Intravenous tube safety apparatus

• US 5,300,044 A
• Filed: 04/12/1993
• Issued: 04/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: McVey, John, Lynn, Kenneth, Classey, Donald J., Grajo, Theresa, Vehovsky, Gabriel, Myren, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirsch, Paul J.
• Application Number:
  US08/045,291
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 604/250, 604/256, 604/65, 604/67, 251/7, 128/DIG. 12, 128/DIG. 13
• US Class Current: 604/250
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/281 Automatic tube cut-off devices, e.g. squeezing tube on detection of air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/287 Wedge formed by a slot having varying width, e.g. slide clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14228 with linear peristaltic action, i.e. comprising at least three pressurising members or a helical member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/12 Pressure infusion

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for use in a peristaltic pump 20 which prevents an inadvertent free flow condition prior to loading or after removal of an I.V. tube 26 in the peristaltic pump 20 and which also prevents the inadvertent occlusion of a loaded I.V. tube 26 in the peristaltic pump 20. A standard I.V. tube 26 has a slide clamp 109 provided thereon. The apparatus includes an I.V. tube groove 29 into which the I.V. tube 26 is positioned, a slide clamp receiving area 62 into which the slide clamp 109 is inserted, and a biased sliding member 81 which the inserted slide clamp 109 engages such that the I.V. tube 26 cannot be loaded into the apparatus without the slide clamp 109 occluding the I.V. tube 26. The present invention also contemplates a slide clamp 109, compatible with the apparatus having a surface pad 125 for facilitating automated identification of the slide clamp 109, in cooperation with a nonobstructive sensor 85 in the safety apparatus. The present invention further contemplates a slide clamp 109'"'"'. having an I.V. tube receiving aperture 110'"'"'with an inner diameter profile which minimizes friction between I.V. tube contacting surfaces 126 of the aperture 110'"'"'as an I.V. tube 26 is slid transverse to its length within the aperture 110'"'"' and which has a surface pad 125 for facilitating automated identification of the slide clamp.

Claims

1. A clamp for controlling the flow of fluid through a flow lumen of an I.V. tube, the clamp comprising:

a body;

means on the body for captively receiving an outer surface of an I.V. tube in an operative position, the I.V. tube having a flow lumen;

means on the body for collapsing an outer surface of an I.V. tube in an operative position in the captively receiving means to thereby selectively occlude and not occlude a flow lumen of the I.V. tube; and

means on the body for facilitating automated identification of the clamp.

2. The clamp of claim 1 wherein the automated identification means comprises a surface pad, the surface pad reflecting a selected portion of a beam of light shined thereon, whereby a means for optically identifying can identify the slide clamp based upon the reflected selected portion of the beam of light.

3. The clamp of claim 2 in combination with a means for optically identifying, the means for optically identifying comprising:

a lamp for omitting a selected beam of light, the beam of light being directed onto the surface pad, the surface pad absorbing a portion of the beam of light and reflecting a selected portion of the beam of light;

an optical sensor for receiving the reflected selected portion of the beam of light, the optical sensor being in a first state in response to receiving the selected portion of the beam of light and a second state in response to not receiving the selected portion of a beam of light; and

means operatively associated with the optical sensor for indicating the optical sensor being in the first or the second state.

4. The clamp of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises oppositely facing leading and trailing edges each having a selected width, the width of the leading edge being less than the width of the trailing edge for facilitating a selected orientation of the clamp prior to insertion of the clamp into a clamp receiving area.

5. The clamp of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises first and second oppositely facing lengthwise sides, each of the sides having a notch for receiving a means for preventing lengthwise movement of the slide clamp.

6. A safety apparatus for preventing non-occlusion of fluids through a flow lumen of an I.V. tube mounted to a pump, the safety apparatus comprising:

a clamp receiving an I.V. tube in an operative position, the clamp being selectively movable between a flow lumen occluding position wherein the clamp collapses an outer wall of an I.V. tube in the operative position and a non-occluding position wherein the clamp does not collapse an outer wall of an I.V. tube in the operative position;

a clamp receiving area on the pump;

means within the clamp receiving chamber for selectively moving the clamp between the flow lumen occluding position and the non-occluding position;

a non-obstructive sensor within the clamp receiving area, the non-obstructive sensor being in a first state in response to the presence of the clamp in a selected position in the slide clamp receiving area and a second state in response to the absence of the slide clamp from the selected position; and

means operatively associated with the non-obstructive sensor for disabling the pump in response to the non-obstructive sensor being in the second state.

7. The safety apparatus of claim 6 wherein the clamp comprises a slide clamp having a regulating aperture, the regulating aperture having an occluding slot and a non-occluding passage, an I.V. tube in an operative position extending through the regulating aperture being slidable transverse to its length between the occluding slot and the non-occluding passage so that a lumen of an I.V. tube in the operative position may be selectively occluded or not occluded by sliding the I.V. tube between the occluding slot and the non-occluding passage.

8. The safety apparatus of claim 6 wherein the non-obstructive sensor comprises an electric eye.

9. The safety apparatus of claim 6 the non-obstructive sensor comprises:

a pad on the clamp for reflecting a selected portion of a beam of light;

a light source in the clamp receiving area directing a beam of light onto the pad; and

an optical sensor for receiving the selected portion of the beam of light reflected off the pad, the optical sensor being in a first state in response to receiving the selected portion of a beam of light and a second state in response to not receiving the selected portion of a beam of light.

10. The safety apparatus of claim 6 wherein the non-obstructive sensor further comprises means for determining compatibility of the slide clamp with the sensor, the non-obstructive sensor being in a first state when the clamp is compatible with the safety apparatus and a second state when the clamp is not compatible with the safety apparatus

11. The safety apparatus of claim 6 wherein the pump comprises a peristaltic pump.

12. A slide clamp for selectively occluding and not occluding a flow lumen of an I.V. tube, the slide clamp comprising:

a body having oppositely facing top and bottom surfaces;

a regulating aperture defined by an internal peripheral wall in the body extending transversely between the top and the bottom surfaces, the regulating aperture having an occluding slot and a non-occluding passage, an I.V. tube in an operative position extending through the regulating aperture being slidable transverse to its length relative to the body between the occluding slot and the non-occluding passage so that a lumen of an I.V. tube in the operative position may be selectively occluded or not occluded by sliding the I.V. tube relative to the body between the occluding slot and the non-occluding passage; and

means on the body for facilitating automated identification of the slide clamp.

13. The slide clamp of claim 12 further comprising means on the slide clamp for preventing sliding of the slide clamp lengthwise of an I.V. tube in an operative position extending through the non-occluding passage solely by force of gravity, the sliding prevention means permitting movement of the slide clamp lengthwise of the I.V. tube upon application of a predetermined force greater than the force of gravity.

14. The slide clamp of claim 13 wherein the means for preventing sliding comprises the non-occluding passage having at least two contact points having a selected distance between them, an I.V. tube extending through the aperture having an outer diameter that is no less than the selected distance.

15. The slide clamp of claim 14 wherein the peripheral wall, when viewed in cross-section, has a substantially flat I.V. tube contacting surface of a length less than the distance between the top and the bottom surfaces for minimizing friction between the I.V. tube contacting surface and an I.V. tube in the operative position as the I.V. tube is slid between the occluding slot and the non-occluding passage.