Apparatus and methods for utilizing autotransfusion systems and related equipment

• US 4,867,738 A
• Filed: 09/14/1987
• Issued: 09/19/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Technidyne Corporation (Sphingotec GMBH)
• Original Assignee: International Technidyne Corporation (Sphingotec GMBH)
• Inventors: Mintz, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Daley, Kathleen A.
• Application Number:
  US07/093,050
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 604/4-6, 604/30-31, 604/269, 604/266, 604/403, 604/406, 604/407, 206/363, 206/438, 206/459
• US Class Current: 604/6.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/02 Blood transfusion apparatus blood infusion by syringes A61M5/14

Abstract

There is disclosed an autotransfusion system which essentially is contained in a unitary housing section which enables a practitioner to utilize the system in a rapid and efficient manner. The housing section has integrally associated therewith a blood reservoir, which is a major component of an autotransfusion system. The housing has secured thereto a set of instructions which are adapted to be mounted on the arm of an IV pole and which, when positioned on the arm of the IV pole, specifies vertical distances necessary to perform autotransfusion during a blood collection or blood distribution mode. The housing section, as containing the reservoir, with the package and instruction component, is used as a yardstick to establish specified distances in order to control pressure as afforded by gravity. The entire unit lends itself to the rapid installation of an autotransfusion system while providing visual instructions which are integrally associated therewith to provide users with operational guidance that is thereby readily available during an operative procedure. The housing further permits pre-assembly and sterilization of the various components of an autotransfusion system.

Claims

1. In a system of the type employed for body fluid processing for the selective transfer of body fluid to a patient using gravity or external pressure which fluid transfer system is positioned on a conventional intravenous pole (IV) with said system associated with a body fluid reservoir having inlet and outlet ports for implementing said transfer and adapted to operate with additional fluid containing reservoirs positioned on said pole, the combination therewith of apparatus for maintaining and orienting said fluid system in an operative configuration on sale pole, comprising:

a housing having an opened top surface and a closed bottom surface and having contiguous sidewalls for forming a component cavity;

a fluid reservoir permanently affixed to said housing and positioned in said cavity;

means coupled to said housing for securing said housing to said pole;

a foldable indicia carrying means secured to said housing and adapted when unfolded to coact with the cross arm of said pole to thereby position said reservoir as secured to said housing at an optimum location on said pole to assure proper fluid transfer, said folding indicia carrying means having a central planar section with foldable right and left sheet sections, each capable of folding over said central section, with said central section being relatively congruent with a portion of said bottom surface such that when said right and left sheet sections are folded over said central section, said central section can then be folded to overlie said bottom surface of said housing section during storage or transport, said foldable indicia carrying means having an extending bottom tab secured to the bottom surface of said housing and at least one top extending tab adapted to encircle the cross arm of an IV pole and having a length for positioning said reservoir at an optimum level for autotransfusion procedures.