Apparatus and method for out-of-hospital thrombolytic therapy

Abstract

This invention provides an apparatus and method for emergency administration or self-administration of thrombolytic therapy in early stage of a heart attack. The apparatus includes a needle injector for making a venipuncture, a battery operated micro cooler for maintaining low temperature environment for vials with lyophilized thrombolytic and adjuvant drugs, a container with a diluent for reconstitution of the lyophilized drugs, a programmable infusion pump, and a microprocessor for controlling the process of infusion and recording the data. As the system is activated, said container becomes fluidly communicable with the infusion pump and vials with drugs in the cooler. Designed for autonomous execution of several schedules of infusion, it also can be controlled remotely by a qualified operator via an Internet interface.

1 . An apparatus for out-of-hospital thrombolytic therapy comprising: a. a library of medication in liquid or lyophilized form including a thrombolytic agent, adjuvant drugs for supportive care during heart attack and a diluent for reconstitution of drugs; b. an intravenous needle providing an access to the patient's circulatory system; c. a battery operated infusion pump with a set of conduits, on-off and multi-port valves fluidly communicable with the intravenous needle, the source of a diluent, and the vials with drugs in the library; d. a battery operated micro cooler adapted for keeping the medication library at reduced temperatures for preservation of their potency over a several year period; e. a microprocessor based control unit with a stored set of programs, designed to control operation of the infusion pump and valves to provide the priming of the system, drug reconstitution, and preprogrammed intravenous infusion of the thrombolytic agent and supportive drugs.  
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for out-of-hospital thrombolytic therapy according to  claim 1 , wherein said control unit is adapted for remote programming via the Internet, by a local operator, or by the patient.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus for out-of-hospital thrombolytic therapy according to  claim 1 , which is portable.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for out-of-hospital thrombolytic therapy according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature in the medication library is kept below 5.degree. C.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for out-of-hospital thrombolytic therapy according to  claim 1 , wherein the thrombolytic agent and the schedule of infusion are preselected by a physician for the patient individually.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for out-of-hospital thrombolytic therapy comprising: a. a thrombolytic agent in lyophilized form and a diluent for its reconstitution; b. an intravenous needle providing an access to the patient's circulatory system; c. an infusion pump or syringe; d. a battery operated micro cooler adapted for keeping the thrombolytic agent at reduced temperatures for preservation of its potency over a several year period.  
     
     
         7 . A method of out-of-hospital thrombolytic therapy comprising: providing an apparatus including: a library of medication in liquid or lyophilized form including a thrombolytic agent, adjuvant drugs for supportive care during heart attack and a diluent for reconstitution of drugs; an intravenous needle providing an access to the patient's circulatory system; a battery operated infusion pump with a set of conduits, on-off and multi-port valves fluidly communicable with the intravenous needle, the source of a diluent, and the vials with drugs in the library; a battery operated micro cooler adapted for keeping the medication library at reduced temperatures for preservation of their potency over a several year period; a microprocessor based control unit with a stored set of programs, designed to control operation of the infusion pump and valves to provide the priming of the system, drug reconstitution, and preprogrammed intravenous infusion of the thrombolytic agent and supportive drugs; keeping said apparatus in stand by state continuously for long period of time until it is needed; activating the apparatus after onset of the symptoms of a heart attack, with the heart attack diagnosis confirmed or not confirmed by a physician; gaining an intravenous access to the patient's circulatory system by puncturing a vein with an intravenous needle provided with apparatus; and starting treatment.