Apparatus and method for administration of IV liquid medication and IV flush solutions

Abstract

The present invention provides a medical liquid administration apparatus and administration method that are particularly apt for intravenous (IV) applications. More particularly, the administration apparatus and method may be employed in conjunction with the administration of liquid medication and one or more flush solutions from multi-dose sources, wherein fluid interconnections between at least one flush solution source and the administration apparatus may be established a single time at the outset of a given procedure. The administration apparatus may include a valve having a control member selectively positionable to provide any selected one of a plurality of closed flow paths through the valve, and a syringe interconnected to the control member for clockwise/counterclockwise co-rotation therewith (e.g. to establish the selected flow path). The valve may include a valve housing have a plurality of ports, wherein in one arrangement at least two of the ports have corresponding center axes lying in offset first and second planes. Correspondingly, the control member may include an internal passageway extending between a plurality of apertures, wherein at least two of the apertures have center axes lying in said offset first and second planes. By selectively rotating the control member, different fluid paths may be established between different ones of the valve housing ports, thereby facilitating closed-path passage of a liquid medication and one or more flush solutions therethrough. In particular, the flush solution(s) and liquid medication may be passed sequentially into the interconnected syringe for subsequent manual administration by medical personnel.

1 . A method for medical liquid administration to a patient, comprising: 
 establishing an interconnection between a flush solution source and a syringe, and an interconnection between said syringe and a vascular catheter;    drawing flush solution from said flush solution source into a sterile syringe body of said syringe;    flowing said flush solution from said syringe through said vascular catheter to a patient utilizing said interconnection between the syringe and the vascular catheter;    infusing a liquid medication through said vascular catheter to a patient while maintaining said interconnection between said flush solution source and said syringe; and    maintaining the sterility of said syringe body during said flowing and infusing steps.    
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 repeating said drawing, flowing, infusing and maintaining steps a plurality of times while maintaining said interconnection between said flush solution source and said syringe.    
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said repeating step is completed while maintaining an interconnection between a source of said liquid medication and said vascular catheter.  
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein between successive ones of said plurality of times, the method further comprises: 
 disconnecting said syringe and said vascular catheter; and,    reestablishing said interconnection between said syringe and said vascular catheter.    
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said interconnection between said syringe and said vascular catheter is established utilizing a tubing line having a connector at one end, and wherein the method further comprises: 
 covering the connector after said disconnecting step;    uncovering the connector after said covering step and prior to said reestablishing step; and    swabbing the connector with a disinfectant prior to said reestablishing step.    
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said infusing step is completed utilizing at least a portion of a tubing line employed for said interconnection between said syringe and said vascular catheter.  
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 utilizing said syringe, at least one of before and after at least one of said flowing step and said infusing step, to draw fluid into said vascular catheter from said patient and to then infuse the fluid back into said patient.    
     
     
         8 . A method as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 repeating said drawing, flowing, maintaining, infusing and utilizing steps a plurality of times while maintaining said interconnection between said flush solution source and said syringe.    
     
     
         9 . A method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said infusing step and said utilizing step are each completed utilizing at least a portion of a tubing line employed for said interconnection between said syringe and said vascular catheter.  
     
     
         10 . A method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said repeating step is completed while maintaining an interconnection between a source of said liquid medication and said vascular catheter.  
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 utilizing said syringe, at least one of before and after each of said flowing step and said infusing step, to draw fluid into said vascular catheter from said patient and to then infuse the fluid back into said patient.    
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said syringe is directly interconnected to a valve, and wherein said establishing step further comprises: 
 interconnecting said flush solution source to a first inlet port of a valve, a source of said liquid medication to a second inlet port of said valve, and said vascular catheter to an outlet port of said valve.    
     
     
         13 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said vascular catheter and said syringe are at least partially interconnected by a tubing line, and wherein said flowing and said infusing step are each completed utilizing the tubing line.  
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 repeating said drawing, flowing, maintaining and infusing steps a plurality of times while maintaining said interconnection between said flush solution source and said first inlet port of said valve.    
     
     
         15 . A method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein between successive one of said plurality of times, the method further comprises: 
 disconnecting said syringe and said vascular catheter; and    reestablishing said interconnection between said syringe and said vascular catheter.    
     
     
         16 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 repeating said drawing, flowing, maintaining and infusing steps a plurality of times while maintaining said interconnection between said flush solution source and said first inlet port of said valve and said interconnection between said source of said liquid medication and said second inlet port of said valve.    
     
     
         17 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said drawing step comprises: 
 controlling said valve to selectively establish a first flow path therethrough between said first inlet port and said syringe.    
     
     
         18 . A method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said flowing step comprises: 
 controlling said valve to selectively establish a second flow path therethrough between said syringe and said outlet port.    
     
     
         19 . A method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said infusing step comprises: 
 controlling said valve to selectively establish a third flow path therethrough between said second inlet port and said outlet port.    
     
     
         20 . A method as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 interconnecting a second flush solution source to a third inlet port of said valve;    controlling said valve to selectively establish a fourth flow path therethrough between said third inlet port and said syringe;    drawing a second flush solution from said second flush solution source into said syringe body; and    flowing said second flush solution from said syringe through said vascular catheter to a patient.    
     
     
         21 . A method as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 utilizing said syringe, at least one of before and after at least one of said flowing step and said infusing step, and with said second flow path established, to draw fluid into said vascular catheter from said patient and to infuse said fluid, back into said patient.    
     
     
         22 . A method as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 repeating said drawing, flowing, maintaining, infusing and utilizing steps a plurality of times while maintaining said interconnection between said flush solution source and said first inlet part of said valve.    
     
     
         23 . A method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said syringe further comprises a plunger, wherein said drawing and flowing steps include selectively retracting and advancing, respectively, said plunger relative to said syringe body, and wherein said utilizing step comprises selectively retracting and advancing said plunger relative to said syringe body.  
     
     
         24 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 packaging said syringe and said valve in a fixedly interconnected condition within an enclosure prior to said establishing step;    sterilizing said fixedly interconnected syringe and valve; and,    removing said sterilized fixedly interconnected syringe and valve from said enclosure prior to said establishing step.    
     
     
         25 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein said packaging step further comprises: 
 packaging one or more tubing lines, for use in establishing one or more of said interconnections, with said fixedly interconnected syringe and valve within said enclosure.    
     
     
         26 . A method for medical liquid administration to a patient, comprising: 
 establishing an interconnection between a flush solution source and a syringe, an interconnection between said syringe and a vascular catheter, and an interconnection between a source of liquid medication and said vascular catheter;    drawing flush solution from said flush solution source into a sterile syringe body of said syringe;    flowing said flush solution from said syringe through said vascular catheter to a patient;    infusing a liquid medication from said source of liquid medication through said vascular catheter to a patient while maintaining said interconnection between said flush source and said syringe; and    utilizing said syringe, at least one of before and after at least one of said flowing step and said infusing step, to draw fluid into said vascular catheter from said patient and to infuse said fluid back into said patient.    
     
     
         27 . A method as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 utilizing said syringe, at least one of before and after each of said flowing step and said infusing step, to draw fluid into said vascular catheter from said patient and to infuse said fluid back into said patient.    
     
     
         28 . A method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein said syringe further comprises a plunger, wherein said drawing and flowing steps include selectively retracting and advancing, respectively, said plunger relative to said syringe body, and wherein said utilizing step comprises selectively retracting and advancing said plunger relative to said syringe body.  
     
     
         29 . A method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein said infusing step is completed utilizing at least a portion of a tubing line employed for said interconnection between said syringe and said vascular catheter.  
     
     
         30 . A method as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 maintaining the sterility of said syringe body during said flowing and infusing steps.    
     
     
         31 . A method as recited in  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 repeating said drawing, flowing, maintaining, infusing and utilizing steps a plurality of times while maintaining said interconnection between said flush solution source and said syringe.    
     
     
         32 . A method as recited in  claim 31 , wherein between successive ones of said plurality of time, the method further comprises: 
 disconnecting said syringe and said vascular catheter; and,    reestablishing said interconnection between said syringe and said vascular catheter.    
     
     
         33 . A method as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said repeating step is completed while maintaining said interconnection between a source of said liquid medication and said vascular catheter.  
     
     
         34 . A method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein said syringe is directly interconnected to a valve, and wherein said establishing step further comprises: 
 interconnecting said flush solution source to a first inlet port of a valve, said source of said liquid medication to a second inlet port of said valve, and said vascular catheter to an outlet port of said valve.    
     
     
         35 . A method as recited in  claim 34 , wherein said vascular catheter and said syringe are at least partially interconnected by a tubing line, and wherein said flowing, and utilizing infusing steps are each completed utilizing the tubing line.  
     
     
         36 . A method as recited in  claim 34 , further comprising: 
 repeating said drawing, flowing, maintaining, infusing and utilizing steps a plurality of times while maintaining said interconnection between said flush solution source and said first inlet port of said valve.    
     
     
         37 . A method as recited in  claim 36 , wherein between successive ones of said plurality of times, the method further comprises: 
 disconnecting said syringe and said vascular catheter; and,    reestablishing said interconnection between said syringe and said vascular catheter.    
     
     
         38 . A method as recited in  claim 34 , repeating said drawing, flowing, maintaining, infusing and utilizing steps a plurality of times while maintaining said interconnection between said flush solution source and said first inlet port of said valve and said interconnection between said source of said liquid medication and said second inlet port of said valve.  
     
     
         39 . A method as recited in  claim 34 , wherein said drawing step comprises: 
 controlling said valve to selectively establish a first flow path therethrough between said first inlet port and syringe.    
     
     
         40 . A method as recited in  claim 39 , wherein said flowing step comprises: 
 controlling said valve to selectively establish a second flow path therethrough between said syringe and said outlet port.    
     
     
         41 . A method as recited in  claim 40 , wherein said infusing step comprises: 
 controlling said valve to selectively establish a third flow path therethrough between said second inlet port and said outlet port.    
     
     
         42 . A method as recited in  claim 41 , further comprising: 
 interconnecting a second flush solution source to a third inlet port of said valve;    controlling said valve to selectively establish a fourth flow path therethrough between said third inlet port and said syringe;    drawing a second flush solution from said second flush solution source into said syringe body; and    flowing said second flush solution from said syringe through said vascular catheter to a patient.    
     
     
         43 . A method as recited in  claim 34 , further comprising: 
 packaging said syringe and said valve in a fixedly interconnected within an enclosure prior to said establishing step;    sterilizing said fixedly interconnected syringe and valve; and,    removing said sterilized fixedly interconnected syringe and valve from said enclosure prior to said establishing step.    
     
     
         44 . A method as recited in  claim 43 , wherein said packaging step further comprises: 
 packaging one or more tubing lines, for use in establishing one or more of said interconnections, with said fixedly interconnected syringe and valve within said enclosure.