Self priming tubing set for an infusion device

• US 5,419,770 A
• Filed: 01/12/1994
• Issued: 05/30/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: IMED Corp (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Crass, Richard E., Thompson, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILKENS, FRANK
• Application Number:
  US08/180,217
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 604/118, 604/122-126, 604/131-133, 604/135, 604/190, 604/246, 604/252, 604/257, 604/280, 128/DIG. 12
• US Class Current: 604/123
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1402 Priming
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1657 Filter with membrane, e.g. membrane, flat sheet type infusion filter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7527 liquophilic, hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/152 pressurised by contraction of elastic reservoirs containers for dispensing contents by contraction of an elastic bag provided therein, in general B65D83/0061
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/165 Filtering accessories, e.g. blood filters, filters for infusion liquids A61M1/14 , A61M1/34, A61M1/3627, A61M1/3679, A61M1/3687 take precedence; needle sets with incorporated air inlet filters A61M5/162
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/168 Means for controlling media flow to the body or for metering media to the body, e.g. drip meters, counters ; Monitoring media flow to the body flow control in general G05D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/38 using hydrophilic or hydrophobic filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/385 using hydrophobic filters

Abstract

A self priming tubing set for infusing a medical solution from an infusion device to a patient includes a supply tube, an air/particle filter, and a restrictor tube. The air/particle filter is adapted to remove air, particularly air contained in the supply tube at the initiation of fluid flow. The air/particle filter also removes particles from the medical solution. The restrictor tube is adapted to reduce the pressure of the medical solution from the delivery pressure of the infusion device to about a mean venous pressure of the patient. The length and inside diameter of the restrictor tube are calibrated to achieve a desired pressure drop dependent on design criteria of the system. The tubing set also includes a slide clamp for closing fluid flow from the supply tube and a connector for connection to a patient interface such as a hypodermic needle or cannula.

Claims

1. A self priming tubing set for infusing a medical solution from an elastomeric infusion device into a patient at an infusion pressure, said tubing set comprising:

a supply tube, said supply tube having an inner diameter of about 0.038 inch to about 0.042 inch and a length of about 32 inches to about 38 inches, said supply tube having an upstream end and a downstream end, said upstream end connectable with said elastomeric infusion device;

an air/particle filter having an inlet section connected to said downstream end of said supply tube, an outlet section, and a main body section having an air filter element and a particle filter element mounted therein, with said air/particle filter adapted to provide a tortuous path for fluid flow, and with said air filter element situated to contact and remove air from the fluid flow and said particle filter element in contact with fluid flow to remove particles from said medical solution;

a restrictor tube having an upstream end connected to said outlet section of said air/particle filter, said restrictor tube receiving said medical solution at an input pressure, and said restrictor tube having an inside diameter of between about 0.011 inches to about 0.013 inches and a length of about 8 inches to 18 inches thereby lowering the input pressure of said medical solution to said infusion pressure which is above a mean venous pressure of said patient; and

a connector connected to said downstream end of said restrictor tube, said connector connectable to a patient interface device.

2. The tubing set as claimed in claim 1, wherein said restrictor tube has a volume less than about 75 microliters.

3. A self priming tubing set for use with an elastomeric infusion device for infusing medical solutions from the infusion device into a patient comprising:

a supply tube connectable for fluid communication with said elastomeric infusion device, said supply tube having an inside diameter of about 0.038 inch to about 0.042 inch and a length of about 32 inches to about 38 inches;

an air/particle filter in fluid communication with said supply tube for removing air from said supply tube and particles from said medical solution, said air/particle filter including an inlet section connected to said supply tube, an air filter element connected to an air vent in fluid contact with said medical solution, a particle filter element in fluid contact with said medical solution, and an outlet section;

a restrictor tube in fluid communication with said outlet section of said air/particle filter, said restrictor tube providing a constant pressure drop at a constant flow of said medical solution, wherein the length of said restrictor tube is between 8.43 inches and 16.44 inches, and wherein the inside diameter of said restrictor tube is between 0.011 inches and 0.013 inches; and

a connector connected to a distal end of said restrictor tube and adaptable for connection to a patient interface.

4. The tubing set as claimed in claim 3, wherein a total pressure drop from said elastomeric infusion device to said patient interface is about 6 PSIG.

5. The tubing set as claimed in claim 3, wherein said restrictor tube has a volume less than about 75 microliters.