Abstract:
The invention of this application relates generally to intravenous (IV) infusion of drugs to patients, and more particularly to aspects of an IV infusion system comprising an infusate cassette and an infusate container. The present invention provides a drug infusion cassette that incorporates a strong vial spike that may be non-metal, a means for sheathing the spike when it is not in use, an anti-free flow device, and other beneficial features such as an air entrainment lockout mechanism, quality assurance tags, stopcocks made of soft materials and means of securing tubing to the cassette with a minimum of individual parts. The drug cassette can be used with an automated spiking mechanism comprising a motorized vial holder that holds a vial. The spike remains sheathed if the drug cassette is not fully engaged with a mating surface of devices such as a pumping unit or a sedation and analgesia delivery system.
Abstract:
The present invention comprises a sedation and analgesia system having integrated patient monitoring and drug delivery, where information related to monitored patient parameters and drug delivery is accessible and controllable from a remote location. Information relative to monitored patient parameters and drug delivery may be provided in real-time or near real-time, to an attending nurse, physician, insurance company, billing department, or other suitable party according to the present invention via a computing device, video monitor, over the Internet, over an intranet, or by any other suitable means of transmitting and displaying critical data. The present invention further comprises an integrated in-room monitor, where data related to critical patient parameters and drug delivery may be integrated with other means of communicating data related to a patient, a procedure, or a medical device.
Abstract:
A care system and associated methods are provided for alleviating patient pain, anxiety and discomfort associated with medical or surgical procedures. The care system facilitates a procedural clinician's safely and efficaciously providing sedation and analgesia and in some measure, amnesia to a patient by providing a responsiveness monitoring system which monitors the responsiveness of the patient and generates a value representing the level of patient responsiveness. In further aspects of the invention, the responsiveness monitoring system is an automated system which includes patient query and response devices. Additional embodiments of the system and methods are directed to alleviating patient pain or discomfort while enabling safe drug delivery (automated, clinician-controlled or patient-controlled) in correlation with the monitoring of patient health conditions.
Abstract:
The invention provides a fail-safe module (FSM) integral with a sedation and analgesia system that meets the high-reliability needs of sedation and/or analgesia delivered by non-anesthetist practitioners. The FSM may operate in nullreal-timenull in order to ensure optimal patient safety. The FSM may deactivate specific patient interfaces, user interfaces, and/or sedation and analgesia delivery in order to ensure patient safety and has redundant safety systems in order to provide the fail-safe module with an accurate assessment of controller functionality.
Abstract:
The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for marking components, supplies and kits of drug administration devices and other medical systems with quality assurance information. The invention also provides apparatuses and methods for tracking time of use of such components, supplies and kits and various apparatuses and methods for preventing use or reuse of tainted, recalled or unrecognized components, supplies and kits. Quality assurance markers (QAMs) are described which store information regarding the identity and manufacturer of disposable components, supplies and kits. The invention utilizes several QAM modalities, such as, among others, 1-D and 2-D bar codes, 1-D and 2-D symbologies, holograms, written text, radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs), integrated chip smart cards, and EEPROMs.
Abstract:
The present invention includes systems and methods for decreasing the pain and discomfort commonly associated with endoscopic procedures, where such procedures may be performed with lower dosage levels of sedative and analgesic drugs. The invention includes use of an anesthetic collar coupled to an endoscope with a flexible shaft. The anesthetic collar allows lubricants, local anesthetics, dyes, and/or other desirable fluids to be passed through the existing lumen of the flexible shaft into an annulus, where the fluid may be distributed through expulsion pores into the gastrointestinal tract. Utilizing the existing lumens found in endoscopes, the present invention allows those fluids that may reduce the pain and discomfort associated with endoscopies such as, for example, local anesthetics and lubricants, to be distributed in an even fashion throughout the gastrointestinal tract or throughout the length and circumference of the endoscope, where such fluids may reduce the drug level requirements for sedative and analgesic agents. Alternatively, the endoscope may be redesigned for streamlined integration with the anesthetic collar or to accomplish the same function of distributing local anesthetics and lubricants, in an even fashion throughout the gastrointestinal tract or throughout the length and circumference of the endoscope, The invention can also be used with endoscopes without existing lumens.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a sedation and analgesia system having a bite block configured for integration and use with the system. The bite block facilitates access to the mouth while allowing the monitoring and delivery of gas via the oral and/or the nasal cavity where the monitoring and delivery are integrated with a sedation and analgesia system.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a sedation and analgesia system having an emergency medical kit, where the medical kit is designed to meet the specific needs of medical emergencies related to the delivery of sedatives, analgesics, and/or amnestics. The invention further provides a sedation and analgesia system with an emergency medical kit having policies along with automated and semi-automated pre-use checks necessary to ensure that components of the kit are present, functioning properly, and that perishable components within the kit have not expired.
Abstract:
The present invention comprises a security system integral with a sedation and analgesia system. The invention includes a computer assisted IV drug infusion administration device coupled with a secure user interface, or other security means, that can restrict and monitor user access to prevent unauthorized or improper use of the device. The system can also provide varying levels of access to the device so that different users may have different levels of access to system operations. The variety of access levels may prevent accidental or intentional misuse of the drug delivery system, while still permitting access to the required functionality. Data, such as usage statistics and procedural events associated with drug delivery, may be recorded in association with a user's personal identification information to help identify training needs and to identify possible misuse of access information.
Abstract:
The present invention includes a sedation and analgesia system having a high sensitivity and specificity for diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms, where the high sensitivity and specificity may be gained by providing multiple monitors for a single patient parameter. The invention also comprises multiple monitors for a single patient parameter, where the monitored data from each monitor is compared with that of the others by a controller in order to ascertain whether monitored data is reliable.