Fluid transfer devices and methods of use

• US 8,973,622 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2013
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Lopez, George A., Fangrow, Thomas F., Leissling, Peter, Janssen, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust, Timothy L
• Assistant Examiner(s): KELLY, TIMOTHY PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US13/937,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20130292002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 141/9, 141 23- 27, 141329-330, 141301-302, 141/94, 141/98, 141318-322, 604/408, 604410-411, 604/407, 604/416, 604/905
• US Class Current: 141/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/10 Bag-type containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2058 having multiple connecting ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2062 with directional valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2075 for external venting
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2082 for gas filtration
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2089 Containers or vials which are to be joined to each other in order to mix their contents combinations of vial and syringe for mixing their contents A61J1/2096
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/76 for fluid level
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/22 Valves or arrangement of valves A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0003 provided with automatic fluid control means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Some embodiments disclosed herein related to a device for transferring precise amounts of fluid from at least one source container to a at least one target container. In some embodiments, the fluid is first transferred from the source container (e.g., a vial) through a connector to an intermediate measuring container (e.g., a syringe). In some embodiments air can pass through an air inlet and enter the vial to compensate for the volume of fluid withdrawn from the vial. An air check valve or a bag or a filter can prevent the fluid from escaping through the air inlet. The precisely measured amount of fluid can then be transferred from the intermediate measuring container to the target container (e.g., an IV bag). In some embodiments the connector can include a source check valve and a target check valve to direct fluid first from the source container to the intermediate measuring container and then from the intermediate measuring container to the target container. Some embodiments of the device can include a motor and a controller for automatically actuating a plunger of the syringe to transfer the desired amount of fluid.

Claims

1. A disposable fluid transfer system for use with a substantially entirely closed system for the transfer of medical fluids between or among different medical fluid containers by an electronically controlled fluid dispensing system, the disposable fluid transfer system configured to be removably attachable to the electronically controlled fluid dispensing system, the disposable fluid transfer system comprising:

a first connector configured to be connected in fluid communication with a first fluid container, the first connector comprising a first sealing aperture that is configured to resist fluid within the disposable fluid transfer system from passing through the first sealing aperture when the first sealing aperture is closed;

a second connector configured to be connected in fluid communication with a second fluid container, the second connector comprising a second sealing aperture that is configured to resist fluid within the disposable fluid transfer system from passing through the second sealing aperture when the second sealing aperture is closed;

a measuring region, or an interface configured to be connected to a measuring region;

a first valve configured to permit the passage of fluid from the first fluid container to the measuring region and configured to generally obstruct the passage of fluid from the measuring region to the first fluid container;

a second valve configured to permit the passage of fluid from the measuring region to the second fluid container and to generally obstruct the passage of fluid from the second fluid container to the measuring region; and

an interaction portion comprising a generally transparent housing portion and a generally opaque portion on a generally rigid valve portion, the interaction portion forming a portion of the disposable fluid transfer system such that the interaction portion is configured to permit the electronically controlled fluid dispensing system to detect the condition of the second sealing aperture when the valve portion moves into a light path in the electronically controlled fluid dispensing system;

wherein the disposable fluid transfer system is configured to be attachable and detachable by a user from the electronically controlled fluid dispensing system, and wherein the disposable fluid transfer system is configured to resist fluid within the disposable fluid transfer system from passing outside of the disposable fluid transfer system upon disconnection of the disposable fluid transfer system from the first fluid container and the second fluid container.

2. An electronically enabled fluid transfer system comprising:

an electronically controlled fluid dispensing system; and

the disposable fluid transfer system of claim 1 removably attached to the electronically controlled fluid dispensing system.

3. The disposable fluid transfer system of claim 1, further comprising a first fluid container in fluid communication with the first connector.

4. The disposable fluid transfer system of claim 3, wherein the first fluid container is a medicinal vial.

5. The disposable fluid transfer system of claim 1, further comprising an adapter configured to removably connect to the first connector between the disposable fluid transfer system and the first fluid container, wherein the adapter comprises a sealing aperture that is configured to resist fluid within the adapter from passing through the sealing aperture of the adapter after the adapter is detached from the first connector.

6. The disposable fluid transfer system of claim 1, further comprising a second fluid container in fluid communication with the second connector.

7. The disposable fluid transfer system of claim 6, wherein the second fluid container is an IV bag.

8. The disposable fluid transfer system of claim 7, further comprising a selectively closeable fluid connector configured to removably connect to the second connector between the disposable fluid transfer system and the IV bag, wherein the selectively closeable fluid connector is configured to resist fluid within the IV bag from passing through the selectively closeable fluid connector after the IV bag is detached from the second connector.

9. The electronically enabled fluid transfer system of claim 2, wherein the electronically controlled fluid dispensing system comprises a light emitter and a light detector, and wherein the electronically controlled fluid dispensing system is configured to detect the condition of the second sealing aperture is open by detecting that light emitted from the light emitter has not been detected by the light detector.

10. The disposable fluid transfer system of claim 1, wherein a second interaction portion of the disposable fluid transfer system is configured to permit the electronically controlled fluid dispensing system to detect that at least a portion of the disposable fluid transfer system is attached to the electronically controlled fluid dispensing system, and wherein the second interaction portion of the disposable fluid transfer system comprises a generally opaque portion of an outer housing.

11. The disposable fluid transfer system of claim 1, wherein the interaction portion of the disposable fluid transfer system comprises at least a portion of a closeable male luer connector.

12. The electronically enabled fluid transfer system of claim 2, wherein the electronically controlled fluid dispensing system is capable of detecting air bubbles in the disposable fluid transfer system.

13. The disposable fluid transfer system of claim 1, wherein the first connector is a closeable male luer connector, or wherein the second connector is a closable male luer connector.

14. The disposable fluid transfer system of claim 1, wherein the disposable fluid transfer system is configured to transfer chemotherapy fluids.

15. The disposable fluid transfer system of claim 1, further comprising a measuring region connected to the interface.

16. The disposable fluid transfer system of claim 1, wherein the disposable fluid transfer system comprises the measuring region.

17. The disposable fluid transfer system of claim 1, wherein the first valve is integrally formed with the second valve as a single unitary component.

18. The disposable fluid transfer system of claim 1, wherein the second connector comprises a valve member movable between a closed position and an open position, the valve member configured to be in the open position when the second fluid container is attached to the second connector, and the valve member configured to close automatically when the second fluid container is detached from the second connector.

19. The electronically enabled fluid transfer system of claim 2, wherein the light path in the electronically controlled fluid dispensing system is an infrared light path.