Patent Application
20190167921
The technical field relates generally to a status monitoring device for medical devices (e.g., IV or catheter devices). In particularly, the present invention relates to a status monitoring device for medical devices, capable of monitoring whether the medical device is inserted and operating properly.
Today, medical devices (e.g., IV devices) are used to supply or extract fluids to and from patients. It is imperative that these devices are properly inserted and operating in a sufficient manner. However, it may be difficult to assess whether these devices are inserted properly and operating as needed, by only physically viewing by the medical staff. This creates several problems with the use of the medical devices, including for example, causing physical injury or harm to the patients and not providing or extracting the necessary fluids to or from the patients as needed.
The present invention provides a status monitoring device to be implemented with use of a medical device, capable of continuously monitoring the status of the medical device in real-time.
According to one or more embodiments, a status monitoring device to be implemented with a medical device is provided. The status monitoring device comprises a one-way valve including a change ring and an activator stem. The change ring is configured to change colors (e.g., red, yellow, green or orange) depending on the status of the medical device in operation. The activator stem attached to an interior opening of the one-way valve and is disposed in a vertical direction to interface with a flow channel within the medical device and come into contact with fluids passing therethrough in order to determine whether the medical device is inserted into and operating properly within a patient's body part (e.g., neck, chest, arm, groin, and feet).
The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the aspects and features of various embodiments, which should be construed to be merely illustrative of various potential applications of the disclosure. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by combining various aspects of the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in addition to the scope defined by the claims.
The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the disclosure. Given the following enabling description of the drawings, the novel aspects of the present disclosure should become evident to a person of ordinary skill in the art. This detailed description uses numerical and letter designations to refer to features in the drawings. Like or similar designations in the drawings and description have been used to refer to like or similar parts of embodiments of the invention.
As required, detailed embodiments are disclosed herein. It must be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of various and alternative forms. As used herein, the word “exemplary” is used expansively to refer to embodiments that serve as illustrations, specimens, models, or patterns. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. In other instances, well-known components, systems, materials, or methods that are known to those having ordinary skill in the art have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provides a status monitoring device to be implemented with a medical device is provided. The status monitoring device is designed to be user-friendly for health care professionals who are inserting intravenous catheters or rendering IV therapy. The device is used to assist in verifying patency and identifying an existing or potential problem or infection at the IV site or within the IV line.
As shown in
The status monitoring device 100 may be manufactured to correspond to the clear portion of the medical device 200 (e.g., the catheter) which allows the health care professional to view the fluid (e.g., blood) flowing therethrough the flow channel 210.
As shown in
An unattached end of the activator stem 130 as shown in
The change ring 130 is configured to change colors (e.g., red, yellow, green or orange) depending on the status of the medical device 200 in operation. Upon initiating the change ring 130 is clear in color. The change ring 120 comprises an opening including an illuminating hypoallergenic non-toxic dye 140 to be dispersed therein. When the activator stem 130 comes in contact with the fluids (e.g., proteins or enzymes), the dye 140 will change color based on the status of the fluid flow within the flow channel 210 or the status of the flow channel 210 and stay until further intervention or a change occurs in the status. The one-way valve prevents the dye from coming into contact with the patients, healthcare professionals or other users. The change ring 130 can be formed of a rubber or light weight plastic material or any other material suitable for the purpose herein. Alternative to the use of dye 140, a light source 145 (as depicted in
As shown in
If the color is yellow, this is an indication that the medical device 200 (e.g., the IV) has been infiltrated which means that it is no longer in the vein but instead in the dermis. Therefore, the medical device 200 needs to be removed and replaced. The status monitoring device 100 will stay yellow in color until removal of the medical device 200. It can start out green in color and then turn yellow once the medical device 200 has migrated into the dermis rendering it no longer patent.
The change ring 120 is red in color immediately after 3-7 seconds when the medical device 200 (e.g., the IV) does not enter into a vein and instead is in the dermis. The medical device 200 is therefore not safe to use and the status monitoring device 100 remains red until the medical device 200 is removed.
The change ring 120 is orange in color when the medical device 200 (e.g., a catheter) encounters any toxins or bacteria in the vein. The status monitoring device 100 will detect toxins and bacteria in catheters such as central venous catheters (“CVC”) inserted into large veins (e.g., internal jugular, right atrial line, ports, and peripherally inserted central catheter lines, etc.) The status monitoring device 100 will remain orange in color when used peripherally after approximately 3-7 days has passed indicating the intravenous site and/or dressing needs to be changed to allow health care professionals to be proactive in preventing bacterial infections.
The status monitoring device 100 can be attached or mounted to any intravenous catheter or butterfly needle device or other existing IV device. The one-way way valve 110 gets activated when the activator stem 130 encounters blood or body fluids and carbon dioxide, and remains activated for approximately 3-7 days. The status monitoring device illuminates at night making it more visible.
There are several advantages associated with the status monitoring device 100 of the present invention. For example, the device 100 makes it easier to prevent and identify IV infiltrations, extravasations, and line sepsis. It reduces incidences of facility acquired infections, CLABSI (central line-associated bloodstream infection), and infections caused by low frequency of IV dressing changes. There will be no reading or writing on the IV sites. In some cases the label is often illegible to read either the date, signature, or initial or it has been removed. This device 100 reduces time and cost for facilities and health care providers, and is proactive in preventing injuries to patients. The healthcare providers can recognize the status of an IV at a glance.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including manufacturing operations. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
This application is a nonprovisional application claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/591,020 entitled “Status Monitoring Device for Medical Devices”, filed on Nov. 27, 2017, and its contents in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62591020 | Nov 2017 | US |
