Infusion stand

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/785,840 filed on Mar. 25, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] Infusion stands or IV poles have been used for many years by the medical care industry as a means of supporting an IV bag which is used to provide an intravenous flow of a fluid to a patient. Depending upon the volume of fluid, IV bags can be heavy and the operator must lift and secure the IV bag to a hook support provided at the top of the IV pole. Such lifting actions may cause injury to the operator and/or the patient. In an attempt to solve this problem, conventional IV poles have employed a simple mechanical telescoping mechanism to raise the hook support. Although simple in design, such conventional IV poles have obvious drawbacks, including forcing the operator to physically lift and re-lock the pole carrying the hook support. Conventional IV poles or infusion stands have also been developed that raise the hook support by electro-mechanical, pneumatic, and/or hydraulic means powered by a battery or connected to an electrical outlet. Such conventional systems are expensive, require significant manufacturing, and are not simple to operate.

[0003] One object of the present invention is to provide an infusion stand that can be operated by a person in a simple manner to raise and/or lower one or more IV bags to a desired height.

[0004] Another object of the present invention is to provide an infusion stand that is stable in design throughout the raising and/or lowering of the IV bags.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide an infusion stand that is significantly less expensive to manufacture than conventional devices.

[0006] The present invention is directed to an infusion stand for supporting an article such as an IV and/or irrigation bag. In one embodiment, the infusion stand comprises a gas spring engaged with a moveable base assembly. The infusion stand further comprises a foot pedal assembly mounted to the base assembly that is adapted to activate the gas spring. The infusion stand further comprises an extension arm having one end engaged with the gas spring and the other end to an IV bag support adapted to support one or more IV bags. The infusion stand may further comprise a handle assembly connected to the upper portion of the extension arm. In operation, depression of the foot pedal assembly causes activation of the gas spring which raises the IV bag support to a maximum pre-defined height if not resisted by the operator. Alternatively, an operator may grasp the handle assembly to control upward or downward movement of the IV bag support and may fix a selected height by release of the foot pedal assembly.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2A-2B, the present invention is a directed to an infusion stand 10 for supporting and selectively raising the height of an IV and/or irrigation bag 8. In one embodiment, infusion stand 10 generally comprises a gas spring 40 engaged with a moveable base assembly 12. Infusion stand 10 further comprises a foot pedal assembly 48 operatively engaged with gas spring 40. Infusion stand 10 further comprises an extension arm 74 connected to gas spring 40 and to an IV bag support 124 adapted to receive IV bag 8. Infusion stand 10 further comprises an outer post support 82 disposed substantially over gas spring 40 and extension arm 74. The infusion stand 40 further comprises a handle assembly 92 attached to extension arm 74. In operation, depression of foot pedal assembly 48 by an operator activates gas spring 40 which causes extension arm 74 and IV bag support 124 to be raised between a first height (FIG. 2A) and a second height (FIG. 2B). The operator may grasp handle assembly 92 to control upward or downward movement of IV bag support 124 and fix the desired height by release of foot pedal assembly 48.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 3, base assembly 12 generally comprises a base member 14 having a lower surface 16, an upper surface 18, a central opening 20, mounting holes 22, and mounting holes 24. In the embodiment shown, base member 14 takes the form of a circular plate and may be made from conventional materials such as steel and conventional processes. As will be described more fully herein, mounting holes 22 are provided as a means of securing the outer post support 82 to the base member 14. As will be described more fully herein, mounting holes 24 are provided as a means of securing the foot pedal assembly 48 to the base member 14. Base assembly 12 further comprises a plurality of legs 26 connected to the base member 14. Base assembly 14 further comprises a wheel 28 attached to each of legs 26 by conventional means. In the embodiment shown, wheels 28 are caster type wheels. Casters allow for easy movement of the stand from one location to another and one locking caster when activated prevents the infusion stand 10 from being moved inadvertently.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, foot pedal assembly 48 generally comprises a foot pedal 50 pivotally connected to a support bracket 60 about a clevis pin 70. Foot pedal 50 comprises a front portion 52 adapted to be depressed by an operator's foot and a rear portion 54. Rear portion comprises a pair of opposing openings 56 adapted to receive the clevis pin 70. Rear portion 52 further comprises an engagement surface 58 which as will be described more fully herein is adapted to engage with an activation pin 42 (to be described) of gas spring 40 when the front portion 52 is depressed. Support bracket 60 comprises an upper portion 62 having an opening 64 and sidewall portions 66 having openings 68. Openings 68 are adapted to receive clevis pin 70 which is secured by a cotter pin 72. Support bracket 60 is secured to the base member 14 by conventional means such that opening 64 is aligned with opening 20 of the base member 14.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 5A-5C, gas spring 40 is hereby defined as a self-contained unit that does not require any electricity or battery power, pneumatics, and/or hydraulics to operate it. Gas spring 40 comprises a piston portion 44, a pressurized cylinder portion 46, and an actuation pin 42 extending from an end portion 45 of the piston portion 44. Gas spring 40 is activated by depression of activation pin 42. When gas spring 40 is activated, the contents of pressurized cylinder portion 44 are either expelled or compressed. This action is used to raise or lower the height of the IV bag support 124. Gas spring 40 is available as Part Number KNOB-2-610-1295-100N from Easy Lift, Inc., 50 West Drive, Melborne, Fla. 32901. Gas spring 40 is more fully described at www.easyliftspring.com the entire web site of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this specification. In the embodiment shown, gas spring 40 is vertically mounted with piston portion 44 pointing down and lower end portion 45 of piston portion 44 passing through an opening 36 (to be described) of a support plate 30 (to be described) and secured thereto by conventional means such as nuts secured to external threads (not shown) on the end portion 45. In the embodiment shown, gas spring 40 is capable of lifting about 30 lbs with minimal or no assistance. A different sized gas spring 40 may be used for lesser or greater loads. Gas spring 40 is also adjustable prior to assembly and can be pre-configured for use in specific locations, depending on quantity/weight of fluids to be elevated.

[0021] Support plate 30 comprises a lower surface 32, an upper surface 34, a centrally disposed opening 36, clearance holes 38, and threaded mounting holes 39. Upon assembly of gas spring 40 and support plate 30, actuation pin 42 passes or extends thru centrally disposed opening 36. As will be described more fully herein, mounting holes 38 are adapted to securely connect outerpost support 82 to support plate 30. Support plate 30 may be made from conventional materials such as steel.

[0022] Extension arm 74 generally comprises a lower end portion 76, an upper portion 78, and an upper end portion 80. Lower end portion 76 is securely connected to cylinder portion 46 by conventional means such as a screw and internal threads. Extension arm 74 may be made from conventional materials such as steel tubing.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 6, gas spring 40 and extension arm 72 are substantially enclosed by outer post support 82. Outer post support 82 generally comprises a base portion 84 having mounting holes 85 and 87 and an elongated hollow body portion 86 having a median portion 88 and an upper end portion 90. Outer post support 82 is adapted to slide over extension arm 74 and gas spring 40 and the base portion 84 is connected to support plate 30 by securing mounting holes 87 of base portion 84 with mounting holes 39 of support plate 30 by conventional means such as screw. Outer post support 82 may be made from conventional materials and processes. In the embodiment shown, base portion 84 takes the form of a circular plate made from steel which is welded to hollow body portion 86. Hollow body portion 86 is made from steel tubing. Outer post support 82, support plate 30, gas spring 40, and extension arm 74 form a single assembly that is mounted to base member 14. Outer post support 82, support plate 30, gas spring 40, and extension arm 74 are assembled as a single unit and connected to base member 14 by securing mounting holes 85 of base portion 84 with mounting holes 22 of the base member 14 by conventional means such as bolts and nuts. The bolts pass thru clearance holes 38 of support plate 30.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 7-8, foot pedal assembly 48 is shown connected to base member 14 with engagement surface 58 in direct contact with actuation pin 42 of gas spring 40. Depression of front portion 52 of foot pedal 50 causes engagement surface 48 to depress activation pin 42 and activate gas spring 40. Release of front portion 52 causes activation pin 42 to return to its normally biased outward position and turning off gas spring 40 and fixing the position of the cylinder portion 44 and therefore the height of extension arm 74 and IV bag support 124.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 9, handle assembly 92 generally comprises first and second rectangular shaped and vertically disposed support members 94 and 106 securely connected to upper portion 78 of extension arm 74 by a pair of upper mounting members 120 and 121. In the embodiment shown, upper mounting members 120 and 121 may take the form of clamps securely fastened together about extension arm 74 by conventional means. First support member 94 generally comprises a lower portion 96, a median portion 98 having a plurality of evenly spaced threaded holes 100, and an upper portion 102. Upper portion 102 is securely connected to upper mounting member 120 by conventional means. Similarly, second support member 106 generally comprises a lower portion 108, a median portion 110 having a plurality of evenly spaced threaded holes 112, and an upper portion 114. Upper portion 114 is securely connected to upper mounting member 121 by conventional means. First and second support members 94 and 106 may be made from aluminum bar stock by conventional processes. Handle assembly 92 may further comprise a first hand grip portion 104 connected to first support member 94 at one of openings 100 by conventional means such as a screw. Handle assembly 92 may further comprise a second hand grip portion 116 connected to second support member 106 at one of openings 112 by conventional means such as a screw. Hand grip portions 104 and 116 are height adjustable to meet the ergonomic needs of individual operators. First and second hand grip portions 104 and 116 and first and second vertical support members 94 and 106 are disposed on opposite sides of outer post support 82 to provide a means of applying even during downward movement of extension arm 74 and therefore cylinder portion 46.

[0026] Lower portions 96 and 108 of the first and second support members 94 and 106, respectively, are securely connected to a lower handle support 118. In the embodiment shown, lower handle support 118 is a round piece of metal stock having a larger diameter than the outer post support 82 and travels freely/vertically over the outer post support 82. Lower handle support 118 may be guided by a plastic bushing 122. An upper bushing 132 may be provided to slidably support the upper end portion 80 of the extension arm within the outer post support 82.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 10, IV bag support 124 comprises a tubular base portion 126 securely connected to upper end portion 80 of extension arm 74 by conventional means such as spring clip 128. IV bag support 124 further comprises a plurality of ram hooks 130 adapted to support conventional IV/irrigation fluid bags 8 and/or bottles. In the embodiment shown, the infusion stand 10 may have about up to 12,000 ml of intravenous and/or irrigation solutions suspended from ram hooks 126. Tubular base portion 126 and ram hooks 130 may be from conventional materials and processes.

[0028] To elevate the IV bag 8, an operator merely depresses the foot pedal 50 and the IV bags 8 are raised with no upper body power or at most slight upward finger pressure of one hand. Lowering the bag 8 is achieved by depressing the foot pedal 50 and if necessary, applying downward pressure on one or both of hand grip portions 104 and 116. Vertically disposed support members 94 and 106 and/or grip portions 104 and 106 allow the operator to control upward or downward movement of IV bag support 124 while the foot pedal 50 is depressed and fix the desired height by release of foot pedal 50. The amount of pressure required by operator is directly dependent on the weight of fluid suspended from the ram hooks 126.

[0029] The foregoing description is intended primarily for purposes of illustration. This invention may be embodied in other forms or carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Modifications and variations still falling within the spirit or the scope of the invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art.