Patent Description:
Medical treatments often include the infusion of a medical fluid (e.g., a saline solution or a liquid medication) to patients using an intravenous (IV) catheter that is connected though an arrangement of flexible tubing and fittings, commonly referred to as an "IV set," to a source of fluid, for example, an IV bag. During operation, medical fluid can be filtered to prevent the transfer of bacteria, microorganisms, and/or other pathogens.

In some applications, filters can become clogged, limiting the filtration efficiency and life of the filter.

<CIT> discloses a filter cell for venoclysis apparatus comprising in combination: a deformable, cylindrical, hollow body capable of being partially collapsed when external pressure is applied thereto to effect a substantial change in the volume of the said hollow body and returning to its original form when the pressure is released; a filter element in said body; end closure means at each end of said body having a passage therethrough; a tubular inlet means communicating with the interior of said body secured to and projecting from one of the said closure means for communication with a source of liquid; and tubular delivery means communicating with the interior of said body secured to and projecting from the other of the said closure means for discharging liquid from the said body; said body when compressed after stopping the flow of fluid in the tubular delivery means effecting a back-flow through the said tubular inlet means thereby facilitating dislodging obstructions in the said tubular inlet means.

<CIT> discloses a venoclysils equipment for transferring parenteral fluids from a storage-container to the veins-of a patient through tubular connecting means, an improved drip chamber comprising a rigid transparent main chamber; a first tubular connecting means extending up from said main chamber for debouching in the fluid in said storage container; means directly associated-with said main chamber for varying the effective volume of said main chamber by an amount greater than the interior volume of said-tubular connecting means; and a second tubular, connecting means to deliver a stream of fluid' coming from. said main chamber; said main chamber having inlet means shaped to deliver incoming fluid at a point where the flow can be seen.

<CIT> discloses an apparatus comprising a vessel within which a filter assembly is disposed between inlet and outlet ports, the assembly comprising, in order (a) a blood clot filter member (b) two mats of finely subdivided blood-contact material, one mat being of greater density then the other and (c) a fibre filter member for filtering from the blood fragments of mat fibre material.

<CIT> discloses an automatic alarming heating infusion device which comprises an infusion pipe, a flow control valve and a drip kettle, wherein the flow control valve is arranged on the middle position of the infusion pipe; the drip kettle and a filter are arranged on one side of the flow control valve; the filter is arranged under the drip kettle; an injection cap, a bottle stopper puncture device and an exhaust pipe are arranged above the drip kettle; the injection cap is arranged on one side of the bottle stopper puncture device; the exhaust pipe is arranged on the other side of the bottle stopper puncture device; a heating sleeve is arranged on the other side of the flow control valve; a spherical blood return bulge is arranged above the heating sleeve; a vein needle is arranged above the spherical blood return bulge; a liquid level meter is arranged in the drip kettle; an alarming device is arranged above the liquid level meter. The automatic alarming heating infusion device has the advantages of simple structure, convenience in operation, obvious blood return phenomenon, easiness in indicating if successful puncturing, capability of guaranteeing the temperature of infusion body, capability of thoroughly eliminating adverse infusion effect caused by low temperature liquid, capability of timely reminding the nurse of changing the medical prescription in time when the liquid medicine is insufficient and capability of avoiding accident.

<CIT> discloses a device comprising at least one fluid reception chamber and at least one hydrophobic filter means, wherein a vertical through the hydrophobic filter means does not have a point of intersection with a fluid level of fluids present in the fluid reception chamber. It further relates to an external functional means as well as a treatment apparatus.

The disclosed subject matter relates to IV filters. In certain embodiments, an IV filter is disclosed that comprises a body defining a body volume; a filter media disposed within the body volume, the filter media defining an inlet portion of the body volume and an outlet portion of the body volume, wherein the filter media permits inlet flow from the inlet portion of the body volume to the outlet portion of the body volume and captures particulate from the inlet flow; and a bulb defining a bulb volume in fluid communication with the outlet portion of the body volume, wherein the bulb is deformable to compress the bulb volume and direct back flow from the outlet portion of the body volume through the filter media and into the inlet portion of the body volume, displacing particulate captured in the filter media into the inlet portion of the body volume, wherein an aspiration valve is in selective fluid communication with a lower portion of the inlet portion of the body volume, wherein the aspiration valve is configured to remove displaced particulate within the inlet portion of the body volume.

In certain embodiments, a method is disclosed that comprises permitting an inlet flow from an inlet portion of a body volume through a filter media and into an outlet portion of a body volume; capturing particulate from the inlet flow in the filter media; directing a back flow from the outlet portion of the body volume through the filter media and into the inlet portion of the body volume; displacing particulate captured in the filter media into the inlet portion of the body volume, and removing the particulate from the inlet portion of the body volume.

In certain embodiments, an IV set is disclosed that comprises a first portion of tubing; a second portion of tubing; and an IV filter comprising: a body defining a body volume; an inlet coupled to the first portion of tubing, wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the body volume; an outlet coupled to the second portion of tubing, wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the body volume; a filter media disposed within the body volume, the filter media defining an inlet portion of the body volume in fluid communication with the inlet and an outlet portion of the body volume in fluid communication with the outlet, wherein the filter media captures particulate from a flow from the inlet to the outlet; and a bulb defining a bulb volume in fluid communication with the outlet portion of the body volume, wherein the bulb is deformable to compress the bulb volume and direct back flow from the outlet portion of the body volume through the filter media and into the inlet portion of the body volume, displacing particulate captured in the filter media into the inlet portion of the body volume, wherein an aspiration valve is in selective fluid communication with a lower portion of the inlet portion of the body volume, wherein the aspiration valve is configured to remove displaced particulate within the inlet portion of the body volume.

The disclosed IV filter incorporates a bulb in fluid communication with the body volume. The bulb can be deformable to direct back flow through the filter media, allowing particulate embedded in the filter media to be displaced. By displacing embedded particulate from the filter media, the life of the IV filter can be extended without reducing filtration efficiency.

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of various configurations of the subject technology and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the subject technology may be practiced. Like components are labeled with identical element numbers for ease of understanding. Reference numbers may have letter suffixes appended to indicate separate instances of a common element while being referred to generically by the same number without a suffix letter.

While the following description is directed to the filters for the administration of medical fluid using the disclosed IV filter, it is to be understood that this description is only an example of usage and does not limit the scope of the claims. Various aspects of the disclosed filter may be used in any application where it is desirable to provide extended filter life without reducing filtration efficiency.

The disclosed connector overcomes several challenges discovered with respect to certain conventional filters. One challenge with certain conventional filters is that certain conventional filters can become clogged, limiting the filtering efficiency of the filter. For example, many treatments can utilize lipids or other large molecule components, which may clog filters in a short period of time. Because certain conventional filters may rapidly clog during the administration of treatments that utilize lipids or other large molecule components, and because clogged filters can interrupt the administration of medical fluids and require frequent replacement, the use of certain conventional filters is undesirable.

Therefore, in accordance with the present disclosure, it is advantageous to provide an IV filter as described herein that allows for embedded particles to be dislodged from the filter media, extending the life of the filter. Further, it is advantageous to provide an IV filter as described herein that allows for extended filtration life without reducing the filtration efficiency of the IV filter.

Examples of IV filters that allow for embedded particles to be dislodged are now described.

<FIG> illustrates a patient <NUM> receiving an infusion of a medical fluid through an IV pump <NUM> according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. The IV pump <NUM> comprises a controller <NUM> and two pump modules <NUM>. An IV set <NUM> is connected between a container <NUM> of the medical fluid and the patient <NUM>. During operation, medical fluid delivered to the patient <NUM> can be filtered to prevent the transfer of bacteria, microorganisms, and/or other pathogens. In some embodiments, an IV filter can be disposed in between or in line with tubing of the IV set <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a front view of the in-line IV filter <NUM> according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. <FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of the in-line IV filter <NUM> of <FIG>. With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the in-line IV filter <NUM> allows for filtration of fluids through an IV set.

In the depicted example, fluid flow enters the in-line IV filter <NUM> through an inlet <NUM> formed in a body <NUM> of the in-line IV filter <NUM>. An inlet body <NUM> can extend away from the body <NUM> to define a protrusion forming the inlet <NUM>. An inlet lumen <NUM> defined in the inlet body <NUM> provides fluid communication with a volume <NUM> defined within the body <NUM>, permitting fluid flow to enter the in-line IV filter <NUM>. The body <NUM> can be formed from a rigid material, including, but not limited to plastic.

In some embodiments, tubing from the IV set <NUM> can be coupled to the inlet <NUM> to allow flow from a fluid container <NUM> or other component of the IV set <NUM> into the volume <NUM> defined within the body <NUM>. The fluid flow can have a positive pressure to pass through the in-line IV filter <NUM>.

As illustrated, fluid within the volume <NUM> can pass through a filter media <NUM> to prevent the transfer of bacteria, microorganisms, and/or other pathogens to the patient. During operation, fluid can flow from an inlet portion <NUM> of the volume <NUM> through the filter media <NUM> to the outlet portion <NUM> of the volume <NUM>. As can be appreciated, a positive pressure differential can direct fluid flow from the inlet portion <NUM> of the volume through the filter media <NUM> to the outlet portion <NUM> of the volume <NUM>.

As described herein, the filter media <NUM> can selectively filter the flow through the in-line IV filter <NUM>. The filter media <NUM> can have an average filter opening of approximately. <NUM> micros. Optionally, the average filter opening of the filter media can range between. <NUM> microns and <NUM> microns. In some embodiments, the filter media <NUM> can be formed from a non-woven filter material. The filter media <NUM> can be formed from a resilient or expandable material.

The filter media <NUM> can have a generally planar or rectangular prism shape. As illustrated, the filter media <NUM> can extend along a portion of the width and length of the body <NUM>. In some embodiments, the filter media <NUM> can extend generally along the width of the body <NUM>. During operation, fluid flow can flow into the filter media <NUM> along the surface area of the filter media <NUM> exposed to the inlet portion <NUM> of the volume <NUM>.

As illustrated, the filter media <NUM> can be supported by portions of the body <NUM>. In some embodiments, a lower portion of the filter media <NUM> can be captured between opposing portions of the body <NUM>. Optionally, protrusions formed in the body <NUM> can further retain or support the filter media <NUM> within the volume <NUM>. As illustrated, one or more protrusions formed in the body <NUM> can retain an upper portion of the filter media <NUM> within the body <NUM>.

After passing through the filter media <NUM>, the fluid flow can enter the outlet portion <NUM> of the volume <NUM>. Outlet flow can exit the in-line IV filter <NUM> through an outlet <NUM> formed in a body <NUM> of the in-line IV filter <NUM>. An outlet body <NUM> can extend away from the body <NUM> to define a protrusion forming the outlet <NUM>. An outlet lumen <NUM> defined in the outlet body <NUM> provides fluid communication with a volume <NUM> defined within the body <NUM>, permitting fluid flow to exit the in-line IV filter <NUM>.

Similar to the inlet <NUM>, in some embodiments, tubing from the IV set <NUM> can be coupled to the outlet <NUM> to allow flow from the volume <NUM> to the patient or other components of the IV set <NUM>.

During operation, the inlet side of the filter media <NUM> can become clogged with particulate, limiting the filtering efficiency of the filter media <NUM>. In some applications, treatments that utilize lipids or other large molecules can clog and reduce the filtering efficiency of the filter media <NUM> in a short period of time. As described herein, conventional filters are typically replaced when clogged with particulate.

Advantageously, the in-line IV filter <NUM> can dislodge sediment or particulate embedded in the filter media <NUM>, extending the life of the in-line IV filter <NUM> without reducing filtration efficiency. As described herein, the in-line IV filter <NUM> can direct back flow or back pressure through the filter media <NUM> to dislodge particulate embedded in the inlet side of the filter media <NUM>.

During a dislodging operation, back flow can be forced from the outlet portion <NUM> of the volume <NUM> through the filter media <NUM> to the inlet portion <NUM> of the volume <NUM>. As can be appreciated, the dislodging operation can create a pressure differential across the outlet portion <NUM> and the inlet portion <NUM> of the volume <NUM>. Dislodged particulate from the inlet side of the filter media <NUM> can flow into the inlet portion <NUM> of the volume <NUM>. In some applications, the dislodged particulate can settle at a lower or bottom portion of the volume <NUM> to allow fluid flow through the filter media <NUM> without clogging.

In the depicted example, a clinician can actuate a bulb <NUM> to create back flow through the filter media <NUM>. In some embodiments, the bulb <NUM> is formed from a resilient or deformable material that allows the bulb volume <NUM> defined by the bulb <NUM> to be reduced upon actuation. As illustrated, the bulb volume <NUM> is in fluid communication with the outlet portion <NUM> of the volume <NUM>. The bulb <NUM> can be formed from any resilient or deformable material, including, but not limited to silicone, rubber, or thermoplastic elastomers. The bulb <NUM> can have a generally rectangular prism shape.

By reducing the bulb volume <NUM>, the fluid within the bulb volume <NUM> and the outlet portion <NUM> of the volume <NUM> is pressurized relative to the fluid within the inlet portion <NUM> of the volume <NUM>. Therefore, upon actuation or compression of the bulb <NUM>, back flow is forced from the outlet portion <NUM> of the volume <NUM> through the filter media <NUM> to the inlet portion <NUM> of the volume <NUM>, displacing or dislodging particulate from the inlet side of the filter media <NUM>.

Prior to a dislodging operation, IV flow into the in-line IV filter <NUM> via the inlet <NUM> and flow out of the in-line IV filter <NUM> via the outlet <NUM> can be restricted or blocked to prevent back flow from entering the IV set <NUM>. In some embodiments, the tubing coupled to the inlet <NUM> and/or the outlet <NUM> can be clamped to prevent inadvertent flow during the dislodging operation.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of an in-line IV filter <NUM> according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. <FIG> illustrates a rear view of the in-line IV filter <NUM> of <FIG>. In some embodiments, the in-line IV filter <NUM> can include an aspiration valve <NUM> to allow particulate dislodged from the filter media <NUM> to be removed from the inlet portion <NUM> of the volume <NUM>. Advantageously, by removing particulate from the in-line IV filter <NUM>, the useful life of the in-line IV filter <NUM> can be further extended without reducing filtration efficiency.

In the depicted example, the aspiration valve <NUM> is in fluid communication with the inlet portion <NUM> of the volume <NUM>. Optionally, the aspiration valve <NUM> is in fluid communication with a lower portion of the inlet portion <NUM> of the volume <NUM> where dislodged particulate is expected to settle. A clinician can attach or couple a syringe to the port <NUM> and/or connector body <NUM> of the aspiration valve <NUM>. The syringe can draw out displaced particulate through the port <NUM> of the aspiration valve <NUM>. In some embodiments, the aspiration valve <NUM> is a needleless connector.

Terms such as "top," "bottom," "front," "rear" and the like if used in this disclosure should be understood as referring to an arbitrary frame of reference, rather than to the ordinary gravitational frame of reference. Thus, a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, and a rear surface may extend upwardly, downwardly, diagonally, or horizontally in a gravitational frame of reference.

Claim 1:
An IV filter <NUM>, comprising: a body <NUM> defining a body volume <NUM>; a filter media <NUM> disposed within the body volume, the filter media defining an inlet portion <NUM> of the body volume and an outlet portion <NUM> of the body volume, wherein the filter media permits inlet flow from the inlet portion of the body volume to the outlet portion of the body volume and captures particulate from the inlet flow; a bulb <NUM> defining a bulb volume <NUM> in fluid communication with the outlet portion of the body volume, wherein the bulb is deformable to compress the bulb volume and direct back flow from the outlet portion of the body volume through the filter media and into the inlet portion of the body volume, displacing particulate captured in the filter media into the inlet portion of the body volume; and characterized by:
an aspiration valve <NUM> in selective fluid communication with a lower portion of the inlet portion of the body volume, wherein the aspiration valve is configured to remove displaced particulate within the inlet portion of the body volume.