Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
Back~round of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus which can
administer incompatible liquids to a recipient through a com-
mon injection site. More particularly, this invention relates
to a device which can convey incompatible I.V. solutions
through a common length of tubing to a hypodermic needle where-
in the tubing either is provided with an inner, smaller di-
ameter tubing or has a partition for forming the tubing into
two separate passages,
An administration device of the type concerned with
in this invention is described in U. S. Patent 3,941,126.
This particular patented unit discloses a multiplicity of
chambers for each drug, a particular type of manifolding sys-
tem as well as a multiplicity of lengths of tubing leading
into and out of the chambers in order to administer various
types of drug components to a patient. Coaxial type tubing
members for either conveying fluids or collecting fluids from
a patient are described in U. S. Patents 3,470,869; 3,512,517;
3,610,-226 and 3,983,864. These prior art units either involve
a multiplicity of components making them complicated to han-
dle and expensive to produce or are not concerned with an ap-
paratus for administering two incompatible materials to a
common injection site.
It is an advantage of the present invention to pro-
vide a novel apparatus for administering incompatible liquids
through a common injection site of a patient. Other advan-
tages are an administration apparatus fpr administering in-
compatible liquids to a patient which involves a minimum num-
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ber of parts; is simple in its construction and consequentlyreduces costs in its manufacture, making the unit highly de-
sirable as a disposable intravenous administration set; is
adaptable to being used in conjunction with one or more stand-
ard I.V. administration sets and also provides for adminis-
tration from a hypodermic syringe.
Summary of the Invention
The foregoing advantages are accomplished and the
shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by the present ap-
paratus for administering incompatible parenteral liquidsfrom at'least two separate liquid sources which utilizes at
least one liquid-tight connection means for communicating
with a parenteral liquid in a parenteral liquid container.
A first length of flexible tubing is secured to the connec-
tion means. The tubing has a standard flow control devicesuch as an adjustable tubing clamp and a sight-drip chamber
in communication with the flexible tubing. A second length
o flexible tubing is provided which has means to define at'
least two separate flow paths within the length of tubing.
Junction means separately interconnect the first length of
tubing with one of the fLow paths in the second length of
tubing. In one instance, the junction means provides a con-
- nection from a second I.V. administration set to a separate
passage in the second length of tubing. In another instance,
a reseal injection site is provided in the junction-means
which provides a separate interconnection to a separate pas-
sage in the second length of tubing. A hypodermic,needle is
secured to the second length of tubing opposite the junction
34
.Icans. In one eTnbodiTneTIt~ the two separate passages are
provided in the second length oE tubing by means of a smaller
diameter tubing contained within the second length of tubing.
In another embodiment, the dual passage is afforded by means
of a partition which extends longitudinally throughout the
second length of tubing.
In one particular aspect the present invention provides
an apparatus for administering incompatible parenteral liquids
-Erom at least two containers to a recipient compri-sing: -
at least two liquid-tight connection means for
communicating with said liquid in said containers;
first lengths of flexible tubing secured to each
said connection means at one end;
means to control the flow rate of liquid through each
said first lengths of flexible tubing;
a sight-drip chamber in fluid communication with each
said first lengths of flexible tubing and said connection
means;
a second length of flexible tubing;
means defining at least two separate flow paths within
said second length of tubing;
junction means separately interconnecting said first
lengths of tubing with said separate flow paths in said
second length of tubing;
a hypodermic needle secured to said second length of
flexible tubing opposite said junction means; and
means to join said hypodermic needle to each said
separate flow path.
In another particular aspect the present invention
provides an apparatus for administering incompatible
parenteral liquids from at least two separate liquid sources
comprising:
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a liquid-tight connection means for communicating
with said liquid in said liqu:id source;
a first length of flexible tubing secured to said
connection means at one end;
means to control the flow rate of liquid through said
first length of flexible tubing;
a sight-drip chamber in fluid communication with
said first length of flexible tubing and said connection
means;
a second length of flexible tubing;
means to define at least two separate flow paths
within said second length of tubing;
junction means separately interconnecting said first
length of tubing with one of said separate flow paths in
said second length of tubing and providing fluid communication
.
with said other flow path;
a hypodermic needle secured to said second length
of flexible tubing opposite said junction means; and
means to join said hypodermic needle to each said
separate flow path.
Brief Description of the Drawing
A better understanding of the apparatus for administering
incompatible liquids through a common injection site will be
accomplished by reference to the drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation with parts broken
away showing the apparatus of this invention operatively
interconnected to two separate sources of I.V. solution.
Figure 2 is a view of an alternative embodiment of the
apparatus for administering incompatible liquids.
Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section taken along
line 3-3 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing still a
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furLher embocl:imen~ of this invention.
Description _f the Preferred Embodiments
Proceecting to a detailed description of one embodiment
of the present lnventi.on, the apparatus for administering
fluids 10 is shown in Figure 1 in conjunction with conventional
parenteral solution containers 12 and 12a which are supported
by bails 14 and 14a. The solution containers have the
usual pierceable stoppers 16 and 16a for engagement with
piercing pin assemblies 17 and 17a. The pin assemblies a.re
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34
provided with air vent passages 18 and 18a which also have
air filters 19 and l9a. Disposed in the pin assemblies is
an air ball-check valve such as 20. Fluid passage 22 is also
provided in the piercing pin assemblies which communicates
with a sight-drip chamber 24 and similarly 24a secured to the
pin assemblies. First lengths of tubing 25 and 25a extend
from the sight-drip chambers on which are disposed roller-
type tubing clamps 27 and 27a. Tubing 25 and 25a are secured
to a Y junction means 30 and are disposed in the usual manner
in separate inlet ports 39 and 38, respectively. Extending
from outlet port 40 of the Y junction is a second length of
tubing 32 which in effect forms an outer tubing housing for
an inner and smaller diameter length of tubing 34. Inner
tubing 34 is in fluid-tight communication with tubing 25a and
extends from inlet port 38 in junction 30 through the-outlet
port 40, throughout the length of outer tubing 32 and beyond
the end thereof into luer adapter 36. A hypodermic needle
37 is attached to the end of luer adapter 36 by means of luer
extension 43.
In FIGURES 2 and 3, another embodiment 50 of the
invention is described wherein in place of the previously il-
lustrated inner tubular member 34 in the oùter tube 32 a
length of tubing 62 is provided with a diametrically extend-
ing partition 67. In this embodiment, the partition 67 wiil
extend from the Y junction 53 to the end of tubing 62 which
will be secured to a luer adapter such as 36. It will also
be noted in this particular e:mbodiment 50, that the Y junc-
tion 53 is provided with separate passageways 59 and 60 ex-
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tending from inlet ports 55 and 56 which also accommodate
first lengths of tubing 51 and 52. Interconnection between
passages 59 and 60 in junction 53 with the dual passages 69
and 70 in the second length of tubing 62 is afforded by con-
nector 63 which also has flow passages 64 and 65.
Still another embodiment is shown in FIGURE 4 where-
in similar parts corresponding with those in embodiment 10
are described with similar numbers except they are in the
"100" series. This unit is similar to that described for unit
10 in employing the inner tubing 134 in the outer tubing 132
so as to provide two separate passages from junction 130 to
needle 137. The main difference between unit 10 and 110 is
that in place of a length of tubing such as 25a extending
from an I.V. solution container to the junction 130, a reseal
device 142 is disposed over the end of inlet port 138. This
provides an injection site for a different and incompatible
liquid to be injected into port 138, through tubing 134, and
ultimately to the patient by means of hypodermic needle 137.
Operation
A better understanding of the advantages of the
apparatus for administering incompatible liquids will be
had by a description of its operation. Embodiments 10, 50
and 110 will basically be utilized in the same manner so that
the following remarks pertaining to unit 10 will apply to
unit 50 as well as unit 110 except where specific differ-
ences are indicated. Solution container 12 will contain an
I.V. solution such as amino acids and solution container
12a will contain a different and incompatible liquid
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such as fat emulsion. When it is desired to administer these
I.V. solutions to a patient, the solution containers will be
supported in the customary manner by means of bails 14 and
14a. The piercing pins such as 21 of piercing pin assemblies
17 and 17a will be inserted through pierceable stoppers 16
and 16a in the usual manner so that communication is made
- with the fluids inside the containers 12 and 12a and the sight-
drip chambers 24 and 24a. Tubing clamps 27 and 27a will be
in an open position and the sets 11 and 13 will be primed with
both fluids in the same manner as if only a single set were
being employed. After priming, hypodermic needle 37 will be
positioned in a vein and, depending upon which liquid in con-
: tainer 12 or 12a is to be administered first tubing clamp 27
or 27a will be moved to completely close tubing 25 or 25a.
Assuming the solution in container 12 is to be administered
first, tubing clamp 27a will be moved to a closed position
and clamp 27 adjusted so that the flow rate is at a desired
level which can be determined by the drops formed at the end
of fluid passage 22 in piercing pin assembly 17. Liquid will
flow from a sight-drip chamber 24 through tubing 25 and into
Y junction 30. As Y junction 30 is hollow, a fluid passage
is provided from the inlet port 39 to the outlet port 40.
The liquid will flow into tubing 32, around tubing 34, and
into luer adapter 36. FIow will proceed from luer adapter 36
into hypodermic needle 37 and to the patient.
When it is desired to administer the incompatible
flùid in container 12a, clamp 27 will be moved to a closed
position and clamp 27a opened so as to control the flow ràte
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as previously described for I.V. set 11. Liquid will flow
from container 12a through the piercing pin assembly 17a, in-
to sight-drip chamber 24a and through tubing 25a into the
junction 30. The liquid will enter into inlet port 38 and
into the inner tubing 34 inside tubing 32 where it will emp-
ty into the hollow luer adapter 36 and utlimately into hypo-
dermic needle 37 and to the patient.
The operation of unit 50 shown in FIGURES 2 and 3
is substantially the same as previously described except that
instead of the hollow bodied member forming the Y junction
30 as in unit 10, with an inner tube 34 extending therethrough,
the junction 53 has the two passages 59 and 60 communicating
with first lengths of tubing 52 and 51, respectively. Fluid
will flow in through either tubing 51 and 52, through the in-
terconnecting passageways 59 and 60, into the flow passages
;~ 64 and 65 of connector 63 and then into the passage either
69 or 70 of tubing 62. In any event, the two liquid materials
will be separated throughout their flow path ~ntil they ulti-
mately reach the luer adapter 36 wherefrom they will flow in-
to hypodermic needle 37.
Unit 110 shown in FIGURE 4 will operate substanti-
ally the same as unit 10 except that in place of the additional
I.V. set 13, an incompatible material can be placed in inner
tube 134 by a separate liquid conveying means such as a hypo-
dermic syringe. The needle will pierce through the reseal142 to cause a flow of material through tubing 134 and ulti-
mately to hypodermic needle 137.
It will be recognized in the foregoing description,
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that the incompatible I.V. liquids are separated in their
flow from separate sources, through a common junction and
- from the common junction by means of independent passageways
which ultimately lead to a hypodermic needle. These independ-
ent passageways whether formed from one tube in another or
by means of a partition afford a unitary and easy-to-handle
- device.
In the embodiments described herein a dual passage
is afforded in the tubing 32 and 132. It will be recognized
that additional lengths of tubing could either be placed in
the outer tubing or concentrically disposed therein although
this could pose some problem in manufacture. This would also
be true of the partition 67 in tubing 62. Additional parti-
tions could be provided to provide additional flow paths.
However, the connections in the junctions 30, 52 and 130
would require additional cost in providing connections to the
tubing.
As indicated earlier, the units of this invention
are disposable and are manufactured from plastic materials.
The preferred plastic composition for manufacturing the junc-
tions 30, 53 and 130 are acrylics although others such as ABS,
PVC, polycarbonates, etc. could be employed. Likewise tubing
32, 34, 62, 132 and 134 are of a standard variety and composed
of polyvinyl chlorides. However, other flexible plastic ma-
terials such as urethane, elastomeric copolymers, etc. couldbe utilized. The preferred manner for making the tubing con-
nection such as tubing 25, 25a; 51, 52 and 125 to the respec-
tive junctions 30, 53 and 130 is solvent sealing. This would
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also apply to the connection of tubing 32 to junction 30;
tubing 34 to inlet port 38; tubing 62 to connector 63 and
likewise the connections of tubing 132 and 134 to junction
130.
It will thus be seen that through the present in-
vention there is now provided an apparatus for administering
- incompatible liquids which requires a minimum number of com-
ponents and yet is highly effective in separating them through
their flow from an I.V. container source to a common hypoder-
mic needle. Accordingly, only one injection need be made in
the patient in order to administer the incompatible materials.
Because of the unique manner in which the I.V. liquids are
separated until they reach the hypodermic needle, only a sin-
gle length of tubing need be handled which reduces the risk
of unintentional interruption such as by pinching off or in
the instance where several lengths of tubing would be employed,
their becoming entangled. The device of this invention can
be manufactured from existing parts and utilizes a minimum
number of components all leading to a reduction in cost of
its manufacture.
The foregoing invention can now be practiced by
those skilled in the art. Such skilled persons will know
that the invention is not neceasarily restricted to the par-
ticular embodiments presented herein. The scope of the in-
vention is to be defined by the terms of the following claimsas given meaning by the preceding description.
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