Systems, methods, and components for transferring medical fluids

• US 10,188,849 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2018
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Fangrow, Thomas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnett, Nicolas A
• Application Number:
  US15/991,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20180272117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 245 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1475 Inlet or outlet ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2068 Venting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/22 with means for metering the amount of fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/70 Device provided with specific sensor or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/76 for fluid level
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/002 Compounding apparatus specially for enteral or parenteral nutritive solutions bottling liquids B67C
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14506 mechanically driven, e.g. spring or clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/242 designed to open when a predetermined pressure or flow rate has been reached, e.g. check valve actuated by fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/223 Multiway valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/24 Check- or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps

Abstract

An example of a method of enabling medical fluid transfer between a source container and a destination container can comprise the steps of providing a closed-system fluid transfer module comprising a first closeable, resealable medical connector and a second closeable, resealable medical connector, a multidirectional fluid control valve with a driving interface configured to interface with an electromechanical driver of an electronic medical fluid transfer device, and an intermediate container or an intermediate pumping region; and instructing a user to couple the closed-system fluid transfer module to the electronic medical fluid transfer device.

Claims

1. An electronic medical fluid transfer device comprising:

one or more supports configured to receive a fluid transfer module comprising a first inlet fluid connector, a second outlet fluid connector, a multidirectional flow control valve, and an intermediate container or pumping region;

a gas sensor configured to detect whether gas is present in the fluid transfer module;

a first electromechanical driver configured to interface with and control the multidirectional flow control valve on the fluid transfer module;

a second electromechanical driver configured to be mechanically linked to the intermediate container or pumping region;

a computer processor or processors configured to communicate electronically with the sensor and the first and second electromechanical drivers to prime or purge the fluid transfer module with liquid before use and to purge gas from the fluid transfer module during use.

2. The combination of the electronic medical fluid transfer device of claim 1 and the fluid transfer module.

3. The electronic medical fluid transfer device of claim 1, wherein the priming of the fluid transfer module comprises the steps of:

opening a fluid pathway between the second fluid connector and the intermediate container or pumping region and closing a fluid pathway to the first fluid connector;

lowering the pressure in the intermediate container or pumping region;

opening a fluid pathway between the first fluid connector and the intermediate container or pumping region and closing the fluid pathway to the second fluid connector; and

pushing fluid from the intermediate container or pumping region toward the first fluid connector.

4. The electronic medical fluid transfer device of claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

opening the fluid pathway between the first fluid connector and the second fluid connector and closing the fluid pathway to the intermediate container or pumping region; and

opening the fluid pathway between the first fluid connector and the intermediate container or pumping region.

5. The electronic medical fluid transfer device of claim 3, wherein the second electromechanical driver is a stepper motor for a multi-stroke pump.

6. The electronic medical fluid transfer device of claim 3, wherein the second electromechanical driver is a positive displacement pump.

7. The electronic medical fluid transfer device of claim 1, further comprising a remote user interface.

8. The electronic medical fluid transfer device of claim 7, wherein the remote user interface is configured to electronically communicate with and control a plurality of different electronic medical fluid transfer devices.

9. The electronic medical fluid transfer device of claim 1, further comprising a volume sensor configured to help calculate a volume of liquid in the intermediate container or pumping region.

10. The electronic medical fluid transfer device of claim 9, wherein the volume sensor is a camera.

11. The electronic medical fluid transfer device of claim 1, further comprising a camera configured to capture one or more images.

12. The electronic medical fluid transfer device of claim 11, wherein the camera is configured to capture an image of the intermediate container or pumping region or an image of a destination container.

13. The electronic medical fluid transfer device of claim 12, further comprising a memory configured to store the image.

14. The electronic medical fluid transfer device of claim 12, further configured to transmit the image to a patient information storage device or network.

15. The electronic medical fluid transfer device of claim 11, further comprising a transparent receptacle, wherein the camera is configured to capture an image of the intermediate container or pumping region or an image of a destination container through the transparent receptacle.

16. The electronic medical fluid transfer device of claim 1, wherein the gas sensor comprises an acoustic sensor.

17. The combination of the electronic medical fluid transfer device of claim 1 and the fluid transfer module, wherein the fluid transfer module is removably engaged with the electronic medical fluid transfer device.