Patent ID: 7427281

Claim:
A method of delivering fluid to multiple patients, comprising: (a) providing a fluid delivery system comprising a reusable fluid path and a plurality of per-patient disposable fluid paths, the reusable fluid path including (i) a first fluid source; (ii) a second fluid source; (iii) a helical vane mixer adapted to mix fluids from the first and second fluid sources, the plurality of per-patient disposable fluid paths each including a first end connectable to a patient of the multiple patients and a second end connectable to the reusable fluid path; (b) connecting the second end of a first per-patient disposable fluid path of the plurality of per-patient disposable fluid paths to the reusable fluid path and the first end of the first per-patient disposable fluid path to a first patient of the multiple patients to define a fluid path between the first and second fluid sources and the first patient; (c) mixing the fluids from the first and second fluid sources to create a first mixture with a predetermined content for the first patient; (d) delivering the first mixture to the first patient through the first per-patient disposable fluid path; (e) disconnecting the first per-patient disposable fluid path from the reusable fluid path and the first patient; (f) connecting a second per-patient disposable fluid path to the reusable fluid path and a second patient of the multiple patients; (g) mixing the fluids from the first and second fluid sources to create a second mixture with a predetermined content for the second patient; and (h) delivering the second mixture to the second patient through the second per-patient disposable fluid path.