Methods and systems for filling IV bags with therapeutic fluid
Inventors
Hachey, Jay • McCall, Thomas • Woodbury, Jason
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12558480-B2
Publication Date
2026-02-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
A portable electronic fluid dispensing system can provide pre-filled, pre-primed IV bag assemblies comprising therapeutic fluids. The same fluid line and connector in the IV bag assembly can be used to fill the IV bag as is used to withdraw fluid from the IV bag and infuse such fluid into the patient. The connection points along the IV assembly, such as the connection between the IV bag and a drip chamber, or between an IV bag and tubing, or between a drip chamber and tubing, or between tubing and a closeable, resealable connector, can each be resistant to disconnection by a user. The healthcare practitioner at the patient care site is not required to attach any of these components to each other, and the healthcare practitioner at the patient care site is not required to introduce a spike into a spike port on the IV bag.
Core Innovation
The invention describes enabling pre-filling of custom IV bags with an electronic fluid transfer system and a pre-assembled IV assembly. The assembly has tubing permanently bonded in fluid communication with the IV bag and a permanently bonded connector with open and closed positions. The tubing provides fluid communication for both filling the IV bag and delivery of fluid from the IV bag to the patient.
The described arrangement avoids requiring the user to attach the tubing to the IV assembly or the connector to the tubing, and avoids bedside spike insertion and manual priming. Fluid transferred through the connector and tubing into the IV bag produces a pre-primed IV assembly. The selectively accessible closed fluid system reduces exposure to hazardous liquids or vapors.
Claims Coverage
The provided claim coverage identifies two inventive features for enabling pre-filling of custom IV bags.
Pre-assembled IV assembly with a permanently bonded fluid pathway
The IV assembly comprises an IV bag, tubing permanently bonded in fluid communication with the bag before the assembly is provided to a user, and a connector permanently bonded to the tubing before provision to the user. The connector has open and closed positions, and the tubing is configured to provide fluid communication for both filling the bag and delivering fluid to the patient.
Electronic transfer of fluid into the IV bag
The method provides an electronic fluid transfer system configured to receive user instructions regarding an amount of fluid to transfer from one or more source containers into an IV bag. The assembly connector is placed in fluid communication with the system, which transfers fluid through the connector and tubing into the bag to produce a pre-primed IV assembly.
The claim combines a pre-assembled IV fluid pathway, including a selectively accessible connector, with electronic transfer of fluid through that pathway to fill and prime the IV assembly.
Stated Advantages
Avoids bedside spike insertion and manual priming.
Supports a substantially closed fluid system that reduces exposure to hazardous liquids or vapors.
Documented Applications
Pre-filling custom IV bags and delivering fluid from the IV bag to a patient.
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