Portable pump for intravenous fluids

Abstract

A device includes at least one housing, a first input line operatively connected to a fluid source that is external to the at least one housing, and a second input line operatively connected to the fluid source. The device further includes a first fluid reservoir operatively connected to the first input line and a second fluid reservoir operatively connected to the second input line. An output line is operatively connected to the first fluid reservoir and the second fluid reservoir. An actuator is configured to facilitate a flow of fluid from the fluid source, through the first input line and second input line, and through the first fluid reservoir and second fluid reservoir. Each of the first and second input lines remains operatively connected to the fluid source during operation of the actuator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intravenous pump comprising:
 an actuator housing including a first facilitating member and a second facilitating member; and   a reservoir housing removably attached to the actuator housing, wherein the reservoir housing includes:
 a first fluid input line, having a first end and a second end, the first end configured to be operatively connected to a fluid source that is external to the actuator housing and external to the reservoir housing, 
 a first fluid reservoir operatively connected to the second end of the first fluid input line, 
 a second fluid input line, having a first end and a second end, the first end configured to be operatively connected to the fluid source, 
 a second fluid reservoir operatively connected to the second end of the second fluid input line, and 
 at least one fluid output line operatively connected to the first fluid reservoir and the second fluid reservoir, 
 wherein the first facilitating member is configured to facilitate flow of a fluid from the fluid source through the first fluid reservoir, 
 wherein the second facilitating member is configured to facilitate flow of a fluid from the fluid source through the second fluid reservoir, and 
 wherein the first end of the first fluid input line and the first end of the second fluid input line each remain operatively connected to the fluid source during actuation of the first facilitating member and the second facilitating member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The intravenous pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first facilitating member is configured to operate out of phase with the second facilitating member. 
     
     
         3 . The intravenous pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first facilitating member is configured to operate in phase with the second facilitating member. 
     
     
         4 . The intravenous pump of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second fluid reservoirs is an asymmetric diaphragm pump. 
     
     
         5 . The intravenous pump of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second fluid reservoirs is a symmetric diaphragm pump. 
     
     
         6 . The intravenous pump of  claim 1 , further comprising a manually operable member configured to actuate the first facilitating member and the second facilitating member. 
     
     
         7 . The intravenous pump of  claim 1 , further comprising an electric motor configured to actuate the first facilitating member and the second facilitating member. 
     
     
         8 . A device comprising:
 at least one housing;   a first input line operatively connected to a fluid source that is external to the at least one housing;   a second input line operatively connected to the fluid source;   a first fluid reservoir operatively connected to the first input line;   a second fluid reservoir operatively connected to the second input line;   an output line operatively connected to the first fluid reservoir and the second fluid reservoir; and   an actuator, configured to facilitate a flow of fluid from the fluid source, through the first input line and second input line, and through the first fluid reservoir and second fluid reservoir, wherein each of the first and second input lines remains operatively connected to the fluid source during operation of the actuator.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the actuator is a manually operable actuator. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the actuator is an electric motor. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one housing includes a reservoir housing configured to house the first and second fluid reservoirs. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one housing further includes an actuator housing configured to house the actuator, wherein the reservoir housing is removably attached to the actuator housing. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second fluid reservoirs is a diaphragm pump. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second fluid reservoirs is defined by a cylinder. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second fluid reservoirs is defined by a bulb. 
     
     
         16 . An intravenous fluid pumping kit comprising:
 a fluid bag;   a fluid line; and   a pump including:
 a housing; 
 a first fluid reservoir having a first fluid input operatively connected to the fluid bag, and a fluid output; 
 a second fluid reservoir having a second fluid input line operatively connected to the fluid bag, the second fluid reservoir being further connected to the fluid output; and 
 a facilitator configured to facilitate flow of fluid through the first and second fluid reservoirs from the fluid bag, through the first and second fluid inputs, and to the fluid output, 
 wherein the fluid bag is external to the housing. 
   
     
     
         17 . The intravenous fluid pumping kit of  claim 16 , wherein the pump housing includes a first housing and a second housing. 
     
     
         18 . The intravenous fluid pumping kit of  claim 16 , wherein the fluid line has a first end connected to the fluid bag and a second end connected to the first fluid input of the first fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         19 . The intravenous fluid pumping kit of  claim 16 , wherein the fluid line includes a fluid input line and a fluid output line. 
     
     
         20 . The intravenous fluid pumping kit of  claim 19 , wherein the fluid input line has a first end connected to the fluid bag and a second end connected to the first fluid input of the first fluid reservoir, and wherein the fluid output line has a first end connected to the fluid output of the first fluid reservoir.