Abstract:
An infusion apparatus comprises a plurality of ports, a plurality of one-way directional valves, and a joint. Each port is adapted to receive and secure a syringe to allow for a flow of a liquid through the syringe into the port. Each one-way directional valve is in fluid communication with a respective port of the plurality of ports to enable the liquid to flow away from the port. The joint has a plurality of inputs to receive the flow from the plurality of one-way directional valves. The inputs are in fluid communication with each individual port of the plurality of ports. The joint has an output.

Description:
PARTIAL WAIVER OF COPYRIGHT PURSUANT TO 1077 O.G. 22(MAR. 20, 1987) 
     ©Copyright. 2000. Dr. Ramon Guerrero. All of the material in this patent application is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and of other countries. As of the first effective filing date of the present application, this material is protected as unpublished material. 
     However, permission to copy this material is hereby granted to the extent that the owner of the copyright rights has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent document or patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to the medical devices, particularly anesthesiology, critical care and anesthesia devices used to administer anesthesia medications to patients, prior to surgery and during surgery. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The intravenous administration of medicines by medical personnel, such as anesthetic agents by anesthesiologist, is a complex procedure. Unfortunately, this procedure is further complicated by current instrumentation and medical devices used to administer these medicines, particularly everyday syringes with the ever-dangerous needle. For example, as a point of review, multiple anesthesia medications are currently administered closely after one another, which requires the careful and rapid use of multiple syringes containing different drugs, namely (i) a hypnotic agent; (ii) a muscle relaxant; and (iii) a narcotic. These multiple syringes are typically used to transfer the medication into an intravenous port, one at a time, preferably in rapid succession to minimize the patient&#39;s pain and, in some cases, to expedite the patient&#39;s drowsiness or unconsciousness. Consequently, an anesthesiologist typically must rapidly perform the following steps: (i) take one syringe; (ii) insert it into an intravenous catheter; (iii) press down on the syringe to transfer the medicine into the intravenous catheter into the patient; (iv) remove the syringe; (v) place it somewhere in the patient&#39;s hospital room, such as on the patient&#39;s bed; (vi) take a second syringe and repeat the steps; and, then, (vii) take a third syringe and repeat steps (i) through (v). Some doctors actually use duct tape to tape the syringe and intravenous catheter together and/or to tape the syringe to the patient&#39;s bed. 
     The current approach described above has a number of drawbacks. For instance, it does not easily allow the dosage to be easily controlled, as needed, from patient to patient, because of the difficulties in reinserting the syringe into the intravenous catheter, as the syringe may become contaminated laying on the patient&#39;s bed or may actually be knocked to the floor, such as in an emergency operation. Similarly, the rapid insertion and removal of syringes are problematic, because the syringes may be accidentally stuck into the patient, doctor, or nurse, which is especially dangerous, as it dramatically increases the transmission of certain diseases or viruses, such as the AIDS virus or Hepatitus C. In fact, with nearly six million healthcare professionals currently in practice, more than one million percutaneous injuries are reported annually in the healthcare setting, which translates to approximately one in six professional annually. “New Glove to Help Protect Healthcare Workers from Deadly Diseases,”  Dallas - Ft. Worth Heathcare Journal  (November 1999; Volume 4, Number 2). Fearing such injuries, some health care professionals routinely miss work, postpone childbearing, and/or otherwise alter their personal lifestyles. In addition, if stuck with a needle, these health care professionals may be forced to take powerful drugs that cause severe side effects Likewise, speed is important, because the timing and transmission of many of these medicines is important to avoid calamities, such as aspiration pneumonia (e.g., when the patient vomits in his mask). Also, with the concern over the organization and coordination of the multiple syringes, the doctor&#39;s attention may be distracted from the patient and the administration of medications at a critical time. Finally, since multiple syringes are generally needed to induce unconsciousness, the anesthesiologist&#39;s hands are unnecessarily used to hold a syringe, which makes the anesthesiologist less efficient. 
     SUMMARY 
     An infusion apparatus comprises a plurality of ports (e.g., three syringe ports), a plurality of one-way directional valves (e.g., three), and, in certain embodiments, a joint. Each port is adapted to receive and secure a syringe to allow for the flow of liquid medication through the syringe into the port. Each one-way directional or unidirectional valve is in fluid communication with a respective port of the plurality of ports to enable the liquid to flow away from the port and into and through the respective one-way directional or unidirectional valve. Each port is typically in fluid communication with each one-way directional or unidirectional valve via intravenous tubing, but the one-way directional or unidirectional valve may be directly coupled to the port. If the joint is used, the joint has a plurality of inputs to receive the flow from the plurality of one-way directional valves or unidirectional valve. The inputs of the joint are in fluid communication with each individual port of the plurality of ports. The joint also has an output. Alternatively, the outputs from the ports can be coupled to multiple intravenous ports with unidirectional valves or the outputs of the unidirectional valves can be coupled to corresponding intravenous ports. 
     The ports are also preferably equipped to handle either needleless or needle bearing syringes. In addition, a locking apparatus secured to the joint may be used to secure the joint to an intravenous tubing port, which is, in turn, secured to intravenous tubing, and extends to the patient and actually enters the patient via a catheter inserted into the patient, e.g., the patient&#39;s arm. 
     Also, preferred embodiments are also comprised of a transparent cartridge to secure the plurality of ports, the unidirectional valves, and the joint together. The cartridge may be comprised of a plastic material. A syringe holder may also be used to hold and secure the syringes. The syringe holder may be attached to the cartridge or otherwise combined with the cartridge to form a single unit. Alternatively, the syringe holder may be used to hold and secure the syringes, which are, in turn, directly coupled with corresponding intravenous ports. A securing apparatus may also be used to secure the infusion apparatus in place. The infusion apparatus is preferably used to transfer liquid medicines from a syringe into a patient or via a continuous drip. 
     Preferred embodiments provide a number of advantages, important functions and key features. In particular, preferred embodiments enable the coordinated and simultaneous entry of certain drugs and medicines, such as drugs commonly used by anesthesiologists, namely (i) a hypnotic agent; (ii) muscle relaxant; and (iii) a narcotic. Preferred embodiments also secure the multiple syringes in a proper and stable position, so that the syringes do not become contaminated and do not harm the patient and/or other medical personnel. Preferred embodiments increase the speed of the administration of the medicines and allow for the dosages to be closely monitored and controlled. As stated above, this is especially important in applications concerning anesthesia medicines, as if the administration is not properly controlled, the patient can suffer aspiration pneumonia, in which the patient vomits in his mask. In these instances, the faster the medicines are administered, the better. Preferred embodiments increase the speed at which anesthesia medicines can be administered. Preferred embodiments are also equipped with a one way directional valve to prevent the contamination or back flow of medicine from one syringe into another syringe. And, in certain instances, although typically not with anesthesia drugs, drugs may interact with one another, and the preferred embodiment enables the drugs to be mixed together to some extent, prior to the entry into the patient. Also, preferred embodiments also use needless attachments and locks to secure the preferred embodiment to the syringe to the intravenous tubing in a safe manner. Finally, preferred embodiments are easily retrofitted into existing intravenous ports and intravenous tubing. Additional advantages will be evident after reviewing the description and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings are incorporated into and form a part of the specification to illustrate several examples of the present inventions. These drawings together with the description serve to explain the principles of the inventions. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating preferred and alternative examples of how the inventions can be made and used and are not to be construed as limiting the inventions to only the illustrated and described examples. Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following and more particular description of the various embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view a preferred embodiment of infusion device cartridge  100 ; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of infusion device cartridge  100  and holder  11 ; together with numerous syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35 ; intravenous tubing  140 A and  140 B; and port  150 ; 
     FIGS. 3A,  3 B and  3 C are perspective views of a preferred embodiment of infusion device cartridge  100  secured in various ways, together with intravenous tubing  140 A and  140 B and intravenous catheter  160  inserted into patient  200 ; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate preferred embodiment of infusion device cartridge  100  and holder  11 , together with numerous syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35 ; one-way valves  1 ,  5 , and  7 ; intravenous tubing  140 A,  140 B,  140 C, and  140 D; and ports  150 A,  150 B, and  150 C; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate preferred embodiment showing holder  11 ; together with numerous syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35 ; one way valves  1 ,  5 , and  7 ; intravenous tubing  140 A and  140 B; and ports  150 A,  150 B, and  150 C; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view an alternate preferred embodiment of infusion device cartridge  100 , having ports  1000 ,  2000 , and  3000  with a rubberized surface to receive syringes having needles; and 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate preferred embodiment of infusion device cartridge  100 , together with numerous syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35 , equipped with needles, and intravenous tubing  140 A and  140 B, port  150 , and holder  11 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred embodiment will be described by referring to apparatus showing various examples of how the inventions can be made and used. When possible, like reference characters are used throughout the several views of the drawing to indicate like or corresponding parts. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, infusion device cartridge  100  has a plurality of injection ports  10 ,  20 , and  30  (in FIG. 1) and injection ports  1000 ,  2000 , and  3000  (in FIG.  6 ). While the injection ports  10 ,  20 , and  30  incorporate needleless attachments for the use with needleless syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35  (as shown in FIG.  2 ), which screw onto the needleless attachments affixed to injection ports  10 ,  20 , and  30 , alternate attachments or ports with a rubberized surface for syringes having a needle system may also be used, such as ports  1000 ,  2000 , and  3000  in FIG. 6 for syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35 , when equipped with needles (as shown in FIG.  7 ). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35  are preferably secured in place by holder  11 . Holder  11  has one or more cavities or openings designed to conform to individual, cylindrical bodies of syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35 , such that the bodies of syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35  snap into position. Alternatively, cavities found in holder  11  may be partially open, so as to allow syringes  15 ,  25  and  35  to snap into position without having to be inserted into an opening or cavity. Holder  11 , thus, removes the need to place syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35  on a patient&#39;s bed or somewhere else in the hospital room as well as the need for a medical specialist, such as an anesthesiologist, to hold more than one syringe at a time (if any syringe needs to be held while administering medicine to the patient). The secure positioning of syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35  also makes it easier to administer and control the administration (e.g., the timing and amount) of various medicines. Intravenous tubing  2 ,  4 , and  6 , respectively are attached to ports  10 ,  20 , and  30 . Intravenous tubing  2 ,  4 , and  6  extend from ports  10 ,  20 , and  30 , respectively, to one-way or unidirectional valves  1 ,  5 , and  7 , respectively. Unidirectional valves  1 ,  5 , and  7  are, in turn, inserted into openings  3 A,  3 B, and  3 C of joint  3 , which combines the inputs received from ports  10 ,  20 , and  30  into a single port  3 D. Single port  3 D preferably includes a locking apparatus  17 , such as a level lock cannula manufactured by B. D. Interlink, Becton Dickinson &amp; Co., Franklin Lakes, N.J. 07417-1884, to secure infusion device cartridge  100  to intravenous tubing port  150 , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. Unidirectional valves  1 ,  5 , and  7  prevent the back flow of liquid medication from one syringe into another syringe or from infusion device cartridge  100  into a syringe, which prevents the contamination of one syringe by medication found in another syringe. The use of unidirectional valves  1 ,  5 , and  7  prevent intravenous fluids from flowing back into the other medication syringes. Also, infusion device cartridge  100  also includes a plastic clear casing  101  to secure the various components, including ports  3 A,  3 B, and  3 C; unidirectional valves  1 ,  5 , and  7 ; joint  3 ; and various intravenous tubing  2 ,  4 , and  6 , together. The casing is clear to enable the anesthesiologist to view the flow and administration of the liquid medications from syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35 . Holder  11  is preferably also clear, so as to enable the contents of syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35  to be easily viewed. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3A,  3 B, and  3 C, infusion device cartridge  100  can hang from intravenous pole  115 , as shown in FIG. 3A; be clamped to intravenous pole  115 , as shown in FIG. 3B; or secured to the patient&#39;s bed, as shown in FIG. 3C to support or secure infusion device cartridge  100 . Alternatively, infusion device cartridge  100  can include a velcro material to secure infusion device cartridge  100  to another stable surface. Infusion device cartridge  100  is attached to intravenous tubing port  150 , which is, in turn, connected via intravenous tubing  140 B to intravenous catheter  160  that is inserted into the arm of patient  200 . 
     FIG. 4 shows infusion device cartridge  100  with a plurality of injection ports  10 ,  20 , and  30 . Once again, while the injection ports  10 ,  20 , and  30  incorporate needleless attachments for the use with needleless syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35 , which screw onto the needleless attachments affixed to injection ports  10 ,  20 , and  30 , alternate attachments or ports with a rubberized surface for syringes having needles may also be used. Similarly, syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35  are preferably secured in place by holder  11 . Holder  11  has one or more cavities or openings designed to conform to individual, cylindrical bodies of syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35 , such that the bodies of syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35  snap into position. Alternatively, cavities found in holder  1  may be partially open, so as to allow syringes  15 ,  25  and  35  to snap into position without having to be inserted into an opening or cavity. Holder  11 , thus, removes the need to place syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35  on a patient&#39;s bed or somewhere else in the hospital room as well as the need for a medical specialist, such as an anesthesiologist, to hold more than one syringe at a time (if any syringe needs to be held while administering medicine to the patient). The secure positioning of syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35  also makes it easier to administer and control the administration (e.g., the timing and amount) of various medicines. Intravenous tubing  2 ,  4 , and  6 , respectively, are attached to ports  10 ,  20 , and  30 . Intravenous tubing  2 ,  4 , and  6  extend from ports  10 ,  20 , and  30 , respectively, to one-way or unidirectional valves  1 ,  5 , and  7 , respectively. Unidirectional valves  1 ,  5 , and  7  are, in turn, inserted into or coupled with intravenous tubing  9 A,  9 B, or  9 C, which, in turn, are connected to locking apparatus  17 A,  17 B, and  17 C to secure infusion device cartridge  100  to intravenous tubing ports  150 A,  150 B, and  150 C. Ports  150 A and  150 B are joined by intravenous tubing  140 C; ports  150 B and  150 C are jointed by intravenous tubing  140 D. Once again, unidirectional valves  1 ,  5 , and  7  prevent the back flow of liquid medication from one syringe into another syringe, which prevents the contamination of one syringe by medication found in another syringe. The use of unidirectional valves  1 ,  5 , and  7  prevent intravenous fluids from flowing back into the other medication syringes. Further, as before, infusion device cartridge  100  also includes a plastic clear casing  101  to secure the various components, including unidirectional valves  1 ,  5 , and  7 ; and various intravenous tubing  2 ,  4 ,  6 ,  9 A,  9 B, and  9 C, together, and the casing and holder are clear to enable the anesthesiologist to view the syringes and the flow and administration of the liquid medications from syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35 . The alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 4 can be used in a fashion similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A,  3 B, and  3 C. 
     FIG. 5 shows holder  11  with a plurality of injection ports  10 ,  20 , and  30 . Once again, while the injection ports  10 ,  20 , and  30  incorporate needleless attachments for the use with needleless syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35 , which screw onto the needleless attachments affixed to injection ports  10 ,  20 , and  30 , alternate attachments or ports with a rubberized surface for syringes having needles may also be used. As before, holder  11  has one or more cavities or openings designed to conform to individual, cylindrical bodies of syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35 , such that the bodies of syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35  snap into position. Alternatively, cavities found in holder  11  may be partially open, so as to allow syringes  15 ,  25  and  35  to snap into position without having to be inserted into an opening or cavity. Holder  11 , thus, removes the need to place syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35  on a patient&#39;s bed or somewhere else in the hospital room as well as the need for a medical specialist, such as an anesthesiologist, to hold more than one syringe at a time (if any syringe needs to be held while administering medicine to the patient). The secure positioning of syringes  15 , 25 , and  35  also makes it easier to administer and control the administration (e.g., the timing and amount) of various medicines. In this embodiment, the outputs from syringes  15 ,  25 , and  35  are directly channeled into ports  150 A,  150 B, and  150 C, respectively and ports  10 ,  20 , and  30  are secured to ports  150 A,  150 B, and  150 C with locking apparatus  17 A,  17 B, and  17 C. In this embodiment, unidirectional valves  1 ,  5 , and  7  are positioned between ports  150 A and  150 B; between ports  150 B and  150 C; and port  150 C and the patient. In fact, ports  150 A and  150 B are preferably joined with unidirectional valve  1 ; ports  150 B and  150 C are joined with unidirectional valve  5 . As explained above, unidirectional valves  1 ,  5 , and  7  prevent the back flow of liquid medication from one syringe into another syringe, which prevents the contamination of one syringe by medication found in another syringe. The use of unidirectional valves  1 ,  5 , and  7  prevent intravenous fluids from flowing back into the other medication syringes. And, as before, holder  11  is clear to enable the anesthesiologist to view the syringes and the flow and administration of the liquid medications from syringes  15 , 25 , and  35 . The alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 5 can be used in a fashion similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A,  3 B, and  3 C. 
     FURTHER MODIFICATIONS AND VARIATIONS 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. The example embodiments shown and described above are only intended as an example. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiment as well as alternate embodiments of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. For instance, alternate types of ports as well as various numbers of ports can be used as well as alternate mechanisms to secure the syringes to the infusion device cartridge or the infusion device cartridge to another device. 
     Thus, even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present inventions have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the inventions, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the inventions to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the attached claims. Accordingly, it should be understood that the modifications and variations suggested above and below are not intended to the exhaustive. These examples help show the scope of the inventive concepts, which are covered in the appended claims. The appended claims are intended to cover these modifications and alternate embodiments. 
     In short, the description and drawings of the specific examples above are not intended to point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but are to provide at least one explanation of how to make and use the inventions contained herein. The limits of the inventions and the bounds of the patent protection are measured by and defined in the following claims.