Intravenous (IV) bag hanger with ligature-resistance

A method of supporting an intravenous (IV) bag while preventing formation of a ligature, the method comprising:

• mounting a housing of a bag hanger above a patient;
• and
• hanging an intravenous bag from a saddle portion of a bag support hook of the bag hanger when the bag support hook is in a reset position, wherein the bag support hook has an extension portion extending from an interior of the housing and that is rotatable around an axle located within the housing, and supports the intravenous bag up to a threshold weight limit;
• and
• initiating a triggered position of the bag support hook by applying a downward force on the saddle portion of the bag support hook in excess of the threshold weight limit, so that the bag support hook rotates downward to a position in which the bag support hook is released by retraction of the saddle portion of the bag support hook within the housing, wherein the initiating of the triggered position of the bag support hook comprises releasing the extension of the bag support hook from a hook release spring of the bag hanger that restricts rotation of the extension portion of the bag support hook when the saddle portion of the bag support hook is loaded with a weight less than or equal to the threshold weight limit, wherein the releasing of the extension of the bag support hook releases the extension portion of the bag support hook to rotate freely once the bag support hook is loaded with a weight greater than the threshold weight limit.

A bag hanger for supporting an intravenous (IV) bag, comprising:

• a housing for holding internal components of the bag hanger;
• and
• internal components of the bag hanger including at least one bag support hook having an extension portion extending from an interior of the housing and rotatable around an axle located within the housing, wherein the at least one bag support hook, in a reset position, provides support of the intravenous bag in a saddle portion of the at least one bag support hook up to a threshold weight limit, wherein the at least one bag support hook, in a triggered position initiated by a downward force in excess of the threshold weight limit rotating the bag support hook downward, rotates to a position in which the saddle portion of the at least one bag support hook is retracted within the housing, wherein the housing comprises a rear housing portion having a substantially circular first external profile along at least a top portion of the first external profile in a plane of a front edge of the rear housing portion, and a front housing portion having a second external profile matching the substantially circular first external profile of the rear housing portion along a back edge of the front housing portion, and wherein the front housing portion and the rear housing portion, when the front edge of the rear housing portion and the back edge of the front housing portion are joined, form a continuous surface having a third curved external profile in a direction perpendicular to the first external profile and the second external profile along the at least a top portion of the first external profile, whereby formation of a ligature around a top edge of the housing around the first external profile or the third external profile is prevented, and wherein the rear housing portion and the front housing portion define at least one slot extending along the first external profile and the second external profile at a junction between the rear housing portion and the front housing portion, through which the extension portion of the at least one bag support hook extends when the at least one bag support hook is in the reset position and through which the at least one bag support hook retracts when the at least one bag support hook is triggered.

A method of supporting an intravenous (IV) bag while preventing formation of a ligature, the method comprising:

• mounting a housing of a bag hanger above a patient;
• and
• hanging an intravenous bag from a saddle portion of a bag support hook of the bag hanger when the bag support hook is in a reset position, wherein the bag support hook has an extension portion extending from an interior of the housing and that is rotatable around an axle located within the housing, and supports the intravenous bag up to a threshold weight limit;
• and
• initiating a triggered position of the bag support hook by applying a downward force on the saddle portion of the bag support hook in excess of the threshold weight limit, so that the bag support hook rotates downward to a position in which the bag support hook is released by retraction of the saddle portion of the bag support hook within the housing;
• preventing formation of a ligature around a top edge of the housing and around sides of the housing by providing the housing having a rear housing portion with a substantially circular first external profile along at least a top portion of the first external profile in a plane of a front edge of the rear housing portion and a front housing portion having a second external profile matching the substantially circular first external profile of the rear housing portion along a back edge of the front housing portion, wherein the front housing portion and the rear housing portion, when the front edge of the rear housing portion and the back edge of the front housing portion are joined, form a continuous surface having a third curved external profile in a direction perpendicular to the first external profile and the second external profile along the at least a top portion of the first external profile, whereby securing a ligature around the first external profile or the third external profile is prevented, and wherein the rear housing portion and the front housing portion define a slot extending along the first external profile and the second external profile at a junction between the rear housing portion and the front housing portion, through which the extension portion of the bag support hook extends when the bag support hook is in the reset position and through which the bag support hook retracts when the bag support hook rotates to the triggered position.