Abstract:
A patient controlled analgesia system for pediatric patients includes an infusion pump and a hand control having a depressible trigger. The hand control is operably connected to the infusion pump for selectively dosing a medication to be dispensed by the infusion pump. A patient interface object comprises a stuffed toy defining a rear opening and an internal void therein. A retainer is affixed within the internal void, and securely receives the hand control. An actuator is affixed within the internal void proximate to an outer surface of the stuffed toy and also proximate to the depressible trigger. The actuator is biased away from the depressible trigger and selectively movable to engage and disengage the depressible trigger by pressing an exterior of the stuffed toy.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure generally relates to analgesic delivery devices, and more particularly to a patient-controlled analgesic delivery device for pediatric patients. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various drugs have been developed over the years to aid an individual to recover from various illnesses and medical conditions. These medications are either administered by health care professionals or are self-administered by the patient according to the directions of a health care professional. Probably the most common medicinal drugs are those used to aid in pain management and take the form of individual tablets of mild analgesics such as ‘low dose aspirin’ to opioids administered by infusion pumps. The majority of these pain control medications are self-administered by the patient according to directions from the responsible health care professional treating the patient, especially when administered in the form of one or more tablets at designated time intervals. 
     For patients who have undergone major surgery, who are in end-stage cancer or experiencing other conditions where there is acute pain, the use of opioids or other high strength medications are needed to adequately manage the patient&#39;s pain. These medications can be administered by intramuscular injection. However, such administration typically requires a medical professional to accomplish the administration of the analgesic. The concept of a patient controlled analgesic demand system and self administration of opioids was first suggested in the early 1970&#39;s. The first commercially available infusion pump was developed in 1976, however, its use was limited to adults. 
     Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) is considered one of the most effective analgesic methods for relieving acute pain. The technique allows the administration of on-demand analgesics using an infusion pump that delivers controlled doses of pain medications when the patient presses a button. Different types of analgesics can be delivered using a PCA pump through variable routes of administration: Intravenous, intrathecal epidural perineural and transdermal, among others. PCA is now regularly used for adult patients to manage acute pain. Advantages of the use of PCA include the lack of waiting time for patients requiring pain medication before a caregiver can increase the dosage of medication. In this way, the patient spends less time in pain and as a corollary to this, patients tend to use less medication than in cases in which medication is given according to a set schedule. 
     Studies of PCA for use in treating children were begun in the 1980&#39;s, and is now considered an efficient and well tolerated technique for the management of acute postoperative pain in children. PCA is also useful in other areas of pediatric care such as pediatric oncology, burns, palliative care and acute painful conditions such as vaso-occlusive crisis of sickle cell anemia. PCA is a safe technique that allows a sustained analgesic level in the blood with the possibility of self administration of boluses if the pain increases. 
     Other benefits of PCA for children include increased patient and parent satisfaction compared to intramuscular injections of analgesics, since children are more likely to tolerate pain that to have another injection. Additional benefits realized by children using PCA include the opportunity to better estimate the pain occurring after physiotherapy, pain relief during mobilization or dressing changes and an improved sense of control over their illness. The safety and efficacy of PCA in children has been established and can be considered as a standard for the treatment of acute painful conditions for pediatric patients. 
     However, the primary contraindication for the use of PCA in the pediatric population is the inability of pediatric patients to understand the concept of PCA or how to activate the device. This contraindication requires that patients should be carefully screened to guarantee adequate patient selection. While age along should not be considered as a criteria for inclusion or exclusion, children who are five years of age or older are more likely to benefit from PCA. For the appropriate universe of selected pediatric patients, they, their parents, and their care givers must be provided with education regarding what to expect from PCA. For example, it should be explained that PCA helps controlling the pain rather than eliminating it and that the child must be the only one who activates the delivery of the analgesic. 
     Therefore, a device and associated system to help children understand and self-administer analgesic medication is needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure is generally directed to a patient controlled analgesia system that satisfies the need for a system that is understood by a pediatric patient. The patient controlled analgesia system for pediatric patients includes an infusion pump and a hand control having a depressible trigger. The hand control is operably connected to the infusion pump for selectively dosing a medication to be dispensed by the infusion pump. A patient interface object comprises a stuffed toy defining a rear opening and an internal void therein. A retainer is affixed within the internal void, and securely receives the hand control. An actuator is affixed within the internal void proximate to an outer surface of the stuffed toy and also proximate to the depressible trigger. The actuator is biased away from the depressible trigger and selectively movable to engage and disengage the depressible trigger by pressing an exterior of the stuffed toy. 
     In another aspect, a patient interface object is used with a known patient controlled analgesia system having a hand control with a depressible trigger for activating the patient controlled analgesia system. The patient interface object comprises a stuffed toy defining a rear opening and an internal void therein. A retainer is affixed within the internal void for securely receiving the hand control. An actuator is affixed within the internal void proximate to an outer surface of the stuffed toy and also proximate to the retainer. The actuator is biased away from the retainer and is selectively movable to engage and disengage the depressible trigger of the hand control to be secured in the retainer. 
     In still another aspect, the retainer comprises a head having an outer flange and defining a central aperture therethrough. A body is affixed to the head wherein the body defines a longitudinal slot therealong separating the body into a first body half and a second body half. The body also defines an interior cavity for receiving the hand control therein. An annular rib on an interior of the first and said second body halves engages a portion of the hand control for securing the hand control within the retainer. 
     In yet another aspect, the actuator comprises a plate shaped to approximately conform to the outer surface of the stuffed toy. A finger extends rearwardly from the plate such that the finger is axially aligned with the hand control trigger and the central aperture of the retainer head. A compression spring bears against the actuator plate and the retainer head biasing the finger of the actuator away from the aperture and the depressible trigger such that pressure applied to an exterior of the stuffed toy proximate to the actuator causes the finger to selectively translate within the aperture and depress the trigger of the hand controller. 
     In a still further aspect, the stuffed toy is in the form of a stuffed animal. 
     In another aspect, the retainer is affixed within a muzzle of the stuffed animal and the actuator is positioned behind a nose of the stuffed toy animal such that pressing said nose causes the actuator to depresses the trigger of the hand controller secured within the retainer. 
     In another aspect, the retainer is affixed within a torso of the stuffed animal and the actuator is positioned behind a stomach area of the stuffed toy animal such that pressing the stomach area causes the actuator to depresses said trigger of the hand controller secured in the retainer. 
     In a still further aspect, the retainer further includes a brace plate affixed thereto wherein the brace plate is positioned proximate to a back of the stuffed toy animal, such that compression of the torso of the stuffed toy animal by a patient causes the actuator to depresses the trigger of the hand controller. 
     In yet another aspect, the stuffed toy of the patient interface object is constructed to resemble a form selected from the group consisting of an animal, a legendary creature, a cartoon character, and an inanimate object. 
     In another aspect, a method of providing patient controlled analgesia to a pediatric patient includes the steps of connecting a patient controlled analgesia system of a known type including an infusion pump and hand control to the intravenous line of a pediatric patient. The hand control is secured in a patient interface object of the type comprising a stuffed toy defining a rear opening and an internal void therein and having a retainer affixed within the internal void for securely receiving the hand control, and further including an actuator affixed within the internal void proximate to an outer surface of the stuffed toy and also proximate to the retainer wherein the actuator is biased away from the retainer and selectively movable to engage and disengage the depressible trigger of the hand control secured in the retainer. The pediatric patient is familiarized to correlate the pressing of area of the stuffed toy proximate to the actuator with relieving pain experienced by the pediatric patient. An Internet address is provided to the pediatric patient exclusively peculiar to the pediatric patient for instructions on use of the combined patient controlled analgesia system and the patient interface object. 
     In still another aspect, a unique alpha-numeric identifier is assigned to the patient interface object, the provided Internet page is logged into using the unique alpha-numeric identifier. 
     In yet another aspect, a picture of the stuffed toy representing the patient interface object is displayed on the Internet page. Information unique to the care of the pediatric patient is also listed, including at least medical treatment procedures, operating instructions of the patient controlled analgesia system with the patient interface object, and an explanation of how the patient should express pain with visual analog scales. 
     In another aspect, the stuffed toy form for the patient interface object is selected from the group of an animal, a legendary creature, a cartoon character, and an inanimate object. 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  presents a top isometric view of an exemplary patient controlled analgesia system for pediatric patients embodying the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  presents a cross-sectional view of the patient controlled analgesia system for pediatric patients shown in  FIG. 1 , with the section being taken along the line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  presents a top isometric view of a dispensing trigger retainer; 
         FIG. 4  presents a cross-sectional view of the dispensing trigger retainer shown in  FIG. 3 , with the section being taken along the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  presents an enlarged cross-sectional view of the portion of the patient interface receiving the dispensing trigger illustrating the dispensing trigger in an unactivated condition; 
         FIG. 6  presents an enlarged cross-sectional view of the portion of the patient interface receiving the dispensing trigger illustrating the dispensing trigger in an activated condition; 
         FIG. 7  presents a top isometric view of an alternate exemplary embodiment patient controlled analgesia system for pediatric patients; 
         FIG. 8  presents a cross-sectional view of the patient controlled analgesia system for pediatric patients shown in  FIG. 7 , with the section being taken along the line  8 — 8  of  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 9  presents a representative Internet web page providing interaction instructions for the patient controlled analgesia system. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     Turning to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a pediatric patient controlled analgesia (PCA) system  110  intended for use with pediatric patients which is one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and illustrates its various components. The pediatric PCA system  110  includes a patient controlled analgesia system  111  of a known design and a patient interface object  120 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the patient controlled analgesia system  111  includes an infusion pump  112  for controlling and delivering an analgesic drawn from an analgesic reservoir  113  to a patient through an intravenous line  114 . The infusion pump  112  can be individually programmed to deliver a predetermined quantity of analgesic at the administration of each of patient demanded periodic doses. The infusion pump  112  also limits the number of doses over a set time period as determined by an attending health professional to prevent overdosing. The patient controlled analgesia system  111  also includes a hand control  118  operatively connected to infusion pump  112  by a cable  116 . In this manner, the infusion pump  112  can typically be affixed to a stand proximate to the patient and the dispensing trigger can be held by or within reach of the patient. 
     The patient interface object  120 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is a stuffed or plush toy in the form commonly known as a “teddy bear.” It is well understood that other forms are contemplated and the exemplary “teddy bear” form illustrated herein is meant to be representative and not limited to that of the illustrated teddy bear and can be made in many different forms to resemble animals, legendary creatures, cartoon characters or inanimate objects. The patient interface object  120  has a fabric exterior  122  and is sewn from multiple panels of cloth, plush, or other textiles to form the desired shape. The fabric exterior defines an interior that is filled with a stuffing  124  such as, but not limited to, excelsior, beans, plastic pellets, cotton, synthetic fibers, or other similar materials to provide substance to patient interface object  120  and which are known in the plush toy industry. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the patient interface object  120  defines an opening  130  at the rear of the bear&#39;s head  126 . The opening  130  permits access to an interior void  132  in which is positioned a retainer  160 . The retainer  160  is most clearly illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  wherein the retainer  160  has a flat washer like head  174  having a flange  176  and defining a central aperture  178  therethrough. It is understood that the flange  176  can be shaped to contour to a mating section of the patient interface object  122 . A cylindrical body  162  extends rearwardly from head  174 . A longitudinal slot  164  divides the cylindrical body  162  into a first body half  166  and a second body half  168 . The body halves  166  and  168  further define an internal cavity  170  which is shaped to receive the hand control  118  in a manner such that the trigger button  119  is substantially in registration with the central aperture  178 . The body halves  166  and  168  further include an internal annular rib  172  positioned to engage with a portion of hand control  118  to securely retain the hand control  118  within the retainer  160 . The slot  164  permits the body halves  166  and  168  to radially separate one from the other at an end opposite from the head  174  such that the hand control  118  can be axially inserted to and translated along the length of the retainer  160  until fully engaged in cavity  170 . The resiliency of body halves cause them to closely engage about the exterior of the hand control  118  and further that the annular rib  172  engages with a rear portion of the hand control  118  to securely retain the hand control  118  therein. 
     As most clearly illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the retainer  160  is positioned within the interior void  132 , proximate to the front of the bear&#39;s head  126 , and particularly, in alignment with the bear&#39;s muzzle  128 . The flange  176  of the retainer  160  is secured to the fabric exterior  122  of the bear&#39;s muzzle  128  by gluing, sewing, riveting, or other known methods of securing. An actuator  134  is interposed between the bear&#39;s nose  129  and the flange  176 . The actuator  134  comprises a plate  140  which can be flat or shaped to approximate the contour of the area of the patient interface object  120  proximate to the actuator  134 . A finger  138  of a diameter smaller than central aperture  178  extends rearwardly from the plate  140  and is axially aligned with the aperture  178 . A compression spring  136  is interposed between the plate  140  and the head  174  to bias the actuator  134  away from the retainer  160 . 
     In use, and referring to  FIGS. 1 through 6 , when a patient controlled analgesia system  111  is desired to be used for a pediatric patient, the patient controlled analgesia system  111  has a bolus or reservoir of medication  113  coupled with the infusion pump  112  in a known manner as well as connecting the delivery line  114  into a previously established patient&#39;s intravenous line. A patient interface object  120 , such as the illustrated exemplary teddy bear, is selected that is pleasing and comforting to the pediatric patient, possibly even selected by the pediatric patient. 
     The hand control  118  is inserted through the opening  130  provided in the back of the bear&#39;s head  126  and longitudinally inserted into the cavity  170  of the retainer  160 , until trigger button is engage in the central aperture  178  and the annular rib  172  engages the rear of the hand control  118 , thus securing the hand control  118  within the retainer  160 . Once the medical professional in attendance for the pediatric has programmed the infusion pump  112  for individual dosage quantities, and maximum dosage over a set period of time, the pediatric patient controlled analgesia system  110  is ready for use. 
     The cable  116  permits the infusion pump  112  to be mounted to a stand close by, but not requiring to be on the patient&#39;s bed. The patient interface object  120  having the hand control  118  secured therein can then be given to the pediatric patient. When the system  110  is in an unactivated state where no medication from reservoir  113  is being administered to the pediatric patient, the finger  138  of the actuator  134  is biased away from trigger button  119  by biasing spring  136 . Referring now to  FIG. 6 , when the pediatric patient is experiencing pain and desires relief from the pain, the patient can us a thumb  102  (or other finger) to press the bear&#39;s nose  129 . Because of the proximity of the plate  140  of the actuator  134  to the bear&#39;s nose  129 , as the nose  129  is depressed, the actuator  134  is similarly depressed overcoming the biasing force of the spring  136 . Since the flange  176  is affixed to the bear&#39;s muzzle  128  and is substantially immovable with respect to the bear&#39;s nose  129 , the finger  138  of the actuator  134  translates through the aperture  178  of the retainer  160  and engages with the trigger button  119  of the hand control  118 . With sufficient axial travel of the finger  138 , the trigger button  119  is depressed sending a signal to the infusion pump  112  to dispense a predetermined dosage of medicine from the reservoir  113  in accordance with the preprogrammed guidelines established by the attending health professional. Once the desired dosage has been administered, the system  110  again reverts to an “at rest” status according to  FIG. 5  until such time as the pediatric patient desires another dosage of medicine dispensed. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a pediatric patient and his or her parents can be familiarized to the system  110  and receive introduction to the usage and operating directions for system  110  via an Internet connection.  FIG. 9  illustrates a representative web page  320  for introduction and use of system  110 . Upon receiving an Internet web address from the attending medical professional and seeing the web page  320  displayed, the user logs into the page by entering a unique alpha-numeric identifier  150  into a login field  324 . The alpha-numeric identifier  150  is unique to the selected patient interface object  120 , such that when the alpha-numeric identifier  150  is entered into the login field  324 , a picture  326  of the patient&#39;s personal interface object  120  is displayed further personalizing the Internet web page. Also contained on the web page  320  or following pages, the pediatric patient can receive additional information such as an entertaining story about the object  120 , an area  328  describing what the patient&#39;s hospital stay will entail and what the patient can expect to experience at different stages such as prior to and subsequent to surgery. A second area  330  can describe how the patient controlled analgesia system  110  operates, and a third page area  332  can explain how the pediatric patient should express their pain by relating to visual associations, depictions, or scales. Other information of interest, either general or patient specific, can also be presented to the patient on the displayed web page, since the page is unique and dedicated to the patient associated with the patient interface object  120  represented by the alpha-numeric code  150  used in the login process. It is understood that the information can be provided in a single web page as illustrated or separated into multiple web pages for ease of use. 
     An alternate embodiment pediatric patient controlled analgesia system  210  is illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . While not every feature identified by a reference number in  FIGS. 7 and 8  may be discussed herein, like features of system  210  with respect to features of system  110  as described above have similar reference numbers preceded by the numeral “2” in lieu of the numeral “1”. The alternate embodiment pediatric patient controlled analgesia system  210  differs from system  110  in that the hand control  218  is located in the bear&#39;s abdomen  227 . The retainer  260  again is formed to receive and secure the hand control  218 , however the retainer  260  also includes a brace plate  280  positioned proximate to the bear&#39;s back  225 . The actuator  234  includes a plate  240  positioned proximate to the front abdomen area  227  of the bear  222 . A biasing unit  242 , including a biasing spring  236 , is interposed between the actuator  234  and the receiver  260 . The biasing unit  242  biases the plate  240  toward the bear&#39;s abdomen  227 . 
     In use, a pediatric patient experiencing pain and wishing relief from the pain can initiate dispensing of medicine from the reservoir  213  by the infusion pump  212  by hugging the patient interface object  220 . The force of the patient&#39;s hug about the torso area causes the bear&#39;s abdomen  227  to be compressed toward the bear&#39;s back  225 . This compression, in turn, causes the plate  240  of the actuator  234  to be compressed toward the brace plate  280  thereby causing the finger  238  to longitudinally translate with respect to the patient control  218  and engaging the trigger button of the patient control  218 . When the trigger button of the patient control  218  is eventually depressed upon full travel of the finger  238  a dispensing signal is transmitted to the infusion pump  212  and medicine is dispensed from the reservoir  213  through the intravenous line  214  to the patient. 
     Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.