Infusion device cartridge

• US 6,508,791 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2000
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ramon Guerrero
• Original Assignee: Ramon Guerrero
• Inventors: Guerrero, Ramon
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anhtuan T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DeSanto, Matthew F.
• Application Number:
  US09/493,558
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 604/892.1, 604/6.12, 604/27, 604/36, 604/506, 604/512, 604/124, 604/125, 604/68, 604/71, 604/72, 604/82, 604/151, 604/173, 604/258, 604/183, 604/184, 604/186, 604/491, 604/187, 604/191, 604/247
• US Class Current: 604/183
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/04 having pierceable self-sealing members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/24 Check- or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1408 in parallel, e.g. manifolds, sequencing valves access sites A61M39/02; tube connectors A61M39/10

Abstract

An infusion apparatus comprises a plurality of ports, a plurality of one-way directional valves, and a joint. Each port is adapted to receive and secure a syringe to allow for a flow of a liquid through the syringe into the port. Each one-way directional valve is in fluid communication with a respective port of the plurality of ports to enable the liquid to flow away from the port. The joint has a plurality of inputs to receive the flow from the plurality of one-way directional valves. The inputs are in fluid communication with each individual port of the plurality of ports. The joint has an output.

Claims

1. An infusion apparatus, comprising:

(a) a plurality of ports, each port adapted to receive and secure a corresponding syringe to allow for a flow of a liquid from said corresponding syringe into and through said port of said plurality of ports, wherein each port of said plurality of ports enables said corresponding syringe to be removed and replaced with another syringe at will;

(b) a plurality of one-way directional valves, each one-way directional valve in fluid communication with a respective port of said plurality of ports to enable said liquid to flow from said port of said plurality of ports and away from said port of said plurality of ports to created a liquid flow;

(c) a joint having a plurality of inputs to receive said liquid flow from said plurality of one-way directional valves, each input of said plurality of inputs in fluid communication with a corresponding individual port of said plurality of ports via a one-way directional valve, said joint having an output to direct said liquid flow received from plurality of one-way directional valves away from said joint, said joint also having a y-shaped structure positioned after said plurality of inputs and before said output; and

(d) a cartridge embracing said joint and said plurality of one-way directional valves, said cartridge to secure said plurality of ports, said plurality of one-way directional valves, and said joint together into a single unit, said cartridge to secure said plurality of ports in a fixed position to enable said syringe to be easily received, removed, and replaced at will.

2. The infusion apparatus of claim 1, wherein each port of said plurality of ports are needleless ports.

3. The infusion apparatus of claim 1, wherein said syringe is equipped with a needle and each port of said plurality of ports is equipped to receive said needle.

4. The infusion apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a locking apparatus secured to said joint to secure said output of said joint to an intravenous tubing port.

5. The infusion apparatus of claim 4, wherein said intravenous tubing port is secured to intravenous tubing.

6. The infusion apparatus of claim 5, wherein said intravenous tubing extends to a patient.

7. The infusion apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cartridge is comprised of plastic material.

8. The infusion apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cartridge is transparent to enable said flow of said liquid to be monitored.

9. The infusion apparatus of claim 1, wherein said liquid is a medicine.

10. The infusion apparatus of claim 9, wherein said medicine is anesthesia medicine.

11. The infusion apparatus of claim 10, wherein said anesthesia medicine is selected from a group consisting of a hypnotic agent, a muscle relaxant, and a narcotic.

12. The infusion apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a syringe holder to hold and secure each said syringe secured to each port of said plurality of ports.

13. The infusion apparatus of claim 12, wherein said syringe holder used to hold and secure each said corresponding syringe received by and secured to each port of said plurality of ports is further comprised of a hollow housing enclosing said plurality of ports and a portion of each corresponding syringe sufficient to secure each said corresponding syringe to each port of said plurality of ports, said hollow housing having a first opening to permit each port of said plurality of ports to be inserted inside said hollow housing and a second opening to permit each said corresponding syringe to extend outside said hollow housing to be operated and to be removed at will from each port of said plurality of ports.

14. The infusion apparatus of claim 1, wherein each port is in fluid communication with each one-ay directional valve via intravenous tubing.

15. The infusion apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a securing apparatus to secure said infusion apparatus in a fixed location.

16. The infusion apparatus of claim 1, further wherein said output of said joint extends out of said cartridge.

17. The infusion apparatus of claim 1, further wherein said cartridge surrounds said joint and said plurality of one-way directional valves.

18. An infusion apparatus, comprising:

(a) a first syringe port adapted to receive and secure a first syringe to allow for a first flow of a first liquid from said first syringe into said first syringe port;

(b) a second syringe port adapted to receive and secure a second syringe to allow for a second flow of a second liquid from said second syringe into said second syringe port;

(c) a first unidirectional valve in fluid communication with said first syringe port to receive and enable said first flow of said first liquid from said first syringe to continue and to prevent any backflow of any liquid into said fist syringe;

(d) a second unidirectional valve in fluid communication with said second syringe port to receive and enable said second flow of said second liquid from said second syringe to continue and to prevent any backflow of any liquid into said second syringe;

(e) a joint having a first input port and a second input port, said first input port in fluid communication with said first unidirectional valve to receive said first flow and said second input port in fluid communication with said second unidirectonal valve to receive said second flow, said joint having a y-shaped structure positioned between said first input port and said second input port together and said output port, said joint connecting said first input port and said second input port to an output port to enable said first flow of said first liquid received from said first input port and said second flow of said second liquid received from said second input port to continue out of said output; and

(f) a cartridge to secure said first syringe port and said second syringe port, said first unidirectional valve and said second unidirectional valve, and said joint together, said cartridge to embrace said first unidirectional valve and said second unidirectional valve and said joint, said cartridge to secure said first syringe port and said second syringe port into a fixed position to enable said first syringe and said syringe to be easily received, removed, and, if necessary, replaced.

19. The infusion apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

(g) a third syringe port adapted to receive and secure a third syringe to allow for a third flow of a third liquid from said third syringe into said third syringe port;

(h) a third unidirectional valve in fluid communication with said third syringe port to receive and enable said third flow of said third liquid from said third syringe to continue and to prevent any backflow of any liquid into said third syringe; and

wherein said joint having a third input port in fluid communication with said third unidirectional valve to receive said third flow of said third liquid and said joint connecting said third input port to said output; and

further wherein said joint having a y-shaped structure positioned between said first input port, said second input port, and third input port together and said output port, said joint having a y-shaped structure positioned between said first input port, said second input port, and said third input port together and said output port, said joint connecting said first input port, said second input port, and said third input port to an output port to enable said first flow of said first liquid received from said first input port and said second flow of said second liquid received from said second input port and said third flow of said third liquid to continue out of said output; and

further wherein said joint cartridge to secure said first syringe port and said second syringe port, said third syringe port, said first unidirectional valve, said second unidirectional valve, said third unidirectional valve, and said joint together, said cartridge to embrace said first unidirectional valve, said second unidirectional valve, said third unidirectional valve, and said joint together, said cartridge to secure said third syringe port into a fixed position to enable said third syringe to be easily received, removed, and, if necessary, replaced.

20. The infusion apparatus of claim 18, wherein said first syringe port and said second syringe port are needleless.

21. The infusion apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a locking apparatus secured to said output of said joint to secure said output to an intravenous tubing port.

22. The infusion apparatus of claim 18, wherein said cartridge is transparent to enable said first the flow of said first liquid and said second flow of said second liquid to be monitored.

23. The infusion apparatus of claim 18, wherein said first liquid and said second liquid are anesthesia medicines selected from a group consisting of a hypnotic agent, a muscle relaxant, and a narcotic.

24. The infusion apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a syringe holder to hold and secure said first syringe and said second syringe.

25. The infusion apparatus of claim 18, wherein said syringe holder used to hold said first syringe and said second syringe is further comprised of a hollow housing enclosing said first syringe port and said second syringe port and a portion of said syringe and said second syringe sufficient to secure said first syringe to said first syringe port and said second syringe to said second syringe port, said hollow housing having a first opening to permit said first syringe port and said second syringe port to be inserted inside said hollow housing and a second opening to permit said first syringe and said second syringe to extend outside said hollow housing to permit said first syringe and said second syringe be operated and to be removed at will from said first syringe port and said second syringe port, respectively.

26. The infusion apparatus of claim 18, further wherein said output of said joint extends out of said cartridge.

27. The infusion apparatus of claim 18, further wherein said cartridge encloses said first unidirectional valve and said second unidirectional valve and said joint.