EVACUATED BOTTLE SYSTEM

摘要

An evacuated bottle system including providing a bottle defining a hollow interior, the bottle having a neck defining an opening that provides fluid communication with the interior; providing a cap assembly including a funnel having a first portion and a second portion, where the second portion extends radially outward from the first portion to form a floor on an interior thereof and a shoulder on an exterior thereof, the first portion defining a first bore and the second portion defining a second bore fluidly connected to the first bore; a self serum stopper having a self sealing membrane that extends radially outward to overlie at least a portion of the floor of the funnel; and a cap having a cap wall sized to fit over the funnel and a cover portion extending radially inward from the cap wall, the cover portion defining at least one evacuating opening; assembling the cap assembly with the bottle by inserting the first portion of the funnel into the neck of the bottle; supporting the funnel on the neck of the bottle at the shoulder; inserting the serum stopper within the funnel where the self-sealing membrane covers at least a portion of the floor to seal the first bore of the funnel from the second bore; applying the cap over the funnel and attaching the cap to the bottle, wherein the cover portion extends radially inward over a portion of the self-sealing membrane and defines a gap axially outward of the self-sealing membrane; applying a pressure differential relative to the interior of the bottle to create a suction at the evacuating opening to draw the self-sealing membrane axially outward within the gap a distance effective to provide fluid communication between the first bore of the funnel and the second bore the funnel; maintaining the suction until a selected pressure is achieved within the interior of the bottle; and withdrawing the suction, wherein the selected pressure within the bottle draws the self-sealing membrane against the floor of the funnel to reseal the interior of the bottle.

主权项

1. An evacuated bottle system comprising:
providing a bottle defining a hollow interior, the bottle having a neck defining an opening that provides fluid communication with the interior; providing a cap assembly including a funnel having a first portion and a second portion, where the second portion extends radially outward from the first portion to form a floor on an interior thereof and a shoulder on an exterior thereof, the first portion defining a first bore and the second portion defining a second bore fluidly connected to the first bore; a self serum stopper having a self sealing membrane that extends radially outward to overlie at least a portion of the floor of the funnel; and a cap having a cap wall sized to fit over the funnel and a cover portion extending radially inward from the cap wall, the cover portion defining at least one evacuating opening; assembling the cap assembly with the bottle by inserting the first portion of the funnel into the neck of the bottle; supporting the funnel on the neck of the bottle at the shoulder; inserting the serum stopper within the funnel where the self-sealing membrane covers at least a portion of the floor to seal the first bore of the funnel from the second bore; applying the cap over the funnel and attaching the cap to the bottle, wherein the cover portion extends radially inward over a portion of the self-sealing membrane and defines a gap axially outward of the self-sealing membrane; applying a pressure differential relative to the interior of the bottle to create a suction at the evacuating opening to draw the self-sealing membrane axially outward within the gap a distance effective to provide fluid communication between the first bore of the funnel and the second bore the funnel; maintaining the suction until a selected pressure is achieved within the interior of the bottle; and withdrawing the suction, wherein the selected pressure within the bottle draws the self-sealing membrane against the floor of the funnel to reseal the interior of the bottle.