IV membrane attachment systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10201667-B2
Application number	US-201615078722-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2016
Priority date	Mar 26, 2015
Publication date	Feb 12, 2019
Grant date	Feb 12, 2019

Abstract

An intravenous delivery system may have a liquid source containing a liquid, tubing, and an anti-run-dry membrane positioned such that the liquid, flowing form the liquid source to the tubing, passes through the anti-run-dry membrane. The anti-run-dry membrane may be positioned within an exterior wall of a drip unit, and may be secured to a seat of the exterior wall by an attachment component. The attachment component may have various forms, such as a secondary exterior wall that cooperates with the exterior wall to define a drip chamber, a washer positioned such that the anti-run-dry membrane is between the washer and the seat, and an adhesive ring formed of a pressure sensitive adhesive and secured to the anti-run-dry membrane and the seat via compression. Interference features may protrude inward from the exterior wall or outward from the anti-run-dry membrane to help keep the anti-run-dry membrane in place.

First claim

We claim:

1. An intravenous delivery system comprising:
a drip unit comprising:
an exterior wall shaped to at least partially define a drip chamber that receives a liquid from a liquid source, the exterior wall comprising a seat;
an anti-run-dry membrane comprising a plurality of pores that are permeable to the liquid, wherein the anti-run-dry membrane is formed of a hydrophilic material configured to resist passage of air through the pores; and
a secondary exterior wall that cooperates with the exterior wall to define the drip chamber, wherein the secondary exterior wall includes an outer ring and an inner ring spaced apart from the outer ring to thereby form a recess between the outer and inner rings;
wherein the seat of the exterior wall inserts into the recess of the secondary exterior wall to secure the exterior wall to the secondary exterior wall, and wherein a periphery of the anti-run-dry membrane extends into the recess and is secured between the seat and the inner ring.

2. The intravenous delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the periphery of the anti-run-dry membrane is also secured between the seat and the outer ring.

3. The intravenous delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising:
tubing comprising a first end connectable to the drip unit and a second end; and
an intravenous access unit connectable to the second end of the tubing to deliver the liquid intravenously to a patient.

4. The intravenous delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the periphery of the anti-run-dry membrane extends around the seat to an exterior surface of the exterior wall.

5. The intravenous delivery system of claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of the seat is smaller than an outer diameter of the inner ring.

6. The intravenous delivery system of claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the seat is larger than an inner diameter of the outer ring.

7. The intravenous delivery system of claim 6 , wherein the periphery of the anti-run-dry membrane extends around the seat to an exterior surface of the exterior wall.

8. The intravenous delivery system of claim 1 , wherein one or more of an inner diameter or an outer diameter of the seat is tapered.

9. The intravenous delivery system of claim 1 , wherein one or more of an outer diameter of the inner ring or an inner diameter of the outer ring is tapered.

10. The intravenous delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the periphery of the anti-run-dry membrane includes a portion of increased thickness relative to an interior of the anti-run-dry membrane.

11. The intravenous delivery system of claim 10 , wherein the portion of increased thickness aligns with and inserts into the recess.

12. The intravenous delivery system of claim 1 , wherein a width of the seat is greater than a width of the recess.

13. The intravenous delivery system of claim 12 , wherein the width of one or both of the seat or recess is tapered.

14. An intravenous delivery system comprising:
a drip unit comprising:
an exterior wall shaped to at least partially define a drip chamber that receives a liquid from a liquid source, the exterior wall comprising a seat;
a secondary exterior wall that cooperates with the exterior wall to define the drip chamber, wherein the secondary exterior wall includes an outer ring and an inner ring spaced apart from the outer ring to thereby form a recess between the outer and inner rings, the ring being configured to receive the seat to thereby secure the exterior wall to the secondary exterior wall; and
an anti-run-dry membrane comprising a plurality of pores that are permeable to the liquid, wherein the anti-run-dry membrane is formed of a hydrophilic material configured to resist passage of air through the pores, the anti-run-dry membrane being positioned between the exterior wall and the secondary exterior wall, wherein a periphery of the anti-run-dry membrane is secured within the recess.

15. The intravenous delivery system of claim 14 , wherein the periphery of the anti-run-dry membrane is secured between the seat and the inner ring.

16. The intravenous delivery system of claim 15 , wherein the periphery of the anti-run-dry membrane is secured between the seat and the outer ring.

17. The intravenous delivery system of claim 16 , wherein an outer edge of the anti-run-dry membrane extends from the recess.

18. An intravenous delivery system comprising:
a drip unit comprising:
an exterior wall shaped to at least partially define a drip chamber that receives a liquid from a liquid source, the exterior wall comprising a seat;
a secondary exterior wall that cooperates with the exterior wall to define the drip chamber, wherein the secondary exterior wall includes an outer ring and an inner ring spaced apart from the outer ring to thereby form a recess between the outer and inner rings, the ring being configured to receive the seat to thereby secure the exterior wall to the secondary exterior wall; and
an anti-run-dry membrane comprising a plurality of pores that are permeable to the liquid, wherein the anti-run-dry membrane is formed of a hydrophilic material configured to resist passage of air through the pores, the anti-run-dry membrane being positioned between the exterior wall and the secondary exterior wall, the anti-run-dry membrane including a first attachment surface and a second attachment surface opposite the first attachment surface, the first attachment surface abutting the seat and the second attachment surface abutting the recess when the exterior wall is secured to the secondary exterior wall to thereby secure the anti-run-dry membrane between the exterior wall and the secondary exterior wall.

19. The intravenous delivery system of claim 18 , wherein a thickness of the anti-run-dry membrane is increased between the first and second attachment surfaces relative to an interior of the anti-run-dry membrane.

20. The intravenous delivery system of claim 18 , wherein the second attachment surface abuts the inner and outer rings.

Assignees

• Becton Dickinson Co

Inventors

• Claar Steven
• Mallay Kohorneh A
• Stoddard Brent R
• Staley Shaun
• Hortin Justin G

Classifications

• B29K2681/06

  PSU, i.e. polysulfones; PES, i.e. polyethersulfones or derivatives thereof · CPC title

• A61M5/38 Primary

  using hydrophilic or hydrophobic filters · CPC title

• A61M2205/7527

  liquophilic, hydrophilic · CPC title

• B29C70/68

  by incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers {, e.g. foam blocks (mould constructions therefor B29C33/12; joining preformed parts by moulding B29C65/70)} · CPC title

• B29C65/4825

  Pressure sensitive adhesives · CPC title