Apparatus for and method of administering intravenous fluid

• US 4,378,014 A
• Filed: 03/27/1981
• Issued: 03/29/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert D. Elkow
• Original Assignee: Robert D. Elkow
• Inventors: Elkow, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US06/248,432
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 128/214, 128/214 E, 128/DIG. 13, 340/604, 340/605, 340/614, 340/665, 340/668
• US Class Current: 604/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/76 for fluid level
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3386 Low level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14 Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1684 by detecting the amount of infusate remaining, e.g. signalling end of infusion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/13 Infusion monitoring

Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed for monitoring the administering of an intravenous fluid to a patient from a flexible wall container (e.g., a plastic bag) and for generating a signal upon the level of the fluid in the I.V. bag reaching a predetermined level. The walls of the bag are flexible and are spaced apart when the bag is full and move toward one another as the fluid is discharged from the bag and as the level of the fluid in the bag drops. The apparatus includes a frame which may be removably secured on the exterior of the bag at any predetermined location (level) on the bag. The apparatus includes a signal generator (e.g., an alarm) which is movable with the frame as the fluid level drops within the bag and as the bag sidwalls move toward one another from an open position in which the signal generator is de-energized to a closed position in which a signal is generated to sound an alarm or to otherwise indicate that the level of the fluid remaining in the bag has been reduced to a predetermined level.

A method of monitoring the fluid level in an I.V. bag is also disclosed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for monitoring the administering of an intravenous fluid or the like to a patient from a flexible wall container and for generating a signal upon the fluid in the container reaching a predetermined level, said container having an outlet for the fluid and flexible sidewalls which are spaced apart when said container is full and which move toward one another as said fluid is discharged, said apparatus comprising a frame having at least one resiliently movable portion adapted to be removably applied to the exterior of said container at any preselected location thereon, said frame being movable with said sidewalls, means carried by said frame for generating a signal in response to the fluid remaining in the container reaching said predetermined level, said signal generating means being movable with said at least one frame portion as the fluid is discharged from said container and as the container sidewalls move toward one another from an open position in which said signal generating means is de-energized to a closed position in which said signal generating means is actuated thereby to generate said signal indicating that the fluid remaining in the container has been reduced to said predetermined level.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said signal generating means includes a switch, the latter including an actuator carried by a first portion of said frame on one side of said container and a sensing element carried by another portion of said frame on the other side of said container, one of the last-said frame portions constituting said at least one movable frame portion, said switch energizing said signal generating means upon said sensing element and said actuator moving toward one another beyond a predetermined spacing therebetween as occasioned by said sidewalls of said container moving toward one another upon said fluid being discharged from said container.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sensing element is a magnetic reed switch and wherein said actuator is a magnet.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said signal generator comprises a power supply and warning means operable by said power supply upon actuation of said switch.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said power supply is a battery carried by said frame.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said warning means is an aural alarm.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said warning means is a light.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said signal generating means further comprises means for transmitting said signal to a remote monitoring station.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said container comprises a collapsible bag made of pliable sheet material, said bag including graduation markings thereon indicating the approximate volume of fluid remaining in the bag when the latter is held in its normal discharging position, said frame including means thereon for permitting positioning of said frame relative to a selected said graduation markings on said bag so that said signal will be generated upon the level of the fluid in the bag being lowered approximately to the level of said selected graduation marking.

10. Apparatus for monitoring the administering of an intravenous fluid or the like to a patient from a flexible wall container and for generating a signal upon the fluid in the container reaching a predetermined level, said container having an outlet for the fluid and flexible sidewalls which are spaced apart when said container is full and which move toward one another as said fluid is discharged, said apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be removably applied to the exterior of said container at a preselected location thereon, said frame being movable with said sidewalls, means carried by said frame for generating a signal in response to the fluid remaining in the container reaching said predetermined level, said signal generating means being movable with the frame as the fluid is discharged from said container and as the container sidewalls move toward one another from an open position in which said signal generating means is de-energized to a closed position in which said signal generating means is actuated thereby to generate said signal indicating that the fluid remaining in the container has been reduced to said predetermined level, said frame including spring means for resiliently maintaining said frame in its desired position on said container as said fluid is discharged therefrom and as said container sidewalls move toward one another.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 further including means on said frame for enhancing gripping of the frame on said container.

12. A portable device removably appliable to a flexible wall bag containing a supply of liquid for intravenous administration to a patient, said device being capable of generating a signal in response to the level of the liquid inside said bag being lowered below a predetermined level, said bag having sidewalls of pliable sheet material and being adapted to be supported in a generally vertical position while dispensing the liquid therefrom with the sidewalls being generally vertical, said bag having an outlet at its lower end, said sidewalls being spaced apart when said bag is full of liquid and, as said liquid is dispensed via said outlet, the level of the liquid within the bag falling within the bag thus permitting the walls of the bag above the liquid level to move toward one another, said walls above the liquid level within the bag being in close proximity to one another and said walls below the liquid level being spaced relatively far apart, said device further comprising a resilient frame including a pair of arms, said arms being movable toward and away from one another between an open position and a closed position, said arms, being resiliently biased toward their closed position and, when in their open position, being capable of being applied to said bag full of said liquid with one arm on the outside of one sidewall of the bag and with the other arm on the outside of the other sidewall of the bag, said frame including signal generating means actuable upon said frame arms being movable from their open toward their closed positions as said side arms move with said bag walls thereby to indicate that the level of the liquid within the bag has fallen to approximately the location of said arms relative to the bag.

13. A method of monitoring the level of an intravenous liquid solution to be administered intravenously to a patient, said intravenous solution being contained in a flexible wall bag and being discharged from the bottom of the bag, wherein the steps of said method consist of;

supporting the bag in such fashion that a discharge outlet of the bag is at its bottom and the outlet is connected to the patient for the intravenous administration of said liquid contained in the bag;

applying a device to said bag at a desired location relative to the height of the bag, said device having a first portion thereof on the outside of one sidewall and another portion thereof on the outside of the other sidewall of the bag;

discharging said intravenous solution from the bag to the patient thereby causing the level of the solution to fall within the bag and causing the sidewalls of the bag above the level of the solution together with portions of said device to move toward one another; and

generating a signal in response to the level of the intravenous solution in the bag falling below a predetermined point relative to the bag as occasioned by the portions of said device being moved toward one another.