Intravenous injection suite

Abstract

Described herein is an intravenous injection kit comprising a plurality of manual pumps. The IV kit includes a first portion of the tube, a second portion of the tube, and an instillation chamber. The instillation chamber includes a needleless inlet fluidly coupled with a first portion of the tube, an outlet fluidly coupled with a second portion of the tube, and a curved droplet former positioned within the instillation chamber between the inlet and the outlet. The curved droplet former is configured to receive fluid via the needleless inlet and to form one or more droplets having a substantially uniform consistency and passing through the drip chamber at a substantially constant rate based on a curvature of a surface thereof.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to medical fluid dispensing systems, and more particularly to intravenous infusion sets. Background Art

[0002] Medical treatments often include infusing medical fluids (e.g., saline solutions or liquid medications) into a patient using an intravenous (IV) set for dispensing the medical fluids to the patient. Existing IV sets may provide inconsistent flow rates and create blockages, thereby reducing the flow rate and reducing the effectiveness of the patient's treatment. Clinicians often need to interact with the IV set to clear blockages within the IV set. Due to the design of existing IV sets, clinicians may feel fatigued by constantly having to touch and press a manual pump or other components of the IV set.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need for an IV set that provides faster flow rates and reduces the number of blockages, and when a blockage does occur, provides the clinician with a convenient and simple way to remove the blockage and / or adjust the flow rate of medical fluids provided to the patient. Utility Model Content

[0004] The disclosed subject matter relates to different components of an IV set. In certain embodiments, the different components of the IV set include one or more improvements that are configured to improve design factors that contribute to the usability of a manual pump of the IV set and the material hardness of the manual pump. In certain embodiments, the different components of the IV set are configured to increase the volume of fluid delivered to the patient and the fluid rate delivered to the patient, which improves patient outcomes, reduces clinician fatigue, and reduces the amount of clinician intervention required. In certain embodiments, the different components of the IV set are configured to improve fluid volume and flow rate, increase filtration speed to further increase flow rate, reduce friction coefficient to reduce residence time, and improve the compatibility of the IV set with the patient by using blood compatible materials. The different components of the IV set are configured to improve the efficiency of fluid delivery by reducing the number of blockages or flow disturbances. A non-exhaustive list of improvements to the different components of the IV set includes the use of materials (e.g., thermoplastic elastomers) and coatings (e.g., hydrophobic coatings) that contribute to high flow rates of different components of the IV set; changing the tubing of the IV set (e.g., the inner diameter of the tubing); increasing the filter size and surface area; increasing the size of the drip chamber of the IV set, and many other improvements described below.

[0005] According to some embodiments, an IV kit is provided. The IV kit includes a first portion of tubing, a second portion of tubing, and a drip chamber. The drip chamber includes a spikeless inlet fluidly coupled to the first portion of the tubing, an outlet fluidly coupled to the second portion of the tubing, and a curved droplet former located between the inlet and the outlet within the drip chamber. The curved droplet former is configured to receive fluid via the spikeless inlet and form one or more droplets based on the curvature of its surface, the droplets having a substantially uniform consistency and flowing through the drip chamber at a substantially constant rate (e.g., such that the flow rate of the IV kit can be visually monitored by a visual indicator provided through the drip chamber). In some embodiments, the curved droplet former includes a hydrophobic coating. In some embodiments, the body of the drip chamber includes a hydrophobic coating that forms a predetermined contact angle so that the one or more droplets are uniform and consistent.

[0006] In some embodiments, the drip chamber is formed of an antistatic material. In some embodiments, the drip chamber includes an elastic material so that the drip chamber rebounds to an uncompressed state after being compressed. In some embodiments, the drip chamber further includes a filter having a predetermined surface area fluidly coupled to the outlet so that the filter captures particles from the fluid before the fluid flows out of the drip chamber. In some embodiments, the predetermined surface area of ​​the filter is 500 cm 2 and 1000cm 2 In some embodiments, the filter comprises a pore size between 20-80 microns. In some embodiments, the filter comprises a pore size between 180-200 microns.

[0007] In some embodiments, the IV kit also includes a third portion of tubing and a hand pump, the hand pump including an inlet fluidically coupled to the second portion of the tubing and an outlet fluidly coupled to the third portion of the tubing. In some embodiments, the third portion of the tubing has a predetermined length and radius. The hand pump includes a first portion, a second portion adjacent to the first portion, and a third portion adjacent to the second portion. The first, second, and third portions have corresponding heights and radii. The height and radius of the second portion are greater than the corresponding heights and radii of the first and third portions. In some embodiments, the hand pump is a lantern-shaped body.

[0008] In some embodiments, the hand pump is formed of an antistatic material. In some embodiments, the first and third portions have the same corresponding height and the same corresponding radius. In some embodiments, the hand pump includes another filter configured to capture particles from the fluid before the fluid leaves the hand pump. In some embodiments, the hand pump includes an elastic material so that the hand pump body rebounds to an uncompressed state after being compressed. In some embodiments, the hand pump accelerates the flow rate of the fluid to at least 13 L / hr when compressed.

[0009] It should be noted that the various embodiments described above can be combined with other embodiments described herein (e.g., maintaining the impedance of a single or a group of neuromuscular signal sensors can be combined with impedance matching so that the impedance can be both matched and maintained within a specific range of impedance values). The features and advantages described in the specification are not all inclusive, and in particular, additional features and advantages are clear to a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the drawings, description, and claims. In addition, it should be noted that the language used in the specification is primarily selected for readability and instructional purposes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] In order to understand the present disclosure in more detail, a more specific description may be made with reference to the features of various embodiments, some of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. However, the accompanying drawings only illustrate the relevant features of the present disclosure. This specification may admit other effective features as will be understood by those skilled in the art after reading the present disclosure.

[0011] Figure 1 An IV pump administering medical fluids to a patient is shown.

[0012] Figure 2 A conventional IV set 200 is shown.

[0013] Figures 3A-3D An improved drip chamber according to some embodiments is shown.

[0014] Figure 4 An improved manual pump for an IV set is shown in accordance with some embodiments.

[0015] Figure 5 Another IV set with an adjusted length is shown according to some embodiments.

[0016] Figure 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an exemplary electronic system for controlling a pump according to aspects of the subject technology.

[0017] As is customary, the various features shown in the drawings are not drawn to scale. Therefore, for clarity, the sizes of the various features may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced. In addition, some drawings may not depict all of the components of a given system, method, or device. Finally, throughout the specification and drawings, the same reference numerals represent the same features. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Numerous details are described herein in order to provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, some embodiments may be practiced without many of the specific details, and the scope of the claims is limited only by those features and aspects specifically recited in the claims. In addition, well-known processes, components, and materials are not described in detail to avoid obscuring relevant aspects of the embodiments described herein.

[0019] Figure 1 An IV pump for administering medical fluid to a patient is shown. The IV pump 30 includes a controller 32 and one or more pump modules 34. The IV set 20 is connected between a container 36 of medical fluid (e.g., an IV bag) and the patient 5. During operation, the IV pump 30 delivers the medical fluid to the patient 5. The IV pump 30 is configured to administer the medical fluid to the patient at a predetermined and uniform rate. In some embodiments, the IV set 20 is used to further accelerate the flow of medical fluid from the container 36 (or IV pump 30) to the patient. For example, as described below with reference to Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown and described, the manual pump of IV set 20a can be used to further accelerate the flow of medical fluids.

[0020] Figure 2 A conventional IV set 200 is shown. The IV set 200 includes one or more connectors 202, one or more clamps 204 and 208, tubing 206, a drip chamber 210, a manual pump 220, an injection site 230, and an outlet port 232. As described above with reference to Figure 1 As described, the IV set 200 delivers fluid from a fluid source (such as container 36) to the patient 5 through the tubing 206. More specifically, the fluid from the fluid source is introduced into a first portion of the tubing 206-a of the IV set 200 and delivered to the patient 5 (e.g., via the IV pump 30 ( Figure 1 ) and / or flow generated by manual pump 220). Connector 202 facilitates connection and / or fluid communication between the first portion of tubing 206-a and a fluid source (e.g., one or more containers 36). More specifically, connector 202 fluidically connects the first portion of tubing 206-a to one or more containers 36. In some embodiments, connector 202 may be a connector spike that pierces the membrane of container 36 to allow fluid communication from container 36 to tubing 206. Alternatively, in some embodiments, connector 202 may be a needleless connector to avoid accidentally piercing the membrane when fluidically connecting the first portion of tubing 206-a and the fluid source. In some embodiments, the needleless connector may include a drip-free feature to prevent leakage or surface contamination. In some embodiments, the needleless connector may also include a Luer lock to prevent accidental discharge. In some embodiments, the needleless connector engages a fluid container including a mating connector.

[0021] In some embodiments, the second portion of tubing 206-b is coupled to patient 5 via outlet port 232. Additional medical fluids or treatments can be introduced into the patient via IV set 200. In some embodiments, additional medical fluids or treatments can be introduced into IV set 200 via injection site 230. In some embodiments, the fluid container allows for aliquots of blood to be drawn for analysis.

[0022] Clamps 204 and 208 are configured to control the flow of fluid through tubing 206 of IV set 200. For example, clamps 204 and 208 can block the flow of fluid through tubing 206 so that no fluid is dispensed to patient 5. Alternatively, clamps 204 and 208 can partially block the flow of fluid through tubing 206 so that the flow of fluid dispensed to patient 5 is reduced. Clamps 204 and 208 can be roller clamps, clamping clamps, sliding clamps, and / or other clamps known in the art.

[0023] In some embodiments, the drip chamber 210 is formed of a transparent or translucent material to provide a visual indicator (e.g., transparent chamber 262) of the flow rate of the medical fluid therethrough. The drip chamber 210 is configured to allow a clinician and / or other medical practitioner to monitor and adjust the flow rate of the medical fluid according to the visual indicator (e.g., transparent chamber 262) provided by the drip chamber 210 (e.g., counting the number of drips per second). During operation, the medical fluid may drip or otherwise flow through the chamber volume of the drip chamber 210. The medical fluid may enter the drip chamber 210 through an upper portion or inlet portion 252 defined in the drip chamber 210. The inlet portion 252 is in fluid communication with a first portion of the tubing 206-a. The fluid flow leaves the drip chamber 210 through a lower portion or outlet portion 254. The outlet portion 254 may be in fluid communication with a second portion of the tubing 206-b.

[0024] Conventional drip chambers include a spike 258 (or needle) to fluidically couple the drip chamber 210 to the tubing 206 and / or a fluid source (e.g., the container 36). In some embodiments, the spike 258 pierces the membrane of the container 36 to allow fluid communication from the container 36 to the tubing 206. In some embodiments, the spike 258 is covered by a spike cover 260. The spike cover 260 is configured to prevent damage from the spike 258, keep the spike 258 clean, and / or prevent injury caused by the spike 258 accidentally contacting a human body. In some embodiments, the spike 258 is coupled to a vent 256. The vent 256 is configured to exhaust air from the drip chamber 210. The spike 258 and the vent 256 are fluidly coupled to the inlet portion 252 of the drip chamber 210. In some embodiments, the inlet portion 252 of the drip chamber 210 is fluidly coupled to a droplet former 264. The droplet former 264 is configured to generate (or form) one or more droplets that are used by a clinician and / or other medical practitioner to monitor the flow rate of the medical fluid (e.g., by counting the number of droplets per second).

[0025] In some embodiments, the drip chamber 210 includes a filter 266 for filtering the medical fluid passing therethrough. In some embodiments, the filter 266 is disposed within the drip chamber 210. In some embodiments, the filter 266 is disposed within the inlet portion 252 or the outlet portion 254 of the drip chamber 210. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the filter 266 is disposed within the chamber volume of the drip chamber 210. In some embodiments, the filter 266 is an integral part of the drip chamber 210. During operation, the fluid may flow through the inlet portion 252 of the drip chamber 210, through the filter 266 to the outlet portion 254 of the drip chamber 210. When the medical fluid flows through the drip chamber 210, the fluid may be filtered before flowing out of the drip chamber 210 and flowing through the second portion of the tubing 206-b. The fluid within the chamber volume of the drip chamber 210 may pass through the filter 266 to prevent bacteria, microorganisms and / or other pathogens from being transferred to the patient. It will be appreciated that a positive pressure differential may direct the fluid to flow through the filter 266. As described herein, filter 266 can selectively filter flow through drip chamber 210. Filter 266 can have an average filter opening ranging between 15 and 200 microns. In some embodiments, the average filter opening can be in the range of between 180 and 200 microns. Optionally, filter 266 can have pores of different sizes.

[0026] During operation, the filter 266 may become clogged with particles, thereby limiting the filtration efficiency and flow through the filter 266. The conventional IV set 200 may include a manual pump 220 to dislodge sediment or particles embedded in the filter 266, thereby extending the life of the filter 266 and increasing the flow through the filter 266. The manual pump 220 can direct backflow or back pressure through the filter 266 to dislodge particles embedded in the filter 266. In the example shown, the clinician can actuate the manual pump 220 to create a backflow through the filter 266.

[0027] In some embodiments, the drip chamber 210 can balance the pressure difference between the chamber volume and the environment during operation. In some embodiments, the drip chamber 210 can be formed of an elastic material to allow the drip chamber 210 to be squeezed or compressed to draw in a medical fluid for pre-filling an IV system. In some embodiments, the drip chamber 210 draws in a medical fluid for pre-filling an IV system. It will be appreciated that during a pre-filling operation, the drip chamber 210 can be filled with a desired volume of medical fluid.

[0028] Figures 3A-3D An improved drip chamber according to some embodiments is shown. The improved drip chamber 300 is configured to allow a clinician and / or other medical practitioner to perform a Figure 2 The improved drip chamber 300 includes at least one needle-free inlet portion 312, an improved droplet former 315, a coated transparent chamber 320, an improved filter 330, and an outlet portion 314. Compared with the conventional drip chamber 210 ( Figure 2 ), the improved drip chamber 300 is configured to improve the flow rate and accuracy of the fluid through the improved drip chamber 300, improve the accuracy and consistency of the droplets generated by the droplet former 315, and increase the total volume that can be accommodated in the transparent chamber 320.

[0029] Needle-free access portion 312 (e.g., similar to reference Figure 2 The inlet 252 described and shown without the lancet 258 fluidly connected thereto is configured to allow the improved drip chamber 300 to be fluidly coupled to the lower portion of the IV set 200. For purposes of the present disclosure, the lower portion of the IV set 200 is between the chest and waist of the clinician (or medical practitioner) so that the clinician does not have to reach over to adjust or interact with the improved drip chamber 300. By having the improved drip chamber 300 fluidly coupled to the lower portion of the IV set 200, the needleless access portion 312 improves the ease of use of the improved drip chamber 300 and reduces clinician fatigue (relative to a conventional drip chamber 210).

[0030] The improved droplet former 315 includes a curved surface 325. The improved droplet former 315 is fluidly coupled to the needleless inlet portion 312. The curved surface 325 of the improved droplet former 315 is configured to improve instillation accuracy. More specifically, the curved surface 325 of the improved droplet former 315 generates uniform and consistent droplets (e.g., droplet 327) that can be monitored by a clinician. In addition, in some embodiments, the curved surface 325 of the improved droplet former 315 is configured to increase the size of the generated droplets, so that the flow rate of the improved droplet former 315 is improved (e.g., the flow rate is increased relative to the conventional droplet former 264).

[0031] The modified filter 330 is configured to filter the medical fluid passing therethrough, as described above with reference to Figure 2 The improved filter 330 includes an increased surface area relative to the filter 266. In particular, in some embodiments, the improved filter 330 has a surface area of ​​500 cm 2 Up to 1000cm 2 , which is approximately the surface area of ​​filter 266 (e.g., 20 cm 2 Up to 50cm 2 ). In some embodiments, the improved filter 330 is formed of a polyethersulfone (PES) membrane. In some embodiments, the improved filter 330 is one of a blood and clot filtration unit, a non-vented blood kit filtration device. The improved filter 330 can have an average filtration opening ranging between 20 and 80 microns. In some embodiments, the average filtration opening of the improved filter 330 is between 180 and 200 microns. Optionally, the improved filter 330 can have pores that vary in size. The improved filter 330 is a high-throughput filtration unit, so that the flow rate is increased and the efficiency is improved. In some embodiments, the improved filter 330 is fluidly connected to the outlet portion 314. In some embodiments, the activation force of the improved filter 330 (or the improved drip chamber 300) is increased (relative to the conventional filter 266 and / or drip chamber 210; Figure 2 ), so that the flow velocity in the pipe 206 is further increased.

[0032] In some embodiments, the coated transparent chamber 320 is formed of an elastic or deformable material to allow the coated transparent chamber 320 to be squeezed or compressed to withdraw fluid to fill the IV system. In some embodiments, the elastic or deformable material includes silicone, rubber, flexible PVC grade material, thermoplastic elastomer (such as styrene thermoplastic elastomer), plastic, polyurethane and / or other flexible materials that can be squeezed and return to a resting state. The coated transparent chamber 320 is treated (e.g., a coating is applied) to reduce surface tension and / or increase wettability of the sidewalls of the coated transparent chamber 320 by eliminating bubbles (as described below with reference to Figure 3C and 3D In some embodiments, the coated transparent chamber 320 reduces the fluid contact angle by at least 55 degrees (e.g., Figure 3C In some embodiments, the coated transparent chamber 320 is coated so that the coefficient of friction is increased, so that the medical fluid (such as blood cells) slides over the wall of the coated transparent chamber 320 without sticking to the wall. In some embodiments, the coated transparent chamber 320 is treated with an antistatic and blood-compatible material. By reducing the surface tension and increasing the wettability of the side wall of the transparent chamber 320, more fluid can be accommodated in the transparent chamber 320 and the flow rate through the transparent chamber 320 is increased.

[0033] Figure 3B An additional improved drip chamber according to some embodiments is shown. The additional improved drip chamber 350 is an example of an improved drip chamber 300, which further includes a hydrophobic coating 365 on the curved surface 325. The hydrophobic coating 365 is located on the side of the discharge port of the droplet former 355 to increase the contact angle of the medical fluid leaving the droplet former 355, thereby forming uniform and consistent droplets.

[0034] Figure 3C A drip chamber 210 (e.g., a transparent chamber; Figure 2 ) compared to the untreated surface 374 of the modified drip chamber 300 (eg, the coated transparent chamber 320). Figure 3C As shown, the water contact angle of the treated surface 372 is reduced to at least 57 degrees compared to the untreated surface 374 of the transparent chamber. The reduced water contact angle reduces the number of failures; improves the accuracy of measuring the volume of the coated transparent chamber 320; and / or reduces the occurrence of clogging by reducing the surface tension of the surface of the coated transparent chamber 320 and increasing the wettability of the sidewalls of the improved drip chamber 300 (e.g., by eliminating bubbles in the coated transparent chamber 320).

[0035] Figure 3DDifferent transparent chamber coatings according to some embodiments are shown. Specifically, an untreated transparent chamber 392, a 5-minute coated transparent chamber 394, and a 10-minute coated transparent chamber 396. As shown in the untreated transparent chamber 392, bubbles will accumulate on the surface of the untreated transparent chamber 392. The bubbles on the surface of the untreated transparent chamber 392 may cause internal malfunctions of the drip chamber, inaccurate volume readings, and / or increase the number of malfunctions of the drip chamber. Alternatively, a transparent chamber treated for at least 5 minutes (as shown in the 5-minute coated transparent chamber 394) can reduce the number of bubbles formed in the drip chamber. In addition, a transparent chamber treated for at least 10 minutes (as shown in the 10-minute coated transparent chamber 396) can substantially remove all bubbles formed in the drip chamber.

[0036] Figure 4 A modified hand pump of an IV set according to some embodiments is shown. The IV set 400 includes the IV set 400 described above with reference to Figure 2 For example, the IV kit 400 includes one or more connectors 202, one or more clamps 204 and 208, tubing 206, a drip chamber 210, an injection site 230, and an outlet port 232. As described above with reference to Figure 2 As described above, the IV kit 400 distributes medical fluids to a patient. The IV kit 400 further includes a modified manual pump 410 to accelerate the delivery of medical fluids to the patient 5 ( Figure 1 ) deliver fluid (i.e., increase the flow rate of fluid) and reduce fatigue of the clinician (or other medical practitioner), which allows for extended use of the IV set 400. In some embodiments, the improved manual pump 410 is configured to increase the volume and flow rate of fluid through the IV set 400 to approximately 13-15 liters / hour (where approximately means + / - 0.5 liters / hour).

[0037] In some embodiments, the improved manual pump 410 is formed of a transparent material or a translucent material to provide a visual indicator of the flow rate of the fluid passing therethrough. A clinician (or a medical practitioner) can monitor and adjust the flow rate of the fluid based on a visual indicator provided by the improved manual pump 410 (e.g., a transparent material or a translucent material, allowing the clinician to visually inspect the fluid flowing through the improved manual pump 410). During operation, the fluid can drip or otherwise flow through the improved manual pump 410. The fluid can enter the improved manual pump 410 through an upper portion or inlet portion 412 defined by the improved manual pump 410. The inlet portion 412 is in fluid communication with a first portion of the tubing 206-a. The fluid flow can discharge the improved manual pump volume 416 of the improved manual pump 410 through a lower portion or an outlet portion 414. The outlet portion 414 can be in fluid communication with a second portion of the tubing 206-b.

[0038] The improved manual pump 410 has a generally cylindrical body. In some embodiments, the improved manual pump 410 is formed by at least three continuous sections of a pipe. In some embodiments, the at least three continuous sections of the pipe include a second section 420 of the pipe between a first section 418 of the pipe and a third section 422 of the pipe. In some embodiments, the first section 418 of the pipe partially forms an inlet section 412 of the improved manual pump 410, and the second section 422 of the pipe partially forms an outlet section 414 of the improved manual pump 410. In some embodiments, the first section 418 of the pipe and the third section 422 of the pipe have the same height and have the same radius. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the first section 418 of the pipe and the third section 422 of the pipe have different heights and / or radii. The second section 420 of the pipe includes a radius greater than the corresponding radii of the first section 418 of the pipe and the third section 422 of the pipe.

[0039] In some embodiments, the second portion 420 of the tube includes a radius that varies over its height (e.g., the height "h" of the improved hand pump 410). In some embodiments, the second portion 420 of the tube is substantially symmetrical, and the radius of the second portion 420 of the tube is largest at the center (e.g., half of its height). In some embodiments, the height of the improved hand pump 410 is less than the height of the hand pump 220. In some embodiments, the improved hand pump 410 forms a lantern-shaped body. The lantern-shaped body increases the overall volume of the improved hand pump 410 and provides a greater degree of flexibility relative to conventional hand pumps (e.g., hand pump 220; Figure 2 ) Larger diameter inlet and outlet diameters. In addition, the lantern-shaped body provides an ergonomic body that can be conveniently actuated (e.g., squeezed or compressed) to accelerate fluid from the improved manual pump 410 while reducing clinician fatigue.

[0040] In some embodiments, the modified manual pump 410 is formed of an elastic or deformable material to allow the modified manual pump 410 to be squeezed or compressed to draw fluid to fill the IV system. Additionally, in some embodiments, the modified manual pump 410 is actuated to accelerate fluid from the modified manual pump 410 volume 416 to the second portion of the tubing 206-b. In some embodiments, the elastic or deformable material includes silicone, rubber, flexible PVC grade material, thermoplastic elastomer (e.g., styrene thermoplastic elastomer), plastic, polyurethane, and / or other flexible materials that can be squeezed and returned to a resting state.

[0041] In some embodiments, the improved hand pump 410 balances the pressure difference between the hand pump volume 416 and the environment during operation. In some embodiments, by reducing the hand pump volume 416 (e.g., by squeezing the improved hand pump 410), the fluid in the hand pump volume 416 is pressurized. The pressurized fluid in the hand pump volume 416 can be accelerated so that the fluid is distributed to the user at a faster rate. Advantageously, due to the hand pump volume 416, the improved hand pump 410 quickly improves the flow through the IV kit 400, while reducing the pressure and fatigue of the clinician (or medical practitioner). In some embodiments, the improved hand pump 410 sucks fluid for filling the IV system. For example, the hand pump volume 416 can be filled with the fluid of the desired volume during the filling operation.

[0042] In some embodiments, the improved manual pump 410 includes a pump similar to that described above with reference to Figure 2-3D Filter 266 or improved filter 330 described. More specifically, similar to the drip chamber 210 and the improved drip chamber 300, the filter of the improved manual pump 410 allows the fluid passing therethrough to be filtered. In some embodiments, the improved manual pump 410 integrates a filter. In some embodiments, due to the increased size and volume of the improved manual pump 410, the filter provided in the improved manual pump 410 is larger and has a larger surface area than the filter 266 used in the drip chamber 210 or the improved filter 330 used in the improved filter 330, respectively. In some embodiments, the filter of the improved manual pump 410 can be any suitable size. In some embodiments, the improved manual pump 410 includes a filter for replacing the filter 266 or the improved filter 330. Alternatively, in some embodiments, a modified manual pump 410 with a filter is used to replace the drip chamber 210 filter 266 or the improved drip chamber 300.

[0043] In some embodiments, during operation, when the fluid flows through the modified manual pump 410, the fluid is filtered before flowing out of the modified manual pump 410 and flowing into the second part of the tubing 206-b. As described above, the filter prevents bacteria, microorganisms and / or other pathogens from being transferred to the patient. During operation (i.e., applying medical fluid to the patient), the filter may be clogged with particles, thereby reducing the flow through the IV system. In some embodiments, the modified manual pump 410 is used to stir any particles trapped in the filter (e.g., filter 266, modified filter 330 or integrated filter) or other parts of the IV kit 400, thereby increasing the flow through the filter and the IV kit 400. In other words, the modified manual pump 410 accelerates the flow of medical fluid and / or stirs any particles trapped in one or more filters by applying force to the modified manual pump 410 (e.g., squeezing multiple manual pumps).

[0044] In addition to accelerating the flow of fluid, the pressurized fluid within the hand pump volume 416 is such that, upon actuation or compression of the modified hand pump 410, it is forced to flow back through the filter 410 of the modified hand pump (or in other portions of the IV set 400), thereby displacing or dislodging particles from the filter. Advantageously, due to the hand pump volume 416, the modified hand pump 410 quickly improves flow through the IV set 400 by providing an easy-to-use ergonomic body while reducing stress and fatigue for the clinician (or medical practitioner).

[0045] Figure 5 Another IV set with an adjustable length is shown according to some embodiments. IV set 500 includes the IV set 500 described above with reference to Figure 3A-4 For example, the IV kit 500 includes one or more connectors 202, one or more clamps 204 and 208, a manual pump 220, tubing 206, a drip chamber 210, an injection site 230, and an outlet port 232. As described above with reference to Figure 3A-4As described, the IV kit 500 distributes medical fluid to a patient. The IV kit 500 also includes a shortened tubing 206. More specifically, in some embodiments, the length of the second portion of the tubing 206-b is reduced. In some embodiments, a portion of the tubing 206 from the manual pump 220 to the injection site 230 is shortened (e.g., represented by the length "L"). Alternatively, in some embodiments, a portion of the tubing 206 that is fluidly connected to the clamp 208 is shortened. In addition, in some embodiments, the radius of the portion of the tubing 206 from the manual pump 220 to the injection site 230 (or the portion of the tubing 206 that is fluidly connected to the clamp 208) is increased. In some embodiments, the shortened length and / or increased radius of the second portion of the tubing 206-b increases the flow rate of the fluid within the IV kit 500. In some embodiments, the volume and flow rate of the fluid are increased to greater than 15 liters per hour.

[0046] An IV kit consistent with the present disclosure may include the Figure 3A-5 All or at least some of the above and shown. In some embodiments, one or more components of the IV set (e.g., the improved drip chamber 300, the improved manual pump 410, etc.) can be coated (e.g., with a hydrophobic coating) to increase the coefficient of friction so that the fluid does not adhere to one or more walls of the IV set and increase the flow rate within one or more components. In some embodiments, the coating is an antistatic and blood-compatible material.

[0047] Figure 6 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example electronic system 600 for controlling a pump according to aspects of the subject technology. The electronic system 600 may be a specially configured computing device for executing the same Figures 1 to 5 The components and processes associated with the provided software include, but are not limited to, the controller 32 of the IV pump 30. Figures 1 to 5 For purposes of this disclosure, electronic system 600 may be representative.

[0048] The electronic system 600 may include various types of computer-readable media and interfaces for various other types of computer-readable media. In the depicted example, the electronic system 600 includes a bus 608, a processing unit 612, a system memory 604, a read-only memory (ROM) 610, a permanent storage device 602, an input device interface 614, an output device interface 606, and one or more network interfaces 616. In some implementations, the electronic system 600 may include or be integrated with other computing devices or circuits for operating the various components and processes previously described.

[0049] Bus 608 collectively represents all system, peripheral, and chipset buses that communicatively connect the various internal devices of electronic system 600. For example, bus 608 communicatively connects processing unit 612 with ROM 610, system memory 604, and permanent storage 602.

[0050] Processing unit 612 fetches instructions to be executed and data to be processed from these various memory units in order to perform the processes of the subject disclosure. In various implementations, the processing unit may be a single processor or a multi-core processor.

[0051] ROM 610 stores static data and instructions required by processing unit 612 and other modules of the electronic system. On the other hand, permanent storage 602 is a read-write memory device. This device is a non-volatile storage unit that stores instructions and data even when the electronic system 600 is turned off. Some embodiments of the subject disclosure use a mass storage device (such as a magnetic or optical disk and its corresponding disk drive) as permanent storage 602.

[0052] Some embodiments use a removable storage device (e.g., a floppy disk, a flash drive, and its corresponding disk drive) as a permanent storage device 602. Similar to the permanent storage device 602, the system memory 604 is a read-write memory device. However, unlike the storage device 602, the system memory 604 is a volatile read-write memory, such as a random access memory. The system memory 604 stores some instructions and data that the processor needs when running. In some embodiments, the processes disclosed in the present subject matter are stored in the system memory 604, the permanent storage device 602, and / or the ROM 610. The processing unit 612 extracts the instructions to be executed and the data to be processed from these different memory units in order to perform the processes of some embodiments. Such storage devices and / or memory devices 602, 604 can represent the memory of the controller 32.

[0053] The bus 608 is also connected to the input and output device interfaces 614 and 606. The input device interface 614 enables a user to communicate information and select commands to the electronic system. Input devices used with the input device interface 614 include, for example, alphanumeric keyboards and pointing devices (also called "cursor control devices"), such as Figure 1 Those shown in the controller 32 of FIG. Output device interface 606 (e.g., in Figure 1 The controller 60 of the embodiment of the present invention is shown as a display (shown as a display in the controller 60 of the embodiment of the present invention) capable of displaying, for example, images generated by the electronic system 600. Output devices used with the output device interface 606 include, for example, printers and display devices, such as cathode ray tubes (CRT) or liquid crystal displays (LCD). Some embodiments include devices (such as touch screens) that function as both input and output devices.

[0054] In addition, if Figure 6 As shown, bus 608 also couples electronic system 600 to a network (not shown) via network interface 616. Network interface 616 may include, for example, a wireless access point (e.g., Bluetooth or WiFi) or a radio circuit for connecting to a wireless access point. Network interface 616 may also include hardware (e.g., Ethernet hardware) for connecting a computer to a portion of a computer network, such as a local area network ("LAN"), a wide area network ("WAN"), a wireless LAN or intranet, or a network of networks, such as the Internet. Any or all components of electronic system 600 may be used in conjunction with the subject disclosure.

[0055] The above functions can be implemented in computer software, firmware or hardware. These technologies can be implemented using one or more computer program products. Programmable processors and computers can be included in mobile devices or packaged as mobile devices. Processes and logic flows can be performed by one or more programmable processors and one or more programmable logic circuits. General and special computing devices and storage devices can be interconnected through a communication network.

[0056] Some embodiments include electronic components, such as microprocessors, storage, and memory, which store computer program instructions in a machine-readable or computer-readable medium (also referred to as a computer-readable storage medium, a machine-readable medium, or a machine-readable storage medium). Some examples of such computer-readable media include RAM, ROM, compact disk-read only (CD-ROM), compact disk-recordable (CD-R), compact disk-rewritable (CD-RW), digital versatile disks (e.g., DVD-ROM, dual-layer DVD-ROM), various recordable / rewritable DVDs (e.g., DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, etc.), flash memory (e.g., SD card, mini SD card, micro SD card, etc.), magnetic and / or solid-state hard drives, read-only and recordable A computer readable medium may store a computer program that can be executed by at least one processing unit and includes a set of instructions for performing various operations. Examples of computer programs or computer codes include machine code such as produced by a compiler, and files including high-level code executed by a computer, electronic component, or microprocessor using an interpreter.

[0057] Although the above discussion primarily relates to microprocessors or multi-core processors executing software, some embodiments are performed by one or more integrated circuits, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). In some embodiments, such integrated circuits execute instructions stored on the circuits themselves.

[0058] As used in this specification and any claims of this application, the terms "computer," "server," "processor," and "memory" all refer to specially configured electronic or other technical devices. These terms do not include people or groups of people. For the purposes of this specification, the terms display or display refer to displaying on an electronic device. As used in this specification and any claims of this application, the terms "computer-readable medium" and "computer-readable media" are entirely limited to tangible, physical objects that store information in a computer-readable form. These terms do not include any wireless signals, wired download signals, and any other transient signals.

[0059] To provide interaction with a user, the embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification may be implemented on a computer having a display device, such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, for displaying information to the user, and a keyboard and pointing device, such as a mouse or trackball, through which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices may also be used to provide interaction with the user; for example, the feedback provided to the user may be any form of sensory feedback, such as visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and the input from the user may be received in any form, including acoustic, voice, or tactile input. In addition, the computer may interact with the user by sending files to and receiving files from the device used by the user, for example, by sending web pages to a web browser on a user's client device in response to a request received from the web browser.

[0060] The embodiments of the present subject matter described in this specification may be implemented in a computing system that includes a back-end component, such as a data server, or includes a middleware component, such as an application server, or includes a front-end component, such as a client computer with a graphical user interface or a web browser, through which a user can interact with the embodiments of the present subject matter described in this specification, or any combination of one or more such back-end, middleware or front-end components. The components of the system may be interconnected by digital data communication (e.g., a communication network) of any form or medium. Examples of communication networks include local area networks ("LANs") and wide area networks ("WANs"), internets (e.g., the Internet), and peer-to-peer networks (e.g., ad hoc peer-to-peer networks).

[0061] A computing system may include a client and a server. The client and the server are typically remote from each other and may interact via a communication network. The relationship between the client and the server is due to computer programs running on the corresponding computers and having a client-server relationship with each other. In some embodiments, the server transmits data (e.g., an HTML page) to a client device (e.g., for the purpose of displaying data to a user interacting with the client device and receiving user input from it). Data generated at the client device (e.g., the result of a user interaction) may be received from the client device at the server.

[0062] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various illustrative blocks, modules, elements, parts, methods and algorithms described herein can be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software or a combination of the two. In order to illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative blocks, modules, elements, parts, methods and algorithms have been described above generally with regard to their functionality. Whether this functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends on specific applications and the design constraints imposed on the entire system. For each specific application, described functionality can be implemented in different ways. Various parts and blocks can be arranged differently (for example, arranged in different orders, or divided in different ways), all of which do not depart from the scope of this subject technology.

[0063] Description of the subject technology

[0064] For convenience, various examples of various aspects of the present disclosure are described as numbered clauses (1, 2, 3, etc.). These are provided as examples and do not limit the subject technology. The identification of the figures and figure numerals is provided below only as an example for the purpose of illustration, and the clauses are not limited by these identifications.

[0065] Clause 1. An IV set comprising a first portion of tubing, a second portion of tubing, and a drip chamber. The drip chamber comprises a needle-free inlet fluidly coupled to the first portion of tubing, an outlet fluidly coupled to the second portion of tubing, and a curved drop former positioned within the drip chamber between the inlet and the outlet, the curved drop former being configured to receive fluid via the needle-free inlet and to form one or more drops having a substantially uniform consistency and passing through the drip chamber at a substantially constant rate based on the curvature of a surface thereof.

[0066] Clause 2. The IV set of clause 1, the drip chamber further comprising a filter having a predetermined surface area, the filter fluidly coupled to the outlet such that the filter captures particles from the fluid before the fluid exits the drip chamber.

[0067] Clause 3. The IV kit of clause 2, wherein the predetermined surface area of ​​the filter is 500 cm 2and 1000cm 2 between.

[0068] Clause 4. The IV set of any of Clauses 2 and 3, wherein the filter comprises a pore size of 20-80 microns.

[0069] Clause 5. The IV set of any of Clauses 2 and 3, wherein the filter comprises a pore size of 180-200 microns.

[0070] Clause 6. The IV kit of any one of Clauses 1 to 5, wherein the curved droplet former comprises a hydrophobic coating.

[0071] Clause 7. The IV set of any one of Clauses 1 to 6, wherein the body of the drip chamber comprises a hydrophobic coating that forms a predetermined contact angle such that the one or more droplets are uniform and consistent.

[0072] Clause 8. The IV set of any one of Clauses 1 to 7, further comprising a third portion of tubing and a manual pump, the manual pump comprising an inlet fluidly coupled to the second portion of tubing and an outlet fluidly coupled to the third portion of tubing, the manual pump comprising a first portion, a second portion adjacent to the first portion, and a third portion adjacent to the second portion. The first portion, the second portion, and the third portion have respective heights and respective radii, the height and radius of the second portion being greater than the respective heights and radii of the first portion and the third portion.

[0073] Clause 9. The IV kit of Clause 8, wherein the manual pump is made of an antistatic material.

[0074] Clause 10. The IV set of any of Clauses 8 and 9, wherein the first portion and the third portion have the same respective height and the same respective radius.

[0075] Clause 11. The IV set of any one of Clauses 1 to 10, the manual pump comprising another filter configured to capture particles from the fluid before the fluid leaves the manual pump.

[0076] Clause 12. The IV set of any one of Clauses 1 to 11, wherein the third portion of the tubing has a predetermined length and radius.

[0077] Clause 13. The IV set of any one of clauses 8 to 12, wherein the manual pump accelerates the flow of fluid to at least 13 L / hr when compressed.

[0078] Clause 14. The IV set of any one of Clauses 8 to 13, the manual pump comprising a resilient material such that the body of the manual pump rebounds to an uncompressed state after being compressed.

[0079] Clause 15. The IV set of any one of Clauses 1 to 14, wherein the drip chamber is formed of an antistatic material.

[0080] Clause 16. The IV set of any one of Clauses 1 to 15, wherein the drip chamber comprises a resilient material such that the drip chamber rebounds to an uncompressed state after being compressed.

[0081] Further considerations

[0082] In some embodiments, any of the clauses herein may be subordinate to any of the independent clauses or any of the dependent clauses. In one aspect, any clause (e.g., a dependent or independent clause) may be combined with any other one or more clauses (e.g., a dependent or independent clause). In one aspect, a claim may include some or all of the words (e.g., steps, operations, methods, or parts) cited in a clause, sentence, phrase, or paragraph. In one aspect, a claim may include some or all of the words cited in one or more clauses, sentences, phrases, or paragraphs. In one aspect, some of the words in each clause, sentence, phrase, or paragraph may be removed. In one aspect, additional words or elements may be added to a clause, sentence, phrase, or paragraph. In one aspect, the subject technology may be implemented without utilizing some of the components, elements, functions, or operations described herein. In one aspect, the subject technology may be implemented utilizing additional components, elements, functions, or operations.

[0083] The present disclosure is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. The present disclosure provides various examples of the subject technology, and the subject technology is not limited to these examples. Various modifications to these aspects will be easily clear to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other aspects.

[0084] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. Terms such as "top", "bottom", "front", "rear", etc., if used in this disclosure, should be understood to refer to an arbitrary reference system, rather than to a common gravitational reference system. Therefore, the top surface, bottom surface, front surface, and rear surface can extend upward, downward, diagonally, or horizontally in a gravitational reference system.

[0085] The terms used herein are used only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present claims. As used in the description of the embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are also intended to include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term "and / or" used herein refers to and covers any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that when used in this specification, the terms "include" and / or "comprise" specify the presence of stated features, wholes, steps, operations, elements, and / or parts, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, elements, parts, and / or their collections.

[0086] As used herein, the term "if" may be interpreted, depending on the context, to mean "when" or "when" or "in response to determining" or "upon determining" or "in response to detecting" that the stated precondition is true. Similarly, the phrase "if it is determined that [the precondition is true]" or "if [the precondition is true]" or "when [the precondition is true]" may be interpreted, depending on the context, to mean "when determining" or "in response to determining" or "upon determining" or "when detecting" or "in response to detecting" that the precondition is true.

[0087] The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example or illustration." Any aspect or design described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. In one aspect, the various alternative configurations and operations described herein may be considered to be at least equivalent.

[0088] Phrases, such as "aspects", do not mean that such aspects are essential to the subject technology, or that such aspects apply to all configurations of the subject technology. The disclosure associated with an aspect may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. An aspect may provide one or more examples. Phrases, such as aspects, may refer to one or more aspects, and vice versa. Phrases such as "embodiments" do not mean that such embodiments are essential to the subject technology, or that such embodiments apply to all configurations of the subject technology. Disclosures associated with embodiments may apply to all embodiments or one or more embodiments. An embodiment may provide one or more examples. Phrases such as embodiments may refer to one or more embodiments, and vice versa. Phrases such as "configurations" do not mean that such configurations are essential to the subject technology, or that such configurations apply to all configurations of the subject technology. Disclosures associated with configurations may apply to all configurations or one or more configurations. A configuration may provide one or more examples. Such configurations may refer to one or more configurations, and vice versa.

[0089] In one aspect, unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions, sizes, dimensions, and other specifications in this specification, including those set forth in the claims that follow, are approximate and not exact. In one aspect, they are intended to have a reasonable range that is consistent with the functions to which they are related and the customary practices in the art to which they belong.

[0090] In one aspect, the term "coupled" or the like may refer to a direct coupling. In another aspect, the term "coupled" or the like may refer to an indirect coupling.

[0091] Various items may be arranged differently (e.g., arranged in a different order, or divided in a different way), all without departing from the scope of the subject technology. All structural and functional equivalents of the elements of various aspects described throughout the present disclosure that are known or will be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be covered by the claims. In addition, regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly stated in the claims, the content disclosed herein is not intended to be contributed to the public. No claim element shall be interpreted according to the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6, unless the element is explicitly described using the phrase "means for...", or in the case of a method claim, the element is described using the phrase "step for...". In addition, for the scope of the terms "including", "having", etc. used, such terms are intended to be open in a manner similar to the term "comprising", as explained when "comprising" is used as a transitional word in the claims.

[0092] The title, background, overview, brief description of the drawings, and abstract of the present disclosure are incorporated herein into the present disclosure and are provided as illustrative examples of the present disclosure, rather than as restrictive descriptions. It should be understood when submitting this application that they will not be used to limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the detailed description, it can be seen that the description provides illustrative examples, and for the purpose of streamlining the present disclosure, various features are combined together in various embodiments. The method of the present disclosure should not be interpreted as reflecting such an intention that the subject matter claimed for protection requires more features than those explicitly stated in each claim. On the contrary, as reflected in the following claims, the utility model subject matter exists in less than all the features of a single disclosed configuration or operation. The following claims are thus incorporated into the detailed description, and each claim is independently a subject matter claimed for protection.

[0093] The claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects described herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims and to encompass all legal equivalents. Nevertheless, no claim is intended to encompass subject matter that fails to satisfy the requirements of 35 U.S.C. §101, 102, or 103, nor should they be interpreted in such a manner.

Claims

1. An intravenous injection kit, characterized in that: It includes: The first part of the pipe; The second part of the pipe fitting; and A drip chamber, the drip chamber comprising: a needle-free access port fluidly coupled to the first portion of the tubing, an outlet fluidly coupled to the second portion of the tubing, and A curved drop former is positioned within the drip chamber between an inlet and an outlet, the curved drop former being configured to receive fluid via the needle-free inlet and to form one or more droplets having a substantially uniform consistency and flowing through the drip chamber at a substantially constant rate based on the curvature of its surface.

2. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drip chamber further includes a filter having a predetermined surface area, the filter being fluidly coupled to the outlet such that the filter captures particles from the fluid before the fluid exits the drip chamber.

3. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 2, characterized in that: The predetermined surface area of ​​the filter is 500 cm 2 and 1000cm 2 between.

4. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that: The filter comprises a pore size between 20-80 microns.

5. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that: The filter comprises a pore size between 180-200 microns.

6. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that: The curved drop former includes a hydrophobic coating.

7. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that: The body of the drip chamber includes a hydrophobic coating that forms a predetermined contact angle such that the one or more droplets are uniform and consistent.

8. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that: It further includes: The third part of the pipe fitting; and A hand pump comprising an inlet fluidly coupled to a second portion of a pipe fitting and an outlet fluidly coupled to a third portion of the pipe fitting, the hand pump comprising a first portion, a second portion adjacent to the first portion, and a third portion adjacent to the second portion, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion have respective heights and respective radii, the height and radius of the second portion being greater than the respective heights and radii of the first portion and the third portion.

9. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 8, characterized in that: The manual pump is made of antistatic material.

10. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 8, characterized in that: The first portion and the third portion have the same respective height and the same respective radius.

11. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 9, characterized in that: The first portion and the third portion have the same respective height and the same respective radius.

12. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 8, characterized in that The hand pump includes another filter configured to capture particles from the fluid before the fluid leaves the hand pump.

13. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 9, characterized in that: The hand pump includes another filter configured to capture particles from the fluid before the fluid leaves the hand pump.

14. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 8, characterized in that The third portion of the tube has a predetermined length and radius.

15. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 9, characterized in that The third portion of the tube has a predetermined length and radius.

16. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 8, characterized in that The manual pump accelerates the flow of fluid to at least 13 L / hr when compressed.

17. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 9, characterized in that The manual pump accelerates the flow of fluid to at least 13 L / hr when compressed.

18. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 8, characterized in that The hand pump includes an elastic material so that the body of the hand pump rebounds to an uncompressed state after being compressed.

19. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 9, characterized in that The hand pump includes an elastic material so that the body of the hand pump rebounds to an uncompressed state after being compressed.

20. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 1, wherein: The drip chamber is made of antistatic material.

21. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 8, characterized in that The drip chamber is made of antistatic material.

22. The intravenous infusion kit of claim 1, wherein: The drip chamber includes an elastic material so that the drip chamber rebounds to an uncompressed state after being compressed.

23. The intravenous infusion kit according to claim 8, characterized in that The drip chamber includes an elastic material so that the drip chamber rebounds to an uncompressed state after being compressed.

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