Drug container entry mechanisms and method
First Claim
1. A cassette for use with an intravenous infusion apparatus including a pumping mechanism which administers an infusate to a patient, wherein said cassette is removably attachable to the intravenous infusion apparatus, and wherein said cassette comprises:
- a drug container entry mechanism having an infusate flow umen configured such that infusate flows from the container and into the flow lumen;
a sheath for said entry mechanism, wherein said sheath is configured so that said drug container entry mechanism is not unsheathed until said cassette is safely engaged with a mating surface of said intravenous infusion apparatus;
a means for securing an infusate delivery conduit to the infusate flow lumen such that infusate can flow from the flow lumen into the delivery conduit;
a means for preventing flow of infusate from the flow lumen into the delivery conduit and into a patient in an uncontrolled manner; and
an indexing means for aligning the cassette when the cassette is attached to the intravenous infusion apparatus in a manner that allows proper administration of infusate to the patient.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention of this application relates generally to intravenous (IV) infusion of drugs to patients, and more particularly to aspects of an IV infusion system comprising an infusate cassette and an infusate container. The present invention provides a drug infusion cassette that incorporates a strong vial spike that may be non-metal, a means for sheathing the spike when it is not in use, an anti-free flow device, and other beneficial features such as an air entrainment lockout mechanism, quality assurance tags, stopcocks made of soft materials and means of securing tubing to the cassette with a minimum of individual parts. The drug cassette can be used with an automated spiking mechanism comprising a motorized vial holder that holds a vial. The spike remains sheathed if the drug cassette is not fully engaged with a mating surface of devices such as a pumping unit or a sedation and analgesia delivery system.
117 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A cassette for use with an intravenous infusion apparatus including a pumping mechanism which administers an infusate to a patient, wherein said cassette is removably attachable to the intravenous infusion apparatus, and wherein said cassette comprises:
-
a drug container entry mechanism having an infusate flow umen configured such that infusate flows from the container and into the flow lumen; a sheath for said entry mechanism, wherein said sheath is configured so that said drug container entry mechanism is not unsheathed until said cassette is safely engaged with a mating surface of said intravenous infusion apparatus; a means for securing an infusate delivery conduit to the infusate flow lumen such that infusate can flow from the flow lumen into the delivery conduit; a means for preventing flow of infusate from the flow lumen into the delivery conduit and into a patient in an uncontrolled manner; and an indexing means for aligning the cassette when the cassette is attached to the intravenous infusion apparatus in a manner that allows proper administration of infusate to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A cassette for use with an intravenous infusion apparatus including a pumping mechanism which administers an infusate to a patient, wherein said cassette is removably attachable to the intravenous infusion apparatus, and wherein said cassette comprises:
-
a vial spike assembly comprising a spike for entering a drug container, at least one infusate flow lumen configured such that infusate flows from the container and into the flow lumen, an outlet connector to secure an infusate delivery conduit to the infusate flow lumen such that infusate can flow from the flow lumen into the delivery conduit, and a lever arm connected to a flow control valve to prevent flow of infusate through said infusate delivery conduit in an uncontrolled manner; a sheath for said vial spike assembly having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein said sheath is configured so that said drug container entry mechanism remains sheathed until said cassette is safely engaged with a mating surface of said intravenous infusion apparatus; and an indexing means for aligning the cassette when the cassette is attached to the intravenous infusion apparatus in a manner that allows proper administration of infusate to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A method for extracting from a vial infusate for use in an intravenous infusion apparatus comprising the steps of:
-
providing a cassette with a vial trocar assembly, said trocar assembly having a spike with an infusion flow lumen and a means to prevent infusate flow from said lumen, and a sheath, wherein said sheath is configured so that said spike is not unsheathed until said cassette is safely engaged with a matins surface of said intravenous infusion apparatus; affixing said cassette to a drug pumping apparatus; attaching a vial of infusate to said cassette such that said spike is simultaneously unsheathed and inserted into said vial and such that flow of infusate from said vial through said flow lumen and said delivery conduit is permitted; initiating means to generate flow of infusate from said vial, through said flow lumen, into said delivery conduit; and upon completion of infusate delivery, removing said vial such that said spike is simultaneously removed from said vial and sheathed and such that flow of infusate from said vial through said flow lumen and said delivery conduit is simultaneously disabled. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
-
Specification