Apparatus and methods of dispensing fluid intravenously and flushing lines of intravenous fluid administration systems

• US 9,770,551 B1
• Filed: 01/13/2017
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joel S. Faden
• Original Assignee: Joel S. Faden
• Inventors: Faden, Joel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Landry, II, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US15/405,776
• Time in Patent Office: 256 Days
• Field of Search: 604131-155, 604246, 604247
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1403 Flushing or purging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/148 flexible, e.g. independent bagsA61M5/155 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407

Abstract

Apparatus and methods of dispensing fluid intravenously to a subject, and of flushing a line of an intravenous fluid administration apparatus, are provided. The apparatus may include a reservoir pump configured to operate in fluid communication with an upstream source of a first fluid and a downstream pressure-operated valve. The reservoir pump may also be configured to, during operation, automatically refill itself with the first fluid from the first upstream source. The downstream pressure-operated valve may be configured to operate in fluid communication with the reservoir pump and a second fluid source upstream of the pressure-operated valve, and to, during operation, dispense the first fluid to tubing downstream of the pressure-operated valve based on a pressure condition within the pressure-operated valve exceeding a threshold pressure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing fluid intravenously to a subject, comprising:

a first pressure-operated valve configured to;

operate in fluid communication with an upstream first source of a first fluid, and an upstream reservoir pump configured to automatically refill itself with a second fluid from a second upstream fluid source;

during operation, pass therethrough to tubing downstream of the first pressure-operated valve, under a first pressure condition, the first fluid from the upstream first fluid source; and

during operation, automatically shut off fluid communication with the upstream first fluid source and pass therethrough to the tubing downstream of the first pressure-operated valve, under a second pressure condition, the second fluid from the upstream reservoir pump, wherein the second pressure condition is a condition of higher pressure than the first pressure condition.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second upstream fluid sources are the same source and the first and second fluids are the same type of fluid.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first and second upstream fluid sources are a bag and the first and second fluids are a solution comprising saline.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a chamber configured to;

operate in fluid communication with the second upstream fluid source and the reservoir pump; and

provide an indication that, during operation, the chamber and tubing disposed between the chamber and the reservoir pump are filled with the second fluid.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second pressure-operated valve configured to;

operate in fluid communication with the upstream first source of the first fluid or the upstream reservoir pump;

operate in fluid communication with another upstream reservoir pump configured to automatically refill itself with a third fluid from a third upstream fluid source;

during operation, pass therethrough to tubing downstream of the second pressure-operated valve, under a third pressure condition, the first fluid from the upstream first fluid source or the second fluid from the upstream reservoir pump; and

during operation, pass therethrough to the tubing downstream of the second pressure-operated valve, under a fourth pressure condition, the third fluid from the another upstream reservoir pump, wherein the fourth pressure condition is a condition of higher pressure than the third pressure condition.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the third pressure condition is a condition of the same pressure as the first pressure condition.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a manifold comprising the first pressure-operated valve and the second pressure-operated valve.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the manifold further comprises a third pressure operated valve comprising a port, the port configured to receive a needle of a syringe, the third pressure operated valve configured to:

operate in fluid communication with the upstream first source of the first fluid, the upstream reservoir pump, or the another upstream reservoir pump;

operate in fluid communication with the syringe;

during operation, pass therethrough to tubing downstream of the third pressure operated valve, under a fifth pressure condition, the first fluid from the upstream first fluid source, the second fluid from the upstream reservoir pump, or the third fluid from the another upstream reservoir pump; and

during operation, pass therethrough to the tubing downstream of the third pressure operated valve, under a sixth pressure condition, a fourth fluid from the syringe, wherein the sixth pressure condition is a condition of higher pressure than the fifth pressure condition.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a stopcock comprising a switch and a port configured to receive a needle of a syringe, wherein the stopcock is configured to:

during operation, when the switch is disposed in a first position, pass the first fluid or the second fluid therethrough to tubing downstream of the stopcock; and

during operation, when the switch is disposed in a second position, pass a third fluid from the syringe therethrough to tubing downstream of the stopcock.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first fluid is a solution comprising saline and the second fluid is a solution comprising heparin.

11. An apparatus for dispensing fluid intravenously to a subject, comprising:

a reservoir pump configured to;

operate in fluid communication with an upstream source of a first fluid and a downstream pressure-operated valve; and

during operation, automatically refill itself with the first fluid from the first upstream source; and

the downstream pressure-operated valve configured to;

operate in fluid communication with the reservoir pump and a second fluid source upstream of the pressure-operated valve; and

during operation, automatically shut off fluid communication with the second fluid source to dispense the first fluid to tubing downstream of the pressure-operated valve based on a pressure condition within the pressure-operated valve exceeding a threshold pressure.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the reservoir pump comprises a bellows.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the reservoir pump comprises a piston and a spring.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the reservoir pump comprises an adjustable filling volume.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the reservoir pump comprises a check valve configured to, during operation, prevent the first fluid from flowing toward the upstream source of the first fluid.

16. A method of flushing a line of an intravenous fluid administration system, comprising:

introducing a first fluid into tubing configured to transport fluid for intravenous infusion to a subject;

operating a reservoir pump upstream of the tubing to dispense a predetermined amount of a second fluid through a pressure-operated valve upstream of the tubing and at a fluid pressure exceeding a threshold pressure of the pressure-operated valve; and

releasing the reservoir pump such that the reservoir pump automatically fills itself with the predetermined amount of the second fluid from a source upstream of the reservoir pump and such that the pressure-operated valve automatically reconfigures itself to receive a third fluid from a fluid source upstream of the pressure-operated valve and at a fluid pressure less than the threshold pressure.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the fluid source upstream of the reservoir pump and the fluid source upstream of the pressure-operated valve are the same source and the second and third fluids are the same type of fluid.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of introducing further comprises introducing the first fluid through an injection port, or an inlet port of a three-way stopcock, disposed downstream of the pressure-operated valve.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of introducing further comprises introducing the first fluid into an inlet port of the pressure-operated valve and at a pressure exceeding the threshold pressure of the pressure-operated valve to shut off fluid communication with the third fluid source.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the third fluid is a solution comprising saline and the first fluid comprises a drug or an antibiotic.