US-12623831-B2 - Vapocoolant device

US12623831B2US 12623831 B2US12623831 B2US 12623831B2US-12623831-B2

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses and describes a vapocoolant dispenser. Specifically, the dispenser comprises a housing and container of vapocoolant, the dispenser configured to receive a sterilizable dose of high energy radiation and to provide a sterile, hermetically sealed vapocoolant dispenser.

Inventors

Theodore J. Mosler
Eli Nichols
Charles McCall
Andrew Corson
James Fentress

Assignees

623 MEDICAL, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230508

Claims (3)

1 . A method of manufacturing a sterilized vapocoolant dispenser, the method comprising: introducing a container containing vapocoolant selected from halogenated hydrocarbons, perfluroolefin, or mixtures thereof, the vapocoolant devoid of other chemical compounds to a housing, the housing comprising a distal open end, and a proximal open end sized to receive the container, wherein the housing has an inward and outward tapered portion between the distal open end and the proximal open end for receiving fingers of a human hand; sealing the proximal open end and an exposed remainder portion of the container with a releasably sealed bottom cover; sealing the distal open end with an irreversibly sealed lid; sterilizing the vapocoolant and housing simultaneously with a sterilizable high energy radiation dose; and retaining chemical and physical properties of the vapocoolant for at least 6 months.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein container is fixedly positioned in the housing.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein bottom cover is releasably coupled to the proximal open end.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/826,679, filed May 27, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/295,350, filed May 19, 2021, which is a 35 U.S.C. § 371 National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/US20/59475, filed Nov. 6, 2020, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/932,144 filed on Nov. 7, 2019, the entirety of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a vapocoolant dispenser suitable for sterilization. Specifically, the vapocoolant dispenser comprises a housing, the housing comprising a vapocoolant container, the housing and vapocoolant container configured for release of sterilized vapocoolant. BACKGROUND Injections are employed millions of times daily all over the world to deliver medicines into people as well as animals. Many times, injections are made in areas of the body that are sensitive to pain as the needle is inserted. Cooling of the skin in the vicinity of injection site using vapocoolant is known to reduce pain, but existing dispensing techniques and devices can be cumbersome to employ, may cause injury to the injection site, and employ flammable or environmentally unfriendly materials. Recently, products designed for dispensing vapocoolants have been found to contain or be contaminated with microorganisms, leading to recalls and other issues. SUMMARY In a first example, a sterilizable vapocoolant dispenser is provided. The sterilizable vapocoolant dispenser comprising: a container comprising vapocoolant, the container having a valve member configured to release the vapocoolant; a housing having a distal open end; a proximal open end sized to receive a majority portion of the container and exposing the remainder portion of the container, and; a bottom cover sealing the proximal open end and the remainder portion of the container; a lid sealing the distal open end, the lid coupled to the valve member; and a nozzle receiving member positioned in the housing and configured to engage the valve member for releasing the vapocoolant. In one aspect, the container and its contents are configured for sterilization by high energy radiation. In another aspect, the housing has an inward and outward tapered portion between the distal open end and the proximal open end for receiving fingers of a human hand. In another aspect, alone or in combination with any of the previous aspects, the container is fixedly positioned in the housing. In another aspect, alone or in combination with any of the previous aspects, the lid is irreversibly sealed to the distal open end. In another aspect, alone or in combination with any of the previous aspects, the bottom cover is releasably coupled to the proximal open end. In another example, a sterilized vapocoolant dispenser is provided. The sterilized vapocoolant dispenser comprising: a container comprising sterilized vapocoolant, the container having a valve member configured to release the vapocoolant; a housing having a distal open end; a proximal open end sized to receive a majority portion of the container and exposing the remainder portion of the container, and; a bottom cover sealing the proximal open end and the remainder portion of the container; a lid sealing the distal open end, the lid coupled to the valve member; and a nozzle receiving member positioned in the housing and configured to engage the valve member for releasing the vapocoolant. In one example, the container and vapocoolant are configured to remain sterilized until used. In another aspect, alone or in combination with any of the previous aspects, the container is fixedly positioned in the housing. In another aspect, alone or in combination with any of the previous aspects, the lid is irreversibly sealed to the distal open end. In another aspect, alone or in combination with any of the previous aspects, the bottom cover is releasably coupled to the proximal open end. In yet another example, a method of manufacturing a sterilized vapocoolant dispenser is provided, the method comprising: introducing a container containing vapocoolant to a housing, the housing comprising a distal open end, a proximal open end sized to receive a majority portion of the container and exposing the remainder portion of the container, and; hermetically sealing the proximal open end and the remainder portion of the container with a releasably sealed bottom cover; sealing the distal open end with a irreversibly sealed lid; and sterilizing the vapocoolant and housing simultaneously using high energy radiation. These and other objects, aspects and features of the present disclosure will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when read in conjunction with the appended drawing figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A illustrates a dispenser according to the present disclosure. F