Intravenous infusion apparatus

• US 5,797,881 A
• Filed: 10/24/1996
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amir Gadot
• Original Assignee: Amir Gadot
• Inventors: Gadot, Amir
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YU, JUSTINE ROMANG
• Application Number:
  US08/736,394
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 604/131, 604/132, 604/133, 604/134, 604/246, 604/119, 604/319, 604/153, 600/578, 600/579
• US Class Current: 604/133
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/148 flexible, e.g. independent bagsA61M5/155 takes precedence

Abstract

An intravenous infusion system is provided comprising (a) a mechanical clamp for expelling intravenous infusion liquids from a bag containing liquids; (b) a hollow tube connected to the mechanical clamp; and (c) a hollow needle connected to the hollow tube capable of being inserted into the vein of a patient requiring an intravenous infusion. The mechanical clamp comprises a pair of superposed members hingedly connected at one end thereof, each of the members normally being curved outwardly from the one end and diverging therefrom when in the normally opened position, the members having cooperating locking portions at the distal end, the members being formed of a rigid but resiliently deformable material, each of the members being divided into a plurality of sections by longitudinally extending slit portions, whereby when the bag is enclosed within the clamp and the locking portions are cooperatively engaged, the curvature of the members is reversed and a positive pressure is applied thereto to thereby expel the liquid from the bag.

Claims

1. An intravenous infusion system comprising a mechanical clamp for expelling an infusion liquid from a substantially rectangular, flexible bag containing said liquid, said bag being of a rectangular shape having a length and a width, with the length being greater than the width and having a port and spout for connection of an injection needle by a flexible tube at a first short side thereof and a perforated lug at a second short side thereof, said mechanical clamp comprising a pair of superposed, rectangular plates of a resilient material of a length greater than the length of said bag and of a width substantially co-extensive with the width of said bag in an emptied state of the bag, said plates being connected along first ends thereof by a hinge assembly and being provided along second ends thereof with an operating locking assembly, each of said two plates being divided into at least two sections by at least one longitudinally extending slot, said bag being configured to be placed between said two plates with its lug adjacent to said hinge assembly and with said port and spout adjacent said locking assembly, whereupon by closing said clamp over said bag by said locking assembly, positive pressure is applied to said bag to expel said liquid out through said port to said needle.

2. The infusion system of claim 1, wherein both said plates of said clamp are outwardly curved in an open state of said clamp with their first ends connected by said hinge assembly.

3. The infusion system of claim 1, wherein said locking assembly comprises hook-like portions at the second end of one of said plates and cooperating tongues at the second end of the other plate.

4. The infusion system of claim 1, wherein each of said plates is provided with a perforation close to its first end cooperating with said perforation in said lug of said bag, permitting fixation of said bag in said clamp by a pin pushed through said perforations in said plates and in said lug.

5. The infusion system of claim 1, wherein one of said plates is provided with a perforation close to its first end cooperating with said perforation in said lug of said bag, and wherein the other plate is provided with an inwardly directed pin-like protrusion configured to be passed through said perforation in said lug and through said perforation in said one plate.

6. The infusion system of claim 1, wherein said hinge assembly includes a cylindrical, hollow plastic hinge integral with the first ends of said resilient plates.

7. The infusion system of claim 1, wherein said hinge assembly includes a hinge pin.

8. The infusion system of claim 1, wherein each said plate is divided into two sections by a longitudinal slot starting at said second end of each plate and terminating in the form of a round hole close to said first end.

9. The infusion system of claim 1, wherein each said plate is divided into three sections by two longitudinal slots starting at the second end of each plate and each slot terminating in the form of a round hole close to said first end.

10. The infusion system of claim 1, wherein said plates are made of a plastic resilient material.

11. The infusion system of claim 1, wherein each said plate is provided with a recess in a central portion of its second end, permitting the passage of said flexible tube and access to the spout of said bag.

12. The infusion system of claim 10, wherein two metallic contact plates of a battery-operated alarm system are attached to insides of said two plates in juxtaposed alignment, configured to operate the alarm system when the infusion bag is empty.