Syringe driver/syringe/tube connecting set fluid delivery arrangement, and tube connecting sets therefor

• US 4,863,429 A
• Filed: 06/30/1987
• Issued: 09/05/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BAXA Corporation (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Brian E. Baldwin
• Inventors: Baldwin, Brian E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Ralph
• Application Number:
  US07/069,016
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 604/134, 604/135, 604/151, 604/154, 604/246, 604/264, 604/280, 604/281, 604/282, 604/207, 138/137, 141/31
• US Class Current: 604/135
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14506 mechanically driven, e.g. spring or clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/08 Tubes; Storage means specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1454 spring-actuated, e.g. by a clockwork

Abstract

A syringe infusion or other patient health care fluid delivery arrangement or system having a substantially constant force syringe holder/driver for a fluid-dispensing, preferably disposable, syringe to which an on-off valve and effectively bendably flexible tube connecting set are connected. The outside diameter of the tubing of an available flow-rate assortment of suitably identifiably marked tube connecting sets is formed of a desired single size by extrusion addition of a plastic outer overcoat layer over the inner fluid-carrying tubing, enabling interchangeable accommodation and securing thereon of standard single-size conventional or other desired connectors, whereby a single health care professional may fill a syringe with a prescribed dosage and concentration of health care fluid, and may also preselect and fix the delivery rate for the fluid, by selecting and assembling a given syringe holder/driver, fluid-filled syringe and tube connecting set. The syringe holder/driver is powered by a pair of Neg'"'"'ator constant force springs which roll off and onto ball-bearing-mounted rotatable drums carried by a syringe plunger pusher or driver which is centered and guided in its longitudinal movement by the opposed Neg'"'"'ator springs and the syringe plunger, which springs are laterally stabilized by nonsliding strip-laying stabilizing retentive engagement with, and strip-pickup removal from engagement with, the syringe holder/driver cover.

Claims

1. A kit arrangement for delivering a fixed predetermined rate of flow of a selected fluid to a patient comprising:

a syringe having a body with a fluid discharge opening therein and a plunger slidable in said body to discharge fluid through said discharge opening,

constant force driver means connectable to said syringe for exerting a constant discharge-effecting relative motion between said syringe plunger and said syringe body,

and an assortment of tube connecting sets for selective connection of said syringe body discharge opening to a patient for delivery of fluid thereto from said syringe body, each of which tube connecting sets has the additional dual function of forming a fixed flow rate fluid metering means,

each of said tube connecting sets of said assortment being formed of a flexible tubing section having a bore of substantially constant cross section size along its length and being substantially larger in cross-section than any particle which might occur in a medical fluid to be delivered therethrough, so as to enable said tubing section to form a predetermined fixed flow rate fluid metering means which is fully operational without need for a filter,

said assortment of tube connecting sets including a plurality of tube connecting sets each of which itself forms a combined flexible tube connecting set and predetermined fixed flow rate metering means and provides a different one of a plurality of desired metered flow rates for a given syringe discharge pressure and fluid viscosity,

and connecting fittings formed on opposite ends of each of said tube connecting sets to enable connection of any selected one of said assortment of tube connecting sets between said syringe body discharge opening and a patient to whom delivery of fluid is desired to be effected,

the respective said flexible tubing section of each of said plurality of tube connecting sets having a length relative to the combination of its bore size, the viscosity of fluid desired to be delivered therethrough, and the fluid discharge pressure exerted at said syringe body discharge opening during effective fluid-discharge-effecting application of said constant force driver means to said syringe, which according to Poiseuille'"'"'s Law will effect a single selected flow rate through the respective said flexible tubing section,

whereby a health professional may select and use from said assortment any one of said plurality of tube connecting sets from said assortment for connection between said syringe and a patient to effect the corresponding predetermined fixed flow rate of delivery of a said desired fluid to a patient,

the tubing section of each of said tube connecting sets of said assortment including an outer circumferential overcoat layer of plastic formed over an inner tubing section,

said assortment including a plurality of tube connecting sets whose respective said inner tubing sections are of different outer diameter as well as different inner diameter,

said outer overcoat layer for all of said tube connector sets being of substantially the same outer peripheral size along its length, independent of the inner bore size and/or outer peripheral size of the various respective inner tubing sections of such tube connector sets, to thereby accommodate and accept end connecting fittings of a tube connecting bore size common to all of said tube connecting sets independent of the inner bore size and flow rate of any given tube connecting set of said assortment.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1,

said inner flexible tubing section being formed of plastic tubing.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1,

said inner flexible tubing section being formed of thin-walled glass tubing.

4. An arrangement according to claim 1,

said inner flexible tubing section being formed of metal.

5. An arrangement according to claim 1,

each of said tube connecting sets having identifying indicia in association therewith to enable determination by a health professional of its respective fixed metered flow rate rating of said given syringe discharge pressure and fluid viscosity.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5,

said indicia being formed on the respective said outer overcoat layer of each respective said tube connecting set.

7. An arrangement according to claim 5,

said indicia being a respective color indicia for each respective flow rate rating.

8. A kit assortment of tube connecting sets for selective connection of a substantially constant-force-driven syringe to a patient for delivery of fluid thereto from said syringe body, each of which tube connecting sets has the additional dual function of forming a fixed flow rate fluid metering means,

each of said tube connecting sets of said assortment being formed of a flexible tubing section having a bore of substantially constant cross-section size along its length which bore is very small compared to its length and which taken over its entire length forms a substantial and effective predetermined flow-rate-restrictive metering means for administering medical fluids therethrough, and said bore being further substantially larger in cross-section than any particle which might occur in a medical fluid to be delivered therethrough, so as to enable said tubing section to form a predetermined fixed flow rate fluid metering means which is fully operational without need for a filter,

said kit assortment of tube connecting sets including a plurality of tube connecting sets each of which itself forms a combined flexible tube connecting set and predetermined fixed flow rate metering means and provides a different one of a plurality of desired metered flow rates for a given syringe discharge pressure and fluid viscosity,

and end connecting fittings formed on opposite ends of each of said tube connecting sets to enable connection of any selected one of said assortment of tube connecting sets between a syringe and a patient to whom delivery of fluid is desired to be effected,

the respective said flexible tubing section of each of said plurality of tube connecting sets having a length relative to the combination of its bore size, the viscosity of fluid desired to be delivered therethrough, and the fluid discharge pressure exerted by a constant-force-driven syringe to which a selected one of said tube connecting sets is to be connected, which according to Poiseuille'"'"'s Law will effect a single selected flow rate through the respective said flexible tubing section,

whereby a health professional may select and use from said assortment any one of said plurality of tube connecting sets from said assortment for connection between a said substantially constant-force-driven syringe and a patient to effect the corresponding predetermined fixed flow rate of delivery of a said selected one of said plurality of tube connecting sets from said assortment,

the flexible tubing section of each of said tube connecting sets of said assortment including an outer overcoat layer of plastic formed over an inner flexible tubing section,

said outer overcoat layer for all of said tube connector sets being of effectively substantially the same outer peripheral size along its length, independent of the inner and/or outer peripheral size of the various inner flexible plastic tubing of such tube connector sets.

9. An arrangement according to claim 8,

said inner flexible tubing section being formed of plastic tubing.

10. An arrangement according to claim 8,

said inner flexible tubing section being formed of thin-walled glass tubing.

11. An arrangement according to claim 8,

said inner flexible tubing section being formed of metal.

12. An arrangement according to claim 8,

each of said tube connecting sets having identifying indicia in association therewith to enable determination by a health professional of its respective fixed metered flow rate rating for said given syringe discharge pressure and fluid viscosity.

13. An arrangement according to claim 12,

said indicia being formed on the respective said outer overcoat layer of each respective said tube connecting set.

14. An arrangement according to claim 12,

said indicia being a respective distinctive color indicia indicative of each respective flow rate rating.