Portable infusion pump with pinch/squeeze pumping action

A system for infusing a fluid medicament into a patient during a duty cycle which comprises:

• a chassis;
• a platen mounted on the chassis;
• an upstream pincher mounted on the chassis and located adjacent a reservoir;
• a downstream pincher mounted on the chassis and located adjacent a cannula, wherein the upstream and downstream pinchers interact with each other in a close/open and open/close changeover operation to individually occlude an elastomeric tube against the platen;
• and
• a piston mounted on the chassis to provide a reciprocating motion against a portion of a tube section located between the upstream and downstream pinchers, wherein the piston is advanced toward the platen when the downstream pincher is open, to constrict the lumen of the tube section therebetween and create a high pressure pHi to push fluid medicament from the tube section and through the cannula, and wherein the piston is alternately withdrawn from the platen when the upstream pincher is open, to dilate the lumen of the tube section and create a low pressure pLo to draw fluid medicament from the reservoir and into the tube section.

A method for operating a device to infuse a fluid medicament into a patient which comprises the steps of:

• providing a disposable component comprising a collapsible reservoir for holding the fluid medicament, a cannula, and an elastomeric tube formed with a lumen and having an upstream end connected in fluid communication with the reservoir of fluid medicament and a downstream end connected in fluid communication with the cannula;
• engaging a section of the tube with a manipulator between the upstream end and the downstream end of the elastomeric tube;
• and
• operating the manipulator in accordance with a predetermined protocol to create a low fluid pressure, pLo, at the upstream end of the elastomeric tube to draw fluid medicament into the tube section from the reservoir, and to create a high fluid pressure, pHi, at the downstream end of the elastomeric tube to push fluid medicament through the cannula from the tube section to infuse fluid medicament into the patient.

A method for operationally assembling an intravenous infusion pump to infuse a fluid medicament into a user which comprises the steps of:

• acquiring a portable infusion pump, wherein the infusion pump includes a chassis formed with a recess and has a manipulator mounted on the chassis, wherein the manipulator is formed with a receiver channel;
• obtaining a disposable unit containing the fluid medicament to be infused, wherein the disposable unit includes a hollow, elastomeric tube having an upstream end connected in fluid communication with a collapsible reservoir holding the fluid medicament, and a downstream end connected in fluid communication with a cannula;
• engaging a section of the elastomeric tube of the disposable unit between the upstream end and the downstream end of the elastomeric tube with the receiver channel of the manipulator, for manipulation of the tube section by the manipulator to create a low fluid pressure, pLo, at the upstream end of the elastomeric tube to draw fluid medicament into the tube section from the reservoir and, alternately, to create a high fluid pressure, pHi, at the downstream end of the elastomeric tube;
• and
• inserting the cannula into body tissue of a user.