# US 10,765,805 B2 · Infusion pump including pain controlled analgesic (“PCA”) apparatus

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- Number: US 10,765,805 B2
- Document ID: US10765805B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/229,101
- Filed: 2018-12-21
- Published: 2019-04-25
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-02
- Assignees: Baxter International Inc.; Baxter Healthcare S.A.
- Applicants: Baxter International Inc.; Baxter Healthcare SA
- Inventors: Mark Randal Simmons
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765805B2

## CPC

- A61M 5/16831: {Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies (low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066)}
- A61M 5/1456: {with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir}
- A61M 5/1723: {using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood sugar or pressure}
- G16H 20/17: delivered via infusion or injection
- A61M 2005/1405: {Patient controlled analgesia [PCA]}
- A61M 2202/0241: Anaesthetics; Analgesics
- A61M 2205/17: with redundant control systems
- A61M 2205/18: with alarm
- A61M 2205/35: Communication
- A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers
- A61M 2209/01: Remote controllers for specific apparatus
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA

## Abstract

An infusion pump apparatus including a pain controlled analgesic (“PCA”) input device is disclosed. The infusion pump apparatus includes a housing, a pump actuator supported by the housing, and a PCA input device. The infusion pump apparatus also includes electronics configured to control the pump actuator, provide a voltage to the PCA input device, and sense an electrical signal in response to the pain controlled analgesic input device being depressed. The infusion pump apparatus further includes a controller electrically coupled to the electronics and programmed to determine whether the sensed electrical signal is discontinuous, and if the sensed signal is discontinuous, transmit an output indicative of the pain controlled analgesic input device functioning improperly.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An infusion pump apparatus comprising:
a housing;
a pump actuator supported by the housing;
a pain controlled analgesic (“PCA”) input device;
electronics configured to
control the pump actuator,
provide a voltage to the PCA input device, and
sense an electrical signal in response to the PCA input device being depressed; and
a controller electrically coupled to the electronics and programmed to (i) determine whether the sensed electrical signal is discontinuous, and (ii) if the sensed electrical signal is discontinuous, transmit an output indicative of the PCA input device functioning improperly.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output indicative of the PCA input device functioning improperly is (a) audible, (b) visual, or (c) audible/visual.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output indicative of the PCA input device functioning improperly includes a message indicative of a chattering contact alert.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is a local controller, and which includes a remote controller configured to communicate with the local controller, the remote controller configured to receive the electrical signal in response to the PCA input device being depressed.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the remote controller includes an electrical contact for contacting a button of the PCA input device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to transmit the output to a location remote from the housing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronics are configured to sense the electrical signal by detecting a change in voltage level from the voltage provided to the PCA input device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronics and the controller are located on a printed circuit board.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to cause the pump actuator, via the electronics, to provide a bolus of analgesic if the sensed electrical signal is determined to be continuous.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cord configured to communicatively couple the PCA input device to the controller.

### Claim 11

An infusion pump apparatus comprising:
a pump actuator;
an electrical interface communicatively coupled to a pain controlled analgesic (“PCA”) input device via a cord;
electronics configured to
control the pump actuator,
provide a voltage to the PCA input device via the electrical interface, and
sense an electrical signal received at the electrical interface from the PCA input device in response to the PCA input device being depressed; and
a controller electrically coupled to the electronics and programmed to (i) determine whether the sensed electrical signal is discontinuous, and (ii) if the sensed electrical signal is discontinuous, transmit an output indicative of the PCA input device functioning improperly.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a user interface communicatively coupled to the controller and configured to display the output indicative of the PCA input device functioning improperly.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the output indicative of the PCA input device functioning improperly includes a chattering contact alert.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is programmed to transmit the output to a location remote from an infusion pump housing.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronics are configured to sense the electrical signal by detecting a change in voltage level from the voltage provided to the PCA input device.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is programmed to instruct the electronics to cause the pump actuator to provide a bolus of analgesic if the sensed electrical signal is determined to be continuous.

### Claim 17

An infusion pump method comprising:
providing, via electronics of an infusion pump, a voltage to a pain controlled analgesic input device;
sensing, via the electronics, an electrical signal in response to the pain controlled analgesic input device being depressed;
electronically determining, via a controller of the infusion pump, whether the sensed electrical signal is discontinuous; and
if the sensed electrical signal is discontinuous, electronically sending, via the controller, an output indicative of the pain controlled analgesic input device functioning improperly.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the output indicating that a button of the pain controlled analgesic input device is functioning improperly is (a) audible, (b) visual, or (c) audible/visual.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting, via the controller, the output to a user interface of the infusion pump.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting, via the controller, the output to a location that is remote from the infusion pump.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising causing, via the controller, a pump actuator of the infusion pump to provide a bolus of analgesic if the sensed electrical signal is determined to be continuous.