Sterile Drop Dispenser with Elastic Check Valve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing plural-use drop-by-drop dispensers for sterile liquid products, such as collyrium, face contamination issues due to residual product and outside air entering the system after dispensing, leading to potential contamination during subsequent use.

Innovation Solution

The dispenser incorporates a cartridge with an end filter-holding bottom element featuring a drop-by-drop dispensing spout with elastically flexible converging lips that open under pressure and hermetically reclose, combined with a removable protecting cover to maintain sterility and prevent contamination by acting as a check valve, ensuring the area downstream of the filter remains sterile and free from liquid residues and air.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the dispenser uses a simple open spout design for dispensing, then the dispensing operation is simple and fast, but the area downstream of the filter becomes contaminated by outside air and liquid residues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing operationVSAvoidcontamination of downstream area

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs flexible lips that form a check valve mechanism at the dispensing spout. These elastic lips can open under pressure to allow dispensing and automatically close to seal the downstream area, preventing contamination while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible lips automatically open and close based on pressure differential during dispensing, creating a self-regulating check valve system that prevents contamination without requiring external control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If the dispenser allows liquid residues to remain outside the filter after dispensing, then the dispensing is efficient and complete, but the residues contaminate the medicinal product during successive dispensing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing efficiencyVSAvoidproduct sterility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the potential contamination source (liquid residues) from the sterile system by containing it within the sealed downstream area. The check valve formed by flexible lips prevents residues from migrating back into the filter and product

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible lips act as an intermediary mechanism that allows liquid to pass during dispensing while blocking the passage of air and residues in reverse direction, protecting the sterile product

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the dispenser uses a hermetically sealed system to prevent contamination, then the product sterility is maintained, but the dispensing operation becomes complex and less accessible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct sterilityVSAvoiddispensing operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains hermetic sealing through a self-actuating check valve mechanism that responds automatically to pressure changes during dispensing, eliminating the need for complex external control systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible lips provide a simple yet effective sealing mechanism that can be easily actuated during dispensing while maintaining sterility, combining simplicity with reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design effectively prevents contamination by ensuring the area downstream of the cartridge filter remains sterile and free from liquid residues and air, maintaining the product's sterility during and after dispensing operations.

Implementation Method 1

elastically flexible converging lips, which open under pressure of the liquid product during dispensing operation and elastically hermetically reclose at the end of the dispensing operation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

cartridge with tubular tang and sterilizing filter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

A removable protecting cover, possibly in antimicrobic material, completely covers the end bottom element of the filter and the aforesaid dispensing spout

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical barrier: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP3669851B1Plural-use drop-by-drop dispenser for sterile liquid product, particularly for collyrium or other medicinal product or medical device

Publication Date: 2021.10.27 PAOLO GOBBI FRATTINI

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AI summary

A plural-use drop-by-drop dispenser for sterile liquid product comprises a vial (1) for containment of the liquid product (2) and a connector (4) provided with a plug (8) which is normally hermetically closed and with a cartridge (19) with sterilizing filter (24) which can be axially handled to force open said plug (8) to dispense the liquid product and allow the hermetic reclosure thereof at the stop of dispensing. The cartridge (19) is provided with a filter-holding bottom element (25) provided with a dispensing spout (26), possibly in antimicrobic material, with elastically flexible converging lips (27), which open under pressure of the liquid product (2) for drop-by-drop dispensing thereof and elastically hermetically reclose at the end of the dispensing operation.