Convenience IV kits and methods of use

• US 20090194453A1
• Filed: 02/06/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IntraVena, LLC
• Original Assignee: IntraVena, LLC
• Inventors: Thorne, Gale H., Thorne, Gale H. JR., Call, Evan W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,785,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/571
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/16 Holders for containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2062 with directional valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/06 Packaging for specific medical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/16 having provision for disinfection or sterilisation A61M39/143 takes precedence; methods or apparatus for disinfection or sterilisation A61L2/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/223 Multiway valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1408 in parallel, e.g. manifolds, sequencing valves access sites A61M39/02; tube connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/162 Needle sets, i.e. connections by puncture between reservoir and tube ; Connections between reservoir and tube in jet-action syringes A61M5/30; connectors for tubes having sealed ends and a needle for piercing them A61M39/14

Abstract

A convenience kit assembled and organized to measure, fill and dispense medication and flush solutions to patients through connections to patient lines and catheters while improving safety and efficacy of such procedures by requiring fewer post-sterilization makes and breaks when compared to similar filling and dispensing methods using conventional components. Further the kit improves flush compliance by facilitating dispensing of flush solutions and decreases likelihood of infections by providing for flushing of patient lines and catheter connecting fittings without any additional line breaks. The kit is provided in resealable, tamper evident kit packaging which permits sealed transport of kit parts after initial opening and follow-on parts use. Convenience of operation is provided by a two syringe assembly which is operable by a single hand by which selective dispensing is accomplished from either of the two syringes while obstructing flow from the other syringe. The kit comprises a clip for the stabilizing the two syringe assembly for use by a single hand.

Claims

1. A medical convenience kit for measuring, filling and dispensing medication and flush solutions to patients through connections to patient lines and catheters while improving safety and efficacy of such procedures by requiring fewer post-sterilization makes and breaks than like procedures performed with conventional components, by facilitating dispensing of flush solutions, by providing for flushing of patient line and catheter connecting fittings before breaking such connections, by providing resealable, tamper evident kit packaging which permits sealed transport of kit parts after initial opening and parts use, by providing a two syringe assembly which is operable by a single hand and by providing for selectively dispensing from each of the two syringes while obstructing flow from the other syringe, said kit comprising:

a resealable, tamper evident bag for containing and transporting items used to perform a predetermined medical procedure;

items of the kit comprising;

at least one sealed pouch wherein each part disposed therein is sterilized before being displaced into said bag, at least one sealed pouch containing a plurality of individual parts interconnected and unitized to preclude further post-sterilization assembly;

said plurality of parts comprising a medical dose syringe, a stopcock affixed to the syringe to selectively obstruct and permit fluid flow from the dose syringe and to an extension set by which a pre-filled flush syringe is affixed and aligned for use with the medical dose syringe, said stopcock having a free fitting whereby the unitized parts are connected to a medical connector for a desired predetermined purpose; and

the pre-filled flush syringe.

2. The medical convenience kit for measuring, filling and dispensing medication and flush solutions according to claim 1 wherein said items further comprise a clip having slots, sized and shaped for holding syringe barrels affixed therein, for the purpose of stabilizing the medical dose syringe relative to the pre-filled flush syringe to facilitate single handed operation.

3. The medical convenience kit for measuring, filling and dispensing medication and flush solutions according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said clip holding slots permits insertion and holding syringe barrels of a plurality of sizes.

4. The medical convenience kit for measuring, filling and dispensing medication and flush solutions according to claim 2 wherein said clip holding slot is releasable such that a syringe may be selectively displaced from the clip for a medical procedure requiring a freed syringe.

5. A medical convenience kit for measuring, filling and dispensing medication and flush solutions according to claim 1 wherein said items further comprise at least one alcohol wipe for cleaning connecting fittings per institutional protocol.

6. A medical convenience kit for measuring, filling and dispensing medication and flush solutions according to claim 1 wherein said items further comprise a vial access device.

7. A medical convenience kit for measuring, filling and dispensing medication and flush solutions according to claim 1 wherein said items further comprise a crib pad.

8. A medical convenience kit for measuring, filling and dispensing medication and flush solutions according to claim 1 wherein said items further comprise at least one gauze pad.

9. A medical convenience kit for measuring, filling and dispensing medication and flush solutions according to claim 1 wherein said stopcock is a two way stopcock which completely obstructs fluid flow between said medical dose syringe and said pre-filled flush syringe.

10. A medical convenience kit for measuring, filling and dispensing medication and flush solutions according to claim 1 wherein said stopcock is a three way stopcock providing opportunity for diluting liquid in said medical dose syringe with liquid initially disposed in said pre-filled flush syringe.

11. A method for preparing and using a kit for measuring, filling and dispensing medication and flush solutions to patients through connections to patient lines and catheters while improving safety and efficacy of such procedures by requiring fewer post sterilization makes and breaks than like procedures performed with conventional components and methods, by facilitating dispensing of flush solutions, by providing for flushing of patient line and catheter connecting fittings before breaking such connections, by providing resealable, tamper evident kit packaging which permits sealed transport of kit parts after initial opening and parts use, by providing a two syringe assembly which is operable by a single hand and by providing for selectively dispensing from each of the two syringes while obstructing flow from the other syringe, said method employing the following steps:

providing a resealable, tamper evident bag for containing and transporting items used to perform a predetermined medical procedure;

providing items of the kit comprising;

at least one sealed pouch wherein each part disposed therein is sterilized before being displaced into said bag, at least one sealed pouch containing a plurality of individual parts interconnected and unitized to preclude further post-sterilization assembly;

said plurality of parts comprising a medical dose syringe, a stopcock affixed to the syringe to selectively obstruct and permit fluid flow from the dose syringe and to an extension set by which a pre-filled flush syringe is affixed and aligned for use with the medical dose syringe, said stopcock having a free fitting whereby the unitized parts are connected to a medical connector; and

the pre-filled flush syringe;

after assuring positive visual inspection of the resealable, tamper evident bag, removing a tamper evident section of the bag to permit access inside thereof;

in a controlled, clean environment, opening the resealable bag to access the at least one sealed pouch containing unitized parts;

retrieving the pre-filled flush syringe from the resealable bag and affixing the pre-filled flush syringe to said extension set to construct a two syringe assembly whereby the pre-filled flush syringe may be aligned with the medical dose syringe;

affixing the free fitting to a source of medication;

setting the stopcock to provide a pathway from said free fitting to said medical dose syringe;

filling the medical dose syringe with a predetermined volume of medicine;

setting the stopcock to provide a pathway from the pre-filled flush syringe to the free fitting;

dispensing a predetermined volume of flush through the free fitting;

detaching the free fitting from the source of medication;

capping the free fitting to ready the two syringe assembly for transport; and

returning unused parts of the kit to the resealable bag and resealing the bag preparatory for transporting the bag to a site of use.

12. The method for preparing and using a kit for measuring, filling and dispensing medication and flush solutions to patients through connections to patient lines and catheters according to claim 11, comprising the additional steps of:

at the site of use, opening the bag by breaking the seal of the resealable bag;

retrieving the two syringe assembly from the bag;

displacing from the bag, other parts of the kit used for dispensing medication;

affixing a clip to barrels of the two syringes to stabilize the two syringe assembly;

removing the cap from the two syringe assembly;

following institutional protocol, affixing the free fitting of the two syringe assembly to a predetermined connector wherethrough medication is delivered;

setting the stopcock to permit fluid flow from the medication dose syringe to the free fitting;

dispensing a desired volume of medicant from the medication dose syringe;

setting the stopcock to obstruct flow from the medication dose syringe and permit flow from the pre-filled flush syringe to the free fitting; and

dispensing a predetermined volume of flush to the medical connector through the free fitting.

13. The method for preparing and using a kit for measuring, filling and dispensing medication and flush solutions to patients through connections to patient lines and catheters according to claim 12, comprising the following additional steps:

disengaging the free fitting from the medical connector;

capping the free fitting;

returning the two syringe assembly to the resealable bag;

returning other used kit items to the resealable bag;

resealing the resealable bag; and

disposing the sealed resealable bag following institutional protocol.

14. The method for preparing and using a kit for measuring, filling and dispensing medication and flush solutions to patients through connections to patient lines and catheters according to claim 11 wherein the dispensing steps comprise holding the two syringe assembly in a single hand and actuating plunder rods of each syringe with a thumb of that hand.

15. The method for preparing and using a kit for measuring, filling and dispensing medication and flush solutions to patients through connections to patient lines and catheters according to claim 11 comprising an additional step of dispensing a predetermined volume of flush solution through the free fitting before the step of setting the stopcock to permit fluid flow from the medication dose syringe to the free fitting.