Flexible medication clip

Abstract

A flexible medication clip used for attaching an intravenous medication vial to a syringe. This device is constructed from a single piece of molded plastic. It consists of two flexible semi-circular c-shaped rings that are placed side by side with their respective openings facing upward. The bases of each ring are connected by an adjoining plastic bridge. A syringe and intravenous medication vial are easily pressed into the openings of the semi-circular rings and snapped into position side by side. The larger inward curving endpoints on each semi-circular rings secure the syringe and vial firmly in place.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.

INVENTOR

[0002] Blake T. James R. N., CEN

APPLICANT(S)

[0003] none

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention generally relates to clips which secure one part to another and, more particularly, to a clip device suitable for connecting an intravenous medication vial to a medication syringe.

[0005] Fastening rings of this type are generally used for connecting hosing, wires, pipes and other cylindrical pieces together in a secured position. This device will be used primarily in the hospital and pre-hospital (Paramedic) setting. Medication error related deaths have increased greatly in the past several years. The Febuary 1988 issue of The Lancet noted a 257 percent increase of medication error related deaths between 1983 and 1993. The issue of getting the right medication to the right patent is still a major setback for the entire healthcare profession. Of all medications, intravenous medications are one of the most difficult medications to identify once they have been drawn up into a syringe. Nearly all intravenous medications appear as a clear liquid when seen in a syringe with no way of distinguishing one from another. Current methods of identifying medications in a syringe include taping labels on the syringe or taping the medication vial to the syringe, both of which may obstruct the dose markings on the syringe. However, in emergency situations there is rarely enough time to label syringes is such a manner. This becomes particularly dangerous when multiple volatile medications are drawn up quickly into a syringe and placed near each other with no way of identifying their contents. Unfortunately, this places the patient in a potentially more harmful situation than their current illness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] This present invention provides a means of easily identifying an intravenous medication by attaching the original vial safely, quickly and easily to the syringe with a clip without obstructing dose markings. It also allows quick, safe and easy access for the administration of multi-dose medications without the hassle of taping and retaping or the risk of losing a misplaced medication vial.

[0007] The clip consists of a single piece of durable yet flexible molded plastic with two semicircular c-shaped rings placed side by side a short distance apart. Their respective openings face upward with the bases attached by an adjoining bridge. The rings can be of different sizes in order to fit the different sizes of medication vials and syringes. Since syringes and vials for medication use differ slightly in their circumference size, each ring is composed of a plastic flexible enough to fit several different sizes. A single plastic resin prototype was constructed using 3D CAD imaging and Stereo Lithography technology. The longitudinal portion of each ring and the associated attaching bridge is flat having a thin sidewall construction for providing maximum flexibility laterally. The rings and respective attaching bridge have a depth, which is approximately 3-4 times greater than the sidewall thickness to provide strength and durability. endpoints that form the opening portions of each ring are rounded and curve inward with a thicker sidewall to provide a point of contact for the respective medication vial and syringe to be held firmly into the circumference base of each ring. This feature, along with the flexible sidewall construction, provides enough pressure to allow a slightly larger or smaller vial or syringe to be held firmly in place without compromising function. A syringe and vial can be easily placed in a beginning position by placing them parallel to the openings of the c-shaped rings. When gentle pressure is applied, the rings flex slightly outward around the circumference of the syringe or vial. The vial or syringe are in the final position when they have been pressed into the base of both c-shaped rings with the curved portions of the rings and endpoints holding then firmly into place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] One drawing is present:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a drawing of the original concept with semi-circular C-shaped rings, adjoining bridge, rounded inward curving terminal endpoints of each ring.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

[0010] 21 thick inward curving endpoint

[0011] 22 adjoining bridge

[0012] 23 semi-circular C-shaped rings

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] This device is constructed from a singe piece of molded plastic. According to FIG. 1, the clip device consists of two flexible semi-circular c-shaped rings (23) that form the body for which a syringe and medication vial can be placed. The rings are connected at their bases (22) by an adjoining bridge. In FIG. 1 the rings are of equal size for a syringe and vial of equal size. However, different sized rings may be used to allow for a larger syringe and a smaller vial to be used. Each ring has an inward curving and slightly larger rounded tip (21) which is designed to help hold the syringe and vial firmly into the base of each ring. The entire piece is easily constructed by using plastic injection into a steel or aluminum cast mold.

CONCLUSION

[0014] By the description of the above invention the reader can clearly see the advantages of the flexible medication clip. With medication error related deaths clearly on the rise in healthcare, attempts to reduce these trends are still in urgent need. The flexible medication clip provides one simple way to help reduce the risk of medication errors from occurring. It also provides an easy and convenient way of temporarily storing and accessing multi-dose medications for simple and safe administration. If any device, method, or system can help save but one life in the healthcare system it should be considered and implemented.

Claims

1. A device for connecting intravenous medication vials to a medication syringe comprising:

(a) two flexible open ended semicircular c-shaped rings attached together by means of a connecting device and,

(b) terminal endpoints of said device that form the opening portion of each ring are larger, rounded and curve inward.