Drip infusion system

• US 4,718,892 A
• Filed: 03/10/1986
• Issued: 01/12/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Liu Yung-Ho
• Original Assignee: Liu Yung-Ho
• Inventors: Yung-Ho, Liu
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/837,205
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 604/65, 604/67, 604/66, 604/244, 604/81
• US Class Current: 604/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/281 Automatic tube cut-off devices, e.g. squeezing tube on detection of air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16845 by weight

Abstract

A drip infusion system is disclosed in which a pulling mechanism is connected to a needle for automatically pulling the needle from the vein of a patient. The pulling mechanism is actuated to pull the needle from the vein responsive to the amount of solution in a drip source mounted on a stand.

Claims

1. In a drip infusion system for the drip infusion of a solution into a vein of a patient, the system being of the type having a stand, a drip source containing the solution mounted on the stand, a needle removably inserted into the patient, and a conduit connected to the drip source and the needle for passing solution from the drip source to the needle and into the vein of the patient, the improvement comprising, in combination therewith, pulling means operatively connected to the needle for automatically pulling the needle out of the vein, and actuating means for actuating said pulling means to pull the needle out of the vein responsive to the amount of solution in the drip source.

2. In a drip infusion system as set forth in claim 1, the improvement wherein said drip source comprises at least a first drip bottle and a second drip bottle, the first drip bottle being fixedly secured to the stand, collecting means interconnected with the conduit for collecting solution from each of the first and second drip bottles and passing the collected fluid to the patient, pulling means operatively connected to the needle for removably pulling the needle out of the vein, first switch means mounted to the stand above the second bottle at a position below the first bottle for urging the second drip bottle upwardly into contact with the first switch means when the solution in the second drip bottle is reduced to a predetermined amount thereby causing the first switch means to activate the pulling means whereby the pulling means removes the needle from the vein.

3. In a drip infusion system as set forth in claim 2, the improvement wherein the pulling means comprises a motor, operatively connected to the first switch means, having a rotatable shaft and a cam fixed to the rotatable shaft, the cam having a peripheral surface for eccentric movement responsive to the rotation of the shaft, a lever pivotally mounted proximate to the cam having a first end on the peripheral surface and a second end, a line connected at its one end to said second end of the lever and the other end of the line being operatively connected to the needle, said motor being operable responsive to actuation by said first switch means to rotate the cam, wherein the first end of the lever moves in first direction responsive to the rotation of the cam and the said second end of the lever moves in a second directon opposite the first direction thereby pulling the line for pulling the needle from the vein.

4. In a drip infusion system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the needle includes an engaging portion, a slidable block interconnected to the engaging portion and the said other end of the line.

5. In a drip infusion system as set forth in claim 4, the improvement further comprising a casing housing said sliding block and the engaging portion of the needle, the casing having an aperture through which a portion of the needle extends for engaging the vein, said sliding block being slidable within the casing responsive to pulling of the line and moveable to a position within the casing in which the needle is fully contained within the casing thereby preventing the needle from pricking the patient.

6. In a drip infusion system as set forth in claim 5, the improvement further comprising a power source connected to said motor, means for shutting off the power source including second switch means mounted under the cam in a position to be actuated after said cam is rotated, and a relay electrically connected to the second switch means and the power source, the relay being operable responsive to the actuation of the second switch means to shut off the power source.

7. In a drip infusion system as set forth in claim 5, the improvement wherein each of the first and second switch means comprises a micro switch.