Medication delivery apparatus

Abstract

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an automated system based on an integral fluid bag for administering a variety of intravenous drug regimens and reducing the vagaries of existing manual systems. The fluid has multiple chambers configured to implement a prescribed intravenous medical therapy. Each chamber's geometry (size, shape), sequence and position, alone and in combination with the other chambers, matches the prescribed intravenous therapy or drug regimen. The bag's configuration assures that the intravenous therapy is administered in accordance with the prescribed drug regimen, thus automating the previous manual method. A choice of fluid bag configurations may be stocked so that a prescription for well known and widely accepted drug regimens may be filled by merely selecting a bag with the appropriate chamber configuration and filling it with the prescribed medications.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fluid delivery apparatus for the automated sequential or concurrent infusion of a plurality of pharmacological agents, said apparatus comprising a plurality of chambers each configured with a respective geometry, wherein each chamber configuration controls the volume of each pharmacological agent administered, the rate at which each pharmacological agent is administered, and the regimen with which said pharmacological agent is administered.  
     
     
         2 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a common passageway; and    a plurality of chamber passageways, each chamber passageway being coupled between the common passageway and a respective chamber.    
     
     
         3 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , further comprising a high pressure clip having at least first and second positions, wherein, in the first position, the clip closes the plurality of chamber passageways, and in the second position, the clip permits fluid flow through the plurality of chamber passageways.  
     
     
         4 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the high pressure clip comprises first and second bars, the first bar has two double notched prongs and the second bar has two sockets, each socket having a ledge for engaging a respective notched prong.  
     
     
         5 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the first and second bars are coupled by a small flexible plastic strip.  
     
     
         6 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , further comprising a pressure sensing dome in fluid communication with the common passageway.  
     
     
         7 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the common passageway is coupled to an outlet port.  
     
     
         8 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the common passageway is coupled to an integral connector.  
     
     
         9 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , further comprising a frangible rupture seal between at least one chamber and the corresponding chamber passageway.  
     
     
         10 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one chamber includes a sealable fill port and a sealable vent port.  
     
     
         11 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one chamber includes a resealable port.  
     
     
         12 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an infusion pump with a spring driven roller for sequentially compressing the plurality of chambers.  
     
     
         13 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the pump includes a hinged door having a release tab.  
     
     
         14 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an infusion pump actuated by an electrically driven motor for applying pressure to the chambers.  
     
     
         15 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the pump includes a display having status indicator lights, dose buttons, control buttons, a keypad, and a clock for controlling and indicating the status of an agent administration.  
     
     
         16 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an infusion pump having an inflatable bladder for applying pressure to the chambers.  
     
     
         17 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the pump includes a belt for sequentially releasing the bladder for applying pressure to the chambers.  
     
     
         18 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the pump bladder includes a series of sequentially inflatable bladders for sequentially applying pressure to the chambers.  
     
     
         19 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 18 , further comprising a flexible bladder pad coupled to the series of bladders for transferring pressure from the series of bladders to the chambers and locally distributing the force applied by any one of the series of bladders.  
     
     
         20 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 16 , further comprising valves that are controllably opened to determine the sequence by which the agents are administered.  
     
     
         21 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the chambers are configured to sequentially administer the agents.  
     
     
         22 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the chambers are configured to concurrently administer at least two of the agents.  
     
     
         23 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the, wherein each chamber's size and shape controls the rate, volume, and time the agents are administered.  
     
     
         24 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein each chamber's position controls time the agents are administered.  
     
     
         25 . A fluid bag to be filled with pharmacological fluids associated with a desired medical infusion therapy for treatment of a patient, comprising a plurality of chambers for containing the pharmacological fluids, each chamber being sized and configured to implement the desired medical therapy when the fluids are automatically infused into the patient.  
     
     
         26 . A fluid bag as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the bag is a unitary bag forming cartridge.  
     
     
         27 . A fluid bag as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of chambers lie substantially in a plane.  
     
     
         28 . A fluid bag as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the bag includes a plurality of alignment holes for aligning the bag with corresponding peg in an infusion pump container.  
     
     
         29 . An automated fluid delivery apparatus for sequentially or concurrently infusing a plurality of medications, comprising a fluid bag which is constructed from medical grade plastic sheets that are bonded together in a manner to define a plurality of separate chambers lying in a plane, each chamber being configured with a respective geometry position and sequence for controlling the rate, volume and time of medication administration.  
     
     
         30 . An automated fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 29 , wherein the rate of fluid flow from the chambers is controlled by an orifice.  
     
     
         31 . A fluid cartridge having fluid chambers for delivering a sequence of fluids to a patient comprising: 
 a cartridge having at least two separate fluid chambers, each chamber being connected ultimately to a common tube via a fluid exit path, said chambers being arranged in line for sequential automatic delivery of fluids,    at least one fluid chamber having a back flow prevention device disposed between said fluid chamber and said common tube to prevent back flow into said fluid chamber,    at least one of said chambers having a resealable filling port, and    the exit path of at least one chamber having a length and radius for controlling flow of fluid from said fluid chamber when a pressure is generated within said fluid chamber.    
     
     
         32 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 31  wherein: 
 each fluid chamber has a back flow prevention device disposed between said fluid chamber and said common tube to prevent back flow into said fluid chamber,  
 the second chamber in the sequence having said resealable filling port, and  
 said length and radius for controlling flow of fluid from said fluid chamber is located in said common tube.  
 
     
     
         33 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 31  wherein: 
 the physical relationship between at least one fluid chamber and its exit path facilitates delivery of nearly all the fluid contained in said fluid chamber.  
 
     
     
         34 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 31  wherein: 
 the geometry of at least one fluid chamber is used to control the rate of fluid flow from that fluid chamber.  
 
     
     
         35 . A fluid cartridge having four fluid chambers for delivering a sequence of fluids to a patient comprising: 
 first, second, third and fourth fluid chambers arranged in line for automatic sequential delivery of fluids to a patient, each chamber being ultimately connected to a common tube via a fluid exit path, said chambers being arranged in line for sequential automatic delivery of fluids,    at least one fluid chamber having a back flow prevention device disposed between said fluid chamber and said common tube to prevent back flow into said fluid chamber,    the exit path of at least one chamber having a length and radius for controlling flow of fluid from said fluid chamber when a pressure is generated within said fluid chamber.    
     
     
         36 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 35  wherein: 
 each fluid chamber has a back flow prevention device disposed between said fluid chamber and said common tube to prevent back flow into said fluid chamber,  
 the second chamber in the sequence has a resealable filling port, and  
 said length and radius for controlling flow of fluid from said fluid chamber is located in said common tube.  
 
     
     
         37 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 35  wherein: 
 the physical relationship between at least one fluid chamber and its exit path facilitates delivery of nearly all the fluid contained in said fluid chamber.  
 
     
     
         38 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 35  wherein: 
 the geometry of at least one fluid chamber is used to control the rate of fluid flow from that fluid chamber.  
 
     
     
         39 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 35  wherein: 
 the first chamber in the sequence is adapted to deliver saline, the second chamber in the sequence is adapted to deliver a medication, a third chamber in the sequence is adapted to deliver saline and a fourth chamber in the sequence is adapted to deliver heparinized solution.  
 
     
     
         40 . A fluid cartridge having at least four fluid chambers for delivering a sequence of fluids to a patient comprising: 
 cartridge means having at least four fluid chambers, each chamber being ultimately connected to a common tube via a fluid exit path, said chambers being arranged in line for sequential automatic delivery of fluids except at least two of said fluid chambers are arranged to deliver fluid at least partly simultaneously,    at least one fluid chamber having a back flow prevention device disposed between said fluid chamber and said common tube to prevent back flow into said fluid chamber,    at least one chamber in the sequence having a resealable filling port, and    the exit path of at least one chamber having a length and radius for controlling flow of fluid from said fluid chamber when a pressure is generated within said fluid chamber.    
     
     
         41 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 40  wherein: 
 the chambers not having a resealable filling port are adapted to be pre-filled.  
 
     
     
         42 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 40  wherein: 
 the second and third chambers have a filling port having a resealing means and the remainder of the chambers are adapted to be pre-filled.  
 
     
     
         43 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 40  wherein: 
 the physical relationship between the at least one fluid chamber and its fluid exit path facilitates delivery of nearly all the fluid contained in said fluid chamber.  
 
     
     
         44 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 40  wherein: 
 the geometry of at least one fluid chamber is used to control the rate of fluid flow from that fluid chamber.  
 
     
     
         45 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 40  wherein: 
 the first chamber in the sequence is adapted to deliver saline, the second and third chambers in the sequence are adapted to deliver a medication and the fourth chamber in the sequence is adapted to deliver saline.  
 
     
     
         46 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 40  including: 
 a fifth chamber in the sequence that is adapted to deliver heparinized solution.  
 
     
     
         47 . An automated medication delivery system for delivering a sequence of fluids to a patient comprising: 
 pump means adapted to accept a cartridge having multiple fluid chambers and to automatically and sequentially discharge the fluid from said fluid chamber,    a cartridge having at least two separate fluid chambers, each chamber being connected ultimately to a common tube via a fluid exit path, said chambers being arranged in line for sequential automatic delivery of fluids,    at least one fluid chamber having a back flow prevention device disposed between said fluid chamber and said common tube to prevent back flow into said fluid chamber,    at least one of said chambers having a resealable filling port, and    the exit path of at least one chamber having a length and radius for controlling flow of fluid from said fluid chamber when a pressure is generated within said fluid chamber.    
     
     
         48 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 47  wherein: 
 each fluid chamber has a back flow prevention device disposed between said fluid chamber and said common tube to prevent back flow into said fluid chamber,  
 the second chamber in the sequence having said resealable filling port, and  
 said length and radius for controlling flow of fluid from said fluid chamber is located in said common tube.  
 
     
     
         49 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 47  wherein: 
 the physical relationship between at least one fluid chamber and its exit path facilitates delivery of nearly all the fluid contained in said fluid chamber.  
 
     
     
         50 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 47  wherein: 
 the geometry of at least one fluid chamber is used to control the rate of fluid flow from that fluid chamber.  
 
     
     
         51 . An automated medication delivery system for delivering a sequence of fluids to a patient comprising: 
 pump means adapted to accept a cartridge having multiple fluid chambers and to automatically deliver fluid from said fluid chambers,    cartridge means having at least three fluid chambers, each chamber being ultimately connected to a common tube via a fluid exit path, said chambers being arranged in line for sequential automatic delivery of fluids except at least two of said fluid chambers are adapted to deliver fluid at least partly simultaneously,    at least one fluid chamber having a back flow prevention device disposed between said fluid chamber and said common tube to prevent back flow into said fluid chamber, and    at least one chamber in the sequence having a resealable filling port, and    the exit path of at least one chamber having a length and radius for controlling flow of fluid from said fluid chamber when a pressure is generated within said fluid chamber.    
     
     
         52 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 51  wherein: 
 the chambers not having a resealable filling port are adapted to be pre-filled.  
 
     
     
         53 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 51  wherein: 
 each fluid chamber has a back flow prevention device disposed between said fluid chamber and said common tube to prevent back flow into said fluid chamber,  
 the second chamber in the sequence having said resealable filling port, and  
 said length and radius for controlling flow of fluid from said fluid chamber is located in said common tube.  
 
     
     
         54 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 51  wherein: 
 the physical relationship between at least one fluid chamber and its exit path facilitates delivery of nearly all the fluid contained in said fluid chamber.  
 
     
     
         55 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 51  wherein: 
 the geometry of at least one fluid chamber is used to control the rate of fluid flow from that fluid chamber.  
 
     
     
         56 . A cartridge for use in the automatic administration of an intravenous therapy comprising a plurality of separate chambers, each chamber being filled with a respective fluid associated with the intravenous therapy and each having a predetermined geometry for defining the rate at which the intravenous therapy is administered.  
     
     
         57 . A cartridge for use in the automatic administration of an intravenous therapy comprising a plurality of separate chambers that are each configured to be filled with a respective fluid associated with the intravenous therapy and that each includes an exit port having a length and an effective radius that results in fluid flowing from the respective chamber through the exit port at a predetermined rate upon the application of a predetermined pressure on the respective chamber.  
     
     
         58 . Apparatus for automatic administration of an intravenous therapy, comprising: 
 cartridge means for supplying liquid medications in a predetermined sequence, the cartridge means including a plurality of chamber means, each chamber means for holding a predetermined quantity of a predetermined medication associated with the intravenous therapy;    automatic pressurization means for causing the liquid medications to flow from the chamber means in accordance with the intravenous therapy.    
     
     
         59 . A cartridge for use in the automatic administration of an intravenous therapy comprising a laminate of a first material and a second material which are bonded together at predetermined areas to form at least three separate chambers that are each configured to be filled with a respective fluid for infusion into a patient upon the application of pressure on the respective chamber.  
     
     
         60 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 59 , wherein the first and second laminate materials are bonded together by an adhesive.  
     
     
         61 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 59 , wherein the first and second laminate materials are bonded together by a heat seal.  
     
     
         62 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 59 , wherein at least one chamber is prefilled.  
     
     
         63 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 59 , wherein at least one chamber includes a resealable fill port for filling the respective chamber.  
     
     
         64 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 59 , wherein the exit port of at least one chamber includes a check valve to prevent backflow of fluid into the respective chamber.  
     
     
         65 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 59 , wherein the first and second materials are formed of PVC.  
     
     
         66 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 59 , wherein the first laminate material is relatively flat forming a relatively flat wall of the respective chambers and the second laminate material forms a curved wall of the respective chambers.  
     
     
         67 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 59 , wherein the first and second materials are formed of a relatively inelastic material.  
     
     
         68 . A fluid delivery apparatus for automatically infusing medication into a patient, the apparatus comprising a cartridge formed of a laminate of a first material and a second material which bonded together at predetermined areas to form a plurality of separate chambers that are each configured to be filled with a respective fluid for infusion into a patient upon the application of pressure on the respective chamber and that each includes an exit port having a length and an effective radius formed between the bonded areas that results in fluid flowing from the respective chamber through the exit port at a predetermined rate for delivery to the patient in response to the application of a predetermined pressure on the respective chamber.  
     
     
         69 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 68 , further comprising means for applying the predetermined pressure to the respective chambers in a predetermined sequence for infusing the respective fluids into the patient in accordance with the predetermined sequence.  
     
     
         70 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 69 , wherein the pressure means comprises a roller that linearly rolls across the cartridge to apply the predetermined pressure to the chamber in the predetermined sequence, the pressure causing the respective fluid of each chamber to be expelled through the respective exit port as the roller rolls across the chamber.  
     
     
         71 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 70 , wherein the cartridge further includes a series of tractor feed holes and the roller further includes tractor feed teeth to engage the tractor feed holes of the cartridge to prevent slippage of the roller as it rolls across the cartridge.  
     
     
         72 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 70 , wherein at least one chamber has a substantially rectangular shape and the predetermined pressure is relatively constant as the roller rolls across the respective chamber.  
     
     
         73 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 70 , wherein at least one chamber has a substantially triangular shape and the predetermined pressure generally increases as the roller rolls across the respective chamber.  
     
     
         74 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 70 , wherein at least one chamber has a substantially triangular shape and the predetermined pressure decreases as the roller rolls across the respective chamber.  
     
     
         75 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 70 , wherein at least one chamber has a geometric shape for providing a relatively constant fluid flow rate followed by a steadily decreasing flow rate as the roller rolls across the respective chamber.  
     
     
         76 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 70 , wherein at least one chamber has a rectangular shape for providing a predetermined flow rate that decreases nonlinearly as the roller rolls across the respective chamber.  
     
     
         77 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 68 , further comprising a common tube that is coupled between the cartridge and the patient for transporting the respective fluids to patient, the common tube being coupled to each output port of the chambers.  
     
     
         78 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 68 , wherein the cartridge has four chambers configured for sequential delivery of the respective fluids to the patient.  
     
     
         79 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 78 , wherein the fluid within the a first chamber of the four chambers is a saline solution, the fluid in the second chamber of the four chambers is a medication is solution form, the fluid in the third chamber of the four chambers is a saline solution, and the solution in a fourth of the four chambers is a heparinized solution.  
     
     
         80 . A fluid delivery apparatus as defined in  claim 68 , wherein the cartridge has six chambers of which four chambers are configured for partially simultaneous delivery of the respective fluids to the patient and wherein a first chamber, the four partially simultaneous delivery chambers, and the last chamber are aligned for sequential delivery of the respective fluids to the patient.  
     
     
         81 . A method for administering an intravenous therapy, comprising: 
 providing a cartridge formed of a laminate of a first material and a second material bonded together at predetermined areas to form a plurality of separate chambers that are each configured to be filled with a respective fluid associated with the intravenous therapy and that each includes an exit port;    applying a predetermined pressure differential to the respective chambers in accordance with a sequence and administration rate defined by the intravenous therapy.