Intravenous Solution Dispenser

Abstract

An unrestricted passage is provided through a piercing device; therefore, when the device pierces a stopper of a bottle containing intravenous solution, additives may be injected into the bottle or a portion of the liquid in the bottle may be withdrawn through the unrestricted passage. The unrestricted passage may be opened by removing the cap or by piercing a diaphragm with a needle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to intravenous injection dosing devices in the field of surgery and health care.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Intravenous liquids are commonly provided to hospitals in bottles having pierceable stoppers. Customarily, a dual flow device, having a piercing spike, is pierced through the stopper. One of the bores through the device leads to a drip chamber from which is connected tubing which leads through different connections to a needle by which the fluid is injected intravenously.

The other bore or passage through the piercing spike is for relief air to enter the bottle, i.e., as the liquid is removed from the bottle, it is necessary that it be replaced by air. The air passage has a checkvalve to prevent any fluid from dripping out of this passage. Also, a filter is placed over the end of the air inlet to prevent bacteria or other extraneous matter floating in the air to become introduced into the liquid in the bottle.

Often the contents of the bottle are not administered as prepared by the manufacturing laboratory. Often the physician will prescribe additives to be made to the solution. In such event, pharmacists or technicians will place the bottle with a piercing device under a laminar-flow hood, which provides a sterile working area. The piercing spike is inserted and the air filter removed from the air passage. Then, additives can be introduced into the bottle by placing a syringe against the open end of the air passage. The fluids will flow around the ball checkvalve inasmuch as the ball checkvalve prevents fluid leaving the bottle, but does not prevent fluid from entering the bottle. If it is desired to remove fluid from the bottle, this can be accomplished, slowly, by inverting the the bottle and opening any closures on the tubing.

Sometimes additions were made by using a different type piercing spike which is not the piercing spike used to withdraw the liquid from the bottle when in use. However, this procedure has its disadvantages because it necessitates a second piercing of the stopper, which is undesirable.

In events where an additive is to be introduced into the bottle while the bottle is in use, the only procedure available, normally, is to remove the air filter in the unsterile atmosphere and inject the additive through the ball checkvalve and then replace the air filter. There is a short period of time in which the air is entering the bottle unfiltered. Sometimes, through inadvertence, the air filter is not replaced.

The following patents were considered in preparation of this application:

Burke U.S. Pat. No. 3,316,908, Hamilton U.S. Pat. No. 3,344,785, Burke U.S. Pat. No. 3,359,977, Romney et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,512,806, Dabney U.S. Pat. No. 3,670,728.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

New and Different Function

I have invented a device which provides unrestricted access to the interior of a bottle so liquid can be quickly withdrawn from the bottle or injected into the bottle in the sterile conditions of a laminar flow. Also, if it is necessary to inject liquid additives into the bottle while in use, this can be done in a sterile manner.

Specifically, I have added an injection passage or port. The injection port (in the standard dual flow device described above) is another nipple which is connected to a passage leading through the spike. Therefore, the spike may be modified so there are three passages or bores leading through it or it may be modified so the injection nipple opens into the air passage through the spike, which is my preferred embodiment. The other route is that the injection nipple coule enter into the liquid passage.

The injection nipple is closed with a cap which has an injection site thereon, i.e., a pierceable, resealable diaphragm, (these are well known in the art).

To use the device, the spike is pierced through the stopper of the bottle as before and if any additions or changes are to be made, the cap can be removed under the laminar-flow hood and direct access is available to withdraw liquid from or add liquid to the bottle.

If additives are to be made when the device is in use, it can readily be done through the diaphragm with a syringe having a needle thereon.

I prefer that the injection port be added to the air passage. I prefer this over providing an additional passage because an additionl passage increases the cost of manufacture and, also, either weakens the piercing spike or causes it to be larger in diameter. I prefer it to go into the air passage rather than the liquid passage inasmuch as if some of the added material is not completely dissolved or remains in the passage, it will not be injected undiluted. The additive will be carried by the air flow into the bottle and diluted in the bottle before it is injected.

My device has several advantages. There is a decrease in time for modifying the solution. The filter on the air intake can be permanently installed. This eliminates any possibilities of inadvertent removal. It can be permanently installed because with the device I have invented and the procedures to be used, there is never any reason for its removal.

Under the procedures according to my invention, the i.v. bottles would be prepared in the pharmacy and, therefore, it would be assured that the tubing would be changed with each bottle, a procedure not always followed under present practice.

Another advantage would be that the emergency drug could be added to a hanging bottle without removing the air filter.

My device would eliminate the multiple puncturing of the stopper in the bottle. My invention provides for the rapid removal of the liquid from within the bottle.

Objects of the Invention

An object of this invention is to intravenously inject liquids.

Another object is to provide intravenous additions of liquids which have additives therein.

Other objects are to achieve the above with a device that is sturdy, compact, durable, simple, safe, efficient, versatile, and reliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture, install, operate, and maintain.

Further objects are to achieve the above with a method that is versatile, rapid, efficient, and inexpensive, and does not require skilled people to install, operate, and maintain.

The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, uses, and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawing, the different views of which are not necessarily to the same scale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of my invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view thereof with the piercing spike and nipples of the body shown in section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring specifically to the drawing, there may be seen that the device has body 10. The body is formed of substantially rigid material and has flange 12 thereon. The area adjacent to where the flange 12 is located is herein referred to as the "flange area 14" and is adapted to be grasped with the hand.

Piercing pin or spike 16 extends from the flange area 14 of the body 10. The spike has a sharp pointed end 18 thereon which will pierce through the stopper of the bottle. Liquid passage or bore or conduit 20 extends through the spike 16 and the body and opens into flexible drip chamber 22. Tubing 24 is attached to the drip chamber and extends to needles by which the fluid within the bottle is intravenously injected.

Air passage 26 also extends through the spike 16 from the sharp pointed end 22. The air passage 26 or bore is parallel to the liquid bore 20. Air inlet nipple 28 extends from the body 10 at the flange area 14. The air inlet nipple 28 has a passage or conduit which is an extension of the air passage 26. The nipple 28 contains ball checkvalve 30 which admits air to the bottle, but prevents fluid flow from the bottle. The air inlet nipple and the passage therein is closed by filter 32.

The device as described to this point is commercially on the market and well known to those skilled in the art.

According to my invention, injection nipple 34 is attached to the body 10 at the flange area 14. The injection nipple 34 has passageway 36 extending therethrough. The passageway 36 in the injection nipple 34 is in communication with the spike 16 and opens through the sharp pointed end 18. Therefore, when the spike 16 is pierced through the stopper of the bottle, the passageway 36 is in communication with the interior of the bottle, forming an injection port to the inside of the bottle. When cap 38 on the nipple 34 is removed, all restrictions are removed to the interior of the bottle. The cap 38 includes pierceable, resealable diaphragm 40. Pierceable, resealable diaphragms are well known and are commonly made of rubber.

All restrictions to the interior of the bottle are removed by piercing the diaphragm 40 on the injection nipple 34 with a needle; withdrawing the needle from the diaphragm closes the passageway 36 through the injection nipple 34.

Obviously, if the restrictions to the passageway 3 are removed by the removing of the cap 38, then, the passageway 36 is again closed by replacing the cap 38. The cap is shown with threads or "Lure-Lok" closure device thereon.

It will be noted that with this device, there is never a reason to remove the filter 32. Therefore, I prefer that it be permanently non-removably installed for the reasons given above.

The passageway 36 through the injection nipple 34 could be connected otherwise than through the air passage 26. I.e., there could be three bores or passages through the spike 16. There could, therefore, be a liquid outlet passage 20, an air vent passage 26 and an additional unillustrated injection bore or passage. In such event, it is only convenient and not necessary that the injection nipple 34 be parallel to the air nipple 28.

The injection could open into the liquid passage 20. However, I prefer it to enter into the air passage 26 as explained above.

The embodiment shown and described above is only exemplary. I do not claim to have invented all the parts, elements or steps described. Various modifications can be made in the construction, material, arrangement, and operation, and still be within the scope of my invention. The limits of the invention and the bounds of the patent protection are measured by and defined in the following claims. The restrictive description and drawing of the specific example above do not point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but are to enable the reader to make and use the invention.

Claims

I claim as my invention:

1. In a piercing device for use in intravenous injection apparatus having

a. a body formed of substantially rigid material,

b. said body having flange area adapted to be grasp with the hand,

c. a spike on the body projecting away from said flange area,

d. a sharp pointed end on said spike,

e. an elongated liquid passage through said spike opening through the sharp pointed end,

f. an elongated air passage in said spike also opening through the sharp pointed end,

g. a flexible drip chamber attached to said body at the flange area,

h. the liquid passage opening into said drip chamber,

j. an air inlet nipple on the body at the flange area,

k. the air passage opening to the air inlet nipple,

m. an air filter over the end at air inlet nipple, and

n. a check valve in the air inlet nipple;

o. THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING:

p. an injection nipple on the body at the flange area,

q. a passageway through the injection nipple which is in fluid communication through the spike and opens through the sharp pointed end, and

r. a closure over the injection nipple.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said closure includes:

s. a pierceable, resealable diaphragm.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said closure includes:

s. a cap removably attached to said injection nipple.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said closure includes:

t. a pierceable, resealable diaphragm.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said passageway through the injection nipple opens through the sharp pointed end because of

s. fluid communication between said air passage and said passageway.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said closure includes:

t. a cap removably attached to said injection nipple.

7. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said closure includes:

t. a pierceable, resealable diaphragm.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said closure includes:

u. a cap removably attached to said injection nipple.