Sequence valve for piggyback IV administration with tube reversal prevention

• US 4,714,463 A
• Filed: 11/15/1985
• Issued: 12/22/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graseby Medical Limited (ICU Medical Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Inventors: Archibald, G. Kent, Slaker, Frank A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Costantino, Mario
• Application Number:
  US06/798,331
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 251/9, 251/4-8, 251/10, 251/67, 251/68, 251/74, 137/636.1, 128/DIG. 12, 128/DIG. 13, 604/7, 604/28-31, 604/34, 604/65-67, 604/80-86, 604/131, 604/258, 604/245-250
• US Class Current: 604/81
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1408 in parallel, e.g. manifolds, sequencing valves access sites A61M39/02; tube connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407

Abstract

A piggyback IV administration system uses a solenoid actuated sequence valve to control the flow of fluid from a pair of IV fluid sources to the inlet of an IV pump or controller. The sequence valve pinches off a first tube while allowing fluid to flow through the second tube and then, in response to a control signal, changes state so that the second tube is pinched off and fluid can flow through the first tube unimpeded. Improper placement of the first and second tubes within the sequence valve during setup is prevented.

Claims

1. A sequence valve for selectively occluding first and second flexible tubes in sequence, the sequence valve comprising:

housing means which includes a base and channel means for positioning the first and second tubes in side-by-side relationship;

crank means pivotally connected to the base for movement about a first pivot axis along a first path between first and second crank positions;

bias means for providing a bias force to the crank which urges the crank toward the second crank position;

occluder means connected to the crank for occluding the first flexible tube when the crank is in the first crank position, and for occluding the second flexible tube when the crank is in the second crank position;

releasable latch means supported by the housing for latching the crank in the first crank position and for releasing the crank in response to a control signal to allow the bias force to pivot the crank to the second crank position;

tube retainer means positioned adjacent the channel means and pivotally connected to the housing for pivoting about a second pivot axis along a second path between an open position in which tubes can be inserted into or removed from the channel means and a closed position which holds the tubes in the channel means;

gate means pivotally connected to the housing for pivoting about a third pivot axis along a third path between an open position in which the first tube can be inserted into or removed from the channel means, and a closed position which holds the first tube channel means; and

wherein the second and third pivot axes are positioned so that the gate means and the tube retainer means have intersecting paths, and the gate means includes means for preventing the tube retainer means from moving along the second path to its closed position unless the gate is in its closed position.

2. The sequence valve of claim 1 and further comprising:

means for providing a signal which indicates whether the tube retainer is in its closed position.

3. The sequence valve of claim 1 wherein the first, second and third paths lie in first, second and third generally orthogonal planes, respectively.

4. A sequence valve for selectively occluding first and second flexible tubes in sequence, the sequence valve comprising:

housing means which includes a base and channel means for positioning the first and second tubes in side-by-side relationship;

crank means pivotally connected to the base for movement about a first pivot axis along a first path between first and second crank positions;

bias means for providing a bias force to the crank which urges the crank toward the second crank position;

occluder means connected to the crank for occluding the first flexible tube when the crank is in the first crank position, and for occluding the second flexible tube when the crank is in the second crank position;

releasable latch means supported by the housing for latching the crank in the first crank position and for releasing the crank in response to a control signal to allow the bias force to pivot the crank to the second crank position;

tube retainer means positioned adjacent the channel means and pivotally connected to the housing for pivoting about a second pivot axis along a second path between an open position in which tubes can be inserted into or removed from the channel means and a closed position which holds the tubes in the channel means;

gate means pivotally connected to the housing for pivoting about a third pivot axis along a third path between an open position in which the first tube can be inserted into or removed from the channel means, and a closed position which holds the first tube in the channel means; and

wherein the crank means includes means for blocking movement of the gate means along the third path to its closed position when the crank means is in the first crank position.

5. A sequence valve for selectively occluding first and second flxible tubes in sequence, the sequence valve comprising:

housing means which includes a base and channel means for positioning the first and second tubes in side-by-side relationship;

crank means pivotally connected to the base for movement about a first pivot axis along a first path between first and second crank positions;

bias means for providing a bias force to the crank which urges the crank toward the second crank position;

occluder means connected to the crank for occluding the first flexible tube when the crank is in the first crank position, and for occluding the second flexible tube when the crank is in the second crank position;

releasable latch means supported by the housing for latching the crank in the first crank position and for releasing the crank in response to a control signal to allow the bias force to pivot the crank to the second crank position;

tube retainer means positioned adjacent the channel means and pivotally connected to the housing for pivoting about a second pivot axis along a second path between an open position in which tubes can be inserted into or removed from the channel means and a closed position which holds the tubes in the channel means;

gate means pivotally connected to the housing for pivoting about a third pivot axis along a third path between an open position in which the first tube can be inserted into or removed from the channel means, and a closed position which holds the first tube in the channel means; and

wherein the crank means includes means for blocking movement of the gate means along the third path from its closed position when the crank means is in the first crank position.

6. A sequence valve for selectively occluding first and second flexible tubes in sequence, the sequence valve comprising:

housing means which includes a base and channel means for positioning the first and second tubes in side-by-side relationship;

crank means pivotally connected to the base for movement about a first pivot axis along a first path between first and second crank positions;

bias means for providing a bias force to the crank which urges the crank toward the second crank position;

occluder means connected to the crank for occluding the first flexible tube when the crank is in the first crank position, and for occluding the second flexible tube when the crank is in the second crank position;

releasable latch means supported by the housing for latching the crank in the first crank position and for releasing the crank in response to a control signal to allow the bias force to pivot the crank to the second crank position;

tube retainer means positioned adjacent the channel means and pivotally connected to the housing for pivoting about a second pivot axis along a second path between an open position in which tubes can be inserted into or removed from the channel means and a closed position which holds the tubes in the channel means;

gate means pivotally connected to the housing for pivoting about a third pivot axis along a third path between an open position in which the first tube can be inserted into or removed from the channel means, and a closed position which holds the first tube in the channel means; and

wherein the gate means includes means for blocking movement of the crank means along the first path to the first crank position when the gate means is in a position along its third path between its open and closed positions.

7. A sequence valve for selectively occluding first and second flexible tubes in sequence, the sequence valve comprising:

housing means including channel means in which the tubes are positioned in side-by-side relationship;

pivotable crank means connected to the housing means for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis along a first path;

occluder means connected to the crank means for pinching off one of the first and second tubes depending upon the position of the crank means, wherein the occluder means extends into the channel means between the first and second tubes and is movable in a generally transverse direction as the crank means moves along the first path;

bias spring means for applying a bias force to the crank means;

tube retainer means connected to the housing means and positioned adjacent a first end of the channel means for pivoting about a second axis along a second path between an open position in which tubes can be inserted into or removed from the channel means and a closed position which holds the tubes in the channel means;

gate means connected to the housing means for pivotong about a third axis along a third path between an open position in which the first tube can be inserted into or removed from the channel means, and a closed position which holds the first tube in the channel means;

pivotable latch means connected to the housing for holding the crank means in a position in which the fist tube is pinched off;

solenoid means which releases the latch means in response to a control signal to permit the latch means to pivot out of engagement with the crank means and thereby allow the bias force to pivot the crank means to a position in which the second tube is pinched off; and

means, carried by at least one of the crank means, the tube retainer means, and the gate means, for requiring sequential movement of the crank means, the tube retainer means and the gate means during loading and unloading of the tubes to and from the channel means.

8. The sequence valve of claim 7 wherein the means for requiring sequential movement includes means for preventing the tube retainer means from moving along the second path to its closed position unless the gate means is in its closed position.

9. The sequence valve of claim 7 wherein the means for requiring sequential movement includes means for preventing movement of the gate means along the third path to and from its closed position when the crank means is in the position in which the first tube is pinched off.

10. The sequence valve of claim 7 wherein the means for requiring sequential movement includes means for preventing movement of the crank means along the first path to the position in which the first tube is pinched off when the gate means is between its open and closed positions.

11. The sequence valve of claim 7 wherein the first, second and third paths lie in first, second and third generally orthogonal planes, respectively.

12. An IV administration system comprising:

a first source of a first IV fluid;

a second source of a second IV fluid;

an IV control device having an inlet and an outlet for delivering IV fluids;

a first flexible tube connected between the first source and the inlet;

a second flexible tube connected between the second source and the inlet;

a sequence valve positioned between the first and second sources and the inlet for selectively occluding the first and second flexible tubes in sequence, the sequence valve comprising;

a base having channel means for receiving the first and second flexible tubes;

crank means pivotally connected to the base for movment about a first pivot axis along a first path between first and second crank positions;

bias means for providing a bias force to the crank means which urges the crank means toward the second crank position;

occluder means connected to a first end of the crank means for occluding the first flexible tube when the crank means is in the first crank position, and for occluding the second flexible tube when the crank means is in the second crank position;

releasable latch means connected to the base for latching the crank means in the first crank position and for releasing the crank means in response to a control signal to allow the bias force to pivot the crank means to the second crank position;

tube retainer means connected to the base for pivoting about a second axis along a second path between an open position in which tubes can be inserted into or removed from the channel and a closed position which holds the tubes in the channel means; and

gate means for pivoting about a third axis along a third path between an open position in which the first tube can be inserted into or removed from the channel means, and a closed position which holds the first tube in the channel means where the first, second and third axes are positioned so that at least two of the first, second and third paths intersect, wherein the gate means includes means for preventing the tube retainer means from moving along the second path to its closed position unless the gate means is in its closed position; and

means for providing the control signal to the sequence valve.

13. The system of claim 12 and further comprising:

means for providing a signal which indicates whether the tube retainer is in its closed position.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the occluder means comprises an occluder stud connected to the crank and extending into the channel means between the first and second tubes so that when the crank is in the first crank position the occluder stud causes the first tube to be pinched off and when the crank is in the second crank position the occluder stud causes the second tube to be pinched off.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the first and second flexible tubes have different diameters and wherein the channel means defines first and second channels having different dimensions related to the different diameters so that the first and second flexible tubes cannot be reversed with the first tube in the second channel and the second tube in the first channel.

16. The sequence valve of claim 12 wherein the first, second and third paths lie in first, second and third generally orthogonal planes, respectively.

17. An IV administration system comprising:

a first source of a first IV fluid;

a second source of a second IV fluid;

an IV control device having an inlet and an outlet for delivering IV fluids;

a first flexible tube connected between the first source and the inlet;

a second flexible tube connected between the second source and the inlet;

a sequence valve positioned between the first and second sources and the inlet for selectively occluding the first and second flexible tubes in sequence, the sequence valve comprising;

a base having channel means for receiving the first and second flexible tubes;

crank means pivotally connected to the base for movement about a first pivot axis along a first path between first and second crank positions;

bias means for providing a bias force to the crank means which urges the crank means toward the second crank position;

occluder means connected to a first end of the crank means for occluding the first flexible tube when the crank means is in the first crank position, and for occluding the second flexible tube when the crank means is in the second crank position;

releasable latch means connected to the base for latching the crank means in the first crank position and for releasing the crank means in response to a control signal to allow the bias force to pivot the crank means to the second crank position;

tube retainer means connected to the base for pivoting about a second axis along a second path between an open position in which tubes can be inserted into or removed from the channel and a closed position which holds the tubes in the channel means; and

gate means for pivoting about a third axis along a third path between an open position in which the first tube can be inserted into or removed from the channel means, and a closed position which holds the first tube in the channel means wherein the first, second and third axes are positioned so that at least two of the first, second and third paths intersect; and

wherein the crank means includes means for blocking movement of the gate means along the third path to and from its closed position when the crank means is in the first position.

18. An IV administration system comprising:

a first source of a first IV fluid;

a second source of a second IV fluid;

an IV control device having an inlet and an outlet for delivering IV fluids;

a first flexible tube connected between the first source and the inlet;

a second flexible tube connected between the second source and the inlet;

a sequence valve positioned between the first and second sources and the inlet for selectively occluding the first and second flexible tubes in sequence, the sequence valve comprising;

a base having channel means for receiving the first and second flexible tubes;

crank means pivotally connected to the base for movement about a first pivot axis along a first path between first and second crank positions;

bias means for providing a bias force to the crank means which urges the crank means toward the second crank position;

occluder means connected to a first end of the crank means for occluding the first flexible tube when the crank means is in the first crank position, and for occluding the second flexible tube when the crank means is in the second crank position;

releasable latch means connected to the base for latching the crank means in the first crank position and for releasing the crank means in response to a control signal to allow the bias force to pivot the crank means to the second crank position;

tube retainer means connected to the base for pivoting about a second axis along a second path between an open position in which tubes can be inserted into or removed from the channel and a closed position which holds the tubes in the channel means; and

gate means for pivoting about a third axis along a third path between an open position in which the first tube can be inserted into or removed from the channel means, and a closed position which holds the first tube in the channel means wherein the first, second and third axes are positioned so that at least two of the first, second and third paths intersect; and

wherein the gate means includes means for blocking movement of the first crank means along the first path to the first crank position when the gate means is between its open and closed positions.

19. An IV administration system comprising:

a first source of a first IV fluid;

a second source of a second IV fluid;

an IV control device having an inlet and an outlet for delivering IV fluids;

a first flexible tube having a first outside diameter connected between the source and the inlet;

a second flexible tube having a second, different outside diameter connected between the second source and the inlet;

a sequence valve positioned between the first and second sources and the inlet for pinching off the first tube and then the second tube in sequence, the sequence valve comprising;

spring biased pivotable tube pincher means supported by the housing and positioned for pinching off the first and then the second tube.

pivotable latch means supported by the housing for holding the tube pincher means in a position in which the first tube is pinched off;

solenoid means supported by the housing means which releases the latch means in response to a control signal to permit the latch means to pivot out of engagement with the tube pincher means and thereby allow the tube pincher means to pivot in a position in which the second tube is pinched off;

first and second channels in the housing means for receiving and holding the first and second tubes, respectively, in positions where they can be pinched off by the tube pincher means, one of the channels having a dimension which is sized to receive only the tube having the smaller outside diameter so that the first and second flexible tubes cannot be reversed with the first tube in the second channel and the second tube in the first channel; and

means supported by the housing means for pivoting between an open position in which the tubes can be inserted into and removed from the channels and a closed position which holds the tubes in the channels, and including means for preventing movement of the tube pincher means unless the means for pivoting is at one of its open and closed positions; and

means for providing the control signal to the sequence valve.