WO2001097882A1

WO2001097882A1 - Intravenous infusion drip bag kit

Info

Publication number: WO2001097882A1
Application number: PCT/IB2001/001062
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giovanni D'angelo
Original assignee: Angelo Giovanni D
Priority date: 2000-06-19
Filing date: 2001-06-18
Publication date: 2001-12-27
Also published as: WO2001097882A8; AU2001274370A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a kit including an intravenous drip bag and separately packaged means for securing the bag to a support surface, the means will preferably be strips of hook and pile material such as that sold under the name 'Velcro' provided with a surface coated with a non-toxic adhesive.

Description

INTRAVENOUS INFUSION DRIP BAG KIT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a kit and components therefor whereby intravenous drip bag assemblies can be easily used.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Many treatments of humans and animals require the intravenous administration of liquids. These treatments utilize the gravitational dispensing of liquids from containers and in very many cases the containers are flexible bags of suitable plastics materials.

To enable the liquids to flow in the controlled manner necessary to result in effective treatment of a patient the container is connected through a flexible tube, usually incorporating a control valve, and a hollow needle introduced into a conveniently located vein of a patient. The bag must be maintained elevated relative to the place of introduction of the liquid to a patient.

The containers, hereinafter referred to as "drip bags", are usually supported from rigid stands.

Obviously, the above method is not easy to apply under traumatic conditions such as accidents, riots or warfare for example. A further problem arises where the patient is able to move and needs to move from place to place. This usually requires a drip-bag stand to be moved with the patient and the stand severely restricts patient movement.

Also it frequently requires two persons to treat one patient, one to hold the drip bag and the other to treat the patient. In confined or dangerous areas that are encountered as a result of accidents or natural disasters, the need for two persons to be exposed to the ambient conditions is undesirable.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a method and means for at least mitigating the difficulties above referred to in relation to drip bags and also to other necessarily movable medical accessories.

To the applicant's knowledge serious efforts to make drip bags more readily usable without additional equipment or persons to handle the bags have not been successful.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided an intravenous drip bag kit comprising a drip bag and a separate fastening assembly in a pack, the fastening assembly providing one part adhesively attachable to the bag and another separably attachable to a support surface.

The invention also provides for the kit to include a support surface attachable to an extraneous component and for the adhesive to be a non-toxic adhesive.

Further features of the invention can provide the fastening assembly to be strips of hook and pile material known as "Velcro" and for these strips to be sterilized and packed in an easily rupturable container or in separate containers. The invention also provides a kit component comprising at least one component of a sterile "Velcro" assembly packaged in a rupturable container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG.1 shows the drip bag kit; and

FIG .2 shows the drip bag mounted on an extraneous component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated a drip bag kit is provided which is particularly suitable for use under emergency circumstances. These circumstances arise at scenes of trauma such as motor vehicle accidents, fires, natural disasters and most frequently in military and military-type encounters.

The kit (1) consists of an intravenous drip bag (2), prefilled with appropriate liquid (3), and its ancillary tubing (4) and needles (5). With this bag (2) are provided a sealed rupturable package (6), which contains a plurality of sterile strips (7) of "Velcro" material. The hook and pile faces are engaged with each other and the outer surfaces coated with a contact adhesive and suitable peel-off cover strip.

The contact adhesive is preferably non-toxic so that nothing which might permeate through the material of the drip bag (1) could dangerously contaminate the liquid in the bag.

Such an adhesive is available from the South African company Fastape (Proprietary) Limited under their code number 1107 or 4912. When required for use, the package is simply torn open and the strips separated by pulling the hook and pile components apart. The sealing strips are then removed and one component attached to the drip bag and the other to an extraneous support.

The latter surface may be a rescuer's jacket or even a part of the victim's clothing. A rigid, permanent support surface already provided with one of the "Velcro" components may be available inside or on the outer surface of a rescue vehicle.

Fig 2 illustrates the use of the kit by a patient in a special support harness (8). This harness has a rigid component (9) adapted to engage a patient's waist and has an ergonomically designed strut (10) extending therefrom to provide a support surface (11) above the patient's head. One part of a "Velcro" strip is permanently attached to the top of the strut.

The contact adhesive has provided to be quite adequate to retain a filled drip bag securely in position.

The kit is not confined to the particular embodiment set out above and may of course be used in permanent institution where such intravenous drip bags are used for the treatment of patients. Single pads of "Velcro" may be used in place of multiple strips where this is convenient.

Further as the external surfaces of the drip bags are not maintained under sterile conditions once the bag has been filled it will be understood that assemblies can be made up from the kits and kept in a ready-to-use state. This is again an advantage where emergencies are expected to be encountered. It is envisaged that the adhesively coated component of the kit may include alternative fastening means to "Velcro". Also the strips in the kit may be provided in different shapes and sizes to facilitate the supporting of the bags under different circumstances and conditions.

Claims

1. An intravenous drip bag kit comprising a drip bag and a separate fastening assembly in a pack, the fastening assembly providing one part adhesively attachable to the bag and another separably attachable to a support surface.

2. An intravenous drip bag kit as claimed in claim 1 in which the kit includes a support surface attachable to an extraneous component.

3. An intravenous drip bag kit as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the adhesive is a non-toxic adhesive.

4. An intravenous drip bag kit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the fastening assembly is strips of hook and pile material known as "Velcro" and for these strips to be sterilized and packed in an easily rupturable container or in separate containers.

5. An intravenous drip bag kit component comprising at least one part of a sterile "Velcro" assembly packaged in a rupturable container.

6. An intravenous drip bag kit used in association with a support harness substantially as described with reference to Fig 2 of the accompanying drawings.

7. An intravenous drip bag kit substantially as described with reference to Fig 1 of the accompanying drawing.