KIT AND METHOD OF REDUCING HUMAN ERROR DURING IMPLANTED INFUSION PUMP REFILLING

1 . A method of safely refilling an implanted infusion pump, the method comprising:

contacting a withdrawn fluid with a protein-detecting composition;

detecting whether the protein-detecting composition experiences a reaction; and

performing a refilling procedure if no reaction is detected.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reaction is a color change.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, before the contacting, injecting the withdrawn fluid into a container containing the protein-detecting composition.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, before the contacting, connecting a syringe containing the withdrawn fluid to a container containing the protein-detecting composition.

5 . A protein detection kit usable with implanted infusion pumps, said kit comprising:

at least one container containing a protein-detecting composition and comprising an interface for allowing fluid to be introduced and an indicating mechanism for providing an indicator indicative of protein detection.

6 . The kit of claim 5 , wherein the container is at least partially transparent or translucent.

7 . The kit of claim 5 , wherein the container is a vial.

8 . The kit of claim 5 , wherein the container is a medical bag.

9 . The kit of claim 5 , wherein the interface is directly connectable with a syringe.

10 . The kit of claim 5 , wherein the interface contains a standard connecting interface connectable with a standard connecting interface of a syringe.

11 . The kit of claim 10 , wherein the standard connecting interface is a luer-lock interface.

12 . The kit of claim 5 , wherein the indicator is a visual indicator mechanism is a label or tag containing at least one color area that substantially or significantly matches a color that the protein-detecting composition changes to when contacted by protein.

13 . The kit of claim 5 , further comprising at least one syringe.

14 . The kit of claim 5 , further comprising at least one section of medical tubing.

15 . The kit of claim 5 , further comprising at least one needle.

16 . The kit of claim 6 , wherein the protein-detecting comprising comprises a biuret solution.

17 . A method of using the kit of claim 6 , the method comprising:

introducing withdrawn fluid into a container containing a protein-detecting composition; and

determining whether aspirate is protein-rich fluid, signifying that the aspiration needle is not in the pump septum.

18 . A method of using the kit of claim 5 , the method comprising:

introducing withdrawn fluid into a container containing a protein-detecting composition; and

refilling an implanted infusion pump after determining that proper placement of needle in the pump septum.

19 . A method of using the kit of claim 5 , the method comprising:

introducing withdrawn fluid into a container containing a protein-detecting composition; and

detecting whether a color change has occurred in the protein-detecting composition.

20 . A method of using the kit of claim 5 , the method comprising:

introducing withdrawn fluid into a container containing a protein-detecting composition; and

detecting a color change in the protein-detecting composition.

21 . A method of refilling an implanted infusion pump, the method comprising:

accessing a container containing a protein-detecting composition;

connecting a syringe containing withdrawn fluid to the container;

injecting the withdrawn fluid into the container;

detecting whether the protein-detecting composition experiences a color change; and

performing a refilling procedure if no color changes occurs.

22 . A method of safely refilling an implanted infusion pump, the method comprising:

locating a reservoir refill septum of the implanted infusion pump; and

preventing inadvertent injection into subcutaneous tissue,

wherein the preventing comprises:

withdrawing fluid while attempting to fill or refill a reservoir of the implanted infusion pump;

after the withdrawing, contacting the fluid with a protein-detecting composition to determine whether the protein-detecting composition experiences a reaction.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the method further comprises:

accessing a container containing the protein-detecting composition;

connecting a syringe containing the fluid to the container;

injecting the fluid into the container;

detecting whether the protein-detecting composition experiences a color change; and

performing a refilling procedure only after the detecting.