SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR ASSESSING FUNCTIONALITY OF DUAL CHECK VALVE ARRANGEMENTS IN MEDICAL TUBING SETS

• US 20160151619A1
• Filed: 02/05/2016
• Published: 06/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liebel Flarsheim Co LLC (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Liebel Flarsheim Co LLC (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Strobl, Geoffrey S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,943,680 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14553 comprising a pressure jacket
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/273 preventing reuse, e.g. of disposables
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/702 automatically during use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/24 Check- or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5086 for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 7/00 Measuring the steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluid or a fluent solid material by mechanical or fluid pressure-sensitive elements G01L11/004 takes precedence; transmitting or indicating the displacement of mechanical pressure-sensitive elements by electric , e.g., photoelectric or magnetic means G01L9/00; measuring differences of two or more pressure values G01L13/00; measuring two or more pressure values simultaneously G01L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/00 Measuring steady of quasi-steady pressure of fluid or fluent solid material by electric or magnetic pressure-sensitive elements G01L11/004 takes precedence; Transmitting or indicating the displacement of mechanical pressure-sensitive elements, used to measure the steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluid or fluent solid material, by electric or magnetic means measuring differences of two or more pressure values G01L13/00; measuring two or more pressure values simultaneously G01L15/00

Abstract

A dual one-way check valve arrangement that may be used for assessing an operating condition of at least one of first and second check valves situated in series along/within a section of a patient-specific section of tubing. A pressure sensor may be associated with at least part of the flow path between the first and second check valves and may be operable to provide an indication of a failed condition of at least one of the first and second check valves. In one embodiment, the pressure sensor may change from a first state to a second state upon fluid pressure within the flow path between the first and second check valves falling below a predetermined level. For instance, the predetermined level may be a cracking pressure of at least one of the first and second check valves. The change in state may be visually discernible on an exterior of the pressure sensor.

Claims

1. A method of evaluating a medical fluid tubing set that comprises a first section of medical tubing and first and second check valves that are spaced within said first section of medical tubing, the method comprising:

monitoring a fluid pressure in said first section of medical tubing between said first and second check valves; and

assessing an operating condition of at least one of said first and second check valves based on said monitoring step.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said monitoring step comprises mechanically monitoring said fluid pressure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said monitoring step comprises electrically monitoring said fluid pressure.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an indication upon said assessing step identifying at least a possible failure of at least one of said first and second check valves.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said indication is selected from the group consisting of visual, audible, tactile, or any combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said assessing step comprises comparing said fluid pressure from said monitoring step to a cracking pressure of at least one of said first and second check valves.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said assessing step comprises associating a failed condition of at least one of said first and second check valves with said monitoring step identifying a predetermined drop in magnitude of said fluid pressure.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

discarding said medical fluid tubing set if said assessing step identifies an occurrence of said failed condition.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said assessing step comprises associating a failed condition of at least one of said first and second check valves with said monitoring step identifying that said fluid pressure is less than a cracking pressure of at least one of said first and second check valves.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

discarding said medical fluid tubing set if said assessing step identifies an occurrence of said failed condition.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said assessing step comprises associating a failed condition of at least one of said first and second check valves with said monitoring step identifying that said fluid pressure is less than a cracking pressure of each of said first and second check valves.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

discarding said medical fluid tubing set if said assessing step identifies an occurrence of said failed condition.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

directing a flow of fluid through said medical fluid tubing set;

opening each of said first and second check valves in response to said directing step;

terminating said directing step; and

closing said first and second check valves in response to said terminating step, wherein said assessing step comprises determining if at least one of said first and second check valves has opened after said closing step and prior to any further initiation of said directing step.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

delivering a first fluid through said medical fluid tubing set, wherein said medical fluid tubing set further comprises a multi-patient tubing section of medical tubing;

replacing said first section of medical tubing after said delivering a first fluid step; and

delivering a second fluid through said medical fluid tubing set after said replacing step.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

replacing said multi-patient tubing section prior to said delivering a second fluid step, wherein said replacing said multi-patient tubing section step is executed in response to said assessing step identifying a presumed failed condition of at least one of said first and second check valves.