MXPA00008386A - Apparatus for altering characteristics of a fluid - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for altering characteristics of a fluid includes a first perimeter wall (14) defining an internal chamber (16) therein. The first perimeter wall defines a first opening (22) and a second opening (24) therethrough. The first opening is constructed to be fluidly connected to a fluid source. The internal chamber defined in said first perimeter wall is constructed to contain a beneficial agent (20) therein. A beneficial agent is disposed in the internal chamber defined in the first perimeter wall, the beneficial agent being dispersible in a fluid flowing from the first opening to the second opening through the internal chamber defined in the first perimeter wall.

Description

APPARATUS TO ALTER CHARACTERISTICS OF A FLUID BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an apparatus for altering the characteristics of a fluid. In particular, the present invention is directed to an apparatus that includes a pepmétpca wall that defines an internal chamber constructed to contain therein a beneficial agent. First and second openings are defined. through the pepmétpca wall, thereby defining a fluid path through the internal chamber defined by the pepmétpca wall. A beneficial agent is disposed in the internal chamber, the beneficial agent being dispersible in a fluid flowing through the inner chamber between the first and second openings defined through the pepmétpca wall It is well known to supply enteric and parenteral products to a patient from a fluid source Such fluid products may be provided in hanging containers, such as bottles and flexible bags having a lower outlet that is connected in fluid connection c In a drip chamber In turn, the drip chamber is connected in fluid connection with a flexible tube which, in turn, supplies the enteric or parenteral product to a patient. For example, an enteric product can be delivered to a patient by half of a nasogastric tube or a feeding tube inserted through a gastrostomy or a jejunostomy, while a parenteral product can be delivered through a catheter inserted into the vascular system of a patient. The parenteral or enteric product is delivered from the container to the patient, through the use of gravity or through the use of a pump. Pumps useful in the administration of enteric and parenteral products are well known and include, but are not limited to, rotary peristaltic pumps, piston pumps and box pumps. Although such parenteral and enteric fluid delivery systems have been widely used in the medical field for many years, they lack a degree of flexibility. In other words, in some cases it is convenient to complement or otherwise alter the contents of enteric or parenteral products, with an additional agent or with additional quantities of an agent already contained in the product Such complementation or alteration typically requires the use of A specialized delivery system For example, a dual delivery system can be used to provide a bolus of the agent additional to the enteric or parenteral product, during its administration. Other known equipment capable of supplying a plurality of fluids from a plurality of sources However, such systems include additional tubes and ports that may become entangled during use Additionally, such systems typically are more expensive due to the need for additional sections of tubes and connectors in Y Some fluid supply systems provide for the complementation of the liquid product in a container by providing a porthole in the container that can be opened, thereby allowing an additional agent to be added directly, or additional quantities of an agent contained in the container. The product However, by allowing direct access to the product, the sterility of the product can be compromised during its use. In the case of parenteral products, sterility must be maintained during the delivery to patients, which makes direct access to parenteral products unacceptable The sterility of enteric products has historically meant much less than a concern for medical professionals. However, there is an increasing recognition of the desirability of providing and supplying aseptic enteric nutrition products to patients. Consequently, it is convenient to provide a method and an apparatus to modify the characteristics The products without a system or an apparatus for easily complementing the contents of a liquid product before supplying it from a container to a patient, it is necessary to provide products that have a greater variety of doses, volumes and combinations of agents For that reason, supply systems have been developed, such as those described in US Patents No. 4,511,353, 5,318,558 and 5,32] 280. systems, an agent that is to be delivered parenterally to a patient is contained in a capsule from which it is ejected during the time, as a result of osmotic infusion. That is, as the capsule is subjected to the presence of a fluid, it is liberates the contents of the capsule in the fluid. U.S. Patent No. 5,318,558 describes the use of said system in the delivery of agents directly in the body by exposing the capsule directly to body fluids. U.S. Patent No. 5,069,071 describes a formulation chamber in the that various forms of sustained release mechanism can be employed in a parenteral fluid that traverses said formulation chamber, thereby providing the supply of the agent complementary to the patient BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an apparatus for altering the characteristics of a fluid flowing therethrough. The apparatus includes a first peephole wall defining an internal chamber, the first wall also defining a first aperture and a second aperture therethrough. first opening is constructed to be connected in fluid connection with a fluid source The internal chamber defined by the first pepmétpca wall is constructed to contain a beneficial agent There is a wall in the internal chamber and divides the inner chamber in upper and lower chambers A beneficial agent is disposed in the inner chamber The beneficial agent is dispersible in a fluid flowing from the first opening to the second opening, thereby altering the characteristics of that fluid BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of an apparatus constructed in accordance with present invention Figure 2 is an elevational view of the first embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention Figure 3 is a sectional view of a receptacle constructed in accordance with the present invention Figure 4 is a partial exploded view, in section, of two receptacles constructed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 6 is an exploded view of a third embodiment. embodiment of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 7 is an elevational view of the third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is directed to an apparatus and a corresponding method for altering the characteristics of a fluid. For the purposes of this description, the apparatus will be described in the context of an enteric nutrition fluid delivery system. However, it will be appreciated that the present invention can also be used to alter the characteristics of a parenteral fluid, when it is delivered to a patient. The present invention is described herein with reference to the accompanying figures. The terms of reference, such as "upper" and "lower" are used. to facilitate understanding of the present invention, in view of the appended figures. These terms should not be construed as limiting and whoever is ordinarily skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention can be practiced in a variety of spatial orientations, without departing from the spirit of the invention. spirit and scope of the present invention As used herein the t Terms "enteric nutrition product" and "enteric product" refer to a liquid composition intended to be delivered to the tract Gastrointestinal tract of a patient Gastrointestinal tract delivery can be made through a nasogastric tube, through a gastrostomy tube and / or through a jejunostomy tube. These liquids typically have a viscosity greater than about 3 centipoise. beneficial "is an agent that is, or that is believed to be, nutically or pharmaceutically important to the patient, or that is otherwise medically important, as in the case of a probiotic, or that serves as a diagnostic agent, as in the case of an opaque agent, an imaging agent or a coloring agent It is understood that a "probiotic" is a living microbial food supplement that beneficially affects the human host, improving the microbial balance in the host's gastrointestinal tract, for example, Lactobacillus reuteri A "quantity" "Useful" of a beneficial agent is an amount that is physiologically effective or diagnostically detectable when administered to a patient or that is believed to be physiologically effective or diagnostically detectable when administered to a patient. That is, an amount that is reasonably expected to produce a detectable effect on a patient, either on a short-term or long-term basis, when it is delivered to the patient, or an amount that is detectable when diagnosing a disease state, or a medical condition "At least one beneficial agent" is intended to be refers to the singular as well as the plural, and is intended to include combinations of ingredients, agents or factors. The term "dispersible", as used herein with respect to beneficial agents, should be understood as applied to substances that are soluble, as well as to those that can be suspended enough to be easily collected and transported by the liquid medium, as the liquid flows through the chamber containing the beneficial agent. Dispersible agents include, but are not limited to, agents in the form of controlled release doses. "supply equipment" refers to a combination of known elements useful for delivering a product from a liquid container to a patient. Such combinations include, but are not intended to be limited to, combinations comprising one or more drip chambers, formulation chambers, pipe sections, flow control clamps, pumps and other devices Commonly found in infusion sets The term "infusion" is intended to refer to the enteric or parenteral delivery of a liquid to a patient. The term "controlled release dosage form" refers to any form of controlled, known or conventional release. , which includes coated tablets, osmotic delivery devices, coated capsules, microencapsulated particles, such as microspheres, agglomerated particles, example, molecular sieve particles, or a thin hollow fiber, with permeable walls Each of these forms contains and subsequently releases or disperses a beneficial agent Such forms preferably prolong the release of the beneficial agent in the liquid The term "dosage form unit" "controlled release" refers to coated individual coated tablets or coated capsules, or to devices such as osmotic delivery devices or microcapsule particles or small bundles of fine hollow fibers or small agglomerated lumps of material of the molecular sieve type, each of the which is able to supply in a sustained or delayed or intermittent way, the beneficial agent The term "which makes the liquid flow" is intended to include the use of gravity to effect the flow, as well as the use of a pump of known construction for effect the flow An apparatus 10, constructed in accordance with the present invention, is illustrated generally in the accompanying figures. The apparatus 10 includes one or more receptacles 12. The receptacle 12 includes the wall pepmet cap 14 which defines an internal chamber 16 The shape and size of the receptacle 12, the peeppet wall 1 and the inner chamber 16 can vary without affecting its utility in relation to the apparatus 10 and the method of the present invention. However, the inner surface 18 of the peeppet wall 14 is preferably configured so as not to impede the flow Additionally, preferably the inner chamber 16 has a size and shape that leads to the placement of a desired amount of a beneficial agent 20 therein. In connection with the present invention, the beneficial agent 20 may have a variety of shapes including, but not limited to, powders, gels, agglomerations, tablets or other controlled release dosage form units The pepmet cap wall 14 defines a first opening 22 and a second opening 24 In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the appended figures, the receptacle 12 is substantially cylindrical in shape. The first opening 22 and the second opening 24 can be located in a variety of locations in the receptacle 12, however, in the preferred embodiment, the first opening 22 and the second opening. 24 are located at opposite ends of the peeppet wall 14, thereby facilitating flow through the receptacle 12 In the Preferred embodiment, the first opening 22 and the second opening 24 are coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the receptacle 12 A membrane 26 is provided in order to prevent the premature passage of beneficial agent 20 out of the internal chamber 16 through the second opening 24 The membrane 26 can be placed on the second opening 24, so that the membrane 26 is in physical contact with an outer surface of the perforated wall 14, as illustrated in FIG. 3 Alternatively, the membrane 26 can be placed inside the internal chamber 16, in FIG. a position proximate the second opening 24, such that the membrane 26 is in physical contact with the inner surface 18 of the peepometric wall 14 The reason why that membrane 26 is located proximate the second opening 22, as well as the separation The membrane 26 can be constructed from a variety of known materials that prevent the release of the beneficial agent 20 from the internal chamber 16. fluid-tight material or a fluid-permeable material However, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the membrane 26 is constructed of a material that provides a substantially fluid-tight seal between the internal chamber 16 and an external environment of the receptacle 12, thereby preventing the entry and / or exit of particles and / or liquid between the internal chamber 16 and the external environment of The receptacle 12, through the second opening 24, when the membrane 26 is in place Also in the preferred embodiment, the membrane 26 is constructed of a frangible material that can be punctured or otherwise broken or dislodged when it is used in conjunction with the apparatus 10 of the present invention, as discussed in detail below. Examples of the materials that may be used to construct the membrane 26 include, but are not limited to, plastic films, foil, papers and coated papers.

The first end portion 28 of the receptacle 12 is preferably configured so that it can be mechanically connected to the second end portion 30 of a second receptacle 12 The first end portion 28 of a first receptacle 12 and a second end portion 30 of a second receptacle 12, preferably they are constructed in such a way that they can be connected to each other in such a way as to provide between them a substantially fluid-tight seal, ie, a seal that does not allow the entry or exit of fluid between the internal chambers 16 of the respective receptacles 12, and an environment external to the respective receptacles 12 For example, in an embodiment of the present invention an external dimension of the first end portion 28 is selected such that the first end portion 28 can be physically retained by the interior surface 18 of the pepmétpca wall 14 in the second extreme portion 30 In the modality of l The present invention illustrated in Figure 1 is defined as a shoulder on the inner surface 18, in order to effect the desired connection between the first and second receptacles 12. In this way a plurality of receptacles 12 can be interconnected by physically retaining a first end portion 28. of a second receptacle 12 within a second end portion 30 of a first receptacle 12 In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a first thread 32 is formed on the interior surface 18 of the pepmetpca wall 14, next to the second end portion 30 Complementarily, a second thread 34 is formed on the outer surface of the wall pepmetpca 14, next to the first end portion 28 The first 32 and second 34 threads are located in such a way as to ensure threadedly a first end portion 28 of a second receptacle 12 to a second end portion 30 of a first receptacle 12, when rotated relative to one another In this embodiment, the first end portion 28 of a second receptacle 12 is constructed in such a manner which is received in the second end portion 30 of a first receptacle 12 It will be appreciated that the membrane 26 will tend to interfere with the placement of the first end portion 28 of a second receptacle 12 on the second end portion 30 of a first receptacle 12 however , as discussed above, the membrane 26 is preferably constructed of a frangible material or is assembled from an The receptacle 12 is pierced or dislodged when the first end portion 28 of a second receptacle 12 is inserted into a second end portion 30 of a first receptacle 12., thereby positioning the inner chambers 16 of the first and second receptacles 12 in fluid communication with each other. Necessary rupture or evacuation of the membrane 26 can be effected by the peeppet wall 14 of a second receptacle 12, when its first end portion 28 is forced into the second end portion 30 of a first receptacle 12 It will be appreciated that if the membrane 26 is positioned as illustrated in Figure 3, the membrane 26 will be perforated, broken or dislodged when the first end portion 28 of a second receptacle 12 is forcibly carried through it. However, if the membrane 26 is placed inside the internal chamber 16 of the receptacle 12, the position of the membrane 26 and the construction of the first end portion 28 will necessarily be selected in such a way that the required perforation, tear or evacuation of the membrane 26 occurs. separation between the membrane 26 and the second opening 24 in such a manner, will not be greater than the distance at which the first end portion 28 of the second receptacle 12 extends within the first end portion 30 of the first receptacle, when the receptacles 12 are connected physically one another Perforation of the membrane 26 can be facilitated with a piercing member 36, mounted on the first The end portion 28 of the receptacle 12 The piercing member 36 is preferably constructed so as to pierce the membrane 26 when two receptacles 12 are forcibly carried into engagement with one another. The piercing member 36 is also preferably constructed so as to create an arcuate tear in the body. the membrane 26, when a first receptacle 12 is rotated with respect to a second receptacle 12 It will be appreciated that an arcuate tear will be created in the membrane 26 by the relative rotation between the adjacent receptacles 12, independently whether the receptacles 12 are connected by a friction fit, by complementary threads or by some other known method for mechanically connecting the adjacent receptacles 12 Preferably the second membrane 54 is provided in order to seal the first end portion 28 of the receptacle 12, thereby preventing the release of the beneficial agent 20 from the internal chamber 16 As discussed further back with respect to the membrane 26, the second membrane 54 may be constructed from a variety of materials In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the second membrane 54 is constructed of a material that prevents the release of the beneficial agent 20 and fluids from the receptacle 12, as well as prevents the entry of particles and fluids into the internal chamber 16 from an environment external to the receptacle 20 The second membrane 54 may be constructed to be removed from the first end portion 28 of the receptacle 12 i.e. the second A membrane 54 may include an adhesive backing that allows the second membrane 54 to be detached from the first end portion 28 of the receptacle 12, before using the receptacle 12. It will be appreciated that the membrane 26 may also be provided with an adhesive backing that allows it to However, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the membrane 26 is perforated, torn or dislodged instead of being completely removed from the receptacle 12. 1 (In a second embodiment, if the second membrane 54 is constructed of a membrane material that can be pierced by a piercing member This embodiment of the present invention will be described in greater detail in connection with the alternative embodiments of the present invention. 38 is located inside the internal chamber 16 in such a way as to divide the internal chamber 16 into an upper chamber 40 and a lower chamber 42 It will be appreciated that the relative sizes of the upper chamber 40 and the lower chamber 42 do not affect the utility of the apparatus 10 of the present invention Wall 38 preferably defines one or more openings 44 through it. The number, size and location of openings 44 will be selected based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the form of the beneficial agent (for example, powder, granulate, tablet, etc.), the characteristics of the liquid that is going to flow through the rece 12 and desired flow characteristics through the receptacle 12, with respect to the beneficial agent 20 The size of the openings 44 is preferably selected so as to minimize or prevent the flow of particles of the beneficial agent 20 through them. However, the size of the openings 44 is preferably selected. so that the liquid having the beneficial agent 20 dispersed therein, passes through the wall 38, towards a patient. The beneficial agent 20 may be disposed above or below the wall 38 In case the beneficial agent 20 is placed under the wall 38, the beneficial agent 20 will be retained between the wall 38 and the membrane 26 However, it is preferred that the beneficial agent 20 be placed on the wall 38 when there is only one wall disposed within the internal chamber In case multiple receptacles 12 are used simultaneously, the walls 38 will prevent the beneficial agent 20 from the respective receptacles 12 from being in direct contact with each other, unless they are dispersed in a liquid flowing through the container. plurality of receptacles 12 That is, each wall 38 will prevent the beneficial agent 20 from the receptacle 12 immediately above it from coming into contact with the beneficial agent 20 contained therein. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wall 38a is disposed within the the inner chamber 16 in a spaced position of the wall 38 In that embodiment, the beneficial agent 20 is disposed between the wall 38 and the wall 38a. wall 38a preferably defines one or more openings 44a therethrough The number, size and location of openings 44a will be selected based on a variety of factors, as discussed previously In this embodiment the agent will be retained beneficial 20 in its original receptacle 12 between the walls 38, 38a, until it is dispersed in a liquid flowing through the receptacle The walls 38, 38a further prevent the migration of the beneficial agent 20 between the receptacles 12 until the agent 11 beneficiary 20 has been dispersed in a liquid that passes through the receptacles 12 The apparatus 10 of the present invention further includes the member 46 constructed to fix in fluid connection the apparatus 10 to a source of a liquid In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the appended figures, member 46 is in the form of a peak 48 of known construction Peak 48 defines a channel 50 therethrough Peak 48 is constructed so that it can be mechanically connected to receptacle 12 over Above the apparatus 10 For example, the peak 48 can be configured so as to physically retain the receptacle 12 above, as discussed above with respect to the adjacent receptacles 12. Alternatively, the peak 48 and the receptacle 12 above can be provided with complementary threads that allow the spout 48 to be threadedly secured to the receptacle 12, also as discussed with respect to or to adjacent receptacles In an alternative embodiment of the present invention the member 46 is constructed to provide fluid communication between the uppermost receptacle 12 and another portion of a fluid supply equipment. For example, the member 46 may be constructed to connect in fluid connection with a drip chamber or with another section of tube used in a fluid supply equipment, thereby allowing an operator to connect one or more receptacles 12 in line with the fluid supply equipment In this embodiment, the member 46 can be connected to a portion of the fluid supply equipment, using a variety of known techniques, for example, "luer" connections or "luer" locks. The apparatus 10 further includes the member 52 of The outlet member 52 is constructed to connect in fluid connection the receptacle 12 below with a fluid equipment, to supply an altered liquid to a patient. The exit member 52 can be constructed to be mechanically connected to a chamber. of drip, to a length of tube or to any other apparatus for enterally or parenterally supplying a patient, a liquid The exit member 52 defines a channel 56 that allows liquid to pass from the receptacle 12 connected to the exit member 52, towards a drip chamber, a length of tube or other apparatus for supplying the liquid to a patient The exit member 52 can be physically or threadedly secured to the receptacle 12, as discussed above. The exit member 52 may be connected to other portions of a fluid supply equipment, using known techniques, for example, a "luer" connection or a "luer" connection with a lock. of apparatus 10 of the present invention One or more receptacles are provided 12 The number of receptacles used will be contingent on (a) the volume of a single beneficial agent to be delivered to the patient, and (b) the number of beneficial agents separated that is going to supplying the patient It will be appreciated that each receptacle may contain one or more beneficial agents, and that each beneficial agent may be in a variety of forms, eg, powder, granulate, tablet or controlled-release dosage form If more will be used of a receptacle 12, the receptacles 12 are mechanically connected to one another so that a first end portion 28 of a receptacle 12 is inserted into a second end portion 30 of another receptacle 12. In case the second membrane 54 is present on the first end portion 28 of the receptacle 12, it is necessary that the second membrane 54 be removed or otherwise penetrated before interconnecting the adjacent receptacles 12 As discussed above, the second membrane 54 can be constructed in such a way that it can be detach from the first portion 28 of the receptacle 12, thereby providing access to the internal chamber 16, defined by the receptacle 12 As discussed above, the mechanical connection from one receptacle to another will cause perforation or evacuation of the membrane 26, located in the second end portion 30 of the receptacle 12 This effect can be caused by the pepmétpca wall 14 or by the member perforator 36 When the second membrane 54 is removed and the membrane 26 is punctured or dislodged, the flow of liquid through the internal chamber will be possible. As the liquid is flowed through the internal chamber 16, the beneficial agent 20 will be dispersed in the liquid and subsequently it will be supplied to the patient. The uppermost receptacle 12 is physically connected in series with a fluid supply equipment, by means of the member 46. The lower receptacle 12 is physically connected in series with a fluid supply equipment, by means of of the outlet member 52 as discussed above. The apparatus 10 is illustrated in its assembled form in Figure 2. When assembled, the fluid supply equipment will include one or more receptacles 12, said receptacles being in series with the rest of the container. fluid supply equipment That is, the internal chambers 16 form a portion of the flow path of the fluid supply equipment. Thus, the fluid flowed through the fluid supply equipment and the receptacles will have the beneficial agents selected. dispersed therein Again it will be appreciated that the apparatus 10 of the present invention allows greater latitude in the number and The amount of the beneficial agents 20 supplied to the patient The beneficial agents 20 can be provided in a variety of ways. For example, a powdered benefit agent can be used in connection with the present invention. The beneficial agent 20 can also be in the form of granules or Tablet form Other forms of beneficial agent can be used including, but not limited to, dosage form units. The particular form of each beneficial agent used in connection with the present invention will be selected based on the dosage profile. desired delivery of the beneficial agents to the patient An alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 5 As illustrated in Figure 5, the apparatus 110 of the present invention includes one or more receptacles 112 Each receptacle 112 includes a wall pepmétpca 114, which defines an internal chamber 116 In this embodiment of the present invention, the walls 138, 138a are disposed in the internal chamber 116, so that a beneficial agent 120 can be contained therebetween As discussed above, the apparatus of the present The invention will work if only one wall 138 is provided. In particular, if the benefit agent 120 is a tablet or a unit dosage form, one of the walls 138 and 138a may not be necessary to prevent the release of the beneficial agent 120 from the chamber. internal 116 before the meeting in which the beneficial agent 120 is dispersed in a liquid flowing through the receptacle 112 However, the preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes both walls 138 and 138a Walls 138, 138a, preferably, define openings 144 therethrough, thereby enabling way the flow through them of a liquid that has The beneficial agent 120 dispersed therein The membrane 126 is arranged to seal the second end portion 130 of the receptacle 112 The membrane 126 is constructed in accordance with the discussion carried further back with respect to the membrane 26 The second membrane 154 is disposed 5 so that it seals the first end portion 128 of the The second membrane 154 is constructed in accordance with the discussion further back with respect to the second membrane 54. The collar 156 is provided and is constructed to interconnect the successive receptacles 112. The collar 156 includes a first end portion 158 constructed in a manner that the first end portion 128 of a receptacle 112 can be mechanically connected to it, by means of a friction fit, a threaded coupling or another known technique of mechanical connection The collar 156 further includes a second end portion 160, constructed to be connected mechanically to a second end portion 130 of a first receptacle, by means of a friction adjustment, a threaded coupling or another known technique of mechanical connection The collar 156 defines therethrough a fluid flow path The second end portion 160 includes Member 162 with openings Member 162 c in openings defines one or more openings therethrough, and is located transversely through the collar 156, thereby limiting the flow through the collar 156 The size, number and position of the openings are determined by the type of opening. beneficial agent 120 contained in each receptacle 120, as well as by the flow characteristics through the collar 156 and the receptacles 112 However, the apertured member 162, and the openings defined therein, are constructed in such a way that the liquid who has one or more beneficial agents 120 dispersed therein can flow through them from a first receptacle 112 to a second receptacle 112 The apertured member 162 further limits the ability of the beneficial agent 120 to move from a receptacle 112 to a second receptacle 112 The second portion end 160 further includes a piercing member 164, constructed to penetrate the membrane 126, when a second end portion 160 is forcedly brought into physical engagement with the second end portion 130 of a first receptacle 112. The piercing member 164 may have a variety of known configurations , suitable for piercing the membrane 126 In one embodiment of the present invention an upper edge of the apertured member 162 is constructed to provide the desired piercing of the membrane 126 when the collar 156 and the receptacle 112 are forcibly carried to physical engagement with each other In this mode, the upper edge In the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the piercing member 16 is a separate member, which extends outwardly from the upper edge of the member 162 with openings. The piercing member 164 preferably it is constructed both to pierce and to tear the membrane 126, thereby allowing a person using the apparatus 110 to form a single hole through the membrane 126, or to tear an arcuate opening in the membrane 126, when making a movement relative rotation between adjacent receptacles 112 The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 5 further includes member 146 and exit member 152, constructed in accordance with the discussion noted above with respect to member 46 and exit member 52, respectively. will now describe the use of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figure 5 One or more receptacles 112, which contain one or more beneficial agents are provided Additionally collars 156 are provided, the number of collars being one less than the number of receptacles 112 which are to be interconnected. The second membrane 154 is removed from a first receptacle 112 and a first end portion 158 of a first collar is forced into physical engagement with the first end portion 128 of the first receptacle 112. The second end portion 130 is then forced. a second receptacle 112, until physical coupling with the second end portion 160 of the first collar 156 A second receptacle 112 is forced into physical engagement with the first collar 156, the member 162 is forced with openings of the first receptacle 156 within the second receptacle 112 and the piercing member 164 pierce the membrane 126, thereby placing the first and second receptacles 112 in fluid communication with each other, through the collar 156. The number of receptacles 112 will be determined. interconnected in that way by the number and volume of the beneficial agents 120 that are to be delivered to the patient The number of collars 156 needed will be one less than the number of receptacles to be interconnected The exit member 15 is forcibly carried physical coupling with the second end portion 130 of the first receptacle 120 When the exit member 154 is forcibly brought into physical engagement with the first receptacle 120, the membrane 126 will be pierced by the exit member 154, thereby allowing fluid communication between the first receptacle 112 and the exit member 154 As discussed above, the exit member 154 may be constructed for fluid connection to a variety of known fluid supply equipment. The member 146 is forcibly carried to physical engagement with the first end portion 128 of the receptacle 112 It will be appreciated that the flowing liquid through the member 146 and into the receptacle 112 above will flow through each of the receptacles 112 interconnected by the collars 156, thereby exposing each beneficial agent contained in each of the receptacles 112 to come into contact with the liquid and, thereafter, is dispersed in the liquid. Thus, the liquid exiting the first receptacle through the outlet member 152 will have dispersed in the each of the beneficial agents 120 contained in each of the receptacles 112, less than one or more of the beneficial agents 120 is in sustained release form, in which case the beneficial agent 120 in sustained release form will be dispersed in the flowing liquid, at a subsequent time. In another embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figure 6, the receptacle 212 is constructed to receive the collar 256 therein The collar 256 can be mechanically mounted in the receptacle 212, using a variety of known techniques. For example, the collar 256 can be threadedly secured to the receptacle 212 by the use of complementary threads formed in the collar 256 and the receptacle 212 In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 6, the receptacle 212 includes a first shoulder 280 and a second shoulder 282 in the first end portion 228 thereof. The first shoulder 280 and the second shoulder 282 they are constructed to retain the functional collar 256 in a first position and in a second position, r Specifically The collar 256 includes a first shoulder 284 and a second shoulder 286 at its first end portion. The first shoulder 284 and the second shoulder 286 are constructed to be complementary to the first shoulder 280 and the second shoulder 282 of the receptacle 212, so that collar 256 can be physically retained in the receptacle 212, in a first and a second position, as discussed above. Collar 256 further includes a first piercing member 288. The first piercing member 288 is constructed to pierce the second. membrane 254 in the receptacle 212 The first piercing member 288 is in the shape of a peak defining a flow path therethrough, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 6. However, it will be appreciated that the first piercing member 288 may have a variety of shapes, including, but not limited to, piercing pins and piercing / punching members, so long as they are constructed to pierce the second membrane 254 so as to provide fluid communication between adjacent receptacles 212 The first piercing member 288 may also be constructed to provide arcuate tearing in the second membrane 254 when relative rotation is provided between collar 256 and receptacle 212 when collar 256 is in its first position, fixed to receptacle 212, as illustrated in figure 6, the first piercing member 288 remains spaced from the second membrane 254, thus enabling the second membrane 254 to prevent the release of the beneficial agent 220 and the fluid from the receptacle 212 The second membrane 254 also prevents the entry of fluids into the receptacle 212 However, when the collar 256 is moved to its second position fixed to the receptacle 212, as illustrated in Figure 7, the first piercing member 288 will penetrate the second membrane 254, thereby providing fluid access between a fluid path defined by the collar 256 and the inner chamber 216 of the receptacle 212. The collar 256 additionally includes a third burner 290 in the second end portion 260 thereof The third shoulder 290 is constructed to be complementary to the third shoulder 292 defined in the second end portion 230 of the receptacle 212, so that the third shoulder 290 of the collar and the third shoulder 292 of the receptacle mutually interlock in order to mechanically connect the second end portion 230 of the receptacle 212 with the second end portion 260 of the receptacle 212. The collar 256 also includes the second piercing member 294 at its second end portion 260 The second piercing member 294 is constructed to pierce the membrane 226 at the second end portion 230 of the receptacle 212, when the receptacle 212 is mechanically connected to the collar 256, by means of the third flange shoulder 290 and the third shoulder 292 of the receptacle When piercing the membrane 226 with the second piercing member 294 and when piercing the second membrane 254 with the first piercing member 2 88, two receptacles 212 will be connected to each other by means of a single collar 256 In that way fluid flow through each of the receptacles 212 and the collar 256 is possible In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 6 , the exit member 252 includes a piercing member 296 that is constructed to pierce the membrane 226 in the receptacle 212 below. The exit member 252 is constructed to be mechanically connected to the receptacle 212 below, by means of a threaded connection. or special The piercing member 296 is positioned so as to pierce the membrane 226 when the receptacle 212 is mechanically connected from below to an outlet member 252, thereby allowing fluid communication between the receptacle 212 below and the member 252. The member 246 includes a piercing member 298 which is constructed to pierce the second membrane 254 of the receptacle 212 above. The member 246, as discussed above, is constructed to be mechanically connected to the receptacle 212 above, by means of a threaded or functional connection. The piercing member 298 is positioned so as to pierce the membrane 25 of the upper receptacle 212 when the upper receptacle 212 is mechanically connected to the member 246, thereby allowing fluid communication between the member 6 and the internal chamber. 216 of receptacle 212 above. Use of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. Fig. 6 One or more receptacles 212 containing the selected type and amount of one or more beneficial agents 220 are provided. Collars 256 are also provided, the number of collars being one less than the number of receptacles 212 provided. Receptacles 212 adjacent ones are connected by a collar 256, so as to establish fluid communication between the adjacent receptacles 212, as discussed above. The receptacle 212 is connected from above to the member 246 which, in turn, may be connected to a source of a liquid The receptacle 212 below is connected to the outlet member 252, which in turn can be connected to a fluid set to deliver a liquid to a patient. In that manner, the liquid introduced into the member 246 will flow through the fluid. each of the receptacles 212, thereby contacting each of the beneficial agents 220 contained therein. When the liquid comes in contact with the beneficial agents 220, the beneficial agents 220 will be dispersed therein and subsequently delivered to the patient. with the liquid It will be appreciated that a variety of mechanisms can be used to interconnect the receptacles with collars according to the embodiments of the present invention illustrated in Figures 5 to 7 In this regard, it is important that the resulting connection provide a substantially sealed seal to the fluid, thereby preventing fluid flow to or from the flow path defined by the rec eptáculos 212 and bolsters 256 If the resulting flow path is not fluid tight, air will enter the fluid path as the liquid passes through it, thus making it difficult, if not impossible, to deliver the liquid from a fluid source to a patient Even though the present invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments, whoever is ordinarily skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications are possible without departing from the intended spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims

Claims (9)

1 - . 1 - An apparatus for altering characteristics of a fluid, said apparatus characterized in that it comprises a first perforated wall defining an internal chamber therein, the first perforated wall defining a first aperture and a second aperture therethrough, the first aperture being constructed for fluid connection with a source of fluid, the internal chamber defined in the first pepmétpca wall, is constructed to contain in it a beneficial agent, and a beneficial agent disposed in the internal chamber defined in the first pepmétpca wall, said agent being dispersible. beneficial in a fluid flowing from the first opening to the second opening, through the internal chamber defined in the first peeppet wall

2 - An apparatus for altering characteristics of a fluid according to claim 1, further characterized in that the apparatus comprises additionally a frangible membrane covering the second opening defined through is the first wall pepmetpca, the frangible membrane being built to retain the beneficial agent in the internal chamber defined by the first wall pepmetpca

3 - An apparatus for altering characteristics of a fluid according to claim 2, further characterized in that the apparatus comprises Additionally a second pepmetpca wall defining a second internal chamber therein, the second wall defining a first opening and a second opening therethrough, a piercing member mounted on the pepmétpca wall, close to the first opening defined through that wall The perforating member is constructed to pierce the frangible membrane that covers the second opening defined through the first peephole wall, the second peephole wall being constructed to be mechanically connected to the first peephole wall, the first and second pedestal walls defining a flow path through them from the first opening defined through the first pepmétpca wall, to the second opening defined through the second pemometric wall, when said first and second pepmetrop walls are mechanically connected

4 - An apparatus for altering characteristics of a fluid, in accordance with the claim 3, further characterized in that the first pepmétpca wall defines a first thread therein, where the second pepmometric wall defines a second thread therein, and where the first and second threads are complementary and are constructed to mechanically connect the first and second pepmétpcas walls.

5 - An apparatus for altering characteristics of a fluid, according to claim 4, further characterized in that The first wall and the second wall are constructed to press fit one another, to connect mechanically the first and second walls

6 - An apparatus for altering characteristics of a fluid, according to claim 1, further characterized in that the The apparatus further comprises a peak mounted on the first perimetric wall, said peak defining a channel therethrough, and the channel defined through the peak is in fluid communication with the internal chamber defined by the first wall through the first wall. aperture defined through the first pepmétpca wall, the peak being constructed to perforate a perforable seal of a fluid source

7 - An apparatus for altering characteristics of a fluid, characterized in that said apparatus comprises a first receptacle having a first pepmetpca wall, defining the first wall pepmétpca an internal chamber in it, being The inner chamber is constructed to contain a beneficial agent therein, the first wall defining first and second openings through it, a frangible membrane covering the second opening defined through the first pepmétpca wall of the first receptacle, a first beneficial agent arranged in the internal chamber defined by the first pepmétpca wall of the first receptacle, a second receptacle having a second wall For example, the second wall defining an internal chamber therein, the internal chamber is constructed to contain a second beneficial agent therein, said second wall defines first and second openings therethrough, a perforating member mounted on the second wall. of the second receptacle, where the piercing member is constructed to pierce the frangible membrane covering the second opening defined through the first peteropet wall of the first receptacle, the first and second sealing walls of the first and second receptacles are constructed to be mechanically connected

8 - An apparatus for altering characteristics of a fluid, according to claim 7, further characterized in that the first pepmétpca wall is constructed to be connected to a source of a fluid, whereby the fluid from the source can flow through the first opening defined by the pr The wall is a wall, and the second wall is constructed to be connected to an apparatus for supplying fluid to a patient, whereby fluid can flow from a source of fluid through the first and second internal chambers and into an apparatus. for supplying fluid to a patient

9 - An apparatus for altering characteristics of a fluid, according to claim 8, further characterized in that said apparatus comprises a peak mounted on the first wall pepmétpca, said peak defines a channel through it, the channel is in fluid communication with the internal chamber defined by the first pepmétpca wall, through the first opening defined through the first wall pepmetpca