Air trap for intravenous pump

Abstract

An intravenous pump system includes an intravenous pump having an air bubble detector, a separate air trap module and a patient line. The air trap module is connectable to a set interface upon which the pump can operate. The air trap module includes an air chamber capable of receiving fluids and air, a plurality of valves controlling the flow of the fluids and air, and an air vent. The patient line is connectable to the air trap module and to a patient. The air trap module includes an actuator to control the state of the valves to enable, at least during a venting mode, the pump to push air out of the air chamber via the vent without disconnecting the patient from the patient line.

1 . An intravenous system comprising:
 a set interface configured to be mounted upon an intravenous pump such that a pumping action of said intravenous pump acts upon fluid contained within said set interface, pumping the fluid from an input of said set interface to an output of said set interface;   a separate air trap connectable to said set interface, said air trap comprising:
 (a) an air chamber capable of receiving fluids and air, 
 (b) a supply connection to receive a supply line, 
 (c) a set interface connection connectable to the input of said set interface and configured to facilitate transfer of fluid from said air trap to said set interface, 
 (d) an air vent, 
 (e) a lower valve configured to control flow of fluid from said air chamber to said input of said set interface through said set interface connection, 
 (f) a bypass line connecting said supply connection to said set interface connection, bypassing said air chamber, and 
 (g) a bypass valve configured to control flow of fluid through said bypass line; 
   a return line connecting the output of said set interface to said air chamber and to an outgoing patient line and including one or more return valves configured to control flow of fluid from the output of said set interface to either flow: (i) into said air chamber, or (ii) into an outgoing patient line, based on a state of said return valves; and   actuators to control a state of said valves to enable: (i) a venting mode in which said return valves direct fluid from the output of said set interface to said air chamber, said lower valve prevents flow of fluid from said air chamber to said input of said set interface and said bypass valve directs fluid to flow through said bypass line; and (ii) a treatment mode in which said return valves direct fluid from the output of said set interface to the outgoing patient line said lower valve directs flow of fluid from said air chamber to said input of said set interface and said bypass valve prevents flow of fluid through said bypass line.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a venting valve adapted to control flow of air out of said air chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said venting valve includes a syringe connection adapted to facilitate an airtight connection between said air chamber and a syringe when said venting valve is open. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a supply valve configured to control flow of fluid from said supply connection into said air chamber and wherein said actuators control said supply valve to: (1) direct fluid from said supply connection to said air chamber in the treatment mode and (2) prevent flow of fluid from said supply connection to said air chamber in the venting mode. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said actuators are further adapted to open said venting valve during the venting mode. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an upper valve configured to control flow of fluid from an upper portion of said air chamber to said input of said set interface through said set interface connection and wherein said actuators are further adapted to control all of said valves to enable a priming state wherein said upper fluid valve, near the top of said air chamber, is open. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said actuators are further adapted to open all of said valves during a sterilization mode. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller and wherein said actuators comprise one or more electro mechanical actuators controlled by said controller. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein said controller causes said actuators to change between modes based on signals received from a bubble detector. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1  including:
 a venting valve to control the flow of air out of said air chamber; 
 a patient valve controlling flow into said patient line; and 
 
       an upper fluid valve, near the top of said air chamber. 
     
     
         11 . An airtrap for an intravenous system, said airtrap comprising:
 an air chamber capable of receiving fluids and air;   a supply connection to receive a supply line;   a set interface connection connectable to an input of a set interface, the set interface being configured to connect to an intravenous pump such that the pump applies a pumping action to the set interface, wherein the pumping action pumps fluid from the input of the set interface to an output of the set interface;   an air vent;   a lower valve configured to control flow of fluid from said air chamber to said input of said set interface through said set interface connection;   a bypass line connecting said supply connection to said set interface connection, bypassing said air chamber;   a bypass valve configured to control flow of fluid through said bypass line;   a return line connecting the output of said set interface to said air chamber and to an outgoing patient line and including one or more return valves configured to control flow of fluid from the output of said set interface to either flow: (i) into said air chamber, or (ii) into an outgoing patient line, based on a state of said return valves; and   
       actuators to control a state of said valves to enable: (i) a venting mode in which said return valves direct fluid from the output of said set interface to said air chamber, said lower valve prevents flow of fluid from said air chamber to the input of the set interface and said bypass valve directs fluid to flow through said bypass line; and (ii) a treatment mode in which said return valves direct fluid from the output of said set interface to the outgoing patient line said lower valve directs flow of fluid from said air chamber to the input of the set interface and said bypass valve prevents flow of fluid through said bypass line. 
     
     
         12 . The airtrap according to  claim 11 , wherein said air chamber holds 2-4 ml. 
     
     
         13 . The airtrap according to  claim 11 , further comprising a venting valve adapted to control flow of air out of said air chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The airtrap according to  claim 13 , wherein said venting valve includes a syringe connection adapted to facilitate an airtight connection between said air chamber and a syringe when said venting valve is open. 
     
     
         15 . The airtrap according to  claim 11 , further comprising a supply valve configured to control flow of fluid from said supply connection into said air chamber and said actuators control said supply valve to: (1) direct fluid from said supply connection to said air chamber in the treatment mode and (2) prevent flow of fluid from said supply connection to said air chamber in the venting mode. 
     
     
         16 . The airtrap according to  claim 13 , wherein said actuators are further adapted to open said venting valve during the venting mode. 
     
     
         17 . The airtrap according to  claim 14 , wherein said actuators are further adapted to open all of said valves during a sterilization mode. 
     
     
         18 . An airtrap for an intravenous system, said airtrap comprising:
 an air chamber capable of receiving fluids and air;   a supply connection to receive a supply line;   a set interface connection connectable to an input of a set interface, the set interface being configured to connect to an intravenous pump such that the pump applies a pumping action to the set interface and the pumping action pumps fluid from the input of the set interface to an output of the set interface;   an air vent;   a lower valve configured to control flow of fluid from said air chamber to the input of the set interface through said set interface connection;   a bypass line connecting said supply connection to said set interface connection, bypassing said air chamber;   a bypass valve configured to control flow of fluid through said bypass line;   a return line connecting the output of the set interface to said air chamber and to an outgoing patient line and including one or more return valves configured to control flow of fluid from the output of the set interface to either flow: (i) into said air chamber, or (ii) into an outgoing patient line, based on a state of said return valves;   and   actuators to control a state of said valves.