INTRAVENOUS DRIP SET CONTROLLER WITH FLUSHER

WIPO Patent Application WO/2007/133061

A regulating device for an intravenous drip set comprising of a main housing unit (1) which comprises of a mobile roller (2) which can gradually compress the flexible tubing (4) until the tube (4) is fully compressed and a fixed roller (3) which together with the mobile roller (2) squeeze the flexible tubing of the intravenous line (4) into a totally closed position to act as a flusher for the intravenous line (4), whereby when by sliding the entire unit downwards along the tubing (4) proximally towards the patient, the flushing of the fluid in the intravenous line (4) is thereby achieved.

Chew, Heng Hai (15 Lorong Janggus Jaya 2, Taman Janggus Jaya Permatang Pauh, Penang, 13500, MY)

PCT/MY2007/000024

11/22/2007

04/20/2007

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Chew, Heng Hai (15 Lorong Janggus Jaya 2, Taman Janggus Jaya Permatang Pauh, Penang, 13500, MY)

A61M5/168

Leong, Weng Khuan (LEONG, NG & TAN Suites 802 & 803, 8th Floor, MWE Plaza, No., Farquhar Street Penang, 10200, MY)

CLAIMS

1. A regulating device for an intravenous drip set which is attached on to the tubing of the intravenous drip line (4) in between the bag and the cannula comprising of a main housing unit (1) with the flexible tubing (4) threaded through its entire length characterized in that the main housing (1) comprises of : (a) a mobile roller (2) which can rotate along a grove and rail within the body of the main housing (1) , such that as it slides diagonally along the tubing (4) , from one end to the other, it gradually compresses the flexible tubing (4) until the tube (4) is fully compressed and thereby functions as a regulator by adjusting the mobile roller (2) at different positions on the main housing (1), (b) a fixed roller (3) which rotates on its own axis and together with the mobile roller (2), engaging the flexible tubing (4) on either side, squeezing the flexible tubing of the intravenous line (4) into a totally closed position to act as a flusher, for the intravenous line (4), whereby when by sliding the entire unit downwards along the tubing (4) proximally pushing the fluid towards the patient, the flushing of the fluid in the intravenous line (4) is thereby achieved.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein main housing(l) is tapered towards one end, with the fixed roller (3) affixed at the larger upper end of the housing (1).

3. The invention as claimed in claim 1 and 2 wherein the fixed roller (3) is located beyond the fully open position of the regulator.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main housing (1) serves also as a handle for gripping the device when performing the flushing action.

INTRAVENOUS DRIP SET CONTROLLER WITH FLUSHER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an intravenous drip set, and more

particularly it relates to an improved monitoring device for controlling the

flow and flushing the fluid.

BACKGORUND OF THE INVENTION

Intravenous drips are commonly used to administer a continuous

flow of fluid to a patient for a predetermined length of time. The

intravenous drip set generally includes a bag or container of intravenous

fluid that is connected through a series of conduits comprising of flexible

tubing, chambers and monitoring devices to a cannula inserted into a vein

of the patient. The bag or container is supported at a higher elevation

than the patient, so that the intravenous fluid flows down through the

conduits by the force of gravity.

The drips are checked at regular intervals by nursing staff to

ensure that the drip is working properly at all times and that the fluid is

flowing into the patient at the correct rate. Such intravenous infusion

systems have to be faithfully monitored by the nurse, to confirm that the

delivery is not interrupted; that complete emptying does not take place;

and that administration does not occur at a rate different from the

prescribed rate. This would result, in the first case in an unnecessary

lengthening of administration time; in the second case, the drawing of

blood into the tube because its pressure is no longer opposed by that of

the drip liquid; and in the third case, delivery at a rate other than the

prescribed rate may have harmful consequences to the patient and his

treatment.

Therefore, regulating the rate of flow through the intravenous drip

set into the patient to achieve a desired or necessary rate of infusion of the

fluid is essential and sometimes critical to successful patient treatment. It

is also necessary, at regular intervals, to flush the system to achieve the

optimum result and prolonging the use of the peripheral line.

To maintain a peripheral line flow, it is important to ensure that the

flow of the liquid is always in good condition. In prior art devices, this is

normally achieved by flushing with an additional syringe, drawing the

fluid from the intravenous line and flushing it back inside. However this

process of repeated punctuating of the line increases the risk of infection

to the patient and increases the cost of having to replace every time with

sterile syringes. Flushing is usually done when the flow is found to be

decreasing and in order to maintain the desired flow. It is also done prior

to an operation, to ensure that the flow of the medication during operation

is uninterrupted. Flushing is also carried out preferably before

intravenous medication is infused to prevent extravasation and after

intravenous medication, to ensure the medication flows properly into the

blood stream.

Prior art devices include expensive and sophisticated machines

which are attached to the intravenous line separately and controlled either

mechanically or electronically to monitor and regulate the flow as well as

perform the flushing function. These devices are designed to be shared,

when in use, and are not available for use, every time, on every

intravenous line as that would be inconvenient, as well as uneconomical

to do so. In most establishments, it is not possible to attach these devices

on every intravenous line in use, as a result of which manual flushing is

generally carried out.

Conventional methods of manual flushing which includes the use

of the syringe, also may be attempted by simply increasing the flow of the

intravenous drip by adjusting the regulator to provide a wider opening, or

in most cases by the nurse simply milking the intravenous device by

twirling the tube round her fingers and compressing the tube by

squeezing the fluid proximally towards the patient, especially when

getting additional syringes would be unavailable or inconvenient.

There is therefore a need for a simple, economical yet efficient in-

built device that can perform both the task of regulating as well as

flushing the intravenous line that can automatically be incorporated into

every intravenous set in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide for a built

in device in the intravenous drip that can not only regulate the flow but

also include a simple and efficient flushing mechanism for the

intravenous line. This will facilitate an easy, efficient and regular

flushing procedure to be carried out anytime, anywhere on every

intravenous line.

By constantly flushing the intravenous line, it will extend and

prolong the life span of any peripheral line and thus minimize the need

for setting up another peripheral line. This will in turn help to minimize

the extra risk of infection due to the setting up of the peripheral lines

repeatedly. When an individual peripheral line's life span is prolonged,

it is possible to obviate the need for a central line and venous cut down,

which are more invasive and may put the patient's life at risk.

In short, this device will save time and cost by eliminating the use

of syringes for flushing puiposes and thereby decreasing the cost needed

for setting up of repeated intravenous lines required in each particular

case, as well as decreasing generally the rate of morbidity and mortality,

which may arise as a complication of the more invasive use of venous

cut downs and central lines. It is another object of the present invention

to provide an intravenous set flow regulator cum flusher that is both

simple to use, reliable and cheap to manufacture.

The present invention relates to a regulating device for an

intravenous drip set which is attached on to the tubing of the intravenous

drip line in between the bag and the cannula comprising of a main

housing unit with the flexible tubing threaded through its entire length,

wherein it comprises of two rollers :-

(a) a mobile roller which can rotate along a grove and rail within

the body of the main housing, such that as it slides diagonally along the

tubing, from one end to the other, it gradually compresses the flexible

tubing until the tube is fully compressed and thereby functions as a

regulator by adjusting the mobile roller at different positions on the main

housing,

(b) a fixed roller which rotates on its own axis and together with

the mobile roller, engaging the flexible tubing on either side, and

squeezing the flexible tubing of the intravenous line into a totally closed

position to act as a flusher for the intravenous line, whereby when by

sliding the entire unit downwards along the tubing proximally pushing the

fluid in the intravenous line towards the patient, the flushing of the fluid

in the intravenous line is thereby achieved.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become

apparent from the following description taken in connection with the

accompanying drawings, wherein is set for the by way of illustration and

example, the preferred embodiments of the present invention and the best

mode currently known to the inventor for carrying out the present

invention.

The present invention comprises of certain novel features and

combination of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the

accompanying drawings describing, in detail, the methods of the present

invention. The invention described and claimed herein is not limited in

scope by the specific embodiments herein disclosed, since these

embodiments are intended as illustrations of several aspects of the present

invention.

Any equivalent embodiments are intended to be within the scope of

this invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition

to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those

skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are

also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure IA illustrates a conventional drip regulator, most commonly

used in prior art, showing its location on the tubing of the intravenous

line.

Figure IB illustrates the present invention of a regulator with a

flusher showing its location on the tubing of the intravenous line.

Figure 2A illustrates a cross-sectional view of the present

invention, in use, functioning as a regulator in its closed position, on the

tubing of the intravenous line.

Figure 2B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the present invention

with its regulator, in use, in an intermediate position on the tubing of the

intravenous line.

Figure 2C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the present invention

with its regulator, in use, in an open position on the tubing of the

intravenous line.

Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the present invention,

in use, functioning as a flusher, on the tubing of the intravenous line.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention relates to a device that functions both as a

built in regulator and a flusher for an intravenous drip set. It is attached

to the flexible tubing and situated in between the bag and the cannula.

Figure IA shows a conventional intravenous drip regulator, found

in prior art, which comprises of a main housing with a mobile roller

affixed within. The mobile roller slides diagonally on the intravenous

line as it rotates along a groove and rail, all held within the housing, such

that as it slides, it gradually compresses the flexible tubing thereby acting

as a regulator as it moves along in different positions from one end to the

other of the main housing.

Figure 1 B shows the present invention, which comprises of a main

housing (1) with a mobile roller (2) affixed within a main housing (1), to

act as a regulator, it further comprises a fixed roller (3) attached to one

end of the main housing (1). The fixed roller rotates on its own axis and

together with the mobile roller (2) squeezes the flexible tubing of the

intravenous line (4) into a totally closed position to act as a flusher for the

intravenous line (4). The main housing (1) is preferably tapered towards

one end, with the fixed roller (3) affixed at the larger upper end of the

housing (1). The flexible tubing (4) is threaded through the entire length

of the main housing (1) with the two rollers (2,3) engaged on either side.

The main housing (1) serves also as a handle for gripping the device

when performing the flushing action. To use the flushing function of the

device, the mobile roller (2) should be pushed to meet the fixed roller (3),

which is preferably located beyond the fully open position of the

regulator. By holding the main housing (I) ₅ in this position, with the

tubing (4) folly compressed between the rollers (2,3) and by sliding the

entire unit downwards along the tubing (4) proximaliy pushing the fluid

towards the patient, the flushing of the fluid in the intravenous line (4) is

hereby achieved.

Figure 2A shows the initial position, when the device is used solely

as regulator, with the mobile roller (2) set at the lower smaller end of the

housing (1), squeezing the intravenous line (4) to a totally closed

position, and with the fixed roller (3) affixed permanently at the other

larger upper end of the main housing (1) Figure 2B shows an

intermediate position, when the device is used solely as a regulator with

the mobile roller (2) in the middle position moving towards a maximum

open position of the intravenous line (4). Figure 2C shows a final

position, when the device is used solely as a regulator with the mobile

roller (2) in the maximum open position. The tubing (4) is fully released

and the fluid flows through the intravenous line (4) unrestricted. Figure 3

shows the lock position, when the device is to be used as a flusher, with

both rollers (2,3) positioned opposite each other, thereby completely

squeezing the intravenous line(4). The intravenous line's (4) lumen is

now completely occluded. At this juncture, the whole device is gripped

and pulled downwards proximaliy towards the patient, causing the fluid

to be squeezed downwards as the rollers (2,3) both rotate simultaneously,

on their own axes, in opposite directions, as shown by the direction of the

arrows, with the tubing (4) squeezed in between them, as they slide

downwards together, forcing the fluid downwards and towards the

patient.