Infusion pump alignment features for vertically-orientated IV tubes

An infusion pump apparatus for delivering an intravenous (“IV”) fluid, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing including
• an actuation area configured to engage a first portion of an IV tube in a vertical orientation when the infusion pump is positioned for operation, the actuation area including a top end for receiving the IV tube from a fluid container and a bottom end for providing the IV tube to a patient,
• a tube channel located at the top end of the actuation area, the tube channel having a surface curvature and a width configured to accept a bottom side of a second portion of the IV tube, at least a portion of the tube channel having a radial curvature for bending the second portion of the IV tube from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation when the infusion pump is positioned for operation,
• two parallel hood rails provided on either side of the tube channel, the hood rails having widths that extend outwardly from the tube channel, and
• a hood having a first side and a second side that are separated by the hood rails, the first and second sides connected to the hood rails;
• and
• a door connected to the housing and configured to enclose the actuation area, the tube channel, the hood rails, and the hood of the housing, the door including a cavity having dimensions sized to receive the hood rails and the hood when the door is in a closed position,
• wherein the hood and the hood rails are configured to engage the cavity to prevent the door from closing if the second portion of the IV tube is not positioned between the hood rails along the tube channel, and
• wherein the cavity of the door is defined at least by:
• an upper-pre-alignment guide configured to contact or be adjacent to a top face of the hood;
• and
• a lower pre-alignment guide configured to contact or be adjacent to a bottom face of the hood.

An infusion pump apparatus for delivering an intravenous (“IV”) fluid, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing including
• an actuation area configured to engage a first portion of an IV tube in a vertical orientation when the infusion pump is positioned for operation, the actuation area including a top end for receiving the IV tube from a fluid container and a bottom end for providing the IV tube to a patient,
• a tube channel located at the top end of the actuation area, the tube channel having a surface curvature and a width configured to accept a bottom side of a second portion of the IV tube, at least a portion of the tube channel having a radial curvature for bending the second portion of the IV tube from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation when the infusion pump is positioned for operation,
• two parallel hood rails provided on either side of the tube channel, the hood rails having widths that extend outwardly from the tube channel, and
• a hood having a first side and a second side that are separated by the hood rails, the first and second sides connected to the hood rails;
• and
• a door connected to the housing and configured to enclose the actuation area, the tube channel, the hood rails, and the hood of the housing, the door including a cavity having dimensions sized to receive the hood rails and the hood when the door is in a closed position,
• wherein the hood and the hood rails are configured to engage the cavity to prevent the door from closing if the second portion of the IV tube is not positioned between the hood rails along the tube channel,
• wherein the door further includes a pusher aligned with or located adjacent to the tube channel when the door is in the closed position, the pusher having a surface curvature and a width sized to accept a top side of the second portion of the IV tube, at least a portion of the pusher having a radial curvature for bending the IV tube from the horizontal orientation to the vertical orientation when the infusion pump is positioned for operation, and
• wherein the width of the pusher enables the pusher to fit between the parallel hood rails when the door is in the closed position.

An infusion pump apparatus for delivering an intravenous (“IV”) fluid, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing including
• an actuation area configured to engage a first portion of an IV tube in a vertical orientation when the infusion pump is positioned for operation, the actuation area including a top end for receiving the IV tube from a fluid container and a bottom end for providing the IV tube to a patient,
• a housing tube channel located at the top end of the actuation area, the housing tube channel having a surface curvature and a width sized to accept a bottom side of a second portion of the IV tube, at least a portion of the housing tube channel having a radial curvature for bending the second portion of the IV tube from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation when the infusion pump is positioned for operation,
• a first set of housing ribs located on a first side of the housing tube channel and a second set of housing ribs located on a second, opposite side of the housing tube channel;
• and
• a door connected to the housing and configured to enclose the actuation area, the housing tube channel, and the housing ribs, the door including
• a door tube channel configured to align with the housing tube channel when the door is in a closed position, and
• a first set of door ribs located on a first side of the door tube channel and a second set of door ribs located on a second side of the door tube channel,
• wherein the first and second sets of housing ribs are configured to interlock or overlap with the first and second sets of door ribs when the door is in the closed position.