Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
10643S6
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hyper-alimentation is becoming more common as a form of
care for the seriously ill. Typically, a number of different
nutrients, vitamins and electrolytes are administered intra-
venously to the patient. In general, these different ingredients
are supplied or formulated in the form of a concentrate which
is diluted with an ordinary intravenous solution at the time of
administration. In many cases, the nutrient, vitamin and electro-
lyte concentrates are added to the intravenous solution in fixed
ratios or percentages. However, many of these concentrates are
not storage stable when admixed, that is, they are incompatible
or reactive when combined and held over a prolonged period.
Consequently, they cannot be pre-mixed, and sold and held in
that form. The problem has arisen with the preparation of these
mixtures in hospitals. Many alimentation solutions are used
every day, and considerable time is spent in decanting and
measuring the proper amounts of the various components and
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,,A,~ adding them to intravenous solutions. This procedure is also
fraught with opportunities for error, mix-up and loss of sterility.
The present invention overcomes these problems by providing a
completely closed system in which two, three, four or even more
~, different components for alimentation can be packaged in proper
~; concentration and ratios in a factory under rigid asceptic condi-
tions,yet held in physical separation from each other to
provide long-term storage stability and life, and yet are quickly
and easily admixed at the time of use without opening of the
~;~ system to the risk of contamination. The present invention
significantly contributes to the saving of time and reduces the
opportunities for mistakes and error in formulation. It is to
;~ 30 be anticipated that this invention will be widely received
and acclaimed by the health care profession.
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1064356
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, my invention comprises:
1) a plurality of cylindrical rigid vials, each having
a closed end and cylindrical walls, and containing a liquid
concentrate of an alimentary component, a resilient piston
stopper positioned approximately on the liquid surface
within the vial and sealing same,
2) a transfer device for the sequential addition of
the liquid contents of each of said vials to a conventional
container of intravenous solution provided with an imperforate
closure, said transfer device having a cannula, said cannula
having a central portion which is provided with a longitudinally
:. extending rigid support, in proximity to one end of said rigid
support a laterally extending flange, one end portion of said
cannula extending beyond said flange and being adapted to
pierce the imperforate closure of said container of intra-
venous solution, said laterally extending flange being adapted
to act as a stop to limit the extent of advancement of said
cannula, the other end portion of said cannula extending
~ 20 beyond the other end of said rigid support and terminating
in a sharpened outer end, a thin resilient tube over said
~. sharpened outer end, said resilient tube being closed in
.~ proximity to the sharpened outer end and along the length of
said other end portion of said cannula and having an open
end which seals on said other end of said rigid support,
said resilient tube being longitudinally compressible over :~
-: and pierced by said sharpened outer end when the piston -~
stopper o one of saàd vials is forced over said sharpened
outer end whereby the contents of the vial can be transferred
i~ 30 to the intravenous solution container through said cannula, ~:
., .
s said resilient tube being- self-recoverable over said sharpened
. end ~hen said pi~ton s:topper is ~ithdraNn to maintain a seal
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over said cannula between the sequential additions of the
liquid contents of each of said vials.
It is an object of this invention to provide a novel
system for the containment of alimentary components.
It i5 a further object of this invention to provide a new
and novel system of storing and using alimentary components.
It is still a further object of this invention to provide
alimentary components for use in the health care professions
whereby problems of incompatibility, loss of sterility and
mix-ups are minimized.
These and other objects and advantages of my invention
will be apparent from the detailed description which follows.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
novel alimentary kit of this invention, shown in conjunction
with a typical bottle of intravenous solution.
Figure 2 is a left end view of the transfer device shown
at the lower portion of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a right end view of the transfer device shown
at the lower portion of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4
in Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a sectional veiw taken along the line 5-5
~; in Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a sectional view showing the transfer device
` in place OTI a bottle of intravenous solution.
Figure 7 shows the placement of one of the vials, con-
taining an alimentary component in place and its contents about
to be transferred to the intravenous solution bottle.
Figure 8 shows in section the next phase of the transfer
proce~, and follows in time t~e phase o Pigure 7.
Figure ~ shows in section the phase following Figure 8.
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1064356
Figure 10 shows the device after one vial of alimentary
fluid has been transferred and awaiting the next vial.
Turning to the drawings in greater detail, Figure 1 shows
three vials 10, 12 and 14 each containing a different liquid
alimentary component 16, 18 and 20, respectively, which are
- sealed by piston stoppers 22, 24 and 26. Each vial also has
an end or dust cap 28, 30 and 32 which are flicked away and
discarded at the time of use. The piston stoppers 22, 24
and 26 are resilient, normally rubber compatible with the
alimentary component, and may be provided with sealing rings
- 34.
The bottle of intravenous solution 36 is conventional, and
- is provided with a resilient closure 38 held by a peripheral
crimped metal seal 40. The bottle can be replaced by a
flaccid bag of intravenous solution, as will be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
`~f The transfer device, generally 42, has a cannula 44, a
longitudinally extending rigid support 46 surrounding the
center portion of the cannula, one end of the support 46
terminates at flange 48 and the other end of support 46
terminating at the enlarged portion 50. Each end of the
transfer device 42 is provided with a dust cover 52 and 54.
The dust cover 52 seals on the flange 56 which has a smaller
` lateral dimension than the inside diameter of vials 10, 12
and 14, so that the latter may pass thereover, as shown in
Figures 7 - 9.
The sharpened outer end 58 of cannula 44 is covered by
'.!j resilient tube 60. The resilient tube 60 is pierced by
`' sharpened outer end 58 when for example, the stopper 22 of
vial 10 is forced over the end of the cannula 44 as shown in
I Figures 7 to 9. When the vial is removed, the resilient
`i tuhe 6Q snaps back over the sharpened outer end 58 to
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~064356
re-seal the transfer device, as shown in Figure 10, until the
next vial of alimentary component is brought into position for
transfer to the intravenous solution bottle 36.
The resilient tube 60 forms a seal with recess 62 by
virtue of the integral external ring 64 on tube 60 which is
received in recess 62. The resilient tube 60 is otherwise
loosely positioned around the outside of the cannula and yet
it is normally self sustaining in its lengthwise dimension
until the vial stopper is applied to it.
In operation, the cover 54 is removed and the transfer
; device 42 is positioned as shown in Figure 6. The cap 52
is then discarded, and the system is ready to receive the
fluid contents of the first vial in the kit. Once the con-
; tents of the first vial has been transferred, Figures 7 to 9,the system is ready for the next vial in the kit, and so on
~^ in sequence until all of the vial contents have been added tothe intravenous solution bottle 36. Obviously, the kit of
this invention may contain one, two, three, four or more
separate vials.
Having fully described the invention, it is intended that
it be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
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