Kit and method of reducing human error during implanted infusion pump refilling

Abstract

Method of safely refilling an implanted infusion pump. The method includes contacting a withdrawn fluid with a protein-detecting composition, detecting whether the protein-detecting composition experiences a reaction, and performing a refilling procedure if no reaction is detected.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of safely refilling an implanted infusion pump, the method comprising:
 contacting a withdrawn fluid with a protein-detecting composition;   detecting whether the protein-detecting composition experiences a reaction; and   performing a refilling procedure if no reaction is detected.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reaction is a color change. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, before the contacting, injecting the withdrawn fluid into a container containing the protein-detecting composition. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, before the contacting, connecting a syringe containing the withdrawn fluid to a container containing the protein-detecting composition. 
     
     
         5 . A protein detection kit usable with implanted infusion pumps, said kit comprising:
 at least one container containing a protein-detecting composition and comprising an interface for allowing fluid to be introduced and an indicating mechanism for providing an indicator indicative of protein detection.   
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 5 , wherein the container is at least partially transparent or translucent. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 5 , wherein the container is a vial. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 5 , wherein the container is a medical bag. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 5 , wherein the interface is directly connectable with a syringe. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 5 , wherein the interface contains a standard connecting interface connectable with a standard connecting interface of a syringe. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the standard connecting interface is a luer-lock interface. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 5 , wherein the indicator is a visual indicator mechanism is a label or tag containing at least one color area that substantially or significantly matches a color that the protein-detecting composition changes to when contacted by protein. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one syringe. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one section of medical tubing. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one needle. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 6 , wherein the protein-detecting comprising comprises a biuret solution. 
     
     
         17 . A method of using the kit of  claim 6 , the method comprising:
 introducing withdrawn fluid into a container containing a protein-detecting composition; and   determining whether aspirate is protein-rich fluid, signifying that the aspiration needle is not in the pump septum.   
     
     
         18 . A method of using the kit of  claim 5 , the method comprising:
 introducing withdrawn fluid into a container containing a protein-detecting composition; and   refilling an implanted infusion pump after determining that proper placement of needle in the pump septum.   
     
     
         19 . A method of using the kit of  claim 5 , the method comprising:
 introducing withdrawn fluid into a container containing a protein-detecting composition; and   detecting whether a color change has occurred in the protein-detecting composition.   
     
     
         20 . A method of using the kit of  claim 5 , the method comprising:
 introducing withdrawn fluid into a container containing a protein-detecting composition; and   detecting a color change in the protein-detecting composition.   
     
     
         21 . A method of refilling an implanted infusion pump, the method comprising:
 accessing a container containing a protein-detecting composition;   connecting a syringe containing withdrawn fluid to the container;   injecting the withdrawn fluid into the container;   detecting whether the protein-detecting composition experiences a color change; and   performing a refilling procedure if no color changes occurs.   
     
     
         22 . A method of safely refilling an implanted infusion pump, the method comprising:
 locating a reservoir refill septum of the implanted infusion pump; and   preventing inadvertent injection into subcutaneous tissue,   wherein the preventing comprises:
 withdrawing fluid while attempting to fill or refill a reservoir of the implanted infusion pump; 
 after the withdrawing, contacting the fluid with a protein-detecting composition to determine whether the protein-detecting composition experiences a reaction. 
   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the method further comprises:
 accessing a container containing the protein-detecting composition;   connecting a syringe containing the fluid to the container;   injecting the fluid into the container;   detecting whether the protein-detecting composition experiences a color change; and   performing a refilling procedure only after the detecting.