks to hold the roller at a predefined and / or selectable distance from the flat floor surface when the roller arrangement passes from the rear end to the dispensing end as described above, wherein the predefined roller arrangement and / or the selectable distance to the flat floor surface is approximately 1 mm to approximately 2.5 cm larger than the combined thickness of the mat and compressible bag in empty conditions, such as approximately 2 mm to approximately 2 cm, or approximately 4 mm to approximately 1 cm larger than the combined thickness of the mat and compressible bag in empty conditions. In one embodiment, the system further comprises the arrangement of tubes for administering the liquid, wherein the tube arrangement comprises a tube and a roller clamp for adjusting the flow through the tube. Advantageously, the roller clamp comprises at least two adjusting rollers. The two or more adjustable rollers of the roller clamp ensure very precise speed adjustment that is also relatively easy to use. Advantageously, at least two adjusting rollers of the roller clamp are positioned opposite each other to directly and / or indirectly clamp the tube between the rollers via a support flange. This allows for very simple adjustment. The tube can, for example, be placed in a housing between two flanges, and the two rollers are positioned to compress the tube between the two flanges. In one variant, the rollers act directly on the tube. In one embodiment, the tube arrangement comprises a spigot and drip chamber connected between the dispensing port and the tube. The roller clamp can preferably be integrated with the drip chamber or located at a distance from the drip chamber along the tube of up to approximately 0.5 m, or up to approximately 0.2 m, or up to approximately 0.1 m. With the roller clamp integrated with the drip chamber or located very close to it, for example, up to approximately 5 cm from the drip chamber, the combined roller clamp and drip chamber can be adjusted with one hand. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLES AND FIGURES The invention is further illustrated below with reference to embodiments and figures. The figures are schematic and may not be drawn to scale. Figure 1 illustrates a patient using a set of one modality of the invention. Figure 2 illustrates an assembly comprising a set of straps, for example, as described in document WO2019145004. Figures 3a and 3b illustrate an assembly of one embodiment of the invention seen in perspective and with the lid closed. Figure 3c illustrates a variation of the modality shown in Figure 3a. Figure 4a is a schematic perspective view of a roller arrangement of an embodiment of the invention, focusing on one end of the roller arrangement. Figure 4b is another schematic perspective view of the roller arrangement shown in Figure 4a, focusing on the second end of the roller arrangement. Figure 4c illustrates a variation of the modality shown in Figure 4a. Figure 4d illustrates a variation of the modality shown in Figure 4b. Figure 5a illustrates the roller arrangement of Figure 4a, in which the cylindrical body portion of the roller body is removed. Figure 5b illustrates a variation of the modality shown in Figure 5a. Figure 6a is a schematic and perspective view of a roller arrangement combined with a mat of an embodiment of the invention. Figure 6b illustrates a variation of the modality shown in Figure 6a. Figure 7a is a schematic cross-sectional view of a roller arrangement of a 15 nzcrnn / cznz / q / uli assembly of an embodiment of the invention. Figure 7b illustrates a variation of the modality shown in Figure 7a. Figures 8a and 8b are schematic and perspective views of a flange assembly comprising a coupling shaft flange and a coupling roller flange that form a rotational restraint. Figure 8c illustrates a variation of the modality shown in Figure 8a. Figure 8d illustrates another variation of the modality shown in Figure 8a. Figure 8e illustrates a first variation of the modality shown in Figure 8b. Figure 8f illustrates a second variation of the modality shown in Figure 8b. Figure 8g illustrates a third variation of the modality shown in Figure 8b. Figures 9a and 9b are schematic and perspective views of another set of coupling flanges that form a rotational restraint. Figure 10 illustrates an assembly system of one embodiment of the invention comprising a tube arrangement for administering the liquid comprising a drip chamber, a tube, and a roller clamp. Figure 1 shows a patient in different positions using a system comprising an apparatus and mat as described above and a tubing arrangement as described above. On the right side of Figure 1, patient 3 is lying on bed 4. Patient 3 can be either lying down or sitting up on bed 4. Assembly 1 comprises the apparatus and mat (not shown) and a compressible bag from which a fluid is dispensed to the patient via tubing arrangement 2. Assembly 1 hangs from the side of bed 4, i.e., lower than the level of patient 3's heart 3a. This is possible because Assembly 1 provides a desired, reliable, and constant dispensing of the fluid from the bag regardless of the assembly's level relative to patient 3a's heart.On the left side of the Figure, patient 3 is standing with assembly 1 in hand, well below heart level. Assembly 1 ensures a highly reliable and consistent dispensing rate until the compressible bag is empty. There is no risk of reflux even when assembly 1 is positioned very low relative to heart 3a. At the same time, assembly 1 is very compact and easy for both the patient and nurses to handle. Patient 3 can carry assembly 1 by hand, on their shoulder or in a bag, or hang it on a wheelchair or walker, etc. The reliability of assembly 1 makes it very easy to use, and no pole is required. In Figure 2, assembly 10 comprises a set of straps, for example, as described in document WO2019145004. In this configuration, the belt assembly comprises two main belts 11 and 12.A first main belt 11 is attached at one end to a first connecting structure of the lower portion 16 located on a first side panel 15 of assembly 10 adjacent to its dispensing end 18. The other end of the belt 11 can be attached to the connecting structure of the first upper portion 13a of assembly 1. A second main strap 12 is attached to a second upper portion that connects structure 13b to its first end. The second end of the main strap 12 can be attached to a second connecting structure of the lower portion (not visible) in the assembly, for example, by using a buckle 17. Thus, a patient can carry assembly 1 over the bag using the main straps 11 and 12. The main strap 11 is mounted with a tube holder 14, which can be used to secure a tube from a tube arrangement, for example, during intravenous therapy. The straps can be attached to the assembly device in various positions, for example, as described in WO2019145004. Figures 3a and 3b show the assembly in its closed state, i.e., with the lid 20 closed. In Figure 3b, the lid is transparent, while in Figure 3a, more details of the lid can be seen. The assembly comprises a device with a housing having a dispensing end 22a and an opposite rear end 22b. A lower portion 23 forms a floor comprising a flat surface on which a mat 27 is positioned. A first end of the mat is attached to the roller body 26 by means of a pair of buttons 27a. The device comprises a pair of parallel guide tracks 24 and a roller arrangement 25 comprising a roller body 26 having first and second roller body ends and a roller surface with a cross-sectional circumference. The roller arrangement comprises a track coupling arrangement at each of its respective first and second ends coupled with the respective guide tracks. The roller arrangement 25 comprises a track coupling arrangement 25a at each of its respective first and second ends coupled with the respective guide tracks 24. Only one of the track coupling arrangements 25a is shown in Figures 3a and 3b. The apparatus comprises a drive arrangement for driving the roller body 26. The drive arrangement comprises a spring arrangement including a torsion spring located between the roller body 26 and a shaft of the roller arrangement 25. The apparatus comprises a loading station for loading the torsion spring. The loading station is located at a rear end of the housing where the housing forms a shelter 21 for the roller body 26 when it is positioned in the loading station. The loading station comprises a toothed wheel and a bar 28 for rotating the toothed wheel. The roller body comprises a ring of teeth 29 located on the periphery of a roller flange 29 located at one end of the roller body for engaging with the toothed wheel when the roller body is positioned in the loading station. Figures 4a and 4b show the roller arrangement without the mat, where the first end of the roller arrangement and the second end of the roller arrangement can be seen in Figures 4a and 4b respectively. The track coupling arrangements 25a each comprise a track slider 25b coupled with the guide track 24 to slide along the guide tracks 24. The track slider 25b comprises a gripping lock consisting of an upper flange 25c located in contact with an upper side of the track 24 and a lower flange 25c located in contact with a lower side of the track, thereby locking the track's mating arrangements to the track and allowing it to slide longitudinally along the tracks. Advantageously, the gripping lock is or comprises the slider. In Figure 5a, the cylindrical portion of the roller body has been removed, revealing the torsion spring 30 of the drive arrangement. The drive arrangement may comprise two or more torsion springs. A first end of the helical torsion spring 31 is adapted to engage with the roller body directly or indirectly, for example, via a flange connected to the roller body. Figure 6a shows the roller arrangement in combination with the mat 27. The first end of the mat is attached to the roller body 26 by means of a pair of buttons 27a. In this way, when the drive mechanism rotates the roller body, a squeezable pouch positioned on the mat 27 is trapped between the roller body 26 and the mat 27, and the squeezable pouch is compressed to dispense the liquid. At the second end of the mat 27, a stop arrangement in the form of a rigid rod 27b and a strap 27c are incorporated for unwinding the mat after dispensing is complete. The rigid rod 27b ensures that the second end of the mat 27 does not fully wrap around the roller body, as the slider 25b locks the rigid rod 27b. After dispensing is complete, the mat can be unwound from the roller body simply by tearing the 27c strap. Figure 7a shows the interior of a portion of the roller arrangement. The roller arrangement comprises the roller body, two torsion springs 43a, 43b, and a shaft 44 with mounting holes 18 nzcrnn / cznz / q / uli 44a at each end thereof and shaft flanges. The roller body comprises a cylindrical body portion 40, a roller coupling flange 41, and a toothed flange 42 for loading the torsion springs 43a, 43b. The shaft 44 is rigidly connected to the shaft flanges 45 and 46 and indirectly rigidly connected to the shaft flange 47. The shaft flange 45 is located at one end of the roller body, but the roller body can rotate relative to the shaft flange 45. The shaft flange 45 can be released while rigidly connected to the shaft flange 47. The shaft flange 46 is a coupling shaft flange, which together with the coupling roller flange 41 forms a rotational restraint, restricting the rotation of the roller body to a predefined rotational rate. One end of each of the springs 43a, 43b is coupled to the roller body, herein via the coupling roller flange 41. The other end of each of the springs 43a, 43b is coupled to the shaft flange 47, which is rigidly connected to the shaft via the shaft flange 45. The rigid connection between the shaft flange 45 and the shaft flange 47 is releasable to adjust the relationship between the shaft and the roller body with respect to the spring's loading stage, i.e., to ensure that the locking means on the roller body are in the desired position when the springs are unloaded. The releasable locking between the shaft flange 45 and the shaft flange 47 can be provided by an arrangement of small rollers or other suitable means. In the variation thereof shown in Figure 7b, the roller arrangement comprises a single torsion spring 43a The coupling shaft flange 46 and the coupling roller flange 41 that form the restraint are shown in more detail in Figures 8a and 8b, where Figure 8a shows the mating face of the coupling shaft flange 46 opposite the coupling roller flange 41 and Figure 8b shows the mating face of the coupling roller flange 41 opposite the coupling shaft flange 46. As shown in Figures 9a-9b, the coupling shaft flange 46 engages with the coupling roller flange 41 through their respective mating faces to form the rotational restraint, and restrict the rotation of the roller body to a predefined rotation rate. The coupling roller flange 41 comprises annular channels 41a, and the coupling shaft flange 46 comprises annular flange sections 46a engaged in the annular channels 41a of the coupling roller flange. A lubricant can be placed in the annular channels 41 as described above, preferably to fill most of the space in the channels 41a between the annular flange sections 46a. This ensures the desired damping of the force transferred from the spring arrangement to the roller body. Figures 9a and 9b provide another view of the coupling shaft flange 46 and the coupling roller flange 41. Here it can be seen that the coupling shaft flange 46 has a square center hole, which is adapted to the shape of the shaft and, in this way, rigidly locks the coupling shaft flange 46 to the shaft.The coupling roller flange 41 has a circular center hole, which ensures that the coupling roller flange 41 does not lock onto the shaft. Now back to Figures 7a-7b. Here you can see that the shaft has a mounting hole 44a at each end for rigidly mounting the track coupling arrangement, so that when the track coupling arrangement is engaged with the tracks, the shaft is prevented from rotating. Thus, in use, when the torsion springs 43a, 43b are released, the springs 43a, 43b will force the roller body to rotate relative to the shaft flange 47, which at this stage is coupled to the shaft via the shaft flange 45, and thus the springs 43a, 43b force the roller body to rotate relative to shaft 44. Since shaft 44 is restricted from rotating by the track coupling arrangements, the roller arrangement will be forced to roll and the mat will be wound onto the roller body while simultaneously dispensing liquid from a compressible bag located above the mat. Figure 10 shows a schematic top view of a portion of apparatus 1 with mat 57 and guidance tracks 54. A compressible bag 56 containing a liquid for dispensing through a dispensing device 56a is positioned on the mat and arranged to drip into a drip chamber 57. The drip chamber 57 is attached to apparatus 1 via a clamping arrangement 58. A tube 52 is provided for conveying the liquid from the drip chamber 57 to a patient. A roller clamp 59, as previously described, is provided for adjusting the administration rate. The roller clamp can be attached to the clamping device 58 via an adjustable strap 59a.

Claims

1. An assembly suitable for dispensing liquid from a squeezable bag, the assembly comprising an apparatus and a flexible mat, the apparatus comprising a housing having a dispensing end and an opposite rear end, a floor comprising a flat floor surface, a pair of parallel guide tracks, and a roller arrangement comprising a roller body having first and second roller body ends and a roller surface with a cross-sectional circumference, the roller arrangement having a first roller arrangement end and a second roller arrangement end, respectively coupled with said guide tracks, wherein said guide tracks are located to guide said roller arrangement to roll said roller arrangement from the rear end location towards the dispensing end.said mat has a length extending between a first end of the mat and a second end of the mat, wherein the first end of the mat is mounted or adapted to be mounted on said roller body and the mat is at least partially located on the flat ground between said guide tracks when said roller is located at said rear end location.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mat has an upper surface and an opposing lower surface that are oriented towards said floor surface when unrolled from the roller body, wherein said lower surface has at least a lower roughness than said upper surface and a coefficient of static friction (CoSF) of 0.3 or less determined according to ASTM D3702-94 (2019).

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said mat comprises two or more layers that are joined interfacially or interconnected at least at the first end of the mat and the second end of the mat.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mat assembly to said roller body is an assembly comprising at least one of a chemical assembly, a physical assembly and a mechanical assembly.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said soil surfaces nzcrnn / cznz / q / υιλι have a CoSF) of 0.4 or less as determined according to ASTM D3702-94 (2019).

6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said roller arrangement comprises a track coupling arrangement at each of its respective first and second ends coupled with said respective guide tracks, wherein at least one of said track coupling arrangements comprises a track slider coupled with said guide track for sliding along the guide tracks.

7. The assembly of any of claim 6, wherein the track coupling arrangements are coupled with said respective guide tracks to hold the roller body at a predefined or selectable distance from said flat floor surface when the roller arrangement passes from the rear end to the dispensing end.

8. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mat has a stop arrangement at its second end that prevents the second end of the mat from rolling up onto the roller body.

9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein said stop arrangement comprises a rigid stop adapted to be locked by said track coupling arrangements when the track coupling arrangements reach the second end of the mat.

10. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a drive arrangement coupled with said roller arrangement for driving said roller arrangement from the rear end to the dispensing end, said drive arrangement comprising at least one spring arrangement and an electric motor.

11. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein said drive arrangement comprises a spring arrangement selected from a single spring arrangement or a multiple spring arrangement and wherein the spring arrangement is located at least partially in the roller body.

12. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein said spring arrangement nzcrnn / cznz / q / uili comprises at least one helical torsion spring located within the roller body, wherein said roller arrangement comprises a shaft and wherein said roller body is arranged to rotate about said shaft, preferably said roller body forms a housing for said one or more helical torsion springs.

13. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein said spring arrangement is disposed to drive said roller body to rotate about the shaft, wherein the shaft is rigidly connected to at least one shaft flange, and wherein a first end of the helical torsion spring is coupled to said roller body and a second end of the helical torsion spring is coupled to said shaft flange, wherein the roller body comprises a cylindrical body portion and at least one roller flange perpendicular to the cylindrical body, and wherein the first end of the helical torsion spring is coupled to said roller flange or said cylindrical body portion, and wherein at least one of said shaft flanges is a coupling shaft flange and at least one of said roller flanges is a coupling roller flange, wherein said coupling shaft flange is coupled to said coupling roller flange.

14. The assembly according to claim 13, wherein said coupling shaft flange and said coupling roller flange form a rotational restraint, wherein a first of said coupling shaft flange and said coupling roller flange comprises annular channels and a second of said coupling shaft flange and said coupling roller flange comprises annular flanges or flange sections coupled in the annular channels of said first of said coupling shaft flange and said coupling roller flange.

15. The assembly according to claim 14, wherein said annular channels comprise a lubricant filling space in the annular channels between the annular flanges or flange sections and wherein said lubricant can pass from one annular channel to another annular channel of the annular channels.

16. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein said spring arrangement comprises a loading arrangement for at least partially loading said spring arrangement, wherein said loading arrangement is arranged to at least partially load said spring arrangement by at least one of unwinding the roller body mat and moving the roller arrangement in a direction from the dispensing end and towards the rear end.

17. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein said spring arrangement comprises a loading station for loading said spring arrangement, wherein said roller arrangement comprises a snap closure for temporarily holding said roller body in said loading station, and wherein said roller arrangement comprises a lever for releasing said roller body from said loading station.

18. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one monitoring sensor and a display for monitoring and showing at least one condition of a compressible bag disposed on the mat, wherein the condition is selected from the temperature of a liquid in the bag and a dispensing condition, and a regulating arrangement for the automatic or remote start or stop control of the dispensing of liquid from a bag located on the mat.

19. The assembly according to claim 18, wherein the monitoring sensor is a temperature regulating device adapted to heat a liquid in a compressible bag located on the mat.

20. The assembly according to claim 18, wherein the temperature regulating device comprises one or more heating elements incorporated in at least one of the mat, floor and lid, wherein the temperature regulating device comprises a hot air fan arranged to heat the space inside the housing to a selected temperature.

21. A system suitable for dispensing liquid from a squeezable bag, the system comprising an assembly according to any of the preceding claims and a squeezable bag, the squeezable bag having a rear end and a dispensing end, the dispensing end comprising a dispensing port suitable for connection to a tubing arrangement for administering the liquid.

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