Method and apparatus for use in management of medical intraveous pole assemblies

Abstract

There is set forth herein a method and apparatus for use in management of medical intravenous pole assemblies. In one embodiment, an apparatus can be provided that is adapted for connection to a plurality of intravenous pole assemblies. The apparatus can be connected to a group of intravenous pole assemblies to define a group of connected intravenous pole assemblies. A force can be imparted to the group of connected intravenous pole assemblies for transport of the group of intravenous pole assemblies.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for use in management of a group of intravenous pole assemblies comprising at least first and second intravenous pole assemblies, the method comprising:
 providing an apparatus including an arm having disposed thereon a first connector adapted for connecting to a pole and a second connector adapted for connecting to a pole, the arm being adapted for providing a spacing between the first connector and the second connector;   connecting the first connector to a pole of the first intravenous pole assembly and connecting the second connector to a pole of the second intravenous pole assembly, whereupon there is defined by the connecting of the first connector to the pole of the first intravenous pole assembly and the connecting of the second connector to the pole of the second intravenous pole assembly a group of connected intravenous pole assemblies;   imparting a force to move the group of connected intravenous pole assemblies.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing includes providing the apparatus so that at a proximal end of the arm there is disposed a handle adapted for grasping by an operator, and wherein the imparting includes imparting a force to the handle. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing further includes providing the apparatus so that the arm further has disposed thereon a third connector adapted for connecting to an intravenous pole assembly, wherein the method further includes connecting the third connector to a third intravenous pole assembly, whereupon there is defined a group of intravenous pole assemblies comprising the first, second and third intravenous pole assemblies. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing includes providing the apparatus to be reconfigurable between compacted and expanded configurations. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing includes providing the apparatus to be appropriately shaped and balanced as to be capable of being free standed on a horizontal surface in such manner that the arm extends upwardly. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing includes providing the arm so that the first connector can be connected to the first intravenous pole assembly by moving the apparatus in a compass direction corresponding to a compass direction of an axis of the arm. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing includes providing the first connector so that the first connector is adapted for retaining a pole of an intravenous pole assembly utilizing a spring loaded compression force. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing includes providing the first connector to include a roller clamp configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing includes providing the first connector to include a resilient pad having a pocket shaped to accommodate a pole of an intravenous pole assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector and second connector are adapted so that the first connector and the second connector can be releasably connected and released from an intravenous pole assembly with use of manually generated force. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing includes providing the apparatus to exhibit a color indicating a designated location of the apparatus and wherein the imparting includes imparting a force to move the group of intravenous pole assemblies into the designated location. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing includes providing the apparatus to include a manually actuated status indicator indicating a status of one or more of the apparatus and an intravenous pole assembly and wherein the method includes manually actuating the status indicator to change a status indicated by the indicator. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing includes providing the apparatus to include a manually actuated status indicator, and wherein the method further includes electronically recording data representing a current status indicted by the status indicator. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing includes providing the apparatus to include a manually actuated status indicator, and wherein the method further includes repeatedly electronically recording time stamped data indicating a current status indicated by the status indicator, and time stamped data indicating a current location of the apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector and the second connector are adapted so that each of the first connector and the second connector can be connected to a pole of an intravenous pole assembly with use of a single direction manually imparted push force manually imparted to the apparatus, and wherein the first connector and the second connector are adapted so that each of the first connector and the second connector can be released to a pole of an intravenous pole assembly with use of a single direction manually imparted pull force manually imparted to the apparatus.