Medical container loading system and method for use with fluid containers, syringes and medical injectors

• US 20040210192A1
• Filed: 11/20/2003
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Medrad Incorporated (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Trocki, Mark, Crowley, John, Trombley, Frederick W. III, Reilly, David M., Goodworth, Matthew, Degentesh, Drew, Beale, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 7,240,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump

Abstract

A medical container loading system includes a medical container loading device and a fill station. The fill station is located proximate to the medical container loading device and includes a mounting plate and a holding assembly. The holding assembly is connected to the mounting plate for supporting a medical fluid container adapted for fluid communication with a medical container, such as a syringe, used in the medical container loading device. The holding assembly may include a fixed support and a movable support, which maintain the medical fluid container in the holding assembly. The fixed support may be funnel-shaped with a smooth or stepped inner wall. The fixed support may also be rectangular shaped and have an inclined inner wall or support for supporting the body of the medical fluid container. The movable support may be a resiliently biased support arm or an adjustable strap.

Claims

1. A fill station comprising:

a mounting plate; and

a holding assembly connected to the mounting plate for supporting a medical fluid container, the holding assembly comprising a fixed support and a movable support, the movable support movable between an engaged position supporting the body of the at least one medical fluid container for maintaining the medical fluid container in the holding assembly and a disengaged position out of contact with the body of the medical fluid container.

2. The fill station of claim 1, further comprising a hook member connected to the mounting plate for supporting a medical fluid bag.

3. The fill station of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate is configured to be wall-mounted.

4. The fill station of claim 1, further comprising a shelf connected to the mounting plate.

5. The fill station of claim 4, further comprising a hook member connected to the shelf for supporting a medical fluid bag.

6. The fill station of claim 1, further comprising a clip connected to the mounting plate and configured to receive and restrain fluid transfer tubing used with the medical fluid container.

7. The fill station of claim 1, the fixed support comprising a U-shaped bracket connected to the mounting plate for receiving a neck of the medical fluid container.

8. The fill station of claim 1, the fixed support further comprising a pair of support arms connected to the mounting plate, wherein the movable support and the support arms, in combination, are adapted to maintain the medical fluid container in the holding assembly.

9. The fill station of claim 1, wherein the movable support comprises an adjustable strap.

10. A fill station comprising:

a mounting plate; and

a holding assembly connected to the mounting plate for supporting a medical fluid container, the holding assembly comprising a substantially funnel-shaped fixed support connected to the mounting plate for receiving and supporting the medical fluid container.

11. The fill station of claim 10, further comprising a hook member connected to the mounting plate for supporting a medical fluid bag.

12. The fill conduit of claim 10, further comprising a hook member connected to the fixed support for supporting a medical fluid bag.

13. The fill station of claim 10, wherein the mounting plate is configured to be wall-mounted.

14. The fill station of claim 10, further comprising a shelf connected to the mounting plate.

15. The fill station of claim 14, further comprising a hook member connected to the shelf for supporting a medical fluid bag.

16. The fill station of claim 10, further comprising a clip connected to the mounting plate and configured to receive and restrain fluid transfer tubing used with the medical fluid container.

17. The fill station of claim 10, wherein the mounting plate and fixed support are formed integrally from plastic.

18. The fill station of claim 10, wherein an inner wall of the fixed support is stepped to accommodate different sized medical fluid containers.

19. The fill station of claim 10, wherein the fixed support comprises a split sidewall for passing fluid transfer tubing therethrough.

20. A fill station comprising:

a mounting plate; and

a holding assembly connected to the mounting plate for supporting a medical fluid container, the holding assembly comprising a substantially rectangular shaped fixed support connected to the mounting plate for receiving and supporting the medical fluid container, the fixed support comprising an inclined inner support for supporting the body of the medical fluid container.

21. The fill station of claim 20, further comprising a hook member connected to the mounting plate for supporting a medical fluid bag.

22. The fill station of claim 20, wherein the mounting plate is configured to be wall-mounted.

23. The fill station of claim 20, further comprising a shelf connected to the mounting plate.

24. The fill station of claim 20, further comprising a clip connected to the mounting plate and configured to receive and restrain fluid transfer tubing used with the medical fluid container.

25. The fill station of claim 20, wherein the mounting plate and the fixed support are formed integrally from plastic.

26. A medical container loading system, comprising:

a loading device for loading fluid into a medical container; and

a fill station for use with the loading device, the fill station located proximate to the loading device and comprising a mounting plate and a holding assembly connected to the mounting plate for supporting the medical fluid container adapted for fluid communication with the medical container to be loaded with fluid.

27. The medical container loading system of claim 26, the holding assembly comprising a fixed support and a movable support, the movable support adapted to engage the body of the medical fluid container to maintain the medical fluid container in the holding assembly.

28. The medical container loading system of claim 26, further comprising a hook member connected to the mounting plate for supporting a medical fluid bag.

29. The medical container loading system of claim 26, wherein the mounting plate is configured to be wall-mounted.

30. The medical container loading system of claim 26, further comprising a shelf connected to the mounting plate.

31. The medical container loading system of claim 30, further comprising a hook member connected to the shelf for supporting a medical fluid bag.

32. The medical container loading system of claim 26, further comprising a clip connected to the mounting plate and configured to receive and restrain fluid transfer tubing used to place the medical fluid container in fluid communication with the medical container to be loaded with fluid.

33. The medical container loading system of claim 26, the fixed support comprising a U-shaped bracket connected to the mounting plate.

34. The medical container loading system of claim 33, the fixed support further comprising a pair of support arms connected to the mounting plate, wherein the movable support and the support arms, in combination, are adapted to maintain the medical fluid container in the holding assembly.

35. The medical container loading system of claim 34, wherein the movable support comprises a resiliently biased support arm.

36. The medical container loading system of claim 27, wherein the movable support comprises a resiliently biased support arm.

37. The medical container loading system of claim 36, the fixed support comprising a pair of support arms connected to the mounting plate, wherein the resiliently biased support arm and the pair of support arms, in combination, are adapted to maintain the medical fluid container in the holding assembly.

38. The medical container loading system of claim 27, wherein the movable support comprises an adjustable strap.

39. The medical container loading system of claim 26, further comprising a fluid transfer set for placing the medical container in fluid communication with the medical fluid container.

40. The medical container loading system of claim 39, the fluid transfer set comprising:

a spike member configured to puncture a lid of the medical fluid container;

a luer connection;

a fluid transfer tube connecting the spike member and luer connection for fluid communication therebetween; and

a stopper valve connected to the luer connection and configured for connection to a lid of the medical container.

41. The medical container loading system of claim 26, the holding assembly comprising a substantially funnel-shaped fixed support connected to the mounting plate for receiving and supporting the at least one medical fluid container.

42. The medical container loading system of claim 41, further comprising a hook member connected to the fixed support for supporting a medical fluid bag.

43. The medical container loading system of claim 41, wherein the mounting plate and fixed support are formed integrally from plastic.

44. The medical container loading system of claim 41, wherein an inner wall of the fixed support is stepped to accommodate different sized medical fluid containers.

45. The medical container loading system of claim 41, wherein the fixed support comprises a split sidewall for passing fluid transfer tubing therethrough.

46. The medical container loading system of claim 26, the holding assembly comprising a substantially rectangular shaped fixed support connected to the mounting plate for receiving and supporting the medical fluid container, the fixed support comprising an inclined inner support for supporting the body of the medical fluid container.

47. The medical container loading system of claim 46, wherein the mounting plate and the fixed support are formed integrally from plastic.

48. The medical container loading system of claim 26, wherein the medical container to be loaded with fluid comprises a syringe.

49. The medical container loading system of claim 27, wherein the fixed support and the movable support are each mounted to a base plate connected to the mounting plate.

50. The medical container loading system of claim 49, wherein the movable support comprises a resiliently biased support arm.

51. The medical container loading system of claim 50, wherein the support arm defines a central recess formed to cooperate with the body of the medical fluid container.

52. The medical container loading system of claim 50, wherein the support arm is supported on a pivot pin and resiliently biased by torsion springs.

53. The medical container loading system of claim 49, wherein the fixed support comprises a pair of support arms connected to the base plate, and wherein the movable support and the support arms, in combination, are adapted to maintain the medical fluid container in the holding assembly.

54. The medical container loading system of claim 53, wherein the support arms define apertures for viewing contents of the medical fluid container.

55. The medical container loading system of claim 53, wherein the support arms curve inward and further comprise integral support legs for supporting the body of the medical fluid container.

56. The medical container loading system of claim 26, further comprising an elongated hook assembly connected to the mounting plate, the hook assembly comprising a hook member mounted to a support base connected to the mounting plate.

57. A method of preparing a medical container for connection to an injector, the method comprising:

connecting the medical container to a medical container loading device for loading fluid into the medical container;

loading a medical fluid container in a fill station located proximate to loading device;

connecting the medical fluid container to the medical container with a fluid transfer set;

loading fluid from the medical fluid container into the medical container;

disconnecting the medical container from the medical fluid container;

disconnecting the medical container from the loading device; and

connecting the medical container to the injector.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the medical container comprises a syringe.

59. A loading system comprising:

an injector; and

a fill station for use with the injector, the fill station located proximate to the injector and comprising a mounting plate and a holding assembly connected to the mounting plate for receiving and supporting a medical fluid container.

60. The loading system of claim 59, further comprising a syringe mounted on the injector and in fluid communication with the medical fluid container.

61. The loading system of claim 59, further comprising a fluid transfer set connecting the syringe and the medical fluid container.

62. A fill station comprising:

a mounting plate; and

a holding assembly connected to the mounting plate for supporting a medical fluid container, the holding assembly comprising a fixed support and a movable support, the movable support adapted to engage the body of the medical fluid container to maintain the medical fluid container in the holding assembly.

70. The fill station of claim 62, further comprising a hook assembly connected to the mounting plate, the hook assembly comprising a hook member mounted to a support base connected to the mounting plate.

71. The fill station of claim 62, further comprising a clip connected to the mounting plate and configured to receive and restrain fluid transfer tubing used with the medical fluid container.

72. The fill station of claim 62, wherein the mounting plate is configured to be wall-mounted.

63. The fill station of claim 63, wherein the fixed support and the movable support are each mounted to a base plate connected to the mounting plate.

64. The fill station of claim 63, wherein the movable support comprises a resiliently biased support arm.

65. The fill station of claim 64, wherein the support arm defines a central recess formed to cooperate with the body of the medical fluid container.

66. The fill station of claim 64, wherein the support arm is supported on a pivot pin and resiliently biased by torsion springs.

67. The fill station of claim 63, wherein the fixed support comprises a pair of support arms connected to the base plate, and wherein the movable support and the support arms, in combination, are adapted to maintain the medical fluid container in the holding assembly.

68. The fill station of claim 67, wherein the support arms define apertures for viewing contents of the medical fluid container.

69. The fill station of claim 63, wherein the support arms curve inward and further comprise integral support legs for supporting the body of the medical fluid container.