Patent ID: 7985198
Filing Date: 2011-07-26
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A process for metering liquids from a plurality of fluid sources, in a time-multiplex manner according to a fluid release plan, into a common patient line, the process comprising the steps of: providing a common patient line having a cross-sectional area in a range between 0.002 mm providing a carrier liquid reservoir with a carrier liquid, the common patient line having carrier liquid therein and being in fluid connection with the carrier liquid reservoir; connecting each of the plurality of fluid sources to the common patient line by a respective metering passage; selecting at least two fluid sources according to a fluid release plan; removing fluid volumes in the range of 50 nL to 50 μL from each of the selected fluid sources; forming a fluid stream from a sequence of the fluid volumes of at least two different said fluid sources in the common patient line, wherein fluid volumes of immiscible solutions are separated by a separation medium to provide discrete boluses of the fluid volumes flowing out of the common patient line to a patient with the fluid volumes remaining separated by the separation medium and in a particular order as they flow through the common patient line to the patient; adding up of the individual metered fluid volumes for each source to determine a total volume; and comparing the total volumes administered for each solution with the fluid release plan in order to minimize deviations.