Abstract: A locking mechanism for thermal treatment systems (e.g., systems heating and/or cooling solutions prior to the solutions being administered to the patient) or other medical equipment according to the present invention embodiments secures medications being stored and/or thermally treated therein. The locking mechanism includes an integrated monitoring and display system to determine and indicate the status of the thermal treatment system. The monitoring and display system includes indicator lights that allow for a visual representation indicating the locked or open states of system access doors and/or an audio system or alarm for alerting medial or other personnel to the status of the locking mechanism.

Abstract: A warming device for an IV fluid line according to the present invention includes a warmer unit and a wye type fitting with an injection site. The warmer unit includes a tube for intravenous fluid and channels containing a warming fluid to heat the IV tube. One fitting branch is connected to an intravenous fluid source, while the remaining branch houses the injection site. The injection site branch includes an injection safety member that ensures a syringe needle or other instrument is contained within the fitting to prevent rupture of the IV tube. The warming device may include an additional wye type fitting coupled to the initial fitting and including another injection site, where the fittings typically exclude the safety member. A syringe needle is inserted into the additional injection site to prevent rupture of the IV tube. In addition, the warming device may be configured for needleless injections.

Abstract: The present invention monitors an IV bag injection port and informs the user of prior injections. The present invention employs an object and/or a sealed chamber within a transparent IV fluid bag injection port. In the case of the object, notification of prior use is achieved when the object's or IV fluid's appearance is altered. With respect to the sealed chamber, the chamber's seal is breached to allow fluid to pass between the chamber and the IV bag to change the appearance of the contents of the chamber. Since the injection port and bag walls are at least partially transparent, medical personnel are able to observe the altered appearance of either the object, IV fluid or the sealed chamber.

Abstract: Surgical drapes employed with thermal treatment systems are re-enforced according to the present invention. This protects against punctures and tears when objects are placed in a receptacle formed by a drape within a thermal treatment system basin to contain a sterile medium. In one embodiment, a plate or pad is used to protect the drape. The plate or pad may be formed of rigid or flexible material of various configurations. The plate or pad may be solid or perforated (e.g., with holes, slots, mesh, etc.), and may be loosely placed on or fixedly attached to the drape. The plate or pad may have depending feet or protrusions that support the plate spaced above the drape material. Alternatively, the drape may be utilized without the plate and include a thick intermediate section resistant to puncture that is disposed within the thermal treatment system basin.

Abstract: A disposable medical item for use with medical equipment includes circuitry forming an electrical path between the item and medical equipment. The circuitry is coupled to a medical equipment controller or independent microprocessor and includes a fuse. The controller transmits a status signal over the path in response to the equipment receiving the item. A disabled fuse prevents traversal of the path by the status signal, thereby indicating prior item use. If the controller does not detect the status signal, medical equipment operation is disabled. Otherwise, the controller transmits over the path a signal sufficient to disable the fuse to indicate item use and verifies the disabled fuse status. If the disabled fuse status is verified, the controller enables equipment operation. The controller periodically checks the fuse status during equipment operation and disables operation in response to a prior used item inserted into the medical equipment.

Abstract: Various present invention devices enable adherence to requirements for medical items. A medical item of the present invention includes a monitoring or data recording device to monitor and/or record medical solution conditions. The device may further include indicators to indicate compliance of the medical solution with prescribed requirements (e.g., manufacturer, medical standard or regulation, etc.). The medical item may alternatively include a barcode or transponder to uniquely identify the medical item to a thermal treatment system measuring and storing conditions in a central database. The present invention further includes various thermal treatment systems that monitor medical items for prescribed requirements and display the monitored parameters to medical personnel. In addition, the present invention may place time stamp information on medical items to enable determination by medical personnel of compliance with prescribed requirements.

Abstract: Various present invention devices enable adherence to requirements for medical items. A medical item of the present invention includes a monitoring or data recording device to monitor and/or record medical solution conditions. The device may further include indicators to indicate compliance of the medical solution with prescribed requirements (e.g., manufacturer, medical standard or regulation, etc.). The medical item may alternatively include a barcode or transponder to uniquely identify the medical item to a thermal treatment system measuring and storing conditions in a central database. The present invention further includes various thermal treatment systems that monitor medical items for prescribed requirements and display the monitored parameters to medical personnel. In addition, the present invention may place time stamp information on medical items to enable determination by medical personnel of compliance with prescribed requirements.

Abstract: Various present invention devices enable adherence to requirements for medical items. A medical item of the present invention includes a monitoring or data recording device to monitor and/or record medical solution conditions. The device may further include indicators to indicate compliance of the medical solution with prescribed requirements (e.g., manufacturer, medical standard or regulation, etc.). The medical item may alternatively include a barcode or transponder to uniquely identify the medical item to a thermal treatment system measuring and storing conditions in a central database. The present invention further includes various thermal treatment systems that monitor medical items for prescribed requirements and display the monitored parameters to medical personnel. In addition, the present invention may place time stamp information on medical items to enable determination by medical personnel of compliance with prescribed requirements.

Abstract: A fastening system according to the present invention includes a fastening device and a specialized tool. The fastening device is manipulable by the specialized tool and includes a threaded distal portion and a proximal receptacle to receive the tool. The tool is designed to interface the fastening device via the receptacle and rotate the threaded portion to engage or be removed from objects.

Abstract: A system for controlling pressurized infusion and temperature of intravenous fluids according to the present invention includes a housing, a heating assembly and a flexible cover. The heating assembly is recessed within the housing and includes a generally U-shaped configuration to surround and uniformly heat fluid within a fluid container placed thereon. The cover wraps around a portion of the fluid container to secure the fluid container against the heating assembly. The cover includes a pressurization member to apply a desired pressure to the fluid container to achieve a desired flow rate of intravenous fluid from the fluid container to an infusion site on a patient. The system further includes a controller to control the heating assembly and pressure within the pressurization member in accordance with desired temperature and pressure information entered into the controller for system operation.

Abstract: Lay flat tubing is used as a fluid conductor for transferring fluid to and from the body of a patient. The lay flat tubing lies flat or collapsed when not in use, utilizing minimal space during transportation and storage, but which expands to form a passage when used to conduct fluid. A plurality of lumens may be formed in the lay flat tubing. At least one lumen transports infused fluid end-to-end from a source to an entry site on a patient, or in the alternative from an entry site on or in a patient. All lumens are isolated with respect to each other in order to prevent crossover of fluid from one lumen to the other.

Abstract: A drape including a sensing device according to the present invention is disposed over a top surface of a thermal treatment system having a basin recessed therein. A portion of the drape is pushed down into the basin to form a drape container for collecting a sterile medium. The thermal treatment system may be of the type that either heats or congeals the sterile medium. The sensing device includes electrodes that are typically disposed through the drape and sealed. The electrodes provide signals indicating the presence of liquid and/or leaks or other conditions within the drape container to the system to facilitate control of system operation. In addition, the sensing device includes a fuse to limit the drape to a single use. The system disables the fuse to indicate prior use and detects tampering to bypass the fuse, thereby preventing use of the drape for subsequent medical procedures.

Abstract: A fastening system according to the present invention includes a fastening device and a specialized tool. The fastening device is manipulable by the specialized tool and includes a threaded distal portion and a proximal receptacle to receive the tool. The tool is designed to interface the fastening device via the receptacle and rotate the threaded portion to engage or be removed from objects.

Abstract: An IV line temperature controlled warming device includes a housing and a fluid cassette or cartridge that receives fluid from an IV line and includes intravenous line tubing arranged in a preformed configuration. The configuration includes tubing sections arranged in generally circular and concentric portions and a central serpentine tubing section that basically reverses fluid flow and facilitates flow in opposing directions within adjacent tubing sections. The fluid cassette is retained within the device on a base plate partially disposed within a device housing interior, while a housing cover is selectively opened and closed to permit access to the base plate. The base plate includes a heater plate disposed thereon, while the cover and heater plate each include heating elements to apply heat to opposing surfaces of the tubing cassette. The heating elements are controlled by a controller in response to measured temperatures of the heater plate and fluid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pressure infusion and temperature control of infused liquids includes a receptacle for receiving a liquid-filled bag containing intravenous solution or other liquid and an inflatable pressure device. The inflatable pressure device is disposed within a pressure device bag and is positioned proximate the liquid-filled bag in the receptacle. The inflatable pressure device expands within the pressure device bag upon inflation and exerts pressure on the liquid-filled bag. A heating element may be disposed on the inflatable pressure device bag to heat the liquid-filled bag to a desired temperature. The liquid may alternatively be maintained at a desired temperature, while flowing to a patient via a heating assembly disposed along a tube. The heating assembly includes a sleeve having a slot for receiving the tube and a plurality of individually controlled heaters.

Abstract: A disposable medical item for use with medical equipment includes circuitry forming an electrical path between the item and medical equipment. The circuitry is coupled to a medical equipment controller or independent microprocessor and includes a fuse. The controller transmits a status signal over the path in response to the equipment receiving the item. A disabled fuse prevents traversal of the path by the status signal, thereby indicating prior item use. If the controller does not detect the status signal, medical equipment operation is disabled. Otherwise, the controller transmits over the path a signal sufficient to disable the fuse to indicate item use and verifies the disabled fuse status. If the disabled fuse status is verified, the controller enables equipment operation. The controller periodically checks the fuse status during equipment operation and disables operation in response to a prior used item inserted into the medical equipment.

Abstract: The sterility of a drape for use on surgical equipment is ensured by the use of bar codes and a microprocessor. When a drape containing a bar code is placed on the corresponding surgical equipment, a bar code reader ascertains the bar code on the drape. A microprocessor receives the bar code and determines whether the bar code has been previously written to memory indicating the drapes prior use. If the bar code is not present, the current bar code of the drape is written into memory, and subsequent operation of the surgical equipment commences. If the bar code is present, the microprocessor prevents the surgical equipment from operating. The microprocessor conserves memory by deleting bar code numbers of drapes that surpass a user determined time period.