Apparatus, devices, and methods for manipulating deformable fluid vessels
An apparatus configured for displacing fluid from a fluid container comprises first and second actuators configured to be movable together until the first actuator compresses a first part of the fluid container and then moveable independently until the second actuator compresses a second part of the fluid container. Fluid containers comprise a first vessel, a second vessel, and a sealing partition preventing fluid flow from the second vessel and further include piercing means for piercing the sealing partition to permit fluid flow from the second vessel. A fluid container comprises a vessel configured to be collapsed to displace fluid from the vessel, a housing surrounding at least a portion of the vessel, and a floating compression plate movably disposed within the housing and configured to permit an external actuator to press the compression plate into the vessel to collapse the vessel and displace the fluid contents therefrom.
1. An apparatus for displacing fluid from a fluid container including a first vessel and a second vessel connected or connectable to the first vessel and including a sealing partition preventing fluid flow from the second vessel, wherein the fluid container further includes an opening device configured to be contacted with the sealing partition to open the sealing partition and permit fluid flow from the second vessel, said apparatus comprising:
a first actuator configured to be movable with respect to the first vessel to compress the first vessel and displace fluid contents thereof; and
a second actuator movable with respect to the opening device and configured to contact the opening device and cause the opening device to open the sealing partition,
wherein the second actuator is releasably coupled to the first actuator such that the second actuator moves with the first actuator until the second actuator contacts the opening device and causes the opening device to open the sealing partition, after which the second actuator is released from the first actuator and the first actuator moves independently of the second actuator to displace fluid from the first vessel.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator comprises a platen configured to be moved by an actuator mechanism between a first position not compressing the first vessel and a second position compressing the first vessel.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second actuator extends through an opening formed in the platen.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second actuator comprises an elongated ball actuator having a contact end configured to compress the second vessel and push the sealing device through the sealing partition as the platen is moved from its first position to its second position.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a detent disposed in the platen and configured to engage a detent collar formed in the ball actuator to releasably couple the ball actuator to the platen.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein, as the platen is moved from the first position toward the second position, a contact end of the ball actuator contacts the second vessel, within which the opening device is disposed, and as the platen continues to move toward the second position after the contact end of the ball actuator contacts the second vessel, the detent releases the detent collar after the second vessel is collapsed to thereby release the coupling between the platen and the ball actuator so that the ball actuator moves relative to the platen as the platen is moved to the second position.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein, after the first vessel is compressed by the platen, the platen is moved back toward its first position, and the ball actuator is configured to move with the platen until the ball actuator contacts a hard stop that stops further movement of the ball actuator while the platen continues to move toward its first position, and the ball actuator is configured to thereafter move relative to the platen until the detent reengages the detent collar of the ball actuator to releasably couple the ball actuator with the platen.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a detent configured to releasably couple the second actuator to the first actuator.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein after the first actuator compresses the first vessel and displaces the fluid contents thereof, the first actuator moves off of the first vessel, and the second actuator is configured to move with the first actuator off of the second vessel until the second actuator contacts a hard stop to prevent further movement of the second actuator, and the second actuator is configured to thereafter move relative to the first actuator until the second actuator is again releasably coupled to the first actuator.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second vessels comprise collapsible blisters supported on a substrate.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the opening device comprises a hard sphere disposed in the second vessel and supported on the sealing partition until the sealing partition is opened.
12. A method for displacing fluid from a fluid container including a first vessel and a second vessel connected or connectable to the first vessel and including a sealing partition preventing fluid flow from the second vessel, wherein the fluid container further includes an opening device disposed within the second vessel and configured to be contacted with the sealing partition to open the sealing partition and permit fluid flow from the second vessel, said method comprising:
moving a first actuator toward the first vessel;
releasably coupling a second actuator with the first actuator;
moving the second actuator with the first actuator and contacting the opening device with the second actuator to cause the opening device to open the sealing partition;
after the second actuator contacts the opening device and causes the opening device to open the sealing partition, releasing the coupling between the second actuator and the first actuator; and
moving the first actuator independently of the second actuator to compress the first vessel and displace fluid from the first vessel through the second vessel and the open sealing partition.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the opening device comprises a hard sphere disposed in the second vessel and supported on the sealing partition, and wherein contacting the opening device with the second actuator to cause the opening device to open the sealing partition comprises collapsing the second vessel with the second actuator and pushing the sphere through the sealing partition.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
after the first vessel is compressed by the first actuator, moving the first actuator off the first vessel;
while moving the first actuator off the first vessel, moving the second actuator with the first actuator until the second actuator contacts a hard stop; and
continuing to move the first actuator with respect to the second actuator until the second actuator is again releasably coupled to the first actuator.