초록 ▼

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing hydration fluids. The invention allows for a ‘background’ rate of providing a hydration fluid to be automatically supplied by an apparatus to a patient, for example intravenously, and for the patient to receive an extra amount of hydratio

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing hydration fluids. The invention allows for a ‘background’ rate of providing a hydration fluid to be automatically supplied by an apparatus to a patient, for example intravenously, and for the patient to receive an extra amount of hydration fluid, or ‘bolus dose’, to be provided when the patient sends a signal to the apparatus. In preferred embodiments the background supply rate, the volume and rate of supply of the bolus dose and the maximum extra volume that can be provided as bolus doses in a given time can be set, for example, by a nurse.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus configured to dispense hydration fluid, the apparatus comprising: a signal input device configured to receive a signal from a user,a control unit configured to determine, in response to the signal input device receiving the signal from the user, if first dispensing criteria are met,

1. An apparatus configured to dispense hydration fluid, the apparatus comprising: a signal input device configured to receive a signal from a user,a control unit configured to determine, in response to the signal input device receiving the signal from the user, if first dispensing criteria are met, the first dispensing criteria being based on a dispensing history of a hydration fluid for oral ingestion,the apparatus being configured such that a predetermined metered amount of the hydration fluid for oral ingestion is dispensed if it is determined by the control unit that the first dispensing criteria are met,wherein the control unit is further configured, in response to the signal input device receiving the signal from the user, to determine if second dispensing criteria are met; the second dispensing criteria being based on a dispensing history of a hydration fluid for intravenous delivery, andwherein the apparatus is further configured such that a predetermined metered amount of the hydration fluid for intravenous delivery is dispensed, if it is determined that the second dispensing criteria are met. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the control unit is further configured to determine how many times the predetermined metered amount of the hydration fluid for oral ingestion has been dispensed in a first predetermined period, andwherein the control unit is configured to determine that the first dispensing criteria are met if it determines that the number of times the hydration fluid for oral ingestion has been dispensed in the first predetermined period is less than a first predetermined number of times. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined metered amount of the hydration fluid for oral ingestion is not more than 20 ml. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the control unit is further configured to determine how many times the predetermined metered amount of the hydration fluid for intravenous delivery has been dispensed in a second predetermined period, andwherein the control unit is configured to determine that the second dispensing criteria are met if it determines that the number of times the hydration fluid for intravenous delivery has been dispensed in the second predetermined period is less than a second predetermined number of times. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the control unit is further configured, in response to the signal input device receiving the signal from the user, to determine a length of time since a predetermined metered amount of the hydration fluid for oral ingestion was dispensed, andwherein the control unit is configured to determine that the first dispensing criteria are not met if the determined length of time is less than a predefined length of time. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the control unit is further configured, in response to the signal input device receiving the signal from the user, to determine a total amount of the hydration fluid for oral ingestion and the hydration fluid for intravenous delivery dispensed in a third predetermined period, andwhen the control unit is configured to determine that the first dispensing criteria are not met if the total amount of the hydration fluid for oral ingestion and the hydration fluid for intravenous delivery dispensed in the third predetermined period is greater than a predetermined amount of the hydration fluid for oral ingestion and the hydration fluid for intravenous delivery. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to dispense a background flow of the hydration fluid for intravenous delivery. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus further comprising: a mouth assembly comprising a switch, operable by the user to send the signal. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the switch is mouth operable. 10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the switch is a pressure switch. 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined metered amount of the hydration fluid for oral ingestion is not more than 10 ml. 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined metered amount of the hydration fluid for oral ingestion is not more than 5 ml. 13. A method for dispensing hydration fluid, the method comprising: in response to a signal from a user, determining if first dispensing criteria are met, the first dispensing criteria being based on a dispensing history of a hydration fluid for oral ingestion,if it is determined that the first dispensing criteria are met, dispensing a predetermined metered amount of the hydration fluid for oral ingestion,in response to said signal from said user, determining if second dispensing criteria are met, the second dispensing criteria being based on a dispensing history of a hydration fluid for intravenous delivery, andif it is determined that the second dispensing criteria are met, the method further comprises dispensing a predetermined metered amount of the hydration fluid for intravenous delivery. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein: determining if the first dispensing criteria are met further comprises determining a total amount of the hydration fluid for oral ingestion and the hydration fluid for intravenous delivery dispensed in a predetermined period, andwherein the first dispensing criteria are not met if the total amount of the hydration fluid for oral ingestion and the hydration fluid for intravenous delivery dispensed in the predetermined period is greater than a predetermined amount of the hydration fluid for oral ingestion and the hydration fluid for intravenous delivery. 15. The method according to claim 13, the method further comprising dispensing a background flow of the hydration fluid for intravenous delivery. 16. The method according to claim 13, the method comprising: wherein the signal from the user is provided via a switch forming part of a mouth assembly, and the hydration fluid for oral ingestion is dispensed through the mouth assembly. 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the switch is mouth operable. 18. A method of treating dehydration, the method comprising: in response to a signal from a patient, determining if first dispensing criteria are met, the first dispensing criteria being based on a dispensing history of a hydration fluid for oral ingestion,if it is determined that the first dispensing criteria are met, orally dispensing a predetermined metered amount of the hydration fluid for oral ingestion, to the patientin response to the signal from the patient, determining if second dispensing criteria are met, the second dispensing criteria being based on a dispensing history of a hydration fluid for intravenous delivery, andif it is determined that the second dispensing criteria are met, the method further comprises intravenously dispensing a predetermined metered amount of the hydration fluid for intravenous delivery to the patient.