A Device for the Production of Sterile IV Fluids from Potable Water

A device is proposed for the production of intravenous fluids from potable water aboard U.S. Navy ships. Central to the operation of the device is a method for the purification and sterilization of water which couples filtration, sorption and membrane based water purification unit processes with thermal sterilization powered by microwave irradiation. A shipboard injectable water source must be both reliable and simple to operate. Medical equipment is often utilized during emergency situations of unknown duration and adverse conditions. An injectable water source is needed to produce parenteral fluids for shipboard use to ultimately reduce the resupply burden of transporting large quantities of water. Recently, an injectable water source was developed for the Army by Sterimatics, a former subsidiary of Millipore Corporation. This system, the Resuscitative Fluid Production and Reconstitution System (REFLUPS) passed testing for both United States Pharmacopea (USP) and military requirements. The REFLUPS did however fail to receive Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. The major reason for this failure was the absence of a heat sterilization methodology. Umpqua Research Company (UMPQUA) proposes to combine the technology resulting from eight years of work in this field by Sterimatics with our expertise in the thermal destruction of microorganisms using microwave power.