Multiple medication IV pump

• US 20060178619A1
• Filed: 09/09/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dale H. Simpkins
• Original Assignee: Dale H. Simpkins
• Inventors: Simpkins, Dale H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,575,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/86
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/005 Magazines with multiple ampoules directly inserted into an injection or infusion device, e.g. revolver-like magazines containing ampoules with or without needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1417 Holders or handles for hanging up infusion containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407

Abstract

The multiple medication IV pump provides automated intravenous delivery of one or more medications. A carousel assembly holds multiple medication vials, and a computerized control circuit operates the carousel to position a selected medication vial proximate to a spiking unit and mixing chamber to deliver the contents of the vial into an IV solution. The spiking unit and mixing chamber comprise a hollow chamber and a hollow spike, or needle, extending from the hollow chamber. The contents of a medication vial spiked onto the spiking unit flow into the mixing chamber. A fluid entry port located near the top of the mixing chamber is connected to a first pump such that a fluid may be pumped into the mixing chamber. A fluid exit port located near the bottom of the mixing chamber is connected to a second pump such that a fluid may be pumped out from the mixing chamber.

Claims

1. A multiple medication IV pump, comprising:

a housing having an open interior;

a medication mixing chamber having a hollow interior, the chamber being disposed within said housing;

a spiking unit extending from the mixing chamber, the spiking unit being in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the chamber;

a motorized rotating carousel disposed within said housing, the carousel having a plurality of arm assemblies, each of the arm assemblies having a support member and a plurality vial holders disposed movably about said support member;

a microcomputer-based control circuit in electrical connection with the carousel and with the arm assemblies, the control circuit having a storage memory; and

computer readable program code stored within said memory, the program code having means for operating the carousel and the plurality of arm assemblies to bring a medication vial held in a selected one of said vial holders into fluid communication with the spiking unit.

2. The multiple medication IV pump according to claim 1, further comprising a first pump having a discharge port connected to said mixing chamber, said microcomputer-based control circuit being in electrical connection with said first pump, said computer readable program code further comprising means for controlling the first pump to deliver a fluid into said mixing chamber.

3. The multiple medication IV pump according to claim 2, further comprising a second pump having an intake port connected to said mixing chamber, said microcomputer-based control circuit being in electrical connection with said second pump, said computer readable program code further comprising means for controlling said second pump to transfer fluid from said mixing chamber.

4. The multiple medication IV pump according to claim 3, further comprising a database accessible by said microprocessor, the database having a plurality of medication entries;

each of the medication entries including a medication name corresponding to a medication stored in one of the vial holders, said program code having means for selecting the vial holder holding the medication corresponding to each of the medication names.

5. The multiple medication IV pump according to claim 4, wherein each medication entry further comprises a dosage value, said program code having means for controlling said second pump to transfer a volume of fluid from said mixing chamber corresponding to said dosage value.

6. The multiple medication IV pump according to claim 4, wherein each medication entry further comprises a dilution value, said program code further comprising means for controlling said first pump to transfer a volume of a diluting fluid into said mixing corresponding to said dilution value.

7. The multiple medication IV pump according to claim 5, wherein each medication entry further comprises a repeat interval, said program code further comprising means for controlling said second pump to repeatedly transfer a volume of fluid from said mixing chamber corresponding to said dosage value at intervals corresponding to said repeat interval.

8. The multiple medication IV pump according to claim 4, wherein said database further comprises a medication protocol entry;

said medication protocol entry comprising a plurality of medication names, said program code further comprising means for selecting a sequence of the vial holders holding medication corresponding to each of the plurality of medication names.

9. The multiple medication IV pump according to claim 3, further comprising a user interface in electrical communication with said microcomputer-based control circuit, the computer readable program code further comprising means for receiving input from a user specifying a medication protocol.

10. The multiple medication IV pump according to claim 9, wherein said medication protocol comprises a medication name, a dosage value, and a dosage interval.

11. A method for administering medication to a patient using the multiple medication pump according to claim 9, comprising the step of specifying a medication regimen using the user interface.

12. The method for administering a medication to a patient according to claim 11, wherein said step of specifying a medication regimen using said user interface comprises the steps of:

displaying one or more medication protocol entries on said user interface; and

receiving user input identifying via said user interface identifying one of the displayed medication entries as a specified medication regimen.

13. The method for administering a medication to a patient according to claim 11, wherein said step of specifying a medication regimen using said user interface further comprises receiving user input via said user interface specifying a medication name and a dosage value.

14. The method for administering a medication to a patient according to claim 11, wherein said step of specifying a medication regimen using said user interface further comprises the steps of:

displaying one or more medication protocol entries on said user interface; and

receiving user input via said user interface identifying one of the displayed medication protocol entries as a specified medication regimen.

15. The method for administering a medication to a patient according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

receiving an administering user input directing that a selected medication be administered to said patient; and

in response to receiving said administering user input, bringing a medication vial corresponding to the selected medication held in a selected one of said vial holders into fluid communication with said spiking unit.

16. The method for administering a medication to a patient according to claim 15, further comprising the step of transferring fluid from said mixing chamber, said fluid containing medication corresponding to the specified medication regimen.

17. An apparatus for administering a medication to a patient, comprising:

a housing having an open interior;

a medication mixing chamber having a hollow interior, the chamber being disposed within said housing;

a spiking unit extending from said mixing chamber, the spiking unit being in fluid communication with said mixing chamber;

a motorized rotating carousel disposed within said housing, the carousel having a plurality of arm assemblies, each of the arm assemblies having a support member and a plurality vial holders disposed movably about said support member; and

a control circuit in electrical connection with the carousel and with the arm assemblies, the control circuit having;

means for operating the carousel and the plurality of arm assemblies to bring a medication vial held in a selected one of the vial holders into fluid communication with the spiking unit; and

a user interface means for specifying a medication regimen.

18. The apparatus for administering a medication of claim 17, further comprising a first pump having a discharge port connected to said mixing chamber, control circuit being electrically connected to the first pump, said control circuit having means for controlling the first pump to deliver a fluid into said mixing chamber.

19. The apparatus for administering a medication of claim 17, further comprising a second pump having an intake port connected to said mixing chamber, said control circuit being electrically connected to the second pump, said control circuit having means for controlling the second pump to transfer fluid from said mixing chamber.

20. The apparatus for administering a medication of claim 19, further comprising a bar code reader disposed within said housing, the bar code reader being electrically connected to said control circuit, said control circuit having means for controlling the bar code reader to read an identifier on a medication vial held in a selected one of said vial holders and means for comparing said identifier to the name of a medication corresponding to a medication regimen selected using said user interface.