Adjustable carrying case for a fluid delivery system

• US 5,168,892 A
• Filed: 01/08/1992
• Issued: 12/08/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Medical Company (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sunderland, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chambers, A. Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/818,194
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: 417/360, 417/474, 137/565, 137/343, 128/DIG. 12, 604/153
• US Class Current: 137/343
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1416 placed on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/08 Supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1415 Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6851 With casing, support, protector or static constructional installations

Abstract

The present invention relates to a support device and carrying case for use with a fluid delivery system which includes a fluid delivery set and an infusion pump. The support device allows simple attachment of various types of fluid delivery sets and infusion pumps thereto and is adapted for use with bed ridden patients in a traditional manner, or for ambulatory patient use. The support device includes a compartment for securely holding an infusion pump and a separate compartment for securely holding a fluid container of the fluid delivery set. The device further includes an elongate channel into which the tubing of the fluid delivery set can be inserted and subsequently protected from kinking or inadvertent occlusion. The support device is adapted for use with rigid bottle, flexible bag, burette, spike sets, or other standard types of fluid delivery sets, and is designed to be adjustable to receive various conformations of the support device depending on the particular type of fluid delivery set container being used.

Claims

1. A support device for a fluid delivery system including a fluid delivery set and a pump, the fluid delivery set including a fluid container and a tube for connection to the pump, said device comprising

a body means having:

a first compartment means for holding the pump,

a second compartment means for holding the container,

means for preventing kinking or occlusion of the tube between the container and the pump, and

case means for enclosing said body means with said fluid delivery system attached thereto, said case means including an extension means and a holding means for holding said extension means adjacent said case means, said extension means being capable of being held closed in a non-extended position in which said extension means is held adjacent said case means by said folding means, and being capable of being opened to an extended position in which the interior volume of said means is modified.

2. A support device according to claim 1 wherein said means for preventing kinking or occlusion of the tube includes a third compartment means in said body for holding the tube, said third compartment means substantially enclosing the majority of the length of the tube between the container and the pump.

3. A support device according to claim 2 wherein said third compartment means is a channel extending around a substantial portion of a circumference of said body.

4. A support device according to claim 3 wherein said channel is generally U-shaped.

5. A support device according to claim 3 wherein said channel forms an elongated opening through which the tube can be inserted, and said opening includes means for resiliently deforming the tube as it passes into said channel.

6. A support device according to claim 4 wherein said means for resiliently deforming said tube is an elongated lip formed along at least a portion of said elongated opening of said channel.

7. A support device according to claim 1 wherein said second compartment means for holding the container is formed as a recess within a front surface of said body, said recess including a substantially flat bottom surface against which a portion of the container rests when properly placed in said second compartment means.

8. A support device according to claim 1 wherein said body means is formed of a rigid material.

9. A support device according to claim 1 wherein said body maintains said first compartment means, said second compartment means and said means for preventing kinking or occlusion of the tube, in fixed spaced relationship relative to each other.

10. A support device according to claim 1 include means attached to said body for securing the container in proper position within said second compartment means.

11. A support device according to claim 1 wherein said means for securing the container within said second compartment means includes strap means attached to said body and operable to partially surround a container located in said second compartment means to aid in securing said container in said compartment means.

12. A support device according to claim 1 wherein said means for securing the container in said second compartment means includes means for securing a substantial portion of a mouth and lid of the container in relatively fixed position relative to said body.

13. A support device according to claim 12 wherein said means for securing the mouth and lid of the container includes a clamp means attached to said body for substantially surrounding the mouth and lid of the container.

14. A support device according to claim 5 wherein said channel forms an inlet opening adjacent a first end of said elongated opening, and a exit opening adjacent a second end of said elongated opening, said inlet opening being located on said circumference of said body so as to conveniently receive the tube from the container when located in said second compartment means, and said exit opening being located on said circumference of said body adjacent said first compartment means so as to allow the tube to pass directly from said channel to the pump when located in said first compartment means.

15. A support device according to claim 2 wherein said body means includes a fourth compartment means, whereby, a pinch clamp included on a tube of a fluid delivery set may be located within said fourth compartment means when the tube is properly located within said third compartment means.

16. A support device according to claim 1 wherein said case means forms a first opening through which the container can be viewed when located within said case means, and a second opening through which said pump can be viewed when located within said case means.

17. A support device according to claim 16 wherein said case means further includes removable covering means for covering said first and second openings of said case means.

18. A support device according to claim 17 wherein said covering means for removably covering said second opening further includes a rigid stiffening member therein.

19. A support device according to claim 16 wherein said case means further includes a third opening through which said rigid body can be inserted and a cover means for securely closing said third opening.

20. A support device according to claim 1 wherein said case means is formed substantially of two similar halves reversibly separable by a fastening member whereby, said case means may be opened in clam-shell fashion to allow insertion of said rigid body means and subsequently reclosed by said fastening member.

21. A support device according to claim 1 wherein said extension means is located on said case means so as to accommodate at least a portion of said second compartment means of said body means.

22. A support device according to claim 1 wherein said extension means further includes a front side flap and a back side flap, and said extension means is capable of being formed into said non-extended position in which said front side flap and said back side flap are held adjacent said case means in said non-extended position by said central flap, and said extended position in which said front side flap and said back side flap are extended away from said case means in parallel relationship to each other and said central flap passes around the perimeter of each of said front side flap and back side flap to form an enclosed extension of said case means.

23. A support device according to claim 1 wherein said extension means includes an elongate central flap, and at least a portion of said holding means is formed on said elongate central flap.

24. A support device for a fluid delivery system including a fluid delivery set and a pump, the fluid delivery set including a fluid container and a tube for connection to the pump, said device comprising

a body means having:

a first compartment means for holding the pump,

a second compartment means for holding the container,

means for preventing kinking or occlusion of the tube between the container and the pump, and

case means for enclosing said body means with said fluid delivery system attached thereto, said case means including an extension means for modifying the interior volume of said case means, said extension means being located on said case means so as to accommodate at least a portion of said second compartment of said body means, said extension means being formed of a front side flap, a back side flap, and a central flap, and said extension means being capable of being formed into a non-extended position in which said front side flap and said back side flap are held adjacent said case means in said non-extended position by said central flap, and an extended position in which said front side flap and said back side flap are extended away from said case means in parallel relationship to each other and said central flap passes around the perimeter of each of said front side flap and back side flap to form an enclosed extension of said case means.