Elastomeric bladder assembly

摘要

The bladder assembly of this invention has spaced apart inlet and outlet means and the bladder is capable of expanding and contracting radially and axially upon inflation and deflation. When deflated the lumen of the bladder is substantially completely filled by lumen filling means, which in a preferred embodiment, protect the bladder from being punctured by the hypodermic needle used to fill and inflate the bladder. The lumen filling means resists the compressive load applied during insertion of the needle and maintains the inlet and outlet means in spaced apart relationship while providing substantially no resistance to the axial expansion of the bladder. By having the lumen of the bladder filled with the lumen filling means when the bladder is deflated, before its subsequent inflation and deflation, substantially complete expulsion of the fluid contents of the bladder can be obtained. The bladder assembly of this invention may be particularly adapted for use in an infusor for dispensing fluid under pressure.