Apparatus and method for administering multiple fluid infusions

A valve for providing selective communication between any one of a plurality of available fluids and an output tube, the valve comprising:

• a hollow cylindrical housing having a primary input site and a plurality of secondary input sites;
• a core member, disposed within said housing, having an output passageway and a first means for sealing;
• said first sealing means having an access hole in communication with said output passageway and being rotatably engaged with said housing to prevent any fluid from escaping from any of said secondary input sites except when said access hole is aligned with one of said secondary input sites to provide communication between said one of said secondary input sites and said output passageway;
• conduit means for directing fluid from said primary input site around said secondary input sites so that said fluid from said primary input site is in communication with said access hole whenever said access hole is positioned between two adjacent secondary input sites.

A valve for providing selective communication between any one of a plurality of available fluids and an output tube, the valve comprising:

• a hollow cylindrical housing having a primary input site and a plurality of secondary input sites, each of said secondary input sites having a hollow cylindrical shaft extending into said housing;
• a cylindrical core member rotatable within said housing having flange means extending radially from its circumference and a planar surface on each end, said flange means, said housing and the circumference of said core member forming a conduit in communication with said primary input site, said conduit being wider than the outer diameter of each of said cylindrical shafts and said core member being disposed within said housing such that said cylindrical shafts lie flush against said core member to seal said secondary input sites;
• an output passageway within said core member, accessible through an access hole in the circumference of said core member, said passageway extending through said core member and out through a projection from one of said planar surfaces of said core member;
• and
• a drive member, for rotating said core member to selectively align the access hole of said output passageway with any of said secondary input sites or with said conduit to communicate fluid from one of said input sites or from said conduit into said output passageway.

A method for administering multiple fluid solutions to a patient, said method comprising:

• providing a sterile valve that provides continuous communication between an output and at least one of a plurality of inputs;
• connecting a neutral solution to one input of said valve;
• connecting each of said multiple fluid solutions to different inputs of said valve;
• connecting a catheter tube between the output of said valve and said patient;
• coupling a pump to said catheter tube;
• operating said pump at a predetermined speed;
• using an electronic processor to alternately switch said valve between the input connected to said neutral solution and one of said other plurality of inputs at predetermined time intervals, said neutral solution being provided between said fluid solutions to prevent said fluid solutions from substantially mixing in said catheter tube.

A method for administering a plurality of fluid solutions to a patient, said method comprising;

• providing a sterile valve including a cylindrical housing having a primary input and a plurality of secondary inputs, a core member, disposed within said housing, having an output passageway with an access hole through the circumference of said core member, the circumference sealing closed the secondary input when they are not aligned with the access hole of the output passageway, and a conduit, wherein said conduit directs fluid from said primary input around said secondary inputs so that said fluid from said primary input is in communication with said output passageway whenever said access hole is positioned between two adjacent secondary inputs;
• individually connecting said plurality of fluid solutions to any of said secondary inputs;
• connecting a neutral solution to said primary input;
• connecting a catheter tube between the output passageway of said valve and said patient;
• coupling a pump to said catheter tube;
• operating said pump at a predetermined speed;
• rotating said core member to alternately switch the output passageway of said valve into communication with said primary input and with one of said secondary inputs at predetermined time intervals, said neutral solution being provided between each fluid solution to prevent any of said fluid solutions from substantially mixing with another fluid solution in said catheter tube.

An apparatus for administering multiple drug infusions comprising:

• (a) a demountable valve including:
• a hollow cylindrical housing having a primary input site and a pluraltiy of secondary input sites;
• a core member, disposed within said housing, having an output passageway and a first means for sealing;
• said first sealing means having an access hole in communication with said output passageway and being rotatably engaged with said housing to prevent any fluid from escaping from any of said secondary input sites except when said access hole is aligned with one of said secondary input sites to provide communication between said one of said secondary input sites and said output passageway;
• conduit means for directing fluid from said primary input site around said secondary input sites so that said fluid from said primary input site is in communication with said access hole whenever said access hole is positioned between two adjacent secondary input sites;
• and
• a drive member, connected to said core member, for rotating said core member to selectively align said access hole with any of said secondary input sites or with said conduit means to communicate fluid from said input site or from said conduit means into said output passageway;
• (b) motor;
• (c) drive means coupled to said motor engageable with said drive member;
• and
• (d) microprocessor means for controlling said motor to selectively communicate fluids from said input sites through said output passageway for predetermined time intervals in a predetermined sequence.