Infusion pump door seal for vertical intravenous tubes

#Infusion pumps, including large volume pumps (“LVP's”) are designed to move fluid through an intravenous (“IV”) line from a fluid supply to a patient. The infusion pumps move the fluid through the IV line with one or more actuator that applies a force to a portion of the line. The rate at which a fluid is moved is based on a frequency at which the force is applied to the IV line. It is common for infusion pumps to use a door or similar mechanism to secure a portion of the IV line in contact with the actuators. Other known pumps require the use of specialized IV line sets that are integrated with tube-carrying cassettes or over-molds that are mated with pump actuators.

#An issue with known infusion pumps is the seepage of containments (e.g., dust, moisture, fluid container leaks, etc.) into the actuator area of the infusion pump behind the door. In many instances, a small gap exists between an edge of the door and the infusion pump casing, enabling the contaminants to enter the actuation area. Gaps are also present around the IV line where it passes either through the door or the pump casing adjacent to the door to reach an infusion container. The gaps may be intentional and designed into the infusion pumps to reduce stress placed on the IV lines or to prevent the IV lines from occluding. Unfortunately, contaminants may affect actuator operation, resulting in more frequent maintenance and/or cleaning.

#The present disclosure involves an infusion pump that delivers intravenous (“IV”) fluids to a desired source, such as a human being or animal (e.g., patient). The infusion pump includes an improved door seal. The example door seals of the present disclosure are configured to enclose or protect an actuation area of an infusion pump from contaminants. The positioning of the seals with respect to the door isolates an actuation area independent of manufacturing tolerance variations of the overall door and/or pump casing. In an embodiment, a seal is formed inside of a door's edges, which relaxes the tolerance ranges of the pump housing and door, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. Accordingly, the example seal configurations disclosed herein are agnostic of a door position and tolerance stack-up. Further, the example configurations disclosed herein are operable with conventional IV tubes, so that specialized IV tubes, receptacles, cartridges, or additional parts are not needed. Materials for the different components of the infusion pumps discussed below may include metal, plastic, rubber and combinations thereof.

#FIGS. 1 to 5 are various views of known infusion pumps that use different constructions to attempt to prevent environmental contamination of an actuation area.

#FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7A, and 7B are various views of an example infusion pump that includes a door seal section configured to reduce or prevent environmental contamination of an actuation area, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

#FIGS. 8 to 11 are various views of an enlarged view of seal section of the infusion pump of FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7A, and 7B, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

#The present disclosure relates in general to an infusion pump apparatus that includes a door roof and gasket seal configured to prevent entrance of environmental contaminants into an intravenous (“IV”) tube actuation area. As described in more detail below, an infusion pump door in an embodiment includes a roof with a recess section configured to cradle or otherwise accept an IV tube. In addition, the infusion pump may include a gasket seal configured to contact at least the door roof when the door is in a closed position. The gasket seal includes a tube channel and window that are positioned opposite from the recess in the roof. The tube channel and window are configured to cradle or otherwise contact an IV tube. The cradling of the IV tube by the tube channel, window, and roof recess substantially encloses the IV tube underneath the roof. When combined with the gasket seal, the enclosure of the IV tube creates a substantially impenetrable barrier against environmental contaminants entering an IV tube actuation area of the infusion pump.

#Reference is made throughout to infusion pumps that are configured to receive IV tubes in a vertical orientation. In other words, the infusion pumps receive an IV tube in a top section. However, it should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the infusion pump seal disclosed herein may be provided to receive horizontally (or other desired angle) orientated IV tubes. In the other embodiments, the IV tube enters a side of the infusion pump. In an embodiment, the infusion pump may be oriented in different positions for operation, such that the tube may be disposed differently for different procedures.

#Likewise, the infusion pumps disclosed herein have general vertically orientated actuators for pumping fluid through the IV tubes. However, in other embodiments, the actuators may be positioned in a horizontal (or other desired angle) orientation. It should be appreciated that the orientation of the actuators may not necessarily correspond to the orientation of an IV tube entering the infusion pump. For example, an infusion pump may receive an IV tube in a horizontal orientation but have the actuators be aligned in a vertical orientation. Again, the actuators may be oriented differently for different procedures.