Intravenous tube safety apparatus

• US 5,290,239 A
• Filed: 05/15/1992
• Issued: 03/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: McVey, John, Lynn, Kenneth, Grajo, Theresa, Vehovsky, Gabriel, Myren, Eric, Classey, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirsch, Paul J.
• Application Number:
  US07/884,498
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 604/131, 604/250, 604/151, 128/DIG. 12, 128/DIG. 13, 251/7
• US Class Current: 604/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/281 Automatic tube cut-off devices, e.g. squeezing tube on detection of air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/287 Wedge formed by a slot having varying width, e.g. slide clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14228 with linear peristaltic action, i.e. comprising at least three pressurising members or a helical member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/12 Pressure infusion

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for use in a peristaltic pump 20 which prevents an inadvertent free flow condition prior to loading or after removal of an I.V. tube 26 in the peristaltic pump 20 and which also prevents the inadvertent occlusion of a loaded I.V. tube 26 in the peristaltic pump 20. A standard I.V. tube 26 has a slide clamp 109 provided thereon. The apparatus includes an I.V. tube groove 29 into which the I.V. tube 26 is positioned, a slide clamp receiving area 62 into which the slide clamp 109 is inserted, and a biased sliding member 81 which the inserted slide clamp 109 engages such that the I.V. tube 26 cannot be loaded into the apparatus without the slide clamp 109 occluding the I.V. tube 26. The present invention also contemplates a slide clamp 109'"'"' compatible with the apparatus having a surface pad 125 for facilitating automated identification of the slide clamp 109'"'"' in cooperation with a non-obstructive sensor 85 in the safety apparatus. The present invention further contemplates a slide clamp 109'"'"' having an I.V. tube receiving aperture 110'"'"' with an inner diameter profile which minimizes friction between I.V. tube contacting surfaces 126 of the aperture 110'"'"' as an I.V. tube 26 is slid transverse to its length within the aperture 110'"'"' and which has a surface pad 125 for facilitating automated identification of the slide clamp.

Claims

1. For use with an intravenous administration pump, a safety apparatus comprising:

a slide clamp receiving area for receiving a slide clamp contained on I.V. tubing;

a sliding member located within the slide clamp receiving area and being capable of sliding from an unloaded to a loaded position, the sliding member being in the loaded position when the slide clamp is in the slide clamp receiving area in an occluding position and in the unloaded position when the slide clamp is in the slide clamp receiving area in a non-occluding position;

retainer arms contained around the slide clamp receiving area, the retainer arms being capable of retaining the slide clamp in the slide clamp receiving area; and

a release pin cooperatively associated with the sliding member and the retainer arms such that upon activation of the release pin, the retaining arms act to retain the slide clamp in the slide clamp receiving area while the sliding mechanism unloads, thereby urging the slide clamp into a non-occluding position on the I.V. tubing while the slide clamp is retained partially within the slide clamp receiving area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sliding member includes a cam portion and the retainer arms include cooperating cam follower portions such that when the sliding member is loaded, the retainer arms are also loaded.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further including an occluding biased safety clamp which is capable of occluding the I.V. tube when the inserted slide clamp is in the non-occluding position.

4. An intravenous administration pump comprising:

housing containing operating mechanisms and electronics of the intravenous administration pump;

a door pivotally connected to the housing;

an I.V. tube groove defined in the housing, the I.V. tube groove being operationally positioned over a peristaltic motion mechanism such that when I.V. tubing is loaded into the I.V. tube groove, peristaltic pumping action is capable of being imparted on the I.V. tube;

a slide clamp receiving area contained on the I.V tube groove, the slide clamp receiving area being adapted to receive a slide clamp contained on the I.V. tubing;

an outwardly biased sliding member contained within the receiving area which upon insertion of an occluded slide clamp in the slide clamp receiving area loads;

inwardly biased retainer arms contained around the slide clamp receiving area, the retainer arms being pivotable from a loaded to an unloaded position, the retainer arms being capable in the unloaded position of retaining the slide clamp in the receiving area; and

a release pin cooperatively associated with the door, sliding member, and the retainer arms such that upon activation of the release pin by closing the door, the retaining arms unload to retain the slide clamp partially in the receiving area and unload the sliding member to reorient the slide clamp into a non-occluding position on the I.V. tubing.

5. The pump of claim 4 further including an occluding biased safety clamp which acts to occlude the I.V. tube when the door is open and the inserted slide clamp is in the non-occluding position.

6. The pump of claim 4 wherein the sliding member includes a cam portion and the retainer arms include cooperating cam follower portions such that when the sliding member is loaded, the retainer arms are also loaded.

7. An apparatus for preventing free flow during loading of an I.V. tube into a peristaltic pump comprising:

a tube groove into which the I.V. tubing is positioned;

a slide clamp receiving area into which an occluded slide clamp contained on the I.V. tubing is inserted;

a biased sliding member which is loaded when an occluded slide clamp is in the slide clamp receiving area;

retainer arms operatively associated with the sliding member such that when an occluded slide clamp is in the slide clamp receiving area the retainer arms are in a loaded but non-engaged position; and

a release pin which upon activation unloads the sliding member which reorients the slide clamp from an occluded to a non-occluding position and unloads the retaining arms into an engaged position which secures the non-occluding slide clamp in the receiving area.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the sliding member includes a cam portion and the retainer arms include cooperating cam follower portions such that when the sliding member is loaded, the retainer arms are also loaded.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further including an occluding biased safety clamp which is capable of occluding the I.V. tube when the inserted slide clamp is in the non-occluding position.