Medical Solutions, Inc.

Patented Medical Solutions LLC

O.r. Solutions, Inc.

Ecolab Inc.

Medical Products, Inc.

Other

David Hendrix

Durward I Faries, Jr

Bruce R Heymann

Calvin Blankenship

John Gordon

An IV line temperature controlled warming device includes a housing and a fluid cassette or cartridge that receives fluid from an IV line and includes intravenous line tubing arranged in a preformed configuration. The configuration includes tubing sections arranged in generally circular and concentric portions and a central serpentine tubing section that basically reverses fluid flow and facilitates flow in opposing directions within adjacent tubing sections. The fluid cassette is retained within the device on a base plate partially disposed within a device housing interior, while a housing cover is selectively opened and closed to permit access to the base plate. The base plate includes a heater plate disposed thereon, while the cover and heater plate each include heating elements to apply heat to opposing surfaces of the tubing cassette. The heating elements are controlled by a controller in response to measured temperatures of the heater plate and fluid.

Method and apparatus for heating solutions within intravenous lines to desired temperatures during infusion

A system for controlling pressurized infusion and temperature of intravenous fluids according to the present invention includes a housing, a heating assembly and a flexible cover. The heating assembly is recessed within the housing and includes a generally U-shaped configuration to surround and uniformly heat fluid within a fluid container placed thereon. The cover wraps around a portion of the fluid container to secure the fluid container against the heating assembly. The cover includes a pressurization member to apply a desired pressure to the fluid container to achieve a desired flow rate of intravenous fluid from the fluid container to an infusion site on a patient. The system further includes a controller to control the heating assembly and pressure within the pressurization member in accordance with desired temperature and pressure information entered into the controller for system operation.

Method and apparatus for controlling pressurized infusion and temperature of infused liquids

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.

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

The present invention monitors an IV bag injection port and informs the user of prior injections. The present invention employs an object and/or a sealed chamber within a transparent IV fluid bag injection port. In the case of the object, notification of prior use is achieved when the object's or IV fluid's appearance is altered. With respect to the sealed chamber, the chamber's seal is breached to allow fluid to pass between the chamber and the IV bag to change the appearance of the contents of the chamber. Since the injection port and bag walls are at least partially transparent, medical personnel are able to observe the altered appearance of either the object, IV fluid or the sealed chamber.

Method and apparatus to indicate prior use of a medical item

A locking mechanism for thermal treatment systems (e.g., systems heating and/or cooling solutions prior to the solutions being administered to the patient) or other medical equipment according to the present invention embodiments secures medications being stored and/or thermally treated therein. The locking mechanism includes an integrated monitoring and display system to determine and indicate the status of the thermal treatment system. The monitoring and display system includes indicator lights that allow for a visual representation indicating the locked or open states of system access doors and/or an audio system or alarm for alerting medial or other personnel to the status of the locking mechanism.

Method and apparatus for securely storing medical items within a thermal treatment system

A device according to present invention embodiments measures the temperature of fluid within an IV line at selected locations. The device may be in the form of a fitting including a projection in fluid communication with a fluid channel to receive a temperature sensor. A thermally conductive receptacle may be disposed in the projection to receive the temperature sensor and partially extends into the fluid channel for contact with the fluid. The temperature sensor may be coupled to a temperature display device and/or controller to display the measured temperature and/or control a thermal element to regulate fluid temperature. The fitting may further include a looped configuration and/or a control valve that controls the flow of fluid through the fluid channel. In addition, the device may further be connected to, or be in the form of, a needle hub to measure fluid temperature proximate the entry site on a patient.

Method and apparatus for measurement and control of temperature for infused liquids

A system according to the present invention includes a cabinet, a basin positioned within the cabinet to contain and thermally treat a liquid bath, and a rack or tray disposed on the cabinet that supports exposed scope optics above the liquid bath within the basin. The scope optics resides outside of the bath in a dry state, thereby permitting the remaining scope portions within the bath to be thermally treated. This enables accurate temperature warming of the scope to reduce trauma of tissue and retrieval of enhanced images by the scope during a medical procedure. The present invention permits medical personnel or operating room staff to warm scopes in a controlled environment while maintaining scope optics in a dry state.

Thermal treatment system instrument rack and method of selectively thermally treating medical instrument portions

Surgical drapes employed with thermal treatment systems are re-enforced according to the present invention. This protects against punctures and tears when objects are placed in a receptacle formed by a drape within a thermal treatment system basin to contain a sterile medium. In one embodiment, a plate or pad is used to protect the drape. The plate or pad may be formed of rigid or flexible material of various configurations. The plate or pad may be solid or perforated (e.g., with holes, slots, mesh, etc.), and may be loosely placed on or fixedly attached to the drape. The plate or pad may have depending feet or protrusions that support the plate spaced above the drape material. Alternatively, the drape may be utilized without the plate and include a thick intermediate section resistant to puncture that is disposed within the thermal treatment system basin.

Method and apparatus for protecting sterile drapes in surgical thermal treatment systems

A system according to the present invention includes a cabinet, a basin positioned within the cabinet to contain and thermally treat a liquid bath, and a support assembly that stabilizes a surgical scope. The support assembly may include a first support that elevates scope optics above the liquid bath within the basin, and a second support that positions the shaft of the scope within the liquid bath, but above the floor and away from the walls of the basin. The scope optics resides outside of the bath in a dry state, while the remaining scope portions are positioned within the bath so the portions can be thermally treated. The support assembly enables a user to warm selected portions of the scope, while protecting the scope, the basin, and/or a drape lining the basin from damage caused when the scope contacts the basin.

A drape including a sensing device according to the present invention is disposed over a top surface of a thermal treatment system having a basin recessed therein. A portion of the drape is pushed down into the basin to form a drape container for collecting a sterile medium. The thermal treatment system may be of the type that either heats or congeals the sterile medium. The sensing device includes electrodes that are typically disposed through the drape and sealed. The electrodes provide signals indicating the presence of liquid and/or leaks or other conditions within the drape container to the system to facilitate control of system operation. In addition, the sensing device includes a fuse to limit the drape to a single use. The system disables the fuse to indicate prior use and detects tampering to bypass the fuse, thereby preventing use of the drape for subsequent medical procedures.

System and method of detecting fluid and leaks in thermal treatment system basins

A medical instrument thermal treatment system according to the present invention is in the form of a stand including a thermally treated tray to thermally treat medical instruments. The stand includes a frame to support the tray, while a drape including a sensing device is disposed over the tray to form a drape container or receptacle within the tray for collecting a sterile medium. The tray is thermally treated to heat the sterile medium in order to warm medical instruments or other medical items placed in the tray. The sensing device provides a signal to the system indicating the presence of liquid and/or leaks within the drape container to facilitate control of system operation.

Heated medical instrument stand with surgical drape and method of detecting fluid and leaks in the stand tray

A thermal treatment garment of the present invention includes an outer structure layer, an interior lining formed of a gel material that directly contacts a body portion of a user when the garment is worn by the user and a thermal treatment layer to thermally treat and control temperature of the garment. The thermal treatment layer heats and/or cools the gel material to a selected temperature or selected temperature range and is controlled by a controller. In an exemplary embodiment, the garment includes a cap to thermally treat the user's head, where the structure layer has a generally convex outer surface and the interior surface of the gel layer is generally concave and contoured to engage with and at least partially envelop at least one selected portion of the user's head.

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Ashburn, VA, United States of America

David Hendrix