Apparatus and method of intravenous fluid infusion
First Claim
1. A therapy infusion apparatus for delivery of therapeutic fluid to a patient, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a flexible therapy bag, b) a movable surface which can apply force to an outside surface of said therapy bag to increase fluid pressure within said therapy bag, c) an exit port in said therapy bag which will allow fluid to exit in a delivery direction from said flexible therapy bag under pressure, d) an adjustable, fluid control element located along said deliver direction, after said exit port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An infusion system packaged in a light weight nylon portable mesh container, which is also the pump of the system, includes a removable therapy bag holding the Rx to be infused into the patient. A bladder within the pump is inflatable to provide pressure onto the therapy bag to aid in the discharge of the Rx. When filling the therapy bag, the pharmacist, using his computer to comply with standards, simultaneously programs an EPROM with data specifying the Rx as well as instructions for dispensing the Rx. In one embodiment of the invention, the EPROM fits into a docking receptacle in the pump, while in a second embodiment the EPROM is integral with the therapy bag. A microcomputer mounted in the pump is programmed to control the flow of the Rx to the patient, reading the data from the EPROM in generating the control signals. The microcomputer cyclically drives a fluid control module which outputs a fixed amount of Rx for each cycle of operation. Three fluid control modules are disclosed; a cavity which deliver a bolus of Rx for each rotor rotation, or a shuttling longitudinally displaceable “cork” positioned in the output connector of the therapy bag, or a squeezed tube. Flow is monitored, and alarm interrupts to the microcomputer are provided for flow failure generating appropriate alarms. An alarm shuts down system operation and alerts the patient by means of visual messages on the microcomputer display and by an audible alarm. A buffer memory in the pump stores data relevant to such a mishap for later examination to determine responsibility and cause. Data is tied to a real-time clock (date and time).
75 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A therapy infusion apparatus for delivery of therapeutic fluid to a patient, said apparatus comprising:
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a) a flexible therapy bag, b) a movable surface which can apply force to an outside surface of said therapy bag to increase fluid pressure within said therapy bag, c) an exit port in said therapy bag which will allow fluid to exit in a delivery direction from said flexible therapy bag under pressure, d) an adjustable, fluid control element located along said deliver direction, after said exit port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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- 8. A therapy bag for use in the infusion of liquids to a patient comprising a flexible bag having a storage area and a delivery end, said delivery end comprising at least two fluid ports, at least one port capable of allowing fluid from within said storage area when pressure is applied to liquid within said storage area, and said delivery end also having a storage area for storage of a memory element, said storage area having access ports for electronically accessing said memory element.
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29. A method of infusing a medicinal fluid to a patient, comprising the steps of:
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a) filling a therapy bag with said medicinal fluid, b) recording on a semiconductor EPROM the characteristics of said fluid and the necessary information related to infusing a patient with said fluid, c) reading said information from said EPROM by a microcomputer, d) generating control signals in accordance with said information by said microcomputer, and e) activating a fluid dispensing unit in response to said control signals, whereby said fluid dispensing unit infuses said patient with said medicinal fluid through set tubing in accordance with said recorded information.
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Specification