GB2084878A

GB2084878A - Injection site tamper indicator

Info

Publication number: GB2084878A
Application number: GB8130204A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Baxter Travenol Laboratories Inc
Current assignee: Baxter International Inc
Priority date: 1980-10-10
Filing date: 1981-10-06
Publication date: 1982-04-21
Also published as: GB2084878B; ES269162Y; AU7462381A; ES269162U; CA1156115A

Abstract

An injection site (10) has an inlet (14) provided internally with a pierceable self-sealing member. This inlet is closed by a tamper indicating device (24) having a cap (26, 28) rendering the pierceable member inaccessible. The cap has a first portion (26) connected to the inlet and a second portion (28) connected to the first portion by a frangible section (30). A handle (32) is actuable to break the second portion away from the first at the frangible section, the first portion remaining connected to the inlet as an indication of tampering and allowing access to the pierceable member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Injection site tamper indicator The present invention concerns a tamper indicator for an injection site for indicating that an injection has occurred or that the injection site has been tampered with.

Injection sites are commonly used in hospitals where a parental fluid is being fed to a patient intravenously and it is also desired to combine another medicament with the parenteral fluid. In such circumstances, the parental fluid is fed via flexible conduit to one inlet of a connecting device commonly called an injection site. Flexible conduit extends from the outlet of the injection site to an appropriate device for administering the liquid to the patient. The injection site typically has a second inlet, having a pierceable diaphragm connected thereto. The supplementary medicament is injected into the second inlet by a hypodermic syringe and it becomes combined with the parenteral liquid for administration to the patient. A type of injection site which comprises the above described characteristics is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,000,740.

The pierceable diaphragm is formed of a self-sealable material, such as Latex or silicone rubber, and it is often impossible to determine whether an injection has been made into the diaphragm by merely viewing it. In addition, since prior art injection sites generally utilize pierceable diaphragms which are exposed to ambient surroundings, it is possible for the pierceable diaphragm to have come in contact with various fluid contaminants without anyone knowing whether such has occurred. Further, if the injection site is not stored properly, a a layer of dust may collect upon the pierceable diaphragm.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a tamper indicating device for connection to an injection site having a main body portion, a first inlet, a second inlet including a pierceable self-sealing member, an outlet, the first inlet, second inlet and outlet being in fluid communication with the main body portion, said tamper indicating device comprising:: a cap for covering said second inlet and rendering said pierceable self-sealing member inaccessible, said cap comprising a first portion for connection to said second inlet and a second portion separated from said first portion by a frangible section, a handle extending from said second portion and operable when actuated to break the second portion away from the first portion at said frangible section, with the first portion being adapted to remain connected to said second inlet and with the pierceable self-sealing member becoming accessible.

In the illustrative embodiment, the first portion comprises a ring member for substantially encircling the second inlet. The second portion comprises a cup-shaped member and the frangible section comprises an annular thin section coupling the first portion to the second portion. The tamper indicating means has a colour that is different from the colour of the second inlet so that when the second portion is broken away from the first portion, the colour of the first portion which remains connected to the second inlet will contrast with the colour of the second inlet, to show that the injection site had a tamper indicating device that has been partially removed.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings wherein:~ Figure 1 is a perspective view of an injection site with tamper indicating means, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view of a tamper indicating device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional elevation thereof, taken along the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Figure 4 is a left side elevation of the tamper indicating device of Fig. 2; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional elevation taken along the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the injection site of Fig. 1, after a portion of the tamper indicating means has been removed.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 6 in particular, the injection site 10 illustrated therein comprises a a first inlet 12 for connection to a tube leading to a parenteral source of liquid, a second inlet 1 4 (Fig. 6) having a pierceable self-sealing diaphragm located therein as is well-known in the art, an outlet 18 for coupling to tubing which is connected to a patient, a main body portion 20 with which inlets 12 and 14 and outlet 18 communicate, and a ridge 22 connecting inlets 12 and 14 to aid in preventing tubing from becoming caught between these inlets. Such an injection site is illustrated in a pending United States patent application in the name of Herbert Mittleman, Serial No. 892,766, filed April 3, 1978.Referring to Fig. 6, it can be seen that the top plane of pierceable diaphragm 16 is generally coplanar with the top of second inlet 14.

Inlet 14 is substantially encircled and covered by tamper indicating device 24. Tamper indicating device 24 is formed in a one-piece integral molded construction, and comprises a first portion 26, which is cylindrical with its internal wall being solvent bonded to the external wall of second inlet 14, a second portion 28 wich is generally cup-shaped and is separated from first portion 26 by a frangible section 30, and a handle 32 which is a generally flat member extending perpendicular to the axis of cup-shaped second portion 28 (and thus perpendicular to the axis of second inlet 14).

Frangible section 30 comprises an annular thin section, as most clearly illustrated in Fig.

3, with frangible section 30 being in general alignment with the top of second inlet 14. For rigidity purposes, i.e., in order to prevent handle 32 from breaking away from second portion 28, a gusset 34 bridging the underside of handle 32 and a side of second portion 28 is provided.

One side of tamper indicating device 24 defines a rectangular slot 36 (Fig. 4) which extends from the bottom 38 of first portion 26 to a level just above the frangible section 30. This slot 36 is of a width to accommodate ridge 22, whereby the first portion 26 will encircle second inlet 14 except for ridge 22.

Slot 36 is such that its top wall 40 is above the plane of the top of inlet 14, thereby providing a small opening so that inlet 14 can be ethylene trioxide sterilized notwithstanding the presence of tamper indicating device 24 thereon.

With reference to Fig. 1, it can be seen that when tamper indicating device 24 is on second inlet 14, pierceable diaphragm 16 is inaccessible. In order for pierceable diaphragm 16 to become accessible, handle 32 is lifted upwardly to break the frangible section 30 so that second portion 28 can be removed from first portion 26. When second portion 28 is removed, the first portion 26 will remain attached to second inlet 14 as illustrated in Fig. 6.

The tamper indicating device 24 is formed of a plastic having a different color than the color of second inlet 14, so that once handle 32 and second portion 28 are removed, an operator can readily see that a portion of the tamper indicating device 24 has been removed. As an example, although no limitation is intended, the tamper indicating device 24 may be a bright color, such as red, while second inlet 14 may be white.

Claims

1. A tamper indicating device for connection to an injection site having a main body portion, a first inlet, a second inlet including a pierceable self-sealing member, an outlet, the first inlet, second inlet and outlet being in fluid communication with the main body portion, said tamper indicating device comprising: a cap for covering said second inlet and rendering said pierceable self-sealing member inaccessible, said cap comprising a first portion for connection to said second inlet and a second portion separated from said first portion by a frangible section, a handle extending from said second portion and operable when actuated to break the second portion away from the first portion at said frangible section, with the first portion being adapted to remain connected to said second inlet and with the pierceable self-sealing member becoming accessible.

2. A tamper indicating device according to Claim 1, said first portion comprising a ring member adapted to substantially encircle said second inlet, said second portion comprising a cup-shaped member and said frangible section comprising an annular thin section coupling said first portion to said second portion.

3. A tamper indicating device according to Claim 2, said handle comprising a generally flat member extending generally perpendicular to the general axis of said cup-shaped member and formed integrally therewith, and a gusset bridging the underside of said handle and said second portion.

4. A tamper indicating device according tc Claim 1, 2 or 3, which is formed in an integral one-piece moulded construction.

5. An injection site having a main body portion, a first inlet, a second inlet including a pierceable self-sealing member, and an outlet, the first inlet, second inlet and outlet being in fluid communication with the main body portion, and tamper indicating means connected to said second inlet, and constructed according to Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4.

6. An injection site according to Claim 5, wherein the tamper indicating means is constructed according to Claim 2, 3 or 4, the second inlet including a rigid port having a top, and said annular thin section being in general alignment with the top of said second inlet.

7. An injection site according to Claim 5, said injection site including a ridge connected between said first and second inlets, said first portion comprising a ring member substantially encircling said second inlet except for the ridge, said second portion defining an opening adjacent said frangible section and overlying said ridge for enabling gas sterilization.

8. An injection site according to Claim 5, 6 6 or 7, wherein said first portion has a different colour from the colour of said second inlet.

9. An injection site having a main body portion, a first inlet, a second inlet including a pierceable self-sealing member, and an oulet, the first inlet, second inlet and outlet being in fluid communication with the main body portion, and tamper indicating means connected to said second inlet, said tamper indicating means comprising a cap covering said second inlet and rendering said pierceable self-sealing member inaccessible, said cap comprising a first portion connected to said second inlet and a second portion separated from said first portion by a frangible section, a handle extending from said second portion, said handle comprising a generally flat member extending generally perpendicular to the general axis of said second portion and formed integrally therewith, a gusset bridging the underside of said handle and said second portion, said second portion being operable when actuated to break the second portion away from the first portion at said frangible section, with the first portion remaining connected to said second inlet and with the pierceable self-sealing member becoming accessible, said first portion comprising a ring member substantially encircling said second inlet, said second portion comprising a cup-shaped member and said frangible section comprising an annular thin section coupling said first portion to said second portion, said second inlet including a rigid port having a top, and said annular thin section being in general alignment with the top of said second inlet, said first portion having a different colour from the colour of said second inlet.

10. An injection site according to Claim 9, said injection site including a ridge connected between said first and second inlets, said first portion comprising a ring member substantially encircling said second inlet except for the ridge, said second portion defining an opening adjacent said frangible section and overlying said ridge for enabling gas sterilization.

11. An injection site constructed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.