FLUID TRANSFER DEVICES AND METHODS OF USE

• US 20140174596A1
• Filed: 02/25/2014
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Lopez, George A., Fangrow, Thomas F., Leissling, Peter, Janssen, Matthias
• Granted Patent: US 9,511,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/10 Bag-type containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2058 having multiple connecting ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2062 with directional valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2075 for external venting
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2082 for gas filtration
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2089 Containers or vials which are to be joined to each other in order to mix their contents combinations of vial and syringe for mixing their contents A61J1/2096
• 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: A61M 39/22 Valves or arrangement of valves A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0003 provided with automatic fluid control means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Some embodiments disclosed herein related to a device for transferring precise amounts of fluid from at least one source container to a at least one target container. In some embodiments, the fluid is first transferred from the source container (e.g., a vial) through a connector to an intermediate measuring container (e.g., a syringe). In some embodiments air can pass through an air inlet and enter the vial to compensate for the volume of fluid withdrawn from the vial. An air check valve or a bag or a filter can prevent the fluid from escaping through the air inlet. The precisely measured amount of fluid can then be transferred from the intermediate measuring container to the target container (e.g., an IV bag). In some embodiments the connector can include a source check valve and a target check valve to direct fluid first from the source container to the intermediate measuring container and then from the intermediate measuring container to the target container. Some embodiments of the device can include a motor and a controller for automatically actuating a plunger of the syringe to transfer the desired amount of fluid.

Claims

1. A method of providing a custom-filled IV bag for a patient comprising:

obtaining an electronically controlled fluid dispensing system comprising a controller, a display, a pump motor, a memory, a printer, and a scanner;

attaching a disposable fluid transfer cartridge to the fluid dispensing system, the fluid transfer cartridge comprising first and second selectively closeable ports, the transfer cartridge forming a closed system;

attaching a fluid vial assembly with a selectively closeable port in fluid communication with the first selectively closeable port of the fluid transfer cartridge;

attaching an IV bag assembly with a selectively closeable port in fluid communication with the second selectively closeable port of the fluid transfer cartridge;

using the scanner to provide information to the memory of the fluid dispensing system regarding the contents of the fluid vial assembly;

transferring fluid from the fluid vial assembly to the IV bag assembly in a closed system; and

detaching the IV bag assembly from the electronically controlled fluid dispensing system for delivery to a patient;

wherein the fluid vial assembly, the fluid transfer cartridge, and the IV bag assembly comprise a closed system during fluid transfer, and wherein each of the fluid vial assembly, the fluid transfer cartridge, and the IV bag assembly comprise a closed container when detached from the electronically controlled fluid dispensing system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic input device further comprises a touch screen keyboard.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the scanner is a bar code scanner.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid transfer cartridge and the fluid vial assembly are separate, non-integral components.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid transfer cartridge and the IV bag assembly are separate, non-integral components.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid transfer cartridge is valved.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the fluid transfer cartridge permits fluid to flow from the fluid vial assembly into the fluid transfer cartridge, but not from the fluid transfer cartridge into the vial assembly.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the fluid transfer cartridge permits fluid to flow from the fluid transfer cartridge into the IV bag assembly, but not from the IV bag assembly into the fluid transfer cartridge.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring fluid is accomplished by a syringe pump driven by the pump motor.

10. An electronically controlled fluid dispensing system comprising:

(i) an electronic controller;

(ii) a syringe pump driven by a pump motor;

(iii) a display;

(iv) a memory;

(v) a fluid transfer cartridge with a plurality of resealable needleless fluid ports;

(vi) a vial assembly with a resealable needleless fluid port attachable to one of the plurality of resealable needleless fluid ports of the fluid transfer cartridge;

(vii) an IV assembly with a resealable needleless fluid port attachable to one of the plurality of resealable needleless fluid ports of the fluid transfer cartridge, such that the vial assembly, the fluid transfer cartridge, and the IV assembly, when connected, form a closed fluid system;

(viii) a scanner in communication with the controller, the scanner being configured to transmit information about the fluid dispensing system to the memory

11. An electronically controlled fluid dispensing system comprising:

an electronic controller;

a pump driven by a pump motor;

a display;

a memory;

a scanner configured to transmit information regarding the fluid dispensing system to the memory; and

a printer;

a first holder configured to receive a closed-system fluid transfer module; and

a second holder configured to receive a closed-system fluid destination assembly;

wherein the electronically controlled fluid dispensing system is configured to transfer fluid from a fluid source assembly through the fluid transfer module to the fluid destination assembly in a closed system.

12. The fluid dispensing system of claim 11, further comprising a touch screen keyboard.

13. The fluid dispensing system of claim 11, wherein the scanner is a bar code scanner.

14. The fluid dispensing system of claim 11, the scanner is configured to transmit information about the content of the fluid source assembly to the memory.

15. A method of providing a fluid-dispensing system to enable a health-care provider to provide custom-filled IV bags for patients, the method comprising:

providing an electronically controlled fluid dispensing system comprising a controller, a display, a pump motor, and a memory; and

instructing a user to insert a disposable, closed-system fluid transfer module into the electronically controlled fluid dispensing system to enable transfer of fluid.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the electronically controlled fluid dispensing system further comprises a communication interface configured to receive information from a remote source.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the remote source is an automated management system.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the electronically controlled fluid dispensing system further comprises a scanner configured to provide information to the memory of the fluid dispensing system regarding the contents of fluid to be dispensed by the fluid dispensing system.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the electronically controlled fluid dispensing system further comprises a communication interface configured to send information to a remote source.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the information is sent or received through an electronic network.