Method and apparatus for facilitating injection of medication into an intravenous fluid line while maintaining sterility of infused fluids

In an infusion system to deliver intravenous fluid from a supply source to an infusion site via a fluid line including a heat transfer unit including first and second conduits, wherein said first conduit receives said intravenous fluid and said second conduit receives heat transfer fluid to heat said intravenous fluid, and a fluid connector assembly to facilitate fluid flow between said supply source and said heat transfer unit, a method of injecting medicinal fluid into said fluid line while maintaining sterility of said intravenous fluid comprising:

• (a) receiving said intravenous fluid from said supply source within a fitting of said fluid connector assembly and directing said intravenous fluid received by said fitting from said supply source into said heat transfer unit, wherein said fitting includes a housing structure including an elongated tubular body with a proximal end portion, a fluid inlet member with a distal end directly attached to said elongated tubular body and a proximal end to receive intravenous fluid into said housing structure, and a fluid outlet disposed at a distal end of said elongated tubular body and secured to said heat transfer unit with said fluid outlet in fluid communication with said first conduit, wherein said proximal end portion of said elongated tubular body includes an instrument member positioned within a proximal portion of said elongated tubular body and an extension member extending proximally from said instrument member and forming a proximal end of said elongated tubular body, and wherein said instrument member includes a membrane to maintain a fluid tight seal and permit removable insertion of a portion of an instrument through said membrane and within said fluid connector assembly;
• (b) receiving said instrument portion within said instrument member to facilitate injection of a medicinal fluid different than said intravenous fluid into said fluid connector assembly, wherein said instrument includes a syringe containing said medicinal fluid and said instrument portion includes a needle with a length dimension;
• and
• (c) engaging a syringe distal portion via said extension member and displacing said syringe from said instrument member and providing a distance from said conduits greater than said length dimension of said needle to prevent contact and rupture of said conduits by said needle during said injection.

An infusion system to deliver intravenous fluid from a supply source to an infusion site via a fluid line and to enable injection of medicinal fluid into said fluid line while maintaining sterility of said intravenous fluid, said system comprising:

• heating means for heating said intravenous fluid and including first and second conduits, wherein said first conduit receives said intravenous fluid and is connected with a fluid line portion extending toward said infusion site and said second conduit receives heat transfer fluid to heat said intravenous fluid flowing through said first conduit;
• and
• fluid connection means for facilitating fluid flow between said supply source and said heating means and including:
• flow means including a housing structure for receiving said intravenous fluid and directing said intravenous fluid received by said flow means into said heating means, wherein said housing structure includes:
• an elongated tubular body including a proximal end portion;
• fluid inlet means with a distal end directly attached to said elongated tubular body and a proximal end to receive intravenous fluid into said housing structure;
• and
• fluid outlet means disposed at a distal end of said elongated tubular body and secured to said heating means with said fluid outlet means in fluid communication with said first conduit;
• wherein said proximal end portion of said elongated tubular body includes:
• instrument means positioned within a proximal portion of said elongated tubular body, wherein said instrument means includes a membrane to maintain a fluid tight seal and permit removable insertion of a portion of an instrument through said membrane and within said fluid connection means, wherein said instrument includes a syringe containing a medicinal fluid and said instrument portion includes a needle with a length dimension, and wherein said syringe facilitates injection of a medicinal fluid different than said intravenous fluid into said fluid connection means;
• and
• extension means extending proximally from said instrument means and forming a proximal end of said elongated tubular body, wherein said extension means is configured to engage a syringe distal portion and enable insertion of said needle within said extension means, and wherein said extension means displaces said syringe from said instrument means and provides a distance from said conduits greater than said length dimension of said needle to prevent contact and rupture of said conduits by said needle during said injection.