Device to Indicate Priming of an Infusion Line

• US 20100063445A1
• Filed: 09/08/2009
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Black, Larry, Desai, Siddharth B., Sternberg, Shmuel, Pauley, Robin G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,398,590 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1402 Priming
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3125 specific display means, e.g. to indicate dose setting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/205 comprising air venting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/331 used as turbidity change detectors, e.g. for priming-blood or plasma-hemoglubine-interface detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/20 Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/141 with capillaries for restricting fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3146 Priming, e.g. purging, reducing backlash or clearance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/385 using hydrophobic filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/005 Indication of measured value by colour change

Abstract

A priming indicator for a fluid infusion system includes a luer cap or other component of the infusion system having an indicator surface covered by a membrane. The membrane exhibits a first visual characteristic, such as being opaque, when dry and exhibits a second characteristic, such as becoming less opaque, when wet. Once the membrane becomes wet, indicia on the surface, which may be provided on a rod at least partially covered by the membrane, becomes visible, thereby indicating an intravenous tube to which the luer cap is secured has been primed or is nearly primed. The indicator may alternately be employed at an upstream end of an infusion set, such as at the port of a medical bag providing a supply of fluid, to indicate a low level of fluid in the medical bag.

Claims

1. A device for indicating priming of an infusion line, comprising:

a membrane that exhibits a first visual characteristic when dry and that exhibits a second visual characteristic when wet; and

a surface covered by the membrane, the surface including indicia that, upon the membrane becoming wet, becomes visible.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the membrane is a microporous structure comprising strands that change from an opaque condition to a less-opaque condition when exposed to fluid having a refractive index that matches or substantially matches the refractive index of the strands.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the surface is provided on a rod provided within an end of a luer cap that is connected to an end of a tube.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising a hydrophobic vent to allow air to flow out of the luer cap while preventing fluid from flowing therethrough.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the membrane is provided on a tubular casing provided on at least one component of the infusion set and the surface is a fluid-permeable tubular member.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the tubular casing is provided on at least one of a luer, a portion of tubing, or a port of a medical bag of an infusion set.

7. A device for administering fluid from a reservoir of an intravenous fluid, comprising:

a tubing line connected at one end of the reservoir and permitting the intravenous fluid to flow therethrough;

a luer connected to the tubing line downstream of the reservoir and configured to receive a luer cap; and

a luer cap received on the luer, the luer cap including;

a membrane;

a surface covered by the membrane, the surface including indicia that presents a visually discernable difference to the visual impression of the membrane, whereby the membrane includes a material that upon comes into contact with the fluid, alters the transparency characteristics of the material such that the visual impression of the surface is sufficiently visual to discern a difference in appearance of the luer cap.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the indicia on the surface includes at least one of a group including a color that is distinct from a color of the membrane when dry, text, and an image.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the membrane is a microporous structure comprised of strands that change from an opaque condition to a less-opaque condition when exposed to fluid having a refractive index that matches or substantially matches the refractive index of the strands.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the luer cap includes a housing and cavity, wherein the surface is provided on a member inserted into the cavity of the housing.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the rod has a cross-sectional shape that is one of circular, rectangular, and hexagonal.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the luer cap further comprises a hydrophobic vent to allow air to flow out of the luer cap while preventing fluid from flowing therethrough.

13. A method for administering fluid, comprising:

providing a reservoir of an intravenous fluid;

providing a tubing line connected at one end of the reservoir and providing the intravenous fluid to flow therethrough;

providing a luer connected to the tubing line downstream of the reservoir and configured to receive a luer cap;

providing a luer cap on the luer, at least one of the luer cap, the tubing line, or the luer including;

a membrane that exhibits a first visual characteristic when dry and that exhibits a second visual characteristic when wet;

a surface covered by the membrane, the surface including indicia that, upon the membrane exhibiting the second visual characteristic, becomes visible; and

waiting to administer the intravenous fluid until after the membrane becomes transparent, rendering the indicia on the surface visible from a position outside of the luer cap.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, in providing the luer cap on the luer, the membrane is a microporous structure comprising strands that turn transparent when exposed to fluid having a refractive index that matches or substantially matches the refractive index of the strands.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first visual characteristic includes the membrane being opaque and the second visual characteristic includes the membrane being less opaque than when the membrane is dry.

16. An infusion set comprising:

a medical bag initially containing a volume of fluid to be delivered to a patient;

a length of tubing having a first end that may be placed in fluid communication with the fluid of the medical bag; and

a second length of tubing, one of the first length of tubing and second length of tubing including a fluid-permeable tubular member enclosed in a tubular casing, the tubular casing comprised of a membrane that exhibits a first visual characteristic when in contact with the fluid and a second visual characteristic when dry, appearance of the second characteristic providing an indication the general absence of fluid.

17. The infusion set of claim 16, wherein the first visual characteristic includes the membrane being less opaque than when the membrane is dry and the second visual characteristic includes the membrane being opaque.

18. The set of claim 17 further comprising:

a sensor associated with the membrane, the sensor generates a signal upon the presence of the second visual characteristic;

a controller operable to receive the signal generated by the sensor; and

an alarm device in communication with the controller, the controller, upon detection of the signal, operating the alarm device to generate an alarm.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the first length of tubing includes one of a port of a medical bag and an administration set.