Temperature sensing device for selectively measuring temperature at desired locations along an intravenous fluid line

• US 20040249336A1
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medical Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Medical Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Faries, Durward I. Jr., Blankenship, Calvin, Heymann, Bruce R., Hendrix, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,540,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/04 Tools for specific apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14 Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1483 using flexible bags externally pressurised by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1689 Drip counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/445 the media being heated in the reservoir, e.g. warming bloodbags
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/143 for measuring surface temperatures

Abstract

A temperature sensing device measures the temperature of a fluid at selected locations along an IV fluid line. The device is secured to a selected portion of the IV line and includes a temperature sensor for measuring fluid flowing within that line. The device is coupled to a temperature display device to display the measured temperature. The temperature sensing device may include: a housing with a lower cover to engage the line and a temperature sensor; a holder movable along the line and including a temperature sensor; a housing with a lower member including a tip to pierce and measure temperature of fluid within the line; a resilient member with a spiral configuration and a tip to pierce and measure temperature of fluid within the line; a ‘T’-type fitting including a temperature sensor; or a ‘Y’-type fitting including a temperature sensor in the form of a needle.

Claims

1-22. -22. (Canceled).

23. A method of measuring temperature of a fluid at various locations along an intravenous fluid line extending between a fluid source and a patient via a temperature sensing device including a receptacle to receive and retain a portion of said fluid line and to allow said fluid line to extend continuously through said temperature sensing device and a temperature sensor to measure temperature of fluid within said retained fluid line portion, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining a desired location along said fluid line residing at any of a plurality of fluid line locations between said fluid source and said patient from which to measure temperature of said fluid;

(b) selectively securing said temperature sensing device to a portion of said fluid line corresponding to said desired location, wherein said temperature sensing device is selectively securable to said fluid line at any of said plurality of fluid line locations and said plurality of fluid line locations includes at least one proximal fluid line location toward said fluid source and at least one distal fluid line location toward said patient;

(c) measuring a temperature of fluid flowing through said selected portion of said fluid line via said temperature sensor; and

(d) displaying the measured temperature via a temperature monitor in communication with said temperature sensor.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein step (b) further includes:

(b.1) sliding said temperature sensing device along said fluid line to said desired fluid line portion.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein step (b) further includes:

(b.1) inserting said desired fluid line portion through an opening in said temperature sensing device and into said receptacle; and

(b.2) securing said desired fluid line portion within said receptacle by moving a cover member secured to said temperature sensing device to close said opening.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein step (b.1) further includes:

(b.1.1) securing said desired fluid line portion within said temperature sensing device via a tapered section of said receptacle.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein said temperature sensing device includes a plurality of resilient prongs and said receptacle is disposed on said temperature sensing device between said resilient prongs, and step (b) further includes:

(b.1) inserting said desired fluid line portion between said prongs and into said receptacle; and

(b.2) inserting said temperature sensor between said prongs to secure said temperature sensor proximate said desired fluid line portion.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein each of said prongs includes a transversely extending projection, and step (b.2) further includes:

(b.2.1) engaging said temperature sensor with said projections to retain said temperature sensor between said prongs.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein step (b) further includes:

(b.1) securing said temperature sensing device to a body part of said patient.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein said temperature sensor includes a sensing tip disposed within said receptacle, and step (b) further includes:

(b.1) piercing a wall of said desired fluid line portion with said sensing tip; and

step (c) further includes;

(c.1) directly measuring the temperature of fluid flowing through said desired fluid line portion with said sensing tip.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said temperature sensing device further includes an upper member pivotally connected to a lower member, each of said upper and lower members includes a groove disposed on an engaging surface, and said grooves of said upper and lower members are aligned on said engaging surfaces to form said receptacle in the form of a channel upon contact between said engaging surfaces, and step (b.1) further includes:

(b.1.1) inserting said desired fluid line portion into said groove on said engaging surface of said lower member; and

(b.1.2) pivoting at least one of said upper and lower members with respect to the other of said upper and lower members to contact said engaging surfaces of said upper and lower members and force said sensing tip to pierce said wall of said desired fluid line portion.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said engaging surfaces include a locking mechanism, and step (b.1.2) further includes:

(b.1.2.1) locking said upper member against said lower member.

33. The method of claim 23, wherein said temperature sensing device further includes a resilient member arranged in a spiral configuration with first and second resilient member ends overlapping each other and separated by a gap, and step (b) further includes:

(b.1) inserting said desired fluid line portion within said gap; and

(b.2) directing said desired fluid line portion through said gap to be received and secured within said receptacle.

59. The method of claim 23, wherein step (d) further includes:

(d.1) printing said measured temperature via said temperature monitor.

60. The method of claim 23, wherein step (d) further includes:

(d.1) recording measured temperatures of said fluid via said temperature monitor.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein step (d) further includes:

(d.2) printing said recorded measured temperatures via said temperature monitor.

34. A method of measuring temperature of a fluid flowing within an intravenous fluid line at selected locations along said fluid line via a temperature sensing device including a fitting including first and second open ends, a passage disposed within said fitting and extending between said first and second open ends to permit fluid flowing within said fluid line to flow through said fitting and a connection port disposed on an exterior surface of said fitting and in fluid communication with said passage, and a temperature sensor to measure temperature of fluid flowing through said fitting, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) securing said first and second ends of said fitting to selected portions of said fluid line;

(b) measuring a temperature of fluid flowing through said fitting via said temperature sensor and generating a temperature signal indicating said measured fluid temperature to facilitate electronic display of said measured fluid temperature; and

(c) electronically displaying the temperature measured by said temperature sensor via a display device.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein step (b) further includes:

(b.1) measuring the fluid temperature by directly contacting said temperature sensor with fluid flowing through said fitting.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein said fitting further includes a receptacle disposed within said connection port and in direct contact with fluid flowing within said passage, and step (b) further includes:

(b.1) inserting said temperature sensor within said connection port to contact said receptacle; and

(b.2) measuring the temperature of said receptacle to indirectly determine the temperature of fluid flowing within said fitting.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said connection port extends from an outer surface of said fitting, said temperature sensing device further includes a securing member to secure said temperature sensor to said connection port, wherein said securing member includes a recess defined therein and said temperature sensor is disposed within said recess, and step (b.1) further includes:

(b.1.1) securing said temperature sensor to said connection port via said securing member, wherein said temperature sensor is positioned in contact with said receptacle.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said securing member and said connection port include a locking mechanism to releasably secure said securing member to said connection port, and step (b.1.1) further includes:

(b.1.1.1) locking said securing member to said connection port by disposing said connection port within said recess to enable said temperature sensor to contact said receptacle.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said locking mechanism includes at least one projection removably attached to an outer surface of said connection port and at least one engagement member disposed on said securing member to engage a corresponding projection, and said method further comprises:

(d) removing said at least one projection from said connection port via said corresponding engagement member in response to disengagement of said securing member with said connection port to thereby prevent re-engagement of said connection port with said securing member and re-use of said fitting.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein said connection port includes a flexible membrane to seal an opening in said connection port from said passage and said temperature sensor includes a sensing tip, and step (b) further includes:

(b.1) penetrating said flexible membrane with said sensing tip to insert said sensing tip into said channel; and

(b.2) directly measuring the temperature of fluid flowing through said fitting with said sensing tip.

62. The method of claim 34, wherein step (c) further includes:

(c.1) printing said measured temperature via a temperature monitor.

63. The method of claim 34, wherein step (c) further includes:

(c.1) recording measured temperatures of said fluid via a temperature monitor.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein step (c) further includes:

(c.2) printing said recorded measured temperatures via said temperature monitor.

41-58. -58. (Canceled).