Flexible intravenous container

Claim 2

A container for use in packaging and feeding intravenous fluids, comprising: a substantially tubular, elongated bag formed of a thin walled, impervious plastic material and folded over at approximately its midpoint, said bag having a pair of overlapping ends; an outlet connector sealably attached to said bag at its midpoint opposite the overlapping ends of the folded bag; means provided near the ends of said bag for hanging said bag on a support with said connector positioned on the lowest point on said bag; and whereby a fluid contained in said bag may be fed under the force of gravity through said connector.

Claim 3

A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said bag is hermetically sealed at both ends; and said connector is located approximately half way between said ends.

Claim 4

A container as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an additive connector sealably attached to said bag near one end thereof.

Claim 5

A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said outlet connector comprises an outlet connector member having an aperture extending therethrough and an imperforate cap to seal said conNector member.

Claim 6

A container for use in packaging and feeding intravenous fluids, comprising: a substantially tubular, elongated bag formed of a thin-walled, impervious plastic; an outlet connector sealably attached to said bag intermediate the ends of said bag; means provided near the ends of said bag for hanging said bag on a support with said connector positioned at the lowest point of said bag; an additive connector sealably attached to said bag near one end thereof; a second additive connector sealably attached to said bag near the other end thereof; and whereby a fluid contained in said bag may be fed under the force of gravity through said connector.

Claim 7

A container for use in packaging and feeding intravenous fluids, comprising: a substantially tubular, elongated bag formed of a thin-walled, impervious plastic; an outlet connector sealably attached to said bag intermediate the ends of said bag; means provided near the ends of said bag for hanging said bag on a support with said connector positioned at the lowest point of said bag; an additive connector sealably attached to said bag near one end thereof; a second additive connector sealably attached to said bag near the other end thereof; and whereby a fluid contained in said bag may be fed under the force of gravity through said connector.

Claim 8

A container as set forth in claim 5 wherein: said first additive connector comprises an additive connector member having an aperture extending therethrough and an imperforate cap to seal said additive connector member, and said additive connector member of said first additive connector is molded of plastic and includes a membrane extending across said aperture in said connector member and said imperforate cap of said first additive connector having a portion depending into the additive connector member aperture and abutting said membrane; and said second additive connector comprises an additive connector member having an aperture extending therethrough and an imperforate cap to seal the last-mentioned additive connector member, the additive connector member of said second additive connector being molded of plastic and having a cutting edge, the last-mentioned connector member further including means defining an annular groove and the last-mentioned cap including an annular bead disposed in said groove and an outwardly extending flange on said cap opposite said bead.

Claim 9

A container for use in packaging and feeding intravenous fluids, comprising: a substantially tubular, elongated bag formed of a thin-walled, impervious plastic; an outlet connector sealably attached to said bag intermediate the ends of said bag; means provided near the ends of said bag for hanging said bag on a support with said connector positioned at the lowest point of said bag; a first generally rectangular sidewall; a second generally rectangular sidewall; first and second inwardly folded gussets respectively connected between said first and second sidewalls; said outlet connector being attached to one of said sidewalls; and whereby a fluid contained in said bag may be fed under the force of gravity through said connector.

Claim 10

A container for use in packaging and feeding intravenous fluids, comprising: a substantially tubular, elongated bag formed of a thin-walled, impervious plastic; an outlet connector sealably attached to said bag intermediate the ends of said bag; means provided near the ends of said bag for hanging said bag on a support with said connector positioned at the lowest point of said bag; a first generally rectangular sidewall; a second generally rectangular sidewall; first and second inwardly folded gussets respectively connected between said first and second sidewalls; said outlet connector being attached to one of said sidewalls; and whereby a fluid contained in said bag may be fed under the force of gravity through said connector.

Claim 11

A container as set forth in claim 7 further comprising an additive connector attached to said one of said sidewalls near one end of said bag.

Claim 12

A container as set forth in claim 8 wherein said sidewalls and said gussets are formed of a single sheet of plastic film sealed together along a seam in the other of said sidewalls.

Claim 13

A container for use in packaging and feeding intravenous fluids, comprising; a substantially tubular, elongated bag formed of a thin-walled, impervious plastic; an outlet connector sealably attached to said bag intermediate the ends of said bag; means provided near the ends of said bag for hanging said bag on a support with said connector positioned at the lowest point on said bag; said outlet connector comprising an outlet connector member having an aperture extending therethrough and an imperforate cap to seal said connector member, said outlet connector member being molded of plastic and including a membrane extending across said aperture in said connector member, said imperforate cap having a portion depending into the outlet connector aperture and abutting said membrane; and whereby a fluid contained in said bag may be fed under the force of gravity through said connector.

Claim 14

A container for use in packaging and feeding intravenous fluids, comprising; a substantially tubular, elongated bag formed of a thin-walled, impervious plastic; an outlet connector sealably attached to said bag intermediate the ends of said bag; means provided near the ends of said bag for hanging said bag on a support with said connector positioned at the lowest point on said bag; said outlet connector comprising an outlet connector member having an aperture extending therethrough and an imperforate cap to seal said connector member, said outlet connector member being molded of plastic and including a membrane extending across said aperture in said connector member, said imperforate cap having a portion depending into the outlet connector aperture and abutting said membrane; and whereby a fluid contained in said bag may be fed under the force of gravity through said connector.

Claim 15

A container according to claim 10, wherein said outlet connector member is molded directly into said cap to aseptically seal said connector member with said cap, said outlet connector member further iNcludes means defining an annular groove, said cap including an annular bead disposed in said groove and an outwardly extending flange on said cap.