Combination Blood Sampling and Intravenous Infusion Apparatus and Method

1. Field of the Invention

This invention pertains in general to the field of sterilized medical apparatus and in particular to the field of combination intravenous infusion and blood sampling or medication injection apparatus which provides a completely sterile environment for obtaining blood samples from a patient or injecting medication into a patient who is connected to intravenous infusion apparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In recent years in the medical field a great amount of emphasis has been placed upon new and different sterilized procedures whereby the advent of contamination of a patient is either minimized or completely eliminated. The success of such efforts are in a large measure attributable to the ability to mass produce various components made from inexpensive plastic materials. By using such materials, the apparatus in question is completely sterilized and then placed within the sealed sterile container. After use, the apparatus is simply discarded. This overcomes the prior art reusable apparatus which after use must necessarily be resterilized and set aside for later use. During such storage periods the equipment must be maintained within a sterile environment in order to preserve such sterility. Unfortunately, the ability to sterilize and maintain such apparatus in a completely sterile condition prior to re-use is not readily obtainable and contamination of such equipment has caused serious infections in patients. Accordingly, the move to prepackage sterilized and disposable apparatus is extremely beneficial.

One example of still problematic procedures involves a baby patient where blood gas specimens are being drawn in order to monitor oxygen therapy. In this example specimens may be required as often as twenty times a day and for as much as two weeks. In the prior art this routine procedure involved a setup where the arterial umbilical line of the baby is continuously connected to an intravenous solution supply through a three-way valve. The valve allows for disconnection and reconnection of up to three different syringes which are necessary for the blood gas sampling procedure. These disconnections and reconnections involve many steps, each of which increases the risk of contamination of the baby's arterial line. The arterial line opens the entire body of the baby to a possibly contaminated environment. Once bacteria get into the blood stream via the arterial umbilical line, the bacteria travel and multiply in any organ of the body. And, since the bacteria from a hospital environment are usually resistant to antibiotics, the end result could be that the baby dies of infection.

In another example the patient may be receiving intravenous medication through a vein in the patient's arm and it is desirous to obtain a number of blood samples over an extended period of time. In this example similar apparatus is used where a syringe is connectable to a port of a three-way valve. Again, in this routine procedure it is required to disconnect and reconnect a number of syringes to the syringe port in order to draw a blood sample. And, again, there is the distinct possibility of contamination entering the patient's body from the contaminated syringe port of the valve. The contamination can occur from a previously sterile syringe being placed on the patient's bed during the syringe changing operations which is then reconnected to the syringe port. It is because of the relatively large number of steps involved during the procedure that hospital personnel sometimes forget to cover the tips of the disconnected syringes and place them on the patient's bed causing the contamination. Of course, it is possible in the second example to avoid contamination by using one arm for blood sampling and the other arm for injecting the medicinal solution. But, in this event the patient experiences numerous punctures which are obviously undesirable.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide medical apparatus whereby a procedure which allows for intravenous infusion of medicinal fluids into a patient and periodic blood sampling from the patient utilizing apparatus which is continuously sterile in a closed system and thereby prevent injury to the patient from contaminated equipment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide medical apparatus whereby the patient may be intravenously infused with a medicinal fluid and where periodic blood samples are obtained from a catheter inserted in an artery.

Another object of the present invention is to provide medical apparatus whereby procedure may be utilized wherein both intravenous infusion and blood sampling of the patient may occur utilizing medical apparatus which is disposable.

The above-stated objects as well as other objects which although not specifically stated, but are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention, are accomplished by the present invention and will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth Detailed Description of the Invention, Drawings, and the claims appended herewith.

The above objects as well as other objects are accomplished by the present invention which comprises medical apparatus of a disposable type which allows a completely sterilized procedure for either intravenous infusion or blood sampling of a patient in a generally non-sterile environment.

A three-way valve is provided having one port which is connected to a port of a sealed blood sampling apparatus, the outlet of which is connected to a catheter which may be used to be attached to a patient's vein or artery. Another port of the three-way valve is connected to intravenous infusion tubing which may be connected to a source of intravenous medicinal fluid. The remaining port of the three-way valve is connected to a flushing syringe. By manipulation of the three-way valve, the two ports connecting the intravenous fluid with the catheter in the patient's vein or artery may be effectuated and thereby provide for intravenous infusion to the patient. By manipulating the valve to open the catheter and flushing syringe ports, the intravenous infusion is stopped and the fluid within the catheter tubing may be flushed by using the flushing syringe. Thereafter, after all of the intravenous fluid has been flushed from the catheter tubing, and when blood from the patient reaches the flushing syringe the needle of a blood sampling syringe may be applied to the sealed sampling apparatus and an appropriate blood sample may be taken. Following the blood sampling, the three-way valve may be again manipulated to connect the intravenous fluid to the catheter tubing and thus allow a continuation of the intravenous infusion procedure. Any number of blood samples may thereafter be taken at periodic times by utilizing the same procedure as aforedescribed with the combination blood sampling and intravenous solution infusion apparatus being left in place. Upon completion of the combination intravenous infusion/blood sampling procedure which can be as long as two weeks or more, the three-way valve, the sealed blood sampling apparatus, the catheter tubing, the flushing syringe and the intravenous tubing may be removed from the patient and completely discarded. By using such a procedure as above-described, there is no need to disconnect and reconnect the various syringes which in the prior art opened the system to a contaminated environment. Thus, there is no chance of the patient being injured by the normal contamination which is ever present about the bed location of the patient. By making the apparatus of inexpensive plastic or silicon material, the medical apparatus provided by this invention is disposable without the need for subsequent re-use and sterilization. And, because the number of steps involved in the procedure is decreased, the procedure is much more simple and, therefore, less prone to error.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the inventive apparatus as applied to a patient's vein or artery or a baby's umbilical line which allows a sterile procedure involving periodic blood sampling in combination with intravenous infusion of a medicinal fluid;

FIG. 2 is an isometric rendering of a combination three-way valve and blood sampling device which may be used with the present invention; and,

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 2 showing the details of the injection or sampling port.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

Reference is now made to the drawings wherein like characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the various figures are designated by the same reference numerals.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1 of the drawings, which schematically depicts an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A patient is shown who may comprise an adult or a child having his blood oxygen level continuously being monitored and/or having his blood being sampled on a periodic basis while being administered an intravenous fluid. A catheter 11 is inserted in a vein within his arm or canalized in an umbilical artery at the umbilical tube. The inlet end 12 of the catheter 11 is connected to the outlet port 21 of a sealed blood sampling device 13. Blood sampling device 13 comprises a main body portion having inlet and outlet ports 20 and 21, respectively, connected thereto in addition to a third port 22 which is sealed by a diaphragm 32 made from rubber or other appropriate material. The inlet port 20 of blood sampling device 13 may be directly connected to outlet port 24 or, in the alternative may be connected to an outlet port 24 of a three-way valve 14 by a short length of tubing. The connection of ports 20 and 21 of blood sampling device 13 to tubing 12 and to outlet port 24 or three-way valve 14 is accomplished in a sterile environment at final assembly of the inventive apparatus. It is to be noted that the connections to ports 20 and 21 are not intended to be disconnected at any time after final assembly of the inventive apparatus. Thus, no contamination can enter the inventive apparatus through the connections of these ports. Similarly, the rubber diaphragm 32 across port 22 is of a permanent nature such that no contamination may enter at this location. In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the blood sampling device 13 is integrally connected to the three-way valve 14, hence no port connections between items 13 and 14 are required and, therefore, there is no possibility of contamination.

Three-way valve 14 includes three ports: namely, an intravenous infusion port 26, a flushing syringe inlet port 27, and the aforementioned outlet port 24. A valve handle 28 is connected to a rotatable cylinder within three-way valve 14 which allows the connection of either ports 26 and 24 or ports 27 and 24. A flushing syringe 15 is connected to flushing inlet port 27 of three-way valve 14 and may be left in place throughout the procedure when the inventive apparatus is used. In this manner no contamination may enter by way of the connection of flushing syringe 15 to inlet port 27. Flushing syringe 15 may be used as hereinafter described to flush the intravenous infusion fluid from the location of three-way valve 14 to the connection of catheter 11 when it is desired to cease the intravenous fusion and obtain a blood sample.

The intravenous infusion inlet port 26 of three-way valve 14 is connected to intravenous fusion tubing 16 at one end thereof. The other end of intravenous fusion tubing 16 is appropriately connected to a container 17 of appropriate intravenous infusion solution. The container 17 of intravenous infusion solution is appropriately connected to a stand 18 such as is commonly used in an intravenous infusion procedure. All of these connections are made in a normal manner which assures that no contamination occurs.

The apparatus as provided by this invention comprising the intravenous infusion tubing 16, the three-way valve 14, the catheter tubing 12, and the catheter 11, as well as the flushing syringe 15 may all be made from disposable plastic materials which have been sterilized prior to and during the various connections of these components and packaged in the sealed sterile container for use when needed. The sealed container is indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 1 around items 16, 15, 14, 13, 12 and 11. When it is desired to use the inventive apparatus, the sealed container is opened at the location of the patient and appropriately attached to the patient and a container of intravenous infusion fluid. The length of catheter tubing 12 is such that the blood sampling device 13, the three-way valve 14, and the flushing syringe 15 may be placed an appropriate distance away from the patient such that movement of the patient does not interfere with said apparatus.

When it is desired to obtain a blood sample from the patient, the lever 28 of three-way valve 14 is manipulated to connect ports 27 and 24 and thereby close port 26. Then, the flushing syringe 15 is operated to draw all of the intravenous solution in catheter tubing 12 and the entrance to syringe 15 with blood from the patient. This procedure will also cause the internal passages of blood sampling device 13 to fill with the patient's blood. A blood sampling syringe 19 is then applied to the diaphragm 32 of the blood sampling device 13 thereby piercing the diaphragm 32 by the needle of syringe 19 and connecting the blood sampling syringe 19 thereto. Then, a blood sample may be taken from the patient by activating the plunger of blood sampling syringe 19. When a desired amount of blood has been withdrawn from the patient, blood sampling syringe 19 may be removed from the diaphragm 32 of the blood sampling device 13. Because of the nature of diaphragm 32, the sealed opening across port 22 is reestablished when the needle of blood sampling syringe 19 is removed from diaphragm 32. After removal of syringe 19, the plunger of syringe 15 is pushed down thereby pushing the blood within syringe 15 and catheter tubing 12 back into the patient. Flushing syringe 15 is then in a position for re-use when another blood sample is to be taken. Lever 28 of valve 14 is then moved to reconnect ports 24 and 26 and close port 27. This procedure reconnects the container 17 of infusion fluid to the patient to allow continuation of the intravenous infusion. At any time thereafter and for as many times as desired, the aforestated procedure may be repeated in order to obtain additional blood samples from the patient. When the combination intravenous infusion and blood sampling procedure is completed, the catheter 11 may be removed from the patient and the intravenous infusion tubing 16 may be removed from the intravenous infusion container 17 and discarded in an appropriate manner.

It is to be noted that all of the operations performed during the alternative intravenous infusion and blood sampling procedures are accomplished in a completely sterilized manner.

The inventive, apparatus may also be used to inject medication into the patient. For this procedure flushing syringe 15 may be filled with a solution of normal saline which is then used to flush the catheter tubing 12 with the saline solution. Then, a syringe 19, filled with a predetermined medication, is applied to diaphragm 32. Activation of the plunger of syringe 19 pushes the medication through catheter 11 and into the patient. Syringe 14 may then be removed from device 13 and flushing syringe 15 is further used to push the medication in catheter tubing 12 into the patient. Valve 14 is then set between ports 24 and 26 whereupon the intravenous solution infusion is reestablished into the patient. Again, a completely sterile procedure is effectuated.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, of the drawings wherein another preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. In this embodiment, a single unit comprising a three-way valve and an injection/sampling site is utilized. There is no breakable connection between the injection/sampling side and the outlet port 24 of the three-way valve 14. A straight length of non-flexible or rigid tubing 30 connects outlet port 24 of valve 14 to injection/sampling site 23. The use of non-flexible or rigid tubing 30 provides a degree of rigidity to the inventive apparatus generally designed by the number 10.

The rigidity of the inventive apparatus 9 allows the attending physician or the person drawing the blood sample from the patent to easily manipulate the various syringes 15 and 19 and the handle 28 of three-way valve 14. A flexible connection between injection/sampling site 13 and the outlet port 24 of valve 14 may result in a degree of difficulty in manipulating valve 14 and syringes 15 and 19.

Injection/sampling site 23, in the embodiment of FIG. 3 substantially eliminates any air between the rubber stopper or diaphragm 32 and the internal diameter 31 of the inventive device 10. Thus, when a flushing syringe 15 is used to flush the lines between the flushing syringe and the patent, no air is drawn into flushing syringe 15. Consequently, when the fluid within flushing syringe 15 is re-injected back into the patient, no air is allowed to be injected contemporaneously along with the fluid in syringe 15. In order to accomplish this important objective, the overall height H.sub.1 of injection/sampling site 23 is made very short and substantially equal to the height of H.sub.2 of the rubber diaphragm 32. More importantly, the bottom or lower surface 30 of rubber diaphragm 32 is made substantially flush with the internal diametrical surface 31 of the inventive apparatus 10. In other words, the inventive apparatus 10 eliminates an air pocket between the injection/sampling site 23 and the fluid within the apparatus 10 which connects lines 12 and 16.

In the use of the inventive apparatus for injecting a medicine, the flushing syringe is filled with a saline fluid.

While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in certain terms or certain embodiments or modifications which is has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be nor should it be deemed to be limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.