Transparent color-coding of intravenous tubing and intravenous fluid reservoir

• US 5,423,750 A
• Filed: 12/16/1993
• Issued: 06/13/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth M. Spiller
• Original Assignee: Kenneth M. Spiller
• Inventors: Spiller, Kenneth M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): VANOVER, PERRY
• Application Number:
  US08/168,470
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 604/80-86, 604/56, 604/92, 604/173, 128/DIG. 26
• US Class Current: 604/80
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6081 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14 Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1407 Infusion of two or more substances

Abstract

A system for the intravenous administration of single or multiple mendicants and/or nutrients to a patient through single or multiple intravenous tubings from single or multiple intravenous fluid sources where a portion of the intravenous tubing and a portion of the intravenous fluid source container are clearly marked with multiple indicia allowing for rapid visual identification and distinction between different tubes and containers, and where a section of the intravenous tubing at the patient'"'"'s body and a section of the intravenous fluid container remains clear, colorless and transparent allowing for rapid and easy visual quality control and monitoring of the transfusion process. In a preferred embodiment, the multiple indicia comprise different colors, wherein each set of tubing and fluid reservoir is easily visually distinguished from the other, and also in the preferred embodiment the indicia is arranged in such a way so as to always provide a clear, colorless and transparent section of intravenous tubing immediately adjacent the injection site on the patient'"'"'s body and a clear, colorless and transparent section of the container. Wherein said clear, colorless and transparent sections allowing easy visual quality control and monitoring of the transfusion.

Claims

1. A system for intravenous administration of at least two different fluids through at least two different intravenous tubes to a patient, said system comprising:

a) first and second intravenous fluid storage containers for storing first and second volumes of intravenous fluids for transfusion into a patient'"'"'s bloodstream at two spaced apart, first and second injection sites on the patient'"'"'s body;

b) first and second lengths of intravenous tubing, connected between said first and second intravenous fluid storage containers and said first and second injection sites on said patient'"'"'s body;

c) said first length of intravenous tubing being connected between said first intravenous fluid storage container and said first injection site, said first length of intravenous tubing thereby allowing fluid communication between said first volume of intravenous fluid and said patient'"'"'s blood stream via said first injection site;

d) said second length of intravenous tubing being connected between said second intravenous fluid storage container and said second injection site, said second length of intravenous tubing thereby allowing fluid communication between said second volume of intravenous fluid and said patient'"'"'s blood stream via said second injection site;

e) said first and second lengths of intravenous tubing each being subdivided into two sections each, a proximal section, and a distal section;

f) each said proximal section located proximal to the patient, in connection with each said injection site on said patient'"'"'s body and running toward each said intravenous fluid storage container;

g) each said distal section located distal to the patient, in connection with each said intravenous fluid storage container and running toward said patient'"'"'s body;

h) each said proximal section being shorter than each said distal section, each said proximal section beginning at each said injection site on said patient'"'"'s body and running a short distance from each said injection site, with each said distal section running the remaining distance to each said intravenous fluid storage container;

i) each said proximal section being clear, colorless and transparent;

j) each said distal section being colored continuously and completely throughout its entirety;

k) said color of each said distal section being transparent in nature, such that each said distal section is transparent throughout its entirety as well as being colored continuously and completely throughout its entirety;

l) color of said distal tubing section of said first length of intravenous tubing being of a first tubing color; and

m) color of said distal tubing section of said second length of intravenous tubing being of a second tubing color.

2. The system for intravenous administration of at least two different fluids through at least two different intravenous fluid lines to a patient as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a) said first intravenous fluid storage container is of a first container color;

b) said first container color being the same color as said first tubing color;

c) said second intravenous fluid storage container is of a second container color; and

d) said second container color being of the same color as said second tubing color.

3. The system for intravenous administration of at least two different fluids through at least two different intravenous fluid lines to a patient as defined in claim 1, wherein each said proximal section is about 5-10 inches in length.

4. The system for intravenous administration of at least two different fluids through at least two different intravenous fluid lines to a patient as defined in claim 1, wherein said color of each said distal section is impregnated into the tube, said color being continuous and transparent.

5. A system for intravenous administration of fluids through intravenous tubes to a patient, said system comprising:

a) an intravenous fluid storage container for storing a volume of intravenous fluid for transfusion into a patient'"'"'s bloodstream at an injection site on the patient'"'"'s body;

b) a length of intravenous tubing, connected between said intravenous fluid storage container and said injection site on said patient'"'"'body;

c) said length of intravenous tubing allowing fluid communication between said volume of intravenous fluid in said intravenous fluid storage container and said patient'"'"'s blood stream via said injection site on said patient'"'"'s body;

d) said length of intravenous tubing being subdivided into two sections, a proximal section, and a distal section;

e) said proximal section located proximal to the patient, in connection with said injection site on said patient'"'"'s body and running toward said intravenous fluid storage container;

f) said distal section located distal to the patient, in connection with said intravenous fluid storage container and running toward said patient'"'"'s body;

g) said proximal section being shorter than said distal section, said proximal section beginning at said injection site on said patient'"'"'s body and running a short distance from said injection site, with said distal section running the remaining distance to said intravenous fluid storage container;

h) said proximal section being clear, colorless and transparent;

i) said distal section being colored continuously and completely throughout its entirety; and

j) said coloring of said distal section being transparent in nature, such that said distal section is transparent throughout its entirety as well as being colored continuously and completely throughout its entirety.

6. The system for the intravenous administration of fluids through intravenous tubes to a patient as defined in claim 5, wherein said intravenous fluid storage container is colored, said color of said intravenous fluid storage container being of the same color as said color of said distal section of intravenous tubing.

7. The system for the intravenous administration of fluids through intravenous tubes to a patient as defined in claim 5, wherein said proximal section is about 5-10 inches in length.

8. The system for the intravenous administration of fluids through intravenous tubes to a patient as defined in claim 5, wherein said color of said distal section tubing is impregnated into the tube, said color being continuous and transparent.

9. A system for intravenous administration of at least two different fluids through at least two different intravenous tubes to a patient, said system comprising:

a) first and second intravenous fluid storage containers for storing first and second volumes of intravenous fluids for transfusion into a patient'"'"'s bloodstream at two spaced apart, first and second injection sites on the patient'"'"'s body;

b) first and second lengths of intravenous tubing, connected between said first and second intravenous fluid storage containers and said first and second injection sites on said patient'"'"'s body;

c) said first length of intravenous tubing being connected between said first intravenous fluid storage container and said first injection site, said first length of intravenous tubing thereby allowing fluid communication between said first volume of intravenous fluid and said patient'"'"'s blood stream via said first injection site;

d) said second length of intravenous tubing being connected between said second intravenous fluid storage container and said second injection site, said second length of intravenous tubing thereby allowing fluid communication between said second volume of intravenous fluid and said patient'"'"'s blood stream via said second injection site;

e) said first and second lengths of intravenous tubing each subdivided into two sections each, a proximal section, and a distal section;

f) each said proximal and each said distal sections being divided by an injection port;

g) each said injection port allowing fluid communication between each said proximal and each said distal sections of tubing;

h) each said proximal section located proximal to the patient, in connection with each said injection site on said patient'"'"'s body and running toward each said injection port;

i) each said distal section located distal to the patient, in connection with each said intravenous fluid storage container and running toward each said injection port;

j) each said proximal section being shorter than each said distal section, each said proximal section beginning at each said injection site on said patient'"'"'s body and running a short distance from each said injection site to each said injection port, with each said distal section running the remaining distance from each said injection port to each said intravenous fluid storage container;

k) each said proximal section being clear, colorless and transparent;

l) each said distal section being colored continuously and completely throughout its entirety;

m) said coloring of each said distal section being transparent in nature, such that each said distal section of tubing is transparent throughout its entirety as well as being colored continuously and completely throughout its entirety;

n) said color of each said distal section of said intravenous tubing being impregnated into the tube, said color being continuous and transparent;

o) the color of said distal tubing section of said first length of intravenous tubing being of a first tubing color; and

p) the color of said distal tubing section of said section length of intravenous tubing being of a second tubing color.

10. The system for the intravenous administration of at least two different fluids through at least two different intravenous tubes to a patient as defined in claim 9, wherein each said proximal section is about 5-10 inches in length.

11. The system for the intravenous administration of at least two different fluids through at least two different intravenous tubes to a patient as defined in claim 9, wherein said injection ports are clear, colorless and transparent.

12. A system for intravenous administration of fluids through intravenous tubes to a patient, said system comprising:

a) an intravenous fluid storage container for storing a volume of intravenous fluid for transfusion into a patient'"'"'s bloodstream at an injection site on the patient'"'"'s body;

b) a length of intravenous tubing, connected between said intravenous fluid storage container and said injection site on said patient'"'"'s body;

c) said length of intravenous tubing allowing fluid communication between said volume of intravenous fluid and said patient'"'"'s blood stream via said injection site on said patient'"'"'s body;

d) said length of intravenous tubing being subdivided into two sections, a proximal section, and a distal section;

e) said proximal and said distal sections being divided by an injection port;

f) said injection port allowing fluid communication between said proximal and said distal sections of tubing;

g) said proximal section located proximal to the patient, in connection with said injection site on said patient'"'"'s body and running toward said injection port;

h) said distal section located distal to the patient, in connection with said intravenous fluid storage container and running toward said injection port;

i) said proximal section being shorter than said distal section, said proximal section beginning at said injection site on said patient'"'"'s body and running a short distance from said injection site to said injection port, with said distal section running the remaining distance from said injection port to said intravenous fluid storage container;

j) said proximal section being clear, colorless and transparent;

k) said distal section being colored continuously and completely throughout its entirety;

l) said color of said distal section being transparent in nature, such that said distal section is transparent throughout its entirety as well as being colored continuously and completely throughout its entirety; and

m) said color of said distal section being impregnated into the tube, said color being continuous and transparent.

13. The system for intravenous administration of fluids through intravenous tubes to a patient as defined in claim 12, wherein said proximal section of intravenous tubing is about 5-10 inches in length.

14. The system for intravenous administration of fluids through intravenous tubes to a patient as defined in claim 12, wherein said injection port is clear, colorless and transparent.