SOLUTION CONTAINER HAVING INTEGRAL POWER SOURCE

Abstract: A flexible, collapsible solution container (12) carries battery means (16) permanently attached to the solution container with the terminals (36), (38) of the battery being accessible to connect with electrically operated pump means (24) for pumping the contents of the solution container.

Description: SOLUTION CONTAINER HAVING INTEGRAL POWER SOURCE Technical Field and Prior Art In the patent application of Harry W. Cromie, Serial No. 243,540, filed March 13, 1981, and entitled "MINIATURE ROTARY INFUSION PUMP WITH SLIDE LATCH ANU DETACHABLE POWER SOURCE", a wearable pump design is disclosed for providing measured amounts of parenteral solution on a continuous basis to a patient. The parenteral sol tion may be carried in a bag which, in turn, is carried with the pump. Similarly, Olson U. S. Patent Application Serial No. 380,977, filed May 24, 1982, discloses a pressure pump for fluids having jaws and end slots, being an alternate design of a pump having similar purposes as the pump of the Cromie application. In the devices disclosed in the above two patent applications, and other known devices similar in concept to them, the pump is electrically operated and, typically, a single bag of solution is used by a patient over a 24 hour period for the controlled administration of cancer che otherapeutic agent, analgesic, insulin, or other desired medication. In the prior art, such pumps have carried batteries to power the pumping action over the 24 hour period. Unfortunately, it has been found that in some instances patients neglect to change the batteries in the pump as often as is desired, with the result that the battery in the pump will go dead during the middle of the day, causing the continuous, long-term administration of critical medication to stop. This may not be noted by the patient for a substantial period of time, since a major purpose of pumps of the type described is to permit the patient to operate independently throughout the day, away from the hospital or any other medical supervision in his everyday activi ies. The consequent failure of administration of critical medication for a period of hours may well result in a - S E significant medical setback for the patient, all because of his absentminded failure to replace the batteries of the pump. In accordance with this invention, an alternate power system for the pumping of solutions to and from flexible collapsible containers is provided, being set up so that the patient cannot make the mistake of failing to change the batteries. Thus, the patient is better protected against accidental oversights on his part, and the critical medication can be provided to an independently living patient with greater reliability of 10 administration and less medical supervision. This is accomplished by attaching the battery to the flexible, collapsible solution container so that the two are used as a single disposable unit. Accordingly, each flexible solution container of critical medication is administered by the pump ις being powered by a fresh battery every time, thus avoiding unnecessary and potentially critical failures of power in the pump systems. The invention can also be used in other areas, for example, for the administration of large volumes of parenteral solution 2Q (a liter or more) to ambulatory patients. Description of the Invention In accordance with this invention, a flexible, collapsible solution container and battery means having terminals are 25 permanently attached together, with the terminals being accessible to connect with electrically operated pump means for pumping the contents of the solution container. In one embodiment, the battery means may be carried within a compartment of the container, the compartment being separate 30 from the solution carried in the container. In another embodiment, the solution container and battery means may be permanently attached together in peripherally sealed, side-by-side relation. The battery means may preferably be relatively flat, defining a length and width which are at - y E least four times greater than its thickness, and, in the second embodiment described above, the terminals may be positioned on the face of the battery which is opposed to the solution container. Flat batteries of the type described are commercially available from the Polaroid Company and may be modified by conventional means to be used in accordance with this invention, particularly in one of the embodiments described above. Description of the Drawings In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the flexible collapsible solution container and attached battery means of this invention in the process of being installed in electrically operated pump means, for daylong, parenteral application of a critical medication to a patient who will carry the operating pump and solution container with him throughout the day while tne critical medication is administered through an intravenous catheter on a controlled, continuous basis. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing tne bag and battery installed in the pump of Figure 1, so that the pump now is ready for attachment to the patient's intravenous catheter. Figure 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of the collapsible solution container and attached battery of this invention. Description of Specific Embodiments Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the combined flexible, collapsible solution container and battery 10 of this invention is disclosed, with solution bag 12 being typically made in generally conventional manner of a pair of heat-sealed thermoplastic sheets of plastic such as polyvinyl chloride, with the heat sealing taking place at periphery 14. Flat battery 16, of a type which is available from the Polaroid Corporation, is carried on top of bag 12 as shown in Figure 1, and sealed thereto at periphery 14. This sealing may be accomplished by an ultrasonic welding technique, a solvent sealing technique, or use of an adhesive around the periphery 14, or, if desired, between the adjoining faces of bag 12 and battery 16, to render them permanently attached together. As shown, bag 12 carries connection tube 18 which, in turn, may connect to transfer set 20 of conventional design which, in turn, may terminate with an IV needle or a luer lock adapter 22 as may be desired, to either make an IV connection with the 10 patient or a connection with an indwelling IV catheter so that critical medication of bag 12 may be transferred to the patient. Luer lock adaptor 22 is covered with removable protector 23. Pump 24 may be of a design as described in the cited patent - j5 applications, and specifically the above-cited Olson patent application, except as otherwise described herein. Housing 26 is provided which carries pump head 28 which may be of the design of the previously cited Olson patent application, with the further modification that a notch 30 is Q provided in latch 32 which locks and unlocks pivotable jaws 33, within which a portion of tubing 20 is provided. Tubing 20 surrounds a pressure head (not shown) which moves in a circular path of motion, compressing tubing 20 against the closed jaws 33 in the circular path of motion, and thus forcing solution 25 downstream through adaptor 22 at a predetermined rate of flow as governed by pump control 34. Battery 16 carries terminals 36, 38. The combined battery and collapsible container 10 may be placed into pump housing 26, inverting the structure from the position shown in Figure 1 so 3 that terminals 36, 38 enter respectively into contact with spring terminals 40, 42 mounted in housing 26 as shown. Terminals 40, 42 connect to an electric motor in housing 26 for operating pump head 28. Tubing 18 and the adjacent section of tube 20 may be placed in trough 43, and lid 44 may be closed to 35 achieve the configuration of Figure 2. The loaded pump may then OMPI be connected to the patient for precisely controlled administration of solution by pump 24 over an extended period of time, without risk of the battery going dead during the middle of the administration process. Referring to Figure 3, another embodiment of bag and attached battery is disclosed. As shown, a two-chamber plastic bag 50 made in an overall conventional manner, for example, from a pair of peripherally heat sealed sheets of plastic and a transverse heat seal 52, defines a pair of chambers 54, 56. Chamber 54 is the chamber for the desired solution for administration and communicates with port tubing 58 which, in turn, can communicate with a transfer set 20 if desired. Chamber 56, isolated from solution chamber 54, carries a battery 58 which may be of the flat type, or may be another conventional type of battery, having terminals 60 protruding from the end of bag 50 for communication with a cable or wire communicating with the pump system to provide power thereto. Bag 50 can fold along line 62, if desired for insertion into a storage chamber of a pump for ambulatory use. The above has been offered for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention of this application, which is as defined in the claims below.

Claims: THAT WHICH IS CLAIMED IS; 1. In combination, a flexible, collapsible solution container and battery means having terminals, said solution container and battery means being permanently attached together with said terminals being accessible to connect with electrically operated pump means for pumping the contents of said solution container. 2. The container and battery means of Claim 1 in which said battery means is carried within a compartment of said container, said compartment being separate from the solution carried in said container. 3. The container and battery means of Claim 1 in which said battery means defines a length and width which are at least four times greater than its thickness. 4. In comD nation, a flexible, collapsible solution container ana battery means having terminals, said solution container and battery means being permanently attached together in peripherally sealed side-by-side relation, said battery means defining a length and width which are at least four times greater than its thickness, said terminals being accessible to connect with electrically operated pump means for pumping the contents of said solution container. 5. The container and battery means of Claim 4 in which said terminals are positioned on the face of said battery which is opposed to said solution container. 6. The container and battery means of Claim 5 in which the periphery of said battery means is sealed to the periphery of said container. OM ^iVA

Inventors: AUSMAN ROBERT K, NORTON WILLIAM W, OLSON RAYMOND G, AUSMAN, ROBERT, K., NORTON, WILLIAM, W., OLSON, RAYMOND, G.
Applicants: BAXTER TRAVENOL LAB, BAXTER TRAVENOL LABORATORIES, INC.
Application year: 1984
Main classification: A61M5
IPC codes: A61M5, H01M2