US 8,747,764 B1Granted

Inline intravenous fluid sterilizer

AssigneeDartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic

InventorsCorey A. Burchman, Steven D. Reinitz, Kathryn E. Boucher, Renee N. Cottle

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Abstract

An inline intravenous (IV) fluid sterilization system can be located within directly upstream of the patient's access point, downstream of any breach points, so as to ensure fluid sterility. The chamber space between the walls is accessed by a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port between which the fluid flows. The inlet port is connected to a conduit/tubing from the fluid source and the outlet port is interconnected with a conduit/tubing that is free of breach points and interconnects to the patient access point. The inner wall allows for transmission of UV light into the fluid space. The walls define a space therebetween that is relatively small radially, allowing for a sufficient flow rate, but providing a large surface area and small fluid depth for exposure to the UV light. The UV light is provided by an elongated lamp within a cavity of the inner wall.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for rendering fluid for parenteral infusion sterile comprising:

a housing containing an UV source constructed and arranged to provide a predetermined quantity of UV radiation to thereby sterilize the fluid;
said housing comprised of a base unit for supporting the UV source, a canister having an outer canister wall and that is removably mounted to the base unit, and a cassette having top and bottom ends and for insertion into and engagement with the canister;
a fluid chamber of the cassette having an inlet that receives the fluid from a source and an outlet that directs fluid to a parenteral location, the fluid chamber being constructed and arranged to conduct the fluid therethrough so as to maximize surface area for the flow of the fluid therein and maximize exposure to the predetermined quantity of UV radiation by providing more direct contact of the maximized surface area from the UV source;
said fluid chamber defined by a UV-transmissive inner wall and a concentric UV-opaque or UV-reflective outer wall defining therebetween a thin space that conducts the fluid with capillary action, the UV source disposed within and spaced from the inner wall;
said inner and outer walls supported between the respective top and bottom ends of the cassette so as to define the fluid chamber.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/749,342Filed 29 Mar 2010 · us provisional application
Priority: 27 Mar 2009
Granted: 10 Jun 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

A61L 2/10
Radiation: ultraviolet [UV] radiation
C02F 1/325
With ultraviolet light: irradiation devices or lamp constructions
A61L 2103/05
Materials or objects being the target of disinfection or sterilisation: living organisms or biological materials
C02F 2103/026
Non-contaminated water, e.g. for industrial water supply: treating water for medical or cosmetic purposes