Cardioplegia administration set

Claim 2

A cardioplegia administration set suitable for continually cooling and debubbling cardioplegia solution for delivery to a patient's heart on demand at a predetermined pressure for injection into the heart, said administration set comprising: A. a heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet; B. a bubble trap having an inlet and an outlet; C. a three-end connector having one end adapted to connect to a cardioplegia solution injection catheter, one end comprising an inlet and one end comprising a recirculation outlet; D. first tubing means having an inlet adapted to be connected to a source of cardioplegia solution and an outlet connected to the inlet of the three-end connector, said tubing means interconnecting the inlets and the outlets of the heat exchanger and the bubble trap therebetween so that a solution passageway is established from the source of cardioplegia solution through the heat exchanger and through the bubble trap to the end of the three-end connector adapted to connect to the injection catheter; and E. a recirculation loop comprising: 1. a normally-closed, pressure-responsive valve having an inlet and an outlet; and 2. second tubing means having an inlet connected to the recirculation outlet of the three-end connector and an outlet adapted to be connected to the source of cardioplegia solution so that a solution passageway is established from the three-end connector through the normally-closed valve back to the source of cardioplegia solution when the valve is open.

Claim 3

The administration set according to claim 1 wherein said normally-closed, pressure-responsive valve comprises: A. a normally-closed-in-cross-section and openable-in-response-to-positive-fluid-pressure inner tube having an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the solution passageway between the three-end connector and the source of cardioplegia solution; B. a housing receiving said inner tube; C. an inlet portion connecting the housing to the inner tube adjacent the inlet of the inner tube; and D. an outlet portion connecting the housing to the inner tube adjacent the outlet of the inner tube.

Claim 4

The administration set according to claim 2 wherein said normally-closed, pressure-responsive valve further comprises: A. a first annular member having a first wall portion affixed to the inner tube and a second wall portion affixed to the inlet portion of the valve; and B. a second annular member having a first wall portion affixed to the inner tube and a second wall portion affixed to the outlet portion of the valve.

Claim 5

The administration set according to claim 3 further comprising means for achieving and maintaining an above-ambient pressure outside of the inner tube so that this pressure can be utilized for effecting the opening and closing of the inner tube.

Claim 6

The administration set according to claim 4 wherein said pressure is in the range of about 50-150 mmHg.

Claim 7

The administration set according to claim 1 further comprising a combination fluid path and mount of the type used to cool cardioplegia solution by transferring heat between the solution and a heat-exchanging fluid, the heat exchanger having an inner surface defining a passageway in which the heat-exchanging fluid flows, the combination comprising a body of generally flexible-resilient material having a periphery adapted to be received in the passageway of the heat exchanger, and means for mounting the body of a support, the body having heat-exchanging fluid inlet and outlet passageways for circulating heat-exchanging fluid to the passageway of the heat exchanger, fixing-sealing means for removably fixing the heat exchanger to the body and sealing between the body and the inner surface of the heat exchanger including means for expanding a portion of the periphery of the body against the inner surface of the heat exchanger to form a seal therebetween and to hold the heat exchanger on the body.

Claim 8

The administration set according to claim 6 wherein the body is generally cylindrical, the means for expanding a portion of the body including tapered means for expanding the portion of the body radially outwardly, the body having a recess at one end thereof for receiving the tapered means such that a portion of the body adjacent the recess is expanded radially outwardly by the tapered means.

Claim 9

The administration set according to claim 7 wherein the means for mounting the body on a support includes a bracket attached to the end of the body opposite the recess and clamp means on the bracket for clamping a support stand to mount the body thereon, the fixing-sealing means including releasable locking means for pulling the tapered means toward the bracket into the recess of the body and holding it in the recess, the releasable locking means including an overcenter locking mechanism for securely holding the tapered means in the recess, and an adjusting bolt connected to the locking mechanism and the bracket and extending longitudinally through the body between the locking mechanism and bracket, the heat-exchanging fluid inlet and outlet passageways having openings formed in the circumferential surface of the body along opposite sides of the body for supplying the heat-exchanging fluid to the heat exchanger and removing the fluid from the heat exchanger, the openings being elongate in the direction longitudinally or axially of the body.

Claim 10

The administration set according to claim 7 wherein the means for expanding a portion of the body includes spring means for biasing the tapered means longitudinally or axially outwardly from the recess of the body to a non-sealing position wherein the heat exchanger can be placed on the body with the body received in the heat exchanger and the heat exchanger can be removed from the body, the tapered means being movable against the spring bias longitudinally or axially inwardly into the recess to a sealing position wherein the portion of the body adjacent the recess is expanded radially outwardly by the tapered means to hold and seal the heat exchanger.

Claim 11

The administration set according to claim 9 wherein the tapered means includes a frustoconical member adapted to be received in the recess of the body such that the portion of the body adjacent the recess is expanded radially outwardly by the frustoconical member.

Claim 12

The administration set according to claim 10 wherein the fixing-sealing means includes releasable locking means for pulling the frustoconical member into the recess of the body and holding it in sealing position, the releasable locking means including an overcenter locking mechanism for securely holding the frustoconical member in sealing position.

Claim 13

The administration set according to claim 9 wherein the body is formed of generally elastomeric material having a Shore A durometer of between 60 and 90.

Claim 14

The administration set according to claim 9 wherein the means for mounting the body on a support includes a bracket attached to the end of the body opposite the recess and clamp means on the bracket for clamping a support stand to mount the body thereon.

Claim 15

The administration set according to the claim 13 wherein the generally cylindrical body is flared radially outwardly adjacent the bracket.

Claim 16

The administration set according to claim 13 wherein the heat-exchanging fluid inlet and outlet passageways have openings formed in the circumferential surface of the body along opposite sides of the body for supplying the heat-exchanging fluid to the heat exchanger and removing the fluid from the heat exchanger, the openings being elongate in the direction longitudinally or axially of the body.

Claim 17

The administration set according to claim 6 wherein the body is generally cylindrical, the heat exchanger including an undulated, annular barrier for separating the cardioplegia solution from the heat-exchanging fluid while permitting heat transfer through the barrier, the barrier having an inner undulated surface constituting the inner surface and defining the body-receiving passageway as generally cylindrical, and an outer undulated surface along which the solution flows.

Claim 18

The administration set according to claim 16 wherein the heat exchanger further includes a case sealingly connected to the barrier and forming a cardioplegia solution path along the barrier through the case, the case forming the bubble trap at one end of the blood/solution path for separating and trapping gas from the blood or solution, the case being adapted to be turned on the cylindrical body between a priming position wherein the bubble trap is positioned below the body and a ready position wherein the bubble trap is positioned above the body.

Claim 19

A cardioplegia administration set suitable for continually cooling and debubbling cardioplegia solution for delivery to a patient's heart on demand at a predetermined pressure for injection into the heart, said administration set comprising: A. a heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet; B first fluid passageway means having an inlet adapted to connect to a source of cardioplegia solution and an outlet connected to the inlet of the heat exchanger so that the solution can flow from the source into the heat exchanger; C. a bubble trap having an inlet and an outlet; D. second fluid passageway means having an inlet connected to the outlet of the heat exchanger and an outlet connected to the inlet of the bubble trap so that the solution can flow from the heat exchanger into the bubble trap; E. a three-end connector having one end adapted to connect to a cardioplegia solution injection catheter, one end comprising an inlet and one end comprising a recirculation outlet; F. third fluid passageway means having an inlet connected to the outlet of the bubble trap and an outlet connected to the inlet of the three-end connector so that the solution can flow from the bubble trap into the three-end connector; G. a normally-closed, pressure-responsive valve having an inlet and an outlet; H. fourth fluid passageway means having an inlet connected to the recirculation outlet of the three-end connector and an outlet connected to the inlet of the valve so that the solution can flow from the connector into the valve; and I. fifth fluid passageway means having an inlet connected to the outlet of the valve and an outlet adapted to be connected to the source of cardioplegia solution so that the solution can flow from the valve back into the source when the valve is open, whereby the solution can be recirculated and thereby continually cooled even when the catheter is not injecting the solution into the patient's heart.

Claim 20

A cardioplegia administration set suitable for continually cooling and debubbling cardioplegia solution for delivery to a patient's heart on demand at a predetermined pressure for injection into the heart, said administration set comprising: A. a heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet; B first fluid passageway means having an inlet adapted to connect to a source of cardioplegia solution and an outlet connected to the inlet of the heat exchanger so that the solution can flow from the source into the heat exchanger; C. a bubble trap having an inlet and an outlet; D. second fluid passageway means having an inlet connected to the outlet of the heat exchanger and an outlet connected to the inlet of the bubble trap so that the solution can flow from the heat exchanger into the bubble trap; E. a three-end connector having one end adapted to connect to a cardioplegia solution injection catheter, one end comprising an inlet and one end comprising a recirculation outlet; F. third fluid passageway means having an inlet connected to the outlet of the bubble trap and an outlet connected to the inlet of the three-end connector so that the solution can flow from the bubble trap into the three-end connector; G. a normally-closed, pressure-responsive valve having an inlet and an outlet; H. fourth fluid passageway means having an inlet connected to the recirculation outlet of the three-end connector and an outlet connected to the inlet of the valve so that the solution can flow from the connector into the valve; and I. fifth fluid passageway means having an inlet connected to the outlet of the valve and an outlet adapted to be connected to the source of cardioplegia solution so that the solution can flow from the valve back into the source when the valve is open, whereby the solution can be recirculated and thereby continually cooled even when the catheter is not injecting the solution into the patient's heart.

Claim 21

The administration set according to claim 18 wherein said normally-closed, pressure-responsive valve comprises: A. a normally-closed-in-cross-section and openable-in-response-to-positive-fluid-pressure inner tube having an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the solution passageway between the three-end connector and the source of cardioplegia solution; B. a housing receiving said inner tube; C. an inlet portion connecting the housing to the inner tube adjacent the inlet of the inner tube; and D. an outlet portion connecting the housing to the inner tube adjacent the outlet of the inner tube.

Claim 22

The administration set according to claim 19 wherein said normally-closed, pressure-responsive valve further comprises: A. a first annular member having a first wall portion affixed to the inner tube and a second wall portion affixed to the inlet portion of the valve; and B. a second annular member having a first wall portion affixed to the inner tube and a second wall portion affixed to the outlet portion of the valve.

Claim 23

The administration set according to claim 20 further comprising means for achieving and maintaining an above-ambient pressure outside of the inner tube so that this pressure can be utilized for effecting the opening and closing of the inner tube.

Claim 24

The administration set according to claim 21 wherein said pressure is in the range of about 50-150 mmHg.

Claim 25

The administration set according to claim 22 further comprising a combination fluid path and mount of the type used to cool cardioplegia solution by transferring heat between the solution and a heat-exchanging fluid, the heat exchanger having an inner surface defining a passageway in which the heat-exchanging fluid flows, the combination comprising a body of generally flexible-resilient material having a periphery adapted to be received in the passageway of the heat exchanger, and means for mounting the body on a support, the body having heat-exchanging fluid inlet and outlet passageways for circulating heat-exchanging fluid to the passageway of the heat exchanger, fixing-sealing means for removably fixing the heat exchanger to the body and sealing between the body and the inner surface of the heat exchanger including means for expanding a portion of the periphery of the body against the inner surface of the heat exchanger to form a seal therebetween and to hold the heat exchanger on the body.

Claim 26

The administration set according to claim 23 wherein the body is generally cylindrical, the means for expanding a portion of the body including tapered means for expanding the portion of the body radially outwardly, the body having a recess at one end thereof for receiving the tapered means such that a portion of the body adjacent the recess is expanded radially outwardly by the tapered means.

Claim 27

The administration set according to claim 24 wherein the means for mounting the body on a support includes a bracket attached to the end of the body opposite the recess and clamp means on the bracket for clamping a support stand to mount the body thereon, the fixing-sealing means including releasable locking means for pulling the tapered means toward the bracket into the recess of the body and holding it in the recess, the releasable locking means including an overcenter locking mechanism for securely holding the tapered means in the recess, and an adjusting bolt connected to the locking mechanism and the bracket and extending longitudinally through the body between the locking mechanism and bracket, the heat-exchanging fluid inlet and outlet passageways having openings formed in the circumferential surface of the body along opposite sides of the body for supplying the heat-exchanging fluid to the heat exchanger and removing the fluid from the heat exchanger, the openings being elongate in the direction longitudinally or axially of the body.

Claim 28

The administration set according to claim 24 wherein the means for expanding a portion of the body includes spring means for biasing the tapered means longitudinally or axially outwardly from the recess of the body to a non-sealing position wherein the heat exchanger can be placed on the body with the body received in the heat exchanger and the heat exchanger can be removed from the body, the tapered means being movable against the spring bias longitudinally or axially inwardly into the recess to a sealing position wherein the portion of the body adjacent the recess is expanded radially outwardly by the tapered means to hold and seal the heat exchanger.

Claim 29

The administration set according to claim 26 wherein the tapered means includes a frustoconical member adapted to be received in the recess of the body such that the portion of the body adjacent the recess is expanded radially outwardly by the frustoconical member.

Claim 30

The administration set according to claim 27 wherein the fixing-sealing means includes releasable locking means for pulling the frustoconical member into the recess of the body and holding it in sealing position, the releasable locking means including an overcenter locking mechanism for securely holding the frustoconical member in sealing position.

Claim 31

The administration set according to claim 26 wherein the body is formed of generally elastomeric material having a Shore A durometer of between 60 and 90.

Claim 32

The administration set according to claim 26 wherein the means for mounting the body on a support includes a bracket attached to the end of the body opposite the recess and clamp means on the bracket for clamping a support stand to mount the body thereon.

Claim 33

The administration set according to claim 30 wherein the generally cylindrical body is flared radially outwardly adjacent the bracket.

Claim 34

The administration set according to claim 30 wherein the heat-exchanging fluid inlet and outlet passageways have openings formed in the circumferential surface of the body along opposite sides of the body for supplying the heat-exchanging fluid to the heat exchanger and removing the fluid from the heat exchanger, the openings being elongate in the direction longitudinally or axially of the body.

Claim 35

The administration set according to claim 23 wherein the body is generally cylindrical, the heat exchanger including an undulated, annular barrier for separating the cardioplegia solution from the heat-exchanging fluid while permitting heat transfer through the barrier, the barrier having an inner undulated surface constituting the inner surface and defining the body-receiving passageway as generally cylindrical, and an outer undulated surface along which the solution flows.

Claim 36

The administration set according to claim 33 wherein the heat exchanger further includes a case sealingly connected to the barrier and forming a cardioplegia solution path along the barrier through the case, the case forming the bubble trap at one end of the blood/solution path for separating the trapping gas from the blood or solution, the case being adapted to be turned on the cylindrical body between a priming position wherein the bubble trap is positioned below the body and a ready position wherein the bubble trap is positioned above the body.