Surgery – Means for introducing or removing material from body for... – Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-09
2001-07-17
Nguyen, Anhtuan T. (Department: 3763)
Surgery
Means for introducing or removing material from body for...
Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
C604S254000, C604S414000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06261267
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an intravenous (IV) spike for attachment to a container of a parenteral fluid. More particularly the invention relates to an IV spike and drip chamber having an automatic shut off mechanism which stops infusion into the patient when the container is empty. More particularly the invention relates to an IV spike and drip chamber having a shut off mechanism and a vent mechanism in the spike for removing air from the drip chamber when the container is changed.
2. Related Information
It is a common practice in treating patients, particularly patients who must be cared for under emergency conditions, to administer medications into the patient intravenously. An intravenous solution, commonly referred to as parenteral fluid, is fed from a container, bottle or I.V. bag, through a tubing and a catheter which has been inserted into the patient's vein. The catheter is secured to the patient by a strip of adhesive tape. The IV fluid container is punctured by a spike which often includes a drip chamber for calculating the flow rate and visual inspection that fluid is flowing (dripping) from the container into the tubing. In the past the container was monitored and when empty had to be changed. An automatic shut off mechanism in the drip chamber is preferred.
Automatic shut off mechanisms in IV container drip chambers are known in the art. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,961 to Fan. A problem arises with the spike disclosed therein when the container is changed. The air in the drip chamber cannot be removed. Generally the sides of the drip chamber are pressed inwardly to remove the air. However, the IV tubing must be disconnected from the patient to prevent the air from entering the vein. The shut off mechanism disclosed therein is also large and cumbersome in relation to the drip chamber and might become stuck in the open position in the chamber.
A standard IV spike with a vent for venting air into the container (bag or bottle) is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,647 issued to Lung Hsiung. This vent does not solve the problem of the air in the drip chamber when the container is changed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An IV spike with drip chamber is provided that includes an automatic shut off mechanism which prevents air from entering the IV tube when the container is empty and allows nurses to change the fluid container without removing the catheter from the patient. The automatic shut off mechanism comprises a floating ball capable of being supported by or floating in the fluid due to the buoyancy of the fluid. The IV spike also includes an air vent which allows the air in the drip chamber to vent out directly when the nurses want to change the container of medicinal fluid. The air vent is closed for the initial use and during the infusion process. As the medicinal fluid is gradually reduced in level in the drip chamber, the floating ball is lowered thereby and the floating ball reaches the bottom of the drip chamber. The floating ball blocks the outlet so as to stop the injection. After the injection is stopped nurses can take off the spike and insert it into a new medicinal fluid container, and open the air vent cap until the new medicinal fluid reaches the required level in the drip chamber. The air vent cap should be closed immediately after the medicinal fluid reaches the required level.
If desired a second vent from the atmosphere back upward through the spike into the container may be provided for use with rigid IV bottles. The second vent is not necessary where the bag collapses as it empties.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3656505 (1972-04-01), O'Brian
patent: 3776229 (1973-12-01), McPhee
patent: 4055176 (1977-10-01), Lundquist
patent: 4175558 (1979-11-01), Hess, III et al.
patent: 4959053 (1990-09-01), Jang
patent: 5098407 (1992-03-01), Okamura
patent: 5423346 (1995-06-01), Daoud
patent: 5533647 (1996-07-01), Lang-Hsiang
patent: 5722961 (1998-03-01), Fan
patent: 5730730 (1998-03-01), Darling, Jr.
Globe Enterprises, Inc.
Moseley Richard L.
Nguyen Anhtuan T.
Thissell Jeremy
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