GB2049433A - Drip chamber for infusion and transfusion apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A drip chamber (1) for infusion- and transfusion apparatus has a piercing pin (4) which contains a fluid bore (5) and a ventilating bore (6). The ventilating bore (6) has a tube (9) connected to it. The fluid bore (12) of a further piercing pin (13), which also has a ventilating bore (14), is connected to the end of this tube (9). With this arrangement a container containing infusion or transfusion solution can be pierced by the first piercing pin (4) and another container containing additional substances can be pierced by the further piercing pin (13), enabling fluid to be passed from one container to the other and the contents of the containers can therefore be mixed in simple manner with minimal risk of leakage or contamination. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Drip chamber for infusion-and transfusion apparatus The invention relates to a drip chamber for infusionand transfusion apparatus with a piercing pin containing a fluid bore and a ventilating bore, a tube being connected to the latter. The drip chamber with the piercing pin pierces through the sealing plug of the fluid bottle which is sealed under sterile conditions and which contains the infusion- or transfusion solution respectively which, for its part, is sterile.

When administering infusion- or transfusion solutions, it may be necessary to provide this solution with further admixtures which may vary according to the case in question. It is also known to store these admixtures for their part in containers packed under sterile conditions which are provided with a sterile seal which is capable of being pierced. Inorderto be able to mix the infusion- or transfusion solution with these admixtures, cannulae are known which are provided on both sides with piercing points and which can be provided in their central portion with a holding plate. The cannula with one of its points pierces through the seal, for example of the containers containing the infusion- or transfusion solution, the container is subsequently inverted and with the other point is now pushed through the seal of the container which contains the admixture.The solution can then pass from one container into the other and can be mixed with the substance stored there.

Mixing can be assisted by shaking etc. There is the disadvantage that when the two containers are separated, fluid or residues respectively generally cannot be prevented from issuing from the cannula and making the surrounding area wet. If the infusion- or transfusion respectively is to be administered, the seal of the container with this solution must now again be penetrated by the piercing pin of the drip chamber. The seal is therefore perforated twice, fluid being capable of issuing from the first perforation. Furthermore, there is a risk of contamination of the contents of the container for the fluid.

The handling procedure described is also timeconsuming and requires skill on the part of the operating personnel.

The object underlying the invention is to avoid the disadvantages described, and to create an apparatus which facilitates mixing even for unskilled individuals, largely excluding any danger of the fluid running out or of contamination respectively. Manipulation of this apparatus should save time.

The object is achieved according to the invention in that that fluid bore of a piercing pin provided with a ventilating aperture is connected to the end of the tube. The drip chamber according to the invention with its piercing pin pierces through the seal of the container which contains the infusion- or transfusion solution respectively. On the other hand, the piercing pin connected to the tube pierces through the seal of the container which contains the additional substances. Then, by rotating one or other of the containers, the respective fluid can be passed through the tube into the other respective container.

If the fluids are stored in glass bottles, then they are transferred by changing the level of one bottle relative to the other accordingly. Furthermore, a ventilating cannula is to be inserted. If the fluids are stored in collapsible plastic containers, then, by compressing the respective container, the fluid can be forced from this over into the other. The apparatus according to the invention has the advantage that an integral apparatus is produced which serves both transferring and infusing purposes. A closed system is created. The seal of the container, which later serves as infusion container, is perforated only once. The risk of the contents of the container being contaminated is considerably reduced; manipulation is time-saving. Any uncoupling of the two interconnected containers is avoided.

According to a further arrangement of the invention the ventilating aperture of the second piercing pin is provided with a filter which retains bacteria and bacilli and excludes moisture. Any penetration by bacilli etc. is thereby prevented.

Furthermore, the ventilating aperture of the second piercing pin can be provided with a seal which is capable of being opened.

According to a further arrangement the tube can be provided with a shut-off device such as a roller clamp. The flow of fluid from one containerto the other can thereby be shut off. The capacity of the tube to be shut off is advantageous so that the tube can be closed by a roller clamp during infusion.

Furthermore, a filter can be arranged in the drip chamber outlet line, for example a 15may flat filter. A filter such as this retains any undissolved crystals, rubber particles or other substances.

Further details of the invention are explained with the aid of an exemplary embodiment schematically represented in the drawing.

Figure 1 shows the apparatus according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows the application of the apparatus by an example.

The apparatus comprises at the same time a drip chamber 1 which is formed by an upper part 2 and a lower part 3.

The upper part 2 of the drip chamber is provided with the piercing pin 4 which contains the fluid duct 5 and the ventilating duct 6. The fluid duct 5 opens into the lower part 3 of the drip chamber.

The ventilating duct 6 terminates in a recess 7.

There is connected to the recess 7 a holding connection 8 to which a tube 9 is connected. A roller clamp 10 is pushed over the tube 9.

There is connected to the other end 11 of the tube the fluid duct 12 of a further piercing pin 13 which is likewise provided with a ventilating duct 14. This terminates in a bore 15 which opens into the open at 16. Afilter 17 is inserted in the bore 15.

The bore 15 which opens into the open is capable of being sealed by means of a sealing plug 18.

Figure 2 shows two bottles suspended side-byside, one I of which is filled with an infusion- or transfusion solution respectively, and the other II contains the substance to be admixed, for example a drying powder or the like.

In the first instance both bottles are in the normal position, which is not shown.

The piercing pin of the drip chamber 1 is then pushed through the sealing plug 19 of the bottle I.

Furthermore, the piercing pin 13 is pushed through the sealing plug 20 of the bottle II.

By corresponding raising and lowering and inversion respectively of the bottles, their solution can now be forced at one time from one bottle into the other and vice versa. This is readily possible in the case of collapsible containers. After the fluid has been transferred, the roller clamp 10 can be periodic- ally shut off and opened. Glass bottles are adjusted in respect of height for the purpose of transferring the fluid.

If, for example, the preparation prepared in the bottle II is dissolved in the infusion- or transfusion solution respectively, then the fluid is passed back from the bottle II into the bottle 1. The tube clamp 10 can be shut off.

A foreign substance-retaining filter which collects undissolved crystals, rubber residue and the like can be contained in the lower part 3 of the drip chamber.

The line 22 which leads to the patient is connected to the connecting piece 21 with a roller clamp 23.

Claims (6)

1. Drip chamber for infusion- and transfusion apparatus with a piercing pin which contains a fluid bore and a ventilating bore, a tube being connected to the latter, characterised in that the fluid bore of a piercing pin which is provided with a ventilating bore is connected to the end of the tube.

2. Drip chamber according to claim 1, characterised in that the ventilating bore is provided with a filter which retains bacteria and bacilli and excludes moisture.

3. Drip chamber according to claim 1 and 2, characterised in that the ventilating bore is provided with a seal which is capable of being opened.

4. Drip chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the tube is provided with a shut-off device such as a roller clamp.

5. Drip chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the lower part of the drip chamber contains a filter for retaining impurities such as undissolved crystals, particles of rubber or the like.

6. Drip chamber for infusion- and transfusion apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.