Surgery – Means for introducing or removing material from body for... – Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
Patent
1996-09-13
1998-12-29
Hindenburg, Max
Surgery
Means for introducing or removing material from body for...
Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
A61M 500
Patent
active
058533974
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to medical infusion apparatus such as used for administering an infusion liquid intravenously to a subject. The invention relates in particular to a safety valve included in such infusion apparatus.
For many years, infusion liquids have been administered to subjects intravenously by gravity feeding the infusion liquid from a container, e.g., a plastic bag, supported above the subject. More recently, such infusion apparatus have included pumps, particularly peristaltic pumps, which provide better control of the infusion rate. The use of such pumps, however, has created a dangerous situation which can occur before the pump has been connected into the infusion tubing or after it has been disconnected therefrom. Thus, in either of such situations, the attendant may accidentally leave the infusion tubing connected to the patient and not be aware that the patient is receiving infusion liquid by gravity feed from the infusion bag. This can be harmful, or even fatal, to the patient. Many pump constructions for infusion apparatus are provided with special protective arrangements to preclude this possible danger, but the danger still exists when infusion apparatus is used with a pump not provided with such special protection.
An object of the present invention is to provide medical infusion apparatus that includes protection against this possible danger even when the apparatus is used with a pump not provided with such a protective feature. Another object of the invention is to provide medical infusion apparatus which can be conveniently primed, i.e., purged of all air in the tubing, before the apparatus is connected to the patient.
According to the present invention, there is provided medical infusion apparatus, comprising: a container for a liquid to be infused; tubing leading from the container to the subject to receive an infusion; a pump for pumping the infusion liquid via the tubing to the subject; and a safety valve connected in the tubing between the pump and the subject; the safety valve being normally closed to prevent free-flow of the liquid from the container but being automatically opened when a predetermined minimum pressure is applied to the liquid by the pump, the safety valve also being manually deformable to open the valve and to permit priming of the apparatus.
Several embodiments of the invention are described below for purposes of example.
Medical infusion apparatus equipped with such a safety valve normally blocks the flow of the infusion liquid, thereby preventing infusion liquid from being gravity-fed to the patient should the pump be disconnected. However, such a safety valve is automatically opened by a predetermined minimum liquid pressure as applied by the pump. It may also be manually opened by manually deforming (e.g., squeezing, bending or twisting) it to permit priming the apparatus. Such apparatus thus provides protection against the above-mentioned danger of inadvertently feeding infusion liquid to the patient when the pump is disconnected, and also enables the apparatus to be primed in a convenient manner.
FIG. 1 pictorially illustrates one form of medical infusion apparatus in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating one form of safety valve that may be used with the apparatus in accordance with the present invention;
FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are end views illustrating the safety valve of FIG. 2, respectively, without the elastomeric sleeve, with the elastomeric sleeve in its closed condition, and with the elastomeric sleeve in its open condition;
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a modification in the construction of the cannula in the safety valve of FIGS. 2-5;
FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating the safety valve of FIG. 6 assembled with the elastomeric sleeve;
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating another form of safety valve that be included in the apparatus of FIG. 1, the safety valve being shown in its normally closed condition;
FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 8
REFERENCES:
patent: Re34243 (1993-05-01), Gerber
patent: 3982534 (1976-09-01), Bulkman
patent: 4244379 (1981-01-01), Smith
patent: 4346704 (1982-08-01), Kulle
patent: 4527588 (1985-07-01), Tseo
patent: 4657536 (1987-04-01), Dorman
patent: 4758224 (1988-07-01), Siposs
patent: 4895346 (1990-01-01), Steigerwald
patent: 5098396 (1992-03-01), Taylor
patent: 5158539 (1992-10-01), Kolff et al.
patent: 5169393 (1992-12-01), Moorehead
patent: 5211201 (1993-05-01), Kamen et al.
patent: 5300044 (1994-04-01), Classey
patent: 5356379 (1994-10-01), Vaillancourt
patent: 5401255 (1995-03-01), Sutherland
Barak Swi
Raz Haim
Shemesh Eli
Hindenburg Max
Migada Inc.
LandOfFree
Medical infusion apparatus including safety valve does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Medical infusion apparatus including safety valve, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Medical infusion apparatus including safety valve will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1418981