Combination drug administration device and alarm system and method

• US 4,079,736 A
• Filed: 05/24/1976
• Issued: 03/21/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valleylab Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Valleylab Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lundquist, Ingemar H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/689,113
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 340/282, 128/214 R, 128/214 C, 128/214 E, 128/214 F, 128/218 C, 128/218 A, 128/DIG. 12, 128/DIG. 13, 222/39, 222/47, 222/49, 137/554, 137/556
• US Class Current: 604/518
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1411 Drip chambers A61M5/162, A61M5/1689, A61M5/40 take precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1684 by detecting the amount of infusate remaining, e.g. signalling end of infusion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8275 Indicator element rigidly carried by the movable element whose position is indicated

Abstract

The combination drug administration device and alarm system is adapted to be connected to a source of intravenous liquid and to a patient. A container is provided having a inlet and an outlet. A piston is slidably mounted in the container for movement between extended and retracted positions. A stem is secured to the piston and has a portion thereof remaining out of the container during movement between the extended and retracted positions. A switch is provided and is mounted on the stem exterior of the container so that the switch means can be slidably positioned on the stem and will be retained on the stem in an adjusted predetermined position thereon but which will not impede movement of the piston and the stem in the container. The switch has an operating member adapted to be engaged by the container as the piston and the stem move as liquid is being dispensed from the container to cause actuation of an alarm when a predetermined quantity of liquid has been dispensed from the container which is less than the total amount of liquid in the container.

The method is for administering a drug in an intravenous liquid from a source of intravenous liquid to a patient by the use of the container having an inlet and an outlet with a piston slidably mounted in the container and a stem secured to the piston and extending out of the container. A predetermined amount of the intravenous liquid is provided in the container and a drug is mixed into the liquid in the container. The liquid with the drug therein is then dispensed to the patient through the outlet. An alarm is initiated when a predetermined amount less than the total amount of the liquid in the container has been dispensed to the patient to provide a pre-alarm.

Claims

1. In a combination drug administration device and alarm system adapted to be connected to a source of intravenous liquid and a patient, a container having an inlet and an outlet, a piston slidably mounted in the container for movement between extended and retracted positions, a stem secured to said piston and having a portion thereof remaining out of said container during movement between said extended and retracted positions, a switch means and means for mounting said switch means on said stem exterior of the container so that said switch means is carried solely by said stem and so that said switch means can be slidably positioned on the said stem and will be retained on said stem in a predetermined adjustable position but which will not impede movement of said stem and the piston carried thereby, said switch means having an operating member adapted to be engaged upon longitudinal movement of said piston and stem by relative movement between said stem and said container to indicate when a predetermined quantity of liquid remains in the container.

2. In a combination drug administration device and alarm system adapted to be connected to a source of intranveous liquid and a patient, a container having an inlet and an outlet, a piston slidably mounted in the container for movement between extended and retracted positions, a stem secured to said piston having a portion thereof remaining out of said container during movement between extended and retracted positions, a germ barrier disposed within the container and secured to said piston and said container to prevent contamination of the inner wall of said container, means within the germ barrier for preventing pinching of said germ barrier in said container, switch means and means for mounting said switch means on said stem exterior of the container so that said switch means can be slidably positioned on said stem and will be retained on said stem in a predetermined adjustable position but which will not impede movement of said stem and the piston carried thereby, said switch means having an operating member adapted to be engaged upon longitudinal movement of said piston and stem by relative movement between said stem and said container to indicate when a predetermined quantity of liquid remains in the container.

3. A combination drug administration device and alarm system as in claim 2 wherein a space is provided between the germ barrier and the interior of the container together with hydrophobic filter means for filtering air entering said space.

4. In a method for administering a drug in an intravenous liquid from a source of intravenous liquid to a patient by the use of a container having an inlet and an outlet with a piston slidably mounted in the container and a stem secured to the piston and extending out of the container, filling the container with a desired amount of intravenous liquid, introducing a drug into the liquid in the container so that the drug is mixed into the liquid in the container, dispensing the liquid from the container to the patient, providing a switch means solely on the stem at a predetermined position which is actuated with a predetermined relative movement between the switch means and the container which represents less than the total relative possible movement between the switch means and the container and initiating an alarm in response to actuation of the switch means when a predetermined amount less than to total of the liquid with the drug mixed therein has been dispensed to the patient.