Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention include a self-powered infuser with a medicament containing vessel coupled to the infuser capable of exerting sufficient pressure to cause a medicament to flow from the containing vessel, through intravenous tubing, and into a patient&#39;s circulatory system. The infuser and vessel may be contained within a sealable kit which may have a separate container for perishable medications such that the medications may be inspected and changed without exposing the remainder of the kit&#39;s contents. The infuser may be recyclable or disposable.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), to U.S. Provisional Application U.S. 61/397,642 filed Jun. 14, 2010, entitled “DISPOSABLE MEDICATION INFUSION KIT” which is incorporated by reference in its entirety and made part of this specification. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of medicine and therapeutic medication delivery, and more particularly to self-contained parenteral infusion kits. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The current practice of intravenous medication infusion often involves a relatively complicated process of assembling several sterile parts and performing appropriate dosing calculations. Further, where more refined dosing is required or desired, expensive electronic infusion pumps are often utilized. Infusion pumps offer certain advantages, but drawbacks include cost, the need for a power source, maintenance requirements, susceptibility to adverse environmental conditions, and perhaps most importantly, require requisite knowledge to use safely and effectively. There are several circumstances where less expensive yet automated intravenous infusion systems are ideal. 
         [0004]    Intravenous infusions are now more commonly performed in prehospital settings where smaller, lighter, and self-powered systems enjoy a distinct advantage. In the prehospital setting, equipment storage space is minimal, power may be nonexistent, and equipment must be portable and able to withstand the elements. Yet, emerging data suggests that early prehospital use of certain medications may improve outcome. For example, the early administration of Progestins may improve patient clinical outcome following traumatic brain injury and stroke. Progestins, however, must be infused over a significant duration and should be started early. This ideal window exists at a time when a single paramedic is responsible for performing multiple tasks to stabilize the patient, limiting the time available to manage an intravenous medication system. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, administering intravenous medication in other prehospital settings, such as military environments, produces still greater challenges. In addition to the difficulties encountered above, personnel may be scarce, and patients can suddenly and frequently outnumber trained clinical staff. In some locations, the highest level of immediate care is quite commonly a field medic. Further, calamitous events such as natural disasters, war, and insurrection may displace a vast number of people and commonly degrade, destroy, and overwhelm the local hospital system, making medication infusion using standard pumps impossible. 
         [0006]    Yet, developing a viable portable intravenous system poses challenges. Infusion pumps are typically too complicated and expensive to dedicate for use with a single medication or make disposable. Traditional pre-packaged and sealed medical and surgical kits have limitations. For example, medications are commonly required in kits, and when a medication&#39;s shelf life expires, a typical kit is no longer useful for patient care and frequently must be destroyed. This practice is expensive, wasteful, and presents logistical burden of accounting for and managing medical waste. 
         [0007]    Therefore, what is needed is a relatively small, portable, self-contained, and self-powered system which can reliably deliver an intravenous infusion safely and effectively. What is further needed is a kit which contains medications permitting more rapid setup and delivery of an intravenous system, while allowing medications to be inspected and replaced without exposing the remainder of the kit. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    Aspects of the present invention disclose a sterile or non-sterile sealed infusion kit which may be recyclable or disposable, and which may be operated without an AC electric power source. Embodiments of the present invention include a prepackaged infusion kit which may be utilized with or without prepackaged medicaments. Other embodiments describe prepackaged medications contained with the infusion system. Further still, other aspects of the invention disclose a prepackaged system containing specific medication dosages allowing for a more rapid, efficient, and safe infusion. Other aspects of the invention disclose a variety of self-powered force applicators to drive medication from the inventive infuser into the patient&#39;s system. Other aspects of the invention describe a kit containing perishable medications or adjunctive solutions wherein a portion of the kit may be opened to expose the perishable substances so they may be changed without opening the remainder of the kit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a partially exploded perspective view of an embodiment vacuum drive infuser with an embodiment packaging. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a partially exploded perspective view of an embodiment spring-drive infuser with an embodiment packaging. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a partially exploded perspective view of an embodiment coaxial vacuum powered syringe with an embodiment packaging. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a partially exploded perspective view of an embodiment spring-driven infuser, with embodiment packaging. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a partially exploded perspective view of an embodiment gas-driven infuser, with embodiment packaging. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a partially exploded perspective view of an embodiment gas-driven infuser, with embodiment packaging. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a partially exploded perspective view of an embodiment elastomeric balloon, with embodiment packaging. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a partially exploded perspective view of an embodiment motor driven infuser with a portion of threaded tube removed to expose worm screw, with embodiment packaging. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an embodiment packaging. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Turning now to  FIG. 1 , infuser  5  may be comprised of a medication holding vessel, such as a syringe  10  coupled to chamber  15  by clamp  20 . Driver  25  is attached to or integrally formed with a portion of handle  30  disposed within chamber  15  and an airtight seal is formed between sliding sealed piston  35 , mounted on the end of driver  25 , and the inner surface of chamber  15 . When handle  30  is drawn back, piston  35  increases a vacuum force within that portion of chamber  15  distal to piston  35 . In an alternative embodiment, handle  30  is shaped to define a platform  33  which makes contact with the most proximal surface of plunger  40 . In an alternative embodiment, a portion of handle  30  is shaped to form plunger  40  which is in a fluid tight disposition within syringe  10 . Clamp  20  holds syringe  10  and chamber  15  tightly together in place to prevent movement of syringe  10  relative to chamber  15 . 
         [0019]    Functionally, the user places medication vial  92  into standard vial adapter  60 , during which sharp center spike  65  penetrates the membrane of vial  92 . A standard medical stopcock  50  is then oriented to allow the medicament in vial  92  to flow into syringe  10  during standard aspiration of plunger  40 , after first rotating handle  30  so that platform  33  and plunger  40  are no longer in contact. After the desired amount of medicament has been aspirated into syringe  10 , stopcock  50  is then adjusted to eventually permit the flow of medicament in syringe  10  out of syringe opening  45  and preferably into infusion tubing  70 . It should be noted that stopcock  50  may be a two-way, three-way, four-way, or six-way stopcock. 
         [0020]    The practitioner then withdraws infuser handle  30  wherein piston  35  is drawn back to produce or increase a vacuum in chamber  15 . Next, handle  30  may be rotated to allow driving platform  33  to make contact with and push downwardly on syringe plunger  40 . Handle  30  is then released and the force generated by piston  35  sliding forwardly to fill the vacuum causes driver  25  and handle  30  to likewise move forwardly and in so doing, drives platform  33  to depress plunger  40 . As plunger  40  moves forwardly within syringe  10 , a flowable medicament may flow from syringe opening  45  and out of syringe  10  into any attached intravenous tubing  70  or other route of intravenous administration. 
         [0021]    In a preferred embodiment, stopcock  50  and vial adapter  55  may be assistive in controlling flow in and out of syringe  10  by permitting syringe  10  to be filled with medication. For example, stopcock  50 , having a first port, second port, and a third port, or more, may be coupled to syringe via luer lock (or other coupling) and opened to provide flow between syringe  10  and vial adapter  55 . Vial adapter  55  has an outer housing  60  and inner spike  65  capable of piercing the membrane on a standard medication vial. A vial may be inserted along adapter  55  wherein spike  65  pierces the membrane surface of the vial. The user may then actuate stopcock  50  to permit flow from syringe  10  through tubing  70  which is connected by luer lock or other connector. As syringe  10 &#39;s plunger  40  moves forwardly medication is forced from syringe  10  through stopcock  50  and through tubing  70  and thereafter into a patient&#39;s circulatory system. 
         [0022]    In a preferred embodiment, infuser  5 , or any embodiment infuser described hereinafter, may be disposed within a sealable packaging  75 . Packaging  75  is comprised of a tray  80  which is shaped to define at least one indentation, recess or well to accommodate kit items, and removable covering  85  that seals tray  80 &#39;s top surface  90 . Infuser  5  may be disposed within first well  95 . One or more vials  92  may be disposed in one or more medicament wells  94  which may be identically or differently shaped and correspond to the size and shape of the appropriate vials  92  or other medicament containers to be stored within. Stopcock  50 , vial adapter  55  and tubing  70  may be stored in the first well  95  or in an alternative embodiment, wells shaped to provide adequate individual storage. In one embodiment, medicaments such as vials  92  are independently sealed by foldable flap cover  42  which folds along seam  82  and may be locked into place by a fittable engagement of projections  86  and recesses  84 . Medication cover  42  may be opened and closed independently of cover  85 , wherein cover  85  may remain sealed as medication cover  42  is opened and closed. Medication cover  42  may be transparent or partially transparent to permit ready medication viewing while medication cover  42  is in the closed position with projections  86  fittably engaged within recesses  84 . In this way, written packaging materials and indicia appearing on the surface of vial  92  (or other medicaments disposed within medication recess  94 ) may be inspected. Information such as medication expiration dates, lot number, and the like may be inspected without opening the packaging. Should it become necessary to change the medicament, medication cover  42  may be opened—removing projections  86  from recesses  84  and medication cover  42  is folded outwardly and reflected to expose medication wells  94 . After medication has been replaced, cover  42  may be folded inwardly and closed by snap fitting projections  86  within recesses  84 . 
         [0023]    In an alternative embodiment, the first well  95  is covered with a first cover  85 , and one or more medicament wells  94  are covered with a second cover. One or more of the covers covering any wells may be re-sealable. Alternatively, each well may have its own cover which may be re-sealable. 
         [0024]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , an alternative embodiment spring-driven infuser  200 , may be comprised of a syringe  210  coupled to chamber  215  by clamp  220 . Handle  30  is shaped to define a platform  233  which makes contact with the most proximal surface of a plunger  240  found in a typical syringe. In an alternative embodiment, a portion of handle  230  is shaped to form plunger  240 . Driver  225  is attached to a portion of handle  230  disposed within chamber  215  and terminates in piston  235 . Spring  237  is disposed around driver  225  and has a first end affixed to clamp  220  and second end affixed to the proximal portion of piston  235 . 
         [0025]    In a preferred embodiment, infuser  200  may be disposed within a sealable packaging  275 . Packaging  275  is comprised of a tray  280  which is shaped to define at least one indentation, recess or well to accommodate kit items, such as well  295 , and removable covering  285  seals tray  280 &#39;s top surface  290 . Cover  242  may be folded along seam  282  and closed as described above. 
         [0026]    Functionally, the user withdraws handle  230  wherein piston  235  is drawn back to produce compression in spring  237 . Compression in spring  237  acting on the proximal side of piston  235 , biases piston  235 , driver  225 , and handle  230  forwardly. A portion of handle  230  is shaped to form driver platform  233  which makes contact with and depress plunger  240 , which is driven forwardly. In an alternative, a portion of handle  230  is shaped to define an integrally formed plunger. As plunger  240  moves forwardly, a flowable medicament may flow from syringe opening  245  and out of syringe  210 . 
         [0027]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , coaxial vacuum powered syringe infuser  300  may be comprised of chamber  315  segmented into driver housing  317  and plunger housing  319  by a portion of chamber  315  shaped to define divider  323 . Shaft  325  is coupled to piston  335  disposed within driver housing  317  and plunger  340  within plunger housing  319 . Shaft  325  is disposed and moves within airtight shaft seal  342 ; shaft seal  342  itself being disposed within aperture  344  of divider  323 . The circumferential surface of piston  335  and plunger  340  may be rubberized to provide an airtight seal in driver housing  317  and at least a fluidtight seal in plunger housing  319 . Chamber  315  is formed with vacuum V existing between the surface of piston  335  and the surface of divider  323  tending to drive piston  335  and divider  323  into contact. It should be noted that in a preferred embodiment, piston  335 , shaft  325 , and plunger  340  are integrally formed as a single coaxial driver. 
         [0028]    Functionally, the user may fill plunger housing  319  with a flowable medicament. This is accomplished a variety of ways, for example, by attaching a standard syringe to opening  345  and forcing medication out of the standard syringe into plunger housing  319  or by attaching a syringe to stopcock  350  and actuating it to provide flow between stopcock  350  and plunger housing  319 . The force of vacuum V is overcome by the force driving medication into plunger housing  319 , and plunger  340 , shaft  325 , and piston  335  together move backwardly plunger housing  315  is filled distally to plunger  340 . When vacuum force V is greater than the opposing resistance, medicament may flow from housing  319  through opening  345  and stopcock  350  and tubing  370  when attached. 
         [0029]    In a preferred embodiment, infuser  300  may be disposed within a sealable packaging  375 . Packaging  375  is comprised of a tray  380  which is shaped to define at least one indentation, recess, or well to accommodate kit items, such as well  395 , and removable covering  385  seals tray  380 &#39;s top surface  390 . Infuser  300  and optionally stopcock  350 , vial adapter  355  and tubing  370  may be stored in first well  395  or in an alternative embodiment, wells shaped to provide adequate individual storage. 
         [0030]    Now,  FIG. 4  demonstrates infuser  400  which may be comprised of a syringe  410  coupled to chamber  415  by clamp  420 . Driver  425  is attached to or integrally formed with a portion of handle  430  disposed within chamber  415 . Spring axle  435  is disposed within a relatively distal aspect of chamber  415  and freely rotatable therein. Flat torsion coil power spring  438  is affixed to axle  435  under tension to bias rotation. Wire  441  is affixed to axle  435  at one end and coupling  443  at the other end. Coupling  443  is affixed to the terminal aspect of driver  425 . When coil spring  438  rotates axle  435 , wire  441  is wound onto axle  435  and wire  441  applies a traction force to drive driver  425 , handle  430 , and handle platform  433  forwardly within chamber  415 . 
         [0031]    Functionally, the user withdraws handle  430  wherein piston  435  is drawn back to increase tension in spring  438 , as driver  425  and wire  441  affect rotation of axle  435 . Syringe  410  may be filled with a flowable medicament by the standard means of aspiration. When the desired volume of medicament has been collected within syringe  410 , handle  430  is energized by pulling handle  430  back, following which, handle  430  is rotated sufficiently to engage driver platform  433  and plunger  440 . When handle  430  is released, the force generated by driver  425  moving forwardly drives handle  430 , platform  433 , and depresses plunger  440  forwardly causing medication to flow from within syringe  410  through opening  445 . 
         [0032]    Turning now to  FIG. 5 , infuser  500  may be comprised of a syringe  510  coupled to chamber  515 , the chamber having a top and bottom, by clamp  520 . Driver  525  is attached to a portion of handle  530  and disposed within chamber  515 . Sliding sealed piston  535  is mounted on the end of driver  525 , and a seal is formed between sliding sealed piston  535  and the inner surface of chamber  515  and cap  537  seals the top of chamber  515 . Driver  525  passes through aperture  539  in cap  537  with driver  525  and cap forming an airtight seal. Gas, such as CO2, nitrogen, or air, pressurizes the chamber  515  such that gas pressure G exerts positive pressure between cap  537  and piston  535  to drive driver  525  forwardly. The terminal aspect of chamber  515  has opening  536  to provide air to move in and expelled from chamber  515  distal to piston  535 . A portion of handle  530  is shaped to define platform  533  which makes contact with the most proximal surface of a plunger  540  found in a typical syringe. In the alternative, a portion handle  530  is shaped to define an integrally formed plunger disposed forming a syringe. 
         [0033]    Functionally, the user withdraws handle  530  wherein piston  535  is drawn back to further compress the gas G in chamber  515 , raising the pressure and energizing the apparatus. The syringe  510  may be filled with a flowable medicament in the usual way from medicament vial  592 , by aspirating the medicament through stopcock  550  into the syringe when the medicament vial  592  is spiked onto vial adapter  555 . When syringe  510  has been filled with the desired amount of medication, handle  530  is rotated to place platform  533  into alignment with plunger  540  and released. The force generated by piston  535  sliding forwardly, driven by the force of compressed gas G, causes driver  525  and handle  530  to likewise move forwardly and in so doing, drive plunger  540  within syringe  510 . As plunger  540  moves forwardly, a flowable medicament may flow from syringe opening  545  and out of syringe  510 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  illustrates infuser  600  which may be comprised of a driver  625  coupled to piston  635  disposed with chamber  615 . A seal, such as one or more O-rings  633  are located on the circumferential surface of piston  635  to provide a seal. Driver  625  is attached to a portion of handle  630  shaped to define platform  633  that makes contact with a standard syringe. Driver  625  passes through aperture  639  sealed with O-ring  641  such seal being airtight. Gas, such as CO2, nitrogen, or air, is stored within cylinder  643  flows through regulator  646  into pressurize chamber  615 ; gas pressure G exerts positive pressure to drive driver  625  forwardly. A portion of handle  630  is shaped to define a platform  633  which makes contact with the most proximal surface of a plunger  640  of a typical syringe. 
         [0035]    Functionally, gas G flows from cylinder  643  through regulator  646  into chamber  615 , raising pressure. When the force of gas pressure G exceeds the force of the piston&#39;s static resistance (i.e. between of piston  635  and chamber  615 ) and the forces acting on platform  633 , piston  635  will move forwardly to drive platform  633  and any standard syringe plunger  640  in contact therewith. Regulator  646  maintains a constant pressure in chamber  615  so that the pressure force remains the same throughout the infusion cycle. 
         [0036]    Turning now to  FIG. 7 , infuser  700  consists of a single or double walled elastomeric balloon  710  having an internal reservoir  715  capable of holding medication. Balloon  710  terminates in a coupling  720  capable of reversibly attaching to stopcock  750 , intravenous tubing  770 , or a standard syringe. Filled elastomeric balloon  710  has sufficient resiliency to generate an effective amount of force to drive a medicament through tubing  770 . A medicament may be prepackaged within reservoir  715  or reservoir  715  may be filled by a standard syringe. 
         [0037]    In a preferred embodiment, infuser  700  may be disposed within a sealable packaging  775 . Packaging  775  is comprised of a tray  780  which is shaped to define at least one indentation, recess or well to accommodate kit items, such as well  795 , and a removable covering  785  seals tray  780 &#39;s top surface  790 . Infuser  700  and optionally stopcock  750 , vial adapter  755  and tubing  770  may be stored in first well  795  or in an alternative embodiment, disposed within wells shaped to provide adequate individual storage. 
         [0038]      FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment infuser  800  having an integrated circuit and attached battery  802  electrically coupled to reversible servo gearhead motor  804 . Worm screw  820  is coupled to motor  804  by coupling  805  at screw&#39;s first end.  FIG. 8  illustrates threaded tube  815  which forms part of driver housing arm  830  and threaded tube  815  is disposed within housing  816 . Worm screw  820  is disposed within threaded tube  815 .  FIG. 8  illustrates a portion of threaded tube  815 , with a portion of tube  815  omitted (for illustrative purposes) to show worm screw  820  disposed therein. The second end of screw  820  is disposed within driver arm  830 . Platform  833  may make contact with plunger  840  of syringe  810 . 
         [0039]    Functionally, when circuit is closed, motor  804  actuates to rotatably drive worm screw  820 . Worm screw  820  threadably engages threaded tube  815  resulting in worm screw  820  being driven axially forwardly driving arm  830  and platform  833  downwardly to depress plunger  840  and force a flowable medicament from syringe  810 . Motor  804  may be reversed to drive worm screw axially backwardly. 
         [0040]    In a preferred embodiment, infuser  800  may be disposed within a sealable packaging  875 . Packaging  875  is comprised of a tray  880  which is shaped to define at least one indentation, recess or well to accommodate kit items, such as well  895 , and a removable covering  885  seals tray  880 &#39;s top surface  790 . Infuser  800  and optionally stopcock  850 , vial adapter  855  and tubing  870  may be stored in first well  895  or in an alternative embodiment, disposed within wells shaped to provide adequate individual storage. 
         [0041]    With regard to the kit covering, in an alternative embodiment, illustrated by  FIG. 9 , seam  82 , recesses  84 , and projections  84  are omitted, and the top surface is uniform. In one embodiment, the top surface may be covered with a removable covering  925 . In one embodiment, covering  925  is a single use cover; in an alternative embodiment, cover  925  is a single reusable cover which may be replaced over the top surface to re-seal all contents within tray  950 . It should be realized that tray packaging  900  may be used with medical apparatus and medicaments of all types. 
         [0042]    Several example embodiments are described above. The general inventive concepts include use of a force applicator acting on a flowable therapeutic substance or medicament within a vessel. In several of present embodiments described above, the containing vessel is a syringe coupled to several embodiments of a force applicator in a side-by-side or coaxial arrangement. It should be immediately recognized that the location, arrangement, and relative size of the vessel, force applicator, and/or handle may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, in several embodiments, an example component of a force applicator includes a handle which forms or engages a portion of a standard syringe. 
         [0043]    As is customary, ultimately, the infusion and patient clinical response is monitored by the professional administering the medicament. In some therapeutic settings, the apparatus may be utilized with limited clinician involvement (e.g. infusion of antibiotics). In other settings, the apparatus is utilized with active bedside clinician involvement (e.g. anesthetics or potent analgesics) where patient response is actively monitored, and the infusion may be interrupted when a desirable clinical effect is achieved. As is also customary, the infusion may be interrupted where an undesirable or adverse clinical effect is encountered. It should be recognized that a force applicator may take a variety of shapes and sizes to impart force on a flowable therapeutic substance without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
         [0044]    The term medicament, as used herein, refers to any flowable substance which may have therapeutic benefit. Further, the apparatus described herein may be utilized without regard to intravenous line placement, and may be utilized to provide an infusion through central and peripheral venous access locations. It should be recognized that the system described herein may be utilized to provide infusion through any therapeutically acceptable location, including but not limited to intraosseous, epidural, intrathecal, or intraperitoneal routes. 
         [0045]    It should be further recognized, that the present invention may be utilized to facilitate mixture, admixture, or reconstitution of medication, and the embodiment vial housing can be used to facilitate reconstitution of powered medicaments. For example, a dilutent vial may be puncturingly engaged on an embodiment vial adapter and stopcock engaged to permit flow between a syringe and vial and permit dilutent aspiration into the syringe. The stopcock may be aligned to close flow between the syringe and vial, and a second vial containing the medicament to be reconstituted puncturingly engaged on the vial adapter whereupon, stopcock may be aligned to permit flow between the syringe and vial to allow dilutent to be instilled into vial where it can be agitated and mixed according to manufacturer&#39;s instructions and accepted clinical practices. Further, the number, size, shape, and contents of medication vials may be variable. For example, several vials containing the same substance may be provided where repeat dosing is foreseeable. 
         [0046]    Further, the present invention describes, in part, a kit containing medical apparatus to facilitate the infusion of therapeutic substances and medications or adjunctive solutions contained within that kit where the apparatus and medications are separately contained and where the medications may be inspected and accessed without opening that portion of the kit containing apparatus. It should be immediately recognized that the inventive kit herein described may be utilized with any type of medical apparatus capable of being separately sealed. 
         [0047]    The syringe and/or force applicator may or may not be have indicia printed or etched thereupon. Examples of such indicia include such information to facilitate accurate medication administration such as cubic centimeters (cc), milliliters (ml), age, weight, and dosing information. 
         [0048]    The present invention may be practiced with several medication classes, including, but not limited to: opiates, opioids, sedatives, benzodiazepines, propofol, vasopressors, anesthetics, vasodialators, anticoagulants, antibiotics, antiarrhythmics, antiepileptics, antirheumatic drugs, steroids, chemotherapeutic agents, and progestins. It should be noted that the term medicament, as used herein, refers to any substance which may have a potential health benefit or therapeutic use. 
         [0049]    References are made herein to the spatial orientation of the inventive apparatus. Distal and distally are used to refer to points relatively closer to the subject patient (e.g. furthest from handle  225 ); whereas proximal and proximally referring to points relatively further from the patient (e.g. closest to handle  225 ). Forwardly and backwardly are used to describe the movement of certain embodiments and forward and forwardly refer to movement in the direction of opening  230  whereas backward or backwardly refer to movement away from opening  230 . The inventive infuser embodiments described herein may be practiced with or without the use of the example packaging, and the apparatus described herein may be packaged according to any acceptable custom. Stopcocks, vials, and tubing are described as optional embodiments and may or may not be included used with the inventive infuser/medicament containing vessel. 
         [0050]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it should be understood that various modifications and variations can be easily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing disclosure should be interpreted as illustrative only and is not to be interpreted in a limiting sense. It is further intended that any other embodiments of the present invention that result from any changes in application or method of use or operation, method of manufacture, shape, size, or material which are not specified within the detailed written description or illustrations contained herein yet are considered apparent or obvious to one skilled in the art are within the scope of the present invention.