Method and apparatus for facilitating injection of medication into an intravenous fluid line while maintaining sterility of infused fluids

摘要

A warming device for an IV fluid line according to the present invention includes a warmer unit and a wye type fitting with an injection site. The warmer unit includes a tube for intravenous fluid and channels containing a warming fluid to heat the IV tube. One fitting branch is connected to an intravenous fluid source, while the remaining branch houses the injection site. The injection site branch includes an injection safety member that ensures a syringe needle or other instrument is contained within the fitting to prevent rupture of the IV tube. The warming device may include an additional wye type fitting coupled to the initial fitting and including another injection site, where the fittings typically exclude the safety member. A syringe needle is inserted into the additional injection site to prevent rupture of the IV tube. In addition, the warming device may be configured for needleless injections.

主权项

1. An infusion system to deliver intravenous fluid from a supply source to an infusion site via a fluid line and to enable injection of medicinal fluid into said fluid line while maintaining sterility of said intravenous fluid, said system comprising:
a heat transfer unit including first and second conduits, wherein said first conduit receives said intravenous fluid and is connected with a fluid line portion extending toward said infusion site and said second conduit receives heat transfer fluid to heat said intravenous fluid flowing through said first conduit; a fluid connector assembly to facilitate fluid flow between said supply source and said heat transfer unit; and a needleless connector to facilitate needleless injection of medicinal fluid into said fluid connector assembly via an instrument; wherein said fluid connector assembly includes:
a wye fitting including a housing structure to receive said intravenous fluid and to direct said intravenous fluid received by said wye fitting into said heat transfer unit, wherein said housing structure includes:
an elongated tubular body including a proximal end portion;a fluid inlet member with a distal end directly attached to said elongated tubular body and a proximal end to receive intravenous fluid into said housing structure, wherein said fluid inlet member is oriented an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of said elongated tubular body; anda fluid outlet disposed at a distal end of said elongated tubular body and secured to said heat transfer unit with said fluid outlet in fluid communication with said first conduit;wherein said proximal end portion of said elongated tubular body includes:
a connection member forming a proximal end of said elongated tubular body, wherein said connection member is configured to engage said needleless connector to facilitate needleless injection of said medicinal fluid into said fluid connector assembly to prevent rupture of said conduits during said injection; anda membrane disposed within said connection member and external of said needleless connector to maintain fluid within said wye fitting and permit said medicinal fluid to flow from said instrument through said wye fitting and into said heat transfer unit.