Apparatus for administering intravenous drugs
First Claim
1. Apparatus for administering intravenously a drug supplied in powdery form, the apparatus comprising an intravenous infusion set having a drip feed including a venipuncture member for feeding intravenous liquid into a patient'"'"'s vein, a sealed container for the powdery drug, pump means for controlling the flow of fluid to and from the sealed container, said pump means including a piston-cylinder assembly, the cylinder of which is in communication with the upper regions of the sealed container, and a tubular member extending from the lower regions of said container to communicate into the drip feed of the intravenous liquid to the patient, the arrangement being such that withdrawal of the piston in the cylinder of the pump means partially evacuates the sealed container, the removed gaseous content of said container being replaced by intravenous liquid fed under gravity from the infusion set to dissolve the powdery drug into solution, controlled return movement of the piston in the cylinder of the pump means forcing a controlled volume of solution from the sealed container through the tubular member to the infusion set whereby said solution, together with the intravenous liquid from the infusion set, is fed by the venipuncture member to the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for administering intravenously a drug supplied initially in powdery form, in particular cytotoxic drugs, said apparatus comprising a sealed container for the drug, an infusion set supplying a drip feed of intravenous liquid to the patient and also being in communication with the interior of said sealed container, and a piston-cylinder pump assembly also in communication with the interior of said container in such a manner that appropriate actuation of the pump assembly can first of all draw intravenous liquid from the infusion set into the container to dissolve the drug into solution and thereafter can feed a controlled volume of said solution from the container to the patient. The apparatus thereby provides a closed circuit for the drug which can be administered without removing from the circuit any component containing or transporting the drug. The apparatus can readily be made opaque thereby avoiding photodegradation of photosensitive drugs being administered.
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Citations
10 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for administering intravenously a drug supplied in powdery form, the apparatus comprising an intravenous infusion set having a drip feed including a venipuncture member for feeding intravenous liquid into a patient'"'"'s vein, a sealed container for the powdery drug, pump means for controlling the flow of fluid to and from the sealed container, said pump means including a piston-cylinder assembly, the cylinder of which is in communication with the upper regions of the sealed container, and a tubular member extending from the lower regions of said container to communicate into the drip feed of the intravenous liquid to the patient, the arrangement being such that withdrawal of the piston in the cylinder of the pump means partially evacuates the sealed container, the removed gaseous content of said container being replaced by intravenous liquid fed under gravity from the infusion set to dissolve the powdery drug into solution, controlled return movement of the piston in the cylinder of the pump means forcing a controlled volume of solution from the sealed container through the tubular member to the infusion set whereby said solution, together with the intravenous liquid from the infusion set, is fed by the venipuncture member to the patient.
Specification