Controller for a dual drug delivery system

• US 4,533,347 A
• Filed: 12/19/1983
• Issued: 08/06/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALARIS Medical Systems, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Warner-Lambert Company (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: Deckert, Clinton L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US06/562,958
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 604/82, 604/80, 604/81, 604/83-86, 604/157, 604/151-153, 604/246, 604/250, 604/251, 604/65
• US Class Current: 604/81
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1689 Drip counters

Abstract

A system for controlling the flow of intravenous fluids to a patient provides for the sequential administration of two different intravenous fluids at independently preselected drop rates. The system includes a primary administration set associated with a first fluid container, a secondary administration set associated with a second fluid container, and a controller having a control valve operatively associated with both administration sets to control the fluid flow rate through the particular administration set in use. The system further comprises a connector means in the primary administration set, upstream from the control valve, for joining the secondary administration set to the primary administration set. A one-way valve, disposed in the primary administration set upstream from the connector means, prevents fluid flow through the one-way valve whenever hydrostatic pressure in the secondary set is greater than the hydrostatic pressure in the primary set. Drop sensors, operatively associated with drip chambers in each of the administration sets, are electrically connected with the controller to monitor and sense whether there is fluid flow in the particular system. The controller also includes a pinching device which is activated to pinch IV tubing in the secondary set when the controller either senses no flow rate through the secondary set or senses a sufficient flow rate in the primary set. This pinching action causes an instantaneous reversal of the hydrostatic pressure differential at the one-way valve and permits immediate fluid flow from the first fluid container at a controlled rate through the primary administration set to the patient.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the administration of intravenous fluids to a patient comprising:

a first fluid container;

a primary administration set in fluid communication with said first fluid container;

a second fluid container;

a second administration set having a pinchable section and connected in fluid communication with said second fluid container;

a common tube for transferring fluid to the patient;

means for connecting said primary and said secondary administration sets in fluid communication with said common tube;

means for sequencing fluid flow through said secondary and said primary administration sets, said sequencing means comprising a check valve in the fluid lines of said primary administration set to prevent fluid flow in said primary administration set when the hydrostatic pressure in said secondary set exceeds the hydrostatic pressure in said primary set;

means for sensing actual flow rates through said secondary and said primary administration sets;

a controller having means operatively associated with said pinchable section to selectively prevent fluid flow through said secondary administration set, said controller further comprising means to preselect flow rates for said primary and secondary adminsitration sets, said controller operatively associated with said sensing means in said primary and secondary administration sets and having means for operatively engaging with said common tube to maintain the sensed actual flow rate at the respective preselected flow rate.

2. An apparatus for the administration of intravenous fluids to a patient as recited in claim 1 wherein said engaging means between said controller and said common tube comprises a control valve disposed in the fluid line of said common tube and operatively connected to said controller for maintaining fluid flow through said common tube at the respective preselected flow rate.

3. An apparatus for the administration of intravenous fluid to a patient comprising:

a first fluid container;

a primary administration set attached to said first fluid container comprising, in sequence downstream from said first fluid container, a first drip chamber, a check valve and a connector;

a second fluid container;

a secondary administration set attached to said second fluid container comprising, in sequence downstream from said second fluid container, a second drip chamber, a pinchable section and a linking means engagable with said connector;

a common tube for directing fluid flow from said connector to the patient and having a flow control valve operatively associated therewith for controlling fluid flow therethrough;

means for elevating the hydrostatic pressure in said secondary administration set above the hydrostatic pressure in said primary administration set to prevent fluid flow through said one-way valve when fluid is in said second fluid container and is flowing through said secondary set;

a first drop sensor operatively associated with said first drip chamber for detecting the actual flow rate therethrough;

a second drop sensor operatively associated with said second drip chamber for detecting the actual flow rate therethrough; and

a controller operatively connecting said first drop sensor and said second drop sensor with said control valve for adjusting the actual flow rate through said respective drip chamber to correspond to a preselected valve, said controller further comprising pinching means operatively associated with said pinchable section to prevent flow in said secondary set after flow in said second drip chamber ceases.

4. An apparatus for the administration of intravenous fluid to a patient comprising:

a primary administration set sequentially comprising a first drip chamber, a check valve and a connector;

a first fluid container in fluid communication with said first drip chamber;

a secondary administration set sequentially comprising a second drip chamber, a pinchable section and a linking means connectable in fluid communication with said connector;

a second fluid container in fluid communication with said second drip chamber;

means to raise hydrostatic pressure in said secondary administration set above the hydrostatic pressure in said primary administration set;

a common tube in fluid communication with said connector, for transferring fluid to a patient;

a control valve operatively associated with said common tube;

a controller having means operatively associated with said pinchable section to selectively prevent fluid flow through said secondary administration set, said controller further comprising means to select independent fluid flow rates for the respective administration sets;

a first sensor means connected to said controller and associated with said primary administration set for sensing fluid flow therethrough;

a second sensor means connected to said controller and associated with said secondary administration set for sensing fluid flow therethrough; and

means for connecting said control valve to said controller to operate said control valve for adjusting fluid flow therethrough to maintain sensed flow rates at the respective selected flow rate.

5. An apparatus for the administration of intravenous fluids to a patient comprising:

a control valve;

a first fluid container;

a second fluid container;

a primary administration set connecting said first fluid container in fluid communication with said control valve;

a second administration set having a pinchable section and connecting said second fluid container in fluid communication with said control valve;

means for sequencing fluid flow through said secondary set and said primary set;

a first sensor means and a second sensor means respectively associated with said primary and said secondary administration sets for sensing fluid flow rates therethrough;

a controller operatively connected with said first and second sensor means and having means for selecting desired flow rates for said respective administration sets, and said controller further comprising means operatively associated with said pinchable section to selectively prevent fluid flow through said secondary administration set;

means operatively connecting said controller with said control valve to (1) compare the sensed flow rate with the selected flow rate and (2) accordingly adjust said control valve to maintain fluid flow therethrough at the selected flow rate; and

means for transferring fluid from said control valve to said patient.

6. An apparatus for the administration of intravenous fluids to a patient as recited in claim 5 wherein said sequencing means comprises a check valve in the fluid line of said primary administration set to prevent fluid flow in said primary administration set when the hydrostatic pressure in said secondary set exceeds the hydrostatic pressure in said primary set.