Injection Site Marking Method and Apparatus

• US 20130158481A1
• Filed: 12/15/2011
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert C. Taylor
• Original Assignee: Robert C. Taylor
• Inventors: Taylor, Robert C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,574,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1406 Septums, pierceable membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1418 Threaded type
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1425 Snap-fit type
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1475 Inlet or outlet ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/76 for fluid level
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/20 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/50 using icons or symbolic figures, e.g. by a graphical representation symbolising the type of pathology or the organ by an image
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/427 Locating point where body is to be pierced, e.g. vein location means using ultrasonic waves, injection site templates

Abstract

An injection site marking method and apparatus includes a base member having a continuous side wall defining an open top, an open bottom, and an interior area. The open bottom is configured to attach selectively to a serum vial. A liquid retention member is positioned in the interior area and configured to hold a colorized viscous liquid. A cap having a continuous side wall defining an open bottom and interior area is connected to the base member such that the liquid retention member is unexposed. The cap includes a top wall defining an aperture. In use, a syringe may be inserted through the aperture, through the liquid retention member, and into a serum vial so as to withdraw serum and such that the syringe reservoir nose contacts the viscous liquid. The needle is injected into a user'"'"'s skin until the syringe reservoir nose contacts the skin with the colorant.

Claims

1. An injection site marking apparatus for use in marking a site on a person'"'"'s skin where medicine has been injected after being drawn from a serum vial using a syringe having a needle and a syringe reservoir nose, the serum vial having a reservoir configured to store serum, a neck portion, and a seal atop the neck portion through which the serum stored in the reservoir is accessed, said apparatus comprising:

a base member having a continuous side wall defining an open top and a substantially open bottom, said base member defining an interior area;

wherein said base member open bottom includes a configuration complementary to a configuration of the serum vial neck portion so as to be selectively coupled thereto;

a liquid retention member positioned in said base member interior area and configured to hold a viscous liquid;

a cap having a continuous cap side wall that defines an open bottom and having a top wall that defines an aperture, said cap side wall and said base member side wall having complementary configurations and are coupled together; and

wherein said cap aperture is configured to receive said syringe needle and said syringe reservoir nose into said interior area into contact with said liquid retention member.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said base member includes a bottom wall defining said open bottom, said open bottom having a diameter slightly larger than diameter of the serum vial neck portion such that said base member is selectively coupled to the serum vial neck portion in a friction fit arrangement.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said continuous wall of said cap defines a cap interior area configured to receive at least a portion of said liquid retention member therein.

6. The apparatus as in claim 3, further comprising:

a first divider positioned in said interior area of said cap between said cap aperture and said liquid retention member, said first divider having a porous configuration that enables the syringe needle to pass therethrough and that prevents said viscous liquid from passing therethrough; and

a second divider in said interior area of said base member between said base member open bottom and said liquid retention member, said second divider having a porous configuration that enables the syringe needle to pass therethrough and that prevents said viscous liquid from passing therethrough.

7. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said liquid retention member is constructed of a sponge material.

8. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said viscous liquid is one of ink or dye.

9. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said viscous liquid is a saline solution having a natural colorant.

10. The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

a first indicia on said cap indicative of a color of said viscous liquid;

a second indicia configured to be applied to the serum vial, said second indicia corresponding with said first indicia so as to confirm said base member is properly coupled to the serum vial.

11. The apparatus as in claim 10, wherein:

said first indicia is attached to said cap with an adhesive; and

said second indicia is attached to the serum vial with an adhesive.

12. The apparatus as in claim 11, wherein:

said first indicia is one of a color, an alphanumeric symbol, or a pattern; and

said second indicia is one of a color, an alphanumeric symbol, or a pattern.

4. The apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said cap includes a lid selectively movable between a closed configuration preventing access to said aperture and an open configuration providing access to said aperture,

5. The apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said cap side wall defines a recess configured to enable a person'"'"'s finger whereby to move said lid from said closed configuration to said open configuration.

13. A method of marking a site on a person'"'"'s skin that has been injected with serum taken from a serum vial with a syringe having a needle and a syringe reservoir nose so that a user does not mistakenly inject a serum more than once, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a marking apparatus including;

a base member defining an interior area configured to be removably coupled to the serum vial adjacent a serum vial seal;

a liquid retention member positioned in said base member interior area that is saturated with a colorized viscous liquid;

coupling the base member to the vial adjacent the vial seal;

inserting the syringe needle through said liquid retention member and through the serum vial seal such that serum is selectively drawn into the syringe reservoir and that the syringe reservoir nose contacts said viscous liquid of said liquid retention member; and

injecting the syringe needle into the user'"'"'s skin until the syringe reservoir nose contacts the user'"'"'s skin so as to mark the user'"'"'s skin with said viscous liquid.

14. The method of marking as in claim 13, wherein said marking apparatus includes:

providing a cap having a continuous side wall that defines an open bottom and having a top wall that defines an aperture, said cap side wall and said base member side wall having complementary configurations and are coupled together; and

wherein said cap aperture is configured to receive said syringe needle and said syringe reservoir nose into said base interior area and into contact with said liquid retention member.

15. The method of marking as in claim 13, wherein said base member includes a bottom wall defining said open bottom, said open bottom having a diameter configured to be selectively coupled to the serum vial in a friction fit arrangement.

16. The method of marking as in claim 14, wherein said cap includes a lid selectively movable between a closed configuration preventing access to said aperture and an open configuration providing access to said aperture,

17. The method of marking as in claim 14, further comprising:

a first divider positioned in said interior area of said cap between said cap aperture and said liquid retention member, said first divider having a porous configuration that enables the syringe needle to pass therethrough and that prevents said viscous liquid from passing therethrough; and

a second divider in said interior area of said base member between said base member open top and said liquid retention member, said second divider having a porous configuration that enables the syringe needle to pass therethrough and that prevents said viscous liquid from passing therethrough.

18. The method of marking as in claim 13, wherein said viscous liquid is a saline solution having a natural colorant.

19. The method of marking as in claim 14, wherein said apparatus includes:

a first indicia on said cap indicative of a color of said viscous liquid;

a second indicia configured to be applied to the serum vial, said second indicia corresponding with said first indicia so as to confirm said base member is properly coupled to the serum vial.

20. The method of marking as in claim 19, wherein:

said first indicia is attached to said cap with an adhesive;

a

said second indicia is attached to the serum vial with an adhesive;

said first indicia is one of a color, an alphanumeric symbol, or a pattern; and

said second indicia is one of a color, an alphanumeric symbol, or a pattern.