Apparatus for infusing blood and other related fluids into a patient's body

• US 4,613,327 A
• Filed: 09/10/1985
• Issued: 09/23/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Haig V. Tegrarian, Mikael Ciftan
• Original Assignee: Haig V. Tegrarian, Mikael Ciftan
• Inventors: Ciftan, Mikael, Tegrarian, Haig V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kruter, J. L.
• Application Number:
  US06/774,381
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 222/63, 222/95, 222/334, 222/61, 222/103, 128/214 E, 128/214 F, 128/DIG. 12, 128/DIG. 13, 604/65, 604/67, 604/50, 604/154, 604/245, 604/118, 604/121, 604/140, 604/27, 604/141-150, 477/415
• US Class Current: 604/141
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1483 using flexible bags externally pressurised by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/12 Pressure infusion

Abstract

This disclosure describes a fully automatic, compact and portable operational device for repetitious intravenous (parenteral) infusion of fluids such as blood or blood derivatives, plasma, platelets, serum, dextrose, Ringer'"'"'s solution and saline contained in pliant bags, at flow rates that not only are normally encountered but also at massive flow rates that are rather often called for but for which no such automatic device has existed. This is accomplished in a manner that frees the operator completely from attending to the device except for changing over to additional fluid bags for successive administration of fluids in such pliant bags and without loss of time. The fast response of the device is due to the special design that insures fast response both in the pressure application and retraction parts of the cycle. The device produces automatically any desired constant pressure over a wide range of pressures onto the pliant bags, over the whole compression phase of the pressure cycle. The pressure is maintained at that constant value both in time and over the entire surface of the pliant bags of various sizes.

Claims

1. Portable apparatus for infusing a fluid from a pliant fluid container having an exit port, through a tubular member into a human body at rates of normal to massive infusion, including

(a) a boxlike member having fixed top, bottom, side and end walls

(b) a rigid movable pressure plate within said boxlike member extending between the side walls thereof, and normally lying in spaced relation to the end walls, thereby forming a compression chamber between said movable wall and one of said fluid end walls

(c) a support member carried by said movable plate on the compression chamber side thereof, for holding the pliant fluid container in engagement with said pressure plate

(d) a door in one of the sides of said boxlike member providing access to the compression chamber, for inserting a filled, pliant fluid container into the compression chamber, and removing empty pliant fluid containers therefrom

(e) a piston and cylinder mounted in said boxlike member, one end of said piston being engaged with said pressure plate for moving the latter through the compression chamber and squeezing the pliant fluid container between the pressure plate and said one end wall to discharge the fluid in the fluid container through the exit port thereof

(f) air pressure means operatively engaged with said piston and cylinder for actuating the former to maintain a constant pressure on the fluid container to discharge the entire contents thereof

(g) a pressure regulator connected to said air pressure means to selectively vary the range of discharge of fluid from the pliant fluid container.

(h) power means in circuit with said air compressor for activating the latter

(i) switch means in circuit with said air compressor for halting the movement of said pressure plate after the pliant fluid bag has be emptied, and

(j) spring means for retracting said piston and pressure plate upon actuation of said switch means

(k) said pressure plate engaging an end wall of said boxlike member after it has been retracted to its initial position.

2. Portable apparatus for infusing a fluid from a pliant fluid container having an axis port, through a tubular member into a human body at rates of normal to massive infusion, including

(a) a boxlike member having fixed top, bottom, side and end walls

(b) a rigid movable wall within this boxlike member extending between the side walls thereof and normally lying in spaced relation to the end walls, thereby forming a compression chamber between said movable wall and one of said fixed end walls

(c) a support member carried by said movable wall in the compression chamber side thereof, for holding the pliant fluid container in engagement with said movable wall

(d) a door in one of the side walls of said boxlike member providing access to said compression chamber, for inserting a filled pliant fluid container into the compression chamber, and removing the empty pliant fluid container therefrom

(e) a pressure cylinder having a piston rod and piston head connected to one end of the piston rod mounted in said boxlike member, the free end of said piston rod being engaged with said movable wall, for moving the latter through the compression chamber and squeezing the pliant fluid containing between the movable wall an said one end wall to discharge the fluid through the exit port thereof

(f) an air compressor

(g) power means for actuating said air compressor

(h) an air line connecting said air compressor to said cylinder, whereby a continuous pressure is exerted on the pliant fluid container'"'"'s

(i) pressure regulating means in said air line between the air compressor and cylinder to selectively vary the rate of discharge of fluid from the pliant fluid container

(j) a normally open electrical switch in circuit with said power means and air compressor mounted on the compression chamber side of said movable wall, said electrical switch engaging said one fixed end wall upon depletion of the fluid in the pliant bag to close the switch, whereby said power means and air compressor are deactivated, and

(k) a convolute spring mounted on said piston rod between said piston head and said fixed end walls of the boxlike member for automatically reversing the direction of movement of said movable wall upon closing of said electrical switch, and retracting the piston rod, piston head and movable wall to their original position, at which time the empty fluid container is removed.

3. The portable apparatus of claim 2, wherein

(a) said pressure regulating means includes a pressure regulator

(b) a solenoid valve in said air line between said air compressor and cylinder

(c) said solenoid valve including extrance and axis air vent ports

(d) electronic control means in circuit with said solenoid valve for allowing pressurized air from the pressure regulator to pass through the entrance air vent port of said solenoid valve to said cylinder, and to close the entrance port thereof during operation of the apparatus

4. (e) said electronic control means being triggered by the closing of said electrical switch to channel air through the exit air vent port of said solenoid valve and close the entrance air vent port thereof, thereby enabling said piston rod, piston and movable wall to retract under urging of said convolute spring.

6. The portable apparatus of claim 4, with the addition of

(a) an eighth means for amplifying the force exterted by the compressed air on the piston of said second means to a degree that fluid may be expelled from the pliant fluid container at a massive rate

(b) said fourth means selectively controlling the pressure of the compressed air delivered by the air compressor to the compression member for varying the rate of discharge of fluid from the fluid container at rates of normal to massive infusion.

8. The portable apparatus of claim 6, wherein

(a) said movable wall is flat and substantially coextensive in height and width with the pliant fluid container.

5. Portable apparatus for infusing a fluid from a pliant fluid container having an exit port, through a tubular member into a human body, including

(a) a boxlike member having fixed top, bottom, side and end walls

(b) a rigid movable wall within said boxlike member extending between the side walls thereof, and normally lying in spaced relation to the end walls thereby forming a compression chamber between said movable wall and one of said fixed end walls

(c) a support member carried by said movable wall on the compression chamber side thereof, for holding the pliant fluid container in engagement with said movable wall

(d) a first means in said boxlike member providing access to said compression chamber for inserting a filled fluid container into the compression chamber, and removing empty pliant fluid containers therefrom

(e) a second means comprising a piston and cylinder, mounted in said boxlike member, one end of which piston is engaged with said movable wall, for moving the latter through the compression chamber and squeezing the pliant fluid container between the movable wall and said one end wall, to discharge the fluid in the fluid container through the exit port thereof and the tubular member into the body

(f) a third means operatively engaged with said piston for maintaining a continuous pressure on the pliant fluid container for discharging the contents thereof

(g) said third mans comprising an air compressor

(h) an air line connecting said air compressor to said cylinder for transmitting compressed air

(i) a fourth means for regulating said air compressor to selectively vary the rate of discharge of fluid from the pliant fluid container

(j) said fourth means comprising a pressure regulator in said air line between the air compressor and cylinder

(k) a fifth means for automatically reversing the direction of movement of said movable wall after the fluid container has been emptied

(l) a sixth means for halting movement of the movable wall after it has been retracted to its initial position

(m) power means in circuit with said third means for actuating the same, and

(n) a solenoid valve in said air line and in circuit with said power means for controlling the flow of air to said cylinder.

7. The portable apparatus of claim 5, wherein

(a) said air compressor includes a piston

(b) the cross sectional area of the piston of said second means being substantially greater than the cross sectional area of the piston of said air compressor, to amplify the force exerted by the piston of said air compressor on the compressed air, said amplification force being in the ratio of the cross sectional area of the piston of said second means to the cross sectional area of the piston of the air compressor.

9. Portable apparatus for pumping a fluid from a pliant fluid container having an exit port through a tubular member into a human body, including

(a) a boxlike member having fixed top, bottom, side and end walls

(b) a rigid movable wall within said boxlike member extending between the side walls thereof, and normally lying in spaced relation to the end walls, thereby forming a compression chamber between said movable wall and one of said fixed end walls

(c) a support member carried by said movable wall in the compression chamber side thereof, for holding the pliant fluid container in engagement with said movable wall

(d) a first means in said boxlike member providing access to said compression chamber for inserting a filled fluid container into the compression chamber, and removing empty fluid containers therefrom

(e) a second means comprising a piston and cylinder, mounted in said boxlike member, one end of which piston is engaged with said movable wall, for moving the latter through the compression chamber and squeezing the pliant fluid container between the movable wall and said one end wall, to discharge the fluid in the fluid container through the exit port thereof

(f) a third means operatively engaged with said piston for maintaining a continuous pressure on the pliant fluid container discharging the contents thereof

(g) a fourth means for regulating said third means to selectively vary the rate of discharge of fluid from the pliant fluid container

(h) a fifth means for automatically reversing the direction of movement of said movable wall after the fluid container has been emptied

(i) said fifth means comprising an electrical switch in circuit with said power means and said third means, for cutting off the former

(j) spring means engages with said piston for urging the latter to a retracted position

(k) a sixth means for halting movement of the movable wall after it has been retracted to its initial position, and

(l) power means in circuit with said third means for actuating the same.

10. Portable apparatus for pumping a fluid from a pliant fluid container having an exit port through a tubular member into a human body, including

(a) a boxlike member having fixed top, bottom, side and end walls

(b) a rigid movable wall within said boxlike member extending between the side walls thereof, and normally lying in spaced relation to the end walls, thereby forming a compression chamber between said movable wall and one of said fixed end walls

(c) a support member carried by said movable wall in the compression chamber side thereof, for holding the pliant fluid container in engagement with said movable wall

(d) a first means in said boxlike member providing access to said compression chamber for inserting a filled fluid container into the compression chamber, and removing empty fluid containers therefrom

(e) a second means comprising a piston and cylinder, mounted in said boxlike member, one end of which piston is engaged with said movable wall, for moving the latter through the compression chamber and squeezing the pliant fluid container between the movable wall and said one end wall, to discharge the fluid in the fluid container through the exit port thereof

(f) a third means operatively engaged with said piston for maintaining a continuous pressure on the pliant fluid container discharging the contents thereof

(g) a fourth means for regulating said third means to selectively vary the rate of discharge of fluid from the pliant fluid container

(h) a fifth means for automatically reversing the direction of movement of said movable wall after the fluid container has been emptied, and

(i) a sixth means comprising a fixed end wall of said boxlike member engaged by said movable wall for halting movement thereof.

12. The portable apparatus of claim 10 wherein

(a) the cross sectional area of the compression member piston is substantially larger than the cross sectional area of the air compressor piston to amplify the force exerted by the piston of said air compressor on the compressed air, said amplification force being in the ratio of the cross sectional area of the piston of the compression member to the cross sectional area of the piston of the air compressor

(b) said amplified force being transmitted by said compression member piston to said movable wall for expelling fluid from the fluid container at a massive rate when said regulating means are adjusted to permit application of the maximum force to the pliant fluid container.

11. Portable apparatus for pumping a fluid from a pliant fluid container having an exit port, through a tubular member into a human body, including

(a) a boxlike member having fixed top, bottom, side and end walls

(b) a rigid movable wall within said boxlike member extending between the side walls thereof, and normally lying in spaced relation to the end walls, thereby forming a compression chamber between said movable wall and one of said fixed end walls

(c) a first means for holding the pliant fluid container in engagement with said movable wall within the compression chamber

(d) a compression member comprising a piston and cylinder mounted in said boxlike member, one end of which piston is engaged with said movable wall, for moving the latter through the compression chamber and squeezing the pliant fluid container between the movable wall and said one end wall, to discharge the fluid in the container through the exit port and tubular member into the human body

(e) an air compressor including a piston and cylinder

(f) an air line for delivering compressed air from said air compressor to said compression member

(g) power means for actuating said air compressor to deliver compressed air to said compression member to effect movement of said movable wall into squeezing engagement with the pliant fluid container

(h) a second means for amplifying the force exerted by said air compressor through the compression member on the movable wall to a degree that fluid may be expelled from the pliant fluid container at a massive rate, and

(i) pressure regulating means in said air line to selectively control the pressure of the compressed air delivered by the air compressor to the compression member for varying the rate of discharge of fluid from the pliant fluid container at rates of normal to massive infusion.

13. The portable apparatus of claim 11, wherein

(a) said movable wall is flat and substantially coextensive in height and width with the pliant fluid container.

14. The portable apparatus of claim 11, with the addition of

(a) a third means for automatically reversing the direction of movement of said movable wall after the fluid container has been emptied, and

(b) a fourth means for halting movement of the movable wall after it has been retracted to its intial position.