# US 11,992,655 B2 · Systems and methods for improving operation of infusion pumps > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,655 B2 - Document ID: US11992655B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/250,093 - Filed: 2019-05-28 - Published: 2021-10-07 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-25 - Assignees: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. - Applicants: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. - Inventors: Grant Adams; James Drost; Ryan Heilman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992655B2 ## 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 5/142: Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps - A61M 5/16804: {Active flow controllers} - A61M 5/16886: {for measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. flowmeters} - A61M 5/16863: {Occlusion detection} - A61M 2005/14208: {with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program} - A61M 2205/18: with alarm - A61M 2205/33: Controlling, regulating or measuring - A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers - 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)} ## Abstract Infusion pumps and associated methods for delivering medicament to a user during error conditions. An infusion pump can include a sensor, a pumping mechanism to deliver medicament through an infusion set to the user, and a processor operably coupled to the sensor and the pumping mechanism. The processor can be configured to receive an indication from the sensor of an error condition, and continue operating the pumping mechanism to deliver a predetermined quantity of medicament without correcting the error condition. The predetermined quantity can be based at least in part on a characteristic of the infusion set. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An infusion pump, comprising: a sensor; a pumping mechanism to deliver medicament through an infusion set to a user; and a processor operably coupled to the sensor and the pumping mechanism, the processor configured to: receive an indication from the sensor of an error condition; continue operating the pumping mechanism to deliver a predetermined quantity of the medicament without correcting the error condition, the predetermined quantity being based at least in part on a characteristic of the infusion set, wherein the processor is further configured to generate an alarm in response to the error condition, and wherein the processor is further configured to escalate the alarm prior to completion of delivering the predetermined amount of medicament. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The infusion pump of claim 1, wherein upon completion of delivering the predetermined quantity of the medicament, if the error condition has not been corrected, the processor is further configured to stop operating the pumping mechanism. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The infusion pump of claim 1, wherein the predetermined quantity of the medicament is further based on a rate of infusion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The infusion pump of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the infusion set comprises a volumetric capacity of the infusion set. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The infusion pump of claim 4, wherein the predetermined quantity of the medicament is less than or equal to the volumetric capacity of the infusion set. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The infusion pump of claim 1, wherein the error condition comprises detection of air. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The infusion pump of claim 1, wherein the error condition comprises detection of an occlusion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The infusion pump of claim 1, wherein the error condition comprises failure of the sensor. ### Claim 9 A method of operating an infusion pump, the infusion pump including a sensor, a pumping mechanism to deliver medicament, and a processor operably coupled to the sensor and the pumping mechanism, the method comprising: operating the pumping mechanism to deliver medicament through an infusion set to a user; receiving at the processor from the sensor an indication of an error condition; causing the pumping mechanism to deliver a predetermined quantity of medicament without correcting the error condition, the predetermined quantity being based at least in part on a characteristic of the infusion set, generating an alarm in response to the error condition, and escalating the alarm prior to completion of delivering the predetermined amount of medicament. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: stop operating the pumping mechanism upon completion of delivering the predetermined quantity of medicament if the error condition has not been corrected. ### Claim 11 An infusion pump, comprising: a sensor; a pumping mechanism to deliver medicament through an infusion set to a user; and a processor operably coupled to the sensor and the pumping mechanism, the processor configured to: receive an indication from the sensor of an error condition; continue operating the pumping mechanism to deliver a predetermined quantity of the medicament without correcting the error condition, the predetermined quantity being based at least in part on a characteristic of the infusion set, wherein the error condition is detection of air, detection of an occlusion, or failure of the sensor.