U.S. patent application number 10/246058 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-18 for medication cart drawer liner and method for using same to reduce nosocomial infections.
Invention is credited to Hannan, Curtis A., Hannan, Robin E..
Application Number | 20040050750 10/246058 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31188061 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040050750 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hannan, Robin E. ; et
al. |
March 18, 2004 |
Medication cart drawer liner and method for using same to reduce
nosocomial infections
Abstract
In a medication cart apparatus housing a plurality of individual
medication bins, the invention provides devices and a method for
reducing the risk of nosocomial infection through the use of
disposable bin liners. In some applications the bin liners may be
color coded for a predetermined use or patient, compartmentalized
with dividers, or customized with special labels. The disposable
liners may have a tapered form so that multiple liners may be
stored in a nested stack to minimize space requirements and to be
loaded into a liner dispenser system.
Inventors: |
Hannan, Robin E.;
(Romeoville, IL) ; Hannan, Curtis A.; (Romeoville,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Thomas G. Scavone
Niro, Scavone, Haller & Niro
Suite 4600
181 West Madison Street
Chicago
IL
60602
US
|
Family ID: |
31188061 |
Appl. No.: |
10/246058 |
Filed: |
September 18, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/570 ;
206/803 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61G 12/001 20130101;
A61J 2205/20 20130101; A47B 88/90 20170101; A61G 2205/30 20130101;
A61G 2205/10 20130101; A61G 2205/20 20130101; A47B 88/994 20170101;
B42F 17/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/570 ;
206/803 |
International
Class: |
B65D 069/00; B65D
071/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A liner for use in combination with a drawer in a medication
cart comprising: a bottom wall, two side walls, an end wall and a
front wall; and said liner being of a size and configuration to be
disposed within and generally conform to the drawer of said
medication cart.
2. The liner of claim 1 wherein said walls are constructed from a
substantially rigid material.
3. The liner of claim 2 wherein said material is a bacteriostatic
plastic.
4. The liner of claim 1 further comprising an identification panel
extending from the front wall of the liner.
5. The liner of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of inwardly
extending ribs on the side walls of the liner and one or more
dividers adapted to cooperate with the ribs to subdivide the
interior of the drawer.
6. The liner of claim 5 wherein the ribs are aligned with vertical
rails associated with the drawer.
7. The liner of claim 1 wherein the medication cart drawer has at
least a partially open bottom panel.
8. A method for reducing nosocomial infection in a hospital or
other medical patient care facility comprising: providing a
medication cart having one or more drawers for the storage and
transporting of medications and/or medical treatment equipment;
positioning a liner in said one or more drawers of said cart;
placing medications and/or medical treatment equipment for an
individual patient in a predesignated drawer of said cart having
said liner disposed therein; transporting said medications and/or
equipment to said individual patient; and periodically removing
said liner and positioning a new liner within said drawer.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to patient care
equipment used in hospitals, nursing homes, psychiatric centers,
hospices and similar facilities. More particularly, the invention
relates to methods and apparatus for storing and dispensing
medicines and other patient care supplies in a manner that reduces
the risk of infection and cross contamination.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is a known problem that patients entering a hospital or
other care giving facility are at risk of contracting infections
and other diseases that are the result not of the patients'
underlying illness, but of the patients' close proximity to and
contact with patient care equipment and personnel during treatment.
These inflictions, known as nosocomial infections, may have a
variety of sources. For example, even though patient care equipment
or medicine may be sterile, if the container holding the equipment
is not also sterile an infectious agent may be transmitted from the
container to the equipment and ultimately to the patient. The
Center for Disease Control estimates that 1 in 20 patients (2
million per year) acquire infections in the hospital. It is
estimated that nosocomial infections from all microorganisms
directly cause 19,000 deaths per year and contribute to 58,000
deaths per year, which makes them the 11.sup.th leading cause of
death in the US.
[0003] Normally, hospitals and other patient care facilities
classify nosocomial infection prevention measures into three
general categories, based on the nature of the patient care
equipment involved. Critical items (such as surgical instruments,
catheters and implants) are sterilized, with the objective of
destroying all forms of microbial life. Semicritical items (such as
fiberoptic endoscopes and endotracheal tubes) often are subjected
to a disinfection procedure. Disinfection in this context is
intended to destroy vegetative microorganisms, most fungal spores,
tubercle bacilii, and small nonlipid viruses. Noncritical items
(such as medication carts, bins, bedboards and blood pressure
cuffs) receive a simple cleaning which is designed to remove rather
than to kill microorganisms.
[0004] An underestimated problem with traditional three tiered
prevention measures is the cross contact between critical,
semicritical and noncritical patient care items in the course of
treatment. An additional complicating factor is the interaction of
patient care personnel with these items in the course of providing
treatment to patients. Specifically, the present invention is
directed to reducing the risk of nosocomial infection transmission
through cross contact related to the use and care of medication
carts.
[0005] Commonly, medication carts are comprised of multiple metal
or plastic drawers or bins (used as interchangeable terms in this
specification) in a mobile cabinet. The drawers are filled with
medication in various solid or liquid forms and related patient
care equipment. Each medication drawer is designated for the use of
a single patient. Ideally, when a patient is released or
transferred, or after a predetermined passage of time, that drawer
is cleaned and reused for another patient. Presently, however,
there are no standards or documented procedures for the cleaning
and reusing of medication bins. Bins are frequently reused without
the necessary cleaning, in part because a lack of adequate cleaning
does not hinder the use of the bin as a container for medication or
patient care equipment. In addition, bins are commonly designated
to a specific patient by gummed labels that are only partially
removable after use. Subsequent labels sometimes fall off and the
sticky residue from multiple labels becomes another potential host
site for bacteria and pathogens which may be transferred to the
medication and then to the patient through repeated contact by the
care giver with the host site in the process of providing curative
or palliative care.
[0006] It is therefore a problem with conventional medication bins
that the bins receive inadequate cleaning and become a site for the
transmission of nosocomial infections. What is needed is a way for
patient care facilities (or others responsible for the care and
maintenance of medication carts) to insure that medication and
other patient care equipment is transported to the patient in a
medication bin that reliably and repeatedly minimizes the risk of
nosocomial infection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is directed to medication bin liners
that are lightweight and disposable after a single use. The
invention is also directed to the use of these bin liners. A
significant advantage of the present invention over prior art
methods and devices is that there is no cleaning step involved.
Whenever a bin liner is soiled, it can be immediately disposed of
and replaced with another liner. In one embodiment, the bin liner
can have a bottom of sufficient strength so that the medication bin
itself does not require a bottom. This embodiment makes it
impossible for patient care personnel to use the bins without
including a disposable liner.
[0008] It is also a feature and an advantage of the present
invention that each liner has a tapered form that allows multiple
liners to be stored in a nested arrangement, saving storage space.
The liners may be color coded for various applications or patient
types and gummed color labels may also be used without need for
later removal and replacement. In addition, each bin is formed to
receive dividers for segmenting individual bins into smaller
storage spaces. The invention also embraces both permanent and
disposable dispensing systems to manage the distribution of bin
liners at a facility.
[0009] It is known that the inventions are applicable to uses in
patient care facilities, home health care facilities, and at the
site of service providers to the health care and pharmaceutical
industries. Applications of the inventions include uses involving:
institutional drug delivery systems (such as at hospitals, nursing
homes and pharmacies), and other similar drug delivery systems,
epidural trays, stock bins for general dispensing of unit dose (UD)
dispensing, receptacles for sorting of outpatient medicine,
separation of narcotics for individual floors for patient
medications/IV pick-up, team-R carts, code carts, cassettes for
labor and delivery tackle boxes, cardiovascular operating room
buckets, drawer liners for wooden and other types of cabinets or
wire storage racks, buckets that are sent via dumbwaiter, pneumatic
tubes for lab and blood-born pathogens (i.e., lab samples), and
intravenous room separation of refrigerated IV solutions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] These and other features, objects and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following
description and drawings wherein like reference numerals represent
like elements in several views, and in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medication cart as such
carts are known in the art of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an individual drawer or bin
as such bins are known in the art of the invention and used in
prior art medication carts;
[0013] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the disposable bin
liner and divider accessory in relation to its placement in a
bin;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a top view of the disposable bin liner;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a side view of a nested stack of disposable bin
liners; and
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bin liner dispenser
system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Set forth below is a description of what is currently
believed to be the preferred embodiment or best example of the
invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and
modifications to this preferred embodiment are contemplated. Any
alternatives or modifications which make insubstantial changes in
function, in purpose, in structure or in results are intended to be
covered by the appended claims.
[0018] FIG. 1 depicts a medication cart 10 that is known in the art
and commonly used in patient care facilities. The cart housing 12
is typically constructed of aluminum, steel, or some combination of
these materials. In some cases the cart 10 may also include some
molded industrial plastic parts. The interior of the housing 12 is
partitioned to support a plurality of drawers or bins 13 that can
be slid or rolled out for access. Typically, medication carts 10
have a single sided design (as shown in FIG. 1) and may include
other accessories such as lock systems, waste containers, counter
tops (not shown) and other similar features as are known in the
art.
[0019] Medication cart drawers 13 (FIG. 2) are commonly made of
plastic and housed in a metal medication cart 10. Each drawer 13
typically has two side panels 14, an end panel 15, a front panel 16
and a bottom 17. In some variations, the drawer 13 may also have a
top (not shown). The front panel 16 of a typical drawer 13 includes
an identification plate 18 which is used to hold information about
a specific patient. As drawers 13 are used, their interiors 17
become soiled by various spills and by contact with care providers
and used patient care equipment.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drawer 13 is
constructed without a bottom. Prior to each use, the drawer 13
receives a liner 20 (see FIG. 3) comprised of two side panels 21,
an end panel 22, a front panel 23 and a bottom 24. The liner 20
also may include an identification panel or tab 25 attached to the
front panel 23. At the junction of the side panels 21 to the front
23 and end panel 22, the liner corners 26 are tapered so that the
bottom panel 24 is smaller than the opening at the top of the liner
20. The side panels 21 of the liner 20 may include inwardly
extending channels or ribs 27 spaced so that ribs 27 on opposing
side panels 21 are aligned. The ribs 27 are also positioned to
align with vertical rails that may be present on the insides of
side panels 14 of drawers 13. Individual ribs 27 may be a constant
width (as in FIG. 3) or may be tapered with a narrower width at the
top of the liner and a greater width at the bottom (as in FIG. 6).
Dividers 28 are comprised of a center panel 29 and two end tabs 30.
In a complete assembly of the preferred embodiment, dividers 28 are
inserted into the liner 20, and the liner 20 is then positioned
within the drawer 13. At the end of a use (an interval defined by
the care provider), the liner 20 and dividers 28 are removed and
replaced.
[0021] The liner 20 may be made of any common and easily fabricated
disposable material, such as injection or vacuum molded plastic.
Preferably, liner 20 is made of bacteriostatic plastic. Dividers 28
are preferably made of the same material as the liner 20. Liners 20
and dividers 28 may be made in various colors or color combinations
to allow for color coding according to patient or staff
designations or any other desired classification system.
[0022] The end tabs 30 are sized to be complimentary to the ribs 27
and fit snugly between adjacent ribs 27 in the liner side panels 21
(see FIG. 4). When installed in the liner 20, the lower edge of the
center panel 29 of the divider 28 is generally flush with the liner
bottom 24. Dividers 28, as needed, are inserted into the liner 20
to create smaller compartments 31 in the drawer 13. The
identification tab 25 is angled to overlay the identification plate
18 when the liner 20 is installed in the drawer 13. Patient
information 32 is preferably affixed to the identification tab 25
to avoid the need to continually remove and replace patient
information on the identification plate 18.
[0023] The tapered corners 26 of the liner 20 allow a plurality of
liners 20 to be stored in a nested stack 35 (see FIG. 5). In the
preferred embodiment, the taper angle 36 is such that the space
between adjacent bottom panels 24 in a nested stack 35 is
minimized. This sizing is for convenience in storage and retrieval
of individual liners 20. When the liners 20 are tapered in this
fashion, the dividers 28 are also tapered to fit within the
liners.
[0024] For the convenience of the user, the preferred embodiment
includes a dispenser system 40 (see FIG. 6). The dispenser 40 is
comprised of a rectangular container 45 with two side panels 41,
two end panels 42, a bottom panel 43 and an open top.
Alternatively, one or both end panels 42 may incorporate
perforations to permit removal of a center portion to form openings
44. The container 45 is large enough to hold a nested stack 35 of
liners. The end panels 42 include a cut-out opening 44 wide enough
for hand access to the liners 20 which are drawn out through the
top. In a wall mounted dispenser system, the dispenser 40 also
includes mounting brackets 46 attached to a side panel 41 of the
dispenser 40. Dispensers 40 may be of a permanent or disposable
type. A disposable dispenser 40 is preferably made of cardboard or
similar material. A permanent dispenser 40 is preferably made of
high impact plastic. In an alternative embodiment, a permanent
dispenser 40 may be sized to hold a disposable dispenser 40. In
either case, it is preferred that the dispenser 40 include a means
to identify the color of the liners 20 being stored. Such means
include the use of color coded labels, bar codes, windows and other
techniques as are known in the art.
[0025] In an alternative to the preferred embodiment, the drawer 13
need not be bottomless to obtain the benefits of the invention.
While it is believed that the bottomless drawer 13 insures that a
liner 20 is used and is therefore preferable, it is recognized that
existing medication carts 10 have drawers 13 with bottoms 17 that
are suitable for use with the invention. It is also recognized that
medication carts 10 and drawers 13 have been and will be made in
shapes other than regular geometric rectangles. It is within the
scope of the invention then that liners 20, dividers 28, dispensers
40 and other components of the preferred embodiment may be of any
shape that generally conforms to the interior contours of a
drawer.
[0026] While the preferred embodiment is directed to use in
medication carts 10, the principles of the invention are equally
adaptable for other health care applications including other drug
delivery systems, epidural trays, stock bins for unit dose (UD)
dispensing, outpatient and home health care medicine receptacles,
separation of narcotics, team-R carts, code carts, labor and
delivery tackle boxes, cardiovascular operating room buckets,
laboratory samples, intravenous solutions and other medical
cabinets and storage systems as are known in the art.
[0027] The above description is not intended to limit the meaning
of the words used in the following claims that define the
invention. Rather, it is contemplated that future modifications in
structure, function or result will exist that are not substantial
changes and that all such insubstantial changes in what is claimed
are intended to be covered by the claims.
* * * * *