United States Patent Office
3,415,419
FLUID ADMINISTERING SYSTEM Warren R. Jewett, 44 Russell Ave., Orange, Conn. 06477; Frank L. Petree, Idaho Falls, Idaho; and Walter C. Bialobrzeski, Kensington, Conn.; said Petree and said Bialobrzeski assignors to said Jewett
Filed Oct. 27,1966, Ser. No. 590,082
6 Claims. (CI. 222—76)
This invention relates to apparatus for infusing fluids and more particularly relates to a small, light-weight portable apparatus for administering fluids and other medicants to a subject at a controlled rate.
Present-day medical practice often requires the administration of medicants in the form of fluid solutions to a patient or subject over a relatively extended period of time but at a slow and precise rate. For example, such fluids as glucose, plasma, saline and the like, with or without other medicants, are often administered to patients over periods of a few hours. At the present time, fluids of this type are generally administered by gravity feed, wherein fluid is provided from a bottle through a tube to a patient and the flow rate is controlled by a needle valve placed about the tube. In such cases, the subject is rendered immobile for prolonged periods of time in order to insure that the needle, which is inserted into the vein or artery of the subject, will not be withdrawn. Although the foregoing method is quite adequate for immobile patients, such a system is not adaptable for administering fluids to ambulatory subjects.
In view of the foregoing, applicants have provided a small lightweight and portable infusion device which may be attached to a limb on the torso of an ambulatory patient and which may be used for administering fluids to the patient at a controlled rate. The portable infusion apparatus of this invention permits a subject to move about in a normal manner and not be restricted for prolonged periods of time, as was previously required. The apparatus of this invention also finds utility in research on test animals, wherein fluids must be administered over prolonged periods of time. This apparatus has further utility in the dispensing of fluids at a controlled rate, as in chemical analysis procedures.
This invention also includes means for providing a pulsating fluid stream from a source of fluid. It is believed that larger doses of highly toxic medication may be given to a patient if administered in a pulsating fluid stream rather than in a constant fluid stream. It is also believed that high-peak dosages of medication, provided at predetermined time intervals, are more effective than smaller dosages administered continuously. The body appears to be able to tolerate larger toxic dosages by pulsating administration of medication, since the body tissues are thereby allowed time to recover between peak dosages.
As referred to herein, a pulsating fluid stream may be defined as a fluid stream which usually flows continuously but which, during periodic intervals, is forced to flow at higher pressures. Thus a greater volume of medicant may be administered to a patient each time the fluid is
forced into the patient under increased pressure than would be possible if the medicant was administered in a continuous fluid stream during the same time interval. It should be understood that the fluid stream may not flow into the patient between intervals of increased pressure, but that this type of fluid stream is also considered a pulsating fluid stream, for the purposes of this invention.
Applicants have accomplished the above by the provision of means for forcing fluid from a fluid source at predetermined time intervals. This has been accomplished preferably by the provision of a motor driven by pulses of current provided for predetermined time intervals.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved fluid administration apparatus.
Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved small, lightweight, portable apparatus for the administration of physiological solutions to a patient at a controlled rate.
Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved device which may be affixed to a limb or about the torso of a patient and which may be carried by the patient without interfering with the locomotion of the patient or the test animal.
A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved portable infusion device, whereby the quantity to be injected may be accurately set with great precision.
Still other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.
The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing the features, properties and relation of elements which will be exemplified in the apparatus hereinafter described and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a top view of the preferred form of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2—2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3—3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the circuitry for use in conjunction with FIGS. 1-3;
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating continuous and pulsating fluid flow;
FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternate embodiment according to this invention;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 6—6 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a circuit for use with the device of FIGS. 6 and 7; and
FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of another alternate embodiment according to the invention.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is disclosed at 10 a fluid administration apparatus according to the invention. The apparatus 10 includes a base plate 11 preferably having a strap (not shown) for securing the apparatus 10 to a limb of the patient or subject. The plate 11 may be formed with a contour similar to that of a limb of the patient and a foam rubber pad may be placed on the underside of the plate so that it may be easily secured to the patient. If desired, means such as hinges may be coupled to the plate 11 so as to permit the apparatus to be attached to a stand or animal cage. A syringe 13 is mounted on the plate 11 and has a tube 14 descending therefrom which is attached to a needle 15. The needle 15 may then be inserted in the vein or artery of the patient
